An abducted critic of the junta charged with lѐse majesté has warned that private Facebook chat is no longer safe under the military regime.

 

On Monday, 2 May 2016, the Facebook page of a citizen journalist titled ‘Fahroong Srikhao’ published an interview from jail with Harit Mahaton, one of the eight junta critics abducted by the military on 27 April. Harit said that the authorities showed him a capture of his Facebook chat and asked him who he was chatting with.

 

Harit added that he wants Facebook Thailand to investigate the case and warned the public that chatting via the Facebook inbox is no longer safe and private.

 

Harit said that he read the police report of his case only when he was already in jail, but he is certain that he can fight the case in the Military Court.

 

“I believe that I can fight the case. Although it is under the Military Court, I am certain that the court will be fair and just. I will show that I am innocent. I did the right thing. There’s nothing to fear,” Fahroong quoted Harit as saying.

 

The eight abductees have been charged under the Computer Crime Act and the sedition law. They are accused of running the Facebook pages of red-shirt leaders, and publishing allegedly defamatory content against the junta. 

 

They are currently detained at Bangkok Remand Prison.

 

Harit and Nattatika  Worathaiwich have also been charged under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lѐse majesté law. The two are accused of sending messages alleged to defame the Thai Monarchy in their private chat. (see more)