Information ministry asked to explain why website was closed without going to court

Reporters Without Borders condemns the sudden closure of the political news magazine Fah Diew Kan's website (http://www.sameskybooks.org), which has been accused by the information ministry of lese majeste. “This closure is an example of the most direct form censorship,” the press freedom organisation said. “This was a case for the courts to resolve. What have the authorities got against this website? Provocative comments were posted on it but that was no reason to close it down. We call on the information ministry to explain to us why this was done and we point out that article 39 of the Thai constitution guarantees freedom of expression.” Fah Diew Kan's website allowed visitors to comment on articles published in the magazine, which were often critical of the monarchy. Editor Thanapol Eawsakul said it was “one of the only websites to post this kind of comment.” The site's ISP, Otaro Co, wrote to Thanapol on 4 January saying it would have to be closed the next day because hosting such a site was dangerous for both the company and the other websites it hosted. Fah Diew Kan was prosecuted under the 1944 Press Act for “public disorder” and violating “moral standards” in 2006 and since then it has often been ordered to withdraw comments posted on the site. Thanapol had appealed and court proceedings are still pending. This website's closure is considered is Thailand as an illegal act of “cyber-terrorism” for the fact that a publication's editor can be held responsible for comments posted on its website. Online free expression in Thailand was considerably curtailed by a cyber-crime law that took effect on 18 July 2007. ISPs are required to keep user's personal data for 90 days, during which time it can be examined by the authorities without any control by the courts. A blogger known by the pseudonym of Praya Pichai faced a possible 10-year prison sentence under the law last September and is to remain under surveillance for the next 10 years.