Chiang Rai authorities are stepping up efforts to stop media outlets interviewing the 12 young footballers who were rescued from Tham Luang cave in Mae Sai district earlier this month.
Chiang Rai governor Prajon Pratsakul had instructed the Mae Sai district chief and the Chiang Rai office of Social Development and Human Security to meet local civil servants, police, kamnans, village headmen, local administrative officers, security personnel and the parents of the boys to work out measures to protect the children which are in line with Child Protection Act, according to Chiang Rai Public Relations Office.
The office said the parents and the boys had agreed that they would not give interviews to the media.
It said the governor also assigned a child protection subcommittee in Mae Sai and a multidisciplinary team to oversee media outlets which cover the incident in the area to make sure the boys are not mentally harmed or exploited.
Criticism has flared after some international news agencies were found to have approached and interviewed the boys, something that authorities have warned could lead them to suffer from post-traumatic stress.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha thanked media outlets that refrained from interviewing or disturbing the boys, saying this shows their respect of the right to privacy, according to government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
The prime minister said foreign media that interviewed the boys and their parents at their home did not contact Mae Sai district office first, which explains the "strong criticism of inappropriateness".
"This should serve as a lesson to be heeded by the media and society," Lt Gen Sansern said.
The 12 members of the Wild Boars football team and their 25-year-old coach Ekkapol Chanthawong were extracted from the partially flooded cave from July 8-10. The group went into the cave on June 23.
Their disappearance prompted a massive rescue operation, which included foreign nationals who joined the mission, and captivated people around the world.
Mr Ekkapol yesterday posted on Facebook: "I want to thank everyone around the globe. Thank you ... from my heart."
One group who helped search for mountain openings to reach the boys is a team of 12 bird-nest collectors from Koh Libong in the southern province of Trang.
One member, Wirot Konglao, suffered from pneumonia in the wake of the mission. He was admitted to Kantang Hospital in Trang on July 18.
Doctors said Mr Wirot had recovered and was discharged yesterday.
Meanwhile, The Royal Thai Navy has issued a statement honouring 127 Navy Seals and 32 Navy officers who took part in the rescue, as well as former Navy Seal Saman Gunan, who died on July 6 during the operation at the cave.
