Media condemned for publishing politicians' intimate photos

A lot of people can identify who she is even though the published photos conceal her and her man's eyes.

"I can't accept such news reports. Be the person in the photos a celebrity or an ordinary woman, media should have never published them," Assoc Prof Sodsri Phao-inchan said Monday.

She is the dean of Chiang Mai University's Mass Communications Faculty.

"By publishing the photos and reporting such story, the media show they lack ethics," the famous academic said.

Sodsri said the media had better dedicate their attention to economic and social problems.

"There are many better ways to investigate politicians," she said.

Sodsri even called on the Thai Journalist Association and other media professional groups to help stop the propagation of such news reports.

"It's a serious violation against media ethics," she said.

Former senator Tuenjai Deetes, who has long fought for women's rights, said the published photos and story of the female politician had hurt both her human dignity and rights.

"This is a form of violence against women. She's hurt emotionally," Tuenjai said.

The former senator suggested that the female politician should defend her rights by suing the offending media and those involved.

"She can file defamation suits. She can also lodge a complaint under the Protection for Violence Victim Act," Tuenjai said.

This activist said political organisations women's-right groups should also discuss ways on how to protect female politicians.

"When women climb to the top, some people will want to hurt these women," Tuenjai commented.