BANGKOK, May 8 – The official website of Thailand’s Office of the Prime Minister was hacked today with the name and title of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra replaced with messages attacking the premier herself.
Impolite messages written in English were posted by anonymous hackers identifying themselves only as “Unlimited Hack Team!!!”.
The group however denied responsibility for the attack.
As of press time, the website www.opm.go.th cannot be accessed.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Anudith Nakornthap dismissed the action as challenging the ministry’s move to take action against any websites which posted what he termed as unfair online criticism of premier.
Suranand Vejjajiva, the prime minister’s secretary, said the ICT ministry has been asked to close the website server, while an investigation is underway to track down the hacker.
“Legal action must be taken against the wrongdoer(s) as the act is a breach of the Computer Crime Act,” he said.
The hacking occurred a day after the prime minister said people have the right and freedom to criticise the government’s policies but untrue accusations are unacceptable and the ICT must take action.
A lawyer for Ms Yingluck filed a defamation suit against an influential daily newspaper cartoonist last week charging him — Chai Rachawat, the professional persona of Somchai Katunyutanan — for his Facebook post which allegedly caused damage to her reputation as the country’s leader.
His post apparently referred to the premier’s recent speech at a democracy forum in Mongolia where she denounced the 2006 coup toppling her brother former premier Thaksin and said “anti-democratic forces” still reign, particularly in independent organisations and the 2007 constitution.
