youtube

[Bamboo Grove]

As you all know Vientiane is the capital of Northumberland. I happen to be in the forementioned metropolis at the moment and you can actually watch youtube here. Unfortunetaly, as with their neighbours theCumbrians, the Nothumbelies have very slow internet connections (all you who live in the Head Rock City should stop complaining now), so I can't be bothered to watch all those things that I've missed during the block out. What I'm going to do is to have two or ten more beer Laos and cheer the Shrimps.

[tigger]

???????????????? Think you've had two or ten beer Laos too many. Either that or as with most Northumbrian towns I pass..... Lights on ... but nobody home!!!!

[buksida]

After reading that article about the ICT minister not using the internet or having an email account I kind of get the impression he's forgotten about Youtube which is why it remains blocked. Prolly too busy playing with his abacus.
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Legal experts, webmasters slam govt for illegally blocking websites

Internet and IT law expert says Cyber Crime Act stipulates only Communications Technology Ministry has the right to seek court orders banning certain websites

Bangkok Post
Friday, August 17, 2007

By Supawadee Inthawong

Internet law experts and webmasters yesterday lashed out at what they said was the government's illegal blocking of websites and the use of threats and intimidation tactics against webmasters by government officials. Paiboon Amornpinyokiart, an internet and IT law expert, said nowhere in the controversial Cyber Crime Act -- which was pushed through by the military-appointed government and took effect on July 19 -- does it say the government has the authority to freely block websites. The law says any move to block a website must be backed by a court order.

He said the Information and Communications Technology Ministry (ICT) had to first seek court orders if it wanted to block any "undesirable" websites. The Cyber Crime Act was passed through the National Legislative Assembly along with a number of other controversial bills this year, despite grave concerns raised by local and international human and media rights groups.

The president of the Thai Webmasters Association, Poramate Minsiri, said most of the content of the new law had been altered during the deliberation in parliament and was acceptable to him.

But, he said, the unchecked blocking of websites by the government without court approval was now a major problem.

Webmasters have received phone threats and other various forms of intimidation from officials criticising content on their websites and threatening to ban them, he said. Mr Poramate also said the officials intimidating them had refused to reveal their names.

He said webmasters had provided software programs such as Ultrasurf to internet users to reverse the blocking but had then been told off by the ICT for distributing the programs.

Mr Poramate said ICT officials should carefully study the scope of their authority permitted under the new computer crime law and alter their actions accordingly.

Chiranuch Premchaiporn of www.prachathai.com, a website providing information on social and political issues, said the government's rush to issue media-related laws shortly after the Sept 19 coup was grossly inappropriate.

The draft Radio and Television Broadcasting Bill, currently being deliberated, has also drawn widespread criticism for the heavy punishments it will impose on radio and television operators who operate without state permission.

She said community radio operators would be badly affected by the draft bill as most operate without licences.

[The understudy]

[quote="Bamboo Grove"]As you all know Vientiane is the capital of Northumberland. I happen to be in the forementioned metropolis at the moment and you can actually watch youtube here. Unfortunetaly, as with their neighbours theCumbrians, the Nothumbelies have very slow internet connections (all you who live in the Head Rock City should stop complaining now), so I can't be bothered to watch all those things that I've missed during the block out. What I'm going to do is to have two or ten more beer Laos and cheer the Shrimps.[/quote]

Yo Hello Bamboo Grove!!!
I had been in Vientiane too a number years ago (or let me say Ions back) during my first few study year @ one of Head Rocks Cities International Universities it was part privately organized Visa runs for a few of my foreign friends and Stamford Students. I've stayed @ the Lan Xiang Hotel wich had a few Internet stations. I can say that you acan watch youtube there but in order to watch it takes another Ions or two to a get clip running it!


Yoour's The understudy

PS: Quote: Bamboo Grove "I happen actually in be in the foremntioned metropolice at the moment." That was a good one! Vientiane as a Metropolis of 500.000 + Population!!!

[Bamboo Grove]

Never mind, tigger. My lights went out long time ago. That was a bit of an insider joke but then again this is the foo section.

[tigger]

Bamboo Grove, sorry, I'm having a little chuckle to myself here. Totally hoodwinked me mate. If it's any consolation my lights are out too.

[Bamboo Grove]

No probs, tigger, I'm having another boring day in Vientiane. 'opefully I'll be back in sunny HH by Friday.

[redzonerocker]

is it really that dull in vientiane b g?
almost went across the bridge for a visit when i stopped over in nong khai back in december.