Adam Lane, a British 3rd year Law Student on Human Rights at Newcastle University was accosted by Thai army soldiers in the village of Pah Nmm, Ampur Mae Fah Luang, Chiangrai Province, Thailand for staying in an Akha families home.

Adam was there to take note of the human rights situation that the Akha face. The Thai army, which is quite defensive about the international protest over the Queen of Thailand's seizure of Akha lands across the valley at Hooh Yoh, brought another tourist from Hooh Yoh and raided the Akha home in which Adam was staying.

They accused the Italian of photographing the project which is hard NOT to do if you are visiting in Hooh Yoh since the Queen's project took all the land of Hooh Yoh and other villages, displacing 1500 people who were up to then self sufficient. The Royal Project website has since been taken down.

They took the Italian to the village where Adam was staying and attempted to incriminate both of them by searching their belongings, the house, and insisting that the visas were expired which they were not.

Adam said that the senior officer was very angry, looked at his passport repeatedly and tried to find some fault. Meanwhile other soldiers repeatedly took his and the other man's pictures.

The senior officer banged around in the house, yelling and screaming at the Akha couple.

Adam said that while he hoped to ad some reality to his study in human rights, he had no idea the Akha were being treated like this and will publicize their cause on his return to England.

Meanwhile he has no plans to abandon the Akha family.

The army told the family no one could stay at the Akha houses.

We ask that British citizens request their MP's to demand an explanation from the Thai ambassador about this behaviour and treatment of Adam Lane and the Akha of Pah Nmm village.