Freedom Of Speech In Thailand Takes Another Knock

[noel2499rk]

Police have arrested the webmaster of a pro-red shirt website for committing lèse majesté, and will make more arrests.

On 1 April, Pol Lt Gen Tha-ngai Prassajaksattru, Commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, led police officers to arrest Thanthawuthi Thaweewarodom, 38, at his apartment at Soi Ramkhamhang 107, Sukhapiban 3 Rd, Lad Phrao, Bangkapi, Bangkok.

Tha-ngai said that police had found the content on www.norporchorusa.com and www.norporchorusa2.com offensive to the monarchy, and in violation of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act.

The websites also broadcast programmes of the red-shirt People’s Channel, based at Imperial World Lad Phrao.

The accused confessed to the police that he had published the content. The web designer, whose web alias is Red Eagle, developed the websites and has maintained them for 5 months.

The police will arrest his 2-3 accomplices.

‘Most offensive websites are registered abroad, but some are registered in Thailand. The police are investigating and will make more arrests. This, however, has nothing to do with the red shirts’ protests’, Tha-ngai said.

Thanthawuthi was charged for lèse majesté and offences under the 2007 Computer Crimes Act.

Nor Por Chor stands for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) in Thai.

http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/1704

[smokie36]

I hope he gets no more than a slap on the wrists.

[noel2499rk]

I hope he gets no more than a slap on the wrists.

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.co...wicha-thakor_1/

Unfortunately this is unlikely going on the precedents set elsewhere.

[smokie36]

I hope he gets no more than a slap on the wrists.

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.co...wicha-thakor_1/

Unfortunately this is unlikely going on the precedents set elsewhere.

Only can say this man should be freed at once. Thanks for the link opened my eyes a bit for sure.

Very sad times for democracy here.

[givenall]

I hope he gets no more than a slap on the wrists.

May be some blood on his wrists too

[noel2499rk]

I hope he gets no more than a slap on the wrists.

http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.co...wicha-thakor_1/

Unfortunately this is unlikely going on the precedents set elsewhere.

Only can say this man should be freed at once. Thanks for the link opened my eyes a bit for sure.

Very sad times for democracy here.

I would love to give you more links but can't on this website, all I can say is search and ye shall find.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Very sad.

I hope one day Thais will have full freedom of speech and whon't have to live in fear when speaking their mind. Yet another political prisoner to add to the list. :D

[elkangorito]

This is one of the biggest democratic pitfalls currently existing in Thailand. It indicates a lack of faith in humanity & a total submissiveness to certain 'rules'/people.

A sad day for any country that punishes it's people for thinking freely (like any human does).

[tigerfish]

just look up what happened to jonathan head of the b.b.c, not to long ago.

[elkangorito]

...and Elvis hardly says a word these days.

[cmdream]

...and Elvis hardly says a word these days.

Certainly smacks of communism, Is this the direction that Thailand is heading ?

[smokie36]

...and Elvis hardly says a word these days.

Certainly smacks of communism, Is this the direction that Thailand is heading ?

Decades of civil unrest before anything more serious happens.

[Huey]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

[noel2499rk]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

You don't have to insult the king to be arrested under these laws, and what European countries are you talking about?

[mca]

I'm even paranoid enough to delete my post.

Edited April 3, 2010 by mca

[geriatrickid]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

You don't have to insult the king to be arrested under these laws, and what European countries are you talking about?

Don't waste time trying to follow his logic. There is none. The reality is that, the laws are kept on the books by the military because it serves the military's purpose and is an easy way to stifle dissent. The person that is object of the laws has made several public statements all of which can be googled. It is unfortunate that huey has not taken the time to read the law and the burden of proof required under the law. All that is needed is someone to bring the charge and then the accused has to prove innocence. The person that is alleged to be protected is neither consulted nor involved in the process. Those that use the law should use it sparingly and after much consideration. I do not think that was the case here. The end result is that each and every time the law is applied, thailand's record for Human Rights and freedom of expression suffers another negative assault. It's events like this that provide an excuse for foreign countries to ignore the demands to hand over Thaksin.

[asiancup2007]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

Here is an example for you.

"Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of independent Thai online news portal Prachatai, was granted bail this afternoon after prosecutors eventually filed a lawsuit against her under the Computer Crimes Act. Ms Chiranuch had to wait nearly four hours before bail was approved with a 300,000 baht bond, calculated on her salary as a nursing sister, for not removing commens posted on a web-board deemed offensive to the monarchy fast enough to satisfy the government censors."

How fast is fast enough?

[noel2499rk]

kdjckscsnjv

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

Here is an example for you.

"Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of independent Thai online news portal Prachatai, was granted bail this afternoon after prosecutors eventually filed a lawsuit against her under the Computer Crimes Act. Ms Chiranuch had to wait nearly four hours before bail was approved with a 300,000 baht bond, calculated on her salary as a nursing sister, for not removing commens posted on a web-board deemed offensive to the monarchy fast enough to satisfy the government censors."

How fast is fast enough?

When she was origanially arrested it was a few hours after Abhisit had finished making a speech on his efforts to bring Thailand back to a land of free speech

http://nationnewmedia.com/2009/03/09/opini...ion_30097442.ph

So if the Prime minister is to be believed in what he says then he obviously has no control over who gets arrested under these laws, or he's blowing hot air at the interntional media to hide what is really going on.

Edited April 3, 2010 by noel2499rk

[wayfarer108]

kdjckscsnjv

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

Here is an example for you.

"Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of independent Thai online news portal Prachatai, was granted bail this afternoon after prosecutors eventually filed a lawsuit against her under the Computer Crimes Act. Ms Chiranuch had to wait nearly four hours before bail was approved with a 300,000 baht bond, calculated on her salary as a nursing sister, for not removing commens posted on a web-board deemed offensive to the monarchy fast enough to satisfy the government censors."

How fast is fast enough?

When she was origanially arrested it was a few hours after Abhisit had finished making a speech on his efforts to bring Thailand back to a land of free speech

http://nationnewmedia.com/2009/03/09/opini...ion_30097442.ph

So if the Prime minister is to be believed in what he says then he obviously has no control over who gets arrested under these laws, or he's blowing hot air at the interntional media to hide what is really going on.

What else is new? Every PM squawks about freedom of speech. Thaksin did too, while doing his best to curtail said freedom. As an aside, the PM does not have the power to repeal or modify lese majeste legislation, or any legislation for that matter.

[TheItaliann]

I hope he gets no more than a slap on the wrists.

You should have been around in Germany circa 1930. You'd have had a ball my friend.

[purplehaze]

Like TV members have.

Very sad.

I hope one day Thais will have full freedom of speech and whon't have to live in fear when speaking their mind. Yet another political prisoner to add to the list.

[otherstuff1957]

Generally speaking, foreigners get pardoned for LM offenses as soon as possible. Thais, on the other hand, get the book thrown at them.

While I think that Aphiset is generally a better PM than Thaksin was, I must admit that his stand on freedom of speech is quite objectionable.

[Huey]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

You don't have to insult the king to be arrested under these laws, and what European countries are you talking about?

If you speak out against the officaly accepted stance on the Holicost, (ie amount of pepole that were killed or if it truely happened) you can go to jail in Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Romania) While if you say, for exsample, Slavery wasn't so bad, or pepole didn't die from it, or deny/dispute any other historical occorance it's ok.

As a American I think both kinds of laws limiting freedom of speach are wrong but this is not my country and I won't say that these laws are wrong for the govts that have them. So as I said originaly, don't want problems, don't speak out against the monarchy simple as that.

[Naam]

...and Elvis hardly says a word these days.

he is busy in Buriram... i was told.

[geriatrickid]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

You don't have to insult the king to be arrested under these laws, and what European countries are you talking about?

If you speak out against the officaly accepted stance on the Holicost, (ie amount of pepole that were killed or if it truely happened) you can go to jail in Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Romania) While if you say, for exsample, Slavery wasn't so bad, or pepole didn't die from it, or deny/dispute any other historical occorance it's ok.

As a American I think both kinds of laws limiting freedom of speach are wrong but this is not my country and I won't say that these laws are wrong for the govts that have them. So as I said originaly, don't want problems, don't speak out against the monarchy simple as that.

The two subjects are completely unrelated. You can;'t even put together a coherent line of logic to justify your false statement. Is your hatred for a certain group blinding you? Considering that the Holocaust involved the genocide of a number of various groups such as the, Romany, Slavs, Poles, the mentally & physically disabled, communists, devout Christians, and others, your attempt to blame these people is spurious. However, that won't stop you on your mission of hate will it? Take a look at the Holocaust law in germany. It does not forbid academic or intelligent discussion. What it does do is stop hate groups from pushing an agenda of violence and hate. The germans were brilliant when they introduced the law because it allowed the nation to heal and move forward. There would be no squabbling, but renewal and no attempts to cause upheaval. Look at who has been charged under the law. It is not used as a weapon by the state to go after its opponents. Take the example of Ernst Zundel, the depraved sicko deported from Canada. His holocaust denial activity also prominently featured public posturing on people that the US census calls Negros.

As an American, you surely are aware of the various Civil rights statutes regarding hate speech. these have been used to quash groups that advocate the killing of afro americans.

Your comments are filled with ignorance. I suggest you pick up the laws and read them first. The lesse majeste law cannot be compared in any manner shape or form to the laws you referenced. the burden of proof is different. the use is different and the intent is different. That's one heck of a big chip you have on your shoulder. Quit relying on Wikipedia and read the documentation yourself or is that too difficult a task to manage?

[mca]

It does not forbid academic or intelligent discussion.

To me this is the crux of the matter.

There's a world of difference between throwing insults with the intent to cause sedition and voicing an opinion in public on, say, a worthy project instigated by someone that you consider (and could bring supporting evidence) would benefit from being done differently.

[angiud]

Don't insult the King and you don't have these problems. This is Thailand, not America or anywhere in the west, heck in some Euro countries you can get thrown in jail for what you say also.

You don't have to insult the king to be arrested under these laws, and what European countries are you talking about?

Italy?

[mca]

And the current King of Italy is?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

It does not forbid academic or intelligent discussion.

To me this is the crux of the matter.

That, and that anyone can bring charges against anyone else, with a police investigation (meaning being hauled off to the station and/or servers confiscated for the 'investigation') to follow.

Inevitably on such a highly charged topic, someone, somewhere will ALWAYS find fault even with reasoned academic discussion. This happens even at university sponsored seminars; someone in there wants to find fault with somone they don't like for whatever reaons, and brings on the charges. The result is that people cannot speaki their minds on issues relating to the state because you inevitable tread into murky waters, no matter how well reasoned and well intentioned and respectful you are.

Edited April 4, 2010 by WinnieTheKhwai

[mca]

That, and that anyone can bring charges against anyone else, with a police investigation (meaning being hauled off to the station and/or servers confiscated for the 'investigation') to follow.

And of course it's going to be a police officer with balls of steel who'll say there isn't a case to answer when some indignant or simply vindictive person goes to make a complaint no matter how trivial for fear of being accused of the same offense themselves.