Thai PM, army deny campaigns on social media to target political opponents

 

Thai students protest against a court's decision that dissolved the country's second largest opposition Future Forward party, less than a year after an election to end direct military rule, at Mahidol University, outside Bangkok, Thailand February 25, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's prime minister and the army denied on Wednesday opposition accusations in parliament that the military targets political opponents and rights activists with online propaganda campaigns run from fake accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

 

The accusations provoked Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to walk out of a heated parliamentary debate on Tuesday after a lawmaker of the outlawed opposition Future Forward Party presented documents that he said bore out the claims.

 

"I don't know about this, I don't have this type of policy," Prayuth told reporters on Wednesday, referring to the documents.

 

"We will investigate, but there is no policy."

 

The lawmaker, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, had told parliament the documents showed Prayuth's government was funding military-run smear campaigns to systematically harass opponents and praise the government on social media.

 

He read from what he said were two leaked military memos that ordered army personnel to create fake social media accounts to "offer counternarrative" for criticism of the government.

 

Reuters has not examined the documents.

 

"The army works in the open and we don't use avatars," Lieutenant General Thanya Kiatsarn, of the second army area command, a unit the opposition said figured in one of the memos, told the Khaosod newspaper.

 

Some soldiers may be using social media to defend the reputation of the military but the effort was not centrally organised, he added.

 

Facebook and Twitter did not immediately respond to emails to seek comment.

 

Prayuth's coalition majority was strengthened by the disbanding last week of Future Forward, the third-largest party in parliament, on the grounds that the party breached the law when it took a loan from its founder.

 

The dissolution has sparked daily protests among university students who are among the party's most vocal supporters.

 

Following Friday's court ruling to dissolve the party, its members have launched a string of accusations against Prayuth and the former military junta he led for five years before elections in 2019.

 

The ruling banned from politics 11 party lawmakers who lost their seats, while giving the 65 remaining MPs 60 days to either form a new party or join an existing one.

 

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Editing by Kay Johnson and Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-27

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6 minutes ago, webfact said:

The accusations provoked Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to walk out of a heated parliamentary debate on Tuesday after a lawmaker of the outlawed opposition Future Forward Party presented documents that he said bore out the claims.

Despite attacks, Prayut manages to keep his cool

 

Walking out during a debate, making accusations against him and his cronies, is hardly "keeping his cool",  as was stated the previous day.????????????????.

Hopefully, the first signs of him showing the real side of himself, and hopefully, also, leading to his downfall !

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The lawmaker, Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, had told parliament the documents showed Prayuth's government was funding military-run smear campaigns to systematically harass opponents and praise the government on social media.

quite believable given that the rulers are military; so....let's see the documents 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

but the effort was not centrally organised,

Probably the key phrase. Individuals are being encouraged to target opposition and activists, praising govt at the same time but connections back to the organizers will be hard to find. Deniability, ensuring top generals dont have their names on written orders. 'Encouragement' will have been given over drinks, on the golf course and passed down to lesser ranks that are disposable. Lets face it the military are probably not capable of any central organisation. As usual its Reuters doing the digging, Thai media being either too scared or too involved to be active.

Well, anyone with half a brain knew they were doing this already. Finally, we have proof. Wonder if any of these paid shills are on TV. If they are, they’re actually just making it worse for the government and those in power. How ironic. 
 

Just more proof how utterly pathetic this mob are. 

Edited February 26, 20206 yr by rkidlad

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand's prime minister and the army

I like the way these titles are linked so closely together, just the way it should be and always will be. No dancing around, the link is there, let's just call a spade a spade.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"I don't know about this, I don't have this type of policy," Prayuth told reporters on Wednesday, referring to the documents.

So if the memos are verified, that pretty much proves Prayut really doesn't know what the blank is going on in his ranks.

Just what you can expect from bullies, do as i say or else, pathetic situation.

A crowd of old army has beens destroying this country, and for what?

Money, power.

23 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Just what you can expect from bullies, do as i say or else, pathetic situation.

A crowd of old army has beens destroying this country, and for what?

Money, power.

It's like a boys clubhouse with guns and tanks, and submarines coming soon. (old boys clubhouse)

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"I don't know about this, I don't have this type of policy," Prayuth told reporters

Well, it doesn't have to be a policy. A suggestion in a receptive ear usually does the trick, I'm sure he knows how this works...

Publish the documents; send them to Reuters.

You know it's true when he can't think of any defence on the spot and walks out ???? 

18 minutes ago, faraday said:

Publish the documents; send them to Reuters.

They are public already

https://www.facebook.com/596740650403664/posts/2796514693759571/

46 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

Well, it doesn't have to be a policy. A suggestion in a receptive ear usually does the trick, I'm sure he knows how this works...

 

"Be a shame if something happened to the FFP"

 

There are no checks and balances or transparancy, so I guess I wouldn't be surprised if the State Security Apparatus, AKA ISOC, had some elements dipping their toes into the waters?

The government here does whatever the heck wanna do so if you want to believe it believe it I think it’s a joke TIT

Why bother with social media campaigns when all they have to do is dissolve opposition parties and ban and imprison MP's. Much easier solution.

 

Man child junta general PM, bringer of happiness to the thais spits the dummy. 

What a man and a leader of men.