On December 27, 2011 the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network sent an open letter to the Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra on the deportation of a Hmong refugee and his family for the second time. In the letter, the group strongly urges the Thai government to reconsider its ill advised action and review its policy and procedure on refugees seeking asylum in Thailand, and calls on the Thai government to ensure that Ka Yang is not persecuted by the Lao PDR government and is released and permitted full freedom of movement.

BANGKOK, Dec 24, 2011 (IPS) - The ‘Land of Smiles’ attracts some 14 million tourists annually to its tranquil beaches and glistening temples. But to many Thais, their country is becoming one of grimaces, thanks to its draconian lese-majeste (LM) law.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL-Foundation) welcomes recent political developments in Burma, progress which includes less censorship of the media; more engagement with the NLD, Aung San Suu Kyi, and some ethnic groups; the release of some, though not all, political prisoners; and finally, the re-registration of the NLD as a political party to contest for the 48 parliamentary seats up for grabs in a by-election expected next year. The last year has seen substantive progress in the country and the regime’s positive steps should be recognized and encouraged.