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Thailand arrests nine people for posting fake news on Facebook

28/3/19

At least nine people have been arrested in Thailand for spreading fake news on Facebook with posts about sacked election officials and bogus ballots.

On March 28, Siriwat Deephor, a spokesman for the Computer Crime Suppression Division Police, informed that these people were arrested for sharing fake news on Facebook claiming two election commissioners had been sacked and that 600,000 illegitimate ballots were mixed into the vote count.

They confessed and said they didn’t know that it was fake news, he said, adding that they were charged under the Computer Crimes Act “for sharing or spreading false information”.

The accused face up to five years in jail and a 3,100 USD fine, he said.

The general election in Thailand took place on March 24 with over 50 million people eligible to cast votes.

According to unofficial results announced by the Election Commission on March 25, among 350 seats in the House of Representatives directly elected at constituencies, the Pheu Thai Party, which backs former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, won 137 seats while the pro-military Palang Pracharat, which wants Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to remain in office, secured 97 seats.

The Bhumjaithai Party, which declared to say neutral, won 39 seats while the Democrat Party, which said to not join the alliance with Pheu Thai, 33 seats; the Future Forward Party, 30 seats; and the remaining parties, 14 seats. 

The Election Commission said there were some “human errors” in calculating ballots in some areas, and the official results of the election will be announced next week./.
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All comments [ 8 ]


Roger Brown 28/3/19 20:32

The poll was not free and fair" and "displays fundamental democratic shortcomings."

Duncan 28/3/19 20:34

While public outrage has not reached levels seen before the coup in 2014, violent street protests between rival political factions have been common in recent years. Mass violent confrontations in 2010 paralyzed the capital Bangkok and an ensuing military crackdown killed 90 people and injured more than 2,000.

Jacky Thomas 28/3/19 20:39

Now no one could say that Thailand is more democratic than Vietnam. In Vietnam, people have their own right to elect a civil government.

Alian 28/3/19 20:40

These manipulated maneuvers are built into the constitution with the aim of maintaining military lordship over civilian leaders.

Robinson Jones 28/3/19 20:42

Now the atmosphere has changed and young people are more aware," 21-year-old LGBTQ activist and Future Forward party member Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree told CNN. "This election is not about policies of the parties, but is very significant for Thailand if we will stay in a dictatorship regime.

Kevin Evans 28/3/19 20:53

The country is stuck with a lacklustre military-authoritarian government under prime minister and junta leader Prayut Chan-ocha, unable to make a break for an effective democratic future.

Enda Thompson 28/3/19 20:55

I wonder why for so long the West and America don't raise their voice as usual to interfere into Thailand election or Thai is their ally.

Egan 28/3/19 20:56

While few are optimistic that Sunday’s election will see the military relinquish power easily, the past few weeks have seen an increasingly vocal backlash against the junta, and specifically against Prayut.

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