Thai police summon Facebook users over coup-rumor posts, threaten to jail people for ‘liking’

[Karee 4,191]

BANGKOK — Police in Thailand have opened investigations of four people for allegedly causing panic by posting rumors of a possible military coup on Facebook — and an investigator threatened Monday to charge anyone who even “liked” the postings on the social media site.

The move comes as Bangkok braces for possible political protests this week coinciding with a bill related to a 2006 coup in the country. Opponents say the bill could pave the way for the return of the man that the military ousted in that takeover, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister leads the current elected government.

Technology Crime Suppression division chief Police Maj. Gen. Pisit Paoin said Monday that the four posted Facebook entries with false information that could damage the country. If found guilty, they could face up to five years in prison and a fine worth 100,000 baht ($3,200).

“These four have posted false messages about the coup and other messages that could lead to chaos in the society,” Pisit told at a press conference. “The postings’ content does not hold any truth, and if the words kept spreading around, it could damage to the country.” He said the police have issued summons for them to meet investigators.

Among those summoned are Sermsuk Kasitipradit, the political editor of public television channel TPBS, and a local pro-government protest leader.

The postings mentioned a possibility of a military coup and urged the public to hoard food and water.

“Those who ‘liked’ and ‘shared’ the posts will also face charges, so we would like to ask the public to contemplate very carefully about the way they use social media,” Pisit added.

More than 1,000 anti-government protesters kicked off a rally in Bangkok on Sunday as lawmakers were scheduled to deliberate on the controversial bill on Wednesday.

Last week, the government invoked the Internal Security Act in three Bangkok districts, citing the possibility of protest violence. The act, in effect from Aug. 1 - 10, authorizes officials to seal off roads, take action against security threats, impose curfews and ban the use of electronic devices in designated areas. Peaceful and unarmed rallies are allowed under the law.

Opponents of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s government feared the bill, which would grant amnesty to people arrested for political activities since the 2006 military coup, could pave the way for the return of her brother Thaksin.

Thaksin was ousted in the 2006 coup and has been living in self-imposed exile.

The government’s special peace-keeping command under the Internal Security Act warned on Sunday against sharing any information that could lead to havoc in the nation.

Army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday denied the coup rumors and urged the public to be careful in distinguishing truth from rumors.

“Do not spread the rumors. Rumors are rumors. I want every group, every side, everyone, no matter which side you’re on, to be sensible ... and be able to see what is true and what isn’t,” Prayuth told reporters.

Thailand’s 2007 Computer Crime Act addresses hacking and other traditional online offenses, but also bars the circulation of material deemed detrimental to national security or that causes panic. It carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 baht ($3,300).

Source:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/thai-police-summon-facebook-users-over-coup-feared-posts/2013/08/05/932e71d8-fdad-11e2-8294-0ee5075b840d_story.html

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Thailand is a monarchy right?

[Ban Hammer 13,589]

awww post the facebook page too so we can all like it!

[Karee 4,191]

Thailand is a monarchy right?

Yes. It's a constitutional monarchy similar to the UK. The Thais place the king on a level somewhere near god. They actually have the longest serving monarch.

awww post the facebook page too so we can all like it!

Laugh. That would be fun next time I'm going through immigration there.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Yes. It's a constitutional monarchy similar to the UK. The Thais place the king on a level somewhere near god. They actually have the longest serving monarch.

Laugh. That would be fun next time I'm going through immigration there.

Okay, that explains it.

[Karee 4,191]

All this guy did was translate a book. And he's a USC. Not that that should matter.

BP blogged on the Thai-born naturalized American citizen Joe Gordon who was arrested in May 2011 on lese majeste charges, then later blogged when the US expressed disappointment when he was actually charged in August 2011 for translating The King Never Smiles, and blogged again when he was jailed for two and a half years in December 2011.

Now, AP reports:

A lawyer for an American imprisoned in Thailand for translating a banned book about the king says he

has been granted a royal pardon, and the U.S. Embassy says he has been freed.

Joe Gordon was sentenced in December to two and a half years in prison for translating excerpts of the unauthorized biography “The King Never Smiles” from English into Thai. It’s one high-profile example of the severe punishments given for comments deemed insulting to Thailand’s royal family.

Gordon’s lawyer Arnon Numpa says the royal pardon was granted Tuesday.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Walter Braunohler says Gordon was freed that night.

BP: Because he was a naturalized American citizen, his case became high profile – although it was dwarfed by the Uncle SMS case – but in reality the pardon also stems from the fact he pleaded guilty and thus followed the traditional way of responding to lese majeste charges. As blogged on the case of an Australian back in 2008:

I also don’t think publicity helps his case and the more publicity it receives, the more the “freedom-of-speech-loving elements” of the Thai media (i.e Sopon, The Manager et al) will make it a public issue. He has two choices (1) fight the case and spend years in jail pending his trial and appeals, or (2) plead guilty, beg forgiveness and receive a pardon and be back in Australia next year (in all lese majeste cases against foreigners I am aware of, all those who have plead guilty have been granted a pardon). Seriously, who would choose (1) over (2)? Who wants to spend a few years in a Thai jail on the grounds of “principle”?

BP: Given the way that the Thai system works (2) is the option that most people, including Gordon, to take. His pardon took a few more months than BP would have anticipated, but it was just a matter of time of when. His pardon, of course, comes just before Yingluck meets Hillary in Cambodia…..

btw, Who will receive a pardon next?

Source:

http://asiancorrespondent.com/85664/thai-american-jailed-on-lese-majeste-charges-gets-pardon/

[GandD 5,966]

Wow, did a US embassy actually do something for a US Citizen.......... that wasn't a white female?

[Karee 4,191]

Wow, did a US embassy actually do something for a US Citizen.......... that wasn't a white female?

No they didn't do squat. I think Hilary Clinton may have had something to do with it. I remember sitting in a Thai police station with the cops telling me if I didn't sign a confession, I was going to jail. I called the alleged USC emergency number over and over with no answer. I also remember when the tsunami happened, the US Embassy lagged way behind other western countries in assisting it's citizens. So despite carrying around that blue passport, it's a good idea to assume you're on you own.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

No they didn't do squat. I think Hilary Clinton may have had something to do with it. I remember sitting in a Thai police station with the cops telling me if I didn't sign a confession, I was going to jail. I called the alleged USC emergency number over and over with no answer. I also remember when the tsunami happened, the US Embassy lagged way behind other western countries in assisting it's citizens. So despite carrying around that blue passport, it's a good idea to assume you're on you own.

Will you just look at that.

You mean they didn't mobilize the entire 3rd division to bust you out?

[Karee 4,191]

Will you just look at that.

You mean they didn't mobilize the entire 3rd division to bust you out?

I wasn't asking for that. I see your reading comprehension is failing you as usual. Why have a USC emergency phone number if no one answers it?

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Yes. It's a constitutional monarchy similar to the UK. The Thais place the king on a level somewhere near god. They actually have the longest serving monarch.

Laugh. That would be fun next time I'm going through immigration there.

I remember my wife saying something about you can't even drop money on the ground with his face on it.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

I wasn't asking for that. I see your reading comprehension is failing you as usual. Why have a USC emergency phone number if no one answers it?

Them not answering your call on the first ring doesn't equate to them not doing squat.

Get over yourself.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Them not answering your call on the first ring doesn't equate to them not doing squat.

Get over yourself.

Are you trying to tell Karee that you know more about what happened in his situation than he does?

[Karee 4,191]

Them not answering your call on the first ring doesn't equate to them not doing squat.

Get over yourself.

First ring? I don't recall saying that. Why not study English first, and then come back and post? Start here:

I remember my wife saying something about you can't even drop money on the ground with his face on it.

Very true. I remember going to slip a bill to a girl in her bikini top at one of those "places" and she almost had a heart attack and said "You can't do that!! It has the King's picture on it."

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Are you trying to tell Karee that you know more about what happened in his situation than he does?

I wasn't there, and thankfully so since I don't swim in that low end of the pool, but just going by what he wrote.