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Censors extend Internet bans

By BangkokPost.com

The Ministry of Information and Communications Technology said it had closed the Internet chat board at Pantip.com and was stepping up surveillance of Internet users to protect national security.

ICT Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom said the popular Ratchadamnoen web chat room was "flooded with posts compromising national security". He made the owners of discussion rooms responsible for all posts by all users.

Mr Sitthichai announced he has called a meeting at police headquarters on Thursday with the caretaker police chief, Pol Gen Seriphisut Temiyavej.

The subject will be how to catch and what to do with "netsurfers who post messages to create division in the country," he said.

Effective immediately, the Panthip.com discussion room is closed. Mr Sitthichai said the closure is temporary, but gave no hint how long it would remain shut.

The minister said the entire website might be closed if it does not cooperate with the ministry.

He strongly warned others he might close them as well.

The ICT ministry issued so-called "warnings" to Prachathai.com and Mthai.com to monitor posts which might violate national security and lese majeste.

At the same time, the minister gave no hint on when - if ever - he plans to lift the total block on YouTube.com, which has shut down the world's most popular video-sharing site to many Internet subscribers in Thailand.

Bangkok Post, 08 April 2007