Thailand's ban on the YouTube website for running content deemed critical of the country's revered monarch has succeeded in removing the offending video but not in preventing new ones multiplying.
April 7, 2007 (Press Release) --
Thailand on Wednesday blocked local access to the Google-owned YouTube after it failed to remove a video that belittled Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who celebrated his 60th year on the throne in 2006 and marks his 80th birthday this year.
Citing the country's lese majeste law, under which it is a crime to mock or belittle the royal family, the Ministry of Information lodged a complaint with YouTube and finally succeeded in removing the offending clip on Thursday.
But no sooner had it been removed than a new one popped up containing even a more offensive image of the king, submitted by a subscriber using the name "thaifreespeech" and claiming to live in Iceland, reported the BangkokPost online.
"In an hour, the number of views of the video rocketed from 122 to 7,856 and going up. Comments in the same hour early this morning Thailand time rose from nine to 160. As before, most commenters attacked the video, often in rude terms," said the Bangkok Post.
It added, "The ban on YouTube by Information and Communication Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom now seems to have touched off a firestorm of web-based retaliation that could see rapid escalation of offensive references to the monarchy on the Internet."
The YouTube controversy comes at a politically sensitive time for Thailand, which is under a military-appointed interim government put in place following a coup d'etat on September 19.
Anti-government protesters recently accused Prem Tinsulanonda, chairman of the privy council that advises the king, of having been the mastermind behind the coup.
But open criticism of the king is always a sensitive matter in Thailand, which classifies itself as a democracy under a constitutional monarchy.
Last month a Swiss national was sentenced to 10 years in jail for defacing portraits of the king in Chiang Mai province.
The Nation newspaper, deemed one of Thailand's most liberal dailies, on Friday published an editorial titled "Disrespect for monarchy a direct attack on heart of the nation," criticizing YouTube for allowing the offensive video to appear on its site.
"YouTube understands that freedom of expression has its limits. It is quick to remove any pornographic videos submitted by users, but when it comes to a video clip insulting His Majesty, it allows the freedom to run wild without any respect for Thai law or the feelings of the Thai people."
source: http://www.playfuls.com/
Citing the country's lese majeste law, under which it is a crime to mock or belittle the royal family, the Ministry of Information lodged a complaint with YouTube and finally succeeded in removing the offending clip on Thursday.
But no sooner had it been removed than a new one popped up containing even a more offensive image of the king, submitted by a subscriber using the name "thaifreespeech" and claiming to live in Iceland, reported the BangkokPost online.
"In an hour, the number of views of the video rocketed from 122 to 7,856 and going up. Comments in the same hour early this morning Thailand time rose from nine to 160. As before, most commenters attacked the video, often in rude terms," said the Bangkok Post.
It added, "The ban on YouTube by Information and Communication Technology Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom now seems to have touched off a firestorm of web-based retaliation that could see rapid escalation of offensive references to the monarchy on the Internet."
The YouTube controversy comes at a politically sensitive time for Thailand, which is under a military-appointed interim government put in place following a coup d'etat on September 19.
Anti-government protesters recently accused Prem Tinsulanonda, chairman of the privy council that advises the king, of having been the mastermind behind the coup.
But open criticism of the king is always a sensitive matter in Thailand, which classifies itself as a democracy under a constitutional monarchy.
Last month a Swiss national was sentenced to 10 years in jail for defacing portraits of the king in Chiang Mai province.
The Nation newspaper, deemed one of Thailand's most liberal dailies, on Friday published an editorial titled "Disrespect for monarchy a direct attack on heart of the nation," criticizing YouTube for allowing the offensive video to appear on its site.
"YouTube understands that freedom of expression has its limits. It is quick to remove any pornographic videos submitted by users, but when it comes to a video clip insulting His Majesty, it allows the freedom to run wild without any respect for Thai law or the feelings of the Thai people."
source: http://www.playfuls.com/
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