Computer Related Offences Act

[taxexile]

YouTube Blackout Raises Concern Over Expanding Censorship in Thailand

Graham Lees | Bio | 17 Apr 2007

World Politics Watch Exclusive

BANGKOK, Thailand -- The quaint 1956 Hollywood musical xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx probably would have been banned in Thailand under broadening definitions of "national security" now being cited by military coup leaders to justify their increasing censorship.

But in any case, the movie, starring the late Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, is already outlawed under another device that curbs public opinion, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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With this in mind, Thai denizens of the newish world of the Internet should perhaps not be so surprised that the popular video forum YouTube has been blocked xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Many non-Thais would probably agree that the video clip -- and imitators that followed -- are culturally insensitive.

But the YouTube blackout has illustrated to a global audience a level of creeping electronic censorship that is now extending into all Web corners where Thais want to talk about the country's political impasse since tanks ousted the elected government last September.

That government, led by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now in exile, was accused by the military and its supporters of dividing the nation by causing large-scale pro- and anti-Thaksin demonstrations -- although only in Bangkok -- over the issues of corruption and, ironically, concentration of power and censorship.

But even as the military-appointed caretaker government, led by a former general, supposedly grooms the country for parliamentary elections, all political activity remains banned -- and a new, sinister-sounding law is being drawn up: the Computer-Related Offenses Commission Act.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), a media freedom watchdog, says it is "concerned that Thailand's rulers are broadening their definition of online content that they will not tolerate.

"In the immediate days following the coup the junta warned Thais to desist from commentary that may be deemed insulting to the monarchy," says SEAPA. "In recent days, however, the government has explicitly warned against political content in the name of national security or for the sake of countering 'divisive messages'."

SEAPA says such "broad and vague terms" undermine free expression.

Ironically, SEAPA, founded in 1998 to campaign for "genuine press freedom," based itself in Bangkok because at the time Thailand was perceived to have the region's least fettered media.

Today, Thai Internet service providers have to employ technical staff on 24-hour shifts in readiness to act on a blocking whim from the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, reports SEAPA. Failure to comply could jeopardize the providers' entire business.

The police also independently take it upon themselves to block and unblock thousands of Web sites, albeit many of them pornographic.

The state-owned Communication Authority of Thailand (CAT) controls the main Internet gateway into Thailand, but several private companies share the same Web traffic route.

"It's a Catch-22 conundrum for many in Thailand. Because Thais revere the king, it is difficult for people to openly challenge a government that keeps claiming it is acting to protect the monarchy and to unify the nation," said an industry representative who spoke only on condition of anonymity. "But there is a growing feeling at least among the Bangkok middle classes that this loyalty is being exploited to stifle dissent."

National unity has been one of the recurring themes of the king in his rare speeches to the nation, although he has said publicly that he should not be regarded as above criticism.

XXXXXXXXXXXX are another matter. A Swiss man married to a Thai and resident in Thailand xxxxxxxxxxx

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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The man was pardoned by the king last week but immediately deported, minus wife.

YouTube declined to answer specific questions for this report and merely regurgitated a Pontius Pilate-like statement made earlier by communications chief Julie Supan.

"While we will not take down videos that do not violate our policies, and will not assist in implementing censorship, we have offered to educate the Thai Ministry [of Information and Communications Technology] about YouTube and how it works," Supan said. "It's up to the Thailand government to decide whether to block specific videos, but we would rather that than have them block the entire site."

The Bangkok Post said both the Thai government and YouTube had handled the royal clips video affair badly. It accused the government of a "hammer whack" approach that had created negative worldwide publicity

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The YouTube block remains. But of far more concern to Thais who want to see a return to democracy is the regime's blocking or intimidation of Thailand-based Web sites that provide a forum for political discussion. The YouTube affair has drawn greater public attention to the information ministry's Internet calling card -- an Orwellian emblem in the shape of an eye, which is superimposed on blocked sites.

One of Thailand's most popular Web sites for political discussion chat rooms, Pantip.com, was suddenly blocked last week for two days on grounds of national security before being allowed to re-open with a warning to operate "within limits."

Pantip's operators say they are bewildered as to what those limits are, but the consequence is that they have been intimidated into imposing their own 24-hour monitoring guard to stop anything they themselves deem too sensitive for the ministry. Pantip now also requires chat room visitors to disclose their full identity.

One of the "national security" chat room debates that upset the coup leaders was the revelation that the army was using public funds to finance a disinformation campaign against political opponents.

Although Bangkok has a vibrant print media, most Thais receive their daily diet of news via TV and radio, dominated by government and military. Most support for Thaksin came from the rural poor.

The army has for many years owned hundreds of radio stations, and when it seized power last September closed many independent community broadcasters.

But censorship or intimidation of media in Thailand is not new in the region. Across the ten countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations -- which is drafting a charter to supposedly to put ASEAN on the road to a European Union-style pluralistic entity -- press freedom is an ambition rather than a reality, even in the most developed countries.

SEAPA currently cites evidence of media intimidation in four ASEAN countries -- Malaysia, Burma, Brunei and Thailand.

The Singapore government uses libel laws like Thais use les majeste to silence domestic and foreign media critics, and employs tight control over what its citizens can see on the Internet. Malaysia's media is government-muzzled and the only outlet for dissenting political opinion is the Internet, where Malaysians have so far largely escaped interference.

The Paris-based Reporters without Borders' campaign for media freedom ranks Singapore 146th in its 2006 ratings of 168 countries -- below even Cambodia. The Philippines doesn't fair much better at 142nd. Thailand is ranked 122.

In Thailand, freedom of speech was guaranteed by the country's popular 1997 constitution. Unfortunately, it was ripped up by the coup leaders who condemned it as too weak to protect the nation from despots. Many opponents of the creeping censorship in Thailand argue that government agencies are acting illegally in blocking Internet sites. Cynics say that's why the Computer-Related Offenses Commission Act is being drafted.

It's all a long way from SEAPA's objective of a region "where free expression and an independent and responsible press promote information and knowledge societies with transparency and pluralism as the norm."

Graham Lees is a Bangkok-based British journalist who has worked in several countries in East Asia over the last ten years covering regional business and political affairs.

© 2007, World Politics Watch LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use : About World Politics Watch

ARTICLE EDITED/CENSORED ... TO AVOID BREACHING THAI VISA POSTING RULES.

Edited April 17, 2007 by taxexile

[Heng]

Juntas rule!

[peaces]

Watch out! This topic might be deleted too because of the censorship laws and the mods not wanting any trouble from the powers that be which is understandable.

This forum as the name says is thaivisa so years ago when it started i wondered why foreigners would post on a site like this rather than one say offshore. Anyway here we are.

[ColPyat]

I wonder if our so vocal supporters here of the Junta again shine by their absence, while in different threads go on and on and on about the evildoings of their nemesis Thaksin...

Edited April 17, 2007 by ColPyat

[taxexile]

a discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of freedom of expression shouldnt need to be deleted.

[jasreeve17]

a discussion about the benefits and drawbacks of freedom of expression shouldnt need to be deleted.

You are, off course, correct in that statement, Tax.

Were these types of threads under threat of closure six months, or a year ago?

(I wasn't around then, to know.)

[A_Traveller]

The position was much more vague then, with the Thaksin government using a multiplicity of techniques to ensure a more compliant press. The web, and the falang area of it was to a large degree ignored. Strangely the present 'team' seem to be unable to get their heads around the 'new media' {see posting re the IT minister considering the internet 'dull' to paraphrase}, but very keen to close down sites, servers and information areas which it views as being destablising to the national good as they perceive it.

Interesting Times

Regards

It Minister & the net

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=116605

/edit typo, qualifier & link //

Edited April 17, 2007 by A_Traveller

[Pepe']

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