Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the new bill does not damage people’s rights as suggested by some organisations. The proposed legislation will protect the public from various threats on cyber security, including terrorism, personal data theft, fraud and online crimes against children.

During the weekly briefing, Prayut said: “If we have insufficient measures, there could be conflicts in many aspects. We have seen terrorism and transnational crimes. They also use [online] channels. Please understand us.”

Approved by the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly last Friday, the draft bill, an amended version from its 2007 predecessor, faced strong criticism on the grounds that it might infringe on people’s rights and online privacy.

Users of social media have expressed concern over Article 20 which requires the set-up of a nine-member committee to screen and remove contents deemed “disrupting peace, order and good morality of people” with court approval.

They say the definition of “peace, order and good morality” could be broadly interpreted by powers-that-be and used as tools against people with different opinions than the junta.

Previously, the computer crime law has been used by the Prayut government along with the lese majeste and sedition laws, to tackle online movements such as sharing an |infographic accusing the junta of committing graft.

Prayut yesterday said the definition of “morality” should already be clear.

“We are a Buddhist country. Why don’t some people understand its meaning as in [the law draft]?” he said. “Morality is about peace, order and national security. If this doesn’t make sense, we can’t do anything else.”

Regarding the role of the online content screening committee, he said they will prioritise the severity of the content deemed harmful to peace and order and committee members will be appointed based on qualifications.

“If we don’t trust the committee members’ integrity, how are we going to enforce the law?” he said.

The NLA’s decision to pass the draft law led to threats to disable government websites.

Among the targets was the Government House website, which was inaccessible for a few hours on Monday. Prayut said authorities have taken measures to counter hackers and it is normal for a website to go down for a while when it has too many visitors.

“I think many people understand reasons behind the bill. They just don’t speak out loud,” he said.

“Many who speak happen to be against it. I wonder if they really understand it. Some may only press ‘like’ on [opposing posts] without knowing what law drafters try to explain.”

Interior Minister Anupong Pao-chinda said the government could take legal action against those responsible for hacking into government websites.

“We have already put in place defensive measures,” he said, adding that some government websites might be vulnerable to cyber criminals.

Pol General Srivara Ransibrah-manakul, the deputy national police chief, said investigators are going after those who have hacked government websites and wrongdoers can face up to five years in jail and a fine of up to Bt100,000 or both.

According to Srivara, hacking into the computer systems of government agencies is a threat to national |security.

Meanwhile, General Udomdej Sitabut, the deputy defence minister, said the defence ministry’s websites are not affected by hackers as threatened by those opposing the new computer crime law due to precautionary measures taken by computer security experts.

On the upcoming cyber-security bill, he said, there should be no problem and the government will have to create a good understanding on this matter.

Surapong Tovichakchaikul, a former foreign minister of Pheu Thai party, said the government should listen to public concerns on the new law which critics have said would restrict the people’s freedom of expression and access to information.

The King’s remark came after the PM led 12 new cabinet members – seven current members who have been relocated, four new faces and one returning former colleague – to have an audience with the King for a swearing-in ceremony.

After the new members took an oath of allegiance, the King blessed the cabinet members for mental and physical health and happiness. The King, who succeeded his father, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej who died in October, also asked the Cabinet to study and follow the late king’s words and actions.

“Over the past 70 years, [the late monarch] had been kind and done a lot of works. And he had given his royal speeches and shown the action steps on a wide range of the topics. I would ask you to study and analyse his royal wish and his royal duties,” said the King.

The King also wished his father to bless, guide, and protect the cabinet members, adding that to follow and recall King Bhumibol’s words and actions would be auspicious for life.

His Majesty also asked the new Cabinet to discuss, find solutions to problems together and cautiously perform their duties.

“Every work has problems and burdens which are the test. And the test will become our lessons,” he said.

Meanwhile, the reshuffled Cabinet would prioritise low-income people when alleviating economic problems as they are the most affected groups of people. Prayut’s government has launched a series of stimulating programs and schemes to relieve the situation.

As quoted by Assistant Government Spokesperson Colonel Taksada Sangkachan, Prayut said that the government considers people of all classes but the poorest will be in focus.

The premier also insisted that despite speculation, reform agendas would still adhere to the “roadmap to democracy”, Taksada said.

Prayut stressed that the Cabinet reshuffle, the third since the junta government entered in 2014, was based on systematic reasons.

“There is no particular reason behind any particular figure, nor whether they are civilians or military officers,” the premier said at is weekly news briefing. “I’m not a politician. I don’t have political reasons or we will only return back at zero. So, please help us in creating correct understanding.”

The premier also added that despite reports he had no intention to reshuffle his deputy and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wognsuwan. “Show me if you find his flaws. I never think of reshuffling him,” he said.

Government Spokesperson Lieut Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd, said that ministers were also assigned by Prayut to take some of the workload from the deputy PMs.

The deputies are already in charge of functional works, chairing some committees and conducting local clusters. With ministers taking over some of the workload, deputies will be able to focus their agendas at structural levels, Sansern said.

For instance, illegal fisheries which are considered part of the government’s urgent agenda, will be taken care of by the agricultural and cooperatives minister. The agenda is currently overseen by Prawit who oversees security affairs.

THE CONSTITUTION Drafting Commission (CDC) yesterday backed down on some new rules in the recently introduced political party law, reducing the seed funding for individuals to Bt1,000 and cutting the number of members a party had to recruit to 10,000 from 20,000.

The annual membership fee of Bt100, however, remained in the law despite controversy.

The revision of the draft law followed heavy criticism that the new rules were unrealistic and unfriendly to political enthusiasts aspiring to form a new party.

CDC spokesman Norachit Sinhaseni said yesterday that after listening to opinions from the public and politicians, the drafters agreed to make five changes to organic laws.

Firstly, though the law still required a new party to have at least Bt1 million capital fund, the seed money contributed by an individual member was reduced to at least Bt1,000, down from Bt2,000 as stipulated previously in the law, he said.

Founding members must be comprised of between 500 to 300,000 people, he said.

Another change involved the number of members a party must recruit. The law previously set a minimum of 20,000 members in four years. The CDC reduced that to 10,000 members following politicians’ complaints.

The third revision involved the punishment imposed if a party fails to carry out activities demanded by the law such as encouraging public scrutiny of the state. The CDC decided to adjust the penalty from party dissolution or revocation of electoral rights to cutting financial subsidies from the EC.

For the offence of undermining monarchical, national, and economic security, the drafters reduced the jail term punishment to between two and 10 years with a Bt40,000 to Bt200,000 fine. Previously, the punishment was five to 10 years in prison.

The punishment for trading political offices remained unchanged with the maximum term set at life imprisonment or capital punishment.

Norachit said the provision clauses had not been completed. However, the CDC initially agreed that the existing parties should have 180 days or six months to adapt to the new procedures and adopt the new rules. Previously, they were given 90 to 180 days, he said.

Parties also have to submit their members’ records to the Election Commission within 30 days of the law coming into effect, he said.

In addition, the spokesman said media stockholders, journalists, public servants, members of provincial or local assemblies were eligible to be members of political parties while monks and priests were  prohibited.

The existence of a provincial committee has proved to be essential and helpful over the past three years that this Election Commission has been in office, he said.

However, he said, there are ways the jurisdiction of the committee can be changed. For instance, it can be removed from having a role in the investigation process, their commanding power can be taken away and they can be left only with the authority to arrange an election, he said.

In addition he said, the committee’s source of income comes from its meeting allowance and not monthly salaries.

However, Supachai said he could not possibly compare the committee with the newly introduced electoral inspectors because they have not been put in place yet.

Supachai said the EC would submit its observations to the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) for consideration, adding that the agency was willing to comply no matter how the law turns out eventually.

The EC president added that he was satisfied the new organic law allowed EC officials to carry out their work on criminal cases.

However, he declined to comment on the controversial rule on qualifications of EC commissioners – which could disqualify current members and force them out of office – because he is a stakeholder and there is a conflict of interest.

The CDC last week launched a newly written organic law on the EC in line with the new charter’s stipulations. The law lays out new rules and regulations for the agency including wiping out the provincial committee and new qualification requirements for the central EC members.

Marking its third year in office, the commission called a press conference yesterday to share its achievements so far.

Taking office late 2013 when the country was in deep political conflict, this EC was not able to successfully arrange an election, Supachai said. However, he said, the National Council for Peace and Order had faith in the agency.

He explained that though the agency did not have a chance to organise an election, it has played a part in building a better understanding of democracy and participation among the people.

Supachai said the agency played a key role in holding a national referendum that was found acceptable by all parties, adding that it also contributed to setting out new rules on laws for the agency, political parties, the Senate and MPs.

Supachai added that the agency would be entering its fourth year with preparations to organise a general election. The EC is working to boost transparency and facilitate voters in order to encourage them to exercise their rights, he said.

He added that the EC was writing guidelines for the next election, which the government has promised to hold next year.