Former Deputy PM Of Thailand Hits Journalists Out Of Dispute Asked About Paetongtarn's Victory

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left)/PHOTO via Instagram @ingshin21

JAKARTA - A senator in Thailand has asked for a parliamentary investigation into a veteran politician and a former military commander who hit a television reporter in the head during an interview.

Prawit Wongsuwon, 79, a lawmaker and former deputy prime minister involved in Thailand's last two coups, beat the female reporter on Friday last week, while surrounded by journalists, whose video footage was widely circulated.

Prawit, who led the Pracharat Palang Party, served in the last junta and was deputy prime minister for nine years after the 2014 coup.

"This behavior is a physical intimidation," Senator Tewarait Maneechai told Reuters on Tuesday, August 20.

"It also doesn't respect journalists who do their jobs," he added.

A spokesman for the Palang Pracharat Party, Tavichai, said Prawit knew the reporter well and had apologized.

"Because he is a soldier, his ridicule can look like violence but those closest to him know that he is always teasing like this," said Tavichai.

Prawit and reporters who work for ThaiPBS broadcasting, could not be contacted by Reuters.

The incident sparked widespread criticism from the Thai media community. ThaiPBS asked Prawit to account for his actions.

Senator Tewarait said he asked for an investigation into Prawit through the Senate to be submitted to the lower house of parliament, which has 30 days to respond.

The code of ethics of Thai lawmakers states that members must respect the rights and freedoms of others and refrain from threats, show hatred or use of violence to hurt others.

The incident came on Friday, moments after Paetongtarn Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party won a vote in parliament to become prime minister, Thailand's third prime minister of the Shinawatra billionaire family, which has a bitter history with Prawit.

Prawit, who did not attend the vote, was asked his opinion about Pautongtarn's victory, and he replied, "What did you ask? What did you ask?" before attacking reporters.