Thailand blocks YouTube over mocking video
By Amy Kazmin in Bangkok and Shawn Donnan in Hong Kong
Thailand’s military-installed government has blocked the popular website YouTube over a provocative video that mocks revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, amid rising political tensions over the role of the monarchy in September’s military coup.
The government’s move to block the site late Tuesday night comes amid a rapid rise in the number of blocked websites in Thailand, as the military struggles to prevent Thaksin Shinawatra, the marketing and technology-savvy exiled former prime minister, from using the internet to reach out to his supporters, and remain in the public eye.
The move also comes at a time of mounting public controversy over the alleged role of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, chairman of King Bhumibol’s Privy Council, in fomenting the coup that ousted Mr Thaksin.
In recent weeks, anti-coup political groups have circulated an unprecedented petition, calling on the king to remove Gen Prem, who is widely believed to have encouraged the military to move against Mr Thaksin – a belief that repeated denials by Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkalin, the army chief, have done little to dispel.
Thailand’s strict lese-majeste laws – which make it a serious crime to say anything deemed offensive to the prestige of the royal family – normally deters any open or critical discussion about the role, and actions, of the monarchy in Thai political life.
But analysts say the common perception of Gen Prem’s deep involvement in the coup – and the suspicion that it also had the King’s blessing - has emboldened some angry Thais to challenge the long-held taboo, which is normally enforced with the threat of lengthy prison sentences.
The YouTube video that almost certainly prompted authorities to block the site features a slide show of pictures of the king defaced with crudely drawn electronic graffiti, with the images set to tinny martial music.
It is rare on the site in that most of the videos posted about the king feature reverent images or benign footage of ceremonies marking either his 60th anniversary in power or his recent 79th birthday.
The video, which has been viewed more than 6,000 times since it was posted on March 29 by a user called “Paddidda,” a seemingly Thai-sounding, but actually nonsensical name, has also drawn a vitriolic response from some angry Thai users, who have demanded it be pulled off the site.
“We love our King and I know that you'll never understand something like this because you don't have King in your country and you have never met the one who could give anything for his people,” one user said in a comment posted Wednesday. “So just shut the f*** up, if you don't know the damn thing.”
But it has also prompted a debate about free speech. “Please Thais on this board, stop acting like fundamentalist shouting ‘Allah Akbar!’” one user wrote Wednesday. “We are not that, use your brain. Ranting will only hurt Thai people on the whole! I know it's not appropriate and all but would you please calm down?”
The same user said the image was likely posted by “a Thai who's been a bit drunk on free speech and what not.”
Another user said: “The king is like our father, but that much is said by so many people. I never think he is an untouchable god, but he is loved and respected. If anyone does this to pictures of your parents, you certainly won't be happy about it, right?”
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
