Thai authorities are investigating BBC News over a report about Thailand ’ s new baron, officials said Wednesday with the premier minister warning foreign media organizations they could be prosecuted over violations of royal defamation laws .
The news network is being probed for a profile of King Maha Vajiralongkorn that was published by its London-based Thai-language service, BBC Thai, after he ascended the enthrone on Dec. 1, officials said. The BBC News web site besides carried the narrative in English on the same day.
“ This case is in the process of probe but I can not disclose the details, ” Pornchai Chalordej, who commands the police post creditworthy for the casing, told Agence France-Presse .
The article, which has been blocked on-line in Thailand since it was published, drew more than 2,500 shares on Facebook. A Thai militant was arrested Saturday under the Lese-Majeste law after he allegedly shared the assemble on his Facebook page .
Jatupat “ Pai ” Boonpattararaksa, who posted bail on Sunday, is the first gear person to be charged under the law after Maha Vajiralongkorn succeeded King Bhumibol Adulayadej, who died on Oct. 13 at age 88. Since a military politics took exponent in May 2014, scores of Thais have been arrested and charged under the law for posting contented on-line perceived as insults against members of the monarchy .
“ Authorities have to pursue the count. It is their duty to pursue anything that is against the law, ” Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan told journalists on Wednesday, referring to the BBC report, according to Reuters .
Prime Minister and military junta foreman Prayuth Chan-o-cha besides commented on the matter.
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“ In esteem to security issues and on foreign media, as it [ BBC News ] has a ramify office and has Thai staff, and when they break a jurisprudence, they can be prosecuted. And that ’ s it, ” Prayuth told reporters in Bangkok .
He warned members of the media to be mindful when report, or face the possibility of being prosecuted under the state ’ sulfur laws .
“ so be careful to not infringe on other people ’ s privacy or causing unrest, ” he said .
The authorities may consolidate a likely criminal font against BBCNews with the one against Jatupat, National Police spokesman Maj. Gen. Piyapan Pingmuang told BenarNews .
“ If anyone is implicated, all of them will be charged. We don ’ t separate the case of him and BBC, ” the spokesman said.
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interim, Jonathan Head, the BBC ’ s Bangkok-based Southeast Asia analogous, declined comment .
Earlier this workweek, a spokeswoman for BBCNews said it was standing by the Thai service ’ s profile of the new king .
“ BBC Thai was established to bring impartial, independent, and accurate news program to a state where the media faces restrictions, and we are confident that this article adheres to the BBC ’ s editorial principles. While we do not comment on person cases, we do everything we can to ensure the safety of all our staff around the world, ” Charlotte Morgan told BenarNews via electronic mail .