DSI seeks to block YouTube videos

Department of Special Investigation under the Justice Ministry is seeking a court order to block clips recently posted on video-sharing website YouTube that accuse Privy Council president Prem Tinsulanonda of masterminding the Sept 19 coup.

"In the couple of days, we will seek a court order to block those links deemed to cause public confusion and threaten national security," head of the unit Yanaphon Youngyuen said. "While awaiting the court order, we are seeking cooperation from internet service providers to block those links."

There are two parts of the postings, entitled The Crisis of Siam I and II. They were posted by iunknown79.

The first part of the clips, posted six days ago, have been viewed by 6,469 people while the second part, posted two days ago, have been viewed by 2,498 as of 4.45pm of Friday. The first part runs 10.45 minutes while the second runs 6.06 minutes.

Such allegations against Prem, now Privy Council chief, have been made by supporters of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra during demonstrations and denied repeatedly by the generals and the government they appointed.

"Pa has been through such allegations many times and everyone knows what the truth is," Prem's spokesman, Vice Admiral Prajun Tampratheep, said of the 87-year-old former leader.

YouTube had been blocked for five months by the government and the ban was lifted in August after its owner Google agreed to block clips deemed offensive to His Majesty the King.