Censorship and risks for bloggers in Thailand
My love for Thailand I do not hide or hide. On the other hand, there is of course also a lot wrong in this beautiful country (where isn't it?). Expats and retirees can talk about that. They are confronted with it every day.
The differences between the west and Thailand are sometimes large and incomprehensible to us. It's not always easy to deal with that. You can look the other way, you can complain or you can accept it because you are a guest in Thailand. Everyone has to make that choice for themselves.
The fact that the rules in Thailand can often cause surprises was proven once again this week. An American blogger was arrested for lèse majeste because he had placed a link on his website in 2007 to an article on another website (PDF). It was a banned article about the Thai king. Although he lives in America, he was arrested and detained when visiting Thailand.
Even a relatively innocent reference on your website can cost you dearly as a blogger, as this case shows.
Well-known blogger Richard Barrow wrote the following on this subject:
“Bloggers in Thailand, be careful what you write and what links you put on your website. For several years I have been extremely careful about what I write and discuss about Thailand. The name of the country can be translated as 'the land of the free', but that is only true to a certain extent. Thailand currently has a bad reputation when it comes to freedom of the press.
I have a number of blogs and forums of my own. Everything should be carefully moderated and anything posted that could be seen as harmful to Thailand should be removed. This also applies to comments from readers. If we don't remove everything quickly, we risk getting arrested and imprisoned. No matter who wrote it, as moderators and administrators, we are ultimately responsible.
Especially everything about the royal family is very sensitive. I think newbies who are going to blog about Thailand should know to avoid this topic. Personally, I don't discuss anything related to the royal family on my blogs, it's too risky. When it comes to alleged lèse-majeste, anyone can file a complaint with the police, who must follow up. The Nation recently reported that between 2006-2009, the number of reports about this increased by 1.500% over the previous period.
That is why I especially want to warn everyone, including foreign bloggers and forum moderators who live in Thailand or abroad, you can be dealt with harshly. I can't stress it enough. If you are a blogger or forum admin and you live in Thailand or come to Thailand regularly for a holiday, be extremely careful what you write! This even applies to all comments from visitors to your blogs and forums. You could end up in a Thai prison if you don't practice the necessary self-censorship. A warned person counts for two." says Richard Barrow.
Not only lèse majeste can lead to imprisonment, but any negative story about Thailand can. There seems to be a law that if you write something that is inflammatory or could be negative for the Thai economy, you can be punished for it.
Partly in view of the above, you will have to understand that we cannot post every message or response that is submitted. To protect the bloggers and the initiator of this website, we will occasionally have to apply censorship. That doesn't mean we shouldn't be critical, though. Only within acceptable limits. Visitors who do not agree with this should start a blog themselves, at least then we are no longer responsible for it.
Thanks to Gringo for translating Richard Barrow's article.
@ no, because you make that choice solely to protect yourself and others. That is not voluntary but forced, given the consequences. There are also rules in the Netherlands that I do not agree with. When I conform to those rules, it does not automatically mean that I agree with or support the creators of those rules.
In addition. Apart from any personal consequences, what if the Thai government blocks this website in Thailand? That is more annoying for the readers than the self-censorship we practice. Choosing eggs for your money seems to be the best motto here.
@John, yes that is quite tricky. Putting your words on a scale, that's something we don't know in NL. Incidentally, we sometimes go too far in that. A little more respect for each other wouldn't go amiss either.
“True Freedom listens to the Laws”, Frederik Van Eeden once wrote, but in the years 1940-45 we also had laws in the Netherlands, which did not exactly offer Freedom at that time.
Another thing that bothers me is that a movie has to be shown in the cinema before the start of the film.
Thai implored me to get up anyway, because if someone reports it, the turnips may be done.
peter is absolutely right if he doesn't pay close attention, this blog will no longer exist in six months. i see many reactions and postings that are just on the edge or sometimes already a bit over it. dutch people in particular have a tendency to disrespectfully criticize morals and customs in other countries.certainly if they have had a few beers.that can be fatal here.this criticism is definitely not accepted here and people intervene harshly.in response to that article about bargirls who understand the grammar of the english language not controlling and being pulled into the ridiculous said a retired klm employee I showed it to read: I am constantly ashamed to be a Dutchman. Rightly so that criticism of bargirls was just over the edge and so very Dutch. BAH.if you read it it makes you uncomfortable.
@ Andrew, I often talk about Tenglish with my Thai friend and she always laughs out loud herself. Especially when she says 'no have' again. I don't think you should take it that seriously. Thai can also talk about farang quite disrespectfully sometimes. Think of a recent statement by a high-ranking Thai that has caused some commotion.
I do agree with you that we should have a little more respect for each other. Also applies to the respect towards the bargirls. I recently did not post a comment from someone that clearly showed that he only saw the ladies as objects and not as people. That says a lot about the person himself.
I've already mentioned this in another thread, but no response.
As far as my knowledge goes, the word farang is a not so positive word, meaning a white nose.
A Burmese or Vietnamese etc. is certainly not referred to as farang.
Insulting the Royal Family is not allowed. If you insult a police officer in the Netherlands, you will also be fined 250 euros. Freedom of expression is indeed present in Thailand, after all they have a democracy.
@ it is not only about insulting but also about criticizing and that is an essential difference.
There are plenty of democracies in the world where freedom of speech does not apply. The connection you make is not self-evident and is therefore not correct.
The risk of the above posting is that a discussion arises that goes towards the danger zone. That's why I'm going to close the comment option now. The message and the responses are clear.
Thanks everyone.