Activist to sue media over threats

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION 

 

 

LEGAL MOVES are being taken against online news outlets using “fake news” to incite hatred against activists campaigning to abolish the death penalty.

 

Pro-democracy activist Nuttaa Mahattana yesterday announced she would sue outlets for sharing posts containing false information and misquoting her stance against the death penalty.

 

Her vow came after Thailand’s resumption of executions last week provoked a storm of controversy here and abroad. 

 

Nuttaa told a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand that erroneous information had caused widespread misunderstanding and generated public hatred towards her. She said the spread of fake news had made her a victim of cyberbullying. 

 

People who disagreed with her stance that the death penalty should be revoked had reacted with vicious personal attacks on social media, threatening her with rape and her and her family with murder, she said.

 

She felt duty-bound to protect herself and her loved ones by suing those who spread the false information, Nuttaa said.

 

Two online media outlets, TNews and the Facebook-based Derajchan News, were mentioned by name at the press conference as the sources alleged to have distributed inaccurate reports. They, along with other Facebook news fanpages alleged to have shared the reports, will be sued for distributing false information on the Internet and for defamation, said Nuttaa.

 

 “These news outlets have tried to use the public debate over death penalty abolition to provoke a social outcry against me by spreading false and misleading information, which is very irresponsible and unethical for media practitioners” Nuttaa said.

 

“I also notice that all these media outlets oppose my political stance and activism regarding democracy, so their action may have a hidden political agenda.”

 

She said she would not target individuals who threatened her and her family, as she understood that many social media attacked her out of personal anger. Nuttaa however warned that she will not tolerate any more threats and social bullying, and will sue anyone who from now attacked her or her family.

 

Social bullying of rights advocates was also denounced by another high-profile activist. 

 

Former chairwoman of Amnesty International Thailand and Cross Culture Foundation director Pornpen Khongkachonkiet said that she, along with her organisations, have also been targets of bullying in society and on social media over their roles as human rights defenders.

 

Pornpen said the period under the military government has seen an increase in both the number and intensity of attacks against rights defenders on social media. Many of the attacks were actually information operations by the Army, she said, adding that security agencies often saw human rights activists as the opposition.

 

Nuttaa said that the social media backlash signified serious problems in society. She identified a lack of respect for other people’s opinions, and the absence of a culture of constructive debate on public issues based on logic and facts.

 

“Public issues, such as enforcement of the death penalty, should be widely critiqued and debated among members of the public, but our society does not have a democratic environment to foster this culture,” she said. “So it is crucial that all of us campaign for the installing of genuine democracy in our society.”

 

The topic of death penalty enforcement has been a hot issue since a convicted murderer last week became the first person in nine years to be executed in Thailand.

 

The execution was widely condemned by international rights guardians as a violation of the most basic of all human rights – the right to life – and for abandoning the country’s stated commitment to revoke the death penalty. In response, many Thai netizens were scathing in their criticism of the international bodies. 

 

Polls suggest a majority within Thai society strongly supports the execution of prisoners who have committed serious crimes.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30348599

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-26

Everyone has the right to their opinions which should be respected. There is no place or excuse for bullying and threats just because you don't agree with someone's point of view! No wonder the world, and Thailand in particular, is so broken!

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

3 minutes ago, graemeaylward said:

Everyone has the right to their opinions which should be respected. There is no place or excuse for bullying and threats just because you don't agree with someone's point of view! No wonder the world, and Thailand in particular, is so broken!

Sent from my Lenovo A3000-H using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Unfortunately social media often encourages an extremely dualistic view of the world.Black and white-us against them-love or hate..

 

Add to that the cowardice of anonymity (if you are using it to attack someone)and you have a potentially lethal brew which no-one seems inclined to curtail.

 

Pluralism is the only defense against Dualism but it is having a hard battle to maintain its position in the current political climate.

Capital punishment can set an awful precedent. Look at the people threatening rape and murder for not agreeing with it. It just desentizes people. Believe it or not - some people are so angry and miserable in their lives that they take pleasure in hate. In other peoples’ suffering. 

 

To quote Maximus from ‘Gladiator’ “are you not entertained?”. 

1 hour ago, graemeaylward said:

Everyone has the right to their opinions

In this country it needs a small amendment: as long as it is in accordance with the ruling circles and those moralin junkies constantly drunk on their exceptional high moral standards.

This young lady is a force to be reckoned with. 

There are few women in Thailand that could match her integrity and intellect. I would not be surprised if she became prime minister one day. 

And what a wonderful day that would be. 

Capital punishment does work, after all the killer in Thailand is now dead and will not

get out of jail, and kill again. I just wished that in Canada, the death penalty existed and we

could rid ourselves of Killers like Robert Picton, the pig farmer murderer. Just my opinion

Geezer

9 hours ago, webfact said:

LEGAL MOVES are being taken against online news outlets using “fake news” to incite hatred

 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

sharing posts containing false information

 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

erroneous information had caused widespread misunderstanding

Isn't "fake news" that incites harm and confusion in violation of the 2017 amended Computer Crimes Act?

• Sharing data that affects others negatively is considered illegal.
• Entering false data into a computer system that could cause damage to the public, create panic, or cause harm to public infrastructure, national security, public security or economic security is illegal.

https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/Thailands-muchdebated-Computer-Crimes-Act-goes-effect

• The updated law bars content that is fake.

http://www.thailawforum.com/thailands-computer-crimes-act-takes-effect-this-may/

So why aren't the authorities taking lead action against those accused online news outlets?

But then that's an imaginary question, isn't it? Such cited fake news doesn't affect the reputation of the "good people" - the NCPO, Prayut's government or pro-military supporters.

Just another example of unequal justice. Thanks to Prayut for this reform.

5 hours ago, greenchair said:

This young lady is a force to be reckoned with. 

There are few women in Thailand that could match her integrity and intellect. I would not be surprised if she became prime minister one day. 

And what a wonderful day that would be. 

Integrity and intelligence are not the criteria by which PM's are chosen for here, quite the opposite actually.