THAILAND: Academic charged with insulting the monarchy

Giles Ji Ungpakorn, a professor of political science at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, was charged last week under the kingdom's harsh 'lèse majesté' laws, for comments made in numerous paragraphs of his book, A Coup for the Rich. 'Lèse majesté' laws are intended to protect the monarchy from defamation and those found guilty can face a heavy prison sentence.

The book provides an academic analysis of the recent political crises in Thailand from a pro-democracy point of view. Ungpakorn criticises the coup of 19 September 2006 when the military seized political power and argues that the army, along with the rest of the Thai establishment, used the monarchy to legitimise its political interventions.

According to the police, the director of Chulalongkorn University bookshop told Thai authorities the book insulted the monarchy. Under Thailand's 'lèse majesté' laws, a jail term of three to 15 years can be given for 'whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, the Queen, the heir to the throne or the Regent.'

Ungpakorn was informed of the charges on 20 January and has been given 20 days to submit a response. The public prosecutor will then decide whether or not to press ahead with the case.

Since the new government took over, internet monitoring to prevent insults to the King has been a priority. According to Reporters Without Borders, Ranongrak Suwanchawee, the new Minister of Information and Communications Technology, has blocked 2,300 websites and put 400 under investigation. More than 17 criminal cases of insulting the royal family are currently underway, according to Thai police.

IRAN: Alaei doctors jailed over US plot

Arash and Kamiar Alaei, the two brothers who pioneered outreach programmes for Aids patients in the Iranian capital, have been sentenced to six and three years in prison respectively. They were convicted of taking part in a US-backed plot to overthrow the Islamic republic, according to AFP News.

Last week the Iranian authorities announced they had dismantled a network because they claimed it sought to overthrow the Islamic government by creating social upheaval. Senior officials said that dozens of other people had also been involved in the network.

The brothers' conviction has mystified rights groups who claim the two are apolitical and dedicated to innovative work on stemming the spread of HIV. The doctors are frequently involved in international conferences where they speak about disease-prevention techniques.

The Iranian judiciary recently disclosed details on a series of cases involving charges against opposition groups, including those said to have links abroad. Tehran accuses Washington and London of backing violent and non-violent actions against the state.

CANADA: Worldwide petition against boycott of Israeli universities

A recent proposal by the Canadian Union of Public Employees in Ontario to boycott and ban Israeli academics from university campuses has sparked outrage among academics around the world. According to MSNBC News, nearly 5,000 individuals have signed a petition created by Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (SPME), who widely condemn the move.

Hundreds of professors from Ontario and other provinces were joined by Nobel laureates in discrediting the move. There has also been international condemnation from thousands of professors in many countries including Russia, Austria, Argentina, France, Spain, England, the US and Ukraine.

Academics who signed the petition declared themselves at one with Israeli academics. The UK's University College Union recently dropped a proposal to boycott Israeli universities after facing legal challenges.

PAKISTAN: Brutal treatment of professors

The News International in Pakistan has received news about a case of police brutality in Multan against artist and lecturer, Moeen Haider. The professor was reportedly tortured by the authorities after speaking out against 'honour killings', a highly contentious issue in Pakistan.

The news agency has also commented on the removal of Dr Shireen Moeen from her post as head of the department of English at Bahauddin Zakariya University. She openly encouraged discussions on honour killings in her classroom. The tradition of honour killings - when one family member kills another for 'dishonouring' the family - is widely condemned by human rights groups worldwide.

UK: University fury at bid to tell them what to teach

UK ministers have set out proposals to make Scottish universities tailor courses more closely to the needs of the economy, provoking an angry backlash from institutions that claim the bid threatens academic freedom, The Herald has said.

A letter from Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop appears to allow the Scottish Funding Council to have more of a say over universities' curriculums. The intervention by the government is designed to help the country cope with the recession, but risks intrusion into territory which the 'ancient' universities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and St Andrews regard as sacred.

University principals, all of whom received a copy of the letter, have yet to speak publicly about its implications, but The Herald understands there is growing unrest. Dr Brian Lang, former principal of St Andrews University, denounced the proposals at his farewell speech in December.

Before an audience of 200 university staff, Lang said its contents transgressed academic freedom and should be resisted. Hyslop defended the government's action and said it would not impinge on academic freedom.

* Jonathan Travis is programme officer for the Network for Education and Academic Rights (NEAR). www.nearinternational.org