CONFIRMED: US-funded Communication Tools Distributed to Thai Mob

September 18, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci - ATN) - Just ahead of a major rally organized by US government-funded opposition groups and Thailand's billionaire-led opposition parties - Western-funded NGOs like Human Rights Watch have been helping promote US government-funded software tools to help agitators circumvent any attempts to restrict or monitor communication during the protests. 

Sunai Phasuk - HRW's Thai head - posted on social media information about how to access  two applications called "Briar" and "FireChat." Another app called Bridgefy has also been distributed among the protesters. 

Briar - according to its own official website - was funded by the US government's "Open Technology Fund" (OTF). 

The Washington DC-based OTF on its own website admits it is part of the US Agency for Global Media - the US government's official propaganda arm which directly serves in advancing the intrests of the US State Department.   

The software - along with FireChat - has been used in virtually every US-backed protest around the world since their respective creations. 

Gizmodo in an article titled, "How Mesh Messaging Apps Work, and Why You Might Need One," would report (emphasis added): 

A particular type of app is back in the news on the back of the Hong Kong protests: Mesh messaging apps that allow users to keep in touch without relying on wifi networks, cell networks, or any other type of infrastructure controlled by the authorities... and these apps can be useful whether or not you’re trying to stay under the radar of the government.

Another option worth looking at is Briar, which is only on Android. It’s simple but it’s slick, and it’s designed specifically for activists, journalists, and “anyone else who needs a safe, easy and robust way to communicate”—to that end it uses the Tor network, if an internet connection is available, to prevent outside monitoring and eavesdropping.

Not mentioned was Briar's genesis by the US government as a tool for subversion, not "activism."  

Financial Times in its article about Firechat titled, "FireChat to be rolled out as messaging service," would report (emphasis added): 

FireChat, which has 5m users, came to prominence in Hong Kong during the pro-democracy protests last year by enabling people to get around government restrictions on some social networks or communicate when cellular systems failed. It was also popular in Taiwan during the “sunflower movement”, when student activists stormed the country’s legislature to protest a trade deal with China.

FireChat has been openly promoted by the US government through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its subsidiary, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) - both of which are also funding virtually every core organization leading Thailand's current anti-government protests.  

READ MORE: The Complete Guide: US Government Role in Thailand's "Student Protests"

Confirming that US-funded Thai protests have taken up the likewise US-funded communication tools is an article by Thai PBS titled, "Protesters prepare for communication hiccups," noting (emphasis added): 

To avoid communication hiccups during the demonstration in case the mobile signal network is down, protesters start to circle around encouraging others to download Bridgefy or Briar for back-up plan.

Thai PBS also notes that (emphasis added): 

The US designed software has gained popularity since last year during political protests in Hong Kong and also Citizenship Amendment Act protests in India.

It is clear these tools were specifically created and promoted by Washington and its partners for carrying out political subversion around the globe and in direct violation of the UN Charter prohibiting the interference in or undermining of a nation's political independence. 

READ MORE: US-Funded Agitators in Hong Kong Back Thai Protests

The fact that Western-funded fronts like HRW are promoting the use of US-funded communication tools in Thailand among protesters who openly identify themselves as part of the "Milk Tea Alliance" alongside US-backed agitators in Taiwan and Hong Kong - is further evidence of just how deep and complete US involvement is behind Thailand's current anti-government unrest.  

This recent revelation should make it easier for the Thai government to pass security laws to deal with growing foreign involvement in the nation's internal political affairs as well as deal with those receiving support from abroad to undermine Thailand socially, politically, and economically. 

US Government Gives Award to Hong Kong Agitators it Funded

September 18, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci - LD) - After previously denying any role in supporting protests in Hong Kong - Freedom House - a subsidiary of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) who had been funding Hong Kong protest groups for years - will be showering Hong Kong's opposition with awards. 

If there was any doubt about how deeply involved the US government is in funding and backing political subversion not only in Hong Kong, but around the globe - in addition to its multiple illegal wars, invasions, occupations, and other "hard power" interventions - the US government-funded NED through its subsidiary Freedom House has just awarded Hong Kong's mobs its 2020 "Freedom Award." 

Image: A previous Freedom House event in 2015 would feature "umbrella revolution" leaders Joshua Wong, Benny Tai, and Martin Lee being "honored" in Washington DC. Despite this open display of support, plus financial support provided by the US government to various organizations linked to each leader, the US would later attempt to deny any role in Hong Kong protests which eventually led to violence and arson.   

It is full circle for the US-regime change pipeline - albeit unsuccessfully- where the US government helps create, fund, and sustain unrest in a targeted country, props it up across the Western media, then showers all involved with "awards" afterward not only to bolster their morale, but to encourage other US-funded agitators elsewhere to continue their work. 

"Freedom Award" Exposes Global-Spanning Political Interference

Freedom House's website in a post titled, "Freedom House Presents 2020 Freedom Award to Hong Kong and Sudan Protesters," would claim (emphasis added): 

The special online Freedom Awards event will feature special remarks from former Belarusian presidential candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Hong Kong’s prodemocracy movement and two groups from Sudan—the Sudanese Professionals Association, represented by Samahir Ali Othman Almubarak, and the Organization of the December Revolution Martyrs’ Families, represented by Dr. Amira Babiker Ahmed Osman—will receive the 2020 Freedom Award at Freedom House’s annual awards event on September 16, beginning at 6:45 p.m. EDT. 

The mention of Belarus opposition figures only further boosts already clear evidence that the US is involved in political meddling in that nation as well - a nation sitting right on Russia's borders. 

Image: Previous Freedom House guest Joshua Wong (left) and speaker at Freedom House's 2020 "Freedom Award" event Nathan Law (right) in Washington DC lobbying and receiving US government support for their mobs in Hong Kong, China. 

Freedom House also notes that Hong Kong opposition figure Nathan Law - who had previously visited Washington DC to solicite and receive US government backing - would be speaking at the event: 

Prominent activist and former legislator Nathan Law will speak about the movement for democracy in Hong Kong. Special remarks will also be delivered by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, recent Belarusian presidential candidate; Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives; and Marco Rubio, US senator from Florida. Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, will offer reflections on the US protests for racial justice.

Were there any doubt that the US was behind Hong Kong's unrest and in contact with the protest's core leadership, the US government-funded Freedom House organizing an event in which actual protest leaders are participating should help shed it.  

In order to help those struggling with why US meddling in places like Hong Kong, Belarus, and elsewhere is wrong, first consider the UN Charter itself - Chapter 1, Article 2 which states: 

All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.

An opposition group funded and run by a foreign country is a direct attack on the political independence of any nation such groups are operating in or against. Hong Kong's mobs in particular were demanding "independence," meaning that US-funded opposition groups were attacking the territorial integrity of China as well. 

And if that isn't convincing enough, just consider if nations like Russia or China were involved in similar behavior - dispersing money and support to opposition groups in the US aimed at ousting the current government, rewriting America's constitution and laws, or just simply, violently destroying America's infrastructure - then holding "award" ceremonies in which these agitators would literally fly out of the country to attend in either Russia or China. 

UN Report on Venezuela "Abuses" Written by Investigators Who Never Visited Venezuela

September 16, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci  - LD) - The Western media is touting the results of a so-called "Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" conducted through the United Nations. 

AFP in an article titled, "Venezuela president behind crimes against humanity: UN probe," would claim: 

In their first report, a team of investigators tasked with probing a slew of alleged violations in Venezuela said they had found evidence that state actors, including President Nicolas Maduro, were behind serious international crimes.

It is only until the ninth paragraph that AFP finally admits (emphasis added): 

The three-person team was unable to visit Venezuela, but based their findings on 274 remote interviews with victims, witnesses, former state officials and others, and analysis of confidential documents, including legal case files. 

Other articles announcing the "investigation" including CNN's "Venezuela's government accused of committing crimes against humanity in UN report," make no mention at all of the fact investigators never set foot in Venezuela before drawing their conclusions. 

Zero Credibility 

It would be unimaginable for police to never bother visiting a crime scene before carrying out and concluding an investigation based on " remote interviews" with people who claimed to be witnesses. Likewise, it is unimaginable that any legitimate investigation into Venezuela's internal political affairs can be conducted by "investigators" who never bothered to even visit the country. 

And of course, the UN investigation is not legitimate. Interviews and accusations are where investigations begin, not where they end. The collection of actual evidence is required to substantiate such claims - a collection of evidence the politically-motivated interests behind this latest investigation and its public promotion have no interest in carrying out.

UN "Investigation" Enables, Not Exposes Abuse  

As to why there are efforts to accuse Venezuela of "crimes against humanity" without carrying out a real investigation stem from ongoing efforts by Washington and its European allies to overthrow the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and install their handpicked proxy Juan Guaido.

In addition to this blatant example of political interference in Venezuela's internal political affairs - announcing an opposition figure "president" of a country outside of said nation's own political processes -  the US has spent millions of dollars annually funding opposition groups in an attempt to undermine Venezuela's political independence. 

Thai Protest Leader Anon Nampa Lies About US Funding

 Substantial documented evidence and even admissions by his organization's own founder confirm the foreign funded nature of his "activism." 

September 16, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci - ATN) - Anon Nampa, billed by the Western media as a "core leader" of Thailand's ongoing US-backed anti-government protests, has recently lied about receiving any money or support from the US government.

In a recent Thai/English interview with Pravit Rojanaphruk for Khaosod - a newspaper owned by the family of billionaire opposition leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit - he denied receiving any money from abroad. 

Pravit failed to show Anon Nampa documented evidence proving otherwise and instead simply repeated and reinforced Anon Nampa's lie. 

Anon Nampa did - however - admit that he spends at least 100,000 Thai Baht a month on his political activities, but did not disclose who his donors were. For a point of reference, the average minimum wage worker in Thailand earns about 10,000 Thai Baht.  

Anon Nampa's Thai Lawyers for Human Rights is US Funded  

Anon Nampa's Frontline Defenders profile claims (emphasis added): 

Arnon Nampa is a human rights lawyer who volunteers with the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). TLHR was established in 2014 to provide legal assistance to alleged violators of lèse-majesté and human rights defenders targeted by the authorities following the military coup of 22 May 2014. 

Anon Nampa's organization - Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) - is listed as a recipient of US government money via the notorious US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and has been funded by the US government since it was created in 2014.

READ MORE: What is the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED)?

In 2014, the US NED listed TLHR by name - archived here - as receiving nearly 1 million Thai Baht a year. The NED Thailand 2014 page notes (emphasis added): 

Access to Justice and the Protection of Human Rights under Martial Law: To promote and protect human rights. The Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, hosted by the Union for Civil Liberty, will provide legal assistance to those affected by martial law rule. Activities will also include monitoring and documentation of human rights violations across the country.

TLHR being hosted by the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) is important to note, because the US NED website has since deleted mention of TLHR and instead includes its funding under the UCL which receives a staggering 4 million baht a year from the US government. The UCL lists TLHR - among other US NED grantees - as a member of its union at the bottom of its official website.

In addition to funding TLHR the US State Department had awarded another TLHR lawyer - Sirikan “June” Charoensiri the 2018 "International Women of Courage Award" presented by US First Lady Melania Trump.

The US Embassy in Bangkok - now denying any involvement with US NED-funded groups like TLHR - would at the time openly praise TLHR in a statement celebrating the award, exclaiming:

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok is proud of Sirikan “June” Charoensiri’s work as a lawyer and human rights defender, and for being recognized by the Secretary of State as an International Women of Courage award recipient.

Ms. Sirikan is a co-founder of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), a lawyers’ collective set up to provide pro bono legal services for human rights cases and to document human rights violations.

Thus - an organization carefully cultivated by the US government for years - propped up financially and politically and even awarded for carrying out Washington's agenda in Thailand - is now leading protests aimed at overthrowing the elected government of Thailand, and lying about the nature of their foreign funding.

TLHR's Own Founder Admitted to Foreign Funding Multiple Times 

Admissions by TLHR staff itself in the past has made it clear the foreign-funded nature of its activities. 

The Bangkok Post in a 2016 article titled, "The lawyer preparing to defend herself," would admit (emphasis added):

...[TLHR] receives all its funding from international donors including the EU, Germany and US-based human rights organisations and embassies of the UK and Canada.

In an interview with likewise US NED-funded media portal Prachatai titled,  "Interview with Head of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, on receiving human rights award from French Embassy," TLHR founder Yaowalak Anupan would fully admit (emphasis added):

We have to thank many organizations which support us, such as iLaw, Cross Cultural Foundation, International Commission of Jurists, United Nations, European Union, British Embassy, Canadian Embassy, among others. 

It should be noted that iLaw (Internet Law Reform Dialogue) and Cross Cultural Foundation (page 31, PDF) are also both funded by the US NED and are listed on NED's past and current Thailand webpages.  

There is absolutely no doubt that Thai Lawyers for Human Rights is funded by the US government via the National Endowment for Democracy - an organization created by the US government, funded annually by the US Congress, and overseen by both the Congress and the US State Department - according to its own "About Us" page and despite dishonest attempts to still portray itself as "nongovernmental" and "private."  

Anon Nampa has lied blatantly to the Thai/English-speaking public. Pravit Rojanaphruk and Khaosod have helped repeat that lie - rather than confront Anon Nampa with the documented evidence and even TLHR's own previous admissions confirming his organization is funded by the US government - among other foreign interests. 

While attempts might be made in the future to eventually excuse or explain this foreign funding by Anon Nampa, the fact that Anon Nampa and his supporters are now openly lying about it means they know what they are doing is wrong and are attempting to hide it from the public for as long as possible. 

Twitter Censors Blog After Exposing US Funding Protests in Thailand

 September 15, 2020 (Tony Cartalucci - LD) - After exposing US funding behind Thailand's current anti-government protests and the US Embassy responding not once, but twice to growing awareness among the Thai public - Twitter moved to censor links to my Thai-centric blog, AltThaiNews. 

READ MORE: US Embassy Denies Funding Thai Protests Groups Listed on US NED's Own Website

Attempts to post on Twitter any link from AltThaiNews results in an error message noting that the link was blocked because Twitter determined it was "harmful." 

US Embassy denials of funding Thai anti-government organizations are as easy to debunk as simply visiting the US National Endowment for Democracy's (NED) own official website and seeing core opposition groups listed directly on it.

The US NED is funding organizations supplying the protests with core leaders like Anon Nampa (listed as Union for Civil Liberty).

It is also funding organizations involved in calls to rewrite Thailand's entire Constitution (listed as Internet Law Reform Dialogue also known as iLaw). 

The US NED is also funding media platforms promoting the protests on a daily basis (Foundation for Community Educational Media also known as Prachatai) as well as organizations that supply actual protesters to the rallies themselves (listed as Thai Poor Act also known as Assembly of the Poor).  

READ MORE: The Complete Guide: US Government Role in Thailand's "Student Protests"

It is only a matter of time before similar measures are put into place on Facebook who together with Twitter banned my social media accounts on the same day in a coordinated act of censorship a while back. 

That blogs simply exposing information found on the US government's own official websites is grounds for censorship on Twitter and Facebook demonstrates that these US-based tech giants function more as propaganda tools, methods of managing public perception, and even weapons of information warfare than actual social media platforms used to connect people and share information. 

The fact that Facebook and Twitter already censored me by deleting my accounts but still failed to prevent this information from reaching the public illustrates just how badly the West is losing the information war. The deleting of accounts, the blocking of links, and even Google erasing these blogs themselves will only lead to more innovative, effective, and most importantly - more determined efforts to overcome this censorship. 

Since Facebook and Twitter are managing their platforms as weapons of information warfare, nations outside of the US and more specifically those targeted by US coercion and pressure should consider restricting or removing these services entirely from their information space and replacing them with domestic alternatives. This will not only help protect national security and stability but will create jobs and income that were otherwise previously enjoyed mainly by Silicon Valley.