Meanwhile, the Thai Media Democracy Alliance issued a statement declaring that “journalism is not a crime” and that reporting on acts of dissent, whether legal or not, is not a criminal act.
Tewarit Maneechai, Prachatai’s editor-in-chief, said reporting an incident should not be seen as an endorsement of the actions covered.
“Our stance is that we are not part of the conflict; we just want to present the facts as they unfold,” he said.
The incident in March, captured on video, grabbed a great deal of attention due to the temple’s significance as a royal structure and the resonance of the number 112, representing the draconian lese majeste law.