Regional News
Thailand’s Junta Ramps Up Cyber Laws and Surveillance
New package of bills, designed to modernize IT, also enable wider surveillance
BANGKOK – Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order is ramping up new cybre laws in Thailand, which already has one of the most draconian computer crimes acts in the world. The National Council for Peace and Order is putting together a legislative package of eight measures that would restrict even more the use of the Internet on the part of Thai citizens, enable wider surveillance, and raise the penalties against offenders.
According to the Asia Sentinel the new laws are ostensibly designed to integrate the Internet into governance and state business, modernizing the country’s information technology systems to make it more competitive on a global scale, the laws also carry sections that deepen the government’s cyber surveillance and potential to monitor dissidents.
That occurs against a backdrop of concern that the government headed by the National Council for Peace and Order – the junta – may have gone too far in seeking to make sure that the rural Red shirts and backers of the Shinawatra dynasty never hold power again. Hunter Marston, writing in the East Asia Forum, said that Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former Army chief and leader of the coup, “may be ushering in his own downfall, or worse, triggering violent unrest in the streets and potentially massive bloodletting.”
Civil rights organizations have complained that the current law, the Computer Crimes Act of 2007, is vague enough to be used against freedom of speech activists and opponents of the government virtually at official whim. Penalties can range as high as 15 years. From 2007 to 2010 the law was used to put more than 110,000 websites out of business.
By 2014, that number had risen by another 22,500. The vast majority – 77 percent – were blocked ostensibly because they were deemed to have contained content that “defames, insults, threatens or is unflattering” to the royal family or affects national security. Another 22 percent contained pornographic content and 2 percent pertained to information about abortion or gambling.
The May 22, 2014 military coup that brought the junta (National Council for Peace and Order) headed by Prayuth to power has resulted in a tame legislature made up of a majority of military officers with a few businessmen.
That legislature is now writing a new constitution that is designed to ensure that no Thaksin allies or the millions of his supporters in the northern and eastern parts of the country ever get close to power again. However, even the Bangkok elites and royalists who generated months of political unrest in an effort to drive the Pheu Thai government headed by Yingluck Shinawatra from power have largely been excluded from the political process as the military has tightened the screws.
The package of bills put together on information technology include the capstone Computer-Related Crime Bill, a second governing cybersecurity, a third governing e-commerce and a fourth on personal data protection. The cybersecurity act, for instance, is designed to “protect, tackle, prevent and reduce risks arising from circumstances of cyber threats which affect both internal and external national security covering economic stability, domestic peace and order, and which may affect military security or significantly affects the country’s overall cyber security, in a uniform manner.”
While the package of bills does provide necessary protections of data and guards against a variety of cyber crimes, it is the computer crimes bill that worries civil libertarians. The bill’s provisions – translated and made public by the Thailand Netizens Network – include 14 sections with wording so vague as to make it seemingly possible to arrest almost anyone for anything. It is necessary, according to the wording of the act, because computer crime is becoming increasingly complex, carrying the threat of cybercrime and because the Internet is “one of the channels in terms of the dissemination of illegal computer data that may cause more severe social problems.”
Accordingly the law is being amended to “lessen the problems and limitations of authorities’ powers resulting in the integration of preventing and suppressing of computer-related crime.” In other words, it makes it even easier for authorities to crack down on alleged offenders.
The new law clarifies that service providers are subject to prosecution as well as well as those posting the offensive material. If a webmaster doesn’t remove content deemed offensive, he or she can be charged despite not having written the content. That clears up an ambiguity that came up when Chiranuch Premchaiporn, the operator of the respected Prachatai website, was arrested and accused of not deleting comments deemed offensive quickly enough. After three years of court action, Chiranuch was eventually sentenced to eight months in jail and a fine of Bt20,000. The jail term was suspended for a year.
One section prescribes a three-year sentence and a fine of Bt60,000 for delivering false computer data “in a manner that is likely to damage the country’s security or cause a public panic.” Another prescribes a five-year sentence and/or a fine of Bt100,000 for importing data “related with an offense against the kingdom’s security under the criminal code.”
Service providers must store computer traffic data for at least 90 days from the date on which the data is input into a computer system although if officials wish, providers may be forced to store traffic up to two years “to be able to identify the service user from the beginning of the service provisions, and such information must be kept for a further period not exceeding 90 days after the service agreement has been terminated” or face a fine up to Bt500,000. That ostensibly is designed to nail anybody who posts a comment online, then loses nerve and deletes it, thus allowing authorities to troll through old comments to look for offenders.
It creates a National Cyber Security Committee to “control, monitor and assess operational performance of the competent official under this Act” and provides support for the Ministry of Finance to pay for support for any operations of the relevant competent official in the performance of duties acquired under this Act.”
Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.
Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.
“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”
Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.
Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.
It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.
Migrant Workers to be Deported
According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.
Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.
Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.
He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.
All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.
According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.
Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.
“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.
Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers
The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.
Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.
Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.
According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.
However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.
“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”
Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers
Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers
Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.
According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.
According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.
According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.
The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.
Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.
The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.
According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.
The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.
Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.
Electrical accidents in Thailand
Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.
Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.
Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.
The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.
Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.
Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand
Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand
Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.
Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.
He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.
He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.
Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.
Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.
Police Chief Reinstated
In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.
Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.
The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.
The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.
Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.
Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.
On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.
Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.
Source: Bangkok Post
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