Facebook bows to Thai government order to remove group, vows legal action
Facebook said Tuesday it could file a legal challenge against a Thai government order to remove a group where pro-democracy activists held discussions about the monarchy, a taboo subject in the united states.
An evergrowing tide of youth-led protests has swept Thailand in recent weeks-buoyed by anger against what many regard as an illegitimate, military-aligned government and an overly powerful royal family.
The private Facebook group, called “Royalist Marketplace”, was created in April and had more than a million members before it had been taken down on Monday.
A Facebook spokesperson told AFP the network have been “compelled” by the federal government to eliminate the group.
“Requests like this are severe, contravene international human rights law, and have a chilling effect on people’s ability to express themselves,” the platform said.
“We work to safeguard and defend the rights of all internet users and so are getting ready to legally challenge this request.”
The company didn't give details of the legal action, but warned that such requirements would undermine its capability to reliably invest in the united states.
Pavin Chachavalpongpun, an exiled Thai activist located in Japan and moderator for the group, told AFP it turned out a location for “genuine discussion” on the monarchy, including its political role and protesters’ proposals for reforms.
Thailand’s biggest recent pro-democracy rallies have observed up to 20,000 turn out on the streets, in a movement partly inspired by the Hong Kong protests this past year.
The Thai monarchy is definitely a taboo subject and is shielded by a harsh royal defamation law, under which people could be sentenced to up to 15 years per charge.
‘Facebook should fight’
King Maha Vajiralongkorn is hugely powerful, supported by the arch-royalist military and the country’s billionaire clans.
Since ascending the throne, he has amassed direct control of the palace’s fortune, estimated to be worth up to $60 billion.
Protesters are calling for more transparency of palace finances and for the defamation law to be scrapped-as well as the dissolution of parliament and a fresh constitution.
The prime minister may be the former army chief, who led a military coup in 2014 before being elected in polls this past year.
Activists say the vote was stacked in his favour thanks to a constitution scripted by the military.
Pavin said the group’s removal by Facebook showed the business was working to “promote authoritarianism” in Thailand, and “endorsing the government’s tactic in censorship of information”.
“It has become a part of obstruction of democratisation process in Thailand, as well as of free speech.”
Human Rights Watch slammed Thailand for using “rights-abusing laws” to crack down on freedom of expression.
“Facebook should fight the government’s demands in every forum it can to safeguard Thai people’s human rights,” said Asia Advocacy Director John Sifton.
Up to now 11 activists have already been arrested on various charges, including sedition and breaking coronavirus gathering rules, but nobody has yet been charged under the royal defamation law.
On Tuesday morning, prominent activist and human rights legal professional Anon Numpa, 35, was arrested for the 3rd time in regards to the protests.
A small royalist counter-demonstration also occurred beyond your Japanese embassy with protesters demanding Tokyo deport Pavin back again to Thailand to face lese-majeste charges.
