In one of his many public services, Bangkok Pundit keeps a close eye on things like statements about “websites of concern”. The Pundit recently highlighted this most recent list of websites that have, reportedly, been identified as containing problematic material. As a list of sites it makes for interesting (but inconsistent) reading. For other reporting on these intriguing developments see AFP and MCOT. And there is Thai-language discussion of the various sites over at Prachatai and Fa Deow Gan.
For what it’s worth, anyone who wants to learn about some of the below-the-surface politics in Thailand today could do much worse than trawl through this list.
Update 22 May 2008: Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung’s hunt for the mastermind continues. He has reportedly set a 72 hour deadline for “tracing who is behind the posting of inappropriate messages in the Internet”. And then what? Show trial? And what if the material originates outside the country? Will Thailand try to extradite some renegade blog commentator(s)? Or webmasters, or domain owners?
13 responses so far ↓
1 Thorn // May 22, 2008 at 1:11 am
The MP from Democrat also came up with the list of 29 websites containing the Les Majeste materials. Interestingly Midnight U website is included. I wonder whether people who compiled the list have actually read the website.
Anyway, there are also news that “the above” does not want these website to be blocked, since it will not look very good to the foreigners.
2 Smsak Jeamteerasakul // May 22, 2008 at 2:12 am
I have provided links to the complete list of the names of the 29 websites at BP.
Also, very interesting update: the IT Minister (Mr.Man Phatthanothai) just reviewed in an interview that ” ‘High Up’ has ordered that ‘High Up’ doesn’t want websites banned”.
The word ‘High Up’ here I translate เบื้องสูง which in Thai context is normally understood to mean “the monarchy” or at least “the Palace” (if not HMK or HMQ themselves).
http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?id=32062&catid=155&catid=1
นายมั่น กล่าวต่อว่า สำหรับนโยบายการปิดกั้นเว็บไซต์ที่หมิ่นพระบรมเดชานุภาพในช่วงที่ผ่านมา ได้มีคำสั่งจากเบื้องสูงออกมาว่าไม่ต้องการให้ปิดกั้นเว็บไซต์และต้องการให้มีการเผยแพร่ข้อมูลได้อย่างเสรี เพราะชาวต่างชาติยังไม่เข้าใจการปิดกั้นเว็บไซต์ของประเทศไทย และอาจมองในแง่ที่ไม่ดีก็ได
3 Reg Varney // May 22, 2008 at 2:49 am
So what is going on in Thailand? Why is the monarchy suddenly scared witless? I’m sure that the palace will never forgive Jakkrapob and they want to “get” him and teach others a lesson. However, there seems to be tons of effort just now to protect the monarchy (begging the question about it supposed popularity and the great love every Thai is supposed to have for it). Any one have a insight? What is the current big fear? Why now? Or could it be that this is all just part of the ongoing anti-Thaksin/TRT campaign that began with the PAD-royalist-military alliance and included the coup, but received a mild setback with the December election?
4 Teth // May 22, 2008 at 3:37 am
Somsak’s quote shows that perhaps the Palace is sensitive to criticism at all.
Anyhow, I think they are playing their cards well, knowing that censorship will not help their cause. Instead, those perpetuating the anti-monarchy stance needs to tone done their rhetoric and disrespect and focus on winning hearts and minds now that those high up have played their cards. At the moment, most Thais will view these material and enter a state of frenzied royalist reactionary emotions. Instead, reasonable, well supported arguments will actually be able to counter the propaganda. Plus, allowing the violent rhetoric of those animal royalists can also be used against them.
When fighting them, don’t become them.
5 jonfernquest // May 22, 2008 at 3:30 pm
As countless farmers have instructed me: ruu maak mai dee.
Seems like Jakrapob just knew too much for his own good, if the quote from Bangkok Pundit below is true.
Should have used the unambiguous social science term “patron-client” relationship or system (See British National Corpus).
And it doesn’t hurt to end everything you say with an expression of love for His Majesty the King, so people aren’t able to slip in their own malicious interpretations of what you say.
From Bangkok Pundit: “He states that it was a translation error from Thai to English. He says the problem arose as the person who translated “patronage system” translated into Thai as พระบรมราชูปถัมภ์. This is actually the word for Royal Patronage - as in “The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage”. The correct translation for patronage system is “ระบบอุปถัมภ์” which has a completely different meaning. Hence, where Jakrapob criticises the patronage system it was translated as him criticising “Royal Patronage”. We will just have to wait and see what happens although the police officer had previously stated there were translation problems without specifying what.”
6 Orwell // May 22, 2008 at 5:04 pm
According to NotTheNation, New Mandala is on the list. Does this mean foreign websites will be targeted too?
http://www.notthenation.com/pages/news/getnews.php?id=515
7 Andrew Walker // May 22, 2008 at 8:49 pm
New Mandala has been placed under house arrest. There is only half a bottle of red left. Things are looking grim.
8 jonfernquest // May 22, 2008 at 9:08 pm
I knew that they were going to build a little penal colony in the middle of the Chao Phraya river for everyone who comments and commits thought crimes on New Mandala but I had no idea this was the pretext they were going to use. Better erase the whole blog, quick.
9 jonfernquest // May 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm
In case you missed it. From Bangkok Post, About Politics, 22-05-08:
“First Army commander Lt-Gen Prayut Chan-ocha was among those behind the 2006 overthrow of the Thaksin government…
…his wife, Naraporn, an associate professor of English at Chulalongkorn University.
Mrs Naraporn found herself in the hot seat after translating statements PM’s Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair made in English at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) last year. Copies of the translation were released to chiefs of military units.
Mr Jakrapob…said the translation contained inaccuracies leading to readers misunderstanding what he actually said at the FCCT….He is expected to finish his own translation of the transcript today and has vowed to compare it closely against any translation which came out earlier.
His translation will be also be distributed to the military as a direct challenge to the version made available to the unit chiefs.
Mrs Naraporn is unfazed by the criticism of her translation. With a string of credentials behind her she holds important positions in education fields, including deputy director of management and planning at Chulalongkorn University’s Language Institute, and deputy chairwoman of the Klai Kangwon long-distance learning via satellite project.
Still, Mrs Naraporn has been the target of malicious rumours circulated on the internet by anti-coup activists, who have questioned her motives in making the translation.
…The source said Lt-Gen Prayut had never been drawn into the political quagmire. Those close to him insist the First Army chief harbours no desire to stage a coup and that he jointly directed the Sept 19 coup under orders from his superiors…”
10 sueksit nanhuay // May 23, 2008 at 11:23 am
A team of neutral experts whould be appointed to certify the translation of Jakrapob’s text, and also to evaluate its content and merit or demerit. It would be unfair to take the text only in part or out of context, and then criticize it with bias.
11 Teth // May 23, 2008 at 11:29 am
“First Army commander Lt-Gen Prayut Chan-ocha was among those behind the 2006 overthrow of the Thaksin government…
…his wife, Naraporn, an associate professor of English at Chulalongkorn University.
…deputy chairwoman of the Klai Kangwon long-distance learning via satellite project.”
Heads up, Sidh, an example of network monarchy. A less nefarious part of the network, but surely you can see the connection between coup, crown, and capital.
12 jonfernquest // May 24, 2008 at 12:42 am
The strange thing was that her translation was not really official but certainly in its force has become very official.
There seems to be a clear conflict of interest that would be prohibited in an official translation. Given the conflict of interest, credentials seem to be irrelevant.
And why does it suddenly become an issue one year after the speech was given? It took one year for them to understand the speech and then use it as a basis for a legal suit?
Is this rule by law?
13 sueksit nanhuay // May 24, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Dear Jonfernquest:
Yours is a rhetorical question. No sir (or madam), no act under a patronage system is a rule by law. It is maa-moo (dogs in melee) rulelessness!
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