Wiretapping a threat to citizens, Meechai again warns

By The Nation

 

Meechai.

 

Charter drafter chief Meechai Ruchupan said on Thursday that citizens would have more problems than benefit by giving greater authority to the National Anti-Corruption Commission to wiretap phone calls.

 

The issue was being hotly debated at the National Legislative Assembly meeting today before the NLA called on the debate to continue tomorrow as it could not reach a resolution on the issue.

 

 The NLA’s law vetting committee has added clauses concerning the new power, but some who drafted the original law including Meechai see mainly disadvantages in granting additional surveillance powers.

 

People’s human rights and right to privacy are on the line, according to Meechai, who previously warned the NLA members that they could be specific targets of future tapping. 

 

“Although they have to ask permission from the court, they would have 90 days to wiretap a hundred individuals and so on, just to try to catch one wrongdoer. It might be fun for the chasers, but not for those whose rights are violated,” said Meechai.

 

Meechai said the Constitution Drafting Commission would not be able to say anything much about the issue, if anything, until the joint law review panel is set up after the law has passed three readings.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30334488

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-22

Actually they would be able to spy on any political opponent just by stating he is suspected of corruption.

Mr Meechai Ruchupan seems a wise and a good man who deserves full respect.

 

Edited December 21, 20178 yr by observer90210

3 hours ago, observer90210 said:

Mr Meechai Ruchupan seems a wise and a good man who deserves full respect.

 

only on this issue I agree. In past he has been just an old conservative and undemocratic guy.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Wiretapping a threat to citizens, Meechai again warns

and that's why it will be implemented

6 hours ago, Raymonddiaz said:

only on this issue I agree. In past he has been just an old conservative and undemocratic guy.

how ?

The underlying motivation to speak out against this seems to be more about self-preservation (Meechai included perhaps), not necessarily protection of "rights" for peons and serfs.   Meechai trying to be subtle in reminding The Boyz in Green that their time in power was meant to be temporary, so don't go overboard with all this anti-corruption nonsense, as it may come round and bite you later.

It is crazy that this is even being considered and very suspect if it is passed.