Thailand blocked 2300 Websites

Recently, I got the news that Thailand has blocked around 2300 websites since the last year. The reason being they are offending the country's monarchy, told by a senior official.

Amond these blocked websites, around 90% have been registered abroad and have been blocked for pornographic content. Also they were threatening national security, said Ms Sue Lo-uthai, a Senior official at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology had already started in 2007 to start blocking websites as law was enforced according to which the officials have the power to take actions against Cyber crime. But the number of websites who were blocked in 2007 was quite low.

“Most of the cases are lese majeste ones which have rapidly increased this year. I personally believe that the reason behind the increase is the political conflict in Thailand,'' he said.

The majority of Thai people greatly revere 81-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Insult of the monarchy is a crime known as "lese majeste" may isue a penalty of up to 15 years in jail.

Thailand has experienced serious political up-heavels which almost virtually paralysed the Thai goverment for so many months. Loyalists of exiled ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra extended their two-day demonstration against a newly formed government on Tuesday, demanding that it call general elections.