Digital Democracy

Empowering Civic Engagement Through Digital Technologies | 109 W 27th St, 6 fl | New York, NY 10001 USA
+1-347-688-DDEM | info@digital-democracy.org | @digidem | www.digital-democracy.org

Censoring Liberty in Thailand:

Thai journalist and anti-censorship activist detained & released on bail

September 24, 2010: New York, NY — Chiranuch Premchaiporn, known as Jiew

— an advocate, founder and manager of a leading independent news website in
Thailand — was detained today in the Bangkok airport upon return from the
"Google Internet at Liberty" conference hosted in Budapest, Hungary. Held by
police for over 12 hours, she was released on bail in the early hours of the
morning in Khon Kean province, 400 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.

Already indicted under ten charges of the Thai New Computer Crime Act, she is
set to go on trial in February. Jiew was previously detained on charges related to
content posted by users on a website she runs for the independent news
organization, Prachathai, which means "Free People" in English. Under local
laws, those who run sites are responsible for all content on them, including
comments. Under lese majeste laws, it is illegal to criticize the royal family.
Authorities say she did remove such comments quickly enough.

Today, police presented her with a warrant issued in response to a complaint

filed by Khon Kaen resident Sunimit Chirasuk on 11 August 2008, according to
Reporters Sans Frontieres. Charges against her include violations of criminal law
articles 83, 85 and112 (lese majeste), and 116 and Computer-related Crime Act
articles 14 and 15 (regarding intermediaries).

Friends in Thailand were able to pay the 200,000 Baht bail (about $6500 USD)
and secure her release about 12 hours following her arrest. Jiew will be required
to travel 450 km from her home in Bangkok every month to report the local
police. Her next appearance is scheduled for 24 October 2010.

"Thailand must admit it's not a real democracy. You cannot talk freely about
many things," Jiew told reporter Andrew Marshall last spring. The result of her
eventual trial carries enormous implications for the future of online speech in
Thailand.

Her arrest at 230p Thai local time followed her presentation at Google's Internet
At Liberty conference in Budapest, Hungary, where she discussed the
implications of Thai censorship for journalists, activists, and businesses there. In
recent years, Thailand has censored sites including YouTube and blocked the
Google Apps Engine.

Activists in Thailand and globally contributed to an online campaign to free her is

using the hashtags #freejiew and #ial2010 on Twitter, and created the website
freejiew.blogspot.com to raise funds and awareness.
 Digital Democracy
Empowering Civic Engagement Through Digital Technologies | 109 W 27th St, 6 fl | New York, NY 10001 USA
+1-347-688-DDEM | info@digital-democracy.org | @digidem | www.digital-democracy.org

"Jiew's arrest sends a dangerous message to the people of Thailand and has
implications for the rest of the region," said Mark Belinsky, Co-director of Digital
Democracy, who was recently in Hungary with her. "Detaining her for other
people's actions is unacceptable," said Belinsky. Digital Democracy first profiled
Jiew and Prachathai in a web episode of DdTv broadcast in November 2009.

Upon her release, Jiew wrote via Twitter, "Finally, I'm free by bail out. Thanks for
all support." Digital Democracy is helping to solicit donations to contribute to her
legal fund.

Helpful links:
➢ Digital democracy films interview with Jiew and Prachathai office –
http://digital-democracy.org/2009/11/09/ddtv-episode-7-prachatai/
➢ Prachathai English http://www.prachatai.com/english/
➢ Bail donation fund: http://digitaldemocracy.chipin.com/free-jiew
➢ Google Internet At Liberty conference:
http://sites.google.com/a/pressatgoogle.com/internet-at-liberty-2010/

*****
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Belinsky
Mbelinsky@digital-democracy.org
347-466-9327

Digital Democracy (www.digital-democracy.org & Twitter: @DigiDem) uses

digital technologies to empower disenfranchised and marginalized groups with
training and technological support. Founded in 2008, the U.S-based non-profit
emphasizes the importance of digital literacy, working with grassroots organizers
and local programmers on community-driven solutions. Dd has international
reach conducting projects and trainings in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Haiti, India,
Iraq, Kenya, Thailand, South Africa, the United States, and other countries.
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