Anti-govt Website Closures Slammed By Webmasters

[george]

Anti-govt website closures slammed

BANGKOK: -- The Thai Webmaster Association yesterday called the shutdown of two websites highly critical of the government “a violation of the constitutional principle on freedom of speech”.

In a statement, the association also called on the government, and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry in particular, to stop interfering with the operations of websites which voice their opinions and fair criticism of the government, including both www.thai-insider.com and www.fm9225.com, which have been shut down.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (Seapa), a regional press-freedom advocate, yesterday expressed grave concerns over the shutdown of the two websites, which it said if left unchallenged, could lead to a crackdown on websites carrying any information unpalatable to the government.

“In the absence of a specific law to govern cyber information and content, the loosely defined authority given to the ministry could be abused by the administration to quell critical voices in society. “The policing of cyberspace with political motives will have a chilling effect on Thailand’s increasingly vibrant Internet sector, which is a vital tool for the country’s economic and social advancement,” added Seapa.

Meanwhile, according to an online report from daily Kom Chad Luek, Democrat MP Apichart Sakdisetas said during a parliamentary session that the ICT order was tantamount to controlling the media and was certainly beyond its jurisdiction as its main function is to police pornographic websites.

ICT Minister Suwit Khunkitti said the ministry’s cyber-inspection division was duty-bound to police websites in order to protect parties affected by harmful content and to ensure their content did not go against public order.

--The Nation 2005-06-24

[george]

Suvit: No govt war on media

It's back to the dark age, opposition says

BANGKOK: -- The government has denied threatening media freedom by shutting down an internet radio station run by its critics, saying it was only temporarily taken off the air.

Information and Communications Minister Suvit Khunkitti told the House that FM9225.com was suspended because the registered owner of the website was not identified and no licence had been produced to operate the site.

Once the problems were cleared up, the website could resume business.

``It was not a closure. We merely instructed the web owner to comply with legal procedures,'' Mr Suvit said in reply to an opposition question.

The website is managed by Anchalee Paireerak, a popular radio host known to be critical of the government. She also moderates FM 92.25 community radio station, which is in trouble with the PM's Office over its transmission range.

The opposition termed the website radio station's suspension ``new-age'' state interference in the media.

Democrat MP Apichart Sakdiset said the country had gone back to its dark period of media oppression.

The issue would not have blown up into a fiasco had it not been for the letter dated June 20 and signed by Public Relations deputy chief Pachoen Khampo which was sent to FM 92.25, he said.

The letter cited a ministerial regulation in ordering the station to improve its broadcast content.

It claimed the station made false comments about the government and its policies causing public misunderstanding and damage to the country. The programme slandered people and provoked disunity between the people and the government.

Mr Apichart said a government-appointed internet inspector later notified the station that the FM9225.com internet radio broadcast was being closed down.

He demanded to know who ordered the inspector to act against the station.

Mr Suvit said the inspector received no ``specific order'' from anyone. The government was open-minded enough to allow the station to stay on air when its operation clearly broke the law.

``The internet inspector was performing a routine check. This government is receptive to the media's opinions,'' he said.

FM 92.25 was transmitting illegally and went on to broadcast its programme on the internet, which was also off-limits under the law. The officials had to take appropriate action or risk punishment.

--Bangkok Post 2004-06-24

[Jai Dee]

Information and Communications Minister Suvit Khunkitti told the House that FM9225.com was suspended because the registered owner of the website was not identified and no licence had been produced to operate the site.

Once the problems were cleared up, the website could resume business.

``It was not a closure. We merely instructed the web owner to comply with legal procedures,'' Mr Suvit said in reply to an opposition question.

Smoke and mirrors....

The teflon twins... Toxin and Khunkitti...

It's all been said before...

Slippery as an eel...

Yesterday in this thread he said he had no idea...

Operators of the shut-down sites said they believed the ICT Ministry ordered the host Internet service providers (ISPs) to remove them. ICT Minister Suwit Khun-kitti denied the charges yesterday, insisting he had no idea why they had been shut down.

“The government issued no orders regarding this,” he said.

[george]

Bangkok Post Commentary:

Why this bid to muzzle dissent?

Thai society, it seems, is speeding backward toward 1984 even as we are living in 2005. The arm of the Thai state under the leadership of Thaksin Shinawatra is reaching to monitor public information and communication, eventually to silence the citizens, specifically those who think or speak differently from the government.

The recent closure of two ``anti-government'' websites on the orders of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is the logical progression of the government's attempt to control public opinion since it took office more than four years ago.

In its relentless campaign to keep the media under control, the government has so far successfully cleansed the broadcasting media of nearly all voices of dissent. Those who openly rebelled against the government's wishes have since been exiled from the state-controlled media. They include senator from Bangkok Chirmsak Pinthong, formerly a popular broadcaster, and radio programme host Anchalee Paireerak who was forced out of the regular radio but managed to open her own community radio station.

But Ms Anchalee seems unable to escape from what can only be described as state persecution.

Her community radio station has been hounded by the Public Relations Department for violation of rules governing the technical aspects of broadcasting. She had the problems fixed and at the same time opened a website as another channel to communicate with the public.

But then the ICT took her website together with by Mr Thaksin's arch foe, Ekkayuth Anchanbutr, off cyberspace for violating a registration rule and on national security grounds.

The charges cited are flimsy at best. The ICT says the ban is only temporary until the real owners of the websites can be verified. It has not said what was it in the websites that constituted a threat to national security.

There is obviously a registration requirement to open a website. The service provider, in this case A-Net, can provide such information upon request by authorised state agencies, so there is no question of who should be responsible for the contents on the websites.

And if there are threats to national security, the concerned authorities should make their case through the justice system, not through back-door, strong-arm approaches like hoodlums.

If criticism of the government is considered a national security threat, the authorities should seriously consider closing down many other sites as well, including the wildly popular pantip.com and that of the Manager daily newspaper.

The authorities' latest action clearly shows the cyberpolice's contempt for the constitution, which guarantees the right of citizens to freedom of expression and access to information.

They should not be allowed to get away with this because it appears that the attempt to silence the citizens has now reached far beyond politics.

In Saraburi province, a group of residents has been arrested for protesting against the construction of a power plant in Khaeng Khoi district.

The project is a reincarnation of the one in Bo Nok of Prachuap Khiri Khan which was scrapped after fierce local opposition.

A man complained to police that the protesters publicised false information about the power plant in violation of article 101 of the 1992 Environment Act which provides protection against slandering against ``the source of pollution''.

If the protesters are found guilty, it would be a serious blow to the citizens' freedom of expression.

It would pose a lethal threat to public dissent of major development projects. Whoever speaks up against a project could be silenced through court action even if the project might pose severe risks to their livelihoods and the environment.

Only recently the right of demonstrators has also been put at risk by the government's attempt to amend the Highways Act to prohibit demonstrations on highways.

The attempt to twist the will of the constitution is now in high gear. We may be a democracy but it seems to be just a cloak wrapped around authoritarianism.

--Wasant Techawongtham is Deputy News Editor, Bangkok Post.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-24

[Jai Dee]

We may be a democracy but it seems to be just a cloak wrapped around authoritarianism.

Isn't that the truth?

Actually it's surprising to see such editorial comments from the Bangkok Post, which has in the past often taken a softly-softly approach to anything that vaguely resembles adverse criticism of the government and its leader.

Edited June 24, 2005 by Jai Dee

[TokyoT]

Glad to see the attention this has received, and equally glad to see an editorial in the Post that does not tow the government line.

[thaibebop]

Very glad to hear some one speak out, but when will the gov stop and will they go after the Post next?

[sua yai]

I thought the government managed to change the editor of the BKK Post a number of years ago.

Also tried it with The Nation, but with less success.

[Mr Red]

Having been spoiled by the freedoms we have in the US, I guess I am trying to understand the boundaries of "free speech" in Thailand. Having been known for my big mouth, perhaps I should try to understand the limits.

[thaibebop]

Having been spoiled by the freedoms we have in the US, I guess I am trying to understand the boundaries of "free speech" in Thailand.  Having been known for my big mouth, perhaps I should try to understand the limits.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I am trying to learn the same thing. My wife tells me what most Americans say everyday with out thinking are things that would get us shot by some people in Thailand.

[george]

Opposition blasts govt for website closures

BANGKOK: -- The Democrat party yesterday lashed out at the government for its closure of two websites, accusing it of violating the right to freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution.

Speaking in response to the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology’s decision to shut down the www.fm9225.com and the www.thai-insider.com websites, Democrat spokesman Ongart Klamphaiboon said that if the government really believed both websites to be threatening national security, the correct course would be to make arrests and take legal action.

While noting that the government might regard the website closures as a minor issue, he said that the enforced shutdowns violated the basic right to freedom of expression to such an extent that the nation’s reputation would suffer.

The closure of the websites, he said, was a clear indication that Thailand had problems with human rights.

“Neither of these websites meets the government’s accusations in any way. If these websites are a threat, I don’t know how the government perceives threats to national security. I suspect that the government is more afraid of its own security and prosperity”, he said.

Accusing the government of violating the Constitution, he also blasted police officials for searching the apartment rooms of the website organizers without a search warrant.

--TNA 2005-06-26

[DaveYo]

Like I said before, and I say it again, closing web sites due to voices opposing any government intrusions to the people of which the people object that violates their privacy and free speech is tantamount to DICTATORSHIP!!!!!!

They speak of National Security and those who claim it to be National Security are PURE JOKERS. The Thai JOKERS have no idea of the meaning of the word SECURITY much less understand the word Smuggling etc.

What reputation??????? It is well known what Thailands reputation is worldwide. For them to fix that, they got another 50 years to catch up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Daveyo

[thaibebop]

Bush said something about nat'l security. How did that go again?