Three Thai activists charged with criminal defamation

[webfact]

Three Thai activists charged with criminal defamation

BANGKOK (AP) — Three Thai human rights activists have been charged with criminal defamation over a report that detailed alleged systematic torture inside military enclosures in the country's southern provinces. All three denied the charges and were freed Wednesday without having to post bail.

They were freed on the condition they submit detailed testimony to the lead investigator in the case, explaining circumstances around the study they wrote. They have about two months to submit the report so the investigator can decide whether to go ahead with the case, said one the activists' lawyers, Preeda Nakphew from the Cross Cultural Foundation advocacy group.

The charges involve a report the three issued alleging torture by security forces in Thailand's southern provinces, where a Muslim insurgency has lasted more than a decade. If convicted they face up to five years in jail.

Amnesty International has called on Thai authorities to drop the charges and instead investigate the allegations in the report.

The report issued in February described acts of torture in the southern provinces as systematic and said that in spite of complaints and campaigns by victims and rights organizations, "the state has not taken any significant action to prevent and address torture."

Government spokesman Winthai Suvaree said in response to their report that there was no evidence to support the allegations.

The United States voiced concern Wednesday over the decision to file criminal defamation charges against the three activists.

"Such actions create a climate of intimidation and encourage self-censorship, which hampers the ability to effectively address the problems in any society," said Katina Adams, spokeswoman for the State Department's bureau for East Asia and the Pacific.

She said it undermined the positive steps taken by Thailand to address torture, including the introduction of legislation that would criminalize torture and enforced disappearance. She said the U.S. was encouraging the bill's swift passage and implementation.

In a separate case, the niece of an army conscript who was tortured to death by soldiers was released on bail after being arrested on a complaint filed by a military officer over her internet postings. She was taken to the province of Narathiwat, 800 kilometers (500 miles) south of Bangkok late Tuesday night, where she denied the charges. She was let out on bail early Wednesday.

Naritsarawan Kaewnopparat posted photos last year of her uncle's body and information about the torture he endured. She was arrested at her workplace in Bangkok on charges of criminal defamation and violating the Computer Crime Act.

The military officer behind the defamation suit against Naritsarawan was one of the 10 army officers involved in the torture of her uncle.

Military personnel are rarely prosecuted for human rights abuses or other crimes in Thailand, and the military government that seized power in May 2014 has clamped down on free speech.

Naritsarawan won 7 million baht ($200,000) compensation in a malfeasance suit against the army, the defense ministry and the prime minister's office, but the actual perpetrators went unpunished.

The army's own investigation concluded Wichian Puaksorn was tortured by about 10 soldiers as punishment when he tried to run away a second time from his camp in Narathiwat province in 2011. It said a first lieutenant gave the order and that Wichian was kicked, beaten and dragged across concrete; salt was rubbed in his wounds before he was wrapped in a sheet and beaten again.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-07-28

[Somtamnication]

Again, pathetic. Investigate what these people are saying, idiots!

[tbthailand]

Amnesty International has called on Thai authorities to drop the charges and instead investigate the allegations in the report.

but that is not "Thainess"

Well, at least it is not "Military Thainess"...

[tbthailand]

anybody have a reference regarding how the defamation and computer crimes act charges have soared under this so-called "government"?

[colinneil]

We will prosecute anybody who speaks up against wrong doings here.

We will not investigate the allegations to find the truth, only hassle the whistleblowers.

Bloody disgraceful.

[Plutojames88]

anybody have a reference regarding how the defamation and computer crimes act charges have soared under this so-called "government"?

Basically Thailand is a military State ...mess with them ...your gone.

It's actually , not even the same bill as before, and sure it's being used as a weapon in its new manifestation.

The Thai military are taking a page of out George Orwell's 1984 as it passes several amendments to the Computer Crime Act , that would allow the state to act like Big Brother, overseeing activities on encrypted websites.

Whats That mean?

How is it different to before?

Many of the most widely-used websites and platforms, like Facebook and Gmail, utilize SSL, offering secure connections to users transferring sensitive information. But the amendments would allow the government to ban the use of the SSL protocol.

The changes would also force ISPs and social media users to comply with the governments demands at the cost of the publics privacy and freedom of expression.

Besides allowing the government to intercept emails and collect login details, the amendments plan to criminalize any computer data which may breach other criminal laws, as well as content that could spark public disturbance.

This means disagreeing , or embarrassing the Military - like this particular case.

Article 15 of the revised bill stipulates that any provider who either cooperates or conspires in, or permits a violation of Article 14 within their service provision, shall be punishable in the same way as a violator of Article 14.

The changes are believed to have been brought forward to help make the Single Gateway project possible. The project, which has been likened to the Great Firewall of China, is meant to aid the Thai military governments efforts to control the internet and its use by reducing multiple internet gateways to a single one.

This isn't too far fetched and is being implemented slowly, and could be by 2017 December operating.

Human rights organizations have protested the proposal, expressing their concerns that some of the articles in the revised bill would restrict the publics rights and infringe on their privacy.

Amnesty International Thailands vice chairwoman Pornpen Kongkajornkiat has sent a letter to the NLA saying that Article 14 of the bill was ambiguous and open to broad interpretation,

Yet those criticisms ignored -

A 97% spike in charges under the act show its not about to listen.

And the changes even more draconian .

Yes , its very concerning and Real.

[Wilsonandson]

anybody have a reference regarding how the defamation and computer crimes act charges have soared under this so-called "government"?

Basically Thailand is a military State ...mess with them ...your gone.

It's actually , not even the same bill as before, and sure it's being used as a weapon in its new manifestation.

The Thai military are taking a page of out George Orwell's 1984 as it passes several amendments to the Computer Crime Act , that would allow the state to act like Big Brother, overseeing activities on encrypted websites.

Whats That mean?

How is it different to before?

Many of the most widely-used websites and platforms, like Facebook and Gmail, utilize SSL, offering secure connections to users transferring sensitive information. But the amendments would allow the government to ban the use of the SSL protocol.

The changes would also force ISPs and social media users to comply with the governments demands at the cost of the publics privacy and freedom of expression.

Besides allowing the government to intercept emails and collect login details, the amendments plan to criminalize any computer data which may breach other criminal laws, as well as content that could spark public disturbance.

This means disagreeing , or embarrassing the Military - like this particular case.

Article 15 of the revised bill stipulates that any provider who either cooperates or conspires in, or permits a violation of Article 14 within their service provision, shall be punishable in the same way as a violator of Article 14.

The changes are believed to have been brought forward to help make the Single Gateway project possible. The project, which has been likened to the Great Firewall of China, is meant to aid the Thai military governments efforts to control the internet and its use by reducing multiple internet gateways to a single one.

This isn't too far fetched and is being implemented slowly, and could be by 2017 December operating.

Human rights organizations have protested the proposal, expressing their concerns that some of the articles in the revised bill would restrict the publics rights and infringe on their privacy.

Amnesty International Thailands vice chairwoman Pornpen Kongkajornkiat has sent a letter to the NLA saying that Article 14 of the bill was ambiguous and open to broad interpretation,

Yet those criticisms ignored -

A 97% spike in charges under the act show its not about to listen.

And the changes even more draconian .

Yes , its very concerning and Real.

https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/05/thailand-computer-crime-act-emails-logins/

You need to install some ssl vpn client software.

I have sent you the microfilm, go to the park nearest your house and under the bench next to the duck pond. I will be waiting.

This message will self destruct in 20 seconds!

Edited July 28, 2016 by Wilsonandson

[Colabamumbai]

anybody have a reference regarding how the defamation and computer crimes act charges have soared under this so-called "government"?

I think at this point, under military rule, most Thais are guilty of defamation, mindwise at least. They just can't say it, but can think it and feel it.

[worgeordie]

Jail the messengers ! tell the truth and you either have

to quickly leave the country or end up in jail.

regards worgeordie

[Srikcir]

anybody have a reference regarding how the defamation and computer crimes act charges have soared under this so-called "government"?

For 2015 https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/country-chapters/thailand

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[MrJohnson]

A message for whistle-blowers. It has always been thus in Thailand.

[elgordo38]

anybody have a reference regarding how the defamation and computer crimes act charges have soared under this so-called "government"?

Its the electric fence that keeps one and all docile here. Its a heavy weapon with severe penalties. In the last case where the woman's uncle was beaten to death one of the perpetrators of his death is now suing her for defamation of character? Insane

[Redline]

Better start building more prisons and legalize drugs, more girls and 24 hour bars. That will do it! We won't even make it home alive, or with a wallet, but there will be little dissent.

They can require morality classes to balance it out.

Edited July 28, 2016 by Redline