<p><em>Government Rhetoric and Pledges Not Matched by Actions in 2010</em></p> <p>(New York, January 25, 2011) &ndash; The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of Thailand failed to fulfill its pledges to hold human rights abusers accountable in 2010, a turbulent year for the country, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2011. At least 90 people died and 2,000 were injured in street battles in Bangkok between March and May.</p>

<p><em>Authorities Use Draconian Law to Violate Rights and Obstruct Justice</em></p> <p>(New York, November 24, 2010) &ndash; Thai authorities are using emergency powers to violate fundamental rights and obstruct efforts to bring abusers to justice six months after violent clashes between anti-government groups and government security forces, Human Rights Watch said today.</p>

<p>(New York, May 25, 2010) &ndash; The Thai government should set up an independent commission to carry out a prompt, comprehensive, and impartial investigation into abuses by all sides during the recent protests and hold accountable all those found responsible, Human Rights Watch said today.</p>

<p>(New York, April 30, 2010) &ndash; The Thai government should prosecute perpetrators of political violence on all sides to stop the increasingly deadly conflict in Thailand, Human Rights Watch said today.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(Bangkok) - The Thai government should swiftly act to end police abuse and discriminatory laws and policies against migrant workers and their families, Human Rights Watch said in a new report released today. The February deadline for more than a million migrant workers to enter the &quot;nationality verification&quot; process or face immediate deportation creates the risk of further abuses and should be postponed until it can be carried out in a fair manner.</p>

<p>BANGKOK, Jan 24 (TNA) -- Defending his government over recent charges by New York-based <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/1585">Human Rights Watch</a> that Thailand violated several human rights principles last year, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Sunday that some information in the NGO&rsquo;s report might contain inaccuracies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was a &nbsp;busy week on the frontlines of personal freedom, particularly in regards to free speech. Tying together several key events were government&rsquo;s increasingly sophisticated restrictions on our human rights, and the efforts to push them back. For obvious reasons, freedom of speech is dear to this writer, and this week&rsquo;s post addresses the past week&rsquo;s developments.</p>

<p>(New York) - The government of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva largely failed to fulfill its pledges to make human rights a priority, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2010.</p>

<p>BANGKOK, Aug 31 (IPS) - Thailand&rsquo;s draconian lese majeste law is steadily emerging as a testing ground for the principles that renowned international human rights lobbies stand for.</p>