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gjbkk

I think this is the offending post - http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/12059.


Edit - the transcript of the interview concerning the denial of access to certain websites in instructions from the MICT


The following is a transcript of the interview concerning the denial of access to certain websites in instructions from the MICT.

000


Broadcast from 17.35 to 19.00 on 14 May 2008 at Think Radio, 96.5 MCOT
Moderated by Patchara Sarapimpa and Wisuth Khomwatcharapong

000

Patchara: The big news today is that the MICT ordered a ban on three websites alleged to feature lèse majesté contents. After a commercial break, we will get to hear from the Minister of ICT, Dr. Man Pattanotai.

.....

Patchara: The MICT just issued an order today.
Wisuth: What kind of an order?
Patchara: An order to ban websites.
Wisuth: Ban?
Patchara: Ban all websites featuring lèse majesté messages and images.
Wisuth: Here we are, which ones are banned this time?
Patchara: Well, we will talk to the MICT and find out. It seems they invoked their authority under the Cyber Crime Act 2007 which became effective just this year.
Wisuth: They did not ban the Hi Thaksin website, right? They just asked them to remove some images. Now, they've ordered a further ban. Which websites are banned this time?
Patchara: Is he on the line?
Wisuth: Not yet.
Patchara: OK, according to news we just received, last week, the MICT called a meeting of internet service providers asking for their cooperation in eliminating from all websites any messages and images constituting lèse majesté. Several ISPs have been very cooperative so far. But later the MICT even threatened to dispatch officers to inspect them, and if they find any websites that feature lèse majesté contents, they will immediately block the websites.
Wisuth: Yes.
Patchara: The MICT announced also that if anyone comes across websites featuring lèse majesté content, they can call this toll free number, 1111, to inform them.
Wisuth: Four digits, 1111, not three digits.
Patchara: Otherwise, people can report to www.mict.go.th. Reportedly, there are three websites banned by the MICT.
Wisuth: ICT Minister.
Patchara: That's right, they are Prachatai.
Wisuth: Prachatai, then what?
Patchara: Fah Diaw Kan.
Wisuth: Fah Diaw Kan, OK. Then.
Patchara: YouTube
Wisuth: YouTube, altogether three websites.
Patchara: We will ask the Minister what they were trying to block on the three websites, and how.
Wisuth: And why, too.
Patchara: Did they just ask for cooperation, or simply invoke their power to ban the websites.
Wisuth: And how long will they block them?
Patchara: Are these websites still blocked? There has been news that MICT wanted to block some websites, but they could not since some websites are registered abroad. The servers they use are located abroad. So they could only ask for their cooperation.
Wisuth: And they blocked some websites briefly, and then let them go. We will talk to the Minister about this.

Commercial and news break

Patchara: Here we are going to talk with the ICT Minister, Dr. Man Pattanotai.
Patchara, Wisuth: Good afternoon sir.
MICT : Good afternoon, Khun Patchara and Khun Wisuth. I have been engaged on different lines and am sorry for being late.
Wisuth: How many websites have been blocked so far?
MICT : Hello.
Patchara: Sir, how many websites have been blocked so far?
MICT : Well, our officers are dealing with them We blocked both messages and images. In fact, we have been doing this for a week. In most cases, it is difficult since the webhosting service providers are located outside the country.
Patchara: That's right.
MICT: They are in California, Texas, New Jersey, we know where they are all located. We have received cooperation only from Google California and YouTube. During the APEC ministerial meeting in Bangkok, I talked with their Minister, and then Mr. David Cross, a diplomat from Washington. They knew the administration of Google and understood Thai culture. They knew well how we felt. After that contact, the content disappeared.
Patchara: Not on Google anymore?
MICT : No, no longer on either Google or YouTube, I mean they are not available in Thailand. But of course, they cannot deny the access to the content worldwide.
Wisuth: That's right, we have no access to them from here, but elsewhere.
Patchara: So if people use ISPs in the country, they can no longer have access to YouTube?
MICT : There are more than 200 internet service providers in Thailand, and we, and CAT know them all. So if they are in Thailand, we can deal with them because we have the law. I have to thank Khun Patchara and Khun Wisuth for reading out the penalty, they deserve it if they are not loyal.
Patchara: What really happened, sir? From the news I read, it was MICT asking for cooperation. But the latest news was that MICT simply issued an order to ban some websites. So in fact, you invoked your power to impose the ban, rather than to seek cooperation, right?
MICT: Yes, I just ordered them closed. Of course, we understand that it is inappropriate to use the term, and it would be more pleasing to say we asked for cooperation. But they know what "asking for cooperation" means.
Patchara: So you just invoked your legal power?
MICT : Yes, we are clearly authorized by the criminal laws.
Patchara: But why did not you say you banned the websites by yourself?
MICT : We have to seek court warrants.
Patchara: That's right.
Wisuth: Now, they are just ordered to close, anything else?
MICT We just cited the criminal laws to ban them.
Patchara: And Fah Diaw Kan and Prachatai are banned because..?
MICT : They have content about the monarchy. Thai people cannot bear this, and no one can. Not just me or my officers. Even the former ICT Minister, Sitthichai Pokaiyaudom, once he was informed about this, he asked me to ban them. And he would encourage folk who have the knowledge to hack the websites. Everyone is helping us. Even operators of internet services who have the knowledge in hacking also help us.
Patchara: So we can no longer access the contents in YouTube?
MICT : Yes
Patchara: We cannot access them from Thailand?
MICT : Yes, but you can from elsewhere.
Patchara: So the websites, like, YouTube , still have the material, but you have to access the contents from abroad.
MICT: I am not sure which proxy servers they are using, probably from India, or Malaysia. We have to keep tracking them down and blocking them.
Patchara: They are websites registered abroad.
MICT : Yes
Patchara: What about Prachatai or Fah Diaw Kan, are they registered abroad?
MICT : (coughing) I'd better not name it.
Patchara: Are they in Thailand?
MICT : It's better for me not to name it.
Wisuth: In Thailand, after blocking the access, will you also pursue legal prosecution?
MICT : The MICT officers can just monitor them.
Patchara: Just monitoring?
MICT : Well, the criminal laws put this clearly. And the DSI (Department of Special Investigation) and the Crime Suppression Division also keep monitoring, and military intelligence as well.
Patchara: How?
MICT : We have our joint taskforce, and we maintain cooperation.
Patchara: And then what, will there be a prosecution or not?
MICT : We know that some of them are afraid and on the run. We have to call them rouge websites, the illegal websites. They do the websites secretly, make them available for some time, and then close them down. Some websites are just accessible after midnight. We know about this from the USA. Because when it is daytime in USA, it is nighttime here.
Patchara: Yes
MICT : We cannot be too complacent.
Patchara: So will the MICT pursue any legal action against them, too? After you blocked the websites, and the websites are closed, but before they are closed they featured this content.
MICT : Well, Khun Patchara, we have a policy on this but I cannot elaborate on it. There is no need to pursue legal action.
Patchara: It is simply a policy now.
MICT : Khun Patchara should know I cannot elaborate on this.
Patchara: You mean you do not want to pursue legal action against them, right?
MICT: Doing so will it become a big scandal. We'd better suppress the news. Someone higher than me is of this opinion.
Patchara: OK, we have to thank the ICT Minister for kindly...
MICT : I just want to inform you that apart from our website, we have the number 1111, and anyone can call in. I want to check as well how frequently our centre has been informed about this matter. And if someone calls in and receives no response, call me up and I will ask the officers.
Patchara: OK, we ask our audience to call in.
MICT : Yes, we all have to help.
Patchara: 1111, free of charge?
MICT : Yes, free of charge.
Patchara, Wisuth: Thank you very much, sir.
MICT : Thank you.

END


Translated by Pipob Udomittipong
Source: คำต่อคำสัมภาษณ์รัฐมนตรีไอซีทีในรายการข่าวเด่นประเด ็นร้อน

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bkkandrew

I wonder who that is...

mediamanbkk

Amazing!