On March 5, three men were sentenced to ten years of imprisonment for allegedly sending news of the protests in Burma in 2007 over the internet. I find it interesting that had they not used a computer to send this message, they may not have been caught. According to an article at Prachatai, the police had no evidence, but frankly, they didn’t need it. The decision was made before trial had even begun. Reports of the trial weren’t even released in Thailand.
Despite these reports of cyber related crimes, the article discusses that this use of technology is not what the Thailand monarchy is against. They are against the independent thoughts that might turn against their leaders. They are still a fairly technologically savvy country, but this use of technology to spread the independent thoughts of some activists in Thailand scares them. I just thought this was interesting because I had never thought about it before. The power of the internet scares them, but hopefully this won’t be enough to limit their access to free speech even further.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Update on Website Ban
According to the Bangkok Post, Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) now claims that the Thai police and government now blocks more than 50,000 websites due to their content.
The content is thought to include pornography, southern Thailand terrorism and anti-monarchy literature.
FACT is trying to change this. They are offering to help anyone who would like access to these sites by helping them install software that can get around these bans. This blog apparently has been compiling lists of banned sites for years now.
Another interesting fact this article revealed is that originally, the law only permits sites being blocked with a court order. Minister Ranongruk Suwunchwee recently ordered that these sites can now be blocked without court authority because getting a court order can take too much time.
Here is a link to FACT, an interesting blog that proactively fights censorship in Thailand.
The content is thought to include pornography, southern Thailand terrorism and anti-monarchy literature.
FACT is trying to change this. They are offering to help anyone who would like access to these sites by helping them install software that can get around these bans. This blog apparently has been compiling lists of banned sites for years now.
Another interesting fact this article revealed is that originally, the law only permits sites being blocked with a court order. Minister Ranongruk Suwunchwee recently ordered that these sites can now be blocked without court authority because getting a court order can take too much time.
Here is a link to FACT, an interesting blog that proactively fights censorship in Thailand.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Fear Among the People
An article on prachatai.com discusses the climate of fear that is being established in Thailand as a result of these censorship laws. After the arrest of one of their editors, prachatai now has to cooperate with government officials on their content and further investigation of their site.
The monitoring of these sites is only getting worse. Now internet cafes are require by law to have users type in their ID information before using a computer. As of now more than 2300 websites have been blocked, and there will most certainly be more.
These new occurrences are causing an increasing amount of fear among citizens and journalists of Thailand, as well as other countries who have become involved. A new concern is that these practices are pushing anti-monarchy forces underground, only making citizens further vulnerable to attacks by the monarchy. Some believe that this will result in an even more anonymous way of distributing their news, such as by pamphlets they could toss out into the streets. Though this would get the word out, it would not solve all of their problems with censorship.
One of the main problems with this law against anti-monarchy comments is that it is too difficult to decipher between remarks that are constructive and those that are offensive. Their solution is to punish all who speak of the monarchy, when the best solution would probably be to punish no one. This would help to alleviate some of the anger of the people as well as keep the innocent free.
The monitoring of these sites is only getting worse. Now internet cafes are require by law to have users type in their ID information before using a computer. As of now more than 2300 websites have been blocked, and there will most certainly be more.
These new occurrences are causing an increasing amount of fear among citizens and journalists of Thailand, as well as other countries who have become involved. A new concern is that these practices are pushing anti-monarchy forces underground, only making citizens further vulnerable to attacks by the monarchy. Some believe that this will result in an even more anonymous way of distributing their news, such as by pamphlets they could toss out into the streets. Though this would get the word out, it would not solve all of their problems with censorship.
One of the main problems with this law against anti-monarchy comments is that it is too difficult to decipher between remarks that are constructive and those that are offensive. Their solution is to punish all who speak of the monarchy, when the best solution would probably be to punish no one. This would help to alleviate some of the anger of the people as well as keep the innocent free.
Friday, March 20, 2009
PM in talks with Online Activists
The prime minister of Thailand recently met with online activists in concern with their practices negatively affected the monarchy’s image. He spoke out against the arrest of the Prachatai editor, saying that it was in no way beneficial to their cause. He also expressed interest in changing the execution of Article 112, which refers to the lèse majesté laws being enforced.
The PM said, according to an article on the Prachatai website, that after returning from the U.K he would re-examine the procedure and prosecution of the Computer Crime Law to be more prudent and proper.
He consulted with the activists about possibly setting up a new committee to deal with web content more efficiently. This committee would involve the MICT (Ministry of Information and Communications Technology), the police, and other experts.
While the police have claimed no wrongdoing in the arrest of Prachatai’s editor, web experts and sources close to the arrest claim that the arrest involved intimidation and threats to the rights of online media.
These activists have urged the government to stop this negative attitude towards online media, including saying that the Prachatai website is part of a conspiracy that is ‘subversive to the monarchy.’
Hopefully, talks like these will continue until the issue of online censorship is settled.
The PM said, according to an article on the Prachatai website, that after returning from the U.K he would re-examine the procedure and prosecution of the Computer Crime Law to be more prudent and proper.
He consulted with the activists about possibly setting up a new committee to deal with web content more efficiently. This committee would involve the MICT (Ministry of Information and Communications Technology), the police, and other experts.
While the police have claimed no wrongdoing in the arrest of Prachatai’s editor, web experts and sources close to the arrest claim that the arrest involved intimidation and threats to the rights of online media.
These activists have urged the government to stop this negative attitude towards online media, including saying that the Prachatai website is part of a conspiracy that is ‘subversive to the monarchy.’
Hopefully, talks like these will continue until the issue of online censorship is settled.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
New Book Ban
There’s a new book banning in Thailand! Recent reports on Prachatai state that the Thai government has now banned a thai translation of the Chinese Book, Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party. This book does not break any of the laws that books are currently most typically being banned for, reportedly because it criticizes the Chinese Communist party.
This inspires worry in the government that this book could affect the peaceful relations between Thailand and China.
This ban is technically covered by the Thai government under Article 9 of the Printing Act of 1941. This act states that publication of writing “contrary to public order or good morals” can be banned.
This ban marks the first time that an anti-communist writing has ever been banned in Thailand. This book inspires worry in the government of an uprising of anti-Chinese sentiment because it encourages Chinese citizens to denounce communism in China. The book already has a large cult following in Thailand.
Despite the ban, this book can still be ordered on Amazon.com.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Website Editor Arrested
The censorship in Thailand has now reached a new extreme. The BBC News reports that website editor and site founder Chiranuch Premchaiporn was arrested on charges of carrying content on her site the “threatened national security.”
The content that she is being charged for was deemed “too sensitive” to reveal, but according to a security officer who refused to be named, the content was posted by a reader relating to the monarchy. She reportedly had twenty days to take it down, but left it up for too long. Although there has been recent debate over a website editor’s right to control the comments posted on their site, it is still ridiculous to arrest someone over this kind of content.
This increasing intolerance for free speech against the monarchy has caused many writers to be charged and arrested, among them a well known academic who fled the country before he could be detained. These arrests are covered under the Computer Crimes Law that was passed a year and a half ago, and relates to sexual indecency and lèse-majesté (roughly translated as “the crime of injured majesty).
According to the English translation of Premchaiporn’s website, Prachatai (which I have to be honest- I have absolutely no idea what that word means. Tried to Google it. Failed. Sorry.), Premchaiporn received bail on Friday, March 6th. Also, according to their website, her office is currently being raided by the Crime Suppression Police, who as of yesterday were still copying her entire hard-drive.
Once again, this is new evidence that the monarchy is clearly feeling threatened by putting the monarchy into question. It just makes me wonder- what else needs to happen in order for a change in their censorship laws to take place?
The content that she is being charged for was deemed “too sensitive” to reveal, but according to a security officer who refused to be named, the content was posted by a reader relating to the monarchy. She reportedly had twenty days to take it down, but left it up for too long. Although there has been recent debate over a website editor’s right to control the comments posted on their site, it is still ridiculous to arrest someone over this kind of content.
This increasing intolerance for free speech against the monarchy has caused many writers to be charged and arrested, among them a well known academic who fled the country before he could be detained. These arrests are covered under the Computer Crimes Law that was passed a year and a half ago, and relates to sexual indecency and lèse-majesté (roughly translated as “the crime of injured majesty).
According to the English translation of Premchaiporn’s website, Prachatai (which I have to be honest- I have absolutely no idea what that word means. Tried to Google it. Failed. Sorry.), Premchaiporn received bail on Friday, March 6th. Also, according to their website, her office is currently being raided by the Crime Suppression Police, who as of yesterday were still copying her entire hard-drive.
Once again, this is new evidence that the monarchy is clearly feeling threatened by putting the monarchy into question. It just makes me wonder- what else needs to happen in order for a change in their censorship laws to take place?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Protect the King
Due to the criticism the Thailand Monarchy has been receiving as of late in regards their ousting of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Thailand’s Ministry of Information has now created an internet security center that coordinates the blocking of websites deemed offensive to the monarchy. They also developed a special website for people to go to in order to inform on those who criticize the monarchy.
The security center managed to block over 5000 websites within 24 hours of being created. These blockings were a result purely of being critical of the monarchy. Before this, websites were banned due to their use of pornography, the sale of sex equipment, and various threats to national security.
The Ministry’s new website, Protecttheking.net, is described as a means by which citizens can show loyalty to the king by protecting him from “misunderstandings” about him.
The creation of this website just shows how threatened the monarchy really is by the uprising of protestors, particularly for Shinawatra. According to the BBC News, this website is part of an effort to prevent any doubt in the future of the monarchy before it can gather momentum.
The security center managed to block over 5000 websites within 24 hours of being created. These blockings were a result purely of being critical of the monarchy. Before this, websites were banned due to their use of pornography, the sale of sex equipment, and various threats to national security.
The Ministry’s new website, Protecttheking.net, is described as a means by which citizens can show loyalty to the king by protecting him from “misunderstandings” about him.
The creation of this website just shows how threatened the monarchy really is by the uprising of protestors, particularly for Shinawatra. According to the BBC News, this website is part of an effort to prevent any doubt in the future of the monarchy before it can gather momentum.
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