Supinya.com
Freedom of expression and belief is a basic human right, not a crime.-
June 24th, 2009Cyber-liberty, Media&journalism, Politics, UncategorizedThis morning before dawn, I posted short messages on Twitter and Facebook to commemorate the day of revolution for Constitutional Democracy in Thailand on the occasion of June 24 , lot of netizen friends re-tweeted the messages on this matter continuously. The role of social media or social network has played more vitally in Thai society especially among the Net generation. I wonder if a number of Internet users are dramatically increased, how Thai Government will deal with the livelier community of social network in cyber world. The role of Twitter has shown a dramatic consequence in Iran uprising as we’ve seen. I was requested by netizen friends to change my location and time zone in my Twitter to Iran’s time in order to cause technical jam when Iranian government attempted to hunt the dissident netizens who mobilizing themselves from online to offline world.
Internet is not only the media or medium for human communication but in fact a different world to live and share.
What has been discussed in the Internet might not be the agendas or stories selected by mass media.
Yesterday, I was at the workshop for activists on civil journalism, they’re encouraged to voice out and publish their own stories via online channel. This becomes a trend but how far social media could direct this country for changes politically, culturally and socially, it is so interesting to observe.
I meant to talk about the Siamese Revolution Day but just spoke about the media. I just wish to see mass media contribute airtime and space for historical stories like what happened today 77 years ago so the general public and young generation could learn about Thai history much more oriented. But in fact we rarely heard about this kind of story from mass media. It’s never been a big news if compares with such a dramatized news of baby Panda or the orphanage child, Keigo. I am not sure this early morning how many of people would have come to commemorate the day at the Royal Plaza where the symbol of the Revolution established in that area. I was once able to manage to go there since it’s too early. Before the September 19 coup in 2006, we could see various activists organized the event together. It was still a good memory to remind that.
77 years on, where do we go next? I also don’t know but at least we came a bit far because the change at early dawn in 1932 contributed to certain level of liberty and democracy that I could enjoy. But many people do not think so.
I do not have any suggestion for now but I hope democracy in this country will be sustained and stregnthened despite the ongoing conflict. Hope we are willing to accept the reality and allow citizens to learn and discuss the history fully more, therefore we could understand the present and be cautious or prepare for the future. Mass media is important for this role, please do not ignore, try a bit harder and it will help a lot.
Tags: Democracy, Facebook, Internet, Netizen, Revolution, Siam, Social media/network, Twitter

Supinya is her given name. Freebird is a pen name.
She is liberal but moderate in a way.
A new blogger currently working for Thai Netizen Network and Campaign for Popular Media Reform (CPMR) based in Bangkok, Thailand.
Supinya is an Ashoka and Eisenhower Fellow.
Her favorite maxim is quoted from Prince Gautama Siddharta, the Buddha: "Peace comes from within.
Do not seek it without"