The report released on Tuesday is a systematic analysis of human rights conditions in Thailand last year. It covers the whole gamut of issues related to human rights during the last nine months of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's reign and the remaining three months following the coup.

This report was more like a follow-up to what happened in the years before, especially in key areas that relate to human rights violations in southern Thailand, disappearances and press freedom. Nonetheless, it has specifically mentioned the Emergency Decree that gives power - and immunity from prosecution - to security forces.

One of the darkest spots for Thailand, as pointed out in the report, is the Thai police engaging in torture and beating and abusing detainees and prisoners with impunity. That helps to explain why one of the top priorities of the interim government has been police reform.

Existing self-censorship by the media and non-governmental organisations was mentioned in the report due to the use of defamation suits and charges of sedition.

Although the annual report has been a source of discord between Thailand and the US, especially under Thaksin, the interim government under Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont won't be reacting to the report as the previous government used to do.

"The government has constantly tried to improve the human rights situation in the country. We also adhere to the non-use of force in the southern provinces," said a senior government official, who asked not to be identified.

The report also provided detailed developments of the condition of press freedom and freedom of expression that existed before and after the coup. While the report generally commended the spirit of free press among the print media after the 19 September coup, there were hiccups in the broadcast media, especially TV and the Internet, as well as dissemination of information and views related to the monarchy.

On the day of the coup and the ensuing two weeks, as the report correctly pointed out, there were several short-term measures affecting the reporting and performance of the Thai media. These measures included outright censorship, self-censorship, blocking the signal of TV networks such as CNN and the BBC and the banning of radio call-in shows and short messages on TV. Following a two-week ban on community radios following the coup, they resumed broadcasting.

When Thaksin went on a public relations campaign by giving interviews to foreign media in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, the coup leaders sought co-operation from the mass media to limit the dissemination of news related to the deposed leader. The local media heavily criticised their interference.

The report has this observation: "During the remainder of the year, printed and broadcast media nonetheless reported news critical of the interim government and Council for National Security and continued to report the statements and activities of the former prime minister."

Kavi Chongkittavorn

The Nation