Four people to be summoned for posting unwanted texts on social media

[unanimosity]

Don't tell them about Thaivisa or we'll all get jailed.

My advice to posters is that from now on you mask your comments with a veil of irony. Thais just don't get it.

Mind you, neither do most Americans. So my advice to them would be don't post.

Uh-oh, where are the mods when you need them? Bamboo is advocating restraint of tirade, censorship, and ethic discrimination whilst disrupting the TV revenue steam.

[wolf5370]

Oh....my....god..... With all my posts taking a somewhat dim view of the

current government, guess I will be headed to jail for sure. Maybe I should

start packing my bags !!

Pack light, a toothbrush should do it

Ok, no heavy toothbrushes, check

[pisico]

Here's a hint: Social media is here to stay. Live with it.

Indeed, the chief of thought control will acknowledge that as soon as he done reading your post and write you up for .... whatever he wants to call it, under an obscure law, never repealed of the 15th. century.

[tingtongteesood]

Premeditated murder, no problem, out in a week ( if you have 500,000 baht to pay the fee ). Write a message on a website - 5 years in jail. This is why they call it amazing Thailand, because the laws are Amazingly stupid !! ( as are the people who are supposed to enforce them )

[tingtongfarang]

Don't tell them about Thaivisa or we'll all get jailed.

My advice to posters is that from now on you mask your comments with a veil of irony. Thais just don't get it.

Mind you, neither do most Americans. So my advice to them would be don't post.

Uh-oh, where are the mods when you need them? Bamboo is advocating restraint of tirade, censorship, and ethic discrimination whilst disrupting the TV revenue steam.

maybe you missed the word irony in there?

[deepcell]

GOV = MAD DOG

[pisico]

There are so may simlarities between Thailand and North Korea , but at least North Korea doesn't pretend to be a democracy .

In your opinion.

Perhaps you may wish to continue your quest as a freedom fighter from a country more to your liking? Sudan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, Italy, Belarus, are some countries you may wish to consider.

Or you could just curl up and retire to a country where nothing much ever happens...... somewhere like Belgium or Canada.

Hey! Watch it! In Canada they have Curling! There!

[Marvo]

Reading this topic has put me into a state of panic.

Could somebody please arrest Pol Maj Gen Pisit Pao-in, who's behaviour is a breach of Article 14 of the National Computer Act and Article 116 of the Criminal Law.

Thank you.

[Thai at Heart]

I guess it all boils down to the old addage of the monkies "Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil".

Which would pretty much cramp my stile if I was intimidated by it, which I'm NOT.

Aha. So if no one says anything, ever. Society is saved.

Don't make me stop this car, you kids are to be seen and not heard.

But it's just another tiny step. Even the army spokesman came out and denied a coup in a press conference. But sending a message about it, gets you a visit from the cops?????

[pisico]

social media which could lead to anxiety among the general public

Oh my word. Causing anxiety gets you jailed. Very very bad retrograde step for freedom this one.

Revealing government's corruption is a crime, but it's okay for the super Elite, to dress as imposter monks, acquire assets, or murdering people with ferraris, and XXXXX_cuse your "Innocent" children from driving berserk into buses....

A Thai friend of mine says that is all part of the "culture". It's been going on forever.

Tsk, tsk! Farang can't understand Thainess.

[Thai at Heart]

social media which could lead to anxiety among the general public

Oh my word. Causing anxiety gets you jailed. Very very bad retrograde step for freedom this one.

Revealing government's corruption is a crime, but it's okay for the super Elite, to dress as imposter monks, acquire assets, or murdering people with ferraris, and XXXXX_cuse your "Innocent" children from driving berserk into buses....

A Thai friend of mine says that is all part of the "culture". It's been going on forever.

Tsk, tsk! Farang can't understand Thainess.

Ah, but thainess never had to handle social media. Any schmoe has a voice. It's just terrible, chaos will reign.

Times are a changing

Edited August 5, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[pisico]

Guess why the Constitution is so 'flexible'. Can pretty much squelch freedom of expression under a number of 'excepts'.

Part 7

Freedom of Expression of Individual and the Press

Section 45. A person shall enjoy the liberty to express his opinion, make speech, write, print, publicise, and make expression by other means.

The restriction on liberty under paragraph one shall not be imposed except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for the purpose of maintaining the security of State, protecting the rights, liberties, dignity, reputation, family or privacy rights of other person, maintaining public order or good morals or preventing or halting the deterioration of the mind or health of the public.

The closure of a newspaper or other mass media business in deprivation of the liberty under this section shall not be made.

The prevention of a newspaper or other mass media from printing news or expressing their opinions, wholly or partly, or interference in any manner whatsoever in deprivation of the liberty under this section shall not be made except by the provisions of the law enacted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph two.

The censorship by a competent official of news or articles before their publication in a newspaper or other mass media shall not be made except during the time when the country is in a state of war; provided that it must be made by virtue of the law enacted under the provisions of paragraph two.

The owner of a newspaper or other mass media business shall be a Thai national.

No grant of money or other properties shall be made by State as subsidies to private newspapers or other mass media.

Section 46. Officials or employees in a private sector undertaking newspaper, radio or television broadcasting businesses or other mass media business shall enjoy their liberties to present news and express their opinions under the constitutional restrictions without mandate of any government agency, State agency, State enterprise or the owner of such businesses; provided that it is not contrary to their professional ethics, and shall enjoy the right to form organisation with balancing mechanism among professional organisations so as to protect rights, liberties and fairness.

Government officials, officials or employees of a government agency, State agency or State enterprise engaging in the radio or television broadcasting business or other mass media business enjoy the same liberties as those enjoyed by officials or employees under paragraph one.

Any act done by a person holding political position, State official or the owner of business with a view to obstruct or interfere the presentation of news or an expression of opinions in public issue of the person under paragraph one or paragraph two, irrespective of whether such act has been done directly or indirectly, shall be deemed as wilfully misuse of power and take no effect except where such act has been done through the enforcement of law or professional ethics.

Constitution

And your point is? The General official was acting on the right he has under some article of his choosing to:

1- intimidate when appropriate.

2- coerce when not doing so may lead to discomfort of higher ups.

3- Bully, twist arms, scare, frighten, etc., in order to prevent unwanted expressions of freedom of speech.

[Thai at Heart]

Guess why the Constitution is so 'flexible'. Can pretty much squelch freedom of expression under a number of 'excepts'.

Part 7

Freedom of Expression of Individual and the Press

Section 45. A person shall enjoy the liberty to express his opinion, make speech, write, print, publicise, and make expression by other means.

The restriction on liberty under paragraph one shall not be imposed except by virtue of the law specifically enacted for the purpose of maintaining the security of State, protecting the rights, liberties, dignity, reputation, family or privacy rights of other person, maintaining public order or good morals or preventing or halting the deterioration of the mind or health of the public.

The closure of a newspaper or other mass media business in deprivation of the liberty under this section shall not be made.

The prevention of a newspaper or other mass media from printing news or expressing their opinions, wholly or partly, or interference in any manner whatsoever in deprivation of the liberty under this section shall not be made except by the provisions of the law enacted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph two.

The censorship by a competent official of news or articles before their publication in a newspaper or other mass media shall not be made except during the time when the country is in a state of war; provided that it must be made by virtue of the law enacted under the provisions of paragraph two.

The owner of a newspaper or other mass media business shall be a Thai national.

No grant of money or other properties shall be made by State as subsidies to private newspapers or other mass media.

Section 46. Officials or employees in a private sector undertaking newspaper, radio or television broadcasting businesses or other mass media business shall enjoy their liberties to present news and express their opinions under the constitutional restrictions without mandate of any government agency, State agency, State enterprise or the owner of such businesses; provided that it is not contrary to their professional ethics, and shall enjoy the right to form organisation with balancing mechanism among professional organisations so as to protect rights, liberties and fairness.

Government officials, officials or employees of a government agency, State agency or State enterprise engaging in the radio or television broadcasting business or other mass media business enjoy the same liberties as those enjoyed by officials or employees under paragraph one.

Any act done by a person holding political position, State official or the owner of business with a view to obstruct or interfere the presentation of news or an expression of opinions in public issue of the person under paragraph one or paragraph two, irrespective of whether such act has been done directly or indirectly, shall be deemed as wilfully misuse of power and take no effect except where such act has been done through the enforcement of law or professional ethics.

Constitution

And your point is? The General official was acting on the right he has under some article of his choosing to:

1- intimidate when appropriate.

2- coerce when not doing so may lead to discomfort of higher ups.

3- Bully, twist arms, scare, frighten, etc., in order to prevent unwanted expressions of freedom of speech.

Written with ambiguity already built it. This is the best that the best Thai legal brains can come up with.

[atsiii]

So... one is free to say whatever one wants, so long as it: 1) has nothing to do with the Royal Family, or anyone who knows the RF, or anyone who has ever seen the RF, either in person or on TV, or anyone who has ever read about the RF; 2) does not cause anybody anywhere any sort of anxiety; 3) what is said has absolutely no basis in fact or truth, or could possibly be misconstrued by anyone anywhere as having any legitimate basis in fact or truth; and 4) it does not parody anything having to do with any aspect of Thailand or Siam, real or imagined, cultural or otherwise, as determined by any government, police or military official, or any Minister of any government agency--regardless of whether the agency exists or not.

Good grief.

[RigPig]

Just block Facebook, imagine the band width you'd free up.....

Oh that's no good the BIB wouldn't be able to solve any crimes, your GF would have to listen to you, you wouldn't have to disturb the bar girl to get a drink, oops that's a good thing.........

[Robby nz]

Block facebook completely, what a great way to lose an election.

[chooka]

If found guilty, they could be subject to up to five years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Bt100,000.

what about the murderer of this American guy who sing too long ? ah yes he has been bailed out ..... no more comment.

Yes but freedom of speech and having a facebook account is by far a more serious crime than killing a Farang. Farang's created social media.

[Kilgore Trout]

But I thought Thailand was not a "nanny state"?

[boomerangutang]

Premeditated murder, no problem, out in a week ( if you have 500,000 baht to pay the fee ). Write a message on a website - 5 years in jail. This is why they call it amazing Thailand, because the laws are Amazingly stupid !! ( as are the people who are supposed to enforce them )

Not sure if the laws are amazingly stupid (though there are no laws against harboring a criminal, nor for date rape, nor any laws compelling a dead beat dad to pay to help support his children) - but there's a whale of room for improvement. Oh, and murder is excusable, if you're from a rich and/or influential family.

Look at who, until recently, was #1 in charge of enforcing drug laws (themselves off kilter) - it was a man with a daily habit of drinking fermented sugar drinks to excess. Judges and jurists and the people making the laws are themselves imbibers. Go figure.

[bangkokheat]

Oh....my....god..... With all my posts taking a somewhat dim view of the

current government, guess I will be headed to jail for sure. Maybe I should

start packing my bags !!

you wont need bags where your going mate

[Tatsujin]

You gotta love the freedom of speech and democracy here lol

Where exactly are you, or will you be when you wake up?

Not sure what the point was in your posting unanimosity . . . do you not understand sarcasm?

[webfact]

Thai police summon Facebook users over coup-rumor posts, threaten to jail people for ‘liking’

BANGKOK — Police in Thailand have opened investigations of four people for allegedly causing panic by posting rumors of a possible military coup on Facebook — and an investigator threatened Monday to charge anyone who even “liked” the postings on the social media site.

The move comes as Bangkok braces for possible political protests this week coinciding with a bill related to a 2006 coup in the country. Opponents say the bill could pave the way for the return of the man that the military ousted in that takeover, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister leads the current elected government.

Technology Crime Suppression division chief Police Maj. Gen. Pisit Paoin said Monday that the four posted Facebook entries with false information that could damage the country. If found guilty, they could face up to five years in prison and a fine worth 100,000 baht ($3,200).

“These four have posted false messages about the coup and other messages that could lead to chaos in the society,” Pisit told at a press conference. “The postings’ content does not hold any truth, and if the words kept spreading around, it could damage to the country.” He said the police have issued summons for them to meet investigators.

Among those summoned are Sermsuk Kasitipradit, the political editor of public television channel TPBS, and a local pro-government protest leader.

The postings mentioned a possibility of a military coup and urged the public to hoard food and water.

“Those who ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ the posts will also face charges, so we would like to ask the public to contemplate very carefully about the way they use social media,” Pisit added.

More than 1,000 anti-government protesters kicked off a rally in Bangkok on Sunday as lawmakers were scheduled to deliberate on the controversial bill on Wednesday.

Last week, the government invoked the Internal Security Act in three Bangkok districts, citing the possibility of protest violence. The act, in effect from Aug. 1 - 10, authorizes officials to seal off roads, take action against security threats, impose curfews and ban the use of electronic devices in designated areas. Peaceful and unarmed rallies are allowed under the law.

Opponents of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government feared the bill, which would grant amnesty to people arrested for political activities since the 2006 military coup, could pave the way for the return of her brother Thaksin.

Thaksin was ousted in the 2006 coup and has been living in self-imposed exile.

The government’s special peace-keeping command under the Internal Security Act warned on Sunday against sharing any information that could lead to havoc in the nation.

Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday denied the coup rumors and urged the public to be careful in distinguishing truth from rumors.

“Do not spread the rumors. Rumors are rumors. I want every group, every side, everyone, no matter which side you’re on, to be sensible ... and be able to see what is true and what isn’t,” Prayuth told reporters.

Thailand’s 2007 Computer Crime Act addresses hacking and other traditional online offenses, but also bars the circulation of material deemed detrimental to national security or that causes panic. It carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 baht ($3,300).

Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/thai-police-summon-facebook-users-over-coup-feared-posts/2013/08/05/932e71d8-fdad-11e2-8294-0ee5075b840d_story.html

-- The Washington Post 2013-08-06

[Tywais]

threaten to jail people for ‘liking’

Now we are approaching the realm of insanity.

[laurentbkk]

Thats a nice job ... checking who like or not a facebook comment ... and I thought I have seen all here ....

[idothedew]

Wow, this one put me off my breakfast a little bit.

[Songhua]

threaten to jail people for liking

Now we are approaching the realm of insanity.

Oops, I 'liked' your post.

At least we'll all get to meet in person on the inside

[MaxLee]

threaten to jail people for liking

Now we are approaching the realm of insanity.

Oops, I 'liked' your post.

At least we'll all get to meet in person on the inside

Arrest the whole nation, teenagers, kids, the main targets,...

[edwinchester]

Am I allowed to like a well written Facebook post whilst at the same time disagreeing with the validity of the content?

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Patje]

Let's all start to run now , and all in different directions

[harrry]

threaten to jail people for ‘liking’

Now we are approaching the realm of insanity.

Like this?

http://www.technobuffalo.com/2012/08/14/lawman-fired-after-facebook-liking-bosss-rival/