Lawmakers Warn Of Power Abuse If Parliament Passes Spying Law

By Pravit Rojanaphruk, Senior Staff Writer

 

The National Legislative Assembly holds a session Thursday in Bangkok. Photo: Prachachat

 

BANGKOK — The president of the anti-corruption commission on Thursday tried to play down concerns over the possibility it could soon be allowed to wiretap and intrude on internet privacy by saying 80 other countries had done the same.

 

The junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly, or NLA, began debating the amendment to Article 37/1 of the organic law on anti-corruption Thursday before calling a recess at 5pm. It will likely vote tomorrow after resuming the debate at 9am.

 

Full Story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2017/12/21/lawmakers-warn-power-abuse-parliament-passes-spying-law/

 

-- © Copyright Khaosod English 2017-12-21

if its aimed only at officials and politicians I think it could be a good thing but I bet the officials and politicians dont. Doubt the public would be too worried about catching all the corrupt officials and politicians out, about time someone did

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

BANGKOK — The president of the anti-corruption commission on Thursday tried to play down concerns over the possibility it could soon be allowed to wiretap and intrude on internet privacy by saying 80 other countries had done the same.

 

That really doesn’t help play down fears. 

Edited December 21, 20178 yr by Bluespunk

“Don’t worry [about possible abuses],” said Watcharaphon adding that the whole NACC has to vote and decide before seeking court permission and that no one wants to go to prison for abusing their power.”

 

Oh well,  that’s alright then.

 

So reassuring.

 

My mind is so much more at ease. 

 

Go ahead boys. 

NACC wiretapping bill comes under NLA fire

By KAS CHANWANPEN 
THE NATION 

 

File photo : NACC President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit

 

CRUCIAL DECISION ON CONTROVERSIAL POWERS ‘ALLOWING INTRUSION OF PRIVACY’ DELAYED UNTIL TODAY

 

THE ORGANIC bill on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which would allow it to wiretap phone calls and other communications, was yesterday fiercely debated in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and seriously criticised for possible intrusions of privacy.

 

Legislators expressed concern that the stipulation was a double-edged sword and could hurt not only the agency but also people in the current regime once the political situation changes.

 

NLA members opposed to the NACC’s wiretapping authority encouraged the vetting committee or the NACC to withdraw the stipulation, rather than force the NLA to vote on the issue.

 

After almost five hours of heated debate, with the NACC refusing to back down, NLA Vice President Surachai Liangboonlertchai had to adjourn the session for 10 minutes before deciding to close the meeting and discuss the issue again today.

 

NACC President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit

 

People’s rights affected

 

The stipulation was initiated by the vetting committee and passed on to members of the NLA and the NACC. Among them was NACC President Pol General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, who yesterday argued that the bill laid out strict procedures and the wiretapping would not be able to be carried out arbitrarily.

 

The NACC could only wiretap phone calls or other communications of people who were accused of |fraud or being unusually rich, and with a court’s permission, Watcharapol said.

 

As agencies such as the Narcotics Control Board and Anti-Money Laundering Office already had the capability to conduct such operations, the NACC president said the NACC’s mission was equally important and the agency should have the same authority.

 

A minority on the vetting committee, including former NACC member Vicha Mahakun, Constitution drafter Pattara Khumpitak and other NLA members saw the issue differently, expressing concern that such power could be dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands.

 

NLA member Tuang Antachai said not only the current NACC commission would have the power but also future commissions selected by MPs and the Senate. 

 

Another legislator, Somchai Sawangkarn, said the stipulation could be abused for reprisals, adding that the NACC had the capability to close cases without relying on wiretapping. 

 

Vicha and Constitution drafters Pattara and Pakorn Nilprapan added that the stipulation could also undermine the NACC’s integrity. 

 

Vicha said the NACC was a semi-judicial agency with the responsibility of conducting trials, rather than just investigations, adding that such a proactive power to wiretap phone calls was unnecessary. 

 

Other critics said the stipulation would create an atmosphere of mistrust, while the public would be concerned that it was an intrusion of privacy, which would foster feelings of hostility towards the NACC.

 

Pakorn said people would trust the agency and provide it with tips based on its good relationship with the public. On the contrary, if the NACC insists on pursuing eavesdropping powers, people’s rights would be affected and they would be dissatisfied with the agency, he added.

 

Watcharapol responded that the NLA should trust that a good law would result in the recruitment of “good people” who would not abuse their power. 

 

However, he also added that abuse was unlikely given that the new legislation laid out harsh punishment for a commissioner who violates the law – twice the punishment of ordinary people.

 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30334498

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-22

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Watcharapol responded that the NLA should trust that a good law would result in the recruitment of “good people” who would not abuse their power. 

Hmm... 

 

Didn't the coup leaders call themselves "good people"? And weren't coups illegal?

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Legislators expressed concern that the stipulation was a double-edged sword and could hurt not only the agency but also people in the current regime once the political situation changes.

Now they are finally waking up to the fact that abusive laws are a double-edged sword, and usually good for no one.

 

That which is used on your enemies now will be used against you in the future.

 

The NACC is a hideous Hydra that will destroy Thai politics for a long, long time. It is definitely in the interests of Thailand to de-fang the monster now before it is too late.

Well, the people in power don't care and all it would take is the ARTICLE NO. (not to be named) to get OPERATION BIG BROTHER going in disquise.

absolutely not. If our esteemed govt. checks which I am sure they have, the coumntries that allow arbitrary wiretapping are all despot regimes and other countries require a very good reason like indisputable evidence of a possible crime which then has to be decided on by a judge before permission is granted. If not granted but an individual is wiretapped anyway it can not be used as evidence against him or her.

2 minutes ago, tigermoth said:

absolutely not. If our esteemed govt. checks which I am sure they have, the coumntries that allow arbitrary wiretapping are all despot regimes and other countries require a very good reason like indisputable evidence of a possible crime which then has to be decided on by a judge before permission is granted. If not granted but an individual is wiretapped anyway it can not be used as evidence against him or her.

Things operate a little differently on Planet Thailand.

55 minutes ago, tigermoth said:

absolutely not. If our esteemed govt. checks which I am sure they have, the coumntries that allow arbitrary wiretapping are all despot regimes and other countries require a very good reason like indisputable evidence of a possible crime which then has to be decided on by a judge before permission is granted. If not granted but an individual is wiretapped anyway it can not be used as evidence against him or her.

So, you are stating, the USA have a "despot regime" ?

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The president of the anti-corruption commission on Thursday tried to play down concerns over the possibility it could soon be allowed to wiretap and intrude on internet privacy by saying 80 other countries had done the same.

There's a 190+ countries where they have mostly effective traffic laws and enforcement too, but I don't see them jumping on that bandwagon.

 

There's a lot Thailand can learn from other countries, but they sure do seem selective about which ones they want to adopt.

 

BTW - I'm no fan of gov't spying on its own.

Edited December 22, 20178 yr by jaywalker

NACC, needs “tools” to apprehend politicians thought to be engaged in corruption. (From link)

 

maybe they can have new “tools” to play with, once they learn how to play with the tried and proven “tools” already at their disposal.... like photographic evidence of undisclosed wealth.... a malfeasance trivialized by mr “no tolerance” just yesterday

 

TIT.... it will be abused! Guaranteed.

 

1 minute ago, farcanell said:

NACC, needs “tools” to apprehend politicians thought to be engaged in corruption. (From link)

 

maybe they can have new “tools” to play with, once they learn how to play with the tried and proven “tools” already at their disposal.... like photographic evidence of undisclosed wealth.... a malfeasance trivialized by mr “no tolerance” just yesterday

 

TIT.... it will be abused! Guaranteed.

 

No worries. Whatever they buy to snoop on each other will be broken in a month or so.

33 minutes ago, jaywalker said:

No worries. Whatever they buy to snoop on each other will be broken in a month or so.

Lol... the non functioning tsunami warning system springs to mind. I wonder if they ever got around to changing those batteries

7 hours ago, BernieOnTour said:

So, you are stating, the USA have a "despot regime" ?

f the cap fits

6 hours ago, farcanell said:

Lol... the non functioning tsunami warning system springs to mind. I wonder if they ever got around to changing those batteries

Batteries? What batteries?    Ummmm........where is the tsunami warning system?

 

When you're spending billions on submarines and tanks (for the glorification of the armed forces and its leaders) who cares about a tsunami warning system and the efforts that farangs and other foreigners made to help the Kingdom in its hours of need. The feudal system has new leaders now and they are seemingly interested in only themselves - not the 'serfs'. And if the Kingdom's leaders want a spying law that will get that also. A ME society?  Yup. Any 'resistance' by others in Government is only tokenism for public consumption.

Edited December 22, 20178 yr by lvr181
Additional comment

oh...so many other countries are invading peoples privacy illegally so obviously it is fine if we infringe on our populations rights as well. After all, we know far better than the public what is best for them.