SUBMISSION of the draft Internet Promotion Act to Cabinet has been delayed due to a lack of public acceptance, Srisakdi Chamornman, a consultant with the Thailand Chapter of the Internet Society, said.

At the third public hearing held to discuss the draft Internet Promotion Act in mid-January, most attendees opposed it, saying it was contrary to the spirit of liberalisation. They called for a fourth public hearing to increase public awareness of the issue.

Most participants at the last hearing said the draft Internet law will not benefit Internet users as it was drawn up for commercial purposes.

The Association of the Thai Computer Industry also disagreed with the draft, saying it should be a national policy rather than a matter for legislation.

It said the objective of the draft is to promote and develop use of the Internet and to prevent the production and propagation of what is considered by some groups to be harmful and indecent material.

Neither of these issues need to be addressed by law, the association said, as there are more effective ways in which the Internet can be promoted. It said there are several weaknesses in the draft's content, including Article 10.1-10.5, which it termed a mundane clause that could be eliminated.

In view of the opposition to the draft, the committee overseeing the Internet Promotion Act has postponed submission of this sixth draft to Cabinet. Originally, the draft was to be forwarded to the Transport and Communications Ministry last month. The new submission date has not been set.

''We need much wider acceptance from the public before proposing the law to Cabinet,'' Srisakdi said.

As only 30 people attended the last public hearing, another hearing will be scheduled after more than 100 people indicated they would like to attend.

He said the Internet law is not urgent at the moment -- the priority should be electronic commerce.

''The Commerce Ministry is establishing a pilot project for electronic commerce in order to compete with other countries,'' he said.

He said although Thailand should have an Internet law, the timing is not right. The copyright law took more than a decade to enact, and the Internet law will need plenty of time as well, he said.

BY JIRAPAN BOONNOON (jirapanb@mozart.inet.co.th)

The Nation