The Thai government has cracked down on freedom of expression and dissenting opinion ever since a military coup toppled a democratically elected government in 2014.
Even with a return to "democracy" in 2019, the government is still continuing to stifle dissent and opposing views, a new Amnesty International report said.
The report, titled, “They are always watching” outlines the curtailing of rights under the military junta and how that has continued under a government run by mostly the same generals that took power six years ago.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/12921/free ... group-say/
AI Report: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Docume ... NGLISH.pdf
Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
Are we surprised? - Of course not.
Will things change? - Of course not.
Will things change? - Of course not.
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handdrummer
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Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
The average Thai & most of the HiSo's don't care, they'er royalists. It's the intellectuals that have a hard time with censorship. That is not a cote for censorship, just a fact. As foreigners, living here is anyone effected by the lack of freedom of public expression?
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
As foreigners, both tourists and expats, the effect has sometimes been catastrophic. Usually by saying/remarking upon something that they wouldn't think twice about in their own country, but wrong comment at the wrong time in the wrong place can land people in very deep water!
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
This website is getting very close to the mark, one wonders how long it will remain online ...
Opinion: Thailand, you do not want to know what real fear looks like
Self-censorship is one manifestation of fear.
When we stop ourselves from saying what we want, when we want, we are afraid.
Whether it be ostracization, persecution, ridicule or annihilation, we understand that there are real world consequences for speaking our mind.
But there are also consequences for not speaking our mind, for not exercising our right to speech, or dissenting in the face of oppression.
When we stop ourselves from speaking and standing up for what is right, we slowly pave the road towards political mutism and feed into the fear that the state then harnesses to control us.
How does this manifest itself in the real world?
There are many case studies from the 20th century that one can point to. From the totalitarian societies of the communist east bloc to modern day China where speech is monitored, expression is censored and loyalty is coerced.
These societies often function in the same way.
The opposition and the rebels are too afraid to raise their voice and find new channels and new ways to communicate in the background.
Meanwhile the corporations, sycophants, and businesses sing the praises of the ruler and more often than not find themselves familiar bedfellows.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/12837/opin ... ooks-like/
Opinion: Thailand, you do not want to know what real fear looks like
Self-censorship is one manifestation of fear.
When we stop ourselves from saying what we want, when we want, we are afraid.
Whether it be ostracization, persecution, ridicule or annihilation, we understand that there are real world consequences for speaking our mind.
But there are also consequences for not speaking our mind, for not exercising our right to speech, or dissenting in the face of oppression.
When we stop ourselves from speaking and standing up for what is right, we slowly pave the road towards political mutism and feed into the fear that the state then harnesses to control us.
How does this manifest itself in the real world?
There are many case studies from the 20th century that one can point to. From the totalitarian societies of the communist east bloc to modern day China where speech is monitored, expression is censored and loyalty is coerced.
These societies often function in the same way.
The opposition and the rebels are too afraid to raise their voice and find new channels and new ways to communicate in the background.
Meanwhile the corporations, sycophants, and businesses sing the praises of the ruler and more often than not find themselves familiar bedfellows.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/12837/opin ... ooks-like/
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
I understand it's compiled and hosted outside of Thailand, not sure if that is true or not?
I think as long as it is in English, they will be okay. On saying that, it's been a long time since Pira Sudham's books have been on display in Asia Books, as per pressure from the generals. But you can order.
Talk is cheap
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
Well, they do keep hitting the mark whereas the other two English rags in Thailand keep pandering to whoever is pulling their strings at the time ...
A council of old men, tasked by the generals and coupmakers to continue their ideas, asks for a raise
https://www.thaienquirer.com/12983/a-co ... r-a-raise/
Pretty sure this website will be behind Thailand's great firewall soon enough ...
A council of old men, tasked by the generals and coupmakers to continue their ideas, asks for a raise
https://www.thaienquirer.com/12983/a-co ... r-a-raise/
Pretty sure this website will be behind Thailand's great firewall soon enough ...
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
And it goes on ...
Netizens angry over the launch of Thailand’s official Twitter account
The Twitter hashtag #ไม่เอาทวิตเติอร์ไทยแลนด์, or ‘We don’t want Twitter Thailand’, trended online in the last 24 hours in response to the unveiling of Twitter Thailand’s official account.
The negative sentiments towards the new Twitter page stem from the fear that this will further hinder people’s right to freedom of expression.
According to Twitter’s blog post, the social networking service has been “cooperating” with NGOs and government departments and ministries for the past 12 months. This has led many Thai users to block and report the page as a sign of protest over the implication that their information has been provided to the Thai government.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/13019/neti ... r-account/
Netizens angry over the launch of Thailand’s official Twitter account
The Twitter hashtag #ไม่เอาทวิตเติอร์ไทยแลนด์, or ‘We don’t want Twitter Thailand’, trended online in the last 24 hours in response to the unveiling of Twitter Thailand’s official account.
The negative sentiments towards the new Twitter page stem from the fear that this will further hinder people’s right to freedom of expression.
According to Twitter’s blog post, the social networking service has been “cooperating” with NGOs and government departments and ministries for the past 12 months. This has led many Thai users to block and report the page as a sign of protest over the implication that their information has been provided to the Thai government.
https://www.thaienquirer.com/13019/neti ... r-account/
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
Government postponing law designed to protect an individual’s personal data
Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) was due to come into effect on May 27, but its implementation will now be postponed for another year, the government announced this week
The verdict, according to the Cabinet, came after business operators and sectors raised concerns over not being ready for such changes due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
“The postponement is to curtail any negative impacts that may occur to government agencies, businesses, and the public,” Rachada Dhanadirek, a deputy government spokesperson said on Monday.
“If the enforcement is on schedule while all sectors are still not ready, it may cause unintended violation and damage to the law and individuals, and may also be a way for dishonest individuals to use it to their advantage.”
The PDPA is intended to protect the rights of anyone in Thailand from the unauthorized or unlawful collection, use, disclosure, or processing of their personal data.
It is the country’s first consolidated law on the subject, with many of its principles and obligations adapted from the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
https://www.thaienquirer.com/13022/the- ... onal-data/
Thailand’s Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) was due to come into effect on May 27, but its implementation will now be postponed for another year, the government announced this week
The verdict, according to the Cabinet, came after business operators and sectors raised concerns over not being ready for such changes due to the current coronavirus pandemic.
“The postponement is to curtail any negative impacts that may occur to government agencies, businesses, and the public,” Rachada Dhanadirek, a deputy government spokesperson said on Monday.
“If the enforcement is on schedule while all sectors are still not ready, it may cause unintended violation and damage to the law and individuals, and may also be a way for dishonest individuals to use it to their advantage.”
The PDPA is intended to protect the rights of anyone in Thailand from the unauthorized or unlawful collection, use, disclosure, or processing of their personal data.
It is the country’s first consolidated law on the subject, with many of its principles and obligations adapted from the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
https://www.thaienquirer.com/13022/the- ... onal-data/
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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handdrummer
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Re: Amnesty International: freedom of expression in Thailand still severely curtailed
Along the same lines, via Thai TV news, when you enter a business, you must use your smart phone to download an app. that tells the monitors where you are, what time you entered the business and, by comparing it with other's apps, how many people are currently in that location. It is to be used to track people who contact Covid-19 and whom they are in contact with. If you don't have a smart phone, you must fill out a form to be able to enter the shop.
And people thought that the mark of the beast was a number tattooed on your body, when it's really your mobile phone and the location app.
And people thought that the mark of the beast was a number tattooed on your body, when it's really your mobile phone and the location app.