Families of Detained Facebookers Speak Out

[webfact]

Families of Detained Facebookers Speak Out
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter


Harit Mahaton is brought to the martial court on Friday morning. He and seven other Facebookers stand accused of sedition and Computer Crime Act.

BANGKOK — The sun had yet to rise when armed soldiers surrounded their homes and took their sons and daughter into custody.

In a coordinated operation, soldiers arrested eight Facebookers in one swoop and took them to army bases for interrogation. Authorities only disclosed their alleged crimes a day later: running Facebook pages that insulted junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha and his military regime.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1462362784&typecate=06&section=

-- Khaosod English 2016-05-05

[Somtamnication]

These kids have a lot to learn about using privacy tools.

[simon43]

These kids have a lot to learn about using privacy tools

Probably true, but note from the full article that the military somehow got hold of a private Facebook chat between 2 of the accused. How were they able to do that?

In any case, the offending content couldn't be hidden because it was a public page on Facebook.

The offending materials including one satirical Facebook page called We Love General Prayuth, which lampoons the junta chairman’s bizarre behavior.

Even Khaosan newspaper is stating that the general's behaviour is bizarre.

Should the newspaper owners not be arrested for making such a statement?

Should I not be arrested for repeating that statement???

Oops! I'm outta here

[choff56]

These kids have a lot to learn about using privacy tools.

And the military junta has a lot to learn about repression in the age of social media.

[colinneil]

BIG brother is watching you.

I better stop posting nude selfies on facebook.

[Plutojames88]

These arrests are good news ...lets step things up and start targeting likes on Facebook when a farang posts a picture of the leader that makes him look like a self entitled fraud pretending in regal attire to be a legitimate prime minster

Eventually the script goes like this :

The west commit to sanctions .

Westerners increasingly stay away.

Violence increases ( due to poverty etc)

Protests .

Rebellion

Fall

[Bluespunk]

These kids have a lot to learn about using privacy tools.

Not so sure it's the "kids" who need to learn from this incident.

[Sharp]

Well at least he has his pillow to snuggle up too..

[Confuscious]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.
After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

[Yann55]

These kids have a lot to learn about using privacy tools.

And the military junta has a lot to learn about repression in the age of social media.

You know what ? I think you're right.

But it's not exactly like we have a clear good guys/bad guys situation, is it ? Social media have acquired tremendous power, and with power comes abuse thereof.

What we're witnessing here is one un-elected power clashing with another. The big loser being the average individual, the globally good-willing citizen who is caught between a military junta that seems to flirt with the dream of information control, and manipulative, ethics-less media which can easily spin things into a massive public storm, sometimes with good reasons, intentions and results, but sometimes also for the exact opposite.

The heart-breaking factor here is that these 'Facebookers' (what a pathetic neologism) were obviously picked randomly and likely will end up being used to 'make an example'. They'll end up paying for a system which they did not create and merely used, thinking of it as not more consequential than, say, joking about the present political situation with their friends around a cup of coffee at the University Cafeteria. And no matter what, scapegoating is always wrong.

[carstenp]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Good point, but as guest in this country and live here, i really don't care how they run it. I cant vote, we can have a opinion. If the people in power don't want me here, i have to move on simple is that. Its a waste of time and energy to get angry and talk bad about leaders of this country.

There country

[dageurreotype]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Excepting Taksin's son who, the BP has reported today, will not be summoned. Why's that then? They're all the bloody same.

[Confuscious]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Good point, but as guest in this country and live here, i really don't care how they run it. I cant vote, we can have a opinion. If the people in power don't want me here, i have to move on simple is that. Its a waste of time and energy to get angry and talk bad about leaders of this country.

There country

As far as I know, Thailand is a country where you can have an opinion as long as you keep it to yourself.

Say or write your opinion about the Monarchy and let's see how far you get.

Even before the Junta.

You knew these rules before entering Thailand.

[deckape]

Did Narit bring his pillow to jail?

[greenchair]

That is the saddest story.

These young people did not break drug laws, did not kill anyone, did not beat anyone, did not steal. They posted jokes on FB and now face many years in prison. But I am mostly shocked that 2 people will face a more serious charge because of a private chat. I did not know until now that it was illegal. There must be hundreds of private chats that break many of the current laws. Is it possible for people to delete their private conversation? ??

If not, there must be some very nervous people right now.

Very sad situation for the families.

[carstenp]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Good point, but as guest in this country and live here, i really don't care how they run it. I cant vote, we can have a opinion. If the people in power don't want me here, i have to move on simple is that. Its a waste of time and energy to get angry and talk bad about leaders of this country.

There country

As far as I know, Thailand is a country where you can have an opinion as long as you keep it to yourself.

Say or write your opinion about the Monarchy and let's see how far you get.

Even before the Junta.

You knew these rules before entering Thailand.

My point. Enjoy your life here, and don't care about how they run the country, but many farang cant leave the political opinion behind

[tx22cb]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Excepting Taksin's son who, the BP has reported today, will not be summoned. Why's that then? They're all the bloody same.

Thaksin has a huge cache of extinction-level dirty secrets on several important people, which he will keep buried unless his immediate family is unfairly threatened.

[Sunderland]

So confused by calendars here and the lack of evolution. Is it 2016, 2559 or 1820?

[Rayk]

They must have been paid by the boogeyman in Dubai because these facebookers would never do this on their own. Right guys....

[baboon]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Good point, but as guest in this country and live here, i really don't care how they run it. I cant vote, we can have a opinion. If the people in power don't want me here, i have to move on simple is that. Its a waste of time and energy to get angry and talk bad about leaders of this country.

There country

As far as I know, Thailand is a country where you can have an opinion as long as you keep it to yourself.

Say or write your opinion about the Monarchy and let's see how far you get.

Even before the Junta.

You knew these rules before entering Thailand.

My point. Enjoy your life here, and don't care about how they run the country, but many farang cant leave the political opinion behind

In other words, 'So what if soldiers are carting people off in the night for posting on Facebook as long as I am enjoying MYself.' What a horrible attitude.

[rkidlad]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Excepting Taksin's son who, the BP has reported today, will not be summoned. Why's that then? They're all the bloody same.

Thaksin has a huge cache of extinction-level dirty secrets on several important people, which he will keep buried unless his immediate family is unfairly threatened.

Unfairly or fairly treated. This man doesn't take responsibility. They're all just as bad as each other.

[Inn Between]

To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.

- Voltaire.

[carstenp]

In other words, 'So what if soldiers are carting people off in the night for posting on Facebook as long as I am enjoying MYself.' What a horrible attitude.

Correct. In your view yes, but turn it around.

I will love to change the way things work here, but i cant. The only way can do it, is decide to leave the country and wait for a new government or another leader. It will help no one. The only one there can change this country is the Thai people.

Our own government don't do anything. No pressure, a bit criticism some time, but it will not change anything.

EU still allow export to our part of the world with fish, include US and so on, even Thailand has yellow card for IUU for 2 year and The US change laws about import from countries in Their 3 category. and can keep on doing this.

So don't come here and say my attitude is wrong, because i want to be neutral in this country's politic

[somchai jones]

Just read the comments on this thread.......conclusion - I already knew there was a lack of brains amongst many of the sorry posters on this forum, I now know there is a severe lack of balls too......

[aneliane]

Immediate jail for a Facebook chat and bail for beating up British family.

Real Junta style.

[baboon]

In other words, 'So what if soldiers are carting people off in the night for posting on Facebook as long as I am enjoying MYself.' What a horrible attitude.

Correct. In your view yes, but turn it around.

I will love to change the way things work here, but i cant. The only way can do it, is decide to leave the country and wait for a new government or another leader. It will help no one. The only one there can change this country is the Thai people.

Our own government don't do anything. No pressure, a bit criticism some time, but it will not change anything.

EU still allow export to our part of the world with fish, include US and so on, even Thailand has yellow card for IUU for 2 year and The US change laws about import from countries in Their 3 category. and can keep on doing this.

So don't come here and say my attitude is wrong, because i want to be neutral in this country's politic

Good comeback. Fair enough.

[Plutojames88]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

General coup 2014

He lied said there would be elections in 2015

Absolute power ( article 44 came the following year 2015 )

He seized power May 2014

So no cigar

[jesimps]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Excepting Taksin's son who, the BP has reported today, will not be summoned. Why's that then? They're all the bloody same.

But but Thaksin's son....

[jesimps]

Why do so many members of TV have trouble to understand the situation.

From the 1st day that Gen. Prayuth and his Junta took the power by a coup, he made it very clear to everybody that the freedom of speech was annihilated and publishing anything that does not support the viewpoint of him or his croonies would be punished (art. 44).

This law was never changed as long as the Junta is in power.

Accept that.

After all, that was what the majority of TV members wanted (PAD, Thugsuban, etc.)

Good point, but as guest in this country and live here, i really don't care how they run it. I cant vote, we can have a opinion. If the people in power don't want me here, i have to move on simple is that. Its a waste of time and energy to get angry and talk bad about leaders of this country.

There country

As far as I know, Thailand is a country where you can have an opinion as long as you keep it to yourself.

Say or write your opinion about the Monarchy and let's see how far you get.

Even before the Junta.

You knew these rules before entering Thailand.

My point. Enjoy your life here, and don't care about how they run the country, but many farang cant leave the political opinion behind

I'm sure all anti-PTP junta cheerleaders feel like you despite claiming neutrality. You know your boys will be running the show for many years to come and you don't want anyone rocking the boat.

[Bluespunk]

Apologists out in force today.