[NCUC-DISCUSS] Coup or No Coup

[William Drake]

Hi Poomjit

I agree with Milton this is terrible news.  Like probably a lot of people who know only what they’ve cleaned from the Western media, I have to admit I’ve often been a bit puzzled what to make of the struggle between the yellow and red (now white?) shirts, what their respective political agendas and ideological orientations are beyond being or anti- or pro-Thaksin.  But the seemingly anti-democratic demands and actions now being seen in the streets does help to bring things into a little more focus.  To further that process, could you tell us anything more about the orientations of the two groups toward Internet issues?

Thanks and stay safe,

Bill

On Jan 10, 2014, at 5:43 PM, Poomjit Sirawongprasert <poomjit at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi MM,
> 
> Thanks for your note. the protesters seized to IDC building was to trying to create problem to the interim government, this is the attempt ion to make Thailand to be the fail state.  Govn't, in fact, has called for the national election on Feb 2nd 2014, many of us are waiting badly to go for election.
> 
> The main reason for protesters to create chaos is to force army to coup again. 
> 
> Status update today, army has trying to prepare to seize the TV stations.
> 
> Sending troops 2 'guard' all free TV stations could b d beginning of a coup. Let us prepare 2 fight against coup.
> 
> 6:20pm Not everyone agrees with the #BangkokShutdown. A large crowd gathering now opposite MBK (Pic @NightPhoomin) pic.twitter.com/TQW21jDrdU
> 
> and
> 
> Over 1,000 lit candles at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, voicing opposition to #Bkkshutdown. pic.twitter.com/HcNkOH9QhC
> 
> I have to admit that I'm really afraid of bloodshed like what Syrian are facing. The anti-government local TVs are calling their supporters to come out on the streets and try to get rid of government and the PM family to leave the country.  They also called the government supporters as red buffalo, same like the radio Rawanda did before the genocide.
> 
> BTW, I've discussed with THNIC and some ISP people, they already prepare the mirror sites oversea (and the alternative routes besides the main IIG route.)  Everyone only hope that the protesters won't cut off the electric otherwise we can do nothing.
> 
> Regards,
>  
> 
>  
> 
> 
> Poomjit Sirawongprasert (Moui)
> ภูมิจิต ศิระวงศ์ประเสริฐ (หมวย)
> twitter: @Moui
> facebook: PoomjitS
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 9:35 PM, Milton L Mueller <mueller at syr.edu> wrote:
> This is terrible news, Moui. I feel helpless reading it and can offer not much more than sympathy and understanding. If there is anything we can do, please let us know.
> 
>  
> 
> I am confused a bit – the protestors who seized the IDC building, are they acting for or against the military/coup?
> 
>  
> 
> --MM
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> From: ncuc-discuss-bounces at lists.ncuc.org [mailto:ncuc-discuss-bounces at lists.ncuc.org] On Behalf Of Poomjit Sirawongprasert
> Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2014 2:00 PM
> To: ncuc-discuss at lists.ncuc.org
> Subject: [NCUC-DISCUSS] Coup or No Coup
> 
>  
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm Moui from Thailand.  I used to be join the ICANN #49 in Singapore and had good chance to know some of NCUC members there.  Besides, I had meet Bill and Avi again during ITU meeting in Dubai two years ago.
> 
> I may contribute pretty less to the NCUC community but I keep eyes close to what all of you guys have been doing and discussing.  The reason for unable to contribute to the international community much just because I still have to help my country ICT many issues.
> 
> Some of you may have or haven't heard of Thailand's Coup in 2006, but let me brief, for us - the Thai internet users, that coup ruined all of the institutes.  In term of ICT, the huge amount of internet censorship had been increasing in the unbelievable figures, no need to mention to arrest a lot of people who posted content against to the coup.
> 
> Time flies, but the thought of tyrant remains.  Two weeks ago, the group of protestors seized one of our largest IDC building, it can be said that it is our national international internet gateway located.  What they did to the building was cut off the whole building electric for 3 hours, but it took another 6 hours to recover the power generator (as they also destroy the reserved generator.  Thus, Thailand lost some of the IIG many hours.  Some of the ISPs have their own alternative IIG to reroute but those were bottleneck.
> 
> The mobs are now still on the streets and announce that they will shutdown Bangkok, their D-Day will be 13th Jan. But lots of rumors are widely spread that our military 'may' coup before the date.
> 
> It sounds non-sense for me to write down the story to all of you. But I'm really worried about the coup by army (if happened but who know if they won't do it).  They will, again, seize all communication channel, TV, radio, and internet.  I can smell the strong internet censorship again (if coup).  If my bad dream comes true, I may have to ask help from you - the technologist - to give us the hands.
> 
> Lastly, lots of tanks are brought into the heart of Bangkok since 2 days ago. No one else knows what will happen.  I don't want to see the second Syria in my own country.  Sad indeed.
> 
> Thanks for listening.  Wish I could join you again in next ICANN meeting in Singapore.
> 
> 
> Poomjit Sirawongprasert (Moui)
> ภูมิจิต ศิระวงศ์ประเสริฐ (หมวย)
> twitter: @Moui
> facebook: PoomjitS
> 
>  
> 
> 
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***********************************************
William J. Drake
International Fellow & Lecturer
  Media Change & Innovation Division, IPMZ
  University of Zurich, Switzerland
Chair, Noncommercial Users Constituency, 
  ICANN, www.ncuc.org
william.drake at uzh.ch (direct), wjdrake at gmail.com (lists),
  www.williamdrake.org
***********************************************

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