Websites under police scrutiny

Websites under police scrutiny

Content deemed to be critical of monarchy

POST REPORTERS

At least 20 websites are being investigated for content deemed to be critical of or offensive to the monarchy.

A police source at the High-Tech Crime Centre said a list of "inappropriate" websites, compiled about a month ago, has been handed over to the Special Branch Police.

The SBP is working with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) in tracking down operators or owners of those websites, the source said.

SBP commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Rapipat Palawong confirmed yesterday that investigations into certain websites have been completed and referred to a special committee set up by the national police chief for further inquiry.

Once the committee endorses the SBP's findings, the cases will be sent to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) for further action, he said.

The SBP chief said several cases are being processed by the CSD including one concerning the "hi-thaksin website", which was supportive of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The operator of http://www.hi-thaksin.net recently voluntarily shut down the site.

Pol Lt-Gen Rapipat was responding to a demand yesterday by the Democrat party that the government investigate and shut down 29 websites which allegedly published comments deemed unpleasant to the monarchy.

The party's assistant secretary-general, Thepthai Senpong, said an investigation found at least 29 websites with content insulting to the institution.

He said the Information and Communication Technology Ministry should set up a committee to monitor the movement of these websites and close down those which offend the institution.

Mr Thepthai did not name the controversial websites.

However Democrat executive member Sirichoke Sopha named a website he said supported PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair, who has been questioned for his allegedly negative attitude towards the monarchy.

Mr Jakrapob came under fire for a speech he delivered in August last year at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. Some of the content was alleged to be disturbing to the monarchy.

Mr Sirichoke said the website, which called itself Samnak Khid Thai Mai (Neo Thai Thought School), was opposed to the constitutional monarchy and tried to expand its network by soliciting public donations.

Mr Sirichoke called on the government, especially Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, to take action to protect the constitutional monarchy.

"Whether politics proceeds with or without bloodshed depends on the prime minister and his sincerity in upholding the constitutional monarchy," he said.

Pol Col Yanpol Yangyuen, chief of the DSI's Information Technology Office, yesterday took to task individuals who made details of inappropriate websites public. He said they were causing divisiveness in society.

"Political party leaders should tell their members to be more careful, about what is appropriate and what is not. Don't bring down the institution to justify their cause," he said.

He warned politicians and academics not to discuss the institution, as it could become a game to generate publicity for certain individuals.

"Political parties, educational institutes and academics alike should stop giving false information and should not pick up the issue.

"Like terrorist activities, the more we discuss it the more we give them publicity," he said.

He said the DSI, the Information and Communication Technology Ministry and private webmasters were monitoring those websites deemed to be a threat to national security.

The military also urged the media to refrain from publicising remarks which could offend the monarchy or involve the revered institution in politics.

Navy chief Adm Sathiraphan Keyanont said the military was gravely concerned about the current references to the monarchy and felt the media could help by not giving it space in the news.

'Supreme Commander Gen Boonsrang Niempradit said political groups should avoid implicating the monarchy altogether. "His Majesty has devoted himself to the people and the nation and it is inappropriate that some people or groups invoke him for their own benefit," he said.


Source : Bangkokpost,Tuesday May 20, 2008