<div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The Asian Human Rights Commission wishes to express grave concern about the arrest of Prom Jarana (64 years old), a human rights defender and land rights activist with the Assembly of the Poor in Kaobart Village, Nondindaeng District, Buriram province. According to information provided by Protection International and the Assembly of the Poor to the AHRC, Prom was arrested by a group of soldiers and police at his home at 10:30 am on 17 July 2014 and taken to a military camp. His arrest comes after weeks of intimidation and threatened evictions against the community. </div>

<div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is gravely concernedto have learned that Thanapol Eawsakul, writer, human rights defender, and editor of Fa Diew Kan (Same Sky) journal and publishing house, has been re-arrested and is being held by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The conditions of his re-arrest and detention are arbitrary and a clear derogation of the Government of Thailand's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). </div>

<p></p>

<p></p>

<p>On 11 July, <a href="http://somchaiaward.org">Somchai Neelapaijit Memorial Fund</a> will give out Somchai Neelapaijit Award to honor and support outstanding human rights defenders. Dr Charnvit Kasetsiri, former Rector of Thammasat University, will be the President of the Ceremony.</p>

<p>The Vice-Chair of the Indonesian National Human Rights Commission, Mr. Nurkholis, today called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support a UN investigation into business and human rights violations in Burma. Mr. Nurkholis made his statement as a member of the experts panel at regional civil society&rsquo;s first Public Hearing on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Human Rights in ASEAN held in Jakarta today.</p>

<p>London 14.03.11: ARTICLE 19 has submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council highlighting the Thai government&rsquo;s restriction of the right to freedom of expression including emergency powers, the Computer Crime Act, defamation and l&egrave;se-majest&eacute; laws. The report also raises concerns over the lack of implementation of the Official Information Act, and the control of the media by the military and government.</p>

<p>As the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar presents his report to the 16th session of United Nations Human Rights Council, governments should speak with one voice on Myanmar&rsquo;s long-standing failure to address widespread and systematic human rights violations in the country.</p>

<p class="rteleft">Thongbai Thongpao, noted lawyer and former political prisoner, died on 24 January 2011 at the age of 84. Although I did not ever meet Thongbai, I had been moved by his writing of his incarceration as a political prisoner from 1961 until 1966 in Communists of Lad Yao (<em>คอมมิวนิสต์ลาดยาว</em>), which I read as part of preparation for my Ph.D. comprehensive exams.&nbsp; <em>Communists of Lad Yao</em> was first published in 1974, eight years after his release from prison and during the time of open politics between 14 October 1973 and 6 October 1976.</p>

<p>On 28th February 2011, the Thai Foreign Minister Mr. Kasit Piromya, addressed the 16th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva at its High Level Segment (HLS). The HLS, which takes place in March of each year, was the first Ministerial level speech that Thailand delivered since it was elected as a member of the Council in May 2010. </p>

<p><em>The Asian Human Rights Commission has written an open letter to Asahi Kosei (M) Sdn. Bhd. Company in Malaysia in protest against its possible move to take legal action for libel against migrant labour rights advocate Charles Hector. </em></p>

<p><em>A written statement submitted by the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) to the UN Human Rights Council</em></p>