<p>Burma&#39;s referendum on a new constitution planned for May should be conducted in an atmosphere of freedom and respect for basic rights, and not as a hollow exercise in the military&#39;s sham political reform process, Human Rights Watch said today.</p>

<p>Academics have warned that the outgoing government&#39;s resolution to stop officials from using foreign email providers may be unconstitutional.</p>

<p>An article in the Asia Times this week linked a secret U.S. facility in eastern Thailand with the torture of people in the country&#39;s south. According to Shawn W. Crispin, &quot;Rights advocates monitoring southern Thailand&#39;s conflict note a striking similarity between the torture techniques U.S. agents are known to have used against terror suspects ... with those now in practice by Thai security forces against suspected Thai Muslim militants.&quot;</p>

<p>The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that ten activists were charged with trespassing and coercion in relation to peaceful protest that was held on 12 December 2007 in Thailand. The demonstration was organized to protest against the appointed National Legislative Assembly&#39;s (NLA) attempts to push through legislation that would restrict fundamental rights and freedoms just before a general election that would bring in a democratic, representative legislature.</p>

<p>Besides the shut down of Fah Diew Kun website (see <a href="http://facthai.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">FACT</a> for more information), many Thai bloggers are still struggling with how they are going to survive in Thai blogophere.</p>

<p>Police yesterday summoned activist Jon Ungpakorn and 10 fellow activists to hear charges related to their forced entry into Parliament House in December to disrupt the National Legislative Assembly as it deliberated several laws.</p>

<p>&quot;There is no question about the desire of local communities to express themselves through small media. It is a global phenomenon. But this is complicated by challenges coming from different sides, including changes in technology, that we don&#39;t see the future clearly,&quot; explained Prof Drew McDaniel, director for international studies of Ohio University.</p>

<p>On Thursday December 27th 2007, shortly after polling stations were closed, Kenya was hailed as having fulfilled an African dream - to have a free and fair closely contested democratic election.&nbsp; But less than 48 hours later it was clear that the dream of democracy could become a nightmare of ethnic violence.&nbsp; </p>

<p>Officers of the Kalasin District Police Station in northeastern Thailand are alleged to have abducted and murdered dozens of people in the last few years. The actual number could exceed 100; many more bodies have been found, but were not properly examined and documented before being cremated. </p>

<p>The military junta risks facing a popular uprising if it continues meddling in politics by blocking the People Power Party (PPP) from forming a coalition government, a coordinator of the September 19 Network Against Dictatorship warned yesterday.</p>

<p>Central authorities tell communities along the coast to keep an eye out despite new hi-tech alarm system</p>

<p>The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a Thai paramilitary unit allegedly opened fire on a party of six Cambodians gathering rattan liana in the forest on the border of the two countries this December 12, killing one and wounding another. Forestry officials in Thailand had reportedly called the unit to hunt for illegal loggers. No action is known to have followed to investigate or take action against the accused. </p>