UPDATES: an image from The Nation:
Statement from the Asian Human Rights Commission is here.
BBC report is here.
Reports from Prachatai are here and here.
Original post:
I have received this brief statement from Ji Ungpakorn. Emails from Bangkok have also mentioned the raid on Prachatai.
At around 3pm today 2 van loads of police raided Prachatai (the independent website newspaper) in Bangkok. They had a warrent for the arrest of Ms Chiranut Prempreecha, Prachatai coordinator. She is accused under the Computer IT Act and she is being questioned by police. Please protest to the Thai Government. Please pass on this information. If you are in the UK., please write to St John’s College Oxford and ask them to cancel the talk on “Democracy” by the Thai Prime Minister on 14th March.
เวลาประมาณ 15.00 น. เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจทั้งในและนอกเครื่องแบบ 5 คน เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจหญิง 1 คน และเจ้าหน้าที่ในเครื่องแบบ 1คน เดินทางด้วยรถยนต์ จำนวน 2 คัน เข้าแสดงตนพร้อมหมายค้นและหมายจับ น.ส. จีรนุช เปรมชัยพร ผู้ดูแลเว็บไซต์ประชาไท ด้วยข้อหากระทำความผิดตามมาตรา 15 พระราชบัญญัติว่าด้วยการกระทำความผิดเกี่ยวกับคอมพิวเตอร์ ขณะนี้อยู่ระหว่างการสอบสวน โดย น.ส. จีรนุช ปฏิเสธให้การใดๆ จนกว่าจะมีทนายความให้คำปรึกษา
Meanwhile …
Determined to reclaim Thailand’s position as a country that values press freedom the most in Asia, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has vowed to push for laws that provide the media the needed protection to perform its functions of serving the public.
Speaking before editors from Asian countries, media entities and guests at the 10th anniversary celebration of Asia News Network (ANN) at the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, this morning (March 6), Abhisit said proposed liberal media laws are underway. (The Nation, 6 March 2009).
This is disgraceful. One wonders if this is what they will be doing to expediently avoid pressing lese majeste charges. It’s an outrageous law.
PLEASE SUPPORT PRACHATHAI!
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It has been suggested that perhaps the real reason behind this raid is
that the police want to get hold of a certain webboard user, hence the
explanation for why the Computer Crime law was used – not the
infamous Lese Majeste – and the fact that only Ms. Chiranuch, who’s
the webboard administrator, is arrested.
ANyway, I have no clue how to deal with this. Any protest wont turn
out fruitful, you know the Thai media.
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Today, in Bangkok, Prime Minister Abhisit gave a major speech about the need to increase press freedom in Thailand…………
———————————————–
Thai PM Abhisit commits to promote media freedom
By Jofelle P Tesorio
from: Asia News Network – March 6, 2009
Bangkok – Determined to reclaim Thailand’s position as a country that values press freedom the most in Asia, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has vowed to push for laws that provide the media the needed protection to perform its functions of serving the public.
Speaking before editors from Asian countries, media entities and guests at the 10th anniversary celebration of Asia News Network (ANN) at the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, this morning (March 6), Abhisit said proposed liberal media laws are underway.
ANN is an alliance of 20 newspapers in 17 countries and the biggest media alliance worldwide in terms of readership.
Among the laws being prepared are the amendment of the official information law, which will make information more accessible to the public; the enactment of the law on the protection of media professionals and a policy on regulating the electronic media.
“Ten years ago, when Thailand looked at the freedom of the media table, we were right up there among the best. We used to claim that we were the region’s best in terms of providing freedom for the media. These days, we look at the countries below us because we have fallen down and slipped down in this media table of freedom considerably in the last decade,” he said.
The Prime Minister lamented that there have been a decline on the relationship between the media and the government. Journalists often find themselves at odds with government officials.
“I have every intention to reverse that trend,” he said.
With regard to the les majeste law, which provides criminal liability for criticising and attacking the monarchy of Thailand, Abhisit explained that this specific law has been in existence for a long time and he was “not sure” that this was the reason for media freedom decline.
“The principle for this law, I don’t think in itself, violates the principle of freedom of expression…The problem in recent past is that because there have been attempts to bring the monarchy down into the political context…”
“I’m aware of the problem. We will try to clarify the way how this law will be enforced,” he said.
Talking like a journalist in front of mostly media editors and practitioners, Abhisit noticed the challenges the technology poses to mainstream media.
“We live in very challenging times… But also you also live through times where there will be new challenges in the thing that you do, particularly in technology,” he says.
Abhisit also challenged media practitioners in Asia to retain readership among the young people as they are the more adept to technology.
“They are the first and quickest to report on technological changes and unless we are able to retain their readership… and of course the print media industry will also be threatened and also might even face decline,” he said.
Abhisit also tackled technology, which has been blurring the lines between consumers and journalists.
“We are not talking about just consumers in this day in age when we talk about the Internet. The line between producers and consumers has been blurred and that’s also true as far as news services and journalism is concerned because with blogs, with individual websites, with this technology, anybody can now claim to also be a reporter and a journalist. And a considerable challenge for you to demonstrate, there is still need professionalism with the things that you do. And by keeping up a with standards and ensuring the quality of your news and reports, that is the only to say no to people who aspire to be journalists and reporters by using the Internet without having the necessary qualification or knowledge or even ethical standards.”
“While the Internet and the electronic media provide further opportunities, they also bring on fresh and formidable challenges.”
The Prime Minister also touched on his speech various issues facing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) of which Thailand is the chairman. Fresh from hosting the Asean Summit, he said members of the regional grouping have reaffirmed the Asean community by 2015.
The grouping, he mentioned, is committed to seek the full participation of the civil society and the need to engage the people.
Asians, he said, should have more awareness as “Asian citizens and find common purpose to fully tap the potential of this region”.
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more information ( in Thai)
http://www.sameskybooks.org/board/index.php?showtopic=26511
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Some misspelling of names are there in the email message.
Here is my attempt to translate the news in Thai from Prachatai website.
News from Prachatai (http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/15791)
Urgent! Two truckloads of police raided Prachatai office and held in custody webmaster
Around 15.00, around five police officers in uniform and plainclothes rode into two cars and produced search warrant and arrest warrant to hold in custody Ms. Chiranuch Premchaiporn, Prachatai webmaster for breaches of Section 15 of the Computer-related Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007). The inquiry is going to commence, and meanwhile Ms. Prechaiporn refused to answer questions before having access to legal her counsels.
Section 14 Whoever commits the following acts shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand Baht or both:
(1) input into a computer system wholly or partially fake or false computer data that is likely to cause damage to another person or the public;
(2) input into a computer system false computer data in a manner that is likely to undermine national security or to cause public panic;
(3) input into a computer system computer data that is an offence against national security or terrorism according to the Criminal Code.
(4) input into a computer system pornographic computer data that is accessible to the public;
(5) publish or forward any computer data with the full knowledge that such computer data is under paragraph (1), (2) (3) or (4);
Section 15 Any service provider, who intentionally supports or gives consent to the commission of an offence under Section 14 in the computer system in his control, shall be liable to the same penalty as provided in Section 14.
Computer-related Crime Act B.E. 2550 (2007)
http://www.etcommission.go.th/documents/laws/draft/cc_act_en_unofficial.pdf
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Democrats=feudalists=dictators=absolutists=greatest – of- all hypocrites.
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the current situation (as 20.25 on 6/3/09) she got bail out.
Prachatai has update (in thai) http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/15795
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I’ve been following this on Twitter all evening via @bact.
—Summary translation—
Police showed up in 1 private car, 2 police cars, and 1 police van.
The webmaster (Jeeranuch) was taken to the Crime Suppression Office 5 near แดนเนรมิต (defunct amusement park) on Phahonyothin Road (near Central Lat Phrao).
They took her personal computer in order to clone the contents and go through them. The Prachathai folks were trying to find a way to compute the checksum for the entire disk, to make sure nothing was added while the police “cloned” the hard drive.
Police were trying to get the press not to report the story.
Search warrant number is 183/52.
After a lawyer arrive, the webmaster heard the charge against her: her crime is allowing users to make comments that break lese majeste law and not removing those comments. The comments are said to have stayed up on the Prachathai site for 20 days. In violation of sections 14 (1) (3) (5), and 15 of the computer crime law.
——
The police failed to kill the story, though. This is up on The Nation website.
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Latest update (via @markpeak):
From Prachathai:
Jeeranuch has been granted bail with help from Dr. Chantana Wun-Gaeo (รศ.ดร.ฉันทนา บรรพศิริโชติ หวันแก้ว) of the poli-sci department at Chula.
A group of about 50 have gathered to show support for Jeeranuch and Prachathai. The police are still working on copying data from her hard drive, fingerprinting her, and taking down her personal history.
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Injustice handed down from on high has a special smell, it makes one feel at once energised with rage, and sick with a feeling of hopelessness. There is nothing we can do about the descent into authoritarian servitude that this country is going through. The stupidity of it all, the great tragedy, the loss of what was so solid, bright and reassuring about Thailand is all that remains. Memories forgotten by the blind legions of zealots with their silly colours.All the while the conviction is reinforced, I am nobody’s king and nobody is mine. Sooner or later, Mr Fowler, one has to take sides if one is to remain human.
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With apologies for chasing my own tail, I believe Prachathai deserves all the support it can muster, but it is dismaying to see Ji call for a college at Oxford to cancel a talk by the Thai prime minister.
It is wrong in principle and tactically. Ji now has a case to answer over apparent hypocrisy regarding freedom of speech.
It also seems to me that a no-show by the prime minister is an educational opportunity lost. Ji’s calculation may be that a campaign to stop the talk is an educational opportunity in itself, but I’d suggest it puts the focus in the wrong place.
I hope Ji can offer an explanation on this blog.
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I understand that at the moment the Thai security agencies which involve both the military, and the police, and with knowledge/approval of the current government (at least of the PM and his deputy in charge of national security, Suthep) are operating under the assumption that there is a “movement” (ka-buan-kan) to overthrow the monarchy. It is almost certain – some documents were leaked – that a meeting of security agencies was held earlier January to discuss this very issue and measures were adopted to counter such alledged “movement”, including, I believe, both repressive and “psychological” measures. The raid at Prachatai could be part of this. Since, in the end the case against Khun Jiranut couldn’t possibly be held up in court. Article 15 of the Computer Law specifies that the webmaster could be punished only if it is proven that he/she intentionally supports or encourages unacceptable postings, which Khun Jiranut or Prachatai definitely does not. But I believe the aim of the raid is much wider: to “uncover” persons belonged to such alledged movement or links to such persons and “movement”.
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Your analysis is correct Somsak that this is a move to frighten people. Thailand can’t keep the internet out and debate will go on. Thailand’s reputation is continuing to deterioate.
Who is behind this? Does anyone know?
Lese Majeste is only a crime in Thailand. It is time for us to come into the modern age. No one is beyond criticism as our king said on his birthday.
What will we do if we have a king in the future that is incompetent?
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Somsak Jeamteerasakul
As you said “But I believe the aim of the raid is much wider: to “uncover” persons belonged to such alledged movement or links to such persons and “movement”.
Would you kindly give me more in details, because I’m not quite sure I get the message exactly the way you want to convey.
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Here’s BBC news comment:
“.. the use of the severe lese-majeste law has provoked widespread condemnation around the world, and a campaign by academics to have the law changed.
By instead invoking the new computer crimes law – passed just 18 months ago – the authorities may be hoping to stifle debate about the monarchy without stirring up another outcry over freedom of expression in Thailand.”
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Are you absolutely sure the dual-headlines picture come from Nation, alas not NotTheNation?
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And to think, in another two weeks or so, in the middle of Bangkok, the Asia Media Conclave will bring prominent journalists from all over Asia and the world to Bangkok (March 25-27 – Kavi Chongkittavorn from the NATION and I believe a PAD supporter is the Thailand Coordinator) to discuss such weighty issues as Freedom of the Press, Democratization, Human Rights, etc.
According to the Press Release:
“The Asia Media Conclave-09 will be an exciting opportunity for media practitioners, civil society activists and academics to interact with each other and contribute to discourse and proposal to address the ongoing crisis……………………….”
http://theasiamediaforum.org/files/Asia%20Media%20Conclave%202009.pdf
http://theasiamediaforum.org/node/992
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I believe the aim of the police is not to prosecute Khun Jiranut or any of the Prachatai staff for violation of the Computer Law. That wouldn’t hold up in the legal process. Besides, if that were their aim, they could have simply issued a summon. It’s the information on Prachatai’s computers they’re after. Only with such sudden raid can they get hold of computers and hard disks.
At the moment, what the government and security agencies are most interested in, is the (alledged) “kha-buan-kan” to overthrow the monarchy which they apparently belive to exist.
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Some irony about the Prachatai raid incedent, on the very same day Mr.PM stated in a media conference about media freedom. I can’t help but feel like watching a soap opera, there’re always some plays good guys, and some plays bad guys. The PM’s part was surely the good guy. While somebody (the dep.PM, Suthep I guess) played the bad guys raiding Prachatai and scared the sh_t out of everyone. Similar scenario was when Suthep did the backdoor talk in the military barrack about the coalition formation under a “special” guidance of the army in chief. While the oxford guy played “innocent” role, completely unaware of what was happening in the barrack. They’re sure a good producer for soap operas after their political stepdown. People always love watching soap operas, most of Thais do.
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Ji should show up at the conference and ask for a debate or time for a rebuttal.
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Good observation doctorJ. The Democrats approach is that the leader must be “Mr.Clean” while the secretary-general does the “dirty politics” (PMChuan-MajGenSanan; PMAbhisit-Suthep). Although there is hypocrisy in this approach, the alternatives have been either zero-accountability capitalist-mafias or ambitious military personalities at the helm.
A quick analysis – this is a Democrat innovation for Thai politics as, please correct me if I am wrong, the PMChuan-MajGenSanan was the first to utilize this mode of operation. Generally, compared to the capitalist-mafia and military personality modes, this “Clean PM/Dirty Secretary” mode are relatively much more receptive to political reform. However, interestingly, they often turn up at worst economic times (1997 and 2009 recessions) and their reforms are often compromised by other priorities (or, alternatively, one can view the recession as a good excuse to drag their feet on reform).
On the other hand, AjarnGiles’ “Red Manifesto” may have all but compromised the many Thais, who are not opposed to the monarchy, who would like to reform Les Majeste law and AjarnSomsak’s analysis may be correct. There is now a fear, with evidence provided by AjarnGiles, of the “movement” (ka-buan-kan). This also makes for great soap-opera, Thai-style.
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Abhisit’s statement on media freedom:
“And by keeping up a with standards and ensuring the quality of your news and reports, that is the only to say no to people who aspire to be journalists and reporters by using the Internet without having the necessary qualification or knowledge or even ethical standards.”
This just leaves me baffled. Can anyone help clarify this statement?
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This story seems to be taking a turn for the worse with the news that 9 new charges have been filed against Chiranuch, raising the maximum penalty she faces to 50 years, on a par with murderers and drug smugglers.
Campaigning more aggressively against the outrageous Computer Crimes Act promulgated by the Sarayudh government might be more fertile than campaigning against the LM laws in this environment, as the latter just hits a brick wall.
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