Facebook Users Join Anti-Govt Campaign

[webfact]

Facebook users join anti-govt campaign

The Nation on Sunday

Websites of PM and state agencies targeted

BANGKOK: -- Facebook users have joined an anti-government campaign by changing their profile pictures to the white mask of Guy Fawkes and posting messages against the Thaksin regime on government websites and FB pages that support the former PM.

The FB users posted a message that said: "The people's army has awakened. We pronounce here that we will bring down and eradicate the Thaksin regime from Thailand."

This message was posted repeatedly on websites of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the Facebook pages of Thaksin, his sister Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, his son Panthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra, and the Government House website Thai Khu Fah.

The campaign is the latest by government åcritics. Earlier, a group of people formed Thai Spring to campaign online against the prime minister for making a "biased and damaging speech" while attending an international conference in Mongolia.

The Guy Fawkes white mask, popularised by the movie "V for Vendetta", has become a symbol of civil disobedience against corrupt use of government power in many countries.

The mask was used during the Occupy Wall Street protest in the United States against capitalism. Julian Assange, the Australian activist who founded WikiLeaks, also put on this mask during his protest in London. In Thailand, the mask was worn during a protest outside the US Embassy over criticism of the lese majeste law.

The wearing of a white Guy Fawkes mask has become popular since "V for Vendetta" became a hit for Warner Bros in 2005. The movie features a revolutionary who urges people to rise up against a corrupt totalitarian regime.

ICT Minister Anudith Nakornthap said yesterday that FB users had a constitutional right to express political opinions, as long as they conform to the law.

He said authorities would take no action against those involved in the campaign, as they had not broken any law. But legal action would be taken if there was a complaint of damage from the state agencies or individuals involved.

Pheu Thai Party MP Korkaew Pikulthong said he did not believe an anti-government movement with the mask of Guy Fawkes would get public backing and become popular because only a few people were involved.

"As long as the government works hard to gear the country toward fast development growth, people will not side with an anti-government movement," he said.

Korkaew, a red-shirt leader, urged people not to create an atmosphere of conflict because the PM and the government were trying to create a good political atmosphere and push the country out of "the black hole."

Guy Fawkes is a figure from British history. He was a member of a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot against the reign of King James I in 1605.

History had it that Fawkes was placed in charge of gunpowder stockpiled at an undercroft beneath the House of Lords. Prompted by the receipt of an anonymous letter, the authorities searched Westminster Palace and found Fawkes guarding the explosives.

Over the next few days, he was questioned and tortured, and eventually broke. Immediately before his execution, Fawkes, 35, jumped from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck.

Fawkes became synonymous with the Gunpowder Plot, the failure of which has been commemorated in England since November 5, 1605.

-- The Nation 2013-05-26

[rubberduck]

Oh moment ! I'm gonna change my TV avatar right now

Edited May 26, 2013 by rubberduck

[PREM-R]

Perhaps it is time for a general election then we will see who is and who is not popular with the Thai people.

[BookMan]

Sounds like a good campaign.

Some people like to deride social media, but events like this show social medias have the power to engage the public in politics.

The good (and the bad) about social media is that it is harder for any one group to control the 'message'.

[whybother]

Perhaps it is time for a general election then we will see who is and who is not popular with the Thai people.

Are you suggesting that they can't protest just because the government is "popular"?

[seajae]

Perhaps it is time for a general election then we will see who is and who is not popular with the Thai people.

especially if they enforce the non payment to red shirts and ptp voters, then we would see that the only people that want a thaksin govt are those that are being paid by him as bugger all would vote for them without their payment.

[soi41]

Why don't we just sit back and enjoy all the good things Thailand has to offer, and leave it to the natives to play their own stupid games ??

[rubberduck]

Don't understand this one 'This message was posted repeatedly on websites of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology' do they mean this websites were hacked ??

[Bellweather]

The ICT Minister said people have the right etc. as long as they don't break the law which under normal circumstances would be ok but as we know this government is the law, they move the goalposts and interpret things as they see fit not as they are. How long will it be before " complaints " are received and the ICT Ministry go to work ?

[whybother]

But legal action would be taken if there was a complaint of damage from the state agencies or individuals involved.

Does "damage" include causing them to lose face? Expect a defamation charge from the government soon.

[OzMick]

Guy Fawkes, reputedly the only man to enter parliament with honest intentions.

I thought the government website was Thai Fah Khu.

[Roadman]

The hypocrisy of Korkaew. Prepared to be leading the Red garbage on their burning raids in Udon Thani and is now urging the people not to create an atmosphere of conflict. The Thaksin stooges need tossed out on their two faced asses.

[DocN]

Perhaps it is time for a general election then we will see who is and who is not popular with the Thai people.

especially if they enforce the non payment to red shirts and ptp voters, then we would see that the only people that want a thaksin govt are those that are being paid by him as bugger all would vote for them without their payment.

Oh yes...and let the Dems and others still pay.

FYI: that is what they do as well!

[A Member]

But legal action would be taken if there was a complaint of damage from the state agencies or individuals involved.

Does "damage" include causing them to lose face? Expect a defamation charge from the government soon.

with what we seen of an intolerant attitude to even the slightest criticism it's hard to see this being allowed to go on unanswered so perhaps a two pronged attack, if possible find out who is involved and start defamation proceedings and the ICt Minister throws his authority around in respect of the sites.

[EyesWideOpen]

Good to see the Thai people finally waking up and seeing Thaksin for what he really is, and the damage caused to this country by him. Although I suspect the government will start shutting down websites in short order if this movement really starts gaining steam. I suspect the Thai government is well aware of what happened with the Arab spring, and the role social media played there

in disposing the dictators there.

[Robby nz]

Korkaew, a red-shirt leader, urged people not to create an atmosphere of conflict because the PM and the government were trying to create a good political atmosphere and push the country out of "the black hole."

Great stuff, a red shirt leader urging people not to create an atmosphere of conflict.

And the Govt 'trying to create a good political atmosphere' like supporting the reds in a demo outside the constitution court, getting the DSI to trump up as many charges against the Dem leaders as possible and of course the bring Thaksin back bit will help.

Isnt this the same KorKaew who is out on bail, what were the charges again, something to do with conflict wasn't it?

[animatic]

Seems it's struck a nerve since these so called big wigs

have felt compeled to try and talk it down.

And Korkaew certainly doesn't see the irony he generates.

Edited May 26, 2013 by animatic

[Siripon]

In an interview in the newspaper today Nipit, the Democrat MP for Pattalung, said the Democrats could only do so much in Parliament, Pheua Thai have the numbers to push through the whitewash bills. He urged those of the Thai public who oppose Thaksin to make their voices heard. It's time for another Sonthi Limtongkun.

[khunken]

In an interview in the newspaper today Nipit, the Democrat MP for Pattalung, said the Democrats could only do so much in Parliament, Pheua Thai have the numbers to push through the whitewash bills. He urged those of the Thai public who oppose Thaksin to make their voices heard. It's time for another Sonthi Limtongkun.

Yes but one can only hope that whoever it is doesn't get shot. By the way any information on arrests of the shooter(s) or mastermind behind Sonthi's attempted murder?

[drdoom6996]

The hypocrisy of Korkaew. Prepared to be leading the Red garbage on their burning raids in Udon Thani and is now urging the people not to create an atmosphere of conflict. The Thaksin stooges need tossed out on their two faced asses.

+1, could not have said it better.

[EyesWideOpen]

The hypocrisy of Korkaew. Prepared to be leading the Red garbage on their burning raids in Udon Thani and is now urging the people not to create an atmosphere of conflict. The Thaksin stooges need tossed out on their two faced asses.

+1, could not have said it better.

I have often wondered if there was a Thai word for hypocrisy.....

[rogerdee123]

The hypocrisy of Korkaew. Prepared to be leading the Red garbage on their burning raids in Udon Thani and is now urging the people not to create an atmosphere of conflict. The Thaksin stooges need tossed out on their two faced asses.

+1, could not have said it better.

I have often wondered if there was a Thai word for hypocrisy.....

how about ... " Nok Mii Song Hua "

[jayboy]

Interesting choice of Guy Fawkes by these proto fascists.Obviously they have not bothered to study history, or they would have seen that Guy Fawkes' historic objective was not really consistent with their professed aims.Not a very impressive initiative from these "educate" people, precisely the ones that criticise the PM for her poor English when they are unable to string an accurate sentence together.

[Robby nz]

The complaints department tells me there is one of the Govt big wigs in a video on facebook telling those who join this campaign that what they are doing is against the law and they should not post against Thaksin, Yingluck or the govt and if they do they will be arrested.

The gist of what she said, what the Thai words were I don't know.

Seems a nerve has been tweaked hard, far to hard for it to be ignored till it goes away.

What was the quote.

"People should not be afraid of the Government, the Government should be afraid of the people"

[Dap]

Perhaps it is time for a general election then we will see who is and who is not popular with the Thai people.

Are you suggesting that they can't protest just because the government is "popular"?

Unfortunately, "popular" and "wealthy" are all too often synonymous.

[MikeOboe57]

Interesting choice of Guy Fawkes by these proto fascists.Obviously they have not bothered to study history, or they would have seen that Guy Fawkes' historic objective was not really consistent with their professed aims.Not a very impressive initiative from these "educate" people, precisely the ones that criticise the PM for her poor English when they are unable to string an accurate sentence together.

Still trying to label the opposition to Kim-Jong-Thaksin as "proto fascists"? I had to google for a definition and found this gem:

A proto-fascist is someone who advocates political ideas that could become fascism--like a president who imprisons people without habeas corpus, or who believes the Constitution is 'just a goddamned piece of paper'.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090221111218AAR1lE7

You intended to fire a broadside and all that happened was a simple barrel burst.

[DocN]

I wonder , who is behind these "facebook- users", who join an anti- government campaign.

If these are really students or the likes, who are calling for more democracy and transparency...good.

But I guess, it might be something/someone else behind it...someone who will not make it any better than the recent government, someone who might make things worse. Some folks on here should be careful what they wish for.

just my 2 satang

[OzMick]

Interesting choice of Guy Fawkes by these proto fascists.Obviously they have not bothered to study history, or they would have seen that Guy Fawkes' historic objective was not really consistent with their professed aims.Not a very impressive initiative from these "educate" people, precisely the ones that criticise the PM for her poor English when they are unable to string an accurate sentence together.

If your reading and comprehension were a little better, you would understand that they are emulating the character in the movie, not Guy Fawkes. Why would they have any interest in the ancient history of a distant, small country which has very little influence on Thailand?

[waza]

Ah he power of anonymous posters verses the power of an not so anonymous puppet master and his puppets.

[khunken]

To paraphrase Dave Barry:

Wouldn't the 'Proto Fascists' be a great name for a rock group.