<p>Over the past few weeks, we here at EFF have watched as whistleblowing website WikiLeaks has fueled an emotionally charged debate about the secrecy of government information and the people's right to know. We have welcomed this debate, and the fact that there have been myriad views is the embodiment of the freedom of expression upon which this country was founded.</p>

<p>Malaysia - The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is greatly concerned at Home Minister Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's references to a new law that will be introduced to govern sedition in cyberspace. The Home Minister reportedly said that it would be based on existing Sedition Act (1948) and would assist in determining what can be prosecuted on the Internet.</p>

<p>The charges against Chiranuch were made by the Superintendent of Khon Kaen Police who alleged that she, as website administrator, and website users violated Sections 14 and 15 of the 2007 Computer Crimes Act and Section 112 of the Criminal Code (l&egrave;se majest&eacute;) for offensive comments made on the website on 27 April 2009.</p> <p><strong><em>(Correction: the charges were made by Sunimit Jirasuk, a local businessman in Khon Kaen, for comments on Prachatai in April 2008 about <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/620">Chotisak Onsoong</a>.)</em></strong></p>

<p>(SEAP/IFEX) - 2 August 2010 - It has been three years since the enactment of Thailand's controversial Computer Crime Act, a law that critics and experts say has had a troubling and detrimental impact on free expression in the country.</p>

<p align="justify">(Hong Kong, July 30, 2010) The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) on Friday launched a new webpage on the state of emergency in Thailand. </p> <p>The webpage, Thailand State of Emergency 2010, features a map showing provinces where the emergency remains in effect, and carries links to AHRC material as well as outside resources on the emergency decree. </p> <p>The webpage can be accessed at: <a target="_blank" href="http://thailand.ahrchk.net/emergency2010/">http://thailand.ahrchk.net/<wbr></wbr>emergency2010/</a> &nbsp;</p>

<p class="para">As a commission specially created by the Thai government will be investigating the violent clashes between the security forces and Red Shirts in April and May 2010, Reporters Without Borders is releasing a report on 10 serious violations of press freedom and the safety of journalists.</p>

<p>In a cabinet meeting on 15 June, ICT Minister Chuti Krairoek reported about websites containing l&egrave;se majest&eacute; contents. He said that Jakrapob Penkair and Giles Ungpakorn are still active in conveying information through websites in Europe. Meanwhile, the Ministry of ICT found a group of 200 people that constantly posts LM messages online, which is against the law.</p> <p>Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has urged ICT Minister Chuti to negotiate with the people related to the websites according to the National Reconcilation Roadmap.</p>

<p>www.prachatai1.info has been blocked by the CRES since about 11 am today. www.prachatai.com, the original, was among the first batch of 36 websites ordered blocked by the CRES on 8 April. &nbsp;Its domain name was changed to www.prachatai.net until it was blocked on 5 May. &nbsp;Prachatai then changed its domain name to www.prachatai1.com which was immediately blocked on the same day. &nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.info">www.prachatai.info</a> could continue until 20 May, and had to change to www.prachatai1.info until today. &nbsp;As of now (4.31 pm, 26 May), Prachatai can be accessed at www.prachatai2.info.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The latest number of websites closed or blocked by the CRES is 1,150, increasing from 770 as of last week. &nbsp;A source at the CRES, however, said that some websites had been inaccessible due to traffic overload, not ordered closed by the CRES, and blamed ISPs for redirecting to the CRES page. &nbsp;</p>

<p>People are not really questioning the government's decision to censor media, simply because they believe it is acceptable under the emergency decree, said Chiranuch Premchaiporn, webmaster of prachatai.com, which is being blocked because it is considered to be pro-red shirt.</p>

<p>The Centre for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation has ordered the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to close 612 &lsquo;subversive&rsquo; websites, most of which broadcast the red shirts&rsquo; rally.</p>

<p>According to Pol Col Suchart Wong-ananchai, Inspector of the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, the Ministry has shut down and blocked over 50,000 websites which violated the 2007 Computer Crimes Act. Websites concerning national security were the most numerous.</p>