Webmaster Arrested for Posters Anti Monarchy Comments

[kittyboy]

An interesting article about a thai webmaster that was arrested as a result of comments posted on a website.

Don't they just love the old sweetheart -

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 7389.story (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-as-thailand-monarchy,1,637389.story)

What the thais don't have free speech enshrined in their constitution? How can they uphold the traditions of democracy and western values without that cornerstone!!



(obvious sarcasm that will be missed by many even though it is being pointed out by the writer)

[latintopxxx]

In Germany (country of 80 million, in Europe, next to France...maybe you've heard of it) it is illegal to deny the holocaust or promote Nazism, so where's this wonderful free speech....western values....etcetera..

Just drop the subject and let the Thais sort this out in their own way, not like people are being slaughted in the streets a la Zimbabwe.

Buddha forbid that the Thais ever uphold Western values.

The person referred to was arrested for comments made by readers at the site late last year. The police refuse to state what the charge is. She is now on bail.

I have sent copies of all the relevant posts made on this board by Khor tose who has frequently posted slurs against our beloved King.

Police Maj. Gen. Worasak Nopsitaporn has been duly notified of these matters and I am expecting a full criminal investigation to be forthcoming.

The Thai people have no need of people like Khor tose in the Kingdom, and if he does show his face he should be held accountable for his wanton and depraved behaviour.

There is no country in the world where there is 100% unrestricted, free speech.

[Bob]

I have sent copies of all the relevant posts made on this board by Khor tose who has frequently posted slurs against our beloved King.

Well my, my, Inspector Clouseau at it again. Or is it Barney Fife?


Police Maj. Gen. Worasak Nopsitaporn has been duly notified of these matters and I am expecting a full criminal investigation to be forthcoming.

You consult with him over tea in the afternoon or simply ring him up on his mobile?


The Thai people have no need of people like Khor tose in the Kingdom, and if he does show his face he should be held accountable for his wanton and depraved behaviour.

You hardly speak for the Thai people. You've made these same goofy allegations before, I called you an idiot then, and now you set out to prove that I was much too kind with my terminology.

[elephantspike]

Wait, that means they'll arrest me!

I guess the way things are going here in the USA with the Patriot Act and all, it wouldn't surprise me if Interpol had me extradited to Thailand to face criminal charges based on Kor Tose's comments.

Wait, that means they'll arrest me!

I guess the way things are going here in the USA with the Patriot Act and all, it wouldn't surprise me if Interpol had me extradited to Thailand to face criminal charges based on Kor Tose's comments.

Have no fear Spike! If they come to get you I'll testify in your defence. You're an OK guy!
Khor tose is the one I have fingered since he is the author of the offending slurs and diatribes.

[elephantspike]

Getting fingered will be the least of my worries in Guantanamo .

How sad that these posts pay no attention to the major point of the original post.

[latintopxxx]

Annan you are a sick boy, you would've done well in Cambodia'a Pol Pot regime, reporting & threatening fellow forum members....next time I'm in Thailand I'll bring you some plastic shopping bags so you can run around suffocating anyone that annoys you...if you'r a Buddist be prepared to be reincarnated as rat shit...

[x in pattaya]

Wait, that means they'll arrest me!

I guess the way things are going here in the USA with the Patriot Act and all, it wouldn't surprise me if Interpol had me extradited to Thailand to face criminal charges based on Kor Tose's comments.


Maybe you could be Kevin's roomie.

How sad that these posts pay no attention to the major point of the original post.

There was no point in the original post, as has already been said:


In Germany (country of 80 million, in Europe, next to France...maybe you've heard of it) it is illegal to deny the holocaust or promote Nazism, so where's this wonderful free speech....western values....etcetera..

Just drop the subject and let the Thais sort this out in their own way

While it is by no means true that "there is no country in the world where there is 100% unrestricted, free speech", there are relatively few and most of those are not high on the political map. Free speech is certainly not a western value.

[quote="Dek Wat":39iolwqm]How sad that these posts pay no attention to the major point of the original post.

There was no point in the original post, as has already been said:[/quote:39iolwqm]

There is a point to the original thread. The woman arrested hosted what is about the only reliable news site available in the country. It publishes things the newspapers are too scared to print.

And it's also in English and is very widely read.

That's the point.

[kittyboy]

[quote="Dek Wat":vx94p62u]How sad that these posts pay no attention to the major point of the original post.[/quote:vx94p62u]

There was no point in the original post, as has already been said:


Uh... GF - Since you are not a mind reader or psychic - (are you a mind reader or psychic? becasue if you are a mind reader or psychic then this does not apply) - you really do not know what you are talking about when you say there was no point to the post. The point may have been missed by you but there was a point.

I will enlighten you as to the point.

We post on this board and I know I feel pretty free to say whatever I want. However, apparently in thailand webmasters can get into a bit of trouble if they let anti-monarchy comments linger on their boards. I don't know where this board originates nor do I know the webmaster. However, I wonder what would happen to this board if anit-monarchy posts were made? I have no idea what would happen. I posted becasue I thought the article was interesting - applied to thailand - and possibly to the posters on this board.

Or are you psychic and did you know that already?

[krobbie]

[quote="kittyboy"]
However, I wonder what would happen to this board if anit-monarchy posts were made? I have no idea what would happen. I posted becasue I thought the article was interesting - applied to thailand - and possibly to the posters on this board. "

As this site originates outside Thailand and the web master and mods live outside LOS also, they won't march in and take ESpike or Jinks (as the mod) away ... until they try and get into Thailand again. Although I am not sure how they ascertain their real identities.

As for this web site. It would be just as many thousands of other sites ... closed down in Thailand, which would make it somewhat mute. At this stage we seem quite safe but until the witch-hunts are over vigilance needs to be the watchword. However since we all realise that closure would undoubtedly happen, we will behave ourselves and not stir the pot ... won't we?

I know we have our definite views and ideas about free speech and I for one think everyone should be entitled to that. Democracy cannot survive with a gag order strapped to its mouth. That is why I am fortunate to live in one of those countries where you can say anything as long as you can back it up.

Cheers
krobbie

I have sent copies of all the relevant posts made on this board by Khor tose who has frequently posted slurs against our beloved King.

Police Maj. Gen. Worasak Nopsitaporn has been duly notified of these matters and I am expecting a full criminal investigation to be forthcoming.

The Thai people have no need of people like Khor tose in the Kingdom, and if he does show his face he should be held accountable for his wanton and depraved behaviour.


I'm with you.

Is the death penalty a possibilty?

:cheers:

There is no country in the world where there is 100% unrestricted, free speech.

Shopping macht frei! (http://www.gracebrothers.net/ImFree1.wav)

SGT has been blocked inside Thailand on numerous occasions, but other than that there is not much the powers-that-be can do.

You lack imagination. They could issue a persona non grata order against the website owner -- Spike -- preventing him from ever visiting Thailand in the future. Or, they could arrest him if he is already in country.

The chances of them giving a shit, or getting their shit together long enough to do anything, though, are so remote as to be entirely discountable.

The Thai website in question has been blocked on a few occasions and no doubt will be in the future. The problem arises as it is a bilingual site. Some Thais have written what could be perceived to be anti-monarchist blogs. Not the English speakers.

The site's news reporting is sound and accurate and whilst this may cause the red necks discomfort, they haven't as yet acted on these. Though I note there have been no recent news updates there since they reported that the director had been given bail.

This is the BBC report of it all: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7928159.stm

[kittyboy]

Fatman - Krobbie - Thanks for the postings -

SGT has been blocked inside Thailand on numerous occasions, but other than that there is not much the powers-that-be can do. But I believe Spike keeps a close eye on certain taboo subjects.[/quote]

That is what I had suspected - that higher powers would shut down access to the site and the webmaster would have to move to a new address. It is a pain in the ass when it happens.

I enjoy posting on this board and reading the comments and have gotten good (and rotten advice) from the posters. I don't care one way or the other about the monarchy - but was amazed to learn that the old sweetheart was born in the US - I wonder if he keeps dual citizenship for emergency purposes? Next time the American Ex Pats club has a bar boy do up in sunnee invite the darling down for drink.

The Thai PM has said that he regrets the arrest of the Webmaster. So he should. There has been a very big international condemnation of it.

But, like so many of the PM's comments, nothing ever happens. He said moving words about these sort of matters at his university in England. It's just when he gets back here, the reality is different.

There's nothing wrong with having a lese majestie law. Many countries have one in one form or another. What's wrong here is that the law is being abused for political reasons.

Thailand has an independent judiciary. The PM cannot just wave a magic wand and say "release the webmaster". It is up to the judges.

Thailand has an independent judiciary. The PM cannot just wave a magic wand and say "release the webmaster". It is up to the judges.
If you think that, you are wet behind the ears.

[quote="Beach Bunny":3dycrqr3]Thailand has an independent judiciary. The PM cannot just wave a magic wand and say "release the webmaster". It is up to the judges.
If you think that, you are wet behind the ears.[/quote:3dycrqr3]

An interesting theory, dek.

But perhaps you can explain -- if the PM can wave a magic wand and control the judiciary -- how none of the Thaksin cronies who sat in that position since his ouster were able to prevent him from being convicted and sentenced?

The right question to ask is - who controls the PM. The same mob who arranged to have Thaksin convicted.

The right question to ask is - who controls the PM. The same mob who arranged to have Thaksin convicted.

I agree with you, there -- but your original assertion was that the PM could somehow get all those lese majeste cases thrown out...when that particular charge is one of the things that keeps the people who control the PM in power. A conundrum, no?

Indeed it is.

There are currently I believe about 35 charges of lese majestie before the courts. All of them politically inspired.

[Marsilius]

[/quote]...The following resume of the Thai computer use laws was recently circulated by a Phuket based IT firm:

"You should know what is illegal on your computers, over your computer network and your Internet connection. These include:

Entering false information for the purpose of damaging and/or hurting people and the public...[/quote]

That is interesting. I had understood, from previous episodes on this board, that even posting true information was illegal if it caused damage, e.g. one could not post a damning (but true) restaurant review because it would damage the owner's business. Can someone clarify this?

[Lunchtime O'Booze]

Marsilius]...The following resume of the Thai computer use laws was recently circulated by a Phuket based IT firm:

"You should know what is illegal on your computers, over your computer network and your Internet connection. These include:

Entering false information for the purpose of damaging and/or hurting people and the public...[/quote]

That is interesting. I had understood, from previous episodes on this board, that even posting true information was illegal if it caused damage, e.g. one could not post a damning (but true) restaurant review because it would damage the owner's business. Can someone clarify this ?[/quote]
************************************************** *****

Indeed..Thai defamation laws are very wide-sweeping and can cover loss of trade or business because of written or spoken libel. And they are used often and effectively by many people who can afford it and can include jail sentences as punishment. Getting a judgement overturned in a Thai cort is almost impossible.

The famous case that Sawatdee members know would be one involving 2 Pattaya go-go bar owners who successfully sued a Bangkok based British tabloid correspondent.

Most western countries only cover personal defamation and are difficult for the ordinary punter because of time limit and high legal costs but the English courts are increasingly being used by people 'court shopping' fo defamation actions as UK laws are stronger. So a USA (or Thai) citizen could sue in a British court.

If in doubt..don't say or write it if you cannot prove it and even then, think twice.!

and libel internet laws (still evolving )are bound to be a new source of income for lawyers and grief for punters :
## "Global risks rise publishing online"
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp ... code=39426 (http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=39426)

## "Press Gazette: European court rejects time limit for online libel claim"
http://www.martinstabe.com/blog/2009/03 ... bel-claim/ (http://www.martinstabe.com/blog/2009/03/11/press-gazette-european-court-rejects-time-limit-for-online-libel-claim/)