Thailand blocks YouTube for clip mocking king

By Nopporn Wong-Anan

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military-appointed government blocked access to on-line video-sharing Web site YouTube on Wednesday after its owner, Google Inc., declined to withdraw a video clip mocking the country's revered monarch.

Communications Minister Sitthichai Pookaiyaudom told Reuters he had ordered a block of the entire site, www.youtube.com, from Thailand after the ministry's attempts to get the offending page removed last week failed.

"Since Google has rejected our repeated requests to withdraw the clip, we can't help blocking the entire site in Thailand," said Sitthichai, a telecoms professor who said he had spent most of his academic life researching eavesdropping devices.

"When they decide to withdraw the clip, we will withdraw the ban," he said.

YouTube, which has dominated the user-generated on-line video market since it was founded in February last year, carried a 44-second clip ridiculing King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest reigning monarch, who is revered by all 63 million Thais.

The sender of the clip, seen more than 16,000 times, was named "paddidda" and has been rudely attacked by most of 99 comments, according to the Web site.

"The king is the most revered figure in the country; he is untouchable," said Metha Sakaowrat, president of the Information Technology Press Club -- a guild of Thai IT journalists.

Sitthichai said YouTube had told Thai officials it did not find the clip offensive so turned down the request to remove it.