<p>Pravit Rojanaphruk interviews Robert Amsterdam, lawyer for the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, in Prachatai's 'Core Respondence' TV programme.</p>
<p>The Amnesty International has responded to its members' <a href="http://www.prachatai3.info/english/node/2457">open letter</a> dated 29 April regarding a cancelled event featuring Robert Amsterdam in Malaysia.</p>
<p>Members of Amnesty International in Thailand and Malaysia, together with academics, activists and students have sent an open letter to the AI Secretary-General regarding the interference on AI Malaysia.</p>
<p>Amnesty International has responded to its members' query regarding the cancellation of Robert Amsterdam's talk in Malaysia a few days ago. Thai Political Prisoners has interesting posts on this issue (<a href="http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/ai-restricts-free-speech/">here</a> and<a href="http://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/ais-jaundiced-claims-of-political-neutrality/"> here</a>).</p>
<p>Red Shirt lawyer held a one-person dialogue in Kuala Lumpur after cancellation of an event to be hosted by Amnesty International Malaysia after advice from the Amnesty International Secretariat.</p>
<p>A Bangkok Democrat MP has urged police to press charges against Thaksin Shinawatra for hiring Robert Amsterdam to publish the ‘White Paper’, which he says is offensive to the monarchy and the courts. </p>
<p>Prachatai talked to Thaksin’s lawyer Robert Amsterdam in about mid-August. The transcription below has been edited and some parts are missing, as the interview was done over the phone.</p>