Website Blacklist: Democrats Open Pandora’s Box

Most of us knew the names already, but we showed decency and did not publish the names. Democrat assistant secretary-general Thepthai Senpong though let the cat out of the bag. He disclosed five websites accused of lèse majesté charges and urged the Ministry of Information & Communication Technology ICT to take actions against them, as Manager Online reported on May 21st.

We would not report the names of the sites. But as The Nation had already published a complete list of 29 controversial websites and as the Democrats went public we have no choice but to abide by our duty of accurate and responsible reporting.

According to the Democrats accused most contentious websites “aimed at toppling the monarchy,” as Thepthai was quoted, are the English language site www.youtube.com/StopleseMajeste and the four Thai language sites www.2519me.com, www.hello-siam.blogspot.com, www.rukchard.blogspot.com and chakridynasty.googlepages.com.

I actually wanted to write about a hip hotel and a beautiful, most reclusive temple hidden in the midst of Bangkok. But this is important. The Democrats opened a Pandora’s box.

I had just blogged about the new feisty Democrats. This new offensive of the Democrats, clearly aimed at shadowy circles around Thaksin & cohorts, has all the ingredients for a major showdown and escalation.

Call the Democrats censorists. If the ICT doesn’t act, wouldn’t the government be considered an accomplice?

Or are suddenly the Democrats an accused party as “it is simply impossible to suppress dissent in this age of the internet,” as the Bangkok Post commented in another context.

Wrote Manager Online: “Another 24 websites also present information damaging the Privy Council and Democrat Party while praising the ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra.”

“Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung previously said he would take actions against those websites.”

“But Thepthai urged ICT Minister Man Pattanotai to directly handle the issue.”

“He added he just wanted to protect the monarchy as a Thai.”

“Thepthai called for all parties not to ignore the issue, saying it is not a political issue.”

I fear Thailand will be all over the net again and again soon.

And Bangkok Pundit, as always, has some valuable add-ons.

And how often did HM say that he will pardon anyone convicted of lèse majesté?

It is also interesting to see how differently the previous military and the current civilian government react to an insulting YouTube vid.

The former government tried to stop the world rotating. The current government recently said there’s nothing they could do against a website based abroad.

A tune the government will be forced to change.




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May 21, 2008 | Filed Under Politics, Society, The Thai Mind 

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One Response to “Website Blacklist: Democrats Open Pandora’s Box”

  1. Prachatai Explores The 29 Websites on May 30th, 2008 11.05 am

    [...] work and update you on Thailand’s infamous new blacklist – yes, the Democrats opening of Pandora’s Box. Prachatai takes you by the hand and updates you on each questionable website. And concludes that [...]

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