FACTorial: We call it murder!
25-05-10
On reflecting over recent events in Thailand’s capital, there is one simple aspect we never hear discussed or mentioned.
Taking a human life is murder. There are no justifications, rationalisations or excuses for killing.
There is no “I was only following orders” free card. There is no hiding behind laws or courts or national security, internal security or state of emergency or even war, declared or not, or wars on ‘drugs’ or ‘terrorism’. There are no “enemies”. Killing is murder.
Yet people the world over think they can magically impose a lofty goal…by murdering the opposition. It is painfully obvious to every thinking person that violence only escalates into retaliation.
Every religion, spiritual teaching, moral and ethical construct begins with an admonition to refrain from killing. By ignoring that core teaching, we insult whomever is the creator and prove ourselves unworthy of this human form.
I have known some murderers in my own long life. Some had been convicted, two awaiting the death penalty, a few unconvicted but willingly admitting to the act, and even a few who got away with it, along with numerous returned soldiers and police from many conflict zones. I have, however, only known one true mass murderer, a US military commander sending warplanes on bombing runs into Iraq.
These men (they were all men) were no better and no worse than those who hide behind their military orders, participate in war situations where to kill means not be be killed, sell war weapons for profit or ideology, police shooting suspects, judges passing a death sentence, legal executioners carrying out those sentences.
To call any of these less than murder is to fool ourselves. Those who gave the orders to shoot at Ratchadamnoen and Ratchaprasong are murderers, from the top to the bottom, as are those who themselves fired the guns.
The murdered can never forgive you. You have stolen their voices.
How do these murderers go home every day to a comfortable house, kiss their wives, pour a stiff drink, eat a great meal and read a bedtime story to their children and grandchildren? They obviously aren’t aware of the maggots already devouring their insides along with their kills.
I can’t offer an answer to what is “justice” in these cases, many sanctioned by men’s laws but surely not by any higher laws. But the answer is certainly not vengeance or retribution in kind. That would solve nothing. We’ve done enough damage to our humanity already.
CJ Hinke
Freedom Against Censorship Thailand (FACT)
FACT blocked by MICT, CRES, CAPO
25-05-10
FACT signers tell us True Internet, TOT, CS-Loxinfo and Buddy Broadband-TTnT have been blocking FACTsite since May 9 and redirects users to a CAPO screen. We use CAT Hi-net and have never been blocked. This confirms Thai ISPs are blocking independently and illegally without instructions from govt.
It is pretty ironic for govt to censor a website against censorship!
Honestly, we don’t care much although, of course, it is our duty to harass Thai govt and military unmercifully to keep them honest. We all have a different concept of our duty to the Thai nation. The difference for censors is that they’re getting paid for it.
Although we’re in some fine company on the blocklist, we wonder, WHEN IS MICT GOING TO UNCENSOR US???
If FACT readers have been paying attention, there are dozens of ways to ignore Thai censorship and unblock your Internet. You’ll be in the dark if you haven’t been paying attention.
Has FACT been blocked by your ISP?
P.S. If you really don’t want FACT, go here: http://www.factreport.go.th/ (Bloody pirates!)
We are assembling pretty blockpages. “The Fern” is reportedly our ICT Minister’s desktop screen! Please send us yours. Thanks.
FACT blocked by TOT:
FACT blocked by CS-Loxinfo:
and our personal favourite, from MICT:
Poem for Humankind
by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu
(Late Abbott of Wat Suan Mokh)
We should behave toward our fellow human beings as if they…
Were born, and will grow old, suffer and die, like us
Enduring the wheel of existence, of samsara
Living under the power of attachments, like us
Subject to desire, rage, and delusion, and
Careless in their ways, like us
Having no idea why they were born, as we have no idea
Stupid in some things, as we are sometimes stupid
Indulging their own whims, as we indulge ours
Wanting to be good, perhaps prominent, even famous
Taking advantage of opportunities to take advantage of others, like us.
They have the right to be crazy, to get drunk, to become obsessed
They are ordinary people who cling to this or that, as we do
They are under no obligation to suffer or die in our place
They are our fellow citizens, in secular and spiritual realms
They behave sometimes in haste, carelessly, like us
They have the duty to be responsible for their families, not for ours
The have the right to their own tastes, their own definition of well-being
They have the right to choose (even their religion) to suit themselves
They have the right to a share of public resources equal to our share
The right to be insane, in the world’s opinion, as do we
The right to seek our help, and pity, and compassion
The right to our forgiveness, depending upon the merits of the case
The right to be socialists, or liberals,
To think of themselves before they think of others
They have the right to every right we claim, to live in this world.
Could we all but think this way, conflict and discord would not arise.
(Translated by Susan F. Kepner 2010)
จงทำกับเพื่อนมนุษย์โดยคิดว่า…
(ท่านพุทธทาสภิกขุ)
เขาเป็นเพื่อน เกิด แก่ เจ็บ ตาย ของเรา
เขาเป็นเพื่อนเวียนว่ายอยู่ในวัฏฏสงสารด้วยกันกะเรา
เขาก็ตกอยู่ใต้อำนาจกิเลสเหมือนเรา ย่อมพลั้งเผลอไปบ้าง
เขาก็มี ราคะ โทสะ โมหะ ไม่น้อยไปกว่าเรา
เขาย่อมพลั้งเผลอบางคราวเหมือนเรา
เขาก็ไม่รู้ว่าเกิดมาทำไม เหมือนเรา ไม่รู้จักนิพพานเหมือนเรา
เขาโง่ในบางอย่าง เหมือนที่เราเคยโง่
เขาก็ตามใจตัวเองในบางอย่าง เหมือนที่เราเคยทำ
เขาก็อยากดี เหมือนเรา ที่อยาก ดี-เด่น-ดัง
เขาก็มักจะกอบโกย และเอาเปรียบเมื่อมีโอกาสเหมือนเรา
เขาก็มีสิทธิที่จะ บ้าดี-เมาดี-หลงดี-จมดี เหมือนเรา
เขาเป็นคนธรรมดา ที่ยึดมั่นถือมั่นอะไรต่างๆ เหมือนเรา
เขาไม่มีหน้าที่ ที่จะเป็นทุกข์ หรือตายแทนเรา
เขาเป็นเพื่อนร่วมชาติ ร่วมศาสนากะเรา
เขาก็ทำอะไรด้วยความคิดชั่วแล่น และผลุนผลัน เหมือนเรา
เขามีหน้าที่รับผิดชอบต่อครอบครัวของเขา มิใช่ของเรา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะมีรสนิยม ตามพอใจของเขา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะเลือก (แม้ศาสนา) ตามพอใจของเขา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะใช้สมบัติสาธารณะเท่ากันกับเรา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะเป็นโรคประสาท หรือเป็นบ้า เท่ากับเรา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะขอความช่วยเหลือ เห็นอกเห็นใจจากเรา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะได้รับอภัยจากเรา ตามควรแก่กรณี
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะเป็นสังคมนิยม หรือเสรีนิยม ตามใจเขา
เขามีสิทธิ ที่จะเห็นแก่ตัว ก่อนเห็นแก่ผู้อื่น
เขามีสิทธิ แห่งมนุษยชน เท่ากันกับเรา สำหรับจะอยู่ในโลก
ถ้าเราคิดกันอย่างนี้ จะไม่มีการขัดแย้งใดๆ เกิดขึ้น
จาก แก่นพุทธศาสน์ (พุทธทาส อินทปัญโญ)
ที่มา ธรรมจักร
Turn in a website!
25-05-10
Hey, kids! You could have some real fun with this!
If you see a website that slanders royalty, is too harsh on your favourite government politicians or is simply too raunchy, the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology wants you to click on the 1212 logo and complain today at mict.go.th.
[FACT comments: Govt is obviously employing a keyword spider which blocks automatically and indiscriminately. It would be therefore relatively easy for govt to block links from TLC list emails. However, it would require sophisticated deep packet inspection to block the actual emails themselves.]
Here is a note from a member. Have others noticed a blocking of links from the TLC?
I am based near Sattahip in Thailand, and have been receiving tlc
emails and links, as well as reading thaivisa reports on the recent events in Thailand for the past few weeks.
Tonight , maybe since about 9.00 pm (BKK time), nearly all my web connections seem to be blocked, although a few still work.
So it is not a technical blanket cut-off, but a selected one. I still received a non political email from the USA at 9.34, about 8 mins ago, but none of the links in the tlc emails work, nor any links to thaivisa.com, CNN, BBC, etc.
My weblink to my NZ based email server still loads on my web browser
Three members have reported internet sites being blocked. Here are some comments.
1) Yes! I believe I was online when Thongchai sent in the BBC link that shows the fellow rolling the tire and getting shot. It came up immediately, and I watched it twice through. I went out the door to invite a friend in to watch it, and it seemed blocked (and I’ve never been able to see it again–so I assume it was). Mr. Sathit and team is incredibly efficient, and if nothing else, this might be recognized as a strong point of the Abhisit government.
Then I opened up the email with a list of video clips and stories concerning 13 to 15 May–watched them. Went home that afternoon–could only pull one of them up.
2) I can access all the sites he mentioned from Bangkok, but Prachathai is blocked. If a site is “blocked,” you should get this message:
การเข้าถึงข้อมูลดังกล่าวนี้ ถูกระงับเป็นการชั่วคราว
โดยอาศัยอำนาจตาม
3) No, but those two New Mandala emails with royal-related subject lines were blocked by hotmail and yahoo?
[FACT comments: There are isolated reader reports that New Mandala and The Thai Report are blocked. Apparently, only some ISPs are blocking. We report below only those blocked by FACT’s ISP, CAT Hi-net. Gosh-darn govt terrorists!]
Political Prisoners in Thailand blocked
May 21, 2010
PPT has set up a mirrored site, so far unblocked, at http://politicalprisonersofthailand.wordpress.com/
Prachatai blocked yet again (20 May)
Prachatai: May 20, 2010
http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/1846
On the morning of 20 May, www.prachatai.info was blocked by the CRES. The page was redirected to http://58.97.5.29/www.capothai.org, with the message: Access is temporarily suspended, as ordered by the CRES under the 2005 Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations.
Prachatai blocked at CAT:
More Web video censorship-New TeeVee
25-05-10
Thai Video Censorship Widening As Shots Are Fired
New TeeVee: May 14, 2010
http://newteevee.com/2010/05/14/thai-video-censorship-widening-as-shots-are-fired/
Thailand’s government is continuing its crackdown on video websites, as the conflict with the so-called red shirt opposition groups is getting bloody. Shots were fired in Bangkok today in response to ongoing anti-government protests, leaving at least two protesters dead and dozens wounded, according to a report from the Los Angeles Times.
Opposition groups are also reporting about the situation live, but the Thai government has been stepping up its efforts to censor opposition media online. Groups like the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship have been using live streaming sites to report about the situation on the ground, but those streams are increasingly inaccessible from within the country. We reported last week that Justin.tv had been blocked in Thailand and we are now able to confirm that access to Livestream.com has been blocked as well.
Users trying to access Livestream.com from within Thailand instead get to see a website stating “This website has been blocked by ICT,” with ICT being the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, the company told us this week after receiving feedback from Thai users. There have also been complaints on Twitter about Livestream as well as Ustream.tv being inaccessible from within Thailand.
It’s currently unclear whether Livestream or Ustream are actually hosting any streams dedicated to the protests in Thailand. Justin.tv has been hosting multiple streams critical of the Thai government, and the company was able to obtain email communication between a local ISP and a CDN vendor containing demands to forward all requests of the site to a government website informing users that Justin.tv is temporarily suspended due to an “emergency situation.”
Ethan Zuckerman from the Berkman Center for Internet and Society told me that he’s not surprised by the crackdown: “It’s not unprecedented for a government to target streaming media.” Iran’s shutdown of much of the country’s Internet connectivity after mass protests against the disputed election last year was also prompted by streams of the protests on the BBC and other sites, he said, adding: “The fear was that Iranians in cities other than Tehran would see people taking to the streets and follow them.”
In fact, research from Arbor Networks shows that video traffic to and from Iran almost came to a complete standstill right after the election. What’s new about Thailand’s video censorship is that live video sites are included in the crackdown as well.
A farewell to Siam Theatre-Nation
25-05-10
[FACT comments: Amid all the massacre victims, it’s human nature to hang on to the symbols of a meaningful life. Certainly the special theatres of Siam Square have meaning; Big C Rajdamri, Central World and Siam Paragon do not. However, we hear rumours that Central World security guards were seen making sure the fires took. Now that we hear Siam Theatre’s lease expired next year and was to be replaced by “a modern shopping complex”—just what we need!—it is not so far-fetched to think this was an inside job to insure none of us would seek to preserve the theatre.]
A farewell to Siam Theatre
Parinyaporn Pajee
The Nation: May 21, 2010
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/2010/05/21/life/A-farewell-to-Siam-Theatre-30129892.html
Hundreds of comments and eulogies have been written and posted at Pantip.com and on Facebook since last night’s arson attack on Siam Theatre, as film fans and Bangkok residents share their memories and sadness at the burning of one of Bangkok’s oldest cinemas.
Siam Theatre was one of only a few standalone cinemas in town. It was much more than just a theatre, holding many memories for film lovers since opening its doors 44 years ago.
“The first film screened at Siam Theatre was “Battle of the Bulge” aka “Rot Thung Prajan Ban”. I went to see it 44 years ago and sat in the front row as that’s where the cheapest seats were – a ticket cost just Bt7,” says well known architect Yodyium Theptaranon on Facebook.
“I remember the fun I had watching ‘Jurassic Park’ with my gang,” writes “Don’t care never die.”
“I never knew how much the theatre meant to me until yesterday. I cried. Hope the place will be back soon, I’ll wait for you,” says “Ranmachan.”
“Siam and Lido theatres are the venues where I can watch movies alone and not feel lonely. I trust the staff in their yellow suits who take care of us very well. My tears fell when I watched the news and I thought of the staff and the uncle in yellow. I am sure they feel sad like us,” says “Sao Na sasi” at Chalermthai.
“Even though I’ve only watched movies at Lido and Scala, I think the atmosphere is the same. Siam Theatre is a symbol, a meeting place. It’s a place where there are a lot of memories. I cried when watching the news. Can you get anything by burning these places except more conflict?” writes “kokoro_kim”.
The 800-seat Siam theatre opened on December 15, 1966 with the film “Battle of the Bulge” (“Rot Thung Prajan Ban”) starring Henry Fonda and Robert Shaw. It was the first place in Thailand to boast an escalator.
The nearby Lido Theatre opened two years later on June 27, 1968, premiering with the Western “Guns for San Sebastian” (“Suek Sebastian”) starring Anthony Quinn. The 1,000 seat Scala theatre opened the following year, on December 31, 1969.
Originally to be called Chula, the name was changed to Siam following strong opposition from critics who felt it inappropriate to give a cinema the same name as a monarch.
The three cinemas under the APEX chain have been popular for decades.
While Scala is where Hollywood blockbusters are generally screened, Siam has long been the theatre of choice for Thai films, among them MC Chatreechalerm Yukol’s “Khon Liang Chang” (“The Elephant Keeper”) and the acclaimed film noir by Manop Udomdej, “Kaloke Bang Tai Chai Kaloke Na Tai Korn” (“The Dumb Die Fast, The Smart Die Slow”).
Following a fire at Lido cinema in 1993 and its reconstruction and remodelling as a three theatre multiplex, the Apex chain has adapted to current trends, showing both blockbusters and alternative movies, including festival winners, Asian films and Thai independent films. The advantages include longer screening periods, warm and welcoming staff and cheaper tickets.
Siam Theatre and the surrounding area are up for demolition next year by the landowner Chulalongkorn University. According to the master plan, it will be replaced be a modern shopping complex.
On Monday, May 24, Dr. Suthachai Yimprasert, a historian at the Dept of History, Chulalongkorn University, was arrested. A day earlier, the police searched his house and told him to report himself to the police for interrogation. He did, but was locked up right away.
He has now been sent to an army camp in Saraburi. Under the emergency decree, he has no right to get bailed even though there is no charge yet whatsoever. The CRES authorities said he will be detained for 7 days for interrogation while the authorities are collecting evidence. If no charge, he will be released.
Suthachai’s name appears on the “anti-monarchist” chart produced by the CRES several weeks ago. He filed a legal challenge to the abuse of power by the PM and CRES. But the court ruled that the government and CRES has the authority to make such an allegation.
He is a known supporter of the UDD, but he is not among its leaders. He is widely known earlier as he was the person who stepped up trying to help “Da Torpedo” get release on bail while she was on trial. His efforts failed, and he has been scorned by the royalist media, such as Manager media, since then.
Late last week, there was a movement among some Facebook people calling for Thai universities to deny admission of highschool graduates who are known to be the Reds supporters. Silpakorn Univeristy has already rejected one incoming student on the grounds of her “behavior”. Those Facebook people are now identifying another freshman student admitted Kasetsart University and urge Kasetsart to reject her.
The last time a similar witch-hunt taking place was after the 6 October massacre in 1976. Further, immediate arrests are threatened for any group assembling in violation of the emergency decree.This is a dangerous development.
“บก.เรดนิวส์-ผศ.ดร.สุธาชัย“มอบตัวที่กองปราบ เจ้าตัวอ้างเคลื่อนไหวไม่เกี่ยว นปช. สะพัดข่าวบุกค้นบ้าน อจ.จุฬาฯ
Matichon: วันที่ 24 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2553
http://www.matichon.co.th/news_detail.php?newsid=1274604180&grpid=00&catid=00
Excerpt:
ตร.บุกค้นบ้านอาจารย์จุฬาฯ”ดร.สุธาชัย” รับตัวไปสอบปากคำที่ ศอฉ.แต่สุดท้ายกลับพาไปยังค่ายอดิศร สระบุรี
ตร.บุกค้นบ้านอาจารย์จุฬาฯ ดร.สุธาชัย-รับตัวไปสอบปากคำที่ ศอฉ.วันนี้ หลังพบเป็นหนึ่งในบุคคลที่อยู่ในแผนผังเครือข่ายที่ส่อว่ามีพฤติกรรมเกี่ยว กับสถาบัน กองปราบฯ คว้าน้ำเหลวบุกบ้าน”สมยศ พฤกษาเกษมสุข”บก.เรดนิวส์ แต่ไม่พบ หลังประกาศตั้ง”สมัชชา ปชต.”
ตร.บุกค้นบ้าน อาจารย์จุฬาฯ ดร.สุธาชัย-รับตัวไปสอบปากคำที่ ศอฉ.วันนี้
ผู้สื่อข่าว”มติชน ออนไลน์”รายงานเมื่อวันที่ 24 พฤษภาคมว่า ได้รับแจ้งจากกลุ่มเพื่อน ดร.สุทธาชัย ยิ้มประเสริฐ อาจารย์ประจำภาควิชาประวัติศาสตร์ คณะอักษรศาสตร์ จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัยทางจดหมายอิเลคทรอนิกส์(อีเมล์)ว่า เช้าวันอาทิตย์ที่ 23 พฤษภาคม มีตำรวจพร้อมหมายค้นมาค้นบ้าน ดร.สุทธาชัยแต่ดร.สุธาชัยไม่อยู่ จึงฝากคำสั่งศูนย์อำนวยการแก้ไขสถานการณ์ฉุกเฉิน( ศอฉ.)ไว้กับคุณมารดา ว่า จะส่งรถตำรวจมารับอาจารย์จากที่บ้านไปสอบเพิ่มเช้าวันจันทร์เวลา 9.00 น. ที่ ศอองคาดว่า จะถึงกองบัญชาการกองทัพบกเวลา 10.00 น.
ทั้งนี้ เพื่อนสนิทของ ดร.สุธาชัย แจ้งเพิ่มเติมว่า ได้มีรถตู้คันหนึ่งมารับ ดร.สุธาชัย ออกจากบ้านพักไป แต่แทนที่จะนำตัวไปที่ ศอฉ. ที่กองทัพบก แต่กลับนำตัว ดร.สุธาชัยไปที่ ค่ายอดิศร ต.ปากเพรียว อ.เมือง สระบุรี แทน
ปัจจุบัน ดร.สุธาชัย เป็นผู้ช่วยศาสตราจารย์ ประจำภาควิชาประวัติศาสตร์ คณะอักษรศาสตร์ จุฬาฯ กรรมการมูลนิธิ 14 ตุลา กรรมการรับข้อมูลและสืบพยานเหตุการณ์ ุ 6 ตุลา 2519
ทำวิทยานิพนธ์ ปริญญาโทเรื่องกระบวนการทางการเมืองที่ ต่อต้านรัฐบาลจอมพล ป.พิบูลย์สงคราม ครั้งที่ 2 (2490-2500) และได้รับทุนจุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัยระดับปริญญาเอก สาขาวิชาเอก Portuguese Historyที่ UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL ประเทศ สหราชอาณาจักร (อังกฤษ)วิทยานิพนธ์ The Portuguese Lancados in Asia
สำหรับดร.สุธาชัย เป็นหนึ่งในบุคคลที่อยู่ในแผนผังเครือข่ายที่ส่อว่ามีพฤติกรรมเกี่ยวกับ สถาบันของ ศอฉ.
Silpakorn University rejected the enrollment of “Karn Thoop” due to her anti-monarchist behavior
ASTV Manager Daily, May 24, 2010
“Karn Thoop” a girl and geek at “Fah Deaw Kan”, the vicious poster of messages slandering the monarchy in facebook has been denied enrollment into the Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University. According to the Dean, her personality would not help her to get along with fellow students. It was deplorable, but her anti-monarchist behavior is not bearable.
Ms. Natthakarn Sakoondarachart has been known to post topics in Fah Deaw Kan website and facebook featuring slandering, rude and anti-monarchist contents. Among social networkers, there have been many criticisms against her behaviors. A lot of emails and calls have been made to Thara Prasat Petchwittaya School in Nakhon Ratchasima, where she graduated from, to notify the School of such behaviors.
Lately, Ms. Natthakarn passed the entrance examination for the Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University. Nevertheless, according to Assc Prof Dr. Pinmanee Promsutthirak, Dean of Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University, it is true that Ms. Natthakarn has passed the entrance for the Faculty of Arts. She is supposed to study in the Asian Studies Department focusing on learning Asian languages including Korean, Japanese, etc. It is a special program set up by the University and only 200 students have been recruited. Ms. Natthakarn’s results of examination are fair.
“Academically, she passed the test and also the oral examination. Thus she was recruited. It was indeed a good opportunity for her since this is a special program and only 200 students are recruited. We will have native speakers to teach. But due to tons of information we have received from people, we have decided to repeal her right to study in our Faculty” said the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Silpakorn University.
According to Assc Prof Dr. Pinmanee, there is no written rule that a student of this university has to be loyal to the major national institutes. It is assumed a duty for Thai people to know and hold on to this noble attitude. Considering background of Ms. Natthakarn, it is led to believe her personality shall cause problems. Had she been enrolled, she would not be able to get along with other fellow students.
It was also reported that Ms. Natthakarn is a regular poster of messages showing views against the monarchy in facebook and other websites. In addition, she has declared herself a supporter of the Red Shirts demonstration, and has even spoken on the stage to instigate the demonstrators.
(Translated by Pipob Udomittipong)
