Thai gov. to tax (remitted) income from abroad for tax residents starting 2024 - Part II

[webfact]

Network queries need for cyber, data security laws
ASINA PORNWASIN
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE Thai Netizen Network has urged the government to withdraw both the Cyber Security Bill and the Personal Data Protection Bill from the Council of State's consideration, because the bills needed to be not just revised but redeveloped.

Arthit Suriyawongkul, the network's coordinator, proposed action on the two bills at a forum hosted yesterday by Media Inside Out.

"The principles behind these bills are unacceptable and cannot be improved by just revising the details," he said. "There is another draft of [the Personal Data Protection Bill], and we need the government to bring that draft [forward] to be considered."

He said the concept behind these bills was that they were needed to promote the development of a "digital economy" in Thailand, but many points must first be considered thoroughly.

For example, it should be asked if it is necessary to have special laws to deal with cyber-security or protection of personal data. Instead, he asked whether the existing laws could simply be adjusted.

"Is it necessary to waste the [state] budget by duplicating the [laws]? Do we really need to have new laws?" Arthit asked.

Chavarong Limpattamapanee, an adviser to the Online News Providers Association, told the forum the government had shown its willingness to listen to civil society's opinions on the digital-economy bills. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam last week invited stakeholders to voice their concerns.

The stakeholders included the Thai e-Commerce Association, the Thai Webmaster Association, the Online News Providers Association, and the National Press Council of Thailand.

"They requested that media urge the government to set up a process for all stakeholders to take part in revising the bills. Wisanu said the Cyber Security Bill would be the last one to come out as it needed more time to be considered," Chavarong said.

He added that civil society's participation in reviewing the bills was now accepted by the government and it was a good development. Civil society could participate in studying the bills during the Council of State's review.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Network-queries-need-for-cyber-data-security-laws-30253808.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-11

[jcisco]

Well if this will be a test of the Juntas real ability to reform and even maintain rule for a long period of time. If they refuse to engage the people with interests in this bill properly and or fail to take them into consideration and plough ahead. It will be more than enough to significantly undermine many thai observers faith and bring into question their legitimacy in under such disingenuous practices.

[Lupatria]

What's the problem? If all data is accessible and stored by a military government it should be considered safe.

[rickirs]

"he asked whether the existing laws could simply be adjusted."

One could have asked the same question of the 2007 Constitution and of all the previous constitutions. It's not about adjusting laws but about changing the whole Thai political landscape from a participatory multi-party democratic electroral system to basically a one-party system that controls the sovereignty of the Thai people.

Sincere and well-meaning intelligent Thais seemed to have missed the lessons from past coups - coups happen to regain and retain power of a few at the expense of the many. That power requires the diminuition and elimination of all actual and potential opposition. So it should be no surprise that existing laws promulgated by elected legislatures fall short and cannot simply be "adjusted." To do so would be to violate constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. Thai history has shown that civil liberties are the first victims of every coup, usually in the name of reforms.

I hope that the present Junta-led government survives another year if only to teach the Thais peoples once and for all that it is they alone who must guarantee their rights and liberties, that their sovereignty remains inviolate. Otherwise, their complacency to the abuses of their sovereignty will only encourage continued assault and suppression.

Edited February 11, 2015 by rickirs