Trespass at crime scene stokes outrage
The Immigration Bureau has withdrawn visas issued for two CNN reporters after they entered the off-limits childcare centre where a mass shooting took place in Nong Bua Lam Phu.
The bureau’s deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Archayon Kraithong said yesterday the visas for the two had been revoked on the ground they were not eligible to work in the country.
“They entered Thailand on tourist visas which did not allow them to work here,” said Pol Maj Gen Archayon, who is also the spokesman of the Royal Thai Police.
The officer referred to reporter Anna Marguerite Coren, 47, an Australian citizen, and cameraman Daniel John Hodge, 34, a British national. The two arrived at Suvarnabhumi airport on Thursday and were permitted to stay until Nov 19 as tourists.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn said yesterday after questioning the CNN duo that they had no intention of trespassing on state property.
He said his police had studied the CNN coverage on Saturday from inside the childcare centre operated by the Uthai Sawan tambon administration organisation (TAO) in Na Klang district. The crime scene was cordoned off to allow police to compile evidence.
An investigation found the two sought permission from state officials at the daycare centre after they saw the gate of the centre open. The officials said they could enter, Pol Gen Surachate said.
“The two spent some time taking photos inside the daycare centre. But when they finished and came out they saw the gate closed and they decided to climb over the fence. They had no intention of trespassing on state property or violating the state order or getting involved with any evidence.
“The pair were willing to apologise to Thais for what they did unintentionally and they are ready to return to their home countries without being deported or blacklisted,” Pol Gen Surachate said.
The president of the Uthai Sawan TAO, Danaichoke Boonsom, yesterday filed complaints with Na Klang police accusing the two CNN crew members of trespassing.
A former police sergeant killed 36 people, including 24 children, in last Thursday’s killing spree, before killing himself.
Armed with a pistol and a meat cleaver, he rampaged through the childcare centre, attacking children and adults. He killed more people while driving back home, where he killed his wife and 3-year-old son before taking his own life.
The CNN report was filmed from inside the crime scene at the daycare centre. A photo taken by a Thai journalist showed the team climbing over the fence out of the centre.
Their coverage and intrusion into the cordoned area drew ire from the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) and Thai Journalists Association (TJA).
The FCCT said its members are dismayed by recent CNN coverage of the mass killings. “A CNN team entered a clearly marked crime scene without permission, no matter what they may claim. This was unprofessional and a serious breach of journalistic ethics.
“Thailand has been traumatised by this tragedy and there has been wide concern that inappropriate images should not be made public. Simple respect for the deceased and their families is but one reason,” the FCCT said.
“CNN, meanwhile, should answer a simple question. Would one of their crew have behaved in the same way at a serious crime scene in the United States?” the FCCT asked.
Mongkol Bangprapa, president of the TJA, called on CNN to launch an internal probe and provide an explanation regarding the matter while Thiranai Jaruwas, vice-president of the TJA, slammed the CNN reporters’ coverage as unethical.
Mike McCarthy, CNN International’s executive vice president & general manager said CNN’s team sought permission from Thailand Health Department officials to enter the daycare centre. The team now understands these officials were not authorised to grant this permission.
If the team had understood the building was off-limits, they would not have entered. It was never their intention to break the rules. CNN has ceased broadcasting the report and has removed the video from its website.