The deputy prime minister has also instructed the Mae Sai district chief officer in Chiang Rai to strictly screen reporters, especially those from foreign media, trying to have access to the young survivors of the Tham Luang cave saga. He noted that the media may not be aware of legal restrictions and the child’s rights protection law.
However, he said he was sure that after a certain period of mental rehabilitation, the boys would be more prepared to talk to the media.
He disclosed that a few foreign media outlets had tried to interview some of the boys and their coach in the past few days and he had instructed the Mae Sai district chief officer to look into the issue and to make sure that the boys’ privacy rights are not violated.
He said that the ad hoc committee would also handle film rights or animated game rights as manager of the boys but would not have any vested interest in the projects.
Mae Sai district chief officer Somsak Kanakham, meanwhile, said he had talked to some of the parents of the boys and were told that they were worried with the attempts of foreign media to try to interview their children.