The news director at PPTV was reportedly pressured to resign after repeatedly criticising the deputy junta head over his undeclared luxury watches.
Various media reported late last week that Vanchai Tantivitayapitak, PPTV news director, resigned after the station was pressured by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
According to sources, the resignation is related to the fact that PPTV has consistently criticised the NCPO, especially over the corruption scandal of Gen Prawit Wongsuwan and his many high-priced watches. The NCPO believe that Vanchai was responsible for the criticism and pressured PPTV to dismiss him.
On 30 March, Vanchai posted on Facebook confirmation of the rumour of his resignation.
“A new journey is going to start. Looking back on what I’ve done in the past two years, I’m proud to have had a part in building teamwork, proud to have made people happy in their work, and proud to have made my colleagues feel proud of their own profession,” Vanchai posted. “Being a journalist, sometimes, one has to walk a tightrope.”
Since the 2014 coup, the NCPO has closely monitored Vanchai. At the time he was a deputy director at Thai PBS, and his reporting on political events on the day of the coup constituted a violation of the junta’s orders. The NCPO detained Vanchai at a military camp for two hours after the coup occurred.
Vanchai Tantivitayapitak
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