190 Websites Ordered Closed by CRES
The Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has ordered MICT ( Ministry of Information and Communications Technology ) to close 190 websites, most of which are claimed to be politically seditious. Since the beginning of the red shirt protests the MICT has ordered the blocking of about 500 URLs per day on average.
The CRES ordered MICT to close 190 websites largely do to video footage of the protests being broadcast, which they claim would provoke and incite violence. Included in this round of censorship were a handful of Youtube videos as well as several more high profile blogging sites reporting on the protests. Many bloggers and sites are starting to change names from .coms to .net to avoid closure.
The 190 sites affected are supposedly only closed temporarily until the situation in Bangkok cools down. While MICT closes down 400-500 sites a day the vast majority ( 60% ) are political sites reporting on the government and the protests. It was also confirmed Friday that MICT can order these closures directly because they are authorized under the current State of Emergency.
Censorship is never a good thing, especially for those invoking it. Hopefully someone will realize this soon and stop tilting at windmills. The stories and footage are out there and will continue, closing sites will only cause more to rush in and fill the gap.
Thai & Cambodian Troops Clash on Border
Picture Courtesy AFP
A small firefight erupted on the Thai/Cambodian border Saturday. The firefight, which lasted only 15 minutes happened on the NorthWest border with Cambodia during routine border patrols.
The 15 minute fire fight included rifles, grenades and rockets but apparently neither the Thai or Cambodian soldiers have good aim as there were no injuries reported. The Cambodian troops maintain that the Thai troops fired upon them first. The Thai military confirmed the encounter and put out a statement saying ” it was a misunderstanding and no one was injured in the clash“.
Tensions have remained high on the Thai Cambodian border since Preah Vihear temple was granted UNESCO world heritage status in 2008 and both countries claimed the temple was on their land. The border disputes surrounding the temple have been contained to that area but this latest clash took place in a different border area.
Tourism Takes a Big Hit
Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Friday that Thailand’s tourism industry may be decimated by the continued political unrest in the country.
In an interview with Bloomberg television he stated:
The protests may hurt gross domestic product by as much as 2 percent, in bowing to pressure by the anti- government protesters isn’t the way to stability.
Thailand’s tourism makes up 6.7% of the economy and employs 7% of Thailand’s work force. Many analysts agree that Thailand could shed some 200,000 tourism industry jobs this year due to the political unrest. Even though the protests are largely centered in Bangkok many tourists just don’t want to take the chance.
While the tourism affects the airlines, hotels, attractions and resorts they will survive, the damage is much more apparent to the few hundred thousand Thai’s related to the industry driving cabs, operating food carts, trinket sellers, service personnel and cab drivers. They are being hit hard and the recovery will be slow.
On Red Shirts & Death Threats
I’ve been writing a good deal lately about the Red shirt protests going on in Bangkok and while I like to give my opinion on the story, others may disagree and I welcome that. It’s not about being right or wrong it’s about the discussion and opinions from all sides. Apparently some of my more dim witted readers decided to send me death threats instead of joining in the healthy discussion on The Blood on Thaksin’s Hands article.
I had one German gentleman complain that I was a “Fascist” and if ever seen in Thailand I would “take a bullet to the head“. Another thought a shovel to my head would be a bit more productive while yet another wanted to see my entrails flowing out of my body while laying on a Bangkok street. The ” Fascist” man was upset because I deleted his comment which called for the execution of the highest profile couple in the country, he should consider himself lucky that I didn’t turn that comment & email over to Thai authorities.
This is what I have to say to those readers that resort to death threats. You are a bunch of pussies with the mentality less than that of a handicapped teenager. If you ever ran into me in Thailand or any other place on this earth you would be too scared shitless to open your mouth much less threaten my life. I will continue to write my opinions as I see fit and if you disagree with them please comment and tell me so.
Resorting to death threats is a tactic of the weak and powerless bereft of intelligence. So, do us all a favor and keep that shit to yourself because I am not beyond tracking your dumb ass down and giving you a real reason not to like me.
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