Prayut battles Facebook over banned Royalist Marketplace group

The premier accused overseas organisers of the Facebook group, which has about 1 million members, of causing conflict in Thailand and failing to take responsibility for their actions.

Following threats of legal action by the Thai government, access to the page in Thailand was blocked on Monday.  Facebook said it would counter the censorship with unspecified action.

Prayut identified self-exiled academics Somsak Jeamteerasakul and Pavin Chachavalpongpun as the men behind the group, but said they were nowhere to be found in Thailand and have not taken responsibility for their actions.

Somsak and Pavin moved abroad after the 2014 coup following summons by the military junta. Pavin has identified himself as the man behind Royalist Marketplace, which he describes as a forum for critical debate of the monarchy. There is no evidence that Somsak helps run the group.

“Thai people should know that whatever they [Somsak and Pavin] do, they will not face the consequences in this country, but the people will,” Prayut said.

“We have to deal with these kinds of online groups and pages with the law, not alleged dictatorship,” he added.

He made the comment after Facebook announced it was considering suing the Thai government for blocking the group and restricting Thai netizens’ freedom of expression.

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said the Digital Economy and Society Ministry had followed Thai law by demanding that Facebook block pages or groups that criticise the monarchy, adding that international law was another matter.

After Royalist Marketplace was blocked in Thailand yesterday, a new group was quickly created and attracted back half of its followers (approximately 500,000) in less than 24 hours.