Pro-election activist arrested for allegedly violating Computer Crime Act

 

 

A political activist was arrested by police from the Computer Crime Suppression Division at his residence on Monday night, on charges of posting a statement on his Facebook page which is alleged to be in violation of the Computer Crime Act.

 

According to Mr. Winyat Chartmontri, secretary-general of Federation of Jurists for Rights and Liberties, the suspect, identified as Mr. Karn Pongprapaphan, had a warrant issued for his arrest, as requested by officials of the Ministry of Digital for Economy and Society, related to his social media post on October 2nd regarding history in foreign countries.

 

Winyat said that the police should have issued a summons for Mr. Karn instead of an arrest warrant because he has a permanent residence in Bangkok and has no intention of escaping.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/pro-election-activist-arrested-for-allegedly-violating-computer-crime-act/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-10-08

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6 minutes ago, webfact said:

related to his social media post on October 2nd regarding history in foreign countries.

What is wrong with making a FB post about the history of foreign countries , its out there on the internet for everyone to see if they so wish .

The computer crimes act, LOL

15 minutes ago, Creasy said:

The computer crimes act, LOL

really the free thought crimes act

A basic human right of being able to express an opinion or having free speech is still sadly lacking in this country. It will be interesting to see how stuff like this plays out in the future in Thailand. 

1 hour ago, keith101 said:

What is wrong with making a FB post about the history of foreign countries , its out there on the internet for everyone to see if they so wish .

Lese Majeste law also protects foreign royals from being insulted as far as I have heard so posting anything critical of a foreign royal or royal history protected by the law could result in the law being applied.

13 minutes ago, TooBigToFit said:

Lese Majeste law also protects foreign royals from being insulted as far as I have heard so posting anything critical of a foreign royal or royal history protected by the law could result in the law being applied.

I once dated a girl here who wore a ‘God save the queen’ Sex Pistols t-shirt. She avoided arrest somehow. 
 

This obviously isn’t about insulting foreign monarchs. 

2 minutes ago, rkidlad said:

I once dated a girl here who wore a ‘God save the queen’ Sex Pistols t-shirt. She avoided arrest somehow. 
 

This obviously isn’t about insulting foreign monarchs. 

Sad but true. 

3 hours ago, keith101 said:

What is wrong with making a FB post about the history of foreign countries , its out there on the internet for everyone to see if they so wish .

Any intelligent discussions are deemed a threat by the 1% and the army. 

3 hours ago, keith101 said:

What is wrong with making a FB post about the history of foreign countries , its out there on the internet for everyone to see if they so wish .

Not if it is actively blocked from access within Thailand, as so many pages are.

An inflammatory post with links has been removed

2 hours ago, TooBigToFit said:

Lese Majeste law also protects foreign royals from being insulted as far as I have heard so posting anything critical of a foreign royal or royal history protected by the law could result in the law being applied.

... as it would imply by extension an insult or disrespect to said concept or institution.

Edited October 8, 20196 yr by daoyai

Political activist Karn jailed over Facebook post

By THE NATION

 

 

Political activist Karn Pongpraphapan was taken into custody early on Tuesday after Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) police arrested him at his house in Phahon Yothin on Monday night for posting a message on Facebook about foreign history allegedly in violation of Section 14 of the Computer-Related Crime Act.

 

During a brief interview before being jailed at Thung Song Hong police station on Tuesday, Karn said he would fight the case because it was a serious allegation.

 

Karn’s attorney Winyat Chatmontree, who is also the secretary-general of the United Lawyers for Rights and Liberty, questioned whether the police overdid it by taking Karn into custody.

 

“Since my client showed no intention to flee, the TCSD should have issued a summons first instead of filing an arrest warrant,” Winyat said.

 

“The message that Karn posted on his private Facebook page had nothing to do with a rumour currently circulating on Twitter,” he said. “It was a five-sentence post about historic events that he wrote from his experience reading books or watching movies.”

 

According to Winyat, the post was deleted immediately after Karn received a warning message from officials, “but someone edited his message and made it viral on the Internet”.

 

Winyat added that his client was in “good spirits but stressful because he has never been arrested like this before”, although he has been charged over political activism in the past.

 

“The investigation has gone well after he met with lawyers and relatives,” Winyat said.

 

Karn has rejected the allegation against him, admitting that he did post the message but with a different intention. His family has prepared collateral of Bt300,00a0-Bt400,000 to bail him out.

 

If found guilty, Karn faces up to five years in prison.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-10-08

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2 hours ago, BobbyL said:

A basic human right of being able to express an opinion or having free speech is still sadly lacking in this country. It will be interesting to see how stuff like this plays out in the future in Thailand. 

It seem they are moving closer to a Chinese view of basic human rights.... regrettably.

I hope he was not discussing the French revolution, or any other one in that era.

With this"computer act violating" this government can still control everyone and can make all the oppositions mouth dead as fight against any investigating journalists or private persons. That's the acting of a government ruled by the military and far from a democratic country.

As long as the laws in this country are effed up in a way, that we can not even know what EXACTLY he posted, I will not refer to Thailand as a Democracy or as a "free" country or as anything other than a banana- republic!

A Thai university student told me an hour ago on the sensitive topics, 'In Thailand, getting close to the truth is getting close to death.' Pretty darn good way to put it.

A reminder of the intense microscope people are now living under. Expressing yourself can land you in jail. Remind me of the form of government steers Thailand?

there is much more written on his arrest on bbc thai, on khaosonenglish.com , as well as prachathai.com 

 

thai pbs is a governmental disinformation agency. The nation is even less reliable source of information on any subject as it was bought by politically motivated media consortium

Allegations are so convenient to have handy...

3 hours ago, Saint Nick said:

I will not refer to Thailand as a Democracy

According to the Democracy Index published by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Thailand is not a "democracy."  https://www.eiu.com/topic/democracy-index

And it looks as though this has led to this typical knee-jerk reaction

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2019/10/08/digital-minister-orders-cafes-restaurants-to-collect-customers-wifi-data/

 

I'll wait until this makes the news section properly before commenting. Coukd be an interesting thread!

3 hours ago, Chang_paarp said:

I hope he was not discussing the French revolution, or any other one in that era.

You may hope, but...........

It cant that big a deal seeing there are only 2 cops in the pic instead of the usual 2 dozen and no pointing at all??

This guy was/is an activist against whom they are seeking retribution. Previous charges were dropped by the Court. Now they are trying to dig up anything to charge him. Sad that powerful gov't forces are so vindictive to after one measly guy!

What is wrong with making a FB post about the history of foreign countries , its out there on the internet for everyone to see if they so wish .

further 5 people might be arrested with his case.

Another crackdown on opposition, the previous one was a spate of street attacks by undercover soldiers.

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2019/10/08/govt-says-5-more-people-may-be-nabbed-for-royal-insult/

Thailand is now supposed to be a democracy. Dissent and content critical of the government, and it's policies is supposed to be allowed. Is there any difference now, then while the Junta was in control? Is Thailand really a democracy? Why such thin skin? Why such intolerance of dissent? Why is the army continuing to wear it's power completely devoid of grace and dignity? 

 

The Thai army. An institution as useless as any this nation has ever seen. Moving the nation backwards, at a breath taking and astonishing pace. 

It would be so easy to set someone up just hack their phone or account and post away.
They already bought the spyware now all they need is everybody install it.

My advice don't install any software from the gov lol.

Edited October 9, 20196 yr by monkfish

23 hours ago, webfact said:

Karn has rejected the allegation against him, admitting that he did post the message but with a different intention. His family has prepared collateral of Bt300,00a0-Bt400,000 to bail him out.

He admitted posting a message.  Why do these people talk to the police, and why do they admit anything?  

Edited October 9, 20196 yr by 4675636b596f75