By AHRC |
<p>In an interview posted on the website of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand, the commission's new chairwoman, Amara Pongsapich, has effectively promised to make the national rights institution meaningless and irrelevant, other than as an obstacle to human rights. </p>
<div>In his column in the latest issue of Red Weekly on 14 Aug 2009, Jakrapob Penkair criticizes some leaders of the Democracy movement, but without naming names. However, when he fled the country during the Songkran incident, it was reported that his split up from other leaders was not amicable.</div>
<p>The workers Submit to Triumph HQ a joint appeal denouncing and resisting the anti-worker and unjust retrenchment of workers by German-owned Triumph International.</p>
<p>On Aug 15, about 200 local people and red shirts in Lampang gathered at Ngao District Hospital to protest against a doctor who had refused to treat an old woman whose daughter wore a ‘Truth Today’ red shirt.</p>
<p>A group of Thai activists protested at the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok, demanding the Malaysian government release demonstrators who were arrested during a protest against the Internal Security Act (ISA), and abolish the law which gives sweeping powers to the authorities.</p>
By Reporters Without Borders |
<p>Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by the recent creation of a police taskforce to monitor websites and identify those posting content that violates Thailand’s draconian lese majeste law.</p>
<p>On Aug 10, PAD co-leader Sondhi Limthongkul commented in an ASTV programme about his attempted assassination. He said that Suthep Thaugsuban, Secretary-General of the Democrat Party and Deputy Prime Minister, should stop protecting the culprits. He suspected that Suthep may be in the know as to who plotted the ambush. Some said that Suthep had been aware of the plot, but did not speak out.</p>
<p>An artist who lost his right hand during the clash between the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) and police on Oct 7 last year has learnt to draw with his left hand. He was granted an audience with HM the Queen to offer portraits of her, which Her Majesty praised as ‘very good’.</p>
<p></p><p>On Aug 8, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told the press that the government would sponsor ‘Naresuan’, an epic movie about the ancient Ayutthayan king who saved the kingdom from Burma four hundred years ago. The movie is directed by Mom Chao Chatrichalerm Yukol, who made ‘Suriyothai’ in 2001.</p>
<p>A PAD lawyer said that the red shirts’ petition campaign was a violation of the Criminal Code, subject to many years in jail on charges of assisting a culprit and contempt of court.<span> </span>He provided a complaint form for people to download from Manager website to press charges against red shirt leaders and others throughout the country.</p>
By The Southeast Asian Press Alliance |
<p>The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) condemns the guilty verdict and 18-month extended house arrest meted out to Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on 11 August 2009. SEAPA joins the international community in rejecting this judgment, and in demanding the immediate release of Suu Kyi, a democracy icon in Burma and for the rest of the world.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB">A police IT task force has been set up to monitor websites and track down those who offend the monarchy.<span> </span>Police find it difficult to deal with websites whose servers are located abroad.<span> </span>The Crime Suppression Division is investigating Thaksin’s phone-ins, and charges are likely to be made. <span> </span></span></p>