<p>FORUM-ASIA is deeply concerned with the reports of harassment conducted by security and law enforcement officers against activists voicing their dissatisfaction and critiques against the content of the draft constitution, which is to be voted by Thai citizens this coming Sunday 19 August 2007. We urge the Thai military government and its officers to respect the basic rights of the people, in any democratic society, to voice their opinions on the referendum. </p>

<p>In a radio interview at the end of July, the interim prime minister of Thailand criticized anti-government protestors who fought with police outside the house of a privy councilor in Bangkok, the man whom they accuse of masterminding last year&#39;s military coup. General Surayud Chulanont told listeners that it was not right for the demonstrators to have gone there, and that all citizens ought to work together for the country. Everyone should cooperate and think about maintaining the image of Thailand abroad, he said. </p>

<p>(Hong Kong, August 10, 2007) Thailand is set to join a global anti-torture law, according to a government announcement issued this week. </p>

<p><span>The National Human Rights Commission yesterday defended its member Jaran Dittha-apichai&#39;s civil and political rights to protest against the coup. <p>The NHRC, led by its chairman Saneh Chamarik, called a press conference after meeting to discuss the performance of Jaran, who was involved in a violent anti-coup rally in front of the residence of General Prem Tinsulanonda last month.</p> <p></p></span></p>

<p>The interim government of Thailand is about to make a spectacle of itself -- one that will make brilliantly clear its ideal future society. According to an announcement by the Public Relations Department, a Democracy Festival will usher in the Aug. 19 referendum on the new military-backed constitution. </p>

<p>The military coup in Thailand last September was reminiscent of similar attempts in the Philippines in decades past. The difference was that citizens fought hard to restore democracy and uphold civilian supremacy. The struggle of Filipinos in those days shaped what the country has become today, although two decades later its institutions still face problems and their strength is threatened by their frailties. </p>

<p>Thai police are investigating a university lecturer for allegedly insulting the monarchy through examination questions he set on Thai civilisation.</p>

<p>A member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand has condemned the previous weekend&#39;s violence between security forces and crowds outside the house of the chief Privy Councillor, after which he and other anti-coup protest leaders were arrested. </p>

<p>The first clash between the police officials and demonstrators after the 19 September 2006 coup d&#39;etat in Thailand emerged on Sunday 22 July 2007. Human rights groups in the country have come out in condemnation of the use of violence against the United Democratic Front against Dictatorship (UDD) on the night of Sunday 22 July 2007, by the forces of the Royal Thai Police. </p>

<p>On 10 June 2007 the military-appointed interim prime minister of Thailand signed into effect a new law on computer-related offences. <a href="news.php?id=117">The Computer Crime Act BE 2550 (2007),</a> which was published in the government gazette just over a week later, is ostensibly intended to prevent violations of computer privacy and block the spread of pornography through the Internet.</p>

<p>It is absolutely acceptable and within legal confines to use water, tear gas, or even pepper spray to disperse crowds of protesters who decide to intentionally take a violent turn. </p>

<p>(Hong Kong, July 23, 2007) An online petition has been launched in support of a Thai lecturer who has been accused of insulting the monarchy through the questions asked in a university examination paper.</p>