Political Situation in Thailandand Behavior of New Media

Orapin YingyongpathanaBangkok, THAILAND

http://ilaw.or.th

10,000 signatures can propose a law.

The 1997 constitution

required

50,000 signatures.

The 2007 constitution

requires

10,000 signatures.

Background

(2006-2010)

Constitutional Monarchy(1932 - present)

78 years of democracy

18 constitutions

Absolute Monarchy

The 1997 constitution

The coup in 2006

The 2007 constitution

The 2007 constitution

Thaksin Shinawatra

Billionaire Communication Tycoon

Entered politics in 1994

Had the biggest majority voters ever in Thai political history

Populism

Universal Healthcare Programme

Economic policies aimed at rural populations

Campaigning on and carrying out his policies

Drug suppression campaign

Corruption Human rights abuses Interfering mass

media

Yellow Shirt demonstration Red Shirt demonstration

- Oppose the coup- Against human rights violation- Call for freedom of expression

12

3

Anti-Thaksin Royalist Middle and upper classes Consider themselves educated

Yellow shirt have contempt for Red shirt : Poor Un-educated / Buffaloes Pro-Thaksin

Main Groups of Political Ideology

How about the mass media?

Was very happy when Thaksin was deposed

Accepted invitations to join the National Legislative Assembly

Did not report some stories

New media Role

Balance the information society

Change the flow of information

Help express the minority opinions

Problems of New Media

The lack of information from primary sources.

Citizen reports may come from field experiences, but they can be inconsistent.

By new media, anyone can be a

Monster

New media is a rapid way for people to spread hate speech

People feel free to talk with people who think the same way

Solutions

Tolerance

Open-mindedness

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