The Defence Minister has ordered all military units to monitor and subdue any subversive actions against the monarchy in cyber space and at political rallies. But months before this order, Provincial Army ROTC Training Centre 33, based in Chiang Mai, had already had high school students vow their loyalty on YouTube, and recently set up a web service for any citizen to report offensive websites.
On 15 Jan, Col Thanathip Sawangsang, spokesperson of the Ministry of Defence, said that Defence Minister Gen Pravit Wongsuwan, former Army Chief and member of 19 Sept 2006 junta, ordered all military units to carry out their duty to protect the monarchy as the top priority in their annual plans. All commanders must employ all their resources to monitor and suppress any offences against the monarchy, and work with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to block websites and prosecute those who are responsible.
Military personnel have to monitor public rallies, and coordinate with police on any offences, the army spokesperson said.
The Defence Minister also ordered military forces to conduct activities to celebrate the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday on 5 Dec 2011, including activities involving youth in reverence of the monarchy, royally-initiated development projects in watershed areas, the 8,400-rai tree-planting project in honour of the King, special lectures on the dissemination of information about Royal Projects, the United People Project on the occasion of His Majesty’s 84th year, etc.
In mid 2009, Provincial Army ROTC Training Centre 33 (ROTC 33) had a contingent of high-school students undergoing compulsory military training record video clips posted at YouTube, worshipping and defending the monarchy in English.
Recently,
ROTC 33 set up a web page for the purpose of monitoring websites regarding the monarchy.
The
web page, officially claimed to be developed by students of the elitist Montfort College in Chiang Mai, provides fields for visitors to report websites either revering or offending the monarchy.
According to the web page, as of 16 Jan 2010, 234 loyal websites have been reported, and 176 offensive websites of which 24 have already been rebutted.
Because the web page allows anyone to report freely, Sameskyboard.com, liberalthai.wordpress.com and YouTube are reported as both loyal and offensive, while Manager, the rightist Serithai webboard and ROTC 33 itself are reported as offensive.
Prachatai, of course, falls under the category ‘offensive’.
On the main page of ROTC 33, there is a link to a
video clip, claimed to be made by a foreigner who repents having offended the Thai monarchy.
The ROTC 33 has also set up a community radio station, with daily broadcasts between 6AM and 9PM on FM 103MHz [presumably for local audiences in and around Chiang Mai].
The Naresuan Taskforce has also posted a similar
video clip of a ROTC trainee.
According to a
Post Today report on 16 Dec 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban asked all ministries to include in their strategies the protection of the monarchy, such as activities promoting Democracy with the King as Head of State and the Sufficiency Economy.
The policy to protect the monarchy as part of the national security strategy is to revere the monarchy, to have the people involved in maintaining peace and order, and to develop mechanisms to prevent offences against the monarchy.
