By Cross Cultural Foundation |
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">As Royal Thai Government and the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic have agreed on repatriation of all 4,000 displaced Laos Hmong, taking shelter in Huay Nam Khao camp in Phetchaboon province in the north east of Thailand, back to Laos within September 2009. Since February 2007, Thailand and Laos have collaboratively repatriated over 2,000 Lao Hmong back to Lao including elderly, women and children.</span></span></p>
By Working Group on Justice for Peace |
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">The statement is in reference to the distribution of leaflets in Thai and Malay entitled "Public Relations Document: Joining Forces to Create a Peaceful Society" with the insignia of Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 (ISOC Region 4) and the Joint Civilian-Police-Military Command, among people living in the Southern border provinces. The leaflets also carry the picture of Ms.</p>
By Reporters Without Borders |
<p>Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by a government announcement on 14 May that it will introduce new regulations for community radio stations and cable and satellite TV stations aimed at controlling programme content. Broadcasters would be required to seek permission for each programme being aired, the government said.</p>
By AHRC |
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">In a BBC Sinhala Service interview broadcast yesterday (May 19, Evening) the army commander, Sarath Fonseka was questioned about the statement by Amnesty International concerning the three doctors who were previously working in a hospital in what was called the no-fire zone and asked about their current whereabouts (Dr T. Sathiyamoorthy, Dr T. Varatharajah and Dr. Shanmugarajah). The army commander’s answer was, you ask me the whereabouts of these persons. But how do you know that they have arrived?</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:<br />
normal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";<br />
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB">On May 18, Sulak Sivarak, 76, reported to Khon Kaen Provincial Court, after being arrested and charged with lèse majesté on Nov 6 last year for what he said in his lecture on ‘Folk Philosophy’ at Khon Kaen University on Dec 11, 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p>On the 17<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the May 1992 events, Thaipost tabloid talked to Adul Kiewboribul, leader of the group of relatives of those who were killed or went missing during the bloody clashes with the army on the streets of Bangkok.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">More than 160 NGOs released a joint statement today calling for the<br />
protection of internally displaced people and refugees who have fled<br />
the recent conflict in Sri Lanka. The civil society organisations<br />
also called for greater respect and protection for human rights within<br />
the country.</p>
<p>As the government of Sri Lanka prepares to announce victory in its<br />
military activities against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam</p>
By Peace for Burma |
<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Following Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s recent poor health treatment care of the Burmese regime, the national league for democracy leader and symbol of hope for the Burmese people was unjustly charged on May 14, 2009 with breaching the terms of her detention which is likely to result in a 3-5 years prison sentence merely because an unwelcome visit made by an American.</span></span></p>
<p><p>(Bangkok, 16 May 2009) The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), which represents 42 member organizations in Asia condemns the charges leveled against Burmese democracy leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, by the military authorities. FORUM-ASIA calls for an unconditional and immediate release of Suu Kyi, her two aides and around 2,100 political prisoners and urges ASEAN to demand the military authorities to end Suu Kyi’s 13-year detention.</p>
By SEAPA |
<p>The Thai government announced on 14 May 2009 its plan to regulate<br />
the program content of radio stations and cable and satellite TV<br />
stations in the country, media reports said. </p>
<p>According to Anont Nampa, lawyer for lèse majesté convict Suwicha Thakor, the public prosecutor has asked the Court to extend the period for filing an appeal that should have ended on May 3, to June 1. In effect, the case is not finished, and Suwicha’s family cannot start the process of seeking a royal pardon.</p>
<p>‘And if the prosecutor files an appeal during this time, the case will drag on,’ said Anont.</p>
By Unqualified Candidates Were Selected by Secret and Illegal Process |
<p>(New York, May 13, 2009) – The newly appointed members of Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission, whose selection process violated constitutional requirements and international standards, should resign to restore the commission’s credibility, Human Rights Watch said today. Upcoming constitutional reforms should include a new selection process that will ensure independence, transparency, public scrutiny, and broad-based participation.<b></p>