BANGKOK — An Australian man arrested in Thailand on a defamation charge that he says originated with Malaysia's government said Thursday he is a victim of transnational repression, in which Southeast Asia countries cooperate in seizing dissidents or critics of third countries.

Independent scholar and writer Murray Hunter, 66, told The Associated Press that he believes he was improperly arrested by Thai police Monday for articles he had written about Malaysia in 2024 on his online Substack newsletter, and he questioned how his case falls under Thai jurisdiction.

Concerns about cross-border repression have been documented by rights groups and U.N. rights experts, who in a July report expressed “profound concern regarding the reported rise in transnational repression ... to deter, silence o

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