Thai army takes aim at media to muzzle dissent

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Thai army takes aim at media to muzzle dissent
by Delphine THOUVENOT

BANGKOK, May 22, 2014 (AFP) - When Thailand's generals declared martial law to suppress months of political bloodshed one of the first casualties was freedom of information with a swift crackdown on any murmurs of dissent on television and social media.

Sweeping controls saw soldiers occupy several broadcasters and take a number of TV channels off air in what they said was a necessary measure to keep the peace as the military tries to solve the nation's festering political conflict.

Several politically partisan broadcasters switched to the Internet to dodge the censors' crosshairs, but the army was swift to extend curbs to the Internet, highlighting the growing power of social media in challenging authority in the digital era.

Representatives from Internet service providers were summoned to a meeting Wednesday and instructed to block any content deemed to threaten peace and order within one hour of its discovery.

"The military fears social media more than television or radio," said Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of Southeast Asian Affairs at Chiang Mai University.

But "in this day and age... the military cannot easily censure bloggers and other cyber communicators."

Pro and anti-government channels -- tub thumpers for either side throughout the seven-month political crisis -- almost immediately moved to YouTube or other web streaming sites to side-step the curbs on television broadcasting.

"They shut us down because we belong to a political movement who could attack them," said Artit Kalainegrn, a reporter for pro-government "Red Shirt" channel UDD.

Its rival 'BlueSky', which has delivered round-the-clock coverage of anti-government rallies, also moved to YouTube and other streaming sites.

In response military brass on Wednesday issued an edict targeting the Internet, setting up a special body to monitor the web.

Six "inappropriate" websites were closed with the "co-operation" of True Corp. one the kingdom's largest Internet service providers, according to Thakorn Thatasit, secretary-general of Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunication Commission.

-- 'Do you feel lucky?' --

Even before the declaration of martial law, Thailand faced criticism about its curbs on the media, particularly harsh royal defamation legislation which critics say is used to muzzle free speech and political dissent.

Thailand ranked 130th out of 180 countries in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.

Citizen "cyber scouts" are known to troll the Internet for infringements of the law which forbids any content deemed critical of the monarchy.

More than 1,300 websites -- including Wikileaks -- were blocked in 2010 during a protest by Red Shirt supporters of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose ousting in a coup eight years ago was the spark that ignited the protracted political crisis.

The key role of social media in recent protest movements across the Middle East may have also caught the eye of Thailand's top brass.

"It poses a significant challenge to the Thai military... they recognise there's a very vibrant social media culture in Thailand and they are taking a very totalitarian approach to censorship," said Brad Adams, Asia director at New York-based Human Rights Watch.

"The fear is that they will make an example of some high profile people on social media... to make others fall into line or self-censor."

This time round, while some media outlets appeared to heed the restrictions -- in a nation where the press is largely privately owned -- web users swiftly reacted to the army's decree on social media.

Cartoons mocking the assault on press freedom went viral on Facebook while photos of people posing with placards decrying the measures widely shared.

One cartoon, a recreation of a famous photograph from the 1989 Tianamen Square crackdown by Chinese authorities, depicted a soldier at the head of column of tanks with a cannon trained on a person sitting on the ground with an open laptop asking "Do you feel lucky?"

In the short term observers say censorship may cramp the ability of protesters on both sides to galvanise support, but the proliferation of social media means its impact will ultimately be limited.

Prolonged Internet controls may incubate future trouble for the military at a time when it is casting itself as a mediator across the nation's political schism.

"If the martial law exists for a long time and still does not solve the problems -- and (it) keeps blocking and limiting people's rights and freedom -- people will start to explode," said Chiranuch Premchaiporn -- a prominent webmaster who has a suspended jail sentence for failing to remove a reader comment deemed critical of the monarchy quickly enough.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-22

[seajae]

if the press was reporting unbiased truth then there would be no problems but they are simply paid arms of the various groups either pro govt or ant govt. Until the media can be blatantly honest they need to be nuzzled as they only spread lies and innuendo to favour their own biased views.

The red channels are the worst as they are just blatantly dishonest and refuse to tell their listeners the truth because the people would then know the truth and desert them in droves. The media in Thailand is a joke, they wouldnt know how to tell the truth if it bit them on the bum, sensationalism and unfounded story lines are all they can do

[jaltsc]

"...one of the first casualties was freedom of information..."

That makes sense. In order to preserve democracy, first they must destroy it.

[Fat Haggis]

Michael Yons FB page has a few cartoons on it by some French Guy, not sure if they're mocking the Military, but the fanbase he seems to have there are a tad "radical" at times, and his page has been shut down a few times over the past couple of weeks.

I also believe that some bookshops were instructed to remove literature of a "political nature" as well

[Luk Mhee]

Well considering that this political turmoil has everybody at wits end (like,dog bites dog) and the military has been extremely patient throughout this whole indecent. this seems to be the only logical solution, don't you think

[binjalin]

censorship is ok apart from -x-x-x-x-x and x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Edited May 22, 2014 by binjalin

[Nickymaster]

"...one of the first casualties was freedom of information..."

That makes sense. In order to preserve democracy, first they must destroy it.

Another casualty was the right to throw grenades at peaceful protestors.

[Thait Spot]

The problems we have seen from both sides involving doctored photos, videos and voice clips as well as downright lies and false stories are not what is needed now.

The standard news sites are reporting fact, some of it critical of the army.

I don't see the big deal at present with taking some sites off air so long as its fair.

I admit that I would not feel the same if it were my media outlet.

Perhaps the army can have each outlet sign a set of rules for them to sign to permit them to get back on air in the next few weeks

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Chris Lawrence]

if the press was reporting unbiased truth then there would be no problems but they are simply paid arms of the various groups either pro govt or ant govt. Until the media can be blatantly honest they need to be nuzzled as they only spread lies and innuendo to favour their own biased views.

The red channels are the worst as they are just blatantly dishonest and refuse to tell their listeners the truth because the people would then know the truth and desert them in droves. The media in Thailand is a joke, they wouldnt know how to tell the truth if it bit them on the bum, sensationalism and unfounded story lines are all they can do

Can you get them to replace the 'Nation' with say 'Pattayaone'. Or maybe the Oz bloke with an American accent, Mr Rupert. What news outlet doesn't have a bias?

One of the problems I see in news reporting at the moment is the level of expertise. A lot of the media is being trimmed back with a reliance on internet type reporting.

But what is dissent. A difference, disagreement or just differ? But we want the truth.

So we need journalist with a difference, one who can cut to the chase of the wrongs and ills in the country and sought out their cause and not just the effect. Unfortunatly with current media suppression this will not happen within Thailand. But it would make a great story; What is stopping Thailand moving forward, or Has the Thai elite really got big Thai balls?

Or do some social research to see how many upper class Thais have actually married a common westerner? Do these marriages work and if so what is in it for me?

Marriages at an elite level I would think have purpose in unifying money and position.

Can the hold of the Elite be dismantled? Will Thailand move out of deadlock if no dismantling occurs.

Changing the constitution every time there is a bad smell in the air doesn't establish or promote the truth.

The truth is not a red or yellow colour, its a bit deeper.

The General has a tough job on his hands.

[marinediscoking]

After the last coup most of media were so happy and support it for about the first two weeks, then all they did was complain when reality set in and censure was daily. Short memories I guess.

[chainarong]

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After the last coup most of media were so happy and support it for about the first two weeks, then all they did was complain when reality set in and censure was daily. Short memories I guess.

Anything was better than Thaskins take on how the press should report , some of Thaskins views is around or was around once again.

[mania]

Something is up as of a few minutes ago

All Thai TV stations down

Military made an announcement

[reiltin]

You can't run,you can't hide....from the TRUTH. so much easier for you in '74 information is power(available at a click to prince or pauper)ready or not(if not you'll be . kick and scream all you want...) welcome to 2014 Thailand.

[Cnxforever]

Thanks True Corp. For being a fascist collaborator I have just thrown your useless SIM in the garbage!

Going to buy AIS now!

[mania]

Thanks True Corp. For being a fascist collaborator I have just thrown your useless SIM in the garbage!

Going to buy AIS now!

My True sim still working in CNX

May be some sites are overwhelmed now

[Somtamnication]

Yeah guys. Be very careful with what you say...this ain't no movie, yet.

[empireboy]

"...one of the first casualties was freedom of information..."

That makes sense. In order to preserve democracy, first they must destroy it.

Yes indeed... The best way to peace is aggression; the best way to health is sickness... and so on, everyone knows that right?

[Scott]

Off-topic post deleted.

[kdw512]

Came home early to watch American Idol semi-finals, but Channel 2 was blocked! Now I heard curfew 10pm-5am. What next?

[Emster23]

Well, trying to look on the bright side of this, when TV gets shut down I won't have to read any more posts about how PDRC and friends the army are going to be democratic saviors of this fine land. See you on the other side, if there is one.

[ggt]

Civil liberties...have been suspended...for all practical purposes...

[edwinchester]

It's starting to get very personal when I can't watch 'Tour of Italy' on Eurosport.

[Jay1]

Let's hope this curfew and block on TV channels is finished before the World Cup!!

[connda]

The only down side I see is that the National Peace and Order Maintaining Council is playing music on TV between announcements that must have come from WWII area Thailand. Big Band sounding stuff that my parents and grand-parents use to listen too. It's actually interesting to listen to, at least in my humble opinion. I'm half-expecting a Thai version of Humphry Bogart and Audry Hepburn to come popping our of the TV set. I'm sure the younger folk have probably turned off the TV on put on the Itunes.

Edited May 22, 2014 by connda

[givenall]

"...one of the first casualties was freedom of information..."

That makes sense. In order to preserve democracy, first they must destroy it.

democracy is not everyone rights. it is a privilege and needs to be earned.

there is no real democracy as long as policies/politicians are bought and sold

[Jonmarleesco]

'... Citizen "cyber scouts" ...' Parallels with the Nazis' brownshirts.

[Crushdepth]

After the last coup most of media were so happy and support it for about the first two weeks, then all they did was complain when reality set in and censure was daily. Short memories I guess.

They're already posting 'hands off the media' stories

[rreddin]

After the last coup most of media were so happy and support it for about the first two weeks, then all they did was complain when reality set in and censure was daily. Short memories I guess.

They're already posting 'hands off the media' stories

Where there is a will, there is a way and someone making money from it. I do not doubt for one minute that protest groups, on both sides and all shades of opinion, have not anticipated this move and prepared counter measures. It is the ordinary public and businesses that rely on the Internet that will be damaged.

[englishoak]

After the last coup most of media were so happy and support it for about the first two weeks, then all they did was complain when reality set in and censure was daily. Short memories I guess.

They're already posting 'hands off the media' stories

Where there is a will, there is a way and someone making money from it. I do not doubt for one minute that protest groups, on both sides and all shades of opinion, have not anticipated this move and prepared counter measures. It is the ordinary public and businesses that rely on the Internet that will be damaged.

They will find it very hard to justify messing with the internet. If it is left on then there is no way to silence people completely.

[noodle]

muzzling dissent? A reduction of propaganda is an improvement for sure. But who can tell the truth?