CNN apologises for entering Thailand massacre site, pulls video
- Probe found journalists believed they obtained permission to enter and film in building, and were unaware person was not authorised to allow them inside
- Thai Journalists’ Association criticised CNN’s actions as ‘unethical’ and ‘insensitive’, and called for investigation of incident and to official Thai probe
The two CNN journalists involved were fined after authorities found that they had been working in the country after entering on tourist visas, but cleared of wrongdoing for entering the day care centre where more than 20 children were killed, deputy national police chief Surachate Hakparn said.
He said his investigation had determined the journalists believed they had obtained permission to enter and film after being waved into the building by a volunteer or a health officer, and were unaware the person was not authorised to allow them inside.
02:29
Toddler survives deadly Thailand nursery massacre tucked under a blanket
They each agreed to pay fines of 5,000 baht (US$133) and leave the country, he said.
Both journalists apologised, as did CNN International’s executive vice-president and General Manager Mike McCarthy.
In a statement, he said his reporters sought permission to enter the building but the team “now understands that these officials were not authorised to grant this permission,” adding that it was “never their intention to contravene any rules.”
“We deeply regret any distress or offence our report may have caused, and for any inconvenience to the police at such a distressing time for the country,” he said in the statement tweeted by CNN.
He said CNN had ceased broadcasting the report and had removed the video from its website.