<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>

<p>Reporters Without Borders voiced concern today about the Computer Crime Act that took effect on 18 July. It allows the police to seize the computer files and online files of persons suspected of disseminating insulting or pornographic content.</p>

<p>The Asian Human Rights Commission thus calls upon the government of Thailand to see that all criminal acts, not only those that it picks and chooses, be subject to proper criminal investigation, prosecution and punishment through the courts, not ad hoc committees, tribunals and internal inquiries.</p>

<p>A prominent Malaysian blogger detained under the Official Secrets Act for comments on his blog accusing a minister of corruption is the latest victim of an emerging clampdown on online expression in the country and region, reports the Southeast Asia Press Alliance (SEAPA). </p>

<p>ARTICLE 19 today released its analysis of the draft Thai Public Service Broadcasting Agency Act, which seeks to transform TITV, a former commercial channel, into a public service broadcaster. If the draft Act is adopted, Thailand will become the first Southeast Asian country to put in place a legal framework for independent public service broadcasting. </p>

<p>ASEAN-based activists have condemned the Burmese regime&#39;s<br />constitution-drafting process as &quot;part of the problem and not the solution<br />to Burma&#39;s troubles&quot;.</p>

<p>On July 17 the government of Thailand renewed a state of emergency over the southern border provinces for the ninth time since it was introduced two years ago. That the bloodshed in the south has only worsened in these years should not be a surprise to anybody. </p>

<p>On May 11th, Oiwan Lam, Global Voices <a href="http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/author/oiwan/">Northeast Asia Editor</a>, committed what she says was a deliberate act of civil disobedience.</p>

<p>The Burmese junta has imposed restrictions on media coverage of the National Convention on the drafting of the constitution, to be held on 18 July 2007. </p>

<p>The ICJ&#39;s comments were sent in response to H.E. Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont&#39;s (Ret.) public invitation for comments on the Bill and are available in full on the ICJ website (www.icj.org). </p>