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Pirongrong Ramasoota
6. The People ’ s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) originated from the mass movements preceding
the September 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin from the premiership. The PAD, also known as
the yellow shirts, spent much of 2008 protesting against two successive Thaksin-nominated
governments — led by the late Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat (Thaksin ’ s brother-inlaw) — that arose from the December 2007 election. The PAD ’ s 190-day protest in 2008 was
marked by the seizure of the Government House and the Suvarnabhumi International Airport
in Bangkok, which had devastating and lasting effects on the Thai economy. In 2009, leaders of
the PAD entered electoral politics by establishing the New Politics Party.
7. Lawrence Lessig, Codes and Other Laws of Cyberspace (New York: Perseus, 1999), 15 – 30.
8. This coup took place after a 15-year interval. The previous coup was staged in 1992 by the
so-called National Peace-Keeping Council (NPKC), led by then Supreme Commander-in-Chief
General Sunthorn Kongsompong. The NPKC overthrew General Chatichai Choonhavan, a civilian prime minister, who led a coalition government for less than two years.
9. Thaksin Shinawatra, founder of the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, was a famous telecommunications tycoon, having made his fortune from satellite and mobile phone concessions through
Shin Corporation. Thaksin was also a popular political leader who led the longest democratic
and civilian rule — six years — in contemporary Thai history. Thaksin ’ s popularity was largely
attributed to populist policies that featured income redistribution, cheap health care, microcredit
schemes, and many policy innovations in support of globalization and neoliberal economy.
Thaksin is not well liked by a large number of urban or middle-class voters who are repulsed by
his arrogance, authoritarian tendencies, and policy discrepancy while in power. He was also
widely accused of disloyalty to the crown, an accusation that was largely used as a justifi cation
for the September 19, 2006, coup.
10. For instance, Thaksin reportedly launched and managed www.thaksinlive.com on his own
before moving on to social media like Facebook and Twitter with http://twitter.com/Thaksinlive ,
in addition to making periodic video-linked appearances via satellite at the red-shirts ’ rallies. In
late 2009, his family launched an Internet television site called Voice TV, which can be accessed
on the Web at http://www.voicetv.co.th .
11. Up until 2001 when the fi rst community radio station aired, all broadcast frequencies — 524
for radio and six for national television stations — were controlled by state agencies. Major controllers of the airwaves include the Department of Public Relations (PRD), the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (MCOT), and the Ministry of Defense, mainly through the army.
12. The Thai printed press, which has always been an important institution in shaping public
opinion and setting public agenda, came under heavy criticism for condoning the coup. Notably,
three leaders of professional media organizations/associations were appointed by the junta to be
in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), an interim legislature. Also, the printed media were
able to push for the passage of a liberal print notifi cation law to replace the draconian and
authoritarian print law during the NLA term.
13. According to a nationwide survey of Internet users in 2009 by the National Electronics and
Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thailand has 18.3 million Internet users, of which 1.8
million are broadband users.
Pirongrong Ramasoota
6. The People ’ s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) originated from the mass movements preceding
the September 2006 coup that ousted Thaksin from the premiership. The PAD, also known as
the yellow shirts, spent much of 2008 protesting against two successive Thaksin-nominated
governments — led by the late Samak Sundaravej and Somchai Wongsawat (Thaksin ’ s brother-inlaw) — that arose from the December 2007 election. The PAD ’ s 190-day protest in 2008 was
marked by the seizure of the Government House and the Suvarnabhumi International Airport
in Bangkok, which had devastating and lasting effects on the Thai economy. In 2009, leaders of
the PAD entered electoral politics by establishing the New Politics Party.
7. Lawrence Lessig, Codes and Other Laws of Cyberspace (New York: Perseus, 1999), 15 – 30.
8. This coup took place after a 15-year interval. The previous coup was staged in 1992 by the
so-called National Peace-Keeping Council (NPKC), led by then Supreme Commander-in-Chief
General Sunthorn Kongsompong. The NPKC overthrew General Chatichai Choonhavan, a civilian prime minister, who led a coalition government for less than two years.
9. Thaksin Shinawatra, founder of the Thai Rak Thai (TRT) Party, was a famous telecommunications tycoon, having made his fortune from satellite and mobile phone concessions through
Shin Corporation. Thaksin was also a popular political leader who led the longest democratic
and civilian rule — six years — in contemporary Thai history. Thaksin ’ s popularity was largely
attributed to populist policies that featured income redistribution, cheap health care, microcredit
schemes, and many policy innovations in support of globalization and neoliberal economy.
Thaksin is not well liked by a large number of urban or middle-class voters who are repulsed by
his arrogance, authoritarian tendencies, and policy discrepancy while in power. He was also
widely accused of disloyalty to the crown, an accusation that was largely used as a justifi cation
for the September 19, 2006, coup.
10. For instance, Thaksin reportedly launched and managed www.thaksinlive.com on his own
before moving on to social media like Facebook and Twitter with http://twitter.com/Thaksinlive ,
in addition to making periodic video-linked appearances via satellite at the red-shirts ’ rallies. In
late 2009, his family launched an Internet television site called Voice TV, which can be accessed
on the Web at http://www.voicetv.co.th .
11. Up until 2001 when the fi rst community radio station aired, all broadcast frequencies — 524
for radio and six for national television stations — were controlled by state agencies. Major controllers of the airwaves include the Department of Public Relations (PRD), the Mass Communication Organization of Thailand (MCOT), and the Ministry of Defense, mainly through the army.
12. The Thai printed press, which has always been an important institution in shaping public
opinion and setting public agenda, came under heavy criticism for condoning the coup. Notably,
three leaders of professional media organizations/associations were appointed by the junta to be
in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), an interim legislature. Also, the printed media were
able to push for the passage of a liberal print notifi cation law to replace the draconian and
authoritarian print law during the NLA term.
13. According to a nationwide survey of Internet users in 2009 by the National Electronics and
Computer Technology Center (NECTEC), Thailand has 18.3 million Internet users, of which 1.8
million are broadband users.