Furore in the social media

Users of the three key social-networking sites – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram – chose different methods to voice their anger against the lawmakers who insisted on pushing the controversial bill through at a time when most Thais were asleep. Some posted photographs and strongly worded messages, while others called on fellow citizens to take action in real time. 

 

Many changed their profile photo to a black box to show their disappointment, while others opted for an anti-amnesty-bill notice. Some called for a silent protest, while others launched a campaign on change.org with the aim of collecting a million signatures. As of 1.30pm yesterday, the change.org campaign had already won around 41,058 signatures. 

 

Meanwhile on Twitter, Sunai Phasuk (@sunibkk), a senior researcher in Human Rights Watch’s Asia division, tweeted: “The Thai parliament passed a #whitewash blanket #amnesty bill with 310-0 votes! Opposition groups are mobilising mass protests. #Thailand.

 

“By passing a whitewash blanket #amnesty bill, Pheu Thai Party turns #Thailand into pariah state that doesn’t respect justice & human rights. Worst act of betrayal by Pheu Thai MPs and reds’ leaders who voted for a whitewash blanket #amnesty. #Thailand. Interior Ministry ordered local authorities in every district to install banner supporting #Amnesty Bill. #Thailand.”

 

Politician Chuwit Kamolvisit also showed his displeasure by posting a photograph of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra kissing the ground when he arrived in Thailand in 2008, with the message, “He’ll be back in the new year, for sure.”

 

Former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij (@TeamKorn_DP) tweeted that Thaksin and his cronies would benefit in 13 cases thanks to the bill.

 

Danai Chanchaochai, a celebrity writer and founder of DMG Book, led a protest to the US Embassy yesterday morning and posted a photograph of it on his Facebook page: 

 

https://www.facebook.com/danai.chanchaochai.

 

The Anti-Corruption Organisation of Thailand, along with its allies from the business, financial and investment sectors, also submitted a petition with the US Embassy opposing the bill. The organisation’s vice president Chada Wattanasiritham led the campaign, and a photograph of her holding up the petition was posted on Twitter. The organisation is also running a campaign against the bill on its website (www.anticorruption.in.th).

 

Avid red-shirt supporter Sombat Boonngamanong, who also founded the non-profit Mirror Foundation, posted a “letter to Thaksin and Pheu Thai Party” on Facebook, saying the reds were no longer committed to voting for the party in the next election. 

 

Another Facebook user posted photographs of a protest by Thammasat activists, going by the name “League of Liberal Thammasat for Democracy”. The activists, made up to look like corpses, staged a show titled “Walk over Dead Bodies” outside the Pheu Thai Party headquarters. 

 

The entertainment industry also joined the protest, with Sattawat Intrayut, digital media manager for the Kantana Group, posting a photograph on Instagram of actors and actresses holding up signs voicing their opposition. 

 

Well-known online community “Drama-Addict” took the protest a step further by posting a satirical photograph with a message saying the amnesty bill benefited all Thais, except in the photo every face is the same – that of Thaksin. 

 

Academics and people in the information-technology industry also released a letter opposing the bill. The letter can be found at www.facebook.com/welovethailand/posts/226259474209397.