Police Raid Prachatai News Online Office

[justanothercybertosser]

Police raid Prachatai news online office

Cirme Suppression police raided news online office of Prachatai on Friday, arresting web director for allegedly violating computer law by allowing the lese majeste comments posted on the webboards.

Web director Jeeranuch Premchaiyaporn's computer was also confiscated during the raid.

Jeeranuch denied the allegation and that she would be interrogated only in front of her lawyer, the website said.

The web director has a duty to take care of all comments in the website and delete any improper ones. A Prachatai staff who did not want to be named said Prachatai consistency censors improper or rude comments in its website and web board.

Police accused the website of leaving lese majeste comments 20 days in the webboard.

Police and the Information and Communication Technology Ministry always issued their warning if such comments were founded in the website but there was no warning this time, the staff said.

There is no clear criterion to judge what kind of comments and contents in the web could be deemed as 'lese majeste', the official said. Police did not show the posted comments in question.

The computer law violators could be jailed for up to five years or fined not more than Bt100,000 or both.

The authorities have launched a campaign to crackdown websites accusing them of posting lese majeste contents. Many websites based inside and outside the country were blocked.

A dozen of individuals were arrested with the charge of lese majeste directly under the Penal Code such as former minister attach to Prime Minister Office Jakrabop Penkair, social critic Sulak Sivaraksa and Australian English teacher Harry Nicolaides while some of them were arrested under the computer law such Suwicha Thakhor and Jeeranuch.

A group of 50 international academics called the government on Wednesday to reform the lese majeste law and release all detainees under such charges.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/topstory/3...s-online-office

[justanothercybertosser]

Police visit Prachatai office with search and arrest warrants for website moderator

<h5 class="detailsubmit">Pr

06 March 2009

News</h5> On March 6, at 3 pm, seven police officers visited Prachatai office in Bangkok, showing a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Prachatai Director. She is charged with the offense according to Article 15 of the Computer Crime Act. She has refused to answer any questions, and is waiting for her lawyer.

2007 Computer Crime Act

Article 14. If any person commits any offence of the following acts shall be subject to imprisonment for not more than five years or a fine of not more than one hundred thousand baht or both:

(1) that involves import to a computer system of forged computer data, either in whole or in part, or false computer data, in a manner that is likely to cause damage to that third party or the public;

(2) that involves import to a computer system of false computer data in a manner that is likely to damage the country's security or cause a public panic;

(3) that involves import to a computer system of any computer data related with an offence against the Kingdom's security under the Criminal Code;

(4) that involves import to a computer system of any computer data of a pornographic nature that is publicly accessible;

(5) that involves the dissemination or forwarding of computer data already known to be computer data under (1) (2) (3) or (4);

Article 15. Any service provider intentionally supporting or consenting to an offence under Section 14 within a computer system under their control shall be subject to the same penalty as that imposed upon a person committing an offence under Section 14.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=1030

Prachatai editor: arrest because of comments posted in web-board; bail for Chiranuch being processed

<h5 class="detailsubmit">Prachatai

06 March 2009

News</h5> Chuwat Rerksirisuk, Prachatai editor, says he has yet to see details of the charge against Prachatai Director Chiranuch Premchaiporn, but only knows that comments posted by readers and left displayed on the web-board led to the arrest.

The police have confiscated Chiranuch's computer for investigation, and are now copying data in her hard disk. Assoc Prof Chantana Banpasirichote, political science lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, is going to the Crime Suppression Division to bail Chiranuch out using her public service position, as the police say the bail would be possible.

The Prachatai editor says he still does not know which comments caused the problem, but will do when the police give Chiranuch the details of the charge later.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=1031

[justanothercybertosser]

Police arrest Thai website editor

By Jonathan Head

BBC News, Bangkok

Police in Thailand have arrested the editor of a leading political website, on charges of carrying content that threatens national security.

The Bangkok-based Prachatai website is well-known for carrying content that Thai newspapers will not publish.

The charge carries a maximum five-year jail sentence.

Thailand's reputation for media freedom has suffered in recent years, in particular through lese-majeste laws, which ban criticism of the monarchy.

Armed with an arrest warrant Thai police entered the offices of Prachatai, and detained Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the woman who founded the popular news website five years ago.

She has been charged under a new law which makes it an offence to carry computer content that endangers national security.

Freedom of expression

When asked to explain what kind of content had brought about the charge, the police refused to comment, saying it was too sensitive.

But one officer, who did not want to be named, told the BBC it was comments about the monarchy posted by readers on the website at the end of last year that were at issue.

The Thai authorities have been increasingly intolerant of perceived criticism of the monarchy in recent months.

Thousands of websites have been blocked, and a number of people charged and arrested, including a well-known academic, who fled to Britain before he could be detained.

However the use of the severe lese-majeste law has provoked widespread condemnation around the world, and a campaign by academics to have the law changed.

By instead invoking the new computer crimes law - passed just 18 months ago - the authorities may be hoping to stifle debate about the monarchy without stirring up another outcry over freedom of expression in Thailand.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7928159.stm

[jumnien]

There is a hilarious headline in today's Nation - "PM committed to press freedom". Yeah, and George Bush is converting to Islam, as well. Nothing much can be said about this within the confines of Thailand.

[justanothercybertosser]

THAILAND: AHRC strongly condemns police raid on news outlet

According to an announcement issued today on the website of Prachatai, one of the few independent and outspoken media outlets operating in Thailand,

"On March 6, at 3 pm, seven police officers visited Prachatai office in Bangkok, showing a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Prachatai Director. She is charged with the offense according to Article 15 of the Computer Crime Act. She has refused to answer any questions, and is waiting for her lawyer."

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has confirmed this information. According to the relevant section of the 2007 Computer Crime Act read with section 14, any service provider consenting to any act that involves, among other things, the importing of "false data" likely to "cause damage" to the public or the country's security, or likely to cause "public panic" is liable to a jail term of up to five years and a fine of up to a hundred thousand Thai baht.

The AHRC condemns this police raid and the issuing of the arrest warrant for the Prachatai director in the strongest possible terms. There can be little room for doubt that this raid is part of the systematic ultraconservative agenda since the 2006 army coup to intimidate and silence critics, human rights defenders and social activists in Thailand. In fact, the odious law under which the raid and arrest warrant have been issued is one of the main planks in the platform designed to be built over the heads of dissenters in Thailand that was given effect by an assembly of military appointees in 2007.

The AHRC expresses its strong support for the staff of Prachatai, for the work that it is committed to doing as an independent media agency working under very difficult conditions and at a time of dramatic social and political change in Thailand; a time when outspokenness and sincerity are the rarest and most valuable commodities.

The AHRC calls upon all regional and international media organisations, human rights groups, and the UN Human Rights Council, which is opening its tenth session in Geneva, and UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression to join in expressing outrage at this latest attack on freedom of speech and thought in Thailand, and call for the immediate cessation of arrests and threats, against Prachatai and all other media and human rights organizations there.

http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile....tatements/1925/

[Steve2UK]

There is a hilarious headline in today's Nation - "PM committed to press freedom". Yeah, and George Bush is converting to Islam, as well. Nothing much can be said about this within the confines of Thailand.

While his Deputy PM does the predictable.........

Deputy PM: Lese Majeste Law Must be Left Untouched

UPDATE : 6 March 2009

The deputy prime minister in charge of national security has aired his opposition to the the revision of the lese majeste law, saying that the proposal is not acceptable as the monarch is the country's most respected institution...........

........As for the suggestion by some academics regarding the revision of the lese majestye [sic] law, Suthep said the government has yet to discuss the matter, but commented that he does not agree with the idea as the monarchy is the country's highest respected institute.

However, Suthep agreed with the Prime Minister's remarks regarding the drafting of extra-requirements to make the lese majeste law more clear-cut to prevent any party from using the monarchy to mistreat others.

Full article at:

http://www.thailandoutlook.tv/

[Johpa]

And the beat goes on......

Chaiyo!

[dee123]

I have contributed to Prachatai.com ...what are my chances of being arrested next time I am in Thailand?

[jeffer]

I have contributed to Prachatai.com ...what are my chances of being arrested next time I am in Thailand?

Depends on if you used a proxy or not... if not then it's down to the travel agent for some brochures on Cambodia, Vietnam, anywhere but Thailand where you are now probably considered a threat to national security

[justanothercybertosser]

Police arrest Web director of Prachatai for lese majeste

Published on March 7, 2009

Crime Suppression police yesterday raided the office of non-profit online newspaper Prachatai, accusing its Web director of violating the Computer Act by posting lese-majeste comments.

Web director Chiranuch Premchaiporn was arrested on a charge of committing a computer crime, because she allowed the offending comments to be posted on Prachatai's Web board.

The website said Chiranuch denied the allegation and would agree to be interrogated only in front of her lawyer.

Five police officers arrived at the office late yesterday afternoon to conduct a search. They confiscated Chiranuch's computer.

The Web director has a duty to monitor all comments on the website and delete any improper ones. Prachatai consistently censors improper or rude comments on its website and Web board.

Police said the offending comments had been left on the on the Web board for 20 days.

A Prachatai official said police and the Information and Communications Technology Ministry always issued a warning when such comments were found on the website but that there had been no warning this time.

The official said there was no clear criteria for judging what kind of comments and content on the Web might be deemed to constitute lese majeste. Police did not show the posted comments in question.

Violators of the Computer Act are liable to not more than five years in jail and/or a fine of not more than Bt100,000.

The authorities have launched a crackdown on websites accused of posting lese-majeste content. Many websites based inside and outside the country have been blocked.

A dozen individuals have been arrested on lese-majeste charges recently, such as former PM's office minister Jakrapob Penkair, social critic Sulak Sivaraksa and Australian English teacher Harry Nicolaides. Some who have been arrested under the Computer Act include reporter Suwicha Thakhor and Chiranuch.

A group of 50 international academics called on the government to reform the Lese Majeste Act and release all detainees charged under it.

Supinya Klangnarong, a media activist representing a network of Internet users, said the arrest could sow fear among the media and Internet users. Police should have asked the Web director to explain herself.

She said police were only trying to curry favour with Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva after his speech stressing libel laws.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/03/07...cs_30097350.php

[peecee]

If your comments were honest, truthful and non inflamatory then your going to do some time!

[dee123]

If your comments were honest, truthful and non inflamatory then your going to do some time!

Oh dear!

Edited March 6, 2009 by dee123

[johna]

www.bangkokpost.com

Prachatai.com was founded by former senator Jon Ungpakorn four years ago

Any relation to Giles Ji Ungpakorn, who recently fled Thailand to avoid LM charges.

Edited March 7, 2009 by johna

[Changian]

^ His brother. Jon is ( or was ) a Senator.

[Hardback]

There is a hilarious headline in today's Nation - "PM committed to press freedom". Yeah, and George Bush is converting to Islam, as well. Nothing much can be said about this within the confines of Thailand.

This is bad news, Asia Sentinel and now Prachathai.

[hammered]

People should probably be careful about what they post especially those with more extreme views. And if you have a blog then be doubly careful

[Junglejumbo]

I guess given the limited imagination of authorities, this will be a follow on from Giles leaving the country....next thing is look at his brother...It's ironic that Jon started this to voice concern over the Thaksin govt, but it ended up being used, shall we say, by his supporters.

I have respect for Giles, who if you look at his youtube contributions and articles is actually a very unbiased man. He's not a supporter of Thaksin because of crimes against humanity (esp. drug killings) and he's not a supporter of military dictatorships who've also carried out killings. He wasn't even a friend of Chuan leekpai because he saw his government as unfairly baling out the rich when they took over failing family run banks in 1998 (although this is true I would argue that the government still had no choice in the matter otherwise the entire banking system would have collapsed).

Giles certainly didn't like the PAD either. He implies Thailand needs some kind of socialist government but stays clear of voicing support for communism. He has sympathy for the poor but doesn't make the bridge between the poor and a functioning democracy.

Edited March 7, 2009 by Junglejumbo

[monkfish]

Seems they are now able to reinforce the laws they made a year ago.

[cclub75]

Seems they are now able to reinforce the laws they made a year ago.

The Computer Crime Act was designed and "voted" by the Junta. Abhisit is now happy to use it.

It's a sign. A bad one.

[monkfish]

Seems they are now able to reinforce the laws they made a year ago.

The Computer Crime Act was designed and "voted" by the Junta. Abhisit is now happy to use it.

It's a sign. A bad one.

Yep better get used to it!

[Plus]

There was an opinion piece in the Nation a couple of days ago that usd basically the same argument as Abhisit.

LM is part of the criminal code that is designed to protect the monarchy from libel, defamation and vandalism. Thai criminal law has articles that offer similar protection to every citizen, in principle LM is no different, just covers specific insitution and has a different set of penalties.

People who campaign against LM fail to see the difference between defamation and vandalism and opinions and critisism. LM does not cover critisism at all, though the exact interpretation of what falls under LM and what not is not clear and open to abuse.

Just as Abhisit said - there's nothing wrong with the law in itself, it's the application that needs to be straightened out.

>>>

Thaksin routinely sues his critics for saying far less, btw. Why this kind of protection should be withdrawn from the monarchy but extended to a fugitive who trashes Thai judicial system at every opportunity?

[jumnien]

There was an opinion piece in the Nation a couple of days ago that usd basically the same argument as Abhisit.

LM is part of the criminal code that is designed to protect the monarchy from libel, defamation and vandalism. Thai criminal law has articles that offer similar protection to every citizen, in principle LM is no different, just covers specific insitution and has a different set of penalties.

People who campaign against LM fail to see the difference between defamation and vandalism and opinions and critisism. LM does not cover critisism at all, though the exact interpretation of what falls under LM and what not is not clear and open to abuse.

Just as Abhisit said - there's nothing wrong with the law in itself, it's the application that needs to be straightened out.

>>>

Thaksin routinely sues his critics for saying far less, btw. Why this kind of protection should be withdrawn from the monarchy but extended to a fugitive who trashes Thai judicial system at every opportunity?

Thaksin is not imprisoning his critics, nor is he winning any court cases against critics, nor is he invading media offices and shutting them down.

[Pierrot]

At the present moment, there are two threads fighting for the top spot in the "news clipping" section. One talking about democratically elected leader removed by a military coup, the other about the excess of the government appointed by the coup leaders.

It's very interesting to see who posts what, and especially how the most vocal posters in one thread are conspicuously absent in the other one. I believe this forum is somehow a mirror of the divisions of the Thai society, and helps explain these divisions to the western reader

Also reading both threads helps to understand the position of the free press .

PS : Posting in both threads is intentional; I believe my post is relevant to both threads and an invitation to the supporters of the government to post their opinion in this thread as well

[patklang]

There has to be a happy medium.Can you imagine this happening in the UK with the horrible comments about the Queen??

Wasnt too many years ago when the National Anthem was played in cinemas across the uk,maybe now they are playing a muslim song.

I agree there should be some pride in your country but i feel this has gone to far now.

[animatic]

Cyber crime laws were on the books in most western countries,

so Thailand was only playing catch up to reality.

HOW they apply it is not to western style methods or standards it seems.

This is a kow tow based society and grasping for favor and power is all.

Defending the ones above you in the kow tow chain is an ingrained method here.

Defending, those above those above you and hoping to gain points is S.O.P.

It just seems many in the middle echelons have no clue what defending actually means

in a practical sense, so they grasp for ANY straw that can gain favor by.

In stressed times, more bad straws get pulled hoping for a gain. I think this is what

are seeing with the lese Majesty laws at this time.

[Oberkommando]

Cyber crime laws were on the books in most western countries,

so Thailand was only playing catch up to reality.

HOW they apply it is not to western style methods or standards it seems.

Nonsense. Media freedom in Western Countries is far better than that in Thailand, especially online.

There are laws but they are not used, unlike in Thailand, to silence critics and restrict freedom of speech.

Western methods and standards of human rights are not applied here, in that statement you are almost correct.

The Thai model is to crush dissenting voices and opinion, not to police the internet to make it a safer place as in the West.

[Scott]

I guess some of us had best be very careful about what we post.

[cmsally]

Meanwhile, Abhisit will be talking about Democracy at St John's College Oxford - I think it is next week.

I wonder if freedom of the press and media will come into the discussion. Well actually maybe it will be just a speech and no discussion allowed. Heaven forbid, someone should give an opposing viewpoint or talk about matters that nice people don't talk about.

Anyone want to have a quick whip round so we can send Jonathan Head and Giles to attend.

[animatic]

Cyber crime laws were on the books in most western countries,

so Thailand was only playing catch up to reality.

HOW they apply it is not to western style methods or standards it seems.

Nonsense. Media freedom in Western Countries is far better than that in Thailand, especially online.

There are laws but they are not used, unlike in Thailand, to silence critics and restrict freedom of speech.

Western methods and standards of human rights are not applied here, in that statement you are almost correct.

The Thai model is to crush dissenting voices and opinion, not to police the internet to make it a safer place as in the West.

There is no 'nonsense' involved in that post,

you just don't care to read it correctly.

[teletiger]

2 recent PMs to George have gone unanswered. Is he on the lam?

As for Abhisit ......watch out for the custard. Not to be trifled with....Gawd.....I'll get my own coat.

Regards.