This was sent to a ML e-list (ISML). I recall that Jim Devien was asking for details on the reasons for the recent coup. This does not give the ideological background/identity of the regime, but it does give a flavour of what it does in practice. Hari _____________________________________________ Thai Style Repression of Academic Freedom
ON Saturday, November 11, 2006, Thailand moved towards further repression of pro-democracy activists. Not only repression of Thai activists, but also of pro-democracy activists from other ASEAN countries. On 8: 15, Dr. George Junus Aditjondro, an Indonesian academic known for his extensive worldwide studies of Soeharto's corruption, was put on a Thai Airlines plane to Jakarta, after spending one night at the Immigration Detention Centre at the Suwarnabhumi airport. The reason given for the deportation of Dr Aditjondro, who arrived the day before on Thai Airlines flight TG 434 on 4: 40 pm local time, was that his name is still on a black list from Jakarta, dated March 1998. Aditjondro's argument that that black list was issued by former president Soeharto, who has since been replaced by four consecutive presidents, was simply in vain. "You are on the black list, so you may never enter Thailand," was what one Thai Immigration staff told him brassily. Hence, while waiting for the return plane to Jakarta, Aditjondro was dumped in the "Impermissible Persons Detention Center", where he spent the night before being taken to the airplane the next morning. For more: http://rumahkiri.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=253&Itemid=148 ___________________________________________
