April 18th, 2007, 08:24
YouTube Blackout Raises Concern Over Expanding Censorship in Thailand,
GRAHAM LEES | BIO | 17 APR 2007 WORLD POLITICS WATCH EXCLUSIVE
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The quaint 1956 Hollywood musical "The King and I," which most people might regard as innocuous, probably would have been banned in Thailand under broadening definitions of "national security" now being cited by military coup leaders to justify their increasing censorship.??
But in any case, the movie, starring the late Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, is already outlawed under another device that curbs public opinion, the increasingly catch-all "les majeste" rule. Brynner's singing and dancing routine has long been considered by the authorities to insult the institution of the Thai monarchy, and to distort Thai history.
The same ban applies to the 1999 remake "Anna and the King," starring Jodie Foster.
With this in mind, Thai denizens of the newish world of the Internet should perhaps not be so surprised that the popular video forum YouTube has been blocked in Thailand for running doctored clips of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also perceived as insulting. Many non-Thais would probably agree that the video clip -- and imitators that followed -- are culturally insensitive.??
But the YouTube blackout has illustrated to a global audience a level of creeping electronic censorship that is now extending into all Web corners where Thais want to talk about the country's political impasse since tanks ousted the elected government last September.??
That government, led by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now in exile, was accused by the military and its supporters of dividing the nation by causing large-scale pro- and anti-Thaksin demonstrations -- although only in Bangkok -- over the issues of corruption and, ironically, concentration of power and censorship.??
But even as the military-appointed caretaker government, led by a former general, supposedly grooms the country for parliamentary elections, all political activity remains banned -- and a new, sinister-sounding law is being drawn up: the Computer-Related Offenses Commission Act....."
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/wowpow/Picture1-1.png
Full article: http://worldpoliticswatch.com/article.aspx?id=706
Applications for moderator at Baht Stop are being invited. It is a Thai based site with lots of faux cut and paste Thai politics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/wowpow/kingandiwebsite.jpg
Singapore Esplanade Theatre from 6th August. Will this cause a diplomatic incident?
http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/ind ... ontent=915 (http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/index.html?content=915)
GRAHAM LEES | BIO | 17 APR 2007 WORLD POLITICS WATCH EXCLUSIVE
BANGKOK, Thailand -- The quaint 1956 Hollywood musical "The King and I," which most people might regard as innocuous, probably would have been banned in Thailand under broadening definitions of "national security" now being cited by military coup leaders to justify their increasing censorship.??
But in any case, the movie, starring the late Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr, is already outlawed under another device that curbs public opinion, the increasingly catch-all "les majeste" rule. Brynner's singing and dancing routine has long been considered by the authorities to insult the institution of the Thai monarchy, and to distort Thai history.
The same ban applies to the 1999 remake "Anna and the King," starring Jodie Foster.
With this in mind, Thai denizens of the newish world of the Internet should perhaps not be so surprised that the popular video forum YouTube has been blocked in Thailand for running doctored clips of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also perceived as insulting. Many non-Thais would probably agree that the video clip -- and imitators that followed -- are culturally insensitive.??
But the YouTube blackout has illustrated to a global audience a level of creeping electronic censorship that is now extending into all Web corners where Thais want to talk about the country's political impasse since tanks ousted the elected government last September.??
That government, led by former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who is now in exile, was accused by the military and its supporters of dividing the nation by causing large-scale pro- and anti-Thaksin demonstrations -- although only in Bangkok -- over the issues of corruption and, ironically, concentration of power and censorship.??
But even as the military-appointed caretaker government, led by a former general, supposedly grooms the country for parliamentary elections, all political activity remains banned -- and a new, sinister-sounding law is being drawn up: the Computer-Related Offenses Commission Act....."
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/wowpow/Picture1-1.png
Full article: http://worldpoliticswatch.com/article.aspx?id=706
Applications for moderator at Baht Stop are being invited. It is a Thai based site with lots of faux cut and paste Thai politics.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/wowpow/kingandiwebsite.jpg
Singapore Esplanade Theatre from 6th August. Will this cause a diplomatic incident?
http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/ind ... ontent=915 (http://www.sistic.com.sg/cms/events/index.html?content=915)