Prachatai Shuts Webboard

[webfact]

Prachatai shuts webboard

By PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The space on the Internet for dissenting political views is on the decline following the announcement by Prachatai, an online newspaper, that it will shut down its Web board by the end of this month, rights and media reform activists say.

The decision "is indicative of the shutdown of free speech in Thailand under the ongoing state of emergency", the Hong-Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) stated on Thursday.

Media reformist Supinya Klangnarong, also a board member of Netizen group, a civic group advocating cyber freedom, said the announcement goes hand in hand with the growing climate of fear and censorship on political dissent.

"There exists a curbing of views on those who think differently from the state."

Prachatai announced on Thursday that the Abhisit Vejjajiva government was hunting for people making anti-government comments online and since it cannot ensure their safety, it had decided to close the Web board.

"The media and posters alike face the threat of sweeping accusations that they are a 'threat to national security' through the use of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act, the Emer-gency Decree and Section 112 of the Criminal Code," the non-profit news group stated.

"Tracking and hunting down people who post comments on the Net seems to be no problem at all for the authorities, who do not even have to obtain any information from Prachatai.

"With limited protection and no guarantee of safety for users, the Prachatai team has come to this decision," it announced.

Basil Fernando, AHRC director, said in a statement from Hong Kong that "the closure of the Web board spoke of the extent to which nobody in Thailand had the right to speak freely.

"Under the former government of Thaksin Shinawatra, people speaking out about human rights and politics were intimidated, and there was a degree of self-censorship in the mainstream media, but nothing like what we have seen since the 2006 coup. The latest round of outright repression under the emergency decree, which has just been reimposed across much of the country, is akin to that of a military dictatorship," he stated, adding that Internet chat boards are among the few places where people feel that they can still get things off their chests.

"So if Prachatai has decided to pull the plug on comment because it's afraid of the consequences, then the situation in Thailand is very grim indeed," he added.

A source close to Prachatai said on condition of anonymity that the cases against Chiranuch Premchai-porn, the Web board director who is facing a charge under the Computer Crime Act for failing to remove quickly enough comments from the Web board that police allege were offensive to the monarchy, has an impact on the decision, especially when it appears that the court is unsympathetic to the defence side.

"The stance of the court is not all right and not open to [genuinely] listening to the other side," said the source, of the case. Under lese-majeste law, people found insulting the monarchy are subject to a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison.

The Prachatai news website has been subjected to government blocking ever since the emergency decree was imposed three months ago and had to change its address several times.

Supinya told The Nation she's not sure if the prime minister, who she insists speaks sympathetically of Prachatai, is even in control of the blocking anymore.

"People are now in fear. The decision to block may have been made by the Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation. In principle, [Abhisit] spoke positively of Prachatai but in reality that's not what's happening.

"Maybe the prime minister may not really believe in what he said [publicly] or maybe he has no power. If it's the latter, it's really problematic because it means the PM doesn't have enough power," Supinya concluded.

-- The Nation 2010-07-10

[noel2499rk]

One Thailand, one opinion, one party state.

[Jimi007]

Amazing Thailand Amazes?

[asiawatcher]

No different when Thaksin did the same!

Edited July 10, 2010 by webfact
this time I let it slide and corrected a name... //Admin

[noel2499rk]

DSI sets up large lesemajeste force

"The Department of Special Investigation has begun its operations dealing with the antimonarchy movement, setting up nine teams comprising nearly 300 agents from various agencies to do the task.In identifying people whose behaviour is considered "detrimental or illminded" to the monarchy, the DSI will rely on the controversial Mind Map composed by the government's Centre for Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), which indicted 27 key figures released during the runup to the redshirt protests in Bangkok."

Link to photo of the mind map of plot.

Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power.

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for me

and by that time no one was left to speak up."

[ballpoint]

Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power.

"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,

and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for me

and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Thank the deity of your choice that someone not only spoke up, but actually removed Thaksin from his position of power, or there wouldn't be enough fridges in the country to hide behind when his thugs and goons would have come knocking with a hail of bullets.

[noel2499rk]

So its wrong when Thaksin did it, but OK for this government, why?

I would say both are wrong, but given that this government is in power and Thaksin is not, I would be more concerned about the current administration abusing its power.

[noel2499rk]

If you are on Twitter I recommend following @thanongk the editor of the nation, for an insight into how the Thai establishment think about ideas of free speech and democracy. Here are some of the pearls of wisdom Thanong has shared this week.

"Let's make it clear: Thailand is now suffering from rampant and irresponsible free speech. We don't have enough right speech.

Men are not born equal because each of us has different baramee depending on our accumulated deeds or karma

If we don't understand our strength in Sukhothai, phor phiang model and Buddhist's metta, we'll get confused with Democracy and the like.

Don't be misled by Freedom, Human rights, Democracy, globalisation and other crazy fashionable ideas. They are poisonous and hollow.

I don't believe in free speech. I believe in right speech. And we all should believe in right speech, part of the eight-fold ways."

[Insight]

So its wrong when Thaksin did it, but OK for this government, why?

I would say both are wrong, but given that this government is in power and Thaksin is not, I would be more concerned about the current administration abusing its power.

Funny how the red's only defence is "free speech", yet the mindset of completely open and "free" speech has always been flawed. Free speech itself is never a justification for spreading hate, doctored evidence and propaganda, yet this is precisely what the government has been up against over the past two years.

The debate for Maintenance of Public Order is conveniently forgotten about during these free speech debates, yet it is as much as a factor as free speech itself.

Edited July 10, 2010 by Insight

[Robby nz]

The fact that so many red supporters on this web board are able to call the PM a lier, murderer, corrupt etc and get away with shows just how much free speach we do have.

how many other countries in the world would let you get away with some of the stuff we see posted here, not our next door neighbours thats for sure.

Hey I saw the reds attempt at censorship, or was it media reform, when they tried to burn down CH 3 with everyone inside, they also had a go at CH 11 up north.

Do you prefer that method of censorship?

[ballpoint]

So its wrong when Thaksin did it, but OK for this government, why?

You're the one who posted the quote. Why? History doesn't give you the chance to see what the other options would have led to. Those who do the right thing aren't always given the gratitude they deserve, quite the opposite in many cases. If people had have spoken up for the communists, the trade unionists, the Jews,and actually done something about it, then what would have happened? No doubt this forum would be flooded with posters bleating on about the unfair dismissal of the democratically elected Nazis. If Chamberlain had have prepared for war with Hitler and nipped it in the bud with a pre-emptive attack, he'd probably have gone down in history as a war mongering imperialist. If the Americans had have sent a fleet into the Pacific and attacked the Japanese as they were preparing for Pearl Harbour, thus preventing the deaths of further millions, they would be put in the same boat, (no pun intended, although it appears that they have learnt from this, as they now waste no opportunity to attack anyone and anything that looks at them, or "their" oil in a funny way).

Had the coup not taken place, would we be sitting here today arguing "if only a few good men had have stopped Thaksin back when he was still consolidating authority, still installing his family members into positions of civil and military power, and before his thugs started knocking down doors, dragging the opposition, and anyone else they didn't like the look of, or owed money to, or envied, away"? Probably not, because this website would no doubt have been blocked in Thailand, and many of us would have left. And, until he faces his punishment, and stops fermenting and financing murder, arson and violence, if nobody continues to speak up against his evil, murderous and corrupt past and current intentions, then we're all just as guilty as those you hold up for not speaking up against other tyrants. I happily give up the freedom to drive on whatever side of the road I want to in order to make (most of) the world a safer place, I happily give up the freedom to launch grenades at banks, hotels and train stations, camp out in the middle of town and put on a barbeque in a shopping centre to do the same for this country's future.

[chantorn]

No one will miss them.

Except those anti-royals.

[noel2499rk]

So its wrong when Thaksin did it, but OK for this government, why?

You're the one who posted the quote. Why? History doesn't give you the chance to see what the other options would have led to. Those who do the right thing aren't always given the gratitude they deserve, quite the opposite in many cases. If people had have spoken up for the communists, the trade unionists, the Jews,and actually done something about it, then what would have happened? No doubt this forum would be flooded with posters bleating on about the unfair dismissal of the democratically elected Nazis. If Chamberlain had have prepared for war with Hitler and nipped it in the bud with a pre-emptive attack, he'd probably have gone down in history as a war mongering imperialist. If the Americans had have sent a fleet into the Pacific and attacked the Japanese as they were preparing for Pearl Harbour, thus preventing the deaths of further millions, they would be put in the same boat, (no pun intended, although it appears that they have learnt from this, as they now waste no opportunity to attack anyone and anything that looks at them, or "their" oil in a funny way).

Had the coup not taken place, would we be sitting here today arguing "if only a few good men had have stopped Thaksin back when he was still consolidating authority, still installing his family members into positions of civil and military power, and before his thugs started knocking down doors, dragging the opposition, and anyone else they didn't like the look of, or owed money to, or envied, away"? Probably not, because this website would no doubt have been blocked in Thailand, and many of us would have left. And, until he faces his punishment, and stops fermenting and financing murder, arson and violence, if nobody continues to speak up against his evil, murderous and corrupt past and current intentions, then we're all just as guilty as those you hold up for not speaking up against other tyrants. I happily give up the freedom to drive on whatever side of the road I want to in order to make (most of) the world a safer place, I happily give up the freedom to launch grenades at banks, hotels and train stations, camp out in the middle of town and put on a barbeque in a shopping centre to do the same for this country's future.

I am more concerned with what is occurring , rather than what might have occurred if this or that had happened. What is occurring is the gradual chipping away of free speech, political opposition and human rights.

Of course if you are in the Thanong camp and don't care about any of these things why not just admit it.

[chuang]

Abhishit is getting bolder by the day....he is running the country like his own..

[philw]

If you are on Twitter I recommend following @thanongk the editor of the nation, for an insight into how the Thai establishment think about ideas of free speech and democracy. Here are some of the pearls of wisdom Thanong has shared this week.

"Let's make it clear: Thailand is now suffering from rampant and irresponsible free speech. We don't have enough right speech.

Men are not born equal because each of us has different baramee depending on our accumulated deeds or karma

If we don't understand our strength in Sukhothai, phor phiang model and Buddhist's metta, we'll get confused with Democracy and the like.

Don't be misled by Freedom, Human rights, Democracy, globalisation and other crazy fashionable ideas. They are poisonous and hollow.

I don't believe in free speech. I believe in right speech. And we all should believe in right speech, part of the eight-fold ways."

Good post and pretty scary to think that these quotes are from a newspaper editor and a respected part of the "establishment"

Thailand seems to be going backwards at a rate of knots and it's a very worrying trend.

[landofthefree]

<BR>No one will miss them.<BR>Except those anti-royals.<BR>

<BR><BR><BR>Amazing how many Thais are brainwashed by the propoganda. Keep believing that these people are a threat to the State because it helps the Government control the Thai people. Most Thai people just dont realize that they are being controlled by the Amarts ultimate weapon.

[ballpoint]

I am more concerned with what is occurring , rather than what might have occurred if this or that had happened. What is occurring is the gradual chipping away of free speech, political opposition and human rights.

Then, once again, I ask why you posted a quote which more or less implies that we'd be better off if someone had have done something differently in the past. Someone did do something in the past, they got rid of Thaksin, and we are better off for it. If you really aren't concerned about what might have occurred, and what might reoccur, then you have no understanding of why the government is doing what it is.

Of course if you are in the Thanong camp and don't care about any of these things why not just admit it.

A typical red tactic, put words in the mouths of whoever opposes them. What next, a fake DVD of me saying I don't care being distributed at a bus stop?

[noel2499rk]

Someone did do something in the past, they got rid of Thaksin, and we are better off for it.

How do you know this?

Do you have access to an alternative universe where Thaksin is still in power.

[ballpoint]

Someone did do something in the past, they got rid of Thaksin, and we are better off for it.

How do you know this?

Do you have access to an alternative universe where Thaksin is still in power.

I don't see thousands gunned down in their own homes or places of work.

I don't see any proof showing that the current PM has stolen 150 billion baht from the country.

I didn't see any protest when he was given the boot.

So yes, the country is better off for it.

[eggomaniac]

Freedom is the opposite of wildness. <<< This is important!

[Example, in Wild America every house and car can have an out of control amount of weapons, which takes away the individual's right to go to, safely, school, or the local convenience store.]

Crowds should be allowed to 'freely' assemble, but it turns into 'wildness' when it displaces the 'freedoms' of others.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------========

As for saying whatever you want, it's easy, just agree with everything Sondhi says, but not in the North and not after the next election.

=============================

The Nabobs of the World run a wild market economy, 20% interest rates for example, and brain wash the right wing into calling it a free market economy. Environmental and labour exploitation is 'free' for who?

Edited July 10, 2010 by eggomaniac

[nakachalet]

the yellow shirts, PAD, and its affiliates have been using tv and newspapers to launch criticism of the govt and its ministries day in and day out....

and they are not required to shutdown....

what is the difference then?

i also listen to redshirt station when it was on air....

the differences that i can clearly see is....

the redshirts mostly criticised and accused govt and its members without adequate facts.... each and everyone of the announcers used everything they could imagine.... to attack

which differs greatly from the yellow shirts who used facts and figures mixed in with some humor to criticize the elites....

the redshirt leader, jatuporn, has been so very negative in his outlook in life as well as in his political career.... that it is pathetic....

imho, their political parties are not going to gain any more political stronghold in the upcoming election.... very sad....

[Globalhot]

<br><br>

<br><br>Does anybody know if  they give a hoot about political views on Thai Visa.

<div><br></div><div><br></div>

[itishothere]

"Prachatai announced on Thursday that the Abhisit Vejjajiva government was hunting for people making anti-government comments online"

Some of the posters on this forum (not this thread .... yet), seem to have very strong views. Should we be concerned??

[animatic]

the yellow shirts, PAD, and its affiliates have been using tv and newspapers to launch criticism of the govt and its ministries day in and day out....

and they are not required to shutdown....

what is the difference then?

i also listen to redshirt station when it was on air....

the differences that i can clearly see is....

the redshirts mostly criticised and accused govt and its members without adequate facts.... each and everyone of the announcers used everything they could imagine.... to attack

which differs greatly from the yellow shirts who used facts and figures mixed in with some humor to criticize the elites....

the redshirt leader, jatuporn, has been so very negative in his outlook in life as well as in his political career.... that it is pathetic....

imho, their political parties are not going to gain any more political stronghold in the upcoming election.... very sad....

This is the basic point those that stick to valid critique are left to tell the gov. what they think.

Those that attack using lies and without factual basis, get shut down.

Those that are very harsh with the government but have a real basis for saying it, are still saying it,

but those say anything regardless of reality if they think it might harm their opponents

or the monarchy as an institution are getting shut down.

A free press doesn't mean freedom to blatantly lie to gain power.

[nakachalet]

animatic

thx much.... you said it much more eloquently than i ever could.... :jap:

the yellow shirts, PAD, and its affiliates have been using tv and newspapers to launch criticism of the govt and its ministries day in and day out....

and they are not required to shutdown....

what is the difference then?

i also listen to redshirt station when it was on air....

the differences that i can clearly see is....

the redshirts mostly criticised and accused govt and its members without adequate facts.... each and everyone of the announcers used everything they could imagine.... to attack

which differs greatly from the yellow shirts who used facts and figures mixed in with some humor to criticize the elites....

the redshirt leader, jatuporn, has been so very negative in his outlook in life as well as in his political career.... that it is pathetic....

imho, their political parties are not going to gain any more political stronghold in the upcoming election.... very sad....

This is the basic point those that stick to valid critique are left to tell the gov. what they think.

Those that attack using lies and without factual basis, get shut down.

Those that are very harsh with the government but have a real basis for saying it, are still saying it,

but those say anything regardless of reality if they think it might harm their opponents

or the monarchy as an institution are getting shut down.

A free press doesn't mean freedom to blatantly lie to gain power.

[march]

So its wrong when Thaksin did it, but OK for this government, why?

I would say both are wrong, but given that this government is in power and Thaksin is not, I would be more concerned about the current administration abusing its power.

Funny how the red's only defence is "free speech", yet the mindset of completely open and "free" speech has always been flawed. Free speech itself is never a justification for spreading hate, doctored evidence and propaganda, yet this is precisely what the government has been up against over the past two years.

The debate for Maintenance of Public Order is conveniently forgotten about during these free speech debates, yet it is as much as a factor as free speech itself.

It is not forgotten by the PM himself who emphasized your points when he spoke today:

Community radio stations are now criticising the government with views sympathetic to the Red Shirts, but that is not a problem, according to the prime minister, because criticism was under the law.

But if a community radio host incites violence, the reaction from the government will be different, he said.

There are agencies and mechanisms to work with such matters, he said

above excerpt from:

PM: Government prepared for possible protest on Thaksin’s birthday

09 ก.ค. 2553

MCOT

BANGKOK - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is confident that his government's security measures will be sufficient to deal with any possible anti-government actions during the upcoming birthday of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra later this month.

The government will be cautious, he said, conceding that it could be difficult to handle if armed actions are involved.

Asked about a report regarding Red Shirt movements on Mr Thaksin's July 26 birthday, the Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES) will respond to such actions. If the UDD protest actions are within the law, there will be no problem.

Continued here:

http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/76517.html

[monkfish]

Pracatai isn't the only one Pantip (the largest forum in Thailand) also closed its politics board.

Probably why we had a few Thai members join TV recently.

Edit: what's wrong with formatting on TV sometimes

Edited July 10, 2010 by monkfish

[otherstuff1957]

Well, I'm certainly no Red-shirt fan, but this is a disturbing development. However, I will point out that this board was shut down voluntarily by it's owners, not by direct action of the government. I also wonder a bit about the timing. How long has it been since the bank accounts of the 83 Red financial supporters were frozen?

Edited July 10, 2010 by otherstuff1957

[noel2499rk]

Well, I'm certainly no Red-shirt fan, but this is a disturbing development. However, I will point out that this board was shut down voluntarily by it's owners, not by direct action of the government. I also wonder a bit about the timing. How long has it been since the bank accounts of the 83 Red financial supporters were frozen?

Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of Prachatai, is facing charges under the Computer Crimes Act.

She is accused of allowing lese majeste comments on Prachatai’s online discussion board. If convicted she faces up to 50 years' imprisonment.

The web board was shut down because Chiranuch no longer felt it was safe for people to post on the board, please note she did not shut down the website when she was arrested back in march 2009. Only now after the setting up of the cyber scouts, do those behind Prachatai believe it is no longer safe to post dissenting comments on the internet.

‘Information and Communications Technology Ministry (ICT)’ – along with both the Justice and Education ministeries – are launching a project which will involve upwards of 200 ‘volunteers’ to moniter and report to the government any internet activity that may be deemed as ‘inappropriate’.PM Abhisit voiced concern over the fact that the internet is “… a two-edged sword…”, and that the 200 or so volunteers will effectively help the government by creating a network of ‘Cyber-Monitors.’

Edited July 10, 2010 by noel2499rk

[chainarong]

Democrocy , is such a dirty word.