Seriously ?

Post by **jackspratt** » October 4, 2015, 8:56 am

It is not just a question of whether it is technically possible (even for Thailand).

The bigger issue I see is that a supposed democracy (99% according to Prayuth) would even contemplate such a measure - and then disingenuously claim it is to "protect the children".

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 4, 2015, 10:14 pm

It seems some upset Thai internet users got together and shut down a number of government websites in response of the secret plan:-

it says something about the pathetic nature of government websites that 100,000 total visits in a couple of hours, achieved by a few thousand people hitting F5 over and over, can crash the main government information site set up in honour of Gen Prayut’s coup (Thaigov.go.th), the website of the country’s main information technology ministry (mict.go.th) and half a dozen others, including the ministry of defence.

Once the news was leaked events moved fast, 'especially with the control master in New York for a week, days of government spin dizzied the nation.'

However, there is no getting around the real purpose behind the plan:-

As the cabinet minutes make clear, there’s a solitary reason that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wants a single gateway. It is stated precisely and succinctly. It is to monitor and control everything on the internet, domestic and foreign, incoming and outgoing.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, does this mean that the unelected Prime Minister will abandon his one gateway idea:

Nothing could be more wrong. With two years still in office, the eye of Gen Prayut’s government is not attracted to making a secure internet, friendly to citizens and business.

The programme is well in motion to establishing a great firewall with as much control over the Thai internet as Beijing has over China. And then tightening it. In some ways, it is already ahead of China in this campaign. Not even the firewall builders of Beijing have come up with the idea of a single internet gateway.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... house-duty

Protecting the children indeed!

Post by **GT93** » October 5, 2015, 1:13 am

Apologies if this link has come up before as I know the Platinum Mall has been mentioned on another thread:

http://widerimage.reuters.com/story/ris ... -heartland

Post by **waanjai** » October 10, 2015, 9:39 pm

European Parliament resolution urges Thai authorities to address what it says is a deteriorating human rights situation in the country.
- passed on Thursday -

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/get ... anguage=HU

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 11, 2015, 1:01 am

Everything would be fine if the people would just vote the way the unelected Prime Minister and the Bangkok elites want them to cast their ballots. Until then there will always be a 'legitimate' mechanism for those at the top to use the army to topple annoying governments that the people elect.

Post by **waanjai** » October 11, 2015, 1:14 am

Even better: It should become a constitutional right of the Army to topple any government at any time deemed necessary.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 11, 2015, 1:36 am

That is what they are working on for the future in addition to establishing a separate government body consisting of military and Bangkok elites to supervise the elected parliament. This body would supersede the elected one if need be.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 13, 2015, 6:48 pm

This is an excellent comment on the events that took place in Bangkok in 1973 and 1975, and how it relates to the current situation in Thailand. The analyst is Achara Ashayagachat.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... y-business

Post by **jackspratt** » October 13, 2015, 8:05 pm

Agree, Uncle - breathtakingly honest. The Junta is going to have a lot more fractious reporters on its hands until it realises that people are thinking, and acting. Even village idiots can't hold that back.

Who would have thought that a supposedly modern Thailand is barely removed from the sort of repression and dictatorship that existed in the 70s.

But I guess one only needs to reflect that the major player(s) from that time are still in-situ, to get a bit of an understanding. Then throw in the roles of CIA and State Department to gain further illumination.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 14, 2015, 6:54 pm

Yes, I agree. The difference this time is that the regions, farmers, students, and everyone else has had a taste of independence and some political power so that it is more difficult to shut these new players down as the unelected government is discovering despite their attempts to have a monopoly over everything.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 14, 2015, 7:18 pm

jackspratt wrote:Agree, Uncle - breathtakingly honest. The Junta is going to have a lot more fractious reporters on its hands until it realises that people are thinking, and acting. Even village idiots can't hold that back.

Who would have thought that a supposedly modern Thailand is barely removed from the sort of repression and dictatorship that existed in the 70s.

But I guess one only needs to reflect that the major player(s) from that time are still in-situ, to get a bit of an understanding. Then throw in the roles of CIA and State Department to gain further illumination.

The following article in today's Bangkok Post reinforces your position. The writer notes that the current government wants total obedience from the Thai people: 'In the military psyche, any noise cannot be tolerated because it means total obedience is not yet in place. To attain it, the bosses have every right to reprimand, scold, and dehumanise you if they detect signs of disobedience. If the noise continues, it is only fair to smash it into total silence.... If we are unhappy about this, it only shows we have not yet accepted the fact the country has been now reduced to a military camp.'

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... stil-order

Elsewhere the chief drafter of the new constitution is suggesting that the next Prime Minister can be selected by the House of Representatives rather than be elected.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... utsider-pm

Post by **waanjai** » October 16, 2015, 12:03 am

Exchanging pleasantries - nothing else to say.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... k-election
Even the title is almost a disnomer.

Post by **waanjai** » October 16, 2015, 11:06 pm

Yes, there might be progress in certain fields. But the overall picture?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... individual-fight

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 17, 2015, 2:52 am

The only way the political landscape is going is backwards to the time of Sarit and even further in the past.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 19, 2015, 6:38 pm

In Cambodia the Prime Minister is warning that the country is headed for war if the opposition to his government wins at the polls. In Thailand, the elites, with the assistance of the military, just stage coups to take power away from elected governments and their Prime Minister.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asean/7 ... s-cambodia

Post by **jackspratt** » October 19, 2015, 7:24 pm

Hun Sen - just another anti-democratic, petty, SE Asian autocrat.

Post by **Laan Yaa Mo** » October 19, 2015, 7:31 pm

Very true, but without the popularity of a showboat leader a la Sihanouk or Sukarno.

Post by **Udon Map** » November 2, 2015, 9:56 am

Please remember that criticism of the government is strictly forbidden. We are guests in this country; and common courtesy would suggest that we follow the rules. Udon Map will continue to follow the rules set out for us by the government.

Post by **marjamlew** » November 2, 2015, 12:03 pm

Why the immunity?

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/750616

Some seriously pertinent questions asked of the honourable government in the Bkk Post article.

Post by **marjamlew** » November 11, 2015, 6:29 pm

Things don't seem:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... s-mistrust