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Internet Update: YouTube Banned in Thailand
Nirav Sanghani (Blog) - April 5, 2007 7:28 PM
Print 68 comment(s) - last by PrezWeezy.. on Apr 12 at 7:58 PM
Video website restricted after housing offensive film defacing Thai king

The Thai government has placed a ban on the video-uploading website, YouTube after a request to remove a video was denied. The video depicted a hooligan defacing a picture of 79 year old Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The 44-second video contained scenes of a man spray painting the picture of the king, followed by the perpetrator walking on the picture with his bare feet, according to BBC News.  The latter act is considered offensive because the Thais believe that feet are dirty.

Minister of Communications, Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom, commented, "It's a serious case of lese majeste. We asked Google to remove it some days ago, but they refused to."

YouTube's head of global communications, Julie Supan, responded, "We are disappointed that YouTube has been blocked, and we are currently looking into the matter. The internet is an international phenomenon and while technology can bring great opportunity and access to information globally, it can also present new and unique cultural challenges."

The profile of the video uploader has been tracked to the U.S. and the Thai government has said they will lift the ban once the video is taken off of the website.

Update 04/05/2007: Shortly after this story broke, YouTube's site claims the post was "removed by user."

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Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Dactyl on 4/5/2007 11:40:54 PM , Rating: 5
The King of Thailand is a dictator. He encouraged and approved a coup by his top general to remove PM Thaksin Sinawatra, the country's democratically-elected leader.

They did this so they could surrender to the Muslim terrorists in the south of the country. Muslim terrorists in Thailand kill several Buddhists every week. They behead schoolteachers, monks, etc. They're barbarians.

The killing hasn't stopped, if anything it's gotten worse. The King of Thailand is a fool. He got rid of democracy in his own country in order to help the very terrorists who are destroying his country.

The King won't allow new elections until late this year. The King and his coup plotters fabricated corruption charges against Sinawatra so they have an excuse to arrest him if he ever comes back (to prevent him from running for office).

Now Google has surrendered to this dictator. They're taking down videos and banning users for insulting a dictator. What's next? Will I be pulled off if I make fun of Mugabe or Hugo Chavez? How about any of the Arab leaders? What if I insult Islam? (that's already happened--BAN!)

What if I insult Christianity? What if I poke fun at George Bush or Tony Blair? What if I accuse George Bush of masterminding 9/11? We all know what happens then--Google lets it go. Making fun of democratic leaders is allowed, making fun of dictators is forbidden. Welcome to GoogleWorld, where the U.N. decides what speech should be free and what dangerous ideas we need to be protected from.




RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By rmaharaj on 4/5/2007 11:46:54 PM , Rating: 3
I agree with your comment, but please note that Google has refused to take down the video.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Dactyl on 4/5/2007 11:57:31 PM , Rating: 6
No, there is more recent news. The clip is down and the user is banned. Google has made it look like the user took it down himself:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/04/05/thaila...

But that is a lie. Google makes it look like users took down their own videos even when Google takes them down:
http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006919.htm

Here is the URL of the user's account:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=paddidda

This account is closed. Why? Because YouTube pulled it. Google is run by cowards and liars.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Spartan Niner on 4/6/2007 2:02:40 AM , Rating: 3
Whatever happened to Google's "Do no evil"? Bunch of horse-pucky if you ask me. Google is indeed run by cowards and liars if they have to lie about banning the user to cover their collective arses.

Let's face it. The king of Thailand is nothing more than a dictatorial, manipulative old fool who is trying to appease a bunch of extremist Muslims in the south. Removing a democratically-elected leader on fabricated charges is absolutely unacceptable.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By therealnickdanger on 4/6/2007 8:22:46 AM , Rating: 3
They only let you see part of the slogan:

"Do no evil as long as it is profitable ."

I like Google, but it saddens me whenever any U.S. business has to compromise itself in order to succeed in foreign markets. I understand why and I can even see some longer-term, non-fiscal benefits in doing so, but once and a while, it would just be nice to see a company make the news for not backing down in the face of a foreign power.


By Christopher1 on 4/6/2007 9:12:29 AM , Rating: 3
Really, how much business would they be LOSING in Thailand? Not much, I'd wager!

The United States government should put restrictions on any company who does business in this country that they will abide by the free speech right of THIS country, or will not be allowed to do business in the United States.

That would make them a lot more willing to abide by OUR relatively powerful free speech rules, rather than the ones of dictatorial countries.


By crystal clear on 4/6/2007 2:24:00 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry -Google is BUSY with something more important-

Anybody at Google (Manhattan Office) know "WHERE IS KAISER"
the 9 meter PYTHON ?

Did somebody find him ?

"Non-venomous & Not dangerous


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By jtesoro on 4/5/2007 11:52:13 PM , Rating: 2
"Goggle surrendered to this dictator." Did you read the article?

quote:
The ban was placed after a video depicting a hooligan defacing a picture of 79 year old Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was refused to be taken down .


At the start I was already thinking how accurate your post was. When I got to the "Google has surrendered" part, you lost me completely.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Dactyl on 4/6/2007 12:54:32 AM , Rating: 2
Sorry, I had more up-to-date information and stupidly did not include it in my original post.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By AssMonkey76 on 4/6/2007 12:50:02 AM , Rating: 2
Well in that case:

THE KING OF THIALAND IS A SPINELESS, DICKLESS, PIECE OF CRAP WHO MUST RESIGN THE THRONE!

Ok, now please ban my account and send the hit men after me.

LOL! Stupid dictators....I am glad to be in a Democratic society!


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Zirconium on 4/6/2007 1:21:52 AM , Rating: 4
There is an old joke from the Soviet Union. The government always claimed that there was freedom and that people weren't repressed. So one day, the US ambassador was speaking with a Soviet diplomat, and comparing freedoms. They banter for a while, the US envoy loudly proclaiming that speech in Russia was censored, while in America you can say what you want. To illustrate his point, he says, "I can go in front of the White House and say that the President of the United States is a moron."

The Soviet counterpart replies, "I can do the same."


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By DrMrLordX on 4/6/2007 5:02:10 AM , Rating: 3
IN SOVIET RUSSIA, old joke tells YOU!

I love this country.


Moderated
By speed99 on 4/6/07, Rating: -1
By gradoman on 4/6/2007 3:51:31 PM , Rating: 2
Haven't heard that "In Russia..." joke in some time now...

Thanks for reminding me as to how it goes! Too bad for Thailand though..

No Youtube = no fun!

Actually, Yahoo video actually has links to free p0rn videos! Isn't that better than the censored NewbTewb?

Laterz!


By crystal clear on 4/10/2007 2:24:30 AM , Rating: 2
SO SICK IS YOUR JOKE & SO IDIOTIC IS YOUR COMMENT !


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By xsilver on 4/6/2007 9:37:38 AM , Rating: 5
going out on a limb here but may I open your eyes to a little politics?

dictatorships are not inherently bad -
democracy is not a safe haven of love and happiness.

neither is communism or socialism; its quite ignorant to paint these 3 as OMG, what stupid forms of government - thank god we live in USA / democracy...

in theory, communism etc. can actually work; of course in reality it never has but it doesnt mean the principle is flawed; its just the execution and the small matter of human nature to get greedy.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By dever on 4/7/2007 10:55:17 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
in theory, communism etc. can actually work
That just means you're using a flawed theory that doesn't take into account all of the variables. As you mentioned, it doesn't take into account the biggest variable -- humanity. Why give any credit to a form of governing people that fails to factor in people?


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By rsmech on 4/8/2007 11:55:05 PM , Rating: 1
"going out on a limb here but may I open your eyes to a little politics?"

thank god we live in USA / democracy...
USA / REPUBLIC

dictatorships are not inherently bad -
Correct, they worked for awhile to preoccupy Iran & Iraq with each other.

democracy is not a safe haven of love and happiness.
No it's not, it sounds more like the theories of communism. But in the United States it's the pursuit of happiness, not the actual happiness that is secured by the Constitution.

in theory, communism etc. can actually work; of course in reality it never has but it doesnt mean the principle is flawed; its just the execution and the small matter of human nature to get greedy.
Sounds like my logic when I was younger. 2 sayings come to mind.
1. if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
2. everyone thinks they are the exception to the rules. In which case you think Karl Marx was an idiot, that he didn't have this great insight of yours as to say it's human nature.

Socialism sounds beautiful. The funny thing about it is those that think it could actually work are the ones who hate capitalism or representative governments. What they fail to see is the same thing that will doom communism EVERY
time. The representative governments & capitalism they hate so much are blamed on those in charge. But communism is different. Those leaders could not be corrupted, they love us more than their power over us. Their political leaders are as human as ours. (United States) Their political leaders reap corruption as much as ours. I just thank God I we can vote ours out.

Sorry for the rant, but there is a huge difference between a representative government & a communist, socialist, dictatorship, or totalitarian, form of government.


By MobileZone on 4/7/2007 10:31:48 AM , Rating: 2
Just curiosity, where are you living?


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By andylawcc on 4/6/07, Rating: 0
RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By FITCamaro on 4/6/2007 7:40:20 AM , Rating: 1
Next time you want to speak, don't. Last I checked Bush didn't claim power, he was elected. And next year we'll be electing another person to run the country. But by your post you'll bitch about them too if they don't agree with you.

And while you may not want the war in Iraq, there are plenty of us who don't blindly follow the liberal media and support the war as both the right thing to do and one that can't end until the job is finished. Otherwise we'll just be going back there again in another 10 years. We could have killed Hussein in 91 if it weren't for the American people doing exactly what they're doing now and calling for a withdrawal.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Spivonious on 4/6/2007 9:11:05 AM , Rating: 1
No, we didn't kill Hussein in 91 because Bush Sr is a heck of a lot smarter than Bush Jr. Iraq was held together by Saddam, which kept the rest of the MIddle East in check.

If you want to blame anyone, blame the Britons for creating Iraq in the first place. The three religious sects there don't get along, and a dictator was all that was keeping them from fighting each other.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Christopher1 on 4/6/07, Rating: 0
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 4/6/2007 3:38:54 PM , Rating: 1
Actually, Congress would not give Bush Senior approval to invade iraq back in '91. Congress empowered him to send troops to Kuwait and kick Saddam's forces out because Kuwait asked for assistance from the US (Kuwait and US are Allies). Realistically if congress hadn't been such a bunch of liberal sissies and bent under public pressure we would have invaded and captured or killed Saddam back in '91.

Thank you congress for letting the problem fester another 15 years.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By FITCamaro on 4/6/2007 12:01:49 PM , Rating: 1
So killing thousands of people who don't belong to his minority religious sect or speak out against his rule is considered holding Iraq together? I must have missed that part in the history books.

No. The man was evil and needed to die. Too bad the U.S. doesn't believe in assassination anymore.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By gradoman on 4/6/2007 3:58:10 PM , Rating: 2
I guess you don't see the chaos that has ensued since our entry and removal of said dictator. Maybe things will get better, maybe they won't. He sure was evil, but there are plenty of OTHER evil people that want to get in there and do their own thing. And the big fish, that directly attacked us, is still out there putting out messages and probably plotting more attacks.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By dever on 4/7/2007 10:59:04 AM , Rating: 1
"The Big Fish" is still out there, but his recent work has been severely hampered. I'm sure a few who work in tall towers appreciate that.


By andylawcc on 4/6/2007 11:59:54 AM , Rating: 1
to each of their own: I am as blind as following my liberal media as anyone to his/her conversative, Republican ones.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By PrezWeezy on 4/6/2007 12:40:34 PM , Rating: 1
We should have learned this lesson from Vietnam. You can't change the minds of the people by taking out their leader and saying he was a bad guy (I'm not aruging that he wasn't, he was no question there). The US sticks it's head where it doesn't belong too often for my taste. And I am a liberal. Be careful talking about the "liberal" media cause Bush isn't being a very good conservative right now. I'm not saying you don't have a right to have your own opinion, but we are just repeating the mistakes that the last generation made. Don't talk down to someone because they have a different opinion, it shows ignorance.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By dever on 4/7/2007 11:01:55 AM , Rating: 1
It may or may not have been optimal to overthrow Saddam, but only history will tell. What's obvious is that now it's done, we have a responsibility to stay and help them rebuild.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By rsmech on 4/9/2007 12:14:12 AM , Rating: 2
We should have learned this lesson from Vietnam.

The lesson being that the media can change the outcome.

but we are just repeating the mistakes that the last generation made.

Yes, listening to the media. The terrorist are just repeating the successes of our last war by manipulating the American media. After all, they (the media) know how it is more than the troops. As one politician alluded to our troops ain't that smart.

Just like Vietnam. The north were beat in almost every battle, the Tet Offensive was a total loss, but the media fixed all that. The North were withdrawing, we had won. Then Nixon was impeached. (not arguing if he should or should not have) & the North seen a weak president without the support of Congress or the people. Nixon for the wars sake was a doer & the North new such. So after we caused their retreat & a new President without the support of Congress or the media the North reinvaded only seeing our backsides because of Congress & the Media.

The only difference is we will let them know this time the day & maybe the hour we will surrender this time.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By PrezWeezy on 4/12/2007 7:58:20 PM , Rating: 2
The lesson being...you can't change the entire thought process of a country overnight. Plain and simple, unless a country unites and fights for it's own democracy, democracy cannot be had. Look at any deomocratic country in the world and history will tell you that the mindset of a country controlled by a dictator has nothing to do with the liberal media.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By rudy on 4/6/2007 4:19:46 AM , Rating: 5
If you know nothing about Thailand then don't speak. The king of Thailand is not a dictator, he cannot run the country, make laws, or command the army he is just a cultural figure like the Queen of England. People do listen to what he says and highly respect him though but he cannot himself do anythibg. When someone defaces or disrespects him he doesn't make any laws rather people in the government who respect him whom are over protective do. The king rarely steps into politics. Even if he did Taksin was getting out of hand. We all know every leader of Thailand is corrupt and the new ones are too. But Taksin was trying to pull off 3 terms when they have a 2 term limit. And he had to much of a majority control over the parliment. To be legally stopped, so the military stepped in. And mostly we heard bad press cause Taksin was a buddy of GW Bush.

Think of it like this if someone defaced Mother Theresa wouldn't quite a few people be upset? Thats how they view it.

It doesn't make what they did right but start blaming it on the person who actually put the policy into effect.

Google like all businesses is looking out for the bottom line, they would pull off anything if a large enough people made a big deal out of it and it threatened to effect profits, here they are about to lose access to a whole country so they will take one measly video down and be back in.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Wonga on 4/6/2007 5:37:02 AM , Rating: 2
I'm glad someone came in and talked some sense.

When the coup happened, the King apparently gave his blessing. That doesn't make him a dictator - he isn't the one running the show. The people have great respect for him and its widely believed that the reason there was no bloodshed during the coup was because the King made the right decision to prevent outright violence.

I'm normally all for free speech, but I can at least understand this law they have for insulting the King. If anything it teaches respect, which the media and individuals can often forget in modern society.

As has already been said about that Swiss guy, he lived in the country for 10 years, he knew what was acceptable and what wasn't (everyone knows about the King, even the common tourist) - nobody made him deface those posters but himself and his bottles of beer.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Christopher1 on 4/6/2007 9:17:07 AM , Rating: 2
Respect? Frankly, people have to EARN respect, and if someone doesn't want to respect another person, even in public, they should not be forced to.

That is one of the CORNERSTONES of free speech, that someone can disrespect another person as much as they freaking well wish to, as long as they are not telling outright lies about them.

You are assuming that everytime someone says someone should be 'respected' that all people should just shut up and agree with them. That is what leads to dictatorial governments, when a person is not allow to disrespect another person in public because that person then uses the police or other powers to make them suffer.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By Lifted on 4/6/2007 11:53:47 AM , Rating: 2
You clearly don't know anything about Thailand. If most any Thai saw this man doing what he did in the video, they would either call the police or call their and beat the snot out of him. This was just somebody being disrespectful to an entire country, and was blocking youtube could basically be called the will of the people since if they held a vote on it, almost everyone would gladly say goodbye to youtube for hosting it.

The other point is, defacing anything with the King's image is illegal in Thailand . That includes defacing, tearing, or burning money. No different than if youtube was in another country, was hosting child porn, and refused to take it down. The US would probably block access, and I believe I read an article a while back stating that certain states doing something similar already with their local ISP's. No difference as illegal is illegal. While you may disagree with their laws, you don't live there, and when you travel there you either respect them or go to jail. Same policy we observe here in the US.


By The Omen on 4/8/2007 2:03:38 PM , Rating: 2
Rudy, sadly you couldn't be further from the truth. I've lived in Thailand for many years. Out in public Thai people fully support the king, however when you can get especially the youth in an intimate mood, their opinions tend to change radically. The older generations seem to have been brought up with a constant stream of misinformation, praising the king. It's really quite scary when the king orders it's subjects to wear yellow t-shirts for two years and see most (older) subjects actually do so day in day out. Indeed, the king hasn't got strict absolute power, but make no mistake this is a mere facade. I suggest you go read "The King Never Smiles" by Paul Handley. A book censored in Thailand. It will give you quite a different insight on the royals and how they strictly enforce their Dharma principles over Thailand. Here's the introduction for those interested:

http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/excerpts/handle...

I'm now gonna sit back and wait before the police picks me up for Les Majeste.


By DigitalFreak on 4/6/2007 10:53:34 AM , Rating: 2
Dirka Dirka! Dirka, Dirka, Dirka.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By crystal clear on 4/6/07, Rating: 0
By crystal clear on 4/8/2007 4:14:24 AM , Rating: 1
Quote-

"Welcome to GoogleWorld"
Its the $ $ $ $ that count-Advertising Revenue ! ! !

Their Religion is called "USD" $ $ $ $

Unquote-

I was correct in my intepretations-However much I was/am
RATED DOWN-I dont care ! !
Read this-

"The video-sharing website YouTube has offered to show Thailand how to block material deemed insulting to King Bhumibol Adulyadej"

YouTube's head of global communications, Julie Supan, said it would prefer Thailand to have the power to remove items rather than have the whole site blocked.

Ms Supan said: "It's up to the Thailand government to decide whether to block specific videos, but we would rather that than have them block the entire site."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6535509.st...

As for the other comments I made in the earlier comment-

CRYSTAL CLEAR OPINIONS-Plain Facts of Life based on experience.


RE: Google Surrenders to Dictator
By AlexWade on 4/6/2007 7:57:59 AM , Rating: 5
This is another example of how messed up "free" speech is. If I were to insult Christianity, few people would be upset. If I were to insult Islam, there would be protest throughout the Muslim world. Does that seem right?

If I were to say global warming is caused by humans and I have proof, few people would be upset. If I were to say global warming is not caused by humans and I have proof, a ton of people would be upset. Does that seem right?

If I were to insult Whites, few people would be upset. If I were to insult any other race, a ton of people would be upset. Does that seem right?

The fact is, "free" speech isn't really free. It is bound by political correctness. And when someone dares break that boundary, protests all over the world rage on. Who decided what was safe and unsafe? People today are too sensitive. People are looking for an excuse to be offended. Especially in the US where people are looking to sue.


By Christopher1 on 4/6/2007 9:18:28 AM , Rating: 2
Quite true. The reason that people react so horrendously when someone insults them, is because in their heart of hearts they usually know that the other person is making a good point or telling the truth.


By MobileZone on 4/7/2007 10:29:08 AM , Rating: 2
So is bush.


Bhumibol Adulyadej - Get a life...
By nyartmaker on 4/5/2007 11:50:09 PM , Rating: 2
I wasn't outraged by the Thai government's cultural sensitivity. But what made my blood boil was that they imprisoned the Swiss man for 10 years.

What for?

See more of it here

http://www.adulyadej.com




RE: Bhumibol Adulyadej - Get a life...
By masher2 (blog) on 4/6/2007 1:05:43 AM , Rating: 4
He broke the law; he should be punished, plain and simple. When you're a guest in a country especially, you follow the rules.

I've been to Thailand more times than I can count, the Thais are, by and large, extremely devoted to their Monarchy. Who are we outsiders to tell them their system is "wrong"?


By MobileZone on 4/8/2007 12:39:53 AM , Rating: 2
Totally agree with you. I just don't understand why this same simple rule doesn't apply to all countries and their systems.


RE: Bhumibol Adulyadej - Get a life...
By andylawcc on 4/6/2007 3:00:06 AM , Rating: 2
plain and simple. You are in Thailand, you respect their culture and law. It is simple common sense that You DO NOT fukk with the King. I have NO sympathy for Oliver Jufer.


RE: Bhumibol Adulyadej - Get a life...
By Christopher1 on 4/6/2007 9:20:11 AM , Rating: 3
No, you don't respect their culture and law when it goes against the human right to free speech. NO ONE has the right to sentence someone to jail time just because they insult someone else, unless they are telling or spreading things that they KNOW are blatant lies.

Thailand and other countries around the world are going to have to realize that, and realize that humanity does NOT have to be politically correct.


By masher2 (blog) on 4/6/2007 10:39:47 AM , Rating: 1
> "NO ONE has the right to sentence someone to jail time just because they insult someone else"

Why not? And this man did a little more than just make a comment in a bar. He got drunk and defaced a large number of postes of the king. Even if he wasn't convicted under lese majeste, he could have been charged with many other crimes.

And, for your information, making false insulting statements is a criminal charge in many nations. Take a look at the Canadian case R v. Lucas, in which a man was sentenced to two years in prison for defamatory libel.


RE: Bhumibol Adulyadej - Get a life...
By andylawcc on 4/6/2007 11:55:36 AM , Rating: 1
Free speech in the western world does not necessarily apply to Asian culture. Do not enforce one's cultural ideology among others and claim superiority.

It may considered free speech to disapprove or speak against your elderly or seniors, but in most Asian countries, it is not only taboo but also unacceptable. For instant, in Korea, Freshman and Sophomores will bow not only in front of parents, but also upper classmen; you are suppose to listen to them, no matter how incapable they are; if you are younger, you listen and obey.

Again, defacing someone's portrait is, imho, free speech in poor taste and lack common sense. How would you feel if someone deface George Washington's statue and call it art?


RE: Bhumibol Adulyadej - Get a life...
By nyartmaker on 4/6/2007 12:35:19 PM , Rating: 4
Yeah, yeah, all what you said is true. But sentencing someone for 10 years. Please you pompous morons. To hell with your screwed up laws.

That Thai king is an American. Lest he forget that!!!!


By masher2 (blog) on 4/8/2007 3:04:45 PM , Rating: 1
One of the primary purposes for punishment is to dissuade future transgessors. With this sentence, its very doubtful anyone will repeat this man's crime.

Would that we followed the same system in the US. In my home city, a woman was recently shot and killed by her boyfriend...a man who had served less than 10 years for his previous murder conviction and, after being released, managed to do time for child molestation and a few other offenses as well.

Now he'll do another ten years in a very comfortable facility, with free cable TV and recreational sports. When he's released, will he think twice about going back? I think not.


Google -they can take you to COURT ?
By crystal clear on 4/6/2007 5:25:26 AM , Rating: 2
Quote-

"The Thai government has placed a ban on the video-uploading website, YouTube after a request to remove a video was denied. The video depicted a hooligan defacing a picture of 79 year old Thai king, Bhumibol Adulyadej."

Unquote-

The Thai government & The Thai King CAN TAKE
"YOU TUBE/GOOGLE" to COURT in the USA & THAILAND & CHARGE THEM for CYBERLIBEL.

Google/You Tube provides the PLATFORM or FORUM that enables
anybody to DEFAME ANYBODY.
THAT MAKES IT (Google) RESPONSIBLE for anything & everything
loaded on its SITE.




RE: Google -they can take you to COURT ?
By Christopher1 on 4/6/2007 9:21:56 AM , Rating: 2
Who says he was defaming anyone? The person who made this video was just stating his point of view, that this person is NOT someone to be respected and admired.

That is part of your right to free speech as a human being, the right to DISLIKE anyone and SAY you dislike someone anytime you wish to, as long as you are not spreading lies about what they did.


By crystal clear on 4/8/2007 3:58:51 AM , Rating: 2
This is their official response-
"Minister of Information Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said Thailand would consider ending the ban when it had the ability to block all offending pages.

He said: "I don't want to hear a lecture on free speech... I am a proponent of free speech but this is just culturally insensitive and offensive... "

My response to you-
"culturally insensitive and offensive... "

If you are NOT aware of this-YOU COULD GET YOURSELF IN SERIOUS TROUBLE-when travelling outside the USA..SPECIALLY
TRAVELING IN ASIA or the Middle EAST.

Your FREE SPEECH stuff doesnt work there nor are they willing to listen to you-THEY SIMPLE SHUT YOU UP by Throwing
you in some Rotting Prison Cell.
(you can talk to the Cell walls about Free speech)

U learn the hardway-Ask any experienced Business Traveler !


That makes Perfect sense...
By Cobra Commander on 4/6/2007 10:25:17 AM , Rating: 2
"Let's ban YouTube...but hey...keep the child prostitution ring going!"




By KristopherKubicki (blog) on 4/6/2007 12:14:31 PM , Rating: 2
Oh, and don't forget about the heroin cartel either.


RE: That makes Perfect sense...
By cocoviper on 4/6/2007 1:20:27 PM , Rating: 2
No joke...

I am blown away by the moral ignorance of some of the people on this board. People are saying things like "they don't have the same laws there so don't jump all over them for breaking american ones." That line of thinking makes no sense at all. Countries establish laws in order to formalize what individuals already know to be right in their hearts. It's not as though if people just decide to make it a law that doing wrong is now ok that it suddenly is. Take a look at the Nazi's for goodness sake...they didn't break ANY laws and yet they were held accountable for doing wrong...because right or wrong is not a matter of laws! Why do you think so many individuals, companies, states, and countries have willingly appologized for slavery in the past hundred years. Because they broke the law? No because it was wrong!

This is the point: whether we are talking about free speech, theft, slavery, child prositituion, whatever... Is the real determinant of whether something is wrong or not dependent on if a country has a law against it? Or is there not a higher moral law than the laws individuals and countries make?

Goodness some of you need to think about what you are actually saying...


The Point...
By IGoodwin on 4/6/2007 1:47:16 PM , Rating: 3
Perhapse the point of the objection has ben lost, over who made it.

A while before I moved to the states, there was a cartoon banned in America. It showed a character lampooning the Pope, the President, and many other things including the American flag; however, it was never banned for those scenes. The one where the Character 'inadvertantly' burned the constitution was considered too much... and it was banned.

The objection wasn't about defacing the King/Dictator, or speaking out aginst him. The act of walking on a picture in barefeet, means little to me, but that was the objection.




*sniff, sniff, sniff*
By AssMonkey76 on 4/5/2007 11:26:10 PM , Rating: 2
Welcome to freedom of speech Thailand! Heres a tissue, now go wipe your eyes.




By crystal clear on 4/6/2007 3:54:26 AM , Rating: 2
Quote-

Update 04/05/2007: Shortly after this story broke, YouTube's site claims the post was "removed by user."

Unquote-

The recieve "Additional Updates"-

But two more clips on a similar theme have now surfaced.

Communications Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said he would continue to block access to YouTube "until all the offensive clips have gone".

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6532137.st...




Something Wonderful
By Dactyl on 4/6/2007 4:51:27 AM , Rating: 2
If you go to YouTube, and look at some of the new videos (some are anti-king, others are just talking about the controversy), you will find dozens of comments by angry people who love the King.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwvWfHSYO_w&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3vgb13r2Rw&mode=re...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mUk-XyCgKI&mode=re...

The King banned YouTube in Thailand to protect the Thai people's delicate eyes. Because he knows better than them. He knows what they shouldn't see, and what they shouldn't think about.

So what do his supporters do? They go to YouTube and post comments in support of their king. They defy him by visiting the very site he doesn't want people to visit, and looking at the very videos he doesn't want them to see!

And his supporters don't have a clue just how silly that all is. If you know better than the king, why do you need him to censor your internet for you?




Feet
By 16nm on 4/6/2007 8:37:07 AM , Rating: 2
They must be disgusted by someone with a foot fetish, me thinks




By PeaceLoving on 4/7/2007 8:55:04 PM , Rating: 2
I'm sure the founding fathers did not come to America just because they wanted "speak or do" bad things about other people. You should have learned in school that the purpose of "freedom of speech" is so that you can speak the truth to help yourself and others. It is used to speak out to help the weak and oppressed. Certainly not as a knife to attack others who have never done anything to you or an excuse just to get attention for yourself just because you have so many problems in your own life. If you do have problems in your life, you hate yourself and other people, have no respect even for your parents, how can you be expected to respect other people's beliefs and cultures?
What is the purpose of life? It's to make this world a better place or at least try to.




By teainthesahara on 4/8/2007 12:38:02 PM , Rating: 2
I dont know how thailand gets away with a wimpy looking dictator king who supports an illegal coup of a democratically elected govt by a muslim in a buddhist nation....Thaksin was bad but not this bad.I hope that countries start to boycott them economically...I also hope that Google do not bow to this pressure from this Muslim pro Malysian agenda and remove the movie.Thailand is on its way to becoming Islamic at this rate.....




By PeaceLoving on 4/8/2007 10:05:46 PM , Rating: 2
Dear sahara,

Your post has just shown us how much you do NOT know about history and culture.

Let me ask you a few questions.
1. Do you respect anyone or hold anyone in high esteem in your life?
2. What is the reason you hold that person in such high esteem?
3. Is it because that person has done something good for humanity? or do you find yourself respecting those who do things you yourself are too coward to do so?
4. Do you respect yourself?
5. Do OTHERS respect you? or are you a nobody at home and at school?
6. Are you trying to build respect for yourself? If so, earning the respect from God is worth more that the respect of man.

A word of advice, learn to respect God. Then learn to respect yourself and the people who are nice to you. Only then can you understand why the Thai people respect their king.

Thai people respect ALL elders. This has been a part of our culture and we hope that it always will be. Of all the elders we show respect to, parents, teachers, and religious leaders come high on the ladder. If we are willing to humble ourselves in front of our parents and teachers to the point of telling them that without them, we would not be able to achieve the success we have now, how much more respect our king deserves. Mind you that we do not blindly respect just anyone. If you study the history of our present king, he is US-educated. He plays the sax and the trumpet. He is an engineer. He invented inexpensive farm machines that could be put together here in Thailand so that our farmers wouldn't have to buy expensive imported stuff. His projects include irrigation systems, better rice and flower strains, artificial rain to help farmers who were going through droughts.

May I ask what you have done for your country?
What right do you have to criticize a man who has spent most of his life FOR HIS COUNTRY AND PEOPLE?

What constitutes a dictator? A dictator is someone who uses brute force to enforce his will. A dictator does not give elections. A dictator does not allow a government to be in place.

What is democracy? The will of the people!
Do you even know this my dear dactyl and sahara?

You are not Thai. What right do you have to tell us that we do not have democracy? True--the military coup was definitely not democracy. But history has proven, that when we Thai people cannot take it anymore, we are willing to die to take down the dictators. Read about the history of our country. You will see that many students laid down their lives for democracy. More would have died, had the king not called in the dictator for a talk. Yes, you read right....a talk. That's all it took for the dictators to step down. Our king did not use a gun or an army. He used words. Nice calm words. No temper or anger involved. He talked to the dictators as if he were their father and they his sons. He did that to Thaksin as well. But what do you expect from a rebellious son who has always gotten his own way?

You say that our king is a dictator and a weak one. Did you not learn that it is harder NOT to step in and use the power you have in your hands? I'm sure that if I had the power, I would have done something bad. Our king does not step in to do anything NOT because he is a figurehead but because he values democracy. He gives the government and people time to solve crises by themselves. Only in dire times of need, when the people cry out to him for his help, does he do something. Not because he is weak, but because he is strong enough to limit his own powers.

If you ask any Thai person, whether Buddist, Muslim, Christian, or atheist, he/she will all tell you how much the king is respected here.

Our king is old now and most of us Thai people know this in our hearts. We don't usually express what we feel, but I will tell you now that you will see on television, the crying of a whole nation.

Are you respected that way Dactyl? Sahara? Have you done anything to deserve even half of the respect our king is given? How many people will cry for you when you die? Or are you in so much denial that all you can say is that you do not care. I will pray for you Dactyl and Sahara. But I would like to ask you to pray for our king as well. For when our king does pass away, the peace and unity that has binded our nation may pass away with him. When you pray today, pray for others who are less fortunate than we are. Pray for your soldiers who are giving their lives for their country in Iraq. Never say that they are foolish for they are not. We asians especially understand what YOUR soldiers are dying for. All are going out there because of their sense of duty to their country. Some are going out there because they really love their America and want to show gratitude. No one wants to die. They are going so that you do not have to go. So that terrorists will be occupied in Iraq instead. What would happen if America withdraws itself from Iraq? Surely, Bin Laden will be smiling as it frees up his suicide bombers for the "land of honey"--your America--your cities, your schools, your neighborhoods.

This does not mean that I like and approve of war. I don't. I am looking forward to a time when people can live in peace with each other. But if you read your Bible, that is not to be the case. For before the Lord comes a second time, war and destruction will spread out over the earth. Natural disasters will occur more and more often. There will be a new world order when a certain religious leader unites most religions and leaders of mighty countries bow at his feet. If has happened in history and it will happen again. Thus saith the Bible. The true followers of the Bible shall be jailed and persecuted. They will be marked as the Jews were in WWII. Then shall the Lord come to separate those who have been faithful from those who have succumbed to the devil.

Which side will you be on when your God comes? For the Lord will reward each and every man according to his works. The Lord will not judge WHEN He comes but now each day we are being judged. When He comes, it is when the verdict has been reached. Shouting, beggin, crying, or on-the-spot confessions will be in vain. Search yourself now.

To those of you in this forum who have been brave enough to stand up to speak out for our king, we are forever grateful. May the good Lord bless you and your family abundantly.




By rsmech on 4/9/2007 12:43:58 AM , Rating: 2
When it comes to the laws or form of government a country has all guest, citizens, & companies should follow them or leave. If we expect law & order in our own countries, they expect the same. There is nothing wrong with showing support for or against, but be man enough to accept the consequences. Google has been neutered. They are a business based on the principals of free thinking & sharing of ideas. They are base in a country based on free thinking & sharing of ideas. They are a company who's balls are as big as their lawyers. Which is pretty big in the US or other representative governments, but when it comes to other governments (China being one other) where their lawyers mean nothing. They have no principals. A bunch of sissies when they leave their own neighborhood.

Feel free to argue with me, I understand that they are a public company that needs to impress their share holders. But it doesn't mean I can't have an opinion about it. I don't own any, maybe this is why.




"So if you want to save the planet, feel free to drive your Hummer. Just avoid the drive thru line at McDonalds." -- Michael Asher









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