An office worker based in the Nation Tower forces her way through the protesters, who at one point didn’t allow reporters to leave the premises.

Journalists Association yesterday:

Stop harassing the media for performing their duty.

Protesters from the Caravan of the Poor were dissatisfied with a report in the Kom Chad Luek newspaper's edition last Friday, which contained an inapprop-riate reference to His Majesty the King. The protesters gathered outside of the office of Kom Chad Luek to demand the newspaper take responsibility for the report, which they described as a crime against the King.

The Thai Journalists Association and the Thai Broadcast Journalists Association have agreed that Kom Chad Luek's editorial department has shown its responsibility as a respectable media organisation. The newspaper admitted its mistake and asked for a Royal pardon with an announcement on its front page and by submitting a request to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary. Also, it announced that the paper will stop publishing and distribution for three days between today and Sunday. Its editor, Korket Chantralertlak, resigned on Wednesday and the responsible news editor was removed and subjected to further punishment.

Therefore, the two associations of media professionals have the following observations on this matter:

1. The way Kom Chad Luek has taken responsibility for the mistake, through the proper channels, has been in line with the journalists' code of conduct and the laws of the country.

2. The Caravan of the Poor, by refusing to stop its protest and threatening violent acts against Kom Chad Luek, appears to intend to harass and limit the media organisation's rights and freedom to perform its duty. There is a grand plan to incite hatred and abuse the Royalty in an attempt to destroy others. The media have never been so severely harassed, even during a dictatorial regime.

3. The associations urge the protesters to review their actions and wait for a Royal decision regarding Kom Chad Luek's request for a Royal pardon, which has been submitted through the proper channels. And the newspaper also will have to abide by the law regarding a police complaint filed by the protesters.

4. The associations ask for all parties to stop abusing the highly revered Monarchy for their advantage as this will only worsen the dispute and broaden the social rift.

5. The associations call on the government, which is responsible for keeping peace and order in the country, to urgently stop the harassment of Kom Chad Luek.

The two groups would like to urge fellow media professionals to perform their duties in the current political crisis, taking precautions to avoid making mistakes, and adhere to the profession's code of conduct. This is to prevent them from becoming tools or pawns for any of the parties in the political conflict, which could damage the country as a whole.