Last week's fast junta action over an item posted on a website showed questionable judgement by the officers involved from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). A 21-year-old Cambodian and six Thais were arrested and charged with serious offences concerning national security and public order. Authorities called the article "fake news" but that description itself is highly contentious. The main problem is that the case proceeded merely because Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was offended.
This is the crux of the matter. A quite obscure Thai-language website ran an item based on the fact that many Thais are upset about rising oil prices. The article alleged that in response to public anger, Prime Minister Prayut had said, "So if the diesel prices are too high for you, fill your tank with water." The item was seen and reposted, with links to the original Ratstas.com website item. Gen Prayut, who said no such thing, was reported by aides and the government spokesman to have been livid.
The charges against the seven people arrested so far under the Computer Crime Act (CCA) allege that the article "could undermine national security or cause panic among the public". The key word in the charges is "could". Everyone can see that the article did no such thing.
