About 37 per cent of people view the appearance of fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra on the state-run NBT channel as inappropriate, a poll by National Institute for Development Administration (Nida) revealed yesterday.
The group of respondents said the channel was used as a political tool by Thaksin who was still a convicted person fleeing the penalty. However, almost 14 per cent of respondents said the appearance was appropriate as it is his personal right and the air time was bought by a private company.
The controversy erupted on Sunday after NBT aired a boxing match from Macau, presided over by Thaksin, who made a speech rebutting critics who questioned his loyalty to the Thai monarchy.
Former supreme commander General Chaisit Shinawatra on Friday said he had sought a royal pardon for using the "King's Cup" title in the boxing match without having received royal authorisation.
The Nida Poll was conducted on Thursday and Friday among 1,270 respondents nationwide.
More than 40 per cent of respondents said they believed Thaksin's live appearance on NBT was planned in advance while almost six per cent of respondents believed it was a coincidence that the former PM happened to be in Macau when the boxing event was held.
Following Thaksin's appearance on the channel and heavy criticism, the organisers and the NBT said they had not been aware of an invitation to Thaksin to preside over the event and be shown live on TV.
The poll showed almost 40 per cent of the respondents believed the government interfered with the Thai broadcast media, who could not freely present news, and headlines and news stories were distorted. About 14 per cent said they believed there was no interference as the media are independent agencies and have their own code of ethics.
Chaisit, a cousin of Thaksin who was one of the boxing event organisers, said he had sent a letter to the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary seeking a royal pardon.
Chaisit explained that no King's Cup was given, but Lt-Colonel Kulthon Prachuapmoh, an organiser, incorrectly said on stage that the winner would be presented with the King's Cup.
Chaisit said the Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary had demanded that he write a letter seeking a royal pardon for using the title "King's Cup" without prior authorisation.
"The Office of His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary reminded us about the issue several days ago. As chairman of the event, I had to take responsibility. I've sent a letter seeking a royal pardon," he said.
"Thaksin appearing live on NBT was another matter," he said.
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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2012/12/16/37-object-to-broadcast-by-thaksin-poll/
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