On the Political Crisis and Information Censorship
Submitted by prachatai on Tue, 21/04/2009 - 21:39Thai Netizen Network (TNN) would like to express our deepest regret with regard to the political conflict that intensified until it led to the loss of lives and properties, and the government's enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Government Administration In States of Emergency B.E. 2548, which infringes upon citizens' rights and freedoms by controlling Internet media. The government has blocked numerous websites that offer viewpoints that differ from those in power, pursuant to news report that the ICT Ministry has ordered censorship of over 60 websites (details in the Appendix).
TNN protests the aforementioned censorship of websites for the following reasons:
1. Internet censorship infringes upon the basic right and freedom in accessing information and expression of citizens pursuant to the Constitution. It also violates the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. Blocking people's access to information and expression of views that differ from those in power will push those differing views underground and spread rumors that cause further confusion among the public. The inevitable result is increased poltiical pressures, conflicts, and tensions. The government's measures therefore contradict its policy of "building political reconciliation" in the society, which the government announced in the parliament and in public in the early days of the administration.
Since the state's media including TV and radio stations are already broadcasting news in ways that fully support the government's position, the government should be generous by allowing the Internet to serve as communication space for the citizen sector, so that people can access information and express diverse opinions. This will foster the balance of news and information in Thai society, which is critical in augmenting public knowledge on public issues, as well as encouraging all citizens to participate in expressing political opinions in a democratic manner.
TNN has the following demands and proposals with regard to this matter:
1. We demand that the government end the state of emergency and cease censorship of the Internet as well as other grassroots media such as local radio stations and cable TV stations. Enforcing the state of emergency cannot lead to a transparent judicial process. A recent raid of media offices that lie outside the area over which state of emergency was declared by government officials clearly shows that even without enforcing this draconian law, the state can already control the media. The process under the Emergency Decree which the government claims to be necessary in this situation cannot afford any constitutional guarantees or due process to the people, since it circumvents existing judicial process.
2. If the government deems that any media behaves in ways that propagate hatred and provoke violence in the society, we then ask that it utilize existing judicial process in regulating such media. The government must not ignore the fact that the country's sovereignty is granted by Thai people. The use of sovereign power that comes from the population must have the process of accountability that is clear, transparent, and equitable. The government's use of power in any situation of exception lacks this process of accountability, thereby severely contravenes democratic principles.
3. We urge all netizens to join hands in affirming the position that we will protect rights and freedoms online, in conjunction with creating self-regulation mechanism to discourage content that could propagate hatred or provoke violence, using the following methods:
3.1 Protecting online rights and freedoms can be done by helping to promote and distribute censorship circumvention software and knowledge on this topic. See for example website of Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT) - http://facthai.wordpress.com/links/softwares/ and http://facthai.wordpress.com/bloggers-handbook/get-around-censorship/
3.2 Creating self-regulation mechanism can be done by promoting ethics of citizen journalists, for example as explained by Reporters Without Borders - http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15003, and promoting netiquette with a special focus on respecting differing opinions and others' right to privacy, for example some excerpts from the book Netiquette at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
4. TNN urges that all parties, especially those who wield state power, display tolerance toward differing opinions and criticisms. We also demand that all parties cease using power to intimidate, whether by censoring communication spaces, threatening those who have different political views, or using the law unfairly to prosecute. We also demand all stop to torture, abduction, and assassination attempts, all of which contravene the law, human rights, morals, security, and peace of the society overall.
With reconciliation,
Thai Netizen Network
21 April 2009
Appendix: List of websites blocked by ICT Ministry, as of 18 April 2552
1. http://www.justin.tv/nationsiam
2. http://www.konthai.org/
3. http://www.thaifreenews.com/
4. http://www.thairedshirt-democracy.org/cbox/s1.html
5. http://www.democracytoday.tv/
6. http://www.thaipeoplevoice.org/
7. http://freethais.com/update_13apr09.php
8. http://www.wered.net
9. http://www.redplus.org/
10. http://thaienews.blogspot.com/
11. http://www.prachachonthai.com
12. http://www.cbnpress.com/
13. http://uddtoday.ning.com/
14. http://www.thaireduk.com/
15. http://www.nocoup.net/
16. http://downmerng.blogspot.com/
17. http://www.jakrapob.net/
18. http://www.truethaksin.com/
19. http://www.chupong.com/
20. http://www.rednon.com
21. http://www.chupong.org/
22. http://www.serichon.com/
23. http://www.nationsiam.com/
24. http://www.gmm2008.com/index.php
25. http://thaksin.wordpress.com/
26. http://thaipresslog.blogspot.com/
27. http://thaiopinions.blogspot.com/
28. http://www.newskythailand.com
29. http://sites.google.com/site/prachathaiclub/Home
30. http://siamfreedom.blogspot.com/
31. http://www.priority-radio.com/
32. http://www.cbox.ws
33. http://www3.cbox.ws/box/
34. http://www.no-ip.org
35. mms://ptv.no-ip.org/mvtv_5
36. mms://baygon2.no-ip.org/TPV1
37. mms://baygon2.no-ip.org/livetv
38. mms://chupong.no-ip.org/chupong
39. http://www.dstation.tv/
40. http://365boxstv.com/tvonline_varietyone-link2.html
41. http://www.redplusplus.com
42. http://www.salidausa.com
43. http://www.redplusplus.com/
44. http://www.windowscare.in.th/index.php
45. http://www.norporchorusa.com/
46. http://www.newskythailand.com/
47. http://www.sanamluang.in.th/
48. 61.19.241.228 - Cat Telecom Sanamluang_Red
49. 61.19.241.237 - Cat Telecom Sanamluang_info
50. http://www.rednews.info/
51. http://www.rednews.info/live/sanamluang-2.htm
52. http://democraticthai.com/
53. http://www.badict.2hell.com
54. http://www.thairedusa.com/
55. http://365boxs.com/tvonline_varietyone.html
56. http://www.salidausa.com
57. http://prachachonthai.listen2myradio.com/
58. http://www.nationsiam.com/
59. http://www.chupong-radio.com/
60. http://www.khonthai.org
61. http://www.prachachonthai.com/
62. http://www.chubthaksin.com/
63. http://www.shinawatradio.com/
64. http://www.thairedshirt-democracy.org/
65. http://www.arayachon.org/
66. http://lbsapp.freewillsolutions.com/images/usbank.com/internetBanking/Cm...
In the meantime, the Ministry
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 00:42.In the meantime, the Ministry of "culture" (let me add "", because Culture for me is really something else) decides to ban yet one more movie, with the excuse that it could generate a new trend in Thai society (in this case, making private porn movies, I think). Once again there's a person who abuses her power and decides that Thais are not ready, not fit, not smart enough. A Thai who thinks Thai people are inferior.
Read the customary criticism&analysis-free article from The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/30100950/Zack-and-Miri-make...
IMHO the problem with stuff
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 12:24.IMHO the problem with stuff like porn or pictures of nude stars/"Pretties' who help with the advertisement of cars is that they are being used by men as a way to degrade women. I think porn in itself is not a problem if it is for private consumption but once it is used publicly by a group of men or many men who use sex as a way to exercise power over women's bodies---that becomes a problem. And perhaps the Minister of culture should focus on the culture that permits men to degrade or objectify women rather than porn itself which can used for private, harmless purpose.
Alex, Not that it's right to
Submitted by hobby (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 13:39.Alex,
Not that it's right to ban such an innocuous movie, but I can understand where they are coming from.
Many poo yai find the whole Thai sex/tourism industry embarrassing, and would like to curtail it.
It's a real can of worms because as Khikwai pointed out in his excellent pieces 'Who Sold Thailand' and 'Don't Call me Daughter' it is the elites who have profited from the industry, and if they had let go of their control of the country the 'industry' would be much smaller than it is.
On the subject of internet censorship, they are definitely going over the top, but at the same time I do have concerns about the way the internet has become such a great tool for pedophiles and racists.
Rather than censorship, I would like to see more resources expended on tracking & prosecuting those offenders (not political bloggers)
paedophilia? Racism? Sexism??
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 13:53.paedophilia? Racism? Sexism?? Guys, did you have a look at the plot of the movie? It's a COMEDY! It's not a porn movie, it's a funny story of some people who decide to make a porn. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zack_and_miri_make_a_porno and judge for yourself. About the usual criticism to porn (I am not an advocate of pornography, but I truly see pornography as a player in freedom of expression) as a tool for chauvinism etc. Well, let me disagree. Some porn is, some is not. There is also women-oriented porn, and many genres. I think it's really hypocritical that porn is forbidden in a country where prostitution (which is in most cases a real exploitation of women, men, underage individuals, gays etc) is rife. Unlike prostitution, porn (when legal and controlled, like in Europe or USA) is a highly paid job that people choose to do.
Let's not limit freedom of expression as only limited to political opinion, because it's not: there are many elements in it, and they're all important. Pornography is extremely important, because it's easy to label as pornographic stuff that is not convenient to show (often for other reasons than sex, often for political reasons too... see China for example).
Not looking for an argument,
Submitted by hobby (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 14:24.Not looking for an argument, but I did say 'innocuous movie' - I have only seen the trailer at a theater, but did not see the movie as I prefer to spend my hard earned on better stuff.
As for my reference to paedophilia & racism, well the article is about Internet Censorship (among other things), a topic I wanted to express my views on.
Let me add something to my
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:10.Let me add something to my rather incomplete post: I meant to say I believe pornography/playboy style pics tend to be used as a tool for male chauvinism in THAI Context. i say this because there is indeed a large number of Thai men who do this. OF course, I think this movie should not be banned and I have read its review a little and knows a little that it's actually not a porn at all.
Quote (Alex) :"I think it's really hypocritical that porn is forbidden in a country where prostitution (which is in most cases a real exploitation of women, men, underage individuals, gays etc) is rife"
Of course I agree abt the hypocritical part. And ideally I don't think Porn should be banned. Well, in Thailand it shouldn't be banned as well, but I don't think you can deny that in Thailand stuff like this are often used by Thai men to humiliate women and to make them (women) nothing more than men's source of sexual relief.
Well, I agree with both Hobby
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:36.Well, I agree with both Hobby and Joy. My point was, as I said, not really to advocate porn and fight for its freedom, but I do believe pornography (and the varied definitions of it) is a tell-tale of a country's state of affairs, in terms of freedom. Having said this, I am very far from denying the chauvinist tendencies that exist in Thailand, as much as in probably any other country. Some countries tend to do better though, see Scandinavia for example, where women are so powerful as to make porn illegal in Norway. Actually in Norway they went beyond that: every time a street ad shows a half-naked woman (bra ads for example), they are immediately defaced by feminists (which I think it's rather ridiculous, as it almost suggests that women should feel embarrassed to have breasts, rather a taliban concept). In Italy (normally very liberal with sex and porn) we just had news about some sex-enhancing products being sold in a department store: police banned them because they were too close to a church. Ridiculous.
Umm.. Guys , i think we have
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:39.Umm.. Guys , i think we have discussed politics together for quit e a while and yr views sound very sensible to me. I feel we are like a group of friends so .. I wonder if i can seek yr opinions in other matters?
PS please just ignore this message if u are not interested, and my apology for my rather out-of-topic post.
Joy
About Italy, for example, I
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:40.About Italy, for example, I find it way more offensive for women when they show half naked girls dancing on public and private TV stations (they look like mere male-attracting sexy/stupid dolls) than porn: because porn explicitly depicts a sexual act, and is therefore very easy to categorize. Sexual intercourse is a natural thing, and it implies a man and a woman: if depicted in a natural way, it's harmless (of course there should be limitations to the age of the audience). On the contrary, using the image of a woman to communicate passive stupidity is not natural and it's not easy at all to detect, but in the long run it passes on a very dangerous message to kids and adults alike: that women have been created to shake their asses and show their boobs. I hope my stance is clear now.
Joy, we are friends, it's
Submitted by Alex (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:47.Joy, we are friends, it's obvious. I really take it for granted now. And I trust your opinion, just like I trust the opinion of all the guys and girls (not many girls here though!) that have been contributing to this website for long. It's always a pleasure to read you, Dr. J, Kaweeka, Hobby, the long-disappeared Somsak etc. I hope one day we can all meet!
I admit my view abt Porn
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:49.I admit my view abt Porn could be rather biased. Alex, you probably remember my obsessionw ith that Thai site hehehe :-)(in which they often post pictures of girls for mass consumption of men who literally leer at them collectively)Immediately after i see yr post abt porn or related stuff, I can't help thinking abt what those men do in that site ( i know this sounds repetitive of me, very sorry)
Alex, what i meant to say is
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 15:51.Alex, what i meant to say is that i seem to enter a period of personal 'crisis' a t the moment so I was wondering if i can seek yr opinion abt this matter (ie via e-mail?)
well, I think you can guess
Submitted by Alex is surferbluex (not verified) on Wed, 22/04/2009 - 16:31.well, I think you can guess my hot e mail by looking at my new name :)
if possible and if not too
Submitted by Joy (not verified) on Thu, 23/04/2009 - 06:01.if possible and if not too inconvenient,can u reach me at [email protected] ? there seems to be problem with my guess, and my mails are returned--Joy
I don't think the Culture
Submitted by CJ Hinke (not verified) on Fri, 24/04/2009 - 12:14.I don't think the Culture vultures think very deeply when deciding to what media we are mature enough to be exposed.
My guess is that this film was censored for one reason alone: It has 'porno' in the title.
"The King Never Smiles" is, of course, Thailand's most famous banned book even though very few have actually read it. Yet, it would appear Ajarn Giles" "A Coup for the Rich" and Saw Srivaraksa's two books resulted in lese majeste charges simply for mentioning TKNS as references.
Spiders weave incredibly beautiful, complex and structurally strong webs yet their brains are only as big as a grain of sand.