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A chronology of Uncle SMS’s imprisonment and death

By Siam Voices Tue, May 08, 2012 7:44PM UTC View Comments

By Lisa Gardner A 61-year old Thai retiree and grandfather, whose twenty-year conviction under Thailand’s lese majeste law last year drew heavy criticism from civil rights groups, has been confirmed dead today. Amphon Tangnoppakul, also known as ‘Akong’ or ‘Uncle SMS’ was convicted last November of sending four text messages deemed offensive to the monarchy to...

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Verdict on Prachatai webmaster Chiranuch Premchaiporn postponed

By Siam Voices Mon, Apr 30, 2012 9:00AM UTC View Comments

Today at 10.00 AM (Bangkok time) the Thai Criminal Court will give its verdict against Chiranuch “Jiew” Premchaiporn, the webmaster of the news website Prachatai. Chiranuch is being prosecuted for failing to delete 10 comments made by others that are deemed insulting to the monarchy not quickly enough. She has been arrested in 2009 and...

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Thammasat University split as it debates for and against Nitirat

By Siam Voices Fri, Feb 03, 2012 10:00AM UTC View Comments

Former and current journalism students rally at Thammasat University against proposals of the Nitirat's group to reform the constitution and the lèse majesté law. (Source: Facebook)

By Saksith Saiyasombut The debates over the Nitirat group’s proposals to amend the constitution and the lèse majesté law have become considerably heated and in parts downright ugly over the past weeks. Thammasat University became the venue and the center of controversy as most of the lectures of the group (consisting of 7 Thammasat law lectures)...

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No #outrage as Thailand adopts Twitter’s censorship policy

By Siam Voices Tue, Jan 31, 2012 9:00AM UTC View Comments

By Saksith Saiyasombut Last week, the micro-blogging website Twitter announced an implementation that gives them the possibility to withhold certain tweets to be viewable from certain countries, if legally required to do so. The backlash was expected and came in swiftly with countless of users express their #outrage. While some see an actual improvement in...

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SOPA & PIPA: What they mean for Asian netizens

By Asian Correspondent Mon, Jan 23, 2012 1:35PM UTC View Comments

Screengrab from last week's Wikipedia blackout. Pic: Wikipedia.

AMONG the hot topics being discussed last week were the SOPA and PIPA laws pending in the U.S. Congress. But while we Asians live half a world away from where the legislation will take effect, these proposed laws have a long reach, and will potentially affect all of us if enacted into law. Websites went...

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