Association of Foreign Correspondents: "CNN's Disappointed Statement"

Police will take legal action against a CNN team that entered the scene of the mass shooting in Nong Bua Lamphu province, Deputy National Police Chief Surachate Hakparn said after the station's coverage met with strong opposition from the country's media organizations.

Nong Bua Lamphu police followed CNN coverage from daycare on Saturday while the crime scene was cordoned off so police could gather evidence, police General Surachate said on Saturday night.

The deputy police chief said CNN employees would be charged with unauthorized entry into state facilities and possibly attempting to manipulate evidence if police find sufficient grounds to charge them.

The accusation of trespassing alone carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.

A CNN news report that was more than three minutes long and aired showed footage from a reporter reporting at the Uthai Sawan Child Development Center. There is an image that reveals the details of the scene on the website of this news report.

The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) and the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) issued separate statements on Saturday night sharply criticizing CNN for its reporting.

The FCCT said it was dismayed by CNN's actions.

"A CNN team entered a clearly marked crime scene without permission, no matter what they claim," the club said. "This was unprofessional and a serious violation of journalistic ethics in reporting crimes at a crime scene."

"Would one of their teams have behaved the same way at a serious crime scene in the United States?" he asked.

The TJA called CNN's coverage "unethical" and "insensitive" because it could set a precedent for other media outlets to follow.


CNN said three public health officials allowed the station's employees to enter the center after the police ban was lifted. On the way back after 15 minutes of filming, the teams had to climb over the fence because the yellow barrier tape was reattached.

However, the TJA took the view that CNN should have used professional judgment even if, as claimed, approval was granted.

"CNN's actions therefore constitute an intrusion into an important crime scene, a serious mistake that no professional media outlet should have made, even if permission had been granted, the news team and those responsible for their assignment should have used their judgment and refrained from entering a crime scene," the TJA said.

The Thai journal list club stated that thai media denied permission to enter the crime scene. The case is now being clarified in detail.

#Thainewsasia ch.
#Guido Jellessen / Thai News Asia news team reports