106
Pirongrong Ramasoota
and Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), among others. At the time of writing
(October 2010), a global campaign to support Chiranuch was well under way, with
leading media advocacy and human rights organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Court of
Justice (ICJ), Open Society Institute (OSI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Amnesty
International involved. These organizations ’ main criticism is directed at Thailand ’ s
censorship policy and its impact on human rights and free speech, especially in cyberspace. Both the new computer crime law and l è se-majest é have been criticized as tools
to suppress dissent and persecute political opponents.
After Chiranuch ’ s second arrest in September 2010, a wider circle of Internet users
promoted her cause through social media. Examples include a campaign using “ free
jiew ” as a tag on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter ( https://twitter.com/search?q
=%23freejiew ); blogs dedicated to the cause ( http://freejiew.blogspot.com ); and a platform set up by Digital Democracy to receive donations in support of her bail ( http://
digitaldemocracy.chipin.com/free-jiew ).
Public Advocacy and Policy Lobbying
Alongside campaigning for support at local and international levels for Chiranuch ’ s
case, civil society organizations have also been active in advocating for public awareness about Internet restrictions in Thailand. In fact, advocacy work through public
education has been the core work of the TNN, of which Chiranuch is a founding
member. For the past two years, TNN has been at the forefront in organizing meetings,
seminars, and public forums on issues related to Internet freedom. For instance, in
August 2010, TNN, together with Media 4 Democracy and SEAPA, organized a highprofi le seminar on the Computer-Related Offenses Act, on its third anniversary. A
former information minister, an online newspaper webmaster, a popular blogger, a
media watch representative, and Chiranuch herself shared comments on the computer
crime law ’ s impact on democratization in Thailand. The common sentiment is that
restrictive law and careless enforcement during political polarization will contribute
negatively to democracy because self-censorship becomes the rule for safety, hence
deterring debate and the climate of opinion that are so fundamental to democracy.
In addition to public education, civil society has also used policy lobbying as
another avenue to redress Internet control issues. In early 2009, several rights groups,
including TNN, CPMR, and FACT, submitted an open letter to current Thai Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva demanding an amendment of the computer crime law to
make it more transparent and less politically motivated. Although Abhisit stressed civil
liberties in his inauguration speech in December 2008, he has ruled out a repeal of
the computer crime law.
Pirongrong Ramasoota
and Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), among others. At the time of writing
(October 2010), a global campaign to support Chiranuch was well under way, with
leading media advocacy and human rights organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), International Court of
Justice (ICJ), Open Society Institute (OSI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Amnesty
International involved. These organizations ’ main criticism is directed at Thailand ’ s
censorship policy and its impact on human rights and free speech, especially in cyberspace. Both the new computer crime law and l è se-majest é have been criticized as tools
to suppress dissent and persecute political opponents.
After Chiranuch ’ s second arrest in September 2010, a wider circle of Internet users
promoted her cause through social media. Examples include a campaign using “ free
jiew ” as a tag on the popular micro-blogging site Twitter ( https://twitter.com/search?q
=%23freejiew ); blogs dedicated to the cause ( http://freejiew.blogspot.com ); and a platform set up by Digital Democracy to receive donations in support of her bail ( http://
digitaldemocracy.chipin.com/free-jiew ).
Public Advocacy and Policy Lobbying
Alongside campaigning for support at local and international levels for Chiranuch ’ s
case, civil society organizations have also been active in advocating for public awareness about Internet restrictions in Thailand. In fact, advocacy work through public
education has been the core work of the TNN, of which Chiranuch is a founding
member. For the past two years, TNN has been at the forefront in organizing meetings,
seminars, and public forums on issues related to Internet freedom. For instance, in
August 2010, TNN, together with Media 4 Democracy and SEAPA, organized a highprofi le seminar on the Computer-Related Offenses Act, on its third anniversary. A
former information minister, an online newspaper webmaster, a popular blogger, a
media watch representative, and Chiranuch herself shared comments on the computer
crime law ’ s impact on democratization in Thailand. The common sentiment is that
restrictive law and careless enforcement during political polarization will contribute
negatively to democracy because self-censorship becomes the rule for safety, hence
deterring debate and the climate of opinion that are so fundamental to democracy.
In addition to public education, civil society has also used policy lobbying as
another avenue to redress Internet control issues. In early 2009, several rights groups,
including TNN, CPMR, and FACT, submitted an open letter to current Thai Prime
Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva demanding an amendment of the computer crime law to
make it more transparent and less politically motivated. Although Abhisit stressed civil
liberties in his inauguration speech in December 2008, he has ruled out a repeal of
the computer crime law.