GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Governor candidates warned to use social media carefully

Budsarakham Sinlapalavan

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- This year's Bangkok gubernatorial election comes at a time when social media is booming, so it is only natural that candidates and their supporters will take advantage of this medium. However, academics fear that they might cross the line.

Recently, Democrat MP Sirichok Sopha posted a photograph in his Facebook timeline showing a red-shirt supporter standing next to a burning public bus with the caption: "Policy on burning free public buses - done". He also posted a doctored photograph of Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen on his campaign truck against a background of fire.

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Both these posts have stirred criticism among social media users, who are questioning if he is unfairly linking political turmoil in the past with gubernatorial race.

Sak Korsaengruang, chairman of the Lawyers' Council, said candidates could use the social media for their campaign but warned that all sides should be careful about not posting things that can be deemed illegal. He also advised candidates, their supporters, media organisations and the Election Commission to get together and decide exactly how the social media should be used.

The 2002 Local Assembly Election Act's Article 57 (5) prohibits slandering with untrue statement.

Though, so far, no Bangkok governor candidate has launched an attack against their opponents on the social media, the EC has warned that a supporters' misconduct can be reason enough to get a candidate disqualified.

On the first day of candidacy registration, Bangkok EC chairman Pol Lt-General Thaweesak Tuchinda said the EC would allow candidates to campaign via the social media. However, he said, they would be monitored by Special Branch Police for possible cyber crime offences.

He also warned candidates against making false allegations and told them to never cite the monarchy in their campaigns.

-- The Nation 2013-02-08

Though, so far, no Bangkok governor candidate has launched an attack against their opponents on the social media, the EC has warned that a supporters' misconduct can be reason enough to get a candidate disqualified.

Cool, now I can get the ones I don't like out by "supporting" them