Thai Internet Law Alert!!!

[maungt@xxxxxxxxxx]

Bangkok Post ( BPSW)
(for the week beginning 26 Jan, 1998)
Let's take a closer look at the new Internet law that the Thai Chapter of
the Internet Society (ISOC-TH) is soon to forward to the Minister of
Transport and Communications. If this law is passed in its current format,
it may mean a lot of restriction for Thai Internet users. It may also mean
that Thai Internet users will lose their right to freedom of speech.
The proposed Internet law
The draft law to promote the Internet was initiated by the Post and
Telegraph Department. ISOC-TH undertook the task of writing the draft. The
first two drafts of the law needed to be revised, and on January 2, the
Third Draft appeared on the ISOC-TH Web site. A lot of criticism was
directed towards this draft by the media and members of the public. A fourth
and fifth draft were then drawn up.
On January 16 there was a public meeting at ABAC where the general public
could express their views on the proposed law.
On January 30 the draft will be submitted to the Minister of Transport and
Communication.

In opposition of the law
The law has gained a lot of opposition, from the general public in Thailand
and members of the main Internet Society in America. Most of the controversy
revolves around proposed bans on free speech and government licensing of
Internet providers.
The law would ban criticism on the Internet of foreign heads of state such
as the prime minister of Burma; discussion of sexual services, such as
treatment of Aids; and writing anything that might show Thailand in a bad
light.
This means people in Thailand could not send out email or build web sites
that criticize the Queen of England or President Clinton or provide
information on Thai politicians who have accumulated great wealth. It also
means that criticism of these people and other heads of state could not be
given out to people in Thailand from people overseas via the Internet.
Okay, so you yourself may not want to say something bad about these people,
but what happens if a head of state is doing something bad -- killing people
in their own country or putting people in jail for doing nothing wrong?
Wouldn't you like to be able to find out what these people are doing and
why?
Think of Burma, Israel, The Republic of Congo ... don't you think you have a
right to know what is happening there? Or even to voice your opinion about
it? If the proposed Internet law is passed, people in Thailand won't be able
to do any of this on the Net.
The third draft of the law also meant that things which appear in the
Bangkok Post, and to some extent the Bangkok Post Student Weekly newspaper
editions would not be allowed to be published in its Internet edition. How
will that effect readers, especially Thai readers, working or studying in
other countries.
Due to opposition to the third draft law, the fourth and fifth draft laws
were changed somewhat. Article 21 of the proposed law was removed. This was
the article that prohibited Thai people from sending out information on the
Net that is against public peace and order that may lead to disunity of the
nation; immoral and against the culture norms of the nation; puts religion,
places of worship or highly respected people, places or things in a bad
light; and inappropriate information concerning the King and royal family,
and heads of state of friendly foreign countries.
The article that allows the government to have direct control over ISPs
remains.

The public hearing
Members of BPSW went to the public hearing on January 16. Many interesting
points were raised by both Internet users and Internet provides. One of the
points that was raised was who was the law protecting; Internet users or the
controlling group?
Most people at the hearing believed that there should be another public
hearing before the law is submitted to Minister of Transport and
Communication. President of the ISOC-TH, Mr. Srisakdi, said he would think
about this and put something up on the Net calling for email responses. It
was said that the law would not control what other people were saying about
Thailand, but would try to control what Thai people were sending out. Things
that were against Thai morals, culture and beliefs should not be sent out
over the Net.
But it was stated that the law wasn't as yet fixed, and there could be more
changes made to it.

For more information on the proposed law, check out the Bangkok Post
"Internet Alert" web site at http://www.bangkokpost.net
/law_alert/isoc_alert01.html for a more comprehensive view and further
links. What you can do
If you disagree with the proposed law, why not express your opinions. Write
to a letter to the Bangkok Post Student Weekly
(student-weekly@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx), Bangkok Post (postbag@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) or
the Bangkok Post Database section (database@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx), telling us
what your feel. Also cc your letter to the president of the ISOC-TH, Mr.
Srisakdi Charmonman (charm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or charm@xxxxxxxxxx). If you
would like to read the proposed draft law (in Thai), then take a look at the
ISOC-TH Web site at http://www.isoc-th.org.


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