<p>As the deadline for the filing of the appeal, which is July 16, is approaching rapidly, and as the Sri Lankan government has not lived up to its obligation of defending the rights of its citizens to a fair trial by providing funds for the appeal, the Asian Human Rights Commission has deposited the initial legal fees for the filing of the appeal.</p>

<p>Thailand&#39;s military leaders are contemplating a law that will clamp down on organised opposition to a controversial draft of a new constitution.</p>

<p>The interim prime minister of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont, has in recent days insisted that he will push ahead a raft of reforms to policing in Thailand. </p>

<p>The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received updated information regarding the death sentence of a Rizana Naffeek whose appeal will be finalized on 16 July 2007. </p>

<p>Rights groups and Western governments often slam the ruling military junta in Burma for atrocious human rights abuses and rampant corruption. However, its Asian neighbors and foreign energy firms are increasingly willing to ignore such records as focus shifts to the country&#39;s lucrative natural gas reserves. </p>

<p>(Bangkok, 03 July 2007) FORUM-ASIA is deeply concerned with the Thai military government&#39;s plan to pass <a href="news.php?id=67">the draft Internal Security Act (ISA).</a> Late last month the draft ISA was given a green light by the cabinet under the interim General Surayud Chulanont government.</p>

<p>A recording has been made public that indicates the extent to which Thailand&#39;s top jurists are compromised and their conduct, censurable. </p>

<p>In recent days there have been reports that expose Thailand&#39;s new draft constitution and the proposed referendum to bring it into force for the sham and fraud that they are. According to news articles, the country&#39;s military-appointed assembly has already passed the draft Referendum Act through a first reading. If the short, imprecise act is finalised, it will make it illegal for anyone to campaign for a &quot;no&quot; vote or even to campaign against the plebiscite itself, under threat of a maximum ten-year jail term.</p>

<p>The Thai military has barred media access to a refugee camp in Ban Huay Nam Khao, a mountainous village north of the country, the only one housing some 7,000 Hmong fleeing neighbouring Laos.</p>

<p>&quot;A nation can become strong only when its numerous small communities are strong&quot; Korn-Uma Pongnoi said on her speech for Anniversary of&nbsp;Charoen Wat-aksorn&#39;s&nbsp;Death&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>News and artcles related to the draft of&nbsp;ISA;</strong> -&nbsp; <a href="news.php?id=79">Draft ISA a Step Backwards from Human Rights and Rule of Law</a>, - <a href="news.php?id=68">Maintenance of National Security Act is for ensuring the powers of the military and not the security of the people!!</a>, - <a href="news.php?id=63">Students and Activists Declare - &quot;We don&#39;t want the Dictatorial Internal Security Act&quot;</a>, - <a href="news.php?id=56">Rights Groups Stress Internal Security Act - Threat to Human Rights,</a> - <a href="news.php?id=52">NLA Expect the ISA will not be Easily Passed - Speculations of the Military Protecting itself through the Law</a></p>

<p>Thousands Vote for the Most Abusive Corporations</p>