Global Voices » Arthit

Thailand: Texting Troubles for the Prime Minister

Arthit — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 07:42:34 +0000

On December 18, 2008, millions of Thai mobile phone subscribers got this text message from the newly installed Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva:

“ผมนายกรัฐมนตรีคนใหม่ ขอเชิญท่านร่วมนำประเทศไทยออกจากวิกฤติ สนใจได้รับการติดต่อจากผมกรุณาส่งรหัสไปรษณีย์ 5 หลักของท่านมาที่เบอร์ 9191 (3 บ.)”

“I, the new Prime Minister, invites you to bring Thailand out of the crisis. Interested to get contact from me, please send your 5-digits postcode to the number 9191 (3 Baht)”

If a subscriber replies, a sound clip of PM Abhisit will be delivered to subscriber's phone, saying:

“I, Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Prime Minister, realized that you fellow citizens are suffering, and are under stress. Therefore, I'll concentrate in exerting all my knowledge and ability to help the country. But I can't succeed if Thai people are not together in harmony. So I beg you all a chance.”

sms from the PM

According to Democrat Party officer, the text messaging was an idea of Abhisit himself, and was coordinated by Korn Chatikavanij, the country's Finance Minister. Korn allegedly called Thailand's three major mobile phone operators, AIS, DTAC, and True, for a cooperation to send out the message to their subscribers. The meeting for cooperation was held in December 16, one day before Abhisit Vejjajiva got officially appointed to be the Prime Minister. And the reason for requesting for 5-digits postcode is to evaluate the demographic of those who replied. The subscribers will then be listed in a database.

Sending a text message to a person without the person's consent is considered a violation of a consumer's privacy rights, said consumer rights advocate Saree Ongsomwang. She said Abhisit should opt to keep contacts with the people via television and other public communication outlets in order to avoid infringing on the consumer's rights.

Saree, who is also part of the committee of the Telecommunication Consumer Protection Institute, added that under Thai telecommunication law, mobile phone operators are not allowed to release the list of subscribers without their consent. When the three mobile operators sent the controversial text message to their subscribers, free of charge, in behalf of the Prime Minister or the Democrat Party, it brought some legal and political complications.

Under the 1999 Anti-Corruption Law (amended 2007), state officers, including cabinet members, cannot receive any gift or benefit that is worth more than 3,000 Baht. It is estimated that the sending of the Prime Minister's text message cost more than 10 million Baht. Abhisit could be charged in the courts, as argued by Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, urging the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to investigate the case.

If Abhisit and Korn are found guilty, they will be impeached and suspended from holding any political position in accordance with the Constitution.

Comments in the Internet were quite mixed at that time. In general, many agreed that this may be a violation of privacy and personal data, and the Prime Minister doing too much PR on media. But at the same time they feel that if it's a good intention, it should be ok, and he should have a chance to work for the country.

Some comments from Yahoo! Answers:

Non noN: “I think it's a popular survey, as it requested a post code. So they can know which districts, which provinces, that reply back and can evaluate the situation. I personally think it's good and want to see harmony in every area of Thailand.”

Nicky: “Who get that 3 baht? Can I opt-out? My memory is nearly full. Old model.”

‘A-Mei': “I think it's too much marketing.”

Tanapon: “Yes, it's too much. But we should give him a chance, to prove himself by his work. It's better than we fighting each other.”

NH: “I think if it's a good thinking, the result will be good.”

On July 16, 2010, NACC has again postponed its ruling on the case, and did not yet set a date for the handing down of the final decision.

Thailand: Continuing State of Emergency

Arthit — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 02:19:13 +0000

Political Prisoners in Thailand blog reports that, on May 24, 2010, Suthachai Yimprasert, a history professor at Chulalongkorn University, was ordered to report to the Center for the Resolution of Emergency Situations (CRES). Rather than being interrogated at the 11th Army Regiment, he was taken to an army base in Saraburi, and is being held for seven days. This is possible, without formal charges being made or evidence being presented under the Emergency Decree.

Few days later, on May 27, Thailand Crisis 2010 blog reports the statement of Suthachai's lawyer after having visited him at Adisorn Military Camp, Saraburi, that the professor decides to go on hunger strike since the morning, to protest of not being allowed to read any newspaper, listen to the radio, watch the television, or follow the news in any way. Even his textbooks, which are needed for preparing lectures, are forbidden.

For a good humor, Matichon newspaper (online) report a response from Colonel Sarnsern Kaewkamnerd, CRES Spokeperson, that not eating any food would probably make Dr. Suthachai hungry. He also suggested that eating jelly should make him full, if the professor doesn't want to eat food.

Suthachai is detained in a solitary unit. Every word in the conversation between Suthachai and his wife on visiting day is recorded by 5 soldiers who stand around the couple.

Many social activists and human rights defenders now fear that the Thailand government would continue extending the state of emergency decree for virtually forever — like Egypt, which has been in a state of emergency almost without interruption for more than 40 years.

To conclude the situation in Thailand right now, let me pick the opening phrase posted by Mr. Wrigley, juxtaposing actor Pongpat Wachirabunjong's famous speech, in his Siam Report blog*, :

“Clearly there is not room for any alternative opinions or ideas. You are either with us or against us as George W. Bush once said. You either accept the social, political, and economic framework that largely marginalizes you and benefits me, or get out!”

Following is a letter from Bonsong Chaisingkananont, Department of Philosophy, Silpakorn University, on behalf of friends and family of Suthachai Yimprasert.

27 May 2010

To whom it may concern (especially the human rights organizations),

This is urgent information regarding Dr. Suthachai Yimprasert, a historian professor who was arrested by the Thai authorities on May 24, 2010. Please help campaign for his release.

Professor Bayan, Dr. Suthachai's wife, visited her husband at the Adisorn Army Camp in Saraburi earlier today. The army allows only his wife and mother to visit him, and in the morning only.

Dr. Suthachai is detained in a solitary unit. So is Mr Somyos Pruksakasemsuk who was arrested at the same time. Neither has been charged. In fact the arrests of them involved deception by the authorities. Both had got warrants to report to the police for some questioning. They complied. The police told them that they would bring them to the Crime Suppression Headquarter. Instead, they sent them to the Adisorn Army Camp in another province.

Legally, neither is Dr. Suthachai nor Mr. Somyos a law-breaker or a criminal since there is yet any charge. They are detained for interrogation. But they have been treated as if they were felons. Their treatments are more severe than the UDD leaders who are detained at the Naresuan Police Camp.

Dr. Suthachai brought some books to prepare for his class (at Chulalongkorn University) in a few weeks. But the soldiers took those books away and do not allow him to read anything (except a magazine about horses left by someone in this room). Dr. Suthachai, therefore, protests by going on a hunger strike. Our serious concern is that he has diabetes, requiring insulin injections twice a day. The lack of food may have serious effects on his condition, including a danger to his life.

Every words in the conversation between Dr. Suthachai and his wife on visiting day was recorded by 5 soldiers who stand around the couple.

This coming Sunday is the funeral for Bayan's father. Dr. Suthachai's lawyer will make an appeal to the court to allow him to attend the funeral of his father-in-law. But we do not know if the appeal would be granted, even though he is not yet charged or being a suspect or criminal of any kind whatsoever.

Sincerely,

Bonsong Chaisingkananont

Department of Philosophy

Silpakorn University

On behalf of friends and family of Dr. Suthachai Yimprasert.

P.S. To all “cyber warriors,” Please help spread this info as much as possible.

* If you trying to access this page: http://siamreport.blogspot.com/2010/05/there-is-only-one-color-yellow.html from within Thailand, Blogger.com (Google-owned service) will said “The Requested Blog Is Not Found”. Try Google Cache.

Thailand: YouTube self-censored lese majeste protest clip

Arthit — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:16:47 +0000

Self-censorship on YouTube is working well - silently. Yesterday, a FACT signer reported one of the silently banned clips, which can be viewed everywhere in the world, except Thailand.

Since agreement with Thailand's Ministry of Information and Communication Technology last year, YouTube's management agreed to block any video clips deemed offensive to Thai people or those that violate Thai law. In other words, YouTube will do the censorship by themselves, so that the site will not be blocked again by the Ministry.

When users from Thailand try to access the reported link, http://youtube.com/watch?v=70m1ncXQjXA , they will find this message:

This video is not available in your country.

It is a lèse majesté law protest clip, which contains few caricature of the King images and Thailand flag, the royal anthem is played as a background music, and between those images, the clip runs the following messages in black over yellow background:

King Bhumibol Adulyadej of is a dictator.

He sends anyone who speaks against him to prison - for up to 15 years.

F**k the king of Thailand - long live free speech!

Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Code stipulates the penalty for a lèse majesté offence as 3-15 years' imprisonment.

source: Freedom Against Censorship Thailand

Thailand: BBC reporter charged with Lèse Majesté

Arthit — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:08:36 +0000

Thai police officer filed a criminal complaint seeking to have British journalist, Jonathan Head, of British Broadcasting Corporation charged for insulting Thailand's king