ilaw: เมษายน 2010

From: Tewson Seeoun <tewzon@gmail.com>
Date: 2010/4/7
Subject: [netizen] The Nation: A Dark day for Thai freedom of expression
To: thainetizen@googlegroups.com

An interesting editorial from The Nation:

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/04/05/opinion/A-Dark-day-for-Thai-freedom-of-expression-30126365.html

Lawsuit against online news portal master will serve as a paradigm shift

Thailand's awkward grappling with the unique freedom on cyber space has been dealt another big setback. A country known for relative freedom of the press will once again become a focus of world attention, thanks to a group of people who want to exercise absolute control over the Internet.

There are a lot of people in Thailand who need to learn that the Internet is probably the most ubiquitous new media tool in the world today - and that any attempt at total control will be futile, yet deplorable all the same.

Online users the world over have benefited from an increased access to information both inside and outside their own countries, and this has outweighed arguably controversial exercise of rights of expression. This is why, internationally, any attempt to obstruct the free flow of information - even on sensitive issues - is an assault on the ramparts of fundamental freedom because it violates Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Of course, within the Thai context, this has never been an issue because the media seldom touches on the topic of the revered monarchy.

Back in 2005, His Majesty the King himself said that he, in the person of the monarch, was not, and should not be, above criticism. However, conservative bureaucrats - of which this country is not in short supply - and concerned authorities are not paying attention to His Majesty's words.

Like it or not, the prosecutors' decision to file a lawsuit against Chiranuch Premchaiporn, - webmaster of the independent Thai online news portal Prachatai - under the Computer Crimes Act will serve as a new paradigm shift in Thailand's long-standing tolerance of free expression. And it will instil fear in some quarters.

But whoever is responsible for creating such fear must think long and hard about the consequences.

If those backward-thinking individuals are singling out Chiranuch as a scapegoat, then the future of our freedom of expression will be rolled backed further.

Chiranuch was apprehended last March for allowing comments on Prachatai's online discussion board that allegedly fall into the category of lese majeste.

If convicted, she could be sentenced to a prison term of up to 50 years. Last April, Suvicha Thakor, a blogger, received a 20-year sentence under the same law. Since then, he has applied for royal clemency. Under this law, six other people were arrested but prosecutors have yet to arraign them.

In the past several years, Thai authorities have tried to block anti-monarchy web sites, and their action has backfired badly. In the early 2000's, there were over a dozen websites, of which very few Thais knew of their existence. Thanks to the handling of our esteemed authorities, many of these sites have become even more popular than they would have been if they were just left alone.

Furthermore, the numbers have increased many fold, thanks to the copycat syndrome among the online users. The more the officials try to block these websites the more they appear. The best way is to maintain the status quo before the Computer Crimes Act was passed.

One wonders if our authorities are on the hunt because they are afraid that some parties would have accused them of not doing enough to protect the revered institution. In the Thai context, to be at the end of such criticism amounts to receiving a political death sentence. But more often than not, few people question the agenda of those who are making the accusations.

The Thai public is not stupid, they know intimately the Thai monarchy very well. There is no need to fear. The worse fear is the fear among the officials themselves who fail to comprehend the changing maturity of the nation.

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From: Thai Netizen Network <freethainetizen@gmail.com>
Date: 2010/4/8
Subject: [netizen] THAILAND: Government uses state of emergency to escalate censorship (Eng+Fr)
To: thainetizen <thainetizen@googlegroups.com>, oni@eon.law.harvard.edu

Reporters Without Borders/
Reporters sans frontières

8 April 2010

http://www.rsf.org/Government-uses-state-of-emergency.html
http://www.rsf.org/Reporters-sans-frontieres-denonce,36966.html

THAILAND

Government uses state of emergency to escalate censorship

The Thai government has censored dozens of websites and a TV station under article 9 of yesterday's state of emergency, which forbids the "dissemination of information liable to disturb public order." Most of the media affected are linked to the opposition "Red Shirts" movement but some, such as the website Prachatai, are independent.

"We firmly condemn any use of news media to call for violence, but it is deplorable that the authorities are using the state of emergency to censor neutral or opposition news outlets," Reporters Without Borders said. "We urge Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to order the restoration of the censored websites without delay and to close news media only when calls for violence are verified and following standard legal procedures."

"Why should Thais be prevented from listening to the opposition?" Reporters Without Borders added. "There is a risk that the bans and censorship could radicalise the Red Shirts. It is a dangerous gamble. We appeal to those in charge of media linked to the Red Shirts to reject any call for violence. If they do, the government will have to refrain from censoring them."

The government blocked at least 36 websites under the state or emergency yesterday including Prachatai (www.prachatai.com), Sameskybooks (www.sameskybooks.org), Norporchorusa (www.norporchorusa.com) and Weareallhuman (www.weareallhuman.net). According to representatives of the INET server, the order came from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MICT).

The list of censored site was confirmed by Suthep Thaugsuban, the deputy prime minister for security affairs, who has been put in charge of a Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation. Any attempt to access the sites from within Thailand yields the message "This website has been blocked by ICT & TOT."

Prachatai is an independent news website. Sameskybooks is linked to the political magazine Fah Diew Kan (a Thai version of Le Monde Diplomatique), which has often criticised the controversial lèse majesté law. Norporchorusa is directly linked to the Red Shirts. Its webmaster was arrested last week.

The prime minister's spokesman, Satit Wongnongtoey, confirmed today that PTV (also known as People Channel), a satellite TV station linked to the Red Shirts, has been closed under the state of emergency. Soldiers raided Thaicom headquarters in Bangkok to ensure that its signal had been disconnected. PTV had been broadcasting calls for anti-government protests for weeks.

"It was hard for the government to cut PTV's signal because it uses various means of transmission including two satellites," Satit said. "We worked all night." Satit also warned that, under the state of emergency, Internet Service Providers and media "could be punished if they relay censored media."

In reprisal for the censorship of PTV, the Red Shirts threatened today to demonstration outside ASTV, a station linked to the pro-government Yellow Shirts.

Proclaimed for an indefinite period, the state of emergency applies to Bangkok and five neighbouring provinces.

A case of violence against media personnel has also been reported. The vehicle of an employee of the Matichon daily newspaper was set alight by a petrol bomb thrown by two unidentified individuals on 2 April.

-----------------

THAILANDE
Reporters sans frontières dénonce le renforcement de la censure au nom de l'état de l'urgence

Le gouvernement thaïlandais a censuré des dizaines de sites Internet et une chaîne de télévision en vertu de l'article 9 de la déclaration de l'état d'urgence du 7 avril, qui interdit la "distribution d'informations qui peuvent troubler l'ordre public". La plupart des médias visés sont liés au mouvement des "chemises rouges", mais certains, notamment le site d'informations Prachatai, sont indépendants.

"Nous condamnons fermement tout appel à la violence par média interposé, quelle qu'en soit l'origine. Il est déplorable que les autorités utilisent l'état d'urgence pour censurer des sources d'informations neutres ou d'opposition. Nous appelons le Premier ministre Abhisit Vejjajiva à ordonner le rétablissement, dans les meilleurs délais, des sites d'informations censurés et à ne recourir à la fermeture de médias uniquement quand des appels à la violence sont avérés et en respectant les procédures judiciaires normales", a affirmé Reporters sans frontières.

"Pourquoi les Thaïlandais ne seraient-ils pas autorisés à entendre l'opposition ? Ces interdictions ne vont-elles pas radicaliser le mouvement des "chemises rouges" ? C'est un pari trop risqué", s'est inquiétée l'organisation.

"Nous appelons les responsables de médias liés à ce mouvement à refuser officiellement tout appel à la violence. Si c'est le cas, le gouvernement devra renoncer à les censurer", a ajouté l'organisation.

Le 7 avril 2010, au moins 36 sites Internet ont été bloqués par le gouvernement en vertu de l'état d'urgence dont Prachatai (www.prachatai.com), Sameskybooks (www.sameskybooks.org), Norporchorusa (www.norporchorusa.com) et Weareallhuman (www.weareallhuman.net). Selon des responsables du serveur INET, l'ordre est venu du ministère des Technologiques de l'Information et de la Communication (MICT). La liste des sites censurés a été validée par Suthep Theuksuban, vice-Premier ministre en charge de la Défense et nouveau responsable du Centre d'administration publique de l'état d'urgence. Lorsqu'on essaie d'accéder à l'un des sites depuis la Thaïlande, le message "This website has been blocked by ICT & TOT" est affiché.
Prachatai est un site indépendant. Sameskybooks est lié au magazine politique Fah Diew Kan, version thaïe du Monde diplomatique, et critique régulièrement la loi controversée de lèse-majesté. Le site Norporchorusa est directement lié au mouvement des "chemises rouges". Son webmaster a été arrêté la semaine dernière.

Par ailleurs, un membre du gouvernement, Satit Wongnongtaey, a confirmé le 8 avril le blocage de la chaîne satellitaire PTV (People Channel), liée aux "chemises rouges", en vertu de l'état d'urgence. Des militaires sont intervenus dans les locaux de Thaicom à Bangkok, pour s'assurer de la coupure effective de la chaîne. Depuis plusieurs semaines, des appels à manifester contre le gouvernement ont été diffusés par People Channel.

"Il était difficile pour le gouvernement de couper le signal de PTV car la chaîne utilise différents moyens de diffusion, notamment deux satellites. Nous avons travaillé toute la nuit", a précisé le ministre. Satit Wongnongtaey a rappelé à la même occasion qu'en vertu de l'état d'urgence, les fournisseurs d'Internet et les médias "risquent d'être punis s'ils relaient les médias censurés".

En représailles à la censure de People Channel, des "chemises rouges" ont menacé le 8 avril de manifester devant les locaux de la chaîne ASTV, liée aux "chemises jaunes", pour obtenir sa fermeture.

Enfin, de nouveaux actes de violence ont été commis contre des journalistes : le 2 avril, le véhicule d'un employé du quotidien Matichon a été brûlé par une bombe incendiaire lancée par deux inconnus.

L'état d'urgence a été déclaré à Bangkok et dans cinq provinces voisines pour une durée indéfinie.

Vincent Brossel
Asia-Pacific Desk
Reporters Without Borders
33 1 44 83 84 70
asia@rsf.org

--
We stand for cyber-liberty!

ilaw

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 8 เมษายน พ.ศ. 2553

[netizen] The Nation: A Dark day for Thai freedom of expression

Lawsuit against online news portal master will serve as a paradigm shift

[netizen] THAILAND: Government uses state of emergency to escalate censorship (Eng+Fr)

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