Protests update

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21 October 2015
First Chapter of тАШCyber WarтАЩ to Begin Thursday
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
BANGKOK тАФ Online activists have announced they will launch attacks against the government beginning Thursday after the prime minister said the project to route all internet traffic through a single point of control is still alive.
The coalition of anonymous internet users known as Citizens Against Single Gateway last night warned private sector operations with IT systems linked to government servers to transfer them to safe places before the assault on government systems begins at 10am on Thursday.
Those behind a crippling attack earlier this month, the Thailand F5 Cyber Army, issued the announcement yesterday after Prime Minister and junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said agencies are still studying the project, and a widely circulated army intelligence report detailed efforts to monitor news sites, social media and тАЬinfluential thinkersтАЭ threatening the nation..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1445406735 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445406735)

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Fortune-teller involved in organising тАШBike for DadтАЩ detained for lese majeste
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 21/10/2015

The military court detained three lese majeste suspects accused of claiming falsely about the monarchy for personal benefits, one of whom is a well known fortune-teller involved in organising тАШBike for DadтАЩ.

At around 3 pm Wednesday, 21 October 2015, the police officers brought Suriyan Sutjritpolwongse, aka Mo Yong, a well-known fortune-teller, Jirawong W., his close associate, and Pol Maj Prakrom W., an inspector of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, to the Military Court of Bangkok pending the custody permission for the three.

The three are accused by the Thai Military under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law, for falsely claiming about Thai monarchy for personal benefits.... (read more).. http://prachatai.org/english/node/5560

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21 October 2015
тАШFinland PlotтАЩ Columnist Convicted of Libeling Thaksin
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ The Supreme Court today found a Yellowshirt columnist guilty of libel for alleging in 2006 that then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra supported an anti-monarchy movement.
Pramote Nakhonthap was handed a suspended two-year jail term for a 2006 article he wrote for Manager Daily in which he said ThaksinтАЩs government collaborated with unnamed anti-monarchy activists in a bid to turn the Royal Family into тАЬa mere symbolic institution.тАЭ... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445421775&typecate=06&section=)

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тАЭSingle gatewayтАЭ internet plan still on Thai military govtтАЩs mind despite denials
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Oct 22, 2015
Despite best efforts, the controversy over the Thai military governmentтАЩs plans for an online тАЭsingle gatewayтАЭ refuses to die down. But that is just one of many measures the junta is considering to step up widespread online surveillance.... (read more)... http://asiancorrespondent.com/136246/si ... e-denials/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/136246/single-gateway-internet-plan-still-on-thai-military-governments-mind-despite-denials/)

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International hackers strike
The international hacking collective called Anonymous declared cyberwar on the Thai government Thursday over its policy to consolidate a single internet gateway.
Published: 22/10/2015
The main target of the attack was CAT Telecom Pcl, the state-owned company which has been designated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-4 the cabinet to control the future gateway.
Early Friday, Twitter accounts apparently operated by Anonymous members showed parts of what it said were thousands of CAT customer accounts, including logins, passwords and personal IDs including Thai government ID names and numbers... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/tech/739884

22 October 2015
No Shock, Awe from 'Cyber War' as тАШNational' Gateway Moves Forward
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
BANGKOK тАФ Damage from an attack on government services online appeared limited today, while state-owned CAT Telecom said it will begin preparations to build a single gateway project that has been rebranded as a business-positive part of the kingdomтАЩs тАЬdigital economyтАЭ strategy.
Online activists declared victory in the opening of their тАЬcyber warтАЭ to punish the junta for not abandoning its ambition to route all traffic through a single channel, but their damage seemed limited to affecting certain systems of the armyтАЩs finance department..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445519012&typecate=06&section=)

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22 October 2015
No Shock, Awe from 'Cyber War' as тАШNational' Gateway Moves Forward
BANGKOK тАФ Damage from an attack on government services online appeared limited today, while state-owned CAT Telecom said it will begin preparations to build a single gateway project that has been rebranded as a business-positive part of the kingdomтАЩs тАЬdigital economyтАЭ strategy.

Online activists declared victory in the opening of their тАЬcyber warтАЭ to punish the junta for not abandoning its ambition to route all traffic through a single channel, but their damage seemed limited to affecting certain systems of the armyтАЩs finance department.

тАЬAt 1:15pm, the Citizens Against Single Gateway claimed our victory in the first stage after our cyber war declaration,тАЭ the group wrote its latest statement posted online. тАЬWe made the financial accounting system of the Finance Department of the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters unable to work for more than three hours.тАЭ... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445519012&typecate=06&section=)

And more,
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445581716&typecate=06&section=)
23 October 2015,
тАШAnonymousтАЩ Declares War on Thai Junta
BANGKOK тАФ A worldwide collective of hackers whose shifting membership has successfully attacked corporations and governments declared its own war on the military government for its plan to build a single internet gateway.

While attacks by Thai netizens Thursday seemed to have little effect, Anonymous posted a statement addressed to the junta saying "you will pay the price of your oppression" and also claimed to have stolen sensitive information from the state-run telecom bidding to build the gateway.

тАЬAny corporations or individuals helping to deploy this single gateway will be targeted by any electronic means,тАЭ read the statement announced through Twitter. тАЬWe will not only fight against the single gateway project but will expose your incompetence to the world, where depravity and personal interests prevail.тАЭ... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445581716&typecate=06&section=)

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The international hacker group Anonymous has posted this statement that has been reported in various news feeds..... http://pastebin.com/SL0ZaMxT

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Police officer charged for lese majeste dies in custody
Submitted by editor2 on Sat, 24/10/2015
A police officer accused of lese majeste for falsely claiming about the monarchy for personal benefits together with a famous fortune-teller committed suicide in prison.
The Department of Corrections on Saturday, 24 October 2015, announced that Pol Maj Prakrom W., an inspector in the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD), hanged himself and died while he was detained at the remand facility in the 11th Army Division in Nakhon Pathom Province, west of Bangkok.
The announcement stated that the Department of Corrections received a report from the remand facility that the suspect at about 10 pm on Friday, 23 October 2015, hanged himself with clothes that were given to him by prison officers.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5566

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Thailand Must End Its Own Rohingya Atrocity
Bangkok needs to address its brutal mistreatment of the persecuted minority.
By Paul Chambers
October 23, 2015
In May 2015, gruesome mass graves were unearthed in southern Thailand, revealing scores of bodies belonging to mostly Rohingya refugees who had been victimized by human traffickers. The discovery placed Thailand under a global spotlight exactly at the time when the country was seeking to be upgraded by the United States in terms of its handling of human trafficking.

Seeking to distance itself from any guilt, the ruling regime charged at least 85 persons with complicity in the scandal, including Army General Manas Kongpaen. Thailand also agreed to offer humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees and convened a regional conference on Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants, which indirectly blamed Myanmar. Though Myanmar bears primary responsibility for the Rohingya crisis, ThailandтАЩs own deplorable treatment of the Rohingya must immediately come to an end. The fact remains: the line between security officials and human traffickers in Thailand has become increasingly blurred. And Thailand has yet to be held accountable.... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/thailand ... -atrocity/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/10/thailand-must-end-its-own-rohingya-atrocity/)

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Anonymous brings down 2 government websites
Anonymous, the international internet activist and hacker collective, has continued its attacks on government websites, bringing down the Government House and Labour Ministry sites on Friday night.
Published: 24/10/2015
The attacks are part of a continuing protest against plans by the military government to create a single gateway for international internet traffic, which critics say will curb freedom of expression.
F5CyberArmy, one of the members of Anonymous, claimed to have moved the two websites offline, and provided host-checking data as proof.... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/741820

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26 October 2015
Junta Warns Redshirts Not to Don Red Shirts
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ The ruling military junta warned that Redshirt leaders will be held responsible if their supporters go ahead with a plan to wear red shirts simultaneously all across the country Sunday.
Deputy junta chairman Pravit Wongsuwan issued the warning this morning, referring to calls made by Redshirt activists on social media to wear red on Nov. 1 as a gesture to support former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra тАУ despite Redshirt leaders have already denied any involvement in the campaign.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445840417&typecate=06&section=)

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26 October 2015
Koh Tao Murders: Defense Asks Court to Drop Charges
Sasiwan Mokkhasen
SURAT THANI тАФ Lawyers representing two Myanmar migrant workers accused of killing two British tourists on Koh Tao murder called on the court today to drop all charges against the accused.

In a written closing statement submitted to the Koh Samui Court today, the volunteer legal team stressed the court should dismiss the charges against Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo due to the weakness of the evidence against them and procedural abuses at the time of their arrest.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445857120&typecate=06&section=)

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26 October 2015
Further Autopsy of Lese Majeste Inmate Unnecessary, Minister Says
Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Officials have already completed an autopsy of the lese majeste suspect who died in custody and have already returned his body to his family, the Minister of Justice said today.
Justice Minister Paiboon Khumchaya told reporters that police completed an autopsy of the inmate, Police Maj. Prakrom Warunprapha, at the prison hospital where he was taken Friday after after hanging himself. PrakromтАЩs body, Paiboon said, has been handed over the body to his family.
тАЬThis case is now over, because the family already picked up the body,тАЭ Gen. Paiboon said.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1445858351&typecate=06&section=)

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Retired teacher charged with sedition for giving flower to anti-junta activist
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 27/10/2015
The authorities arrested and pressed sedition charge against a 77-year-old teacher for giving flowers to support an anti-junta activist.
According to Free Thai Legal Aid (FTLA), the FTLA lawyers on Monday 10 am, 26 October 2015, submitted a bail request for Preecha Kaewbanpaew, a 77-year-old retired teacher, to the Military Court of Bangkok.
At around 2 pm, the Military Court granted bail to the retired teacher with 150,000 baht bond, confiscating his Government Saving BankтАЩs Lottery and 1,000 baht cash as surety.
According to Winyat Chatmontri, the General Secretary of the FTLA, Preecha is charged with Article 116 of the Criminal Code, the sedition law, and the violation of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)тАЩs Order No. 7/2014 for participating in a political gathering of more than five people.
Winyat told Prachatai that the retired teacher was charged for giving flowers to support Pansak Srithep, a pro-democracy activist and the father of a boy killed by the military during the 2010 political violence, while the activist was leading a three-day march called тАЬI Walk Therefore I AmтАЭ on 15 March 2015 to campaign against the use of military courts to try civilians. The march was organised by Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta activist group which started.... (read more)..... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5570

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Editorial Opinion
Guess who's coming to town?
Guess who's coming to town this Sunday? A voice from somewhere answers: "People in red!"
Published: 27/10/2015
Writer: Veera Prateepchaiku
Someone, nobody will admit who, posted this message on social media last week. It urged followers of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to wear red -- be it a red T-shirt, red pants, red scarf or just red hair -- on Nov 1, as a collective show of moral support for her.
This move was in response to the government's plan to invoke a rarely-enforced law empowering the prime minister to issue an administrative order demanding financial compensation from Ms Yingluck for the staggering losses accrued by her administation's rice pledging scheme.... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/745016

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Consolidating control in cyberspace
By Aim Sinpeng and Gennie Gebhart, Guest Contributors
тАУ 27 October 2015
The тАШgreat firewall of ThailandтАЩ has met with a growing online backlash. But the battle over information control is far from over.... (read more).... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... yberspace/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/10/27/consolidating-control-in-cyberspace/)

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Military warns northern red shirt not to wear red
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 28/10/2015
Thai military officers have asked the coordinator of a northern anti-establishment red shirt group not wear a red shirt to show support for the former Prime Minister.
According to Thailand Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), military officers from the 34th Army Division on Monday, 26 October 2015, summoned Siriwat Jupamadta, coordinator of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the main red shirt faction, of the northern province of Phayao for a discussion.
Siriwat reported that three military officers were waiting for him at 8 am on Monday at a condominium in Phayao Province where he works. After their meeting, at about 9 am, he travelled to the 34th Army Division in his own vehicle together with the officers.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5573

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28 October 2015
Thai Net More тАШNot FreeтАЩ Due to Military Suppression: Freedom House
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
WASHINGTON тАФ ThailandтАЩs internet was rated тАЬnot freeтАЭ due to increased suppression under military rule in the latest report from Freedom House, a U.S.-based NGO that monitors democracy and free expression around the world.
Record sentences of decades in prison for Facebook comments deemed insulting to the monarchy were among factors given for ThailandтАЩs lower score in the annual тАЬFreedom on the NetтАЭ index released Tuesday.
тАЬMore Thai internet users were harassed and arrested during the coverage period than ever before in the wake of the 2014 coup,тАЭ the report said..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1446032121&typecate=06&section=)

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PM says he may need to stay at helm
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he may need to remain in power as long as the country is not at peace.
29/10/2015
Writer: Aekarach Sattaburuth
Gen Prayut was speaking in parliament at Wednesday's meeting of the so-called "five rivers of power" -- the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the cabinet, the National Legislative Assembly, the Constitution Drafting Committee and the National Reform Steering Assembly.
He said the country has moved on to the stage where the NCPO is laying down regulations in the lead-up to elections.
The NCPO has unveiled a time frame of 20 months to write a charter, hold a referendum on it, enact organic laws and organise a general election.
As the NCPO proceeds with the roadmap, there must be no attempts to stir up sedition or hatred, Gen Prayut said.
"Politicians do not have to be suspicious of me. [The media] writes every day that I intend to cling on to power. I must make it clear. If there is no peace and order, I must stay on," he told the meeting.
"If there are attempts to bring people out [onto the streets], the movement leaders will be dealt with first," he added.... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/746856

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29 October 2015
Gen. Prayuth Meets US Ambassador Davies
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Recently installed U.S. Ambassador Glyn Davies met with junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha this afternoon at Government House.
The two men made an introduction and discussed several issues such as democracy, the economy and public health in the first meeting between a top American envoy and Gen. Prayuth since the latter seized power in May 2014, straining relations between the two traditional allies.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1446120195&typecate=06&section=)

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Prawit defends PM's 'close the country' gaffe
Published: 30/10/2015
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon yesterday came out in defence of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha after he remarked he would stay on in power and "close the country" if peace in Thailand proves elusive.
"The prime minister did not mean it literally," Gen Prawit insisted yesterday..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/748444

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Exclusive Interview
'Friendship intact, but not business as usual'
October 30, 2015
A veteran diplomat of 35 years with expertise in North Korea and nuclear issues, new US Ambassador Glyn T Davies talks to Veenarat Laohapakakul in an exclusive interview with the Nation Group
Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam met with you and explained Thailand's road map to
democracy. Was it acceptable to you?.... (read more).... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion ... 71891.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Friendship-intact-but-not-business-as-usual-30271891.html)

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Internet freedom in Thailand is now as bad as in Burma тАУ report
by Asian Correspondent Staff | 30th October 2015
FREEDOM HOUSEтАЩS latest тАШFreedom on the NetтАЩ report makes for worrying reading, especially for web users in Asia, with China rated as having the least free internet in the world and web freedom in Thailand falling sharply under military rule.

Against a backdrop of worldwide erosion of internet freedom, Asian countries fared among the worst. The Internet in only two Asian countries тАУ Japan and the Philippines тАУ was rated as тАШFreeтАЩ.

Not surprisingly, serial offender China was rated as the nation with the most restricted internet.... (read more)... http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/10/i ... -as-burma/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/10/internet-freedom-in-thailand-is-now-as-bad-as-burma/)

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ThailandтАЩs indefinite roadmap: Prayuth threatens to тАШstay onтАЩ in power
by Saksith Saiyasombut | 30th October 2015 |
ThailandтАЩs military government is becoming increasingly blatant about its intentions to stay in power
THAILANDтАЩS Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has never been shy about letting everybody know his opinions. The junta leader also expects everybody to listen. Nobody knows that better than the local journalists who have endured the daily press briefings by the PM that have more often than not turned into prolonged tirades (as we have reported previously). The rest of the country might have caught some nuggets of his wisdom during his weekly TV adresses while waiting for their nightly fix of local televisionтАЩs ubiquitous and hugely popular soap operas.
ItтАЩs one and a half years into the rule of ThailandтАЩs military after it took power in the coup of May 22, 2014. Its reign has been authoritarian, dominating nearly the entire political discourse, censoring the flow of information and intolerant of criticism and dissent тАУ even if itтАЩs something as innocuous as an old man giving flowers to anti-junta protesters.... (read more).... http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/10/t ... -in-power/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/10/thailands-indefinite-roadmap-prayuth-threatens-to-stay-on-in-power/)

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Thai junta coins new history book to legitimise its rule
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 30/10/2015
Kongpob Areerat
Following the controversial 12 nationalistic Thai values introduced in the aftermath of the 2014 coup dтАЩ├йtat and the construction of a theme park with grandiose monuments of ancient kings, the Thai junta has now published its latest version of Thai history, which many historians view as an attempt to legitimize military rule via a narrow nationalistic history.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5576

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Freedom and firewalls
By Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang
тАУ 29 October 2015
The Thai JuntaтАЩs attempts to control cyberspace are setting the country down a dangerous path, writes Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang.

Three weeks ago, thousands of angry Thai Internet users bombarded government websites through a series of denial of service, or DDoS, attacks. By hitting the refresh button on their Internet browsers nonstop, they flooded each websitesтАЩ traffic to the point of collapse..... (read more).... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... firewalls/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/10/29/freedom-and-firewalls/)

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Majority back PM's "close country" remark
Published: 01/11/2015
A majority of people say they agree with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's remark that he might have to stay on and that the country could be closed if there is no peace and order, according to Suan Dusit Poll.

The poll was conducted on 1,119 people througout the country between Oct 29 and 31 to gauge their opinions on the meeting of the "five main rivers -- the government, Constitution Drafting Committee, National Reform Steering Assembly and National Council for Peace and Order -- last week.

Gen Prayut made the remark that "if there is no peace and order, I must stay on and if we have to close the country, so be it".... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/750264

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Activists call for military reform at commemoration of democracy icon
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 02/11/2015
Pro-democracy activists gathered in front of Army Headquarters to call for military reform at an event commemorating the suicide of a taxi driver, who hanged himself from a bridge to protest the 2006 military coup dтАЩ├йtat.
In the late afternoon of Saturday, 31 October 2015, anti-junta activists from the Resistant Citizens Group and a large crowd gathered at the 14 October Memorial on Rachadamnoen Avenue on the 9th anniversary of the suicide of Numthong Praiwan, a taxi driver.
The event occurred with a heavy presence of police and military, who came to maintain security and monitor activities.
After gathering at the 14 October Memorial, the activists and their supporters marched to the Headquarters of the Royal Thai Army where they called for reform of the Thai Armed Forces.
The group urged the military to return to the barracks and return the country to civilian rule, saying that the military must serve the people and not look upon them as enemies.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5579

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Military summons red shirt for wearing red
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 02/11/2015
Military officers in northern Thailand summoned a group of anti-establishment red shirts for a discussion after they put on red shirts.
According to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), the military officers of the northern province of Chiang Rai summoned Somchai Saengthong and three other red shirts for a meeting at the 37th Army Division on Monday morning, 2 November 2015.
At the military base, Maj Gen Pisan Nakphachon, the Army Division Commander, and three other military officials asked the four about why they were wearing red shirts on Sunday, 1 November 2015, and what do they think about the court case against the ex-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who currently faces corruption charges over the rice subsidy program.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5581

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Anti-junta activists refuse to be tried by military court
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 05/11/2015
Thai Anti-junta activists indicted with juntaтАЩs political gathering ban have refused the military court jurisdiction on their cases, reasoning that they should be tried by the court of justice.

The Military Court of Bangkok on Thursday morning held deposition hearings of Pansak Srithep, the core leader of Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta activist group, Natchacha Kongudom, and Tatchapong Kaedum, the three anti-junta activists charged with violating the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)тАЩs political assembly ban.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5591

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CDC insists on new voting plan
Meechai says system fairer to electorate
06/11/2015
The Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has insisted it will stick to the proposed mixed-member apportionment electoral system (MMA) despite criticism from political parties and academics.
CDC chairman Meechai Ruchupan said Thursday the committee had decided the MMA system will be adopted in the new constitution.
Under the proposal, the House of Representatives will comprise 500 members, with 350 constituency MPs and 150 party-list MPs, compared to the previous election system under the 2007 charter with 375 constituency MPs and 125 from party lists.
A single ballot will be used for both constituency and party-list MPs, Mr Meechai said. All votes cast for the losing constituency candidates will be used to calculate the number of party-list seats, rather than being thrown away under the old first-past-the-post system..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/755848

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Reuters
05 November 2015
Junta Launches Crackdown on 'Influential Figures' Stoking Crime
Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK тАФ Thailand's junta launched a crackdown today on organized crime, its latest effort to clean up the country and improve the image of the military government as it struggles to get a sluggish economy on track.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, ushered in a "clean up Thailand" campaign shortly after he, as army chief, took power from an elected government in a 2014 coup, promising to root out vice and corruption in government and society in general.
This time, he said, the junta was targeting mafia-style crime bosses styled as "influential figures.".... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1446724490&typecate=06&section=)

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The unknown life of Thai exiles
Submitted by editor1 on Wed, 04/11/2015
Since 2006, Thailand has been plagued with an unending storm of political conflict. Political thought is divided on nearly every single issue; from former Prime Minister ThaksinтАЩs reign, the monarchical institution, nation development, democracy, elections, reform, politicians, political parties and so forth.

The 22 May 2014 coup has exacerbated ThailandтАЩs political situation. Activists, politicians, and even ordinary citizens branded as тАЬideologically hardcoreтАЭ were left with no choice but to flee the country in self-imposed exile. A year later, any perceived improvement in the situation is essentially superficial; these political exiles still cannot return home. What were their reasons for fleeing? Was it because their ideologies conflicted with the current government? What are their living conditions as exiles? We take this opportunity to provide an in-depth look at how our fellow countrymen are surviving and their fate as the тАЬOther.тАЭ... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5584

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There is a news article of interest in the asiasentinel.com, I will not publish the link do to it's sensitive nature. Proxy or vpn required if you are in Thailand.

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06 November 2015
Redshirt Militants Convicted of 2014 Grenade Attack
Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Two Redshirt supporters were found guilty of attempted murder by the Criminal Court today for allegedly firing a grenade launcher at anti-government protesters in 2014.

Narongsak Plai-aram and Peerapong Sinthusonthichart were sentenced to 43 years and five months in prison for the attack, which police said was intended to kill demonstrators rallying against the government..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1446816115&typecate=06&section=)

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Court acquits anti-election protester accused of preventing 2014 election
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 06/11/2015
The court dismissed charges against an anti-election protester alleged for preventing the 2014 advanced election, saying that it was the election officials who cancelled the election.
I The Court of Prakanong District, Bangkok, on Thursday, 5 November 2015, dismissed charges against Thawatchai Promchan, 45, an ex-key leader of People Force and Thai Energy Reform Network, a political group, which joined the PeopleтАЩs Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), an anti-election protest, to prevent the 2014 advanced voting..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5594

[Smiles]

41937 views, 1035 posts over 70 pages [and growing]. Gotta be a record for Sawatdee.

Up2u ... are you going to continue this saga until the military have been swept aside by free and fair elections and all military officers under the rank of colonel are tried, convicted, and living in the hoosegow.
But do carry on . . .

[Up2U]

I had hoped this saga would have been over by now and elections restored but...... no one has the answer now. The perpetrators will never be prosecuted.

[Up2U]

07 November 2015
Down the Memory Hole Lies тАШJuntalandтАЩ
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Has it been 15, 16 or perhaps 17 months weтАЩve lived under military rule? Some, myself included, have begun to lose track of how long weтАЩve lived under the junta since the May 2014 coup. And we have no idea how many more years weтАЩll have to endure.

As rule under Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha stretches on far past the year originally promised, many now feel resigned and helpless, accepting a new тАЬnormalтАЭ for the nation. Threatening to execute journalists once provoked surprise, in the early months. Recently a threat to shut the nation off from the rest of the world was met with only a few shrugs...... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1446833596 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1446833596)

[Up2U]

No Light in the NortheastтАЩs Grey Economy as ThailandтАЩs Economic Outlook Darkens
2015 November 7
by The Isaan Record
ThailandтАЩs economic downturn is often discussed in terms of GDP, national markets, and investment statistics, but behind the numbers, individuals employed in the countryтАЩs enormous informal economy are feeling deep financial strain. At the Aorjira market in Khon Kaen, vendors struggle to turn enough profit to support themselves and keep their small businesses afloat.

By Mariko Powers and Zoe Swartz.... (read more).... http://isaanrecord.com/category/feature/

[Up2U]

Pravit Rojanaphruk
08 November 2015
Handshake Heralds More Tactical US Approach to Junta
BANGKOK тАФ Activists and academics say they are confident that U.S. policy toward the military government of Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha will be adjusted but not drastically changed after what appeared to be a cordial meeting late last month between Prayuth and the new U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Glyn Davies.

Following the Oct. 29 meeting, some observers are seeing in the American gesture a more tactful or calculated handling of ties, while one called for more тАЬconcreteтАЭ measures against the military regime...... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1446965918&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

09 November 2015
Famous Astrologer 'Mor Yong' Dies in Custody
By Teeranai Charuvastra

BANGKOK тАФ A well-known astrologer accused of insulting the monarchy has died in custody, the Minister of Justice said today.

Gen. Paiboon Khumchaya said Suriyan тАЬMor YongтАЭ Sujaritpalawong died of a тАЬblood infectionтАЭ on Saturday. Paiboon did not say why SuriyanтАЩs death was not announced until today. He said an autopsy had already been concluded..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1447050006 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447050006)

[Up2U]

Life for a Thai in exile: Jakrapob Penkair - Part 1
Submitted by editor1 on Mon, 09/11/2015
Although Jakrapob Penkair may have disappeared from the Thai political scene many years ago, his name still resounds. This confirms his status as a 'political man' whose latest achievement is to co-found 'Seri Thai'--an organisation whose mandate is to fight the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) from outside the country. It is the task which has prompted another round of surveillance on him by the authorities..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5596

A well-known astrologer ... has died in custodyHe would, of course, have known it was coming, just as all the witchdoctors the loopy Diana consulted were able to warn her about the advisability of wearing a seat belt.

[Up2U]

and from the AP
Detained Famous Thai Fortuneteller Dies in Military Prison
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSNOV. 9, 2015
BANGKOK тАФ A prominent Thai fortuneteller accused of insulting the monarchy has died in custody, authorities said Monday, becoming the second person in connection with the high-profile case to die behind bars.

The fortuneteller, Suriyan Sujaritpalawong, known by the name "Mor Yong," died of a blood infection Saturday at the military prison where he had been detained since mid-October, the Justice Ministry said.... http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11 ... share&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/11/09/world/asia/ap-as-thailand-monarchy-.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0)

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy required in Thailand
Merely demanding elections in Thailand is woefully inadequate.
November 8, 2015 uglytruththailand
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
As the junta calmly extends its dictatorial rule, repeatedly breaking deadlines for elections, it is worth looking over the border to Burma where so-called "free and fair" elections are taking place. Of course to any interested observer, it is obvious that the Burmese elections are a sham, a mere ceremony, where the military retains real power under the military constitution whatever the outcome of the elections.

Any Thai elections in the future will be similar.... (read more).... https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... nadequate/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/merely-demanding-elections-in-thailand-is-woefully-inadequate/)

[Up2U]

WhenтАЩs the next coup? ThailandтАЩs zero civilian control over the military
by Thitipol Panyalimpanun | 10th November 2015
тАЬI WANT this to be the last coup. However, the power of the army would not be reduced. This is because the army has always taken care of this country,тАЭ ThailandтАЩs latest coup maker General Prayut Chan-ocha told Channel News Asia earlier this year. His happy, democratic dream, however, seems unlikely, as ThailandтАЩs coup-laden history suggests..... (read more)....http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/w ... -military/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/whens-the-next-coup-thailands-zero-civilian-control-over-military/)

[Up2U]

Deaths, suicides in prison not uncommon: Justice Minister says on lese majeste suspects' deaths
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 10/11/2015
After two lese majeste suspects have died under custody 14 days after one another, the Thai Ministry of Justice told media that suicides and fatal sickness in detention facilities is not strange..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5601

[Up2U]

Editorial Opinion
Mor Yong's death breeds mistrust
Published: 11/11/2015
Authorities can say whatever they want about the cause of Mor Yong's death. But they cannot expect people to believe it. There is no need trying to get frank opinions from people face to face, however. No one speaks their minds with strangers anymore; it has become too dangerous.

Suriyan "Mor Yong" Sucharitpolwong may be guilty in the eyes of many, but we cannot deny that his life and death mirror the state and psyche of our society.... (read more)..... http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/761020

[Up2U]

Without military reform, political reform is just a dream, says independent writer
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 11/11/2015
Kongpob Areerat
As ThailandтАЩs time under a military regime drags on for a year and a half without any prospect of an election in the near future, an independent writer and democracy activist says that political reform is just an empty promise if the Thai military does not reform itself..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5602

[Up2U]

10 November 2015
Junta Congratulates Myanmar on Elections
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ ThailandтАЩs junta congratulated Myanmar today for conducting its first free election in 25 years..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447133626&section=11)

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy server required in Thailand; sensitive subject, no discussion

www.asiasentinel.com/politics/opponents ... oyal-towel (http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/opponents-of-thai-crown-prince-throw-in-the-royal-towel)

[Up2U]

Thai militaryтАЩs spending among the least transparent: Transparency International
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 12/11/2015
An international think tank monitoring corruption has revealed in its latest report that ThailandтАЩs defence spending is among the least transparent in the world especially after the 2014 coup dтАЩ├йtat.

According to 2005 Government Defense Anti-Corruption Index (GI) compiled by Transparency International, ThailandтАЩs defence spending is graded with an тАШEтАЩ in an index with grades ranging from an тАШAтАЩ for the best practice to тАШFтАЩ for the worse.

тАЬSince the May 2014 military coup, there has been no independent scrutiny of defence policy by the legislature, a lack of budget transparency, and insufficient institutional measures concerning most aspects of the procurement cycle,тАЭ wrote part of the summary of the GI index on Thailand.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5608

[Up2U]

Prayut visits key red-shirt stronghold
Published: 13/11/2015
Writer: Patsara Jikkham
Ubon Ratchathani: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asked a local red-shirt leader to cooperate with the government during his visit to Ubon Ratchathani -- a key red-shirt stronghold.

Gen Prayut led an entourage of cabinet ministers and government officials Thursday on a visit to Ban Yang Kradao in tambon Thamuang of Don Mot Daeng district in the northeastern province, amid very tight security.

During his visit he met Chamroonsak Chantharamai, a leader of the provincial chapter of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship.&... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/763384

[Up2U]

Never saw it coming
A purge of prominent people is causing alarm in Thailand
Nov 14th 2015 | BANGKOK | From the print edition
IN LATE October the Thai authorities announced that Prakrom WarunprapaтАФa disgraced police major accused of embezzling money by falsely claiming links to ThailandтАЩs monarchyтАФhad hanged himself in his cell in a small prison at an army barracks. On November 9th officials said that a second prisoner arrested during the same investigation had also met an untimely demise. Suriyan Sujaritpalawong, a fortune-teller and minor celebrity better known as Mor Yong, is said to have succumbed to blood poisoning only days after his jailers suggested his illness was feigned. The two deaths follow a wave of arrests and disappearances which have left many in the capital feeling anxious.

Mr SuriyanтАЩs tale is dramatic.... (read more).... http://www.economist.com/news/asia/2167 ... -it-coming (http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21678277-purge-prominent-people-causing-alarm-thailand-never-saw-it-coming)

[Up2U]

Thai junta's persecution of the media
Published on Thursday 12 November 2015.
A year and a half after a military coup in Thailand, Reporters Without Borders is today releasing a report about the Thai militaryтАЩs skilfully orchestrated crackdown on freedom of information.

Lead by the capricious Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Thai junta has been persecuting the media for the past 18 months, imposing a reign of terror that has included interrogations, arbitrary arrests, a spate of prosecutions and barely veiled threats.

It is against this backdrop that Reporters Without Borders is publishing тАЬMedia hounded by junta since 2014 coup,тАЭ a report based on research carried out in Thailand last July.... (read more).... http://linkis.com/en.rsf.org/g5Ssn

the report,
http://issuu.com/benjaminismail6/docs/r ... ailande_en (http://issuu.com/benjaminismail6/docs/rapport_thailande_en)

[Up2U]

10 ways to revolutionize the Thai Military: exposing the juntaтАЩs blind spot
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 13/11/2015
While the Thai junta insists their primary mission is to reform the country, a year has lapsed since the National Reform Council (NRC) presented 505 reform proposals to the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA). Yet, the hundreds of submitted proposals have neglected to touch upon military reform, a highly crucial area given the Thai military is ranked in the top 20 out of 126 countries for military strength globally in 2015 (rankings are based upon size, personnel, and military firepower, according to research from Global Firepower (GFP) .... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5611? ... um=twitter (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5611?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter)

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy required in Thailand
Weird l├иse-majest├й purge exposes the nature of this abominable law
November 15, 2015
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
Recently there has been a flurry of arrests and l├иse-majest├й accusations against police officers and others, including army officers, who have supposedly been claiming тАЬfalse connectionsтАЭ to the Palace for personal gain. Two detainees have died in prison. This is some weird internal row among the elites connected to the purging of people associated with the.... (read more)..... https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... nable-law/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/weird-lese-majeste-purge-exposes-the-nature-of-this-abominable-law/)

[Up2U]

Editorial Opinion
Stories end, but so many doubts linger
Published: 17/11/2015
Writer: Atiya Achakulwisut
Short stories are in style. Endless tales with the potential to generate long, complicated narratives, characters and ideologies are now being cut short, forced to end abruptly or simply truncated until they carry no real meaning.
But ironically, "short stories" have the potential to somehow convey a more complete picture of the true state of things than the narratives would anyway. Though being forced to read between the lines can give rise to larger-than-life tales riddled with rumour and speculation, these tales are revealing about the powers-that-be.
Since some people in the country, most notably the military government, seem to prefer that we wrap things up tersely, let's take a look at the powerful techniques used to create short stories, or to shorten long ones.
"What else do you want?"
This demand/question is a favourite of both Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon. Both men hail from the military's highest level. It is clear they are accustomed to issuing orders that must be dutifully followed, not discussed..... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/767580 ... %2Fopinion (http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/767580?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2Fop inion)

10 November 2015
Junta Congratulates Myanmar on Elections
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ ThailandтАЩs junta congratulated Myanmar today for conducting its first free election in 25 years..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447133626&section=11)
I love this story. Clearly the junta have no sense of irony whatsoever

[Up2U]

17 November 2015
Outgoing Rights Commission Criticizes Junta, Pre-Coup Protests
Bangkok тАФ At the end of their term, members of the National Human Rights Commission said Monday the junta has trampled on human rights, while its way to power was paved by protests that occasionally violated constitutional rights to peaceful assembly.
The remark was among the commissionтАЩs frankest admissions of the ongoing repression of civil rights by the military junta so far, and came the same day it released a full report on human rights violations during the six months of protests which preceded the May 2014 coup dтАЩetat.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1447744818 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447744818)

[Up2U]

18 November 2015
Head Human Trafficking Investigator Rumored to be Fleeing Country
BANGKOK тАФ The police officer in charge of investigating human trafficking has been allowed to quit the force out of fear for his life and is rumored to be preparing to flee the country with his family.

Maj. Gen. Paween Pongsiri sought to quit the force earlier this month rather than be transferred to the southern border provinces, the very region where he spent six months going after human traffickers. After the investigation was shelved, Paween was assigned to the region, at which point he went public with his fear of reprisal from henchmen working for those heтАЩd arrested..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... ypecate=06 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447825901&section=12&typecate=06)

[Up2U]

19 November 2015,
Prayuth Warns Obama Not to Trust Reports of Rights Abuses
MANILA тАФ Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said he told U.S. President Barack Obama today that concerns about human rights violations in Thailand were partly based on inaccurate news presented by people with bad intentions.

Gen. Prayuth said he and Obama had the brief conversation on the matter as they sat next to each other this morning at a regional economic summit in Manila. It was the second time Prayuth encountered Obama, whose government condemned the coup dтАЩetat he staged in May 2014..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1447917761 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447917761)

[Up2U]

19 November 2015
Teachers Charged for Asking Junta to Respect Free Speech
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Police have charged eight academics with violating the juntaтАЩs ban on тАЬinciting unrestтАЭ for a recent conference at which they told the regime to stop clamping down on free expression in universities.

The eight were summoned to report Tuesday to the Chang Puak Police Station in Chiang Mai to formally hear their charges, an officer at the station told Khaosod English. He said the charges stemmed from a news conference held by the academics in Chiang Mai last month..... (read more)..... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1447937045&section=11)

[Up2U]

20 November 2015
Reserve Act Opens 12 Million to Summary Military Conscription
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
BANGKOK тАФ A law granting the military authority to order 300,000 men into service annually was recently passed by the junta-appointed legislature with little public debate and no opposition beyond an emerging online campaign against it.

An online petition launched Tuesday against the Armed Forces Reserve Act, passed recently by the military-stacked interim legislature, said that exposing 12 million men to summary conscription would lead to social and economic instability.... (read more)..... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448010209&section=11)

[Up2U]

20 November 2015
Junta Seeks Blanket Amnesty for тАШHonest Use of ForceтАЩ
By Teeranai Charuvastra

BANGKOK тАФ The junta has asked drafters of the new constitution to include a blanket amnesty for any use of force deemed to protect state security.

The request is among 10 suggestions made public Wednesday to the Constitutional Drafting Committee as part of its process for writing a new charter, after the previous was dissolved when the regime seized power in May 2014.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448012521&section=11)

[Up2U]

Thai army says itтАЩs not involved in park corruption case
by AP News | 21st November 2015 |
BANGKOK (AP) тАФ ThailandтАЩs military says an internal investigation has cleared senior officers of corruption in connection with the financing of a public park featuring giant statutes of kings on army property.

Army commander Gen. Theerachai Nakvanich told a news conference Friday that no member of the military was involved in corruption connected to Rajabhakti Park in the seaside town of Hua Hin.... (read more)... http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/t ... tion-case/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/thai-army-says-its-not-involved-in-park-corruption-case/)

[Up2U]

US voices frustration over Thailand's democracy progress
Published: 20/11/2015
Writer: AP
WASHINGTON -- The United States has expressed deep frustration over the lack of democratic progress in Thailand after last year's military coup, saying a new constitution there won't pass the тАЬsmell testтАЭ unless civil society helps to draft it.

Political developments in Thailand came under congressional scrutiny Thursday as a Senate foreign relations panel examined the state of democracy in Southeast Asia.

State Department officials reported a mixed picture, with good news in Indonesia, the Philippines and former pariah state Myanmar after landmark elections this month, but bad news in Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia...... (read more)..... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/771360

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Academics face unjust detention in Thailand
By Robert Dayley, Guest Contributor
тАУ 22 November 2015
Academic freedom is under grave threat in Thailand.

Since the May 2014 Coup, scholars at ThailandтАЩs institutions of higher learning have faced ongoing harassment and intimidation. Military presence on campus has now been coupled with new rules and restrictions on everyday instruction and standard university activities..... (read more)..... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... -thailand/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/11/22/academics-face-unjust-detention-in-thailand/)

[Up2U]

The army camp creeps on to the uni campus
The military has been using overt and covert means to influence academics, who fear their freedoms are being restricted.
Published: 22/11/2015 at 02:07 AM
Nanchanok Wongsamuth
Titipol Phakdeewanich does not discuss politics on Facebook. He was never тАЬinvitedтАЭ by the military to undergo "attitude adjustment" sessions. His colleagues who teach at Ubon Ratchathani University describe him as not politically vocal, and his criticisms as not provocative or hostile, but within the boundaries determined by normal Thai politeness.

But even after his first unofficial meeting with military officers in December last year, the armyтАЩs continued presence in classrooms, seminars and events involving international organisations has left the political science lecturer feeling fear and concern..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/772244

[Up2U]

Opinion
Attention military juntas тАУ Military leaders have no business in politics says Mr Corbyn.
November 22, 2015 uglytruththailand
Guest Article By Adam John
Something remarkable has happened in the last few months. Some military leaders have become rather outspoken, thinking they can intervene in the political process. Obviously, I am not talking about Thailand since there has always been a disturbing dominance of the military within the political process. At the moment, the military is not even going through the charade of having a puppet civilian government and is instead openly ruling the country with absolute tyranny.... (read more).... https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... mr-corbyn/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/11/22/attention-military-juntas-military-leaders-have-no-business-in-politics-says-mr-corbyn/)

[Up2U]

23 November 2015
Freed Lese Majeste Offender Loses Faith in UDD, Pins Hope on 'Ordinary Folks'
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
BANGKOK тАФ After two years and eight months in prison for committing lese majeste (insulting the monarchy), Redshirt activist Ekachai Hongkangwan said heтАЩs lost faith in the leadership of that movement, and now believes hope for a democratic Thailand rests with ordinary citizens.

Speaking in an interview following his release from prison Nov. 15, Ekachai, who was convicted in 2013 of selling CDs containing content deemed critical of the monarchy, said leaders of Redshirt umbrella group United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, or UDD, rarely visited him or other ordinary Redshirts in prison, while some imprisoned UDD leaders enjoyed a relatively privileged lifestyle behind bars..... (read more).... http://linkis.com/khaosodenglish.com/yXIdn

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy server needed in Thailand
Thai Military: Do as We Say, Not as We Do
Posted on November 23, 2015 By Our Correspondent Headline, Politics, Thailand
Thai Military: Do as We Say, Not as We Do
Mired in vast corruption, the military tells the civilians to clean up their act
Last week, a spokesman for ThailandтАЩs Constitution Drafting Commission said the junta is considering new mechanisms to aid the National Anti-Corruption Commission in its mission to crack down on graft at the local level.
Allegedly widespread corruption, along with political chaos, was the militaryтАЩs rationale for its May 22, 2014 coup that brought down the democratically elected government headed by then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The current government, headed by former Army chief Prayuth Chan-Ocha тАУ who appointed himself Prime Minister тАУ has gone on a mission to clean out the decades-old corruption in ThailandтАЩs often-disreputable government operations. Yingluck herself remains in the dock, accused of corruption in a vast rice-subsidy scheme that went wrong during her period in office.
The militaryтАЩs plans, however, have been complicated by allegations that arose last week over profiteering by the Army Commander-in-Chief Thirachai Narkvanich in the construction of an ornate Rajabhakti Museum Park in Hua Hin, designed to honor ThailandтАЩs seven Chakri kings, and the fortune spent on bronze castings of the seven monarchs.
тАЬThe hypocrisy of the National Committee for Peace and Order (the Junta) and the military is really hard to stomach,тАЭ said a longtime Thai political analyst... (read more).... http://free-proxyserver.com/browse.php? ... ZU%3D&b=29 (http://free-proxyserver.com/browse.php?u=IhzTPYX1RidBN0fWTfrrUj1AB2VatVEYgpqZa D3na1q0vwTbFWfmwNpTe2W%2BUiSIkr2FpdRN4%2F5gDrQS5RK rJWOFIIvj4vETfGs1zZU%3D&b=29)

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EU extends invitation to ex-Thai PM Yingluck тАУ but will the junta let her travel?
by Saksith Saiyasombut | 24th November 2015 |
LETTER appearing to be an invitation by European Union parliamentarians to former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to talk at the EU is being circulated in Thailand, sparking speculation about her future whereabouts amidst criminal charges at home and implications for the relations between the EU and the Thai military.

Signed by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Elmar Brok and Werner Langen, the letter (see below) recalls YingluckтАЩs visit to the EU in March 2013, before addressing the current political situation in Thailand under the military junta тАЬwith concernтАЭ. The letter concludes with an invitation to the former prime minister for an тАЭexchange of views тАж either in Brussels or in Strasbourg.тАЭ.... (read more)... http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/e ... er-travel/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/2015/11/eu-extends-invitation-to-ex-thai-pm-yingluck-but-will-the-military-junta-let-her-travel/)

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November 24, 2015
Thailand: Constitution to Give Soldiers тАШLicense to KillтАЩ
Reject Immunity for the Military in Draft Charter
(New York) тАУ ThailandтАЩs junta has proposed that the new constitution protect military personnel from prosecution for serious abuses, Human Rights Watch said today. The constitution drafters should reject the proposed de facto amnesty.

Coup leader Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, in his capacity as the chair of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order, sent a letter regarding the draft constitution to the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee on November 11, 2015. The junta recommended that the drafting committee include a clause that would exempt the military from civil, criminal, or administrative accountability for the use of force тАЬin good faithтАЭ to protect national security from internal and external threats..... (read more)... https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/11/24/tha ... cense-kill (https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/11/24/thailand-constitution-give-soldiers-license-kill)

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25 November 2015
Prayuth CanтАЩt Guarantee Safety of Academics Who Criticize Him
Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha said he would not be able to guarantee the safety of university lecturers who continue to criticize his military regime.
His comment came as six academics reported to police to hear charges of violating the juntaтАЩs ban on political activities for organizing a news conference last month at which they asked Gen. PrayuthтАЩs government to respect freedom of speech.
тАЬIf they want to engage in activism or whatever, itтАЩs up to them. If they arenтАЩt afraid of the laws, itтАЩs up to them. I donтАЩt know about them. If the people want to join them, and then get in trouble for it, itтАЩs up to them.тАЭ Gen. Prayuth said at Government House on Tuesday. тАЬAnd if someone finds a gun and shoot them, or throws grenades at them, well, they have to live with that. If they arenтАЩt afraid, itтАЩs up to them.тАЭ.... (read more)..... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448441773&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Lecturers deny charges of defying juntaтАЩs ban on gatherings
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 25/11/2015
Embattled lecturers accused by the military of violating the juntaтАЩs ban on political gatherings have denied the charges, saying different ideas are crucial for Thai society.
At about 2:30 pm on Tuesday, 24 November 2015, six lecturers charged under the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 3/2015, banning political gatherings of five or more persons, reported to Chang Puak Police Station in the northern province of Chiang Mai after summons were issued against them last week...... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5641

[frequentfliers]

Its sad reading the posts here.Military governments never work and surely Thais know that better than anyone.When a former Prime minister has to seek permission to visit another country it shows how insecure the the military is.
Its great that we can read here the goings on in Thailand and long may it last.

[Up2U]

Pravit Rojanaphruk
25 November 2015
Intended or Not, Political Space Grows Under Junta's Nose
BANGKOK тАФ What may now be more remarkable than all the protests, marches and discussions shut down by the junta are those it has not.

Despite a proven ability to stop events deemed to violate its ban on political gatherings, the military governmentтАЩs decision to allow several recent protests is either a calculated measure to ease political pressure or a sign of its slipping grip, depending on who you ask.... (read more).... http://linkis.com/khaosodenglish.com/yVG0w

[Up2U]

US ambassador raps lese majeste sentences
Published: 26/11/2015
Ambassador Glyn T Davies on Wednesday expressed concern about the "unprecedented" prison terms handed down under the Criminal Code Section 112 law.

No one should be jailed for peacefully expressing their opinion, he said during a talk at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.

"We're also concerned by the lengthy and unprecedented prison sentences handed down by Thai military courts against civilians for violating the lese majeste law," Mr Davies told a sold-out event..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/776709

[Up2U]

26 November 2015
Assassination Plot Foiled, Police Say; Conspirators Arrested
Teeranai Charuvastra

BANGKOK тАФ Police say they have disrupted a plot to assassinate top government officials and arrested three men, two said to be from the northeastern of Thailand.

Police chief Chakthip Chaijinda announced yesterday that three suspects, a former police officer and two civilians, were detained after police foiled their plan to assassinate тАЬimportant figures in the governmentтАЭ and stage terror attacks in Bangkok, though he gave no concrete details.

Rumors of a plot to assassinate junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha began circulating on Monday..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448511236&section=11)

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in Breaking News | November 27, 2015
The Pheu Thai Party today issued a statement calling on the deputy defence minister Gen Udomdej Sitabutr to step down to show his responsibility after two of his aides were involved in the Rajabhakti museum park scandal and also become lese majeste charge suspects.

Gen Udomdej was former Army commander-in-chief. http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/139930-2

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Friendly words sought from new US ambassador
Published: 27/11/2015
Dozens of demonstrators gathered at the United States embassy in Bangkok on Friday to protest against new American ambassador Glyn Davies' criticism of Thailand's lese majeste law.
Led by activist abbot Buddha Isara, they urged Mr Davies, who took up his post just nine weeks ago, to better understand Thai culture and not to intervene in the debates related to politics and the royal institution.
They called on the ambassador to consider the longstanding good ties between both countries. Demonstrators raised banners in Thai and English expressing their disapproval of his comments.
A few dozen police officers stood in front of the embassy as protesters held placards saying "This is Thailand, not the USA" and "Go, Go Home" accusing the envoy of meddling in the country's domestic affairs.
"You have no right and no power. ... We are not slaves of the US. The monarchy is a sacred symbol that all Thais are ready to defend with their lives," Abbot Buddha Isara said.... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/778653?re ... ost.com%2F (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/778653?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2F)

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Pheu Thai demands Udomdej resign over Rajabhakti
Published: 27/11/2015
The Pheu Thai Party demanded Friday that Gen Udomdej Sitabutr resign as the deputy defence minister over alleged corruption in the Rajabhakti Park project.

In a statement released today, the party kicked out of power in last year's military coup asserted that Gen Udomdej, the former army chief who headed the Rajabhakti Foundation during the Hua Hin park's scandal-plagued construction, should take responsibility by quitting because construction costs were unusually high, there were reports of irregularities, and his close military aides are wanted on arrest warrants for corruption in the project.... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/778501?re ... ost.com%2F (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/778501?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2F)

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Sasiwan Mokkhasen
28 November 2015
Ultra Royalists Call for Removal of U.S. Ambassador
BANGKOK тАФ For the second time in two months, ultraroyalist monk Buddha Isara led protesters to the U.S. Embassy on Friday, this time to demand the removal of newly appointed Ambassador Glyn Davies for criticizing ThailandтАЩs royal defamation law..... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448693371&section=11)

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Impeachment process begins for ousted Thai PM Yingluck
Fri, Nov 28 13:35 PM IST
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's military-appointed legislature on Friday started impeachment proceedings against ousted former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over a loss-making rice subsidy programme, seen as a further step to try to end the political influence of her powerful family.
Yingluck was removed from office in May, after a court found her guilty of abuse of power, days before the army staged a coup after months of sometimes violent street demonstrations in Bangkok aimed at ousting her government.
A day after she was removed, Thailand's National Anti-Corruption Commission found her guilty of mishandling the rice scheme.
Friday's decision sees the ruling junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), edging a step closer to rooting out the influence of Yingluck and her brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thailand has been convulsed by bouts of political turbulence ever since Thaksin was removed in a previous putsch in 2006. The kingdom is bitterly divided between his supporters and detractors..... (read more)... http://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/id ... 8?irpc=932 (http://in.mobile.reuters.com/article/idINKCN0JC0I220141128?irpc=932)

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Europe Must Follow Through on Rights in Thailand
Brussels must enforce its newfound approach to trade with Thailand.
By Anthony Kleven
November 29, 2015
The European Commission is to be applauded, having recently announced a commendable new values-driven global trade and investment strategy. This fresh approach will fuse jobs and growth with human rights and sustainability. It should leave the world in no doubt that a share of EuropeтАЩs riches comes at an ethical price тАУ respect for human dignity, liberty and democracy. The message must be clear: no freedom, no profits..... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/europe-m ... -thailand/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/europe-must-follow-through-on-rights-in-thailand/)

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Countersuit against officers
The Nation November 29, 2015
The lawyer of Thanakrit Thongngernpherm, one of suspects in a lese majeste case, today filed a countersuit, insisting that her client could not commit the crime while serving time in jail.
The charge was filed against Pol Gen Srivara Rangsipramanakul, the deputy national police chief, and other officers involved with the arrest warrants issued for Thanakrit and eight others. They were charged of exaggerating and causing damage to individuals.

Thanakrit, 49, was one of the red-shirt suspects in the "Khon Kaen Model" case. He was released on bail but has remained in prison since May 2014 on a forgery case..... (read more).... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 73933.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Countersuit-against-officers-30273933.html)

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NYTimes
Thai Economy and Spirits Are Sagging
By THOMAS FULLERNOV. 29, 2015
тАФ Do not be fooled by the throngs of Chinese tourists clogging the entrance to the gilded Grand Palace, the roads buzzing with traffic or the plastic smiles of hostesses greeting the business lunch crowd at luxury hotels.
Thailand is in a rut.
The economy is moribund and Thai households are among the most indebted in Asia.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the epoxy of a fractured nation who commands divine-like reverence and turns 88 next month, is ailing and has not been seen in public since September.
A military government that seized power last year is showing no haste in handing back power to politicians who have spent the past decade in often violent conflict...... (read more).... http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/world ... share&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/30/world/asia/thailand-economy-tourism.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0)

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Pravit Rojanaphruk
30 November 2015
Redshirt Leaders Detained En Route to Rajabhakti Park
SAMUT SAKHON тАФ Soldiers whisked away Redshirt leaders this morning while they were en route to the Rajabhakti Historical Park in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

Nattawut Saikua and Jatuphon Prompan, two leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or UDD, were speaking to reporters this morning at about 10am in the Mahachai area of Samut Sakhon province, southwest of Bangkok, when soldiers appeared and took them away.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1448857835 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448857835)

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Prawit advises US ambassador to 'think before speaking'
Published: 30/11/2015
Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon on Monday advised United States ambassador Glyn Davies to think carefully before speaking after his remark on the Thai military rule.

He claimed the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), which seized power last year, provided more freedom than other juntas and was developing sustainable democracy in the country.

Gen Prawit was responding to Mr Davies' comments at a Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand speech Nov 25 where he hit out at "the lengthy and unprecedented prison sentences handed down by Thai military courts against civilians" for breaching Section 112 of the Criminal Code, better known as the lese majeste law..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/780725

[Up2U]

01 December 2015
Rajabhakti Scandal: Redshirt Leaders Released
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ The two Redshirt leaders said last night they were released from military custody hours after being detained while en route to a тАЬcorruption inspection tour.тАЭ

Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikua were released hours after soldiers detained them in southwest of Bangkok on Monday morning as they spoke with reporters about their plan to travel to the Rajabhakti Historical Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, which has become mired in allegations of graft..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1448946769&section=11)

[Up2U]

Yingluck barred from talking politics at EU parliament
Submitted by editor2 on Wednesday Dec 2, 2015

The Supreme Court has prohibited Yingluck Shinawatra, a former elected Prime Minister from Pheu Thai Party, to fly to Europe.

According to Khaosod News Agency, Supreme CourtтАЩs Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, denied a request of Yingluck Shinawatra to travel to Europe to share her views on Thai politics..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5660

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy needed in Thailand
Thai politics
The stench of military corruption
November 29, 2015
Giles ji Ungpakorn

The stench of junta corruption in the case of the gross and distasteful тАЬRachapakтАЭ monument park simply will not go away. General Prawit, deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, along with Generalissimo Prayut, have repeatedly tried to pass the buck and claim that it is тАЬan internal army matterтАЭ or that it is тАЬnothing to do with the governmentтАЭ because it is about the affairs of a private foundation. General Teerachai, the commander of the army has tried to brush off the affair and General Udomdet, chairman of the Rachapat Foundation and deputy Minister of Defence has equally tried to deny any wrong-doing..... (read more).... http://free-proxyserver.com/browse.php? ... zlIdc&b=29 (http://free-proxyserver.com/browse.php?u=KZ6aPj8o29tPqn0lZCNFJtF4mbOu1br3ycTJK uHGi%2FAC%2FbQWFdKr%2FfwCM64cpkMqt6DXahjKsHEPVhErL PcdEpZ2kUz9LPNFNdn3%2BFJzlIdc&b=29)

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vpn or proxy needed in Thailand
Thai Junta Shuts PublicтАЩs Ears to Bad News
Posted on December 1, 2015 By Our Correspondent Economics/Business, Headline, Thailand
Prayuth says things are fine
But while censorship is rife, the economy continues to flag
When the international edition of the New York Times was delivered in Thailand on Nov. 30, the front page of the paper featured a large white blank space. In other editions, the paper featured a detailed story by staff correspondent Thomas Fuller on the growing paralysis in the Thai economy.
That white space is emblematic of both the inability of the generals to run what had been Southeast AsiaтАЩs most vibrant economy, and their desire to keep it from a country that unfortunately knows pretty well what the state of the economy is. The junta has sought to shut down any and all critical reporting and internet blogs. Asia Sentinel is regularly blocked in Thailand.... (read more).... http://free-proxyserver.com/browse.php? ... FjJpc&b=29 (http://free-proxyserver.com/browse.php?u=YIuaZj04mcNIsWkiaTlZLtZxlPOplKC33sPWN qnXja0I%2FLxKVM3uoLJabuBA%2B0E0qquOeEHctmcTCFM9dPg YF5xx3Vvlc%2BMHJcrmpUh%2FjJpc&b=29)

[Up2U]

Thaksin's New Year message greeted with warning
Published: 02/12/2015
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has sent an early New Year message, wishing for the return of democracy in Thailand -- a move quickly countered with a warning from a key cabinet minister.
With 2016 still four weeks away, Thaksin surprisingly sent his New Year greetings to his supporters on YouTube on Tuesday, advising them to be patient in the year to come as democracy will eventually be restored to the country.
"Please be a bit patient, because no one can defy democracy," he said from an unknown location. Rights and freedoms of citizens were being curbed, but these restrictions would eventually end, he said, without mentioning the government or National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) by name.... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/782925?re ... put%3Dhtml (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/782925?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2F%3 Foutput%3Dhtml)

[Up2U]

A Law unto Themselves
Submitted by prachatai on Thu, 03/12/2015
Sorry, but are we living under a military dictatorship or not?
This morningтАЩs paper has a lead that says the military are about to throw Deputy Defence Minister, former Army Commander-in-Chief and chairman of the Rajabhakti Park Foundation General Udomdej Sitabutr to the anti-corruption wolves (or at least those of them who are less selective in their outrage).
And right below that is a report of former тАШgraft-bustingтАЩ Auditor-General Jaruvan Maintaka getting busted for, er, graft. The Unlucky Ducky with the son as personal secretary on a government salary was always suspiciously aggressive against any corruption with a Shinawatra name attached to it, but otherwise not interested. But being only half-good at fighting corruption is a mite different from indulging yourself..... (read more)..... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5661

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This article is not available for print in Thailand, removed from International NYTimes
The Opinion Pages | Op-Ed Contributor
The Thai Monarchy and Its Money
By TOM FELIX JOEHNK
DEC. 3, 2015 BANGKOK тАФ The Crown Property Bureau, which manages the Thai royal familyтАЩs properties and investments, controls assets that may amount to as much as 1.9 trillion baht, about $53 billion. It is the biggest corporate group in the country and one of the biggest landholders in the capital. It is also one of the more mysterious arms of the Thai government..... (read more)... http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/opini ... share&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/04/opinion/the-thai-monarchy-and-its-money.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0)

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Prawit puts brakes on Democrat meeting proposal
Published: 04/12/2015
A Democrat Party plan for a meeting hit a dead end on Friday after Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon remained firm on the ban on gatherings of political parties.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva sent a letter to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) on Friday asking the junta to reconsider the ban and citing the party's need to call a meeting.

The junta slapped a ban on all political parties in Order No. 57 announced on June 7 last year, two weeks after it seized power from the Yingluck Shinawatra government in a coup.... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/785289

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ThailandтАЩs Generals Shoot Economy in the Foot
Military junta lacks the vision to fix an economy in disarray, while ChinaтАЩs slowdown slams AsiaтАЩs weak links.
By William Pesek
December 4, 2015
MondayтАЩs edition was a bizarre one for New York Times readers in Thailand: the middle of the front page featured a large blank space. For readers elsewhere, it contained a strongly critical story about the economy. Namely, how the generals who grabbed power in May 2014 are shooting one of AsiaтАЩs most promising nations in the foot.

The juntaтАЩs amateurish shot at censorship is a timely metaphor for ThailandтАЩs own disappearing act on the world stage. General Prayuth Chan-ocha justified his power grab in ways coup leaders often do: weтАЩll restore order, stability and competence to a government thatтАЩs lost its way. Yet 561 days on, Southeast AsiaтАЩs No. 2 economy is in disarray, investors are fleeing and PrayuthтАЩs regime looks increasingly desperate..... (read more)..... http://www.barrons.com/articles/thailan ... ighlight_1 (http://www.barrons.com/articles/thailands-generals-shoot-land-of-smiles-in-the-foot-1449191706?mod=BOL_hp_highlight_1)

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Nonthaburi protesters blast Davies
Anti-US sentiment grows over speech
Published: 05/12/2015
Anti-American sentiment continues to mount as protesters in Nonthaburi were the latest to denounce US ambassador Glyn Davies' criticism of Thailand's lese majeste law.

The protest comes as another blow to the recently appointed ambassador who has been dragged into hot water after his contentious speech on Nov 25 which has drawn anger, and a series of protests in many provinces across the country.

Gathering in front of the Nonthaburi Provincial Hall on Friday, a group of about 30 rally-goers, named "Seri Non Khon Rak Nai Luang", demonstrated their dissatisfaction with Mr Davies through placards and a special one-page statement, which strongly criticised the ambassador for his "highly unacceptable" words..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/785393

Junta encourages anti-American protests for dad
Dec 5 2015
The military dictatorship hates political demonstrations. Except when it is the junta that is encouraging and facilitating them.

Since US Ambassador Glyn Davies made some reasonably innocuous comments about the draconian lese majeste law, mad monarchists have been demonstrating. At the same time, the regime has organized and facilitated demonstrations in several provinces..... (read more).... https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... s-for-dad/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2015/12/05/junta-encourages-anti-american-protests-for-dad/)

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Life for a Thai in exile: Jakrapob Penkair - Part 2
Submitted by editor1 on Wed, 02/12/2015
Although Jakrapob Penkair may have disappeared from the Thai political scene many years ago, his name still resounds. This confirms his status as a 'political man' whose latest achievement is to co-found 'Seri Thai'--an organisation whose mandate is to fight the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) from outside the country. It is the task which has prompted another round of surveillance on him by the authorities.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5656

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End political prosecutions: Thai Academics for Civil Rights
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 03/12/2015
Thai academics have kicked off an online campaign, demanding that the junta тАШunconditionallyтАЩ end the persecution of political dissidents.

A group of academics calling themselves Thai Academics for Civil Rights (TACR) has started an online campaign on Change.org titled тАШUniversities are Not Military Barracks, the Country is Not a Concentration CampтАЩ to collect names calling for an end to human rights violations by the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and university heads... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5662

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New US Envoy to Thailand Walks Tightrope Amid Alliance Strain
US-Thai relations have entered a new tumultuous phase.
By Shawn W. Crispin
December 04, 2015
Thailand-United States relations have entered a new tumultuous phase, just two months after WashingtonтАЩs appointment to Bangkok of a veteran diplomat with a remit to repair damaged ties. U.S. ambassador to Thailand Glyn DaviesтАЩ innocuous remark on the ruling military juntaтАЩs unprecedented use of lese majeste charges to stifle free speech and imprison critics of the monarchy has sparked a firestorm of high-level rebukes and anti-U.S. protests calling for the senior envoyтАЩs expulsion and an end to perceived American interference in domestic affairs..... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/new-us-e ... ce-strain/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/new-us-envoy-to-thailand-walks-tightrope-amid-alliance-strain/)

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06 December 2015
An Open Letter to Ultra-Royalists
Pravit Rojanaphruk
Dear Ultra-Royalists,
How surprisingly delighted I was to read that hundreds of you gathered at the U.S. Embassy and throughout the provinces during the past week to oppose the criticism of the lese majeste law by new U.S. Ambassador Glyn Davies and call for his ouster. ItтАЩs good and yet ironically surreal to see all you folks exercising your freedom of political assembly тАУ despite the supposed junta ban on any political gathering of five or more people тАУ to exercise your freedom of expression to further curb othersтАЩ freedom of expression.
While I respect your ideological and political views with regards to the monarchy, I was disappointed that the venerable monk Buddha Issara, who led protesters Nov. 27 to the U.S. Embassy, claimed to be speaking on behalf of all Thais.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1449378769 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1449378769)

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vpn or proxy if in Thailand
The role of Thai social movements in democratisation
December 6, 2015
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
In recent Thai political history we have seen a number of social movements which claimed to be campaigning for democracy. The PeopleтАЩs Alliance for Democracy (PAD) or the тАЬYellow ShirtsтАЭ, Sutep TeuksubanтАЩs PeopleтАЩs Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) or the тАЬRed ShirtsтАЭ, are the most important examples..... (read more).... https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... atisation/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/12/06/the-role-of-thai-social-movements-in-democratisation/)

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Security officers detain democracy-activists en route Rajabhakti Park
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 07/12/2015
Update: According to Matichon Online, the military on Monday morning has closed off Rajabhakti Park for тАШreparationтАЩ until further notice. Many military officers are deployed at the park gate.
Military and police officers detained anti-junta activists on their way to Rakabhakti Park, a royal theme park plagued with corruption scandal, and cut off a train bogie to prevent them from travelling further.
According to Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta political group, military and police officers around 10 am on Monday, 7 December 2015, at Ban Pong Train Station in Ratchaburi Province detained at least four anti-junta activists who were on an excursion to Rajabhakti Park.
Some of those detained are Anon Nampa, a well known anti-junta lawyer, who has been charged for defying the juntaтАЩs political gathering ban earlier this year, and Sirawit Serithiwat who is also facing similar charge.
The excursion was organised by Resistant Citizen and several well known pro-democracy activists to investigate on the corruption scandal surrounding the park which was constructed by the Thai military..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5672

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07 December 2015
Rajabhakti Scandal: Military Closes Park 'For Maintenance,' Detains Dozens of Activists
BANGKOK тАФ For the second time in a week, the military has intercepted a group of activists who attempted to travel to the armyтАЩs historical park said to be rife with corruption.

Sirawith Serithiwat, co-founder of the pro-democracy group Resistant Citizens, and dozens of his supporters were arrested aboard a train en route to Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province Monday morning.

The authorities employed several drastic measures to intercept the group, including cutting off the train car that Sirawith was riding, closing down the historical park тАЬfor maintenanceтАЭ and threatening SirawithтАЩs mother on Sunday to convince her son to call off the trip.

iLaw, an NGO group that tracks legal prosecution of anti-junta activists, said on Twitter that they were told 33 people have been arrested so far.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1449466128&typecate=06&section=)

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NACC asked to investigate General Udomdej and General Sirichai
in Politics | December 8, 2015
Self-made political activist Veera Somkwamkid today (Tuesday) asked the National Anti-Corruption Commission to launch an investigation into alleged malfeasance in office in connection with the construction of the Rajabhakti Park by former army chief General Udomdej Seetabutr and former defence permanent secretary General Sirichai Ditthakul.... (read more).... http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nacc-a ... l-sirichai (http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/nacc-asked-to-investigate-general-udomdej-and-general-sirichai)

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The тАЬmoderateтАЭ military
Dec 8, 2015
As readers will know, new French Ambassador, keen on expanding trade with the worldтАЩs only military dictatorship, has stated that the junta is тАЬmoderate.тАЭ

Gilles Garachon might say that the Thai military regime did not murder the students going to look at military corruption park, but they did employ extreme measures to prevent a few students, several old women and various others from visiting Rajabhakti Park.

This included the mobilization of rightists and royalists in Hua Hin to oppose the students and supporters.... (read more).... https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... -military/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2015/12/08/the-moderate-military/)

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Thailand: Detention of anti-corruption protesters shows increasing repression by military junta
7 December 2015
The arrest of a group of 37 activists in Thailand ahead of a planned anti-corruption protest is the latest evidence that the countryтАЩs military government is using arbitrary powers of detention to silence peaceful activism, Amnesty International said today.

The group of 36 students and a lawyer were detained on Monday morning while travelling by train to Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin, central Thailand, to attend a demonstration against alleged military corruption.... (read more).... https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/ ... ary-junta/ (https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/12/thailand-detention-of-anti-corruption-protesters-shows-increasing-repression-by-military-junta/)

[Up2U]

The ambassador might be summoned
Government takes aim at UK envoy comments
Werachon says Kent backs 'law-breakers'
Published: 09/12/2015
The government has slammed the British ambassador's comments "supporting law-breakers" and is considering whether to summon him for talks.

By "law-breakers", the government was referring to a group of anti-coup activists who call themselves Prachathipatai Sueksa (Democracy Studies). They were stopped at a railway station in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi province while they were on a train bound for Rajabhakti Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
The activists were taken to an army base in Nakhon Pathom where they were detained. All the students were later released from military custody. The majority of the students -- 30 -- signed an agreement promising not to engage in such activities again. Six refused to sign and two more withdrew their signatures.
The British ambassador to Thailand, Mark Kent, wrote in a Twitter post on Monday that, "I had hoped the fact 200 people [were] allowed to demonstrate at the US embassy might be relaxation of freedom of assembly," referring to a rally that took place in late November in front of the US embassy on Wireless Road against US ambassador Glyn Davies.... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/788833

[Up2U]

US Ambassador to Thailand Glyn Davies under probe for lese majeste
Dec 9, 2015
Tan Hui Yee
Thailand Correspondent
BANGKOK - The new United States ambassador to Thailand is under probe for alleged lese majeste over comments that he made at an event in Bangkok last month.

Mr Glyn Davies, who took up his post in September, triggered protests by royalists in the kingdom after he raised concern about Thailand's lese majeste law during a talk at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand (FCCT).

Thai police on Wednesday (Dec 9) confirmed that an official investigation was taking place..... (read more)..... http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asi ... se-majeste (http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/us-ambassador-to-thailand-under-probe-for-lese-majeste)

[Up2U]

Revealed: Thailand's most senior human trafficking investigator to seek political asylum in Australia
Major General Paween Pongsirin says his investigations into human trafficking implicated senior figures in police and military and he now fears life
Alcorn, Keryn Reynolds and Margaret Simons
Thursday 10 December 2015
ThailandтАЩs most senior police investigator into human trafficking is seeking political asylum in Australia, saying he fears for his life because influential figures in the Thai government, military and police are implicated in trafficking and want him killed.

Major General Paween Pongsirin arrived in Melbourne a few days ago on a tourist visa and has now told the Australian Broadcasting CorporationтАЩs 7.30 program and Guardian Australia he plans to seek asylum..... (read more).... http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/d ... SApp_Other (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/10/thailands-most-senior-human-trafficking-investigator-to-seek-political-asylum-in-australia?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other)

[Up2U]

EU, Yingluck and the junta
Dec 10, 2015
New Europe comments on the invitation to Yingluck Shinawatra and the juntaтАЩs judiciary banning her from travel.

The European Parliament has expressed concern about the new military junta constitution and the delayed return to electoral democracy. In response, Yingluck was invited тАЬto address the European Parliament on the political situation in the country.тАЭ The invitation was delivered in October, тАЬco-signed by Elmar Brok, chairman of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Werner Langen, chair of the panel for relations with Southeast Asia and Asean.тАЭ.... (read more)....https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... the-junta/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2015/12/10/eu-yingluck-and-the-junta/)

[Up2U]

10 December 2015
More Charges Against Facebooker for 'Liking' Photos
BANGKOK тАФ A 27-year-old factory worker detained for posting infographics about Rajabhakti Park corruption scandal received additional lese majeste and sedition charges for liking "inappropriate" Facebook pictures.

Maj. Gen. Wicharn Jodtaeng, the head of the junta's law office, and Col. Burin Thongprapai of the military Judge Advocate GeneralтАЩs Department, filed additional charges Wednesday under Article 112 of the criminal code, which criminalizes lese majeste (defaming the monarchy), as well as Article 116, which pertains to sedition, against the suspect identified as Thanakorn Siripaiboon..... (read more)..... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1449725252 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1449725252)

[Up2U]

Thai police consider defamation suit against human trafficking investigator
Fri, Dec 11
By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai police on Friday said they were considering suing a former officer investigating human trafficking for defamation over comments he made implicating senior officials in the trade.
Police Major General Paween Pongsirin arrived in Melbourne a few days ago and told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) on Thursday that he feared for his life because influential figures in the Thai government, military and police implicated in the illicit trade want him dead.
"There are some bad police and bad military who do these kind of things," Paween told the broadcaster. "Unfortunately, those bad police and military are the ones that have power."
Royal Thai Police chief Jakthip Chaijinda told reporters that he did not know why Paween fled but said a legal team was checking whether his comments were defamatory..... (read more)... http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/id ... 1?irpc=932 (http://uk.mobile.reuters.com/article/idUKKBN0TU0CR20151211?irpc=932)

[Up2U]

Junta to charge hundreds more with l├иse majest├й for pressing тАШlikeтАЩ on Facebook
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 11/12/2015
After the Thai juntaтАЩs legal office filed l├иse majest├й and sedition charges against a factory worker for pressing тАШlikeтАЩ on Facebook, the police have announced that hundreds more will be charged with l├иse majest├й for similar actions.
According to Matichon Online, police investigators are now gathering information and evidence to press charges against 20 administrators of an anti-establishment red-shirt Facebook group called тАШthe National Red Shirts AssociationтАЩ.
Hundreds of members of the Facebook page will also be charged with Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the l├иse majest├й law, for pressing тАШlikeтАЩ on pictures and content allegedly defaming the Thai monarchy, Matichon reported..... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5686

[Up2U]

Thailand's Royal Defamation Law Under New Scrutiny
December 10, 2015
Thailand's controversial laws that impose harsh penalties for defaming the country's royal family are under increased scrutiny this week, as are their critics. Rights groups are again calling for the country to reform the Lese Majeste laws, and the U.S. ambassador to Bangkok is under investigation for recent comments criticizing the lengthy jail terms handed down under the law.
A published statement by the international rights group Amnesty International says Thailand should stop applying the royal defamation law to criminalize freedom of expression, with the law leaving dozens of individuals in jail or facing military trials without access to appeal.
Amnesty says the law raises concerns over тАЬabsurd extremes of ThailandтАЩs restrictions on freedom of expression.тАЭ... (read more).... http://m.voanews.com/a/thailand-lese-ma ... 97018.html (http://m.voanews.com/a/thailand-lese-majeste/3097018.html)

[cdnmatt]

Is that ever absurd. Pressing "like" on Facebook can get you thrown in a Thai prison cell for years?

That's beyond common sense.

[Up2U]

Will Thailand's Military Be Held Accountable for the Country's Economic Woes?
Luke Hunt
December 11, 2015
Since they took power in a coup last May, Thai generals have been quick to use their countryтАЩs courts to hold ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra responsible for losses incurred through her governmentтАЩs disastrous rice-pledging scheme. By that same standard, they should be held accountable for the countryтАЩs economic woes during their rule thus far.

Thai exports are taking a significant hit as the world digests the Chinese share market collapse and subsequent devaluation of the yuan as well as is impact on neighboring manufacturers and currencies. That is testing the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)..... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/will-tha ... omic-woes/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/will-thailands-military-be-held-accountable-for-the-countrys-economic-woes/)

[bruce_nyc]

Well..... pressing Like on Facebook is always a stupid thing to do.

But then again even having a Facebook account is a stupid thing to do.

And....

Why does that name, "the NCPO, the National Council for Peace and Order" ......make me laugh every time I hear it. ......until I remember that it's not a joke.

[Up2U]

human trafficking
Paween's allegations infuriate his ex-bosses
The Nation, Agencies December 12, 2015
Police chief says former human-trafficking investigator's accusations harm the country's reputation, considering libel case; NCPO 'focused on tackling trafficking'
SUPERVISORS OF the former chief investigator probing a high-profile human smuggling case reacted angrily yesterday to his accusation that he got no protection from them despite death threats faced by him..... (read more)... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/nationa ... 74756.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Paweens-allegations-infuriate-his-ex-bosses-30274756.html)

[Up2U]

Rising Political Movement in the Northeast Defies Military Rule
2015 December 10
by The Isaan Record
KHON KAEN тАУ Today, about 80 activists, academics, and villagers from the Northeast and Bangkok pushed the boundaries of the military governmentтАЩs restrictions on political gatherings by attending a political seminar in Khon Kaen City, despite efforts by the authorities to block the event.
Activists, lawyers, and academics gathered together with Northeastern villagers at a political seminar under the name тАЬUnsettling IsaanтАЩs Lands тАУ The PeopleтАЩs Fate after the CoupтАЭ in Khon Kaen City.

On Thursday morning, student activists from Khon Kaen UniversityтАЩs Dao Din group opened the doors to their meeting house to host an ad hoc seminar under the title тАЬUnsettling IsaanтАЩs Lands тАУ The PeopleтАЩs Fate after the Coup,тАЭ organized by the тАЬNeo E-Saan Movement,тАЭ or the New Isaan Movement..... (read more).... http://isaanrecord.com/2015/12/10/risin ... tary-rule/ (http://isaanrecord.com/2015/12/10/rising-political-movement-in-the-northeast-defies-military-rule/)

[bruce_nyc]

Oh God. I hope things don't get violent.

Tell anyone you know who has university age kids.... to stay away from such things. Clashes could be *very* dangerous and have a very sad outcome.

[Up2U]

Thai park exposes corruption claims and murky politics
By Jonathan Head South East Asia correspondent
11 December 2015
When the Thai army decided last November to use a plot of land it owns near the royal resort town of Hua Hin, to construct a park containing 14 metre-high bronze statues of seven past kings, it must have seemed an ideal way for the military to demonstrate its abiding loyalty to the monarchy.

A year later, Rajabhakti Park has become a millstone around the neck of the military government, and a symbol of how their efforts to promote the monarchy - at an awkward moment as Thailand faces its first royal succession in nearly 70 years - can go wrong.

The project has been tarnished by allegations of corruption - a scourge General Prayuth promised to tackle when he seized power last year..... (read more).... http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35069188?SThisFB

[Up2U]

CDC insists crisis panel not on cards
Published: 12/12/2015
Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has affirmed it has no intention of providing room in the charter for the establishment of the controversial crisis panel.
The CDC is currently studying ways to initiate the reconciliation process, which must be acceptable to all parties, but the CDC said it has no desire to have a National Strategic Reform and Reconciliation Committee, or тАЬcrisis committeeтАЭ, to deal with a critical deadlock of national administration, CDC spokesman Udom Ratammarit said on Friday.
The crisis panel was originally proposed by the now-defunct charter drafting committee led by Borwornsak Uwanno.
Members of the crisis panel would have comprised the top military brass, and would have had the power to override the elected government of the day if they considered it unable to govern by constitutional constraints during a time of intense political conflict..... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/792137

[Up2U]

December 11, 2015
Thailand: Junta Critic Feared тАШDisappearedтАЩ
Lese Majeste Charge for Facebook тАШLikeтАЩ
(New York) тАУ Thai authorities should immediately disclose the whereabouts of Thanakorn Siripaiboon, a critic of ThailandтАЩs junta who has reportedly been held in secret military custody since December 8, 2015, Human Rights Watch said today.
On December 8, soldiers and police arrested Thanakorn, a 27-year-old factory worker, at his house in Samutprakarn provinceтАЩs Muang district and took him for questioning about alleged sedition and lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) at an undisclosed location. Since then, the police, the military, and the corrections department have all denied knowledge of ThanakornтАЩs whereabouts to his family and lawyers, raising grave concerns for his safety.... (read more).... https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/12/11/tha ... isappeared (https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/12/11/thailand-junta-critic-feared-disappeared)

[Up2U]

Student activists give 3-fingered salute to National Human Rights Commission
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 12/12/2015
Thai police on Friday afternoon detained two of five student activists who gave the anti-coup three-fingered salute to the heavily criticized head of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). They were released after signing the military-draft agreement.

Five student activists from the Thai Students Centre for Democracy (TSCD) and Dao Din were stopped by police after they interrupted a speech by NRC Chairperson Amara Pongsapich and gave her the three-fingered salute late on Friday morning..... (read more).... http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/4597

[Up2U]

13 December 2015
ActivistтАЩs Mother Catapulted into Political Fame and Fray
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ Being the mother of a prominent student activist is tough. You get calls from the junta using carrot and stick to ask about his whereabouts, you get summoned, and when those tactics donтАЩt work, youтАЩre accused of being paid off by some politician or another.

This is what 39-year-old Patnaree Arunyapun has faced since her son, 23-year-old Sirawith Seritiwat, announced Dec. 4 he would lead a group to visit a scandal-plagued park built by the army. And despite her insistence she is apolitical and too busy making ends meet, the sudden pressure has pushed her to defend her son, criticize the junta and becoming a political player and public figure in her own right..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1449992230&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy needed in Thailand
Big Junta is Watching You
December 13, 2015
Guest contribution by Adam John
The Junta uses mass surveillance over the internet in Thailand to crush public dissent. The military not only plans to extend its surveillance programs but is also moving towards legalizing its abuse of the internet under Thai law.

Edward SnowdenтАЩs revelations in 2013 confirmed our worst fears that everything we do over the Internet and on the phone is collected and recorded by the National Security Agency (NSA) in the US with major support from the UK and the other тАШFive EyesтАЩ countries; Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Many governments around the world have introduced or are planning to introduce their own national mass surveillance programs and Thailand is no exception..... (read more).... https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... ching-you/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/big-junta-is-watching-you/)

[Up2U]

Thailand's Fear of Free Speech
By THE EDITORIAL BOARDDEC. 13, 2015
Since it seized power in a military coup in 2014, ThailandтАЩs military junta, led by Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, has become increasingly obsessed with controlling public debate. This reached absurd proportions on Wednesday, when the Thai police announced they were investigating United States Ambassador Glyn Davies for possible violation of the countryтАЩs l├иse-majest├й laws that make royal insult a crime..... (read more)..... http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/14/opini ... share&_r=0 (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/14/opinion/thailands-fear-of-free-speech.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0)

[Up2U]

14 December 2015
Officers Snatch Pre-Op Patient from Hospital
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ Concerns have been raised about the health of a man arrested and whisked away by plainclothes officers Sunday from Sirindhorn Hospital in eastern Bangkok, where he was awaiting surgery.

Thanet Anantawong, 25, was admitted to the hospital with an intestinal infection Friday. He was about to be operated upon for a hernia, when he was taken away to face charges of defaming the monarchy. This pertained to the sharing of an infographic alleging military officials and others were involved in graft related to the Rajabhakti Park scandal.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1450091025&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

14 December 2015
Facebooker Charged For Defaming Royal Dog 'Tong Daeng'
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ In a first-ever case of its kind, suspected lese majeste offender Thanakorn Siripaiboon has been accused of violating the law against defaming the monarchy by spreading тАЬsarcasticтАЭ content which mocked His Majesty the KingтАЩs dog, Tong Daeng.

At ThanakornтАЩs arraignment this morning before a military tribunal, a prosecutor said one of two offenses heтАЩs charged with involves images posted to Facebook regarding the kingтАЩs dog.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1450077850&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

King of Thailand Makes Rare Public Appearance
By Reuters 12/14/2015
(Reuters) - Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej made a rare public appearance on Monday after failing to show up for nationwide celebrations marking his birthday earlier this month.

Local television showed footage of the monarch, who turned 88 on Dec. 5, swearing in dozens of judges at a reception room in a Bangkok hospital where he has been convalescing.... (read more)... http://www.newsweek.com/king-bhumibol-a ... kok-404884 (http://www.newsweek.com/king-bhumibol-adulyadej-thailand-bankok-404884)

[Up2U]

Another Intl NYT article removed by Thai publisher
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 15/12/2015
A Thai publisher has for the fourth time since September removed another article from International New York Times about a recent lese majeste case.
According BBC Thai Service, the Eastern Printing Company, a publisher of the International New York Times in Thailand, has removed an article titled тАШThai man charged with insulting Royal dogтАЩ off the front page of the 15 December 2015 Issue of the International New York Times.
Instead of the headline and text, an empty space contains the simple message тАЬThe article in this space was removed by our printer in Thailand. The International New York Times and its editorial staff had no role in its removal.тАЭ
The article which was written by Thomas Fuller was about Thanakorn S., a 27-year-old factory worker who has been charged with Article 112 of the Criminal Code, lese majeste law, for clicking тАШlikeтАЩ on an image of Khun Thong Daeng, the KingтАЩs dog, with sarcastic comments and pressing тАШlikeтАЩ on a doctored image of the King.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5700? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5700?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)

[Up2U]

US, Thailand Resume Strategic Dialogue in Boost for Strained Alliance
Washington and Bangkok hold high-level talks for the first time in three years.
By Prashanth Parameswaran
December 16, 2015
On December 16, the United States and Thailand resumed their strategic dialogue for the first time in three years (See: тАЬExclusive: Managing the Strained US-Thailand AllianceтАЭ).
As The Diplomat reported last week, U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel will lead the delegation to the 5th U.S.-Thai Strategic Dialogue scheduled for Wednesday (See: тАЬUS Top Asia Diplomat Travels to Thailand, Laos and JapanтАЭ). That is a significant move as it will mark the first time the dialogue has been held between the two allies since June 2012 when it was held in Washington, D.C. The alliance has been strained since a coup in Thailand in May 2014.
The dialogue, the State Department said in a statement issued last Friday, would cover тАЬthe full range of the political, security, and economic cooperation with Thailand.тАЭ These include issues such as public health, climate change, trade and investment, education and youth programs, law enforcement cooperation, combating trafficking in persons and transnational crime, and other areas..... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/us-thail ... -alliance/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/us-thailand-resume-strategic-dialogue-in-boost-for-strained-alliance/)

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy needed in Thailand
Park Statue Scandal Puts Thai Junta on Defense
Posted on December 16, 2015 By Our Correspondent Headline, Politics, Thailand
Park Statue Scandal Puts Thai Junta on Defense
Military, police play whack-a-mole to try to keep lid on growing scandal
Thailand has undergone an extraordinary paroxysm of repression in recent weeks, with actions that include the arrest of a 27-year-old factory worker for insulting King Bhumibol AdulyadejтАЩs dog Thong Daeng; the worker faces up to 37 years in prison.
In a major breach of diplomatic protocol, US Ambassador Glyn T. Davies has been threatened with arrest for insulting the monarchy by voicing concern over long l├иse-majest├й prison sentences. Facebook users are being charged for l├иse-majest├й for clicking тАЬLikeтАЭ on satirical Facebook pictures of the royal family. The country has been shaken at the very top of military and police circles by a series of mysterious suicides, deaths and disappearances.
What is going on? With the country already in lockdown since the May 2014 coup led by Army Chief turned Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the increased level of repression seems to have little to do with restoring order or protecting the monarchy and a lot to do with protecting the military and the police from mounting scandals.... (read more).... http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/st ... n-defense/ (http://www.asiasentinel.com/politics/statues-in-a-park-put-thai-junta-on-defense/)

[Up2U]

NHRC report on rights violations angers PM
The Nation December 17, 2015
Prime Minister Prayut Chanocha responded angrily to a report from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which criticised the authoritiesтАЩ dealing with suspects in certain cases.
The report, submitted to the Cabinet on Tuesday for acknowledgement, focused on the humanrights situation in the country under this post-coup government..... (read more)... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 75144.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/NHRC-report-on-rights-violations-angers-PM-30275144.html)

[Up2U]

Academic calls for special tribunal for coup-makers and accomplices
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 17/12/2015
An independent academic has suggested that the coup-makers and their accomplices should face a special tribunal once the country returns to civilian rule.

Prach Panchakunathorn, a former lecturer of the Faculty of Arts of Chulalongkorn University, has written an article in PrachataiтАЩs Blogazine, suggesting that a special tribunal should be established after country returns to the civilian rule.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5704? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5704?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)

[Up2U]

A special report: Red shirts dead or alive?
Submitted by editor1 on Mon, 14/12/2015
Updates on the situation of the anti-establishment Red Shirt supporters in the North and Northeast,
тАЬRed ShirtsтАЭ is a well-known term in Thai politics referring to groups of people who share a similar ideology, yet it also includes people from a spectrum of political ideologies. They include supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Pheu Thai Party, supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), several autonomous anti-establishment red-shirt groups, individuals in activist and intellectual circles, and many more who may not identify themselves as тАЬRed ShirtsтАЭ per se but share certain fundamental ideas with the other groups. Despite these differences, the Red ShirtsтАЩ power base is presently outside of Bangkok.... (read more).... http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/5692

[Up2U]

Thailand's Junta Has Gone to the Dogs
Thailand is ending the year with a series of disappointments on rights
By Mong Palatino
December 16, 2015
A factory worker in Thailand was arrested by authorities for defaming the kingтАЩs dog on Facebook.

Before we tackle this bizarre case, we should start with the original controversy: the corruption scandal surrounding the construction of the Rajabhakti Park.... (read more)... http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/thailand ... -the-dogs/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/thailands-junta-has-gone-to-the-dogs/)

[Up2U]

A state of madness
By James L Taylor, Guest Contributor
тАУ 18 December 2015 insidious creep of fascism in contemporary Thailand.
Tim FrewerтАЩs New Mandala article from March 2015, тАЬFascist Assemblages in Cambodia and MyanmarтАЭ, is an interesting Deleuze and Guattari inspired piece on ThailandтАЩs neighbours. Yet, no mention of the situation in Thailand is made.

Most academics and commentators are reluctant to use the descriptive term тАЬfascismтАЭ for Thailand under military dictatorship and its authoritarian ultra-nationalist ideology. Labels are often misleading and ambiguous, especially a term that carries such emotive historical context.... (read more)... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... f-madness/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/12/18/a-state-of-madness/)

[Up2U]

vpn or proxy needed in Thailand
Street dog joins the royal family
December 18, 2015 uglytruththailand
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
In recent days the use of the draconian l├иse majest├й law in Thailand has reached absurd and vicious proportions. It is absurd because a young factory worker has been charged under this law for cracking a joke on social media about the kingтАЩs dog. It is vicious because these cases attract heavy prison sentences and, since the second military coup in 2014, they are judged in military courts with little transparency or justice..... (read more).... (read more)...https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... al-family/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2015/12/18/street-dog-joins-the-royal-family/)

[Up2U]

Police summon 11 activists for violating political gathering ban
Submitted by editor2 on Sat, 19/12/2015

The Thai police have issued summonses for at least 11 Rajabhakti activists for violating the Thai juntaтАЩs ban on political gatherings.

Chanoknan Ruamsap, one of the key leaders of the New Democracy Movement (NDM), a pro-democracy activist group, told Prachatai that on Friday, 18 December 2015, she received a summons from the Railway Police Station in Thonburi, Bangkok.

The letter orders her and 10 other activists who were intercepted and detained en route to Rajabhakti Park earlier this month, to report to the police station at 9 am on 22 December 2015.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5713

[Up2U]

Bike for Dad plot lawyer retaliates against junta with suit
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 18/12/2015
A lawyer representing a Bike for Dad plot suspect has sued the Thai juntaтАЩs law officers and a police officer after they launched a criminal defamation complaint against her.

Benjarat Meetian, the lawyer for Thanakrit Thongngernperm, a suspect in the Bike for Dad terrorist plot, on Tuesday, 15 December 2015, filed lawsuits at the Criminal Court against Maj Gen Wicharn Jodtaeng, head of the law office of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and Pol Lt Col Mingmontree Siripong, an investigative officer.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5711

[Up2U]

A state of madness
By James L Taylor, Guest Contributor
тАУ 18 December 2015
The insidious creep of fascism in contemporary Thailand.
Tim FrewerтАЩs New Mandala article from March 2015, тАЬFascist Assemblages in Cambodia and MyanmarтАЭ, is an interesting Deleuze and Guattari inspired piece on ThailandтАЩs neighbours. Yet, no mention of the situation in Thailand is made.

Most academics and commentators are reluctant to use the descriptive term тАЬfascismтАЭ for Thailand under military dictatorship and its authoritarian ultra-nationalist ideology. Labels are often misleading and ambiguous, especially a term that carries such emotive historical context.

The lack of democracy in Thailand, the repression by state apparatuses.... (read more)... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... f-madness/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2015/12/18/a-state-of-madness/)

[Up2U]

U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Investigated for L├иse Majest├й
It is a move that does not augur well for U.S.-Thailand relations.
By Joshua Kurlantzick
December 19, 2015
Last week, in a move that was shocking despite the cooling U.S.-Thailand relationship, the Thai government announced that the U.S. ambassador in Bangkok, Glyn Davies, was being investigated on suspicion of having insulted King Bhumibhol Adulyadej. Davies had spoken to the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand in late November. During his talk, according to the New York Times, Davies criticized the тАЬlong prison sentences handed to some of those found guilty of criticizing [the] kingтАЭ under ThailandтАЩs l├иse majest├й laws, generally considered the harshest in the world. (This past weekend, Human Rights Watch warned that one prominent critic of the junta had disappeared after being questioned on l├иse majest├й charges.)
Davies enjoys diplomatic immunity, so even if he is found guilty of l├иse majest├й, he will not be tried and punished under Thai law..... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/u-s-amba ... e-majeste/ (http://thediplomat.com/2015/12/u-s-ambassador-to-thailand-investigated-for-lese-majeste/)

[Up2U]

Pheu Thai doubts new charter is acceptable

Published: 20/12/2015
Writer: Aekarach Sattaburuth
A Pheu Thai Party legal committee member and former constitution drafter doubts that the new charter document will be acceptable on several questionable grounds.

Kanin Boonsuwan, who helped to draft the 1997 constitution, on Sunday pointed to content in the latest draft relating to the country being open to a non-elected prime minister and appointed senators, additional power for the Constitutional Court and a retroactive ban on corrupt politicians..... (read more)....http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/800208

[Up2U]

Propagandizing for the military regime
20 12 2015
PPT sometimes feels it is altogether too naive. For instance, we had considered that the Constitution Drafting Committee was in the process of coming up with a constitution that suited the military and royalists.

That it is, but what we missed is that the CDC is working for the current military dictatorship, apparently to continue its rule. Silly of us. It is not just working with the junta, but for it, advising on propaganda.... (read more).... https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... ry-regime/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2015/12/20/propagandizing-for-the-military-regime/)

[aot871]

At least we can read these items on this site , which is one thing gaybutton would not allow

[Up2U]

Rajabhakti Park activists aim to sabotage government: Thai junta spokesman
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 21/12/2015
The Thai juntaтАЩs spokesman pointed out that activists demanding Rajabhakti Park probe aim to sabotage and discredit the government.

According to Thai News Agency, Col Winthai Suvaree, the spokesperson of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), told media on Saturday, 19 December 2015, that some of the activists demanding Rajabhakti Park probe repeatedly violated NCPOтАЩs orders.

He mentioned that some of the activists have been engaged in political demonstrations since February 2015 and repeatedly violated the NCPOтАЩs Order 3/2015, which prohibits political gathering of five or more persons.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5714

[Up2U]

18 December 2015
Online Freedom to Slide Further, Online Activists Predict
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen
Staff Reporter

BANGKOK тАФ A single screenshot of a Facebook message led to the accusation. The accusation led to a charge of defaming the monarchy and a year, so far, in jail. Later this month, human rights lawyer Sasinan Thamnithinan said, a military tribunal will decide her client's guilt not from any material evidence but a jailhouse confession which became the entire case against him..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... ypecate=06 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1450436340&section=11&typecate=06)

[Up2U]

Poll finds 99% happy with government
December 23, 2015
The government claimed Tuesday that 99.3% of people in a poll were satisfied with its performance. The announcement came the day before the government is... (read more )....
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... government (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/803228/poll-finds-99-happy-with-government).

[bruce_nyc]

Poll finds 99% happy with government
December 23, 2015
The government claimed Tuesday that 99.3% of people in a poll were satisfied with its performance. The announcement came the day before the government is... (read more )....
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... government (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/803228/poll-finds-99-happy-with-government).

Ahhhhhhh

Finally.......

Some great news !!

See....... That's fantastic!

That's proof that everything is good and happy. :D

[Up2U]

Reuters
23 December 2015
Junta Reaffirms Will Hand Back Power in BReuters
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK тАФ Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha gave a sweeping year-end speech today in which he reiterated that the junta will hand back power in 2017 and that it was entering "phase two" of its reform plan. ANGKOK тАФ Junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha gave a sweeping year-end speech today in which he reiterated that the junta will hand back power in 2017 and that it was entering "phase two" of its reform plan. .... (read more )...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1450867713&typecate=06&section=).

[Up2U]

Prawit flags crackdown on 'influential people'
Published: 23/12/2015
Writer: Wassana Nanuam

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon outlines his accomplishments as deputy prime minister in the first year of the Prayut military government on Wednesday.(Photo by Thanarak Khunton)

Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, the deputy prime minister in charge of security affairs, said he has received a list of "influential people" with the potential to cause trouble in the country, and a crackdown on them is forthcoming.

He revealed the list in a speech at Government House on Wednesday to outlinr his "accomplishments" during the past year in the government led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

Gen Prawit said the list of influential people was compiled over two months by police and defence intelligence units in cooperation with the Interior Ministry, on the instructions of the prime minister.

As soon as he receives approval from the prime minister he will despatch teams of officials from three agencies to verify details of the people on the list .....(more)...http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/804208?re ... hDfImopQTh (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/804208?refer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FhDfImopQTh)

[Up2U]

Two academics remain defiant against juntaтАЩs political gathering ban
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 24/12/2015
Two of the six academics charged with violating the juntaтАЩs ban on political gatherings by organising a public talk remain defiant at the risk of receiving jail terms, saying that the junta order can longer be enacted.

Attachak Sattayanurak and Somchai Preechasinlapakun, history and law lecturers from Chiang Mai University, at 2 pm on Thursday, 24 December 2015, submitted a document on allegations against them to Chang Puak Police Station in Mueang District of the northern province of Chiang Mai.

Two are among six lecturers charged under the juntaтАЩs National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Order No. 3/2015, banning political gatherings of five or more persons, for participating in the reading of a statement titled тАШuniversities are not military barracksтАЩ calling for academic freedom on 31 October 2015.... (read more )...http://prachatai.org/english/node/5730

[Up2U]

JuntaтАЩs phase 2 crackdown
12-26-2015
The military junta has held absolute power for 19 months. It has impunity for all it does, ranging from repression to murder and corruption.

During its time in power, the best data available, which is from iLaw, says that up to the end of November, the junta has summoned or тАЬvisitedтАЭ 798 persons, many of them several times. It has arrested at least 501 and charged 56 with lese majeste and 27 with sedition. 152 have been before military courts.

PPT considers all of these to be underestimates as the military dictatorship does not need to provide information on its repression..... (read more).... https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... crackdown/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/juntas-phase-2-crackdown/)

[Up2U]

December 26, 2015
Tell The World That the Junta is 99% Popular
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
When reading that a poll claims the military regime enjoys 99.3-per-cent popularity, this writer first thought it was a sick joke - apparently it wasnтАЩt, but something more troubling.
тАЬPoll finds 99% happy with govtтАЭ read the front-page headline of the Bangkok Post on Wednesday. If this is to be believed, the regime of junta chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha must surely be the most popular in modern Thai history.
Looking closer, one sees that the pollster is actually a state organ, the National Statistical Office, which works under the military regime of General Prayuth who claims absolute power under Article 44 of his own military provisional charter.
Put aside the possible conflict of interests by the pollster and its master for a second and consider these questions:..... (read more ).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1451118162 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451118162)

[Up2U]

27 December 2015
New Discontent Brewing In The Northeast
BANGKOK тАФ тАЬWe aim high, to rise up and fight politically,тАЭ said Khornchanok Saenprasert, the New Isaan MovementтАЩs coordinator and a trained human rights lawyer from Khon Kaen province. тАЬThis is not something that has been cooked up by four or five people; this is the result of wide-ranging consultations.тАЭ ..... (read more )....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451204332&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

The Nation December 28, 2015
тАЬLikingтАЭ defamatory content on Facebook sparks debate on whether acknowledging such posts should be considered a crime. On the one hand, authorities say the action is deemed as supporting dissent, but on the other, cyber-liberty advocates say Facebook тАЬlikesтАЭ only constitute support of the online record of a pre-existing act.
Pol Colonel Olarn Sukkasem, superintendent of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, Central Investigation Bureau, who is in charge of enforcing the Computer Crime Act 2007 highlights need to control social media conspirators:
"Liking" a controversial or defamatory message on Facebook is certainly a crime as it shows support for the content.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 75797.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/A-like-constitutes-an-act-of-conspiracy-30275797.html)

[Up2U]

NACC says Suthep, Abhisit not guilty of April-May 2010 political violence
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 30/12/2015
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has concluded that Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Democrat Party Prime Minister, and Suthep Thaugsuban, his former Deputy, are not guilty for ordering the violent military crackdown on the anti-establishment red-shirt protesters during the April-May 2010 political violence.

Sansern Poljieak, the Secretary-General of the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), on Tuesday, 29 December 2015, announced that the NACC has reached a resolution to withdraw corruption and malfeasance allegations against Abhisit, Suthep, Gen Anupong Paochinda, the former Army Chief, and other military officers under his command..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5737

[Up2U]

No irregularities found in fund spending on Rajabhakti Park
| December 30, 2015
No irregularities have been found in the spending of funds for the implementation of the controversial Rajabhakti Park project featuring the statues of seven great Thai kings in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, the Defence Ministry's investigation committee announced at a press conference on Wednesday.
The committee, set up by Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, is chaired by Gen Chaichan Changmongkol, deputy permanent secretary of the Defence Ministry..... (read more).....http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/no-irr ... hakti-park (http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/no-irregularities-found-in-fund-spending-on-rajabhakti-park)

[Up2U]

what's it going to be, irregularities or not?
Wed Dec 30, 2015
Thai inquiry finds 'irregularities' in controversial military park
By Andrew R.C. Marshall and Patpicha Tanakasempipat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai defense ministry team looking into allegations of corruption at a military-built park said on Wednesday it had found financial "irregularities" in the project but had no authority to investigate any wrongdoing..... (read more).....http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN0UD0T920151230

[Up2U]

Prem lauds тАШsacrificeтАЩ by Prayut, team
THE NATION December 31, 2015
For the New Year, privy council chief urges top officials to be sure spending is for the good of the people.
PRIVY COUNCIL President Prem Tinsulanonda yesterday urged the Cabinet and military and police brass to ensure the state budget is spent for the true good of the country and the people.
"I understand that you are tired, but it's worth it if Thais are happy," the statesman said.
"I'm overjoyed to see the prime minister and you others sacrifice your own happiness to make the people in our country happy."
He also gave his blessings to the group led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, which had called on him at his Si Sao Tewes residence to offer him the traditional New Year's greetings.
General Prem also gave General Prayut words of encouragement.
"The prime minister is a strong person. He never gives up, so he sets a good example," he said.
"I don't think you seek to gain power for yourself. You really work for the country and the people. I may not be of much help to you because I'm getting on in years now...... (read more)...http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 75948.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Prem-lauds-sacrifice-by-Prayut-team-30275948.html)

[Up2U]

Good vs. evil
January 1, 2016
One of the dominant discourses of recent years has been the royalist notion that the political world is populated by good and evil people. Promoted by aging princes and then by the current king, this discourse drew on a particular reading of Buddhism. It became a part of an ideological justification of a return of royalism that was to undo the ideals of the 1932 revolution.
When political contestation has been at its highest, as in recent years, тАЬgood peopleтАЭ are those who are loyal to king and monarchy. This also means that they are тАЬmoral people.тАЭ
It is in this sense that what might be considered evil in a normal world is magically made тАЬgoodтАЭ and тАЬmoral.тАЭ Hence, mass murder conducted in the name of the king or of protecting the monarchy is made тАЬgoodтАЭ because it is done for the тАЬbestтАЭ of reasons тАУ loyalty to the crown.
Among the most notorious statements of this view was by Kittivudho Bhikkhu in an interview in late June 1976, who argued that while all killing involved some demerit for Buddhists, killing communists in protecting nation, religion and monarchy was killing bestial types rather than humans and he stated that тАЬBuddhists must do it [kill communists].тАЭ
This notion also means that loyal royalists who murder students or political opponents deemed threats to nation, religion and monarchy can be excused or even lionized. This is why the loyal royalist but immensely corrupt General Sarit Thanarat, also responsible for the deaths of numerous opponents, can be a royalist hero.
In recent years, the royalist definition of those who are evil and immoral has included elected politicians who support Thaksin Shinawatra, red shirts and electoralism, for all are seen as threats to the monarchy. Military commanders and pliable royalist politicians who engage in corruption and the murder of politicians, however, are тАЬgoodтАЭ and тАЬmoralтАЭ because they oppose these threats and kill and jail persons considered threats.
This is a long-winded way of getting to a Khaosod report that observes:.....(read more)...https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com

[Up2U]

Thai Universities Feel Pressure of Junta's Rule
December 31, 2015
Ron Corben
BANGKOK тАФ
Thailand's military government has stifled public dissent since seizing power last year, and now the country's universities say the junta's impact is being felt on campus.

According to a recent report by New York-based Human Rights Watch, since 2014 more than 750 people have been summoned to report to the military for "reconciliationтАЩ talks" in which high profile politicians, activists and journalists have faced accusations of criticizing or opposing military rule..... (read more)....http://m.voanews.com/a/thai-universitie ... 25737.html (http://m.voanews.com/a/thai-universities-junta-culture-of-fear-on-campus/3125737.html)

[Up2U]

`Distortions key risk to charter voteтАЩ
THE SUNDAY NATION January 3, 2016
CDC chief Meechai says drafters doing their best, should pass referendum
THE chief constitution drafter says people who try to distort the charter draft should be held responsible if it fails to pass the referendum.

Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC), said the drafters were working to the best of their ability and not concerned whether the draft passes a national referendum.
He said if the draft failed to pass the vote it would be the result of people causing a misunderstanding among voters through distorted claims.
"That's the answer you will get from the drafters. The drafters are writing the new constitution as best as our intelligence permits," he said.┬ж.... (read more)....http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 76024.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Distortions-key-risk-to-charter-vote-30276024.html)

[Up2U]

03 January 2016
Civilians Facing тАЬCamouflaged JusticeтАЭ, Say Rights Lawyers
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
BANGKOK тАФ Over 1,400 civilians were tried in military court last year, in what Thai Lawyers for Human Rights group (TLHR) called a тАЬcamouflaged justice processтАЭ, in a newly-released report highlighting 10 legal cases from 2015.
Alleged torture and severe sentences under the lese majeste law, as well as liberal use of sedition charge were mentioned in the report...... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451800613&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

04 January 2016
JuntaтАЩs Threat Against Media Causes Uneasiness & Paranoia: Journalists Association
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
For the Thai mass media, last year was an uneasy one, filled with тАЬparanoiaтАЭ as the military junta continues to want to тАЬstrictly controlтАЭ the media, through summoning, detention without charge, verbal attacks and even threats to punch reportersтАЩ faces, Thai Journalists AssociationтАЩs annual report for 2015 on the topic concluded..... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451894195&section=11)

[Up2U]

Thai general seeks Australian protection
Sunday, 3 January 2016
A Thai police general is seeking a protection visa to Australia over fears he will be killed in Thailand.
Australia's diplomatic relations with Thailand face strains if a former Thai police general is granted a special protection visa to stay in Australia.
Former senior officer Paween Pongsirin, who led high profile investigations into human trafficking gangs operating in southern Thailand, has refused high level appeals for his return to Thailand.
Paween fled to Australia in December claiming he faced death threats following arrests linked to the cases.
Paween, now in Melbourne, has stood by claims of receiving several threats against his life from "those in authority" while leading the investigation.

- See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stor ... PnI6B.dpuf (http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2016/01/03/thai-general-seeks-australian-protection.html#sthash.B4lzvGEd.YbbPnI6B.dpuf)

[Up2U]

Thailand and the Specter of тАШInternational StandardsтАЩ
Standing with the worldтАЩs more developed nations has long been an obsession for Thai elites тАУ and a source of anxiety.
By James Buchanan
January 04, 2016
ThailandтАЩs political crisis has been dragging the country down for nearly a decade now but things went from bad to worse in 2015. The military junta, which grabbed power in May of the previous year, shows no signs of loosening its grip and will likely remain in direct control for the foreseeable future. Even a draft constitution written by conservative royalists who were handpicked by the junta was rejected in September. The draft, specifically designed to maintain military dominance and hobble elected politicians, could have allowed the return of a weak, illiberal democracy in late 2016. This is now impossible, leaving Thailand with the unwelcome distinction of being the only country in the world currently ruled so openly by its military..... (read more).....http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/thailand ... standards/ (http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/thailand-and-the-specter-of-international-standards/)

[Dboy]

27 December 2015
New Discontent Brewing In The Northeast
BANGKOK тАФ тАЬWe aim high, to rise up and fight politically,тАЭ said Khornchanok Saenprasert, the New Isaan MovementтАЩs coordinator and a trained human rights lawyer from Khon Kaen province. тАЬThis is not something that has been cooked up by four or five people; this is the result of wide-ranging consultations.тАЭ ..... (read more )....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451204332&typecate=06&section=)

Trump ~= Thaksin.

[Up2U]

Police question activist on rally for April-May 2010 political violence victims
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 05/01/2016
Despite warnings from the police, families of victims of the violent military crackdown during April-May 2010 political violence vow to go on with the rally to call for justice after the authorities ruled not prosecute those involved in authorising the crackdown.

Payao Akhad, mother of Kamonkaed Akhad, a late volunteered medic who was killed on 19 May 2010 at Pathum Wanaram Temple in central Bangkok during the military crackdown on the anti-establishment red shirt protesters, reported that she recently received a phone call from the police, asking whether she has asked the authorities for permission to stage a rally on Wednesday.

Last week, Resistant Citizen Facebook Page, an anti-junta political group, posted a schedule of the rally on Wednesday, 6 January 2016, to call for justice for victims of the April-May 2010 crackdown after the the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last week concluded that Abhisit Vejjajiva, former Democrat Party Prime Minister, and Suthep Thaugsuban, his former Deputy, and Gen Anupong Paochinda, the former Army Chief, are not guilty for ordering the 2010 military crackdown..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5742

[Up2U]

5 January 2016
A Country Divided by a Calendar
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ In a country with a penchant for political feuds, the latest object to ignite trouble is a paper calendar.

The failed bid to control the distribution of 300,000 calendars featuring former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra embracing the ousted and fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, proves that Yingluck and her older brother are still very popular, said key Redshirts..... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1451984281&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Defence minister scolds mourners of April-May 2010 political violence victims
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 06/01/2016
Families of victims of the military crackdown during the April-May 2010 political violence gathered in central Bangkok to demand justice and condemn the recent ruling from the authorities not to not prosecute those who authorised the crackdown.
At 1:40 pm today, 6 January 2016, Payao Akhad, mother of Kamolkate Akhad, a medic who was killed on 19 May 2010 at Pathum Wanaram Temple in central Bangkok during the military crackdown on the red shirt protesters, Natapach Akhad, her son, Pansak Srithep, a pro-democracy activist whose son was killed by the military during the same political violence, and Wannakirati Chusuwan, a pro-democracy activist, gathered at Pathum Wanaram Temple.
Amid the presence of at least 30 police officers, the four lit up incenses to pray for the victims of the April-May 2010 military crackdown on demonstrators of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the main red-shirt faction, which resulted in at least 90 deaths and 2,000 injured........(read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5747

[Up2U]

JANUARY 7, 2016
Thailand: New Whitewash of 2010 Political Violence
No Accountability for Officials, Soldiers in Crackdown
(New York) тАУ ThailandтАЩs anti-corruption commissionтАЩs dismissal of malfeasance charges against former senior officials for their role in the violent 2010 crackdown on тАЬRed ShirtтАЭ protesters is a serious setback for accountability in the country, Human Rights Watch said today.
On December 29, 2015, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) voted to drop the case against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, and former army chief Gen. Anupong Paojinda regarding their failure to review the use of military force that resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of property, and dereliction of duty.
тАЬDespite killings by soldiers of protesters, medics, and even reporters in broad daylight in downtown Bangkok for all the world to see, ThailandтАЩs institutions have closed ranks to protect the army and politicians from justice,тАЭ said Brad Adams, Asia director...... (read more).....https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/07/tha ... l-violence (https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/07/thailand-new-whitewash-2010-political-violence)

[Up2U]

Pravit Rojanaphruk
07 January 2016
UN Urges Thailand to Make 'Forced Disappearance' a crime
BANGKOK тАФ The Thai government should take decisive and sustained efforts to tackle the problem of enforced disappearance, said Zeid RaтАЩad Al Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
тАЬAll of the families of those who have disappeared have the right to know the truth regarding the disappearance of their kin, as well as any progress and the results of investigations,тАЭ said Zeid, in a statement issued from Geneva on Jan.6.
The High Commissioner also called on the government to criminalize enforced disappearance, of which there are currently at least 82 cases, including human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, in line with international standards..... (read more)......http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452162655&typecate=06&section=)

[Up2U]

Article 44 used for money-making by the junta
January 8, 2016
There has been quite a bit of debate and editorial comment on the military dictatorshipтАЩs move to neuter and take over the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth). PPT hasnтАЩt followed the mini-coup all that closely, but a few lines in a report today suggested a reason for increased interest.

As far as we can tell, ThaiHealth has been quite successful. Yet a couple of days ago, The Dictator used the draconian Article 44 to suspend seven board members of ThaiHealth along with 52 other тАЬstate officials ordered to leave their duties pending probes, mostly concerning alleged irregularities and malfeasance.тАЭ.... (read more).....https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... the-junta/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2016/01/08/article-44-used-for-money-making-by-the-junta/)

[Up2U]

Pravit Rojanaphruk
09 January 2016
The Absurdity and Logic of Dictatorial Power
The latest petty prohibition ordered by the military junta is the open distribution of certain calendars in public.

Many opted to seek refuge in social media to display photos of themselves with their calendar of choice. Who would have thought that the mere act of displaying a photo of yourself with a calendar could become an act of resistance and defiance against the military regime?

And who would have thought that the junta, which claimed to be popular with 99 per cent of the population according to their recent government poll, would go as far as to tell people not to distribute the calendar in public areas?.... (read more).....http://linkis.com/khaosodenglish.com/Obdlb

[Up2U]

Pravit Rojanaphruk
10 January 2016
The Quixotic Quest to Alternative Charter Drafting
BANGKOK тАФ By all accounts, the two-dozen participants at the parallel charter drafting process are critical of the military junta. They know that the chances of the junta-appointed Charter Drafting Committee accepting any of their recommendations are slim.
However, they ploughed ahead with their project to deliberate on an ideal constitution.
One of the participants told me there are two kinds of people who are critical of the juntaтАЩs sponsored charter drafting process.... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1452402080 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452402080)

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Charter drafters drop making Buddhism state religion
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 11/01/2016
After much debate on a proposal to make Buddhism ThailandтАЩs state religion, the constitutional drafters have dropped the proposal, saying that it could lead to dangers in the future.

According to Matichon Online, Meechai Ruchupan, chairman of the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC), revealed on Monday, 11 January 2016, that the new constitutional draft will not include a sentence saying тАШBuddhism is the national religion [of Thailand].тАЩ.... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5759

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11 January 2016
Human Rights Could Slip Further in 2016
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ If you thought 2015 was a bad year for human rights in Thailand, brace yourself for some bad news.

In 2016 violations of human rights could get worse as more people are expected to challenge the military regime of General Prayuth Chan-ocha, according to predictions from human rights activists and critics of the military junta..... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452492310&typecate=06&section=)

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THE LONG AND DISGRACEFUL TRADITION OF IMPUNITY FOR THAI STATE MURDERS
JANUARY 10, 2016 UGLYTRUTHTHAILAND
Giles Ji Ungpakorn

In just one week at the end of 2015, the long and disgraceful tradition of impunity for state murders was reinforced once again in Thailand. That week former unelected Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his thuggish right hand man Sutep Teuksuban were cleared of wrong doing for their part in ordering the cold-blooded murder of nearly a hundred pro-democracy demonstrators in 2010. This was no surprise since the present junta leader Generalissimo Prayut was also centrally involved in this state crime and had a hand in appointing the Abhisit government against the expressed wishes of most citizens in the first place. The grotesque justification for this crime was the need to clear the roads around luxury shopping centres. The unarmed protesters were demanding democratic elections.

In the same week the courts squashed the long-running case concerning the murder of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaichit....... (read more)....https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... e-murders/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/10/the-long-and-disgraceful-tradition-of-impunity-for-thai-state-murders/)

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Charter drafters say Constitutional Court will rule on political vacuum
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 12/01/2016
The junta-appointed drafters of the new constitution have concluded that under the new charter the controversial Constitutional Court will have jurisdiction in times of political crisis.

At the mobile meeting in Cha Am District of Phetchaburi Province, the Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) on Monday, 11 January 2016, announced that the new charter will move the language of Article 7 of the 2007 Constitution to the section on the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court instead.

In other wo] rds, the Constitutional Court will be given..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5761? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5761?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)

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Replacing the king
January 12, 2016
Article 7 of the 1997 and 2007 constitutions has been controversial. This has been because it has been a rallying cry for every anti-democratic movement since the PeopleтАЩs Alliance for Democracy.
Article 7 of the 1997 charter was used by anti-Thaksin Shinawatra protesters in 2005 and 2006. PAD pushed the use of this article very strongly. As Michael Connors explained it in his well-known Journal of Contemporary Asia article, the call for royal intervention was persistent and became a plea for the king to sack Thaksin, supported by both PAD and the Democrat Party. He also notes that the Democrat Party was prepared to use Article 7 in other circumstances in 2006. They made another call for its use in 2012 and the PeopleтАЩs Democratic Reform Committee tried again in 2013-14.
As Connors explains it, Article 7 was introduced to the 1997 constitution by..... (read more).....https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... he-king-2/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/replacing-the-king-2/)

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Bangkok court bans British activist Andy Hall from traveling outside Thailand
by Asian Correspondent Staff | 13th January 2016
A BANGKOK court confiscated the passport of British migrant rights defender Andy Hall and banned him from traveling outside of the country Wednesday.

The order was handed down following a bail request submission ahead of his indictment next week (January 18) on criminal defamation and computer crimes offenses charges brought against him by Thai pineapple exporter Natural Fruit Company Ltd.

While Hall was granted bail Wednesday, he was ordered not to leave Thailand before the case has been ruled on by the court.... (read more).....http://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/01/b ... -thailand/ (http://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/01/bangkok-court-bans-british-activist-andy-hall-from-traveling-outside-thailand/)

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Military court issues arrest warrants for six youth anti-junta activists
Submitted by editor2 on Wed, 13/01/2016
The Thai military court has issued arrest warrants for six youth anti-junta activists calling for an investigation into the corruption allegations surrounding the construction of Rajabhakti Park.

According to Daily News, the Military Court of Bangkok on Wednesday, 13 January 2016, issued arrest warrants for Sirawit Serithiwat, 23, Chonticha Jaeng-rew, 22, Chanoknan Ruamsap, 22, Abhisit Sapnaphapan, 29, Korakoch Saengyenpan, 23, and Thanet Anantawong, 25.

The warrants were approved after the police of Railway Police Station of Thonburi requested the court for permission to arrest the activists...... (read more)...http://prachatai.org/english/node/5766? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5766?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)

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Rubber farmers say new aid insufficient
Retired army general named head of Rubber Authority
Published: 13/01/2016
Steps announced this week by the government to help rubber producers grappling with plunging prices do not go far enough, some farmers said on Wednesday..... (read more)...http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/825104?re ... pt2IKQe0Qt (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/825104?refer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Fpt2IKQe0Qt)

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Rubber ainтАЩt rice (or is it?)
January 14, 2016
This is a tale of two commodities that have political connotations.
Rice, long a staple of the Thai diet and defining of basics like what food is and how it is eaten, has been associated with the political parties of Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra, their political bases in the north, northeast and central regions. Rice farmers were once consider the backbone of the nation. They have long been exploited and whatever way you look at it, poverty data show that being a smallholder or tenant rice farmer in the regions mentioned is not a bad indicator of the likelihood of a family living in poverty.
Rubber has long been associated with the farmers of the mid-south. On average, the poverty data shows that farming in this region has produced higher than average incomes. The Democrat Party has, in recent years, dominated the region, aided by organizers like the godfather figures like Suthep Thaugsuban. People from the region were the backbone (and muscle) of SuthepтАЩs PeopleтАЩs Democratic Reform Committee.
General Prayuth Chan-ocha led his 2014 military coup in part based on a setiment that the the Puea Thai Party governmentтАЩs rice subsidy scheme was тАЬcorrupt.тАЭ Indeed, the courts are still dealing with a case that could see Yingluck jailed and fined a huge amount of money.
Now that rubber prices have plummeted and southerners are becoming agitated, how does The Dictator respond?..... (read more)....https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... -or-is-it/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2016/01/14/rubber-aint-rice-or-is-it/)

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News Bill for corruption courts gets first NLA nod
Published: 14/01/2016
The National Legislative Assembly has approved the first reading of a bill to establish corruption courts to deliver "instant karma" for bureaucrats and private citizens.
Assembly members on Thursday threw their full support behind the legislation to establish criminal courts dealing with corruption and malfeasance by a vote of 174-0 with five abstentions. The legislation... (read more)....
http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/826360?re ... RbUg0FREIL (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/826360?refer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FRbUg0FREIL)

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Military searches house of anti-junta student activist
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 14/01/2016
Military officers reportedly searched a house of a well known anti-junta student activist currently facing an arrest warrant.

The Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta activist group, posted on its facebook page that at around 3 pm on Thursday, 14 January 2016, 5-6 military officers from an unidentified unit came to search the house of Sirawit Seritiwat, a 23-year-old student activist from Thammasat University.

The military officers went into the house without a search warrant and carried out a search while only the grandmother of Sirawit was present in the house..... (read more)...http://prachatai.org/english/node/5770

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Buddhist politics and ThailandтАЩs dangerous path
BY KHEMTHONG TONSAKULRUNGRUANG тАУ 15 JANUARY 2016
As the religion finds it harder to compete in todayтАЩs world, its becoming more hardline and seeks greater state power.
The Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) has finally confirmed that it will not recognise Buddhism as ThailandтАЩs official religion. The decision brought relief to many and anger to others.

The rejection proved that, no matter how radical and conservative the CDC has been, it is still..... (read more)....http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... rous-path/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2016/01/15/buddhist-politics-and-thailands-dangerous-path/)

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PCAD Links тАШIn the Past,тАЩ Says New Govt. Spokesman
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ A newly appointed spokesman for the military government is playing down his ties to the movement which helped unseat the former civilian government.

Col. Atisith Chainuvati says he only participated in rallies, despite appearing in videos and photographs jovially celebrating the coup at a controversial, invitation-only party for the elite inner circle and leadership of the PeopleтАЩs Committee for Absolute Democracy with the King as Head of State, or PCAD..... (read more)......http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452836622&typecate=06&section=)

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SUTHEP, ANTI-DEMOCRACY AND THE JUNTA
January 15, 2016 ┬╖ by Political prisoners of thailand
There is no shock in learning that Suthep Thaugsuban, self-proclaimed leader of the PeopleтАЩs Democratic Reform Committee, generally likes the work of the military dictatorship.

It would be odd if he didnтАЩt as he and his lieutenants from the Democrat Party that did so much over a long period to encourage the military to make their coup.

Yesterday The Nation interviewed the Suratthani godfather on television and now has an English verion in its pages. The journalist appears to have wanted to see how Suthep was feeling about the coup and the junta...... (read more)....https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wo ... the-junta/ (https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/15/suthep-anti-democracy-and-the-junta/)

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16 January 2016
Democracy Activists Commit to Fight Over Flight
By Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
BANGKOK тАФ Members of the New Democracy Movement issued a statement this morning saying they will not flee the country and will continue тАЬfighting for freedom and democracy.тАЭ

The statement referenced fresh warrants and summons for several of the groupsтАЩ members in the wake of their campaign to call attention to the Rajabhakti Park scandal and vowed to remain in the country to call attention to the allegations of corruption in the armyтАЩs construction of the billion-baht park..... (read more)....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1452921740 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452921740)

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January 15, 2016
A much-needed correction in ThailandтАЩs erratic course
By Robert Held
Next month, the United States will host a summit in California with the 10 ASEAN nations. The White House says the Sunnylands meeting will advance the administrationтАЩs rebalance to Asia and the Pacific, and reinforce what U.S. ambassador to ASEAN Nina Hachigian calls, тАЬa new normal.тАЭ But despite the attention that breathless headlines about the U.S. pivot to Asia have grabbed, what cannot be considered normal is the sharp deterioration in U.S. ties with key ASEAN member Thailand, and an exasperating Thai proclivity to escalate it.

Since the 2014 coup to oust former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and install Prayuth Chan-o-cha in power, the flashpoints between Thailand and the U.S. have included everything from human rights violations to corruption and the business climate, from air safety to compromised democratic principles..... (read more).....http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/ ... tic-course (http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/265910-a-much-needed-correction-in-thailands-erratic-course)

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16 January 2016
Public's Watchdogs Become Dictator's Lapdogs
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
BANGKOK тАФ In a country where military coups are common occurrences, the mass media serve as more than just victims of repression. All too often they serve as admirers, supporters, collaborators and even spin doctors for the junta.
Instead of holding the coup-makers feet to the fire, some media in Thailand instead serve to normalize what is an otherwise unpalatable, illegitimate and anti-democratic regime.
For example, the kingdomтАЩs best-selling tabloid, Thai Rath, often refers to the junta leaderтАЩs dictatorial power under Article 44 of its provisional charter using the Thai word for тАЬspecialтАЭ (phisaet), which has a much more positive meaning than it does in English..... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1452933920 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452933920)

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Police fail to arrest Rajabhakti protesters Published: 16/01/2016 at 08:10 PM Writer: Online Reporters Siriwich Serithiwat
Police and soldiers declined to arrest five anti-coup activists wanted on warrants during a standoff at Thon Buri train station on Saturday for fear of "playing into their hands".....(read more)....

Please credit and share this article with others using this link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... st-for-now (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/828436/ja-new-avoids-arrest-for-now).

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Our next leader will have to fix economy
Published: 17/01/2016
Writer: Editorial
Next yearтАЩs election, should it go ahead as planned, is shaping up as a good one to lose. Any incoming government will have the interesting task of navigating unchartered constitutional waters, with a senate most likely appointed by unconventional means and restrictions over who can become prime minister and how long they can serve. But while the constitutional drafting process and referendum is rightly... (read more)....
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opin ... ix-economy (http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/828512/our-next-leader-will-have-to-fix-economy).

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17 January 2016
Academics to Expand Opposition to Junta
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ Pro-democracy academics want to shift to a proactive stance in an attempt to restore some political rights amid concerns the junta may attempt to remain in power much longer.

Some 30 academics and NGO activists organized as тАЬThai Academics for Civil RightsтАЭ will meet Thursday through Saturday to review their role and come up with strategies and measures to push back against repression by the military junta against students and scholars..... (read more).....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1453020197 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453020197)

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When Orders Become Law
Submitted by editor1 on Mon, 18/01/2016
Nidhi Eoseewong
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) explains that summoning people for attitude adjustment and detention is carried out in accordance with the law. I say the NCPO because this explanation has been repeated by the head, deputy head, and on down to the spokesperson. In response to the increasing voices of opposition in society, the spokesperson further states that the NCPO is not selective in the use of this тАЬlaw.тАЭ No matter who you are or what side you come from, if you create confusion, if you obstruct the NCPOтАЩs roadmap, or if you are a danger to national reconciliation, then you will be summoned for attitude adjustment and detention..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5772

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[b] REPLACING THE KING II
January 17, 2016
In an earlier post PPT commented on how the Constitutional Court was being set up in the draft constitution in ways that transferred some of the kingтАЩs formal and тАЬinformalтАЭ political power to the court.

The idea is that the current monarch could (kind of) be trusted to do the right thing by the elite that craves economic and social power.....(read more)....https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wo ... e-king-ii/ (https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/replacing-the-king-ii/)

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18 January 2016
Shinawatras Defy Junta With Publicity Drive

BANGKOK тАФ Former prime ministers Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister Yingluck are cranking up their promotional machines to reconnect with supporters in apparent defiance of the military that toppled their governments.

The publicity drive, which includes a...... (read more)...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453087751&typecate=06&section=)

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Sasiwan Mokkhasen
20 January 2016
Junta Approves 20 Billion Baht for Internet Broadband, Gateway

BANGKOK тАФ The Junta approved 20 billion baht on Tuesday to improve internet broadband in the kingdom, drawing criticism from internet freedom advocates it will be used to develop its controversial тАЬsingle gatewayтАЭ project..... (read more)....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453264665&typecate=06&section=)

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Chayanit Itthipongmaetee
16 January 2016
Democracy Activists Commit to Fight Over Flight
BANGKOK тАФ Members of the New Democracy Movement issued a statement this morning saying they will not flee the country and will continue тАЬfighting for freedom and democracy.тАЭ

The statement referenced fresh warrants and summons for several of the groupsтАЩ members in the wake of their campaign to call attention to the Rajabhakti Park scandal and vowed to remain in the country to call attention to the allegations of corruption in the armyтАЩs construction of the billion-baht park..... (read more)...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... section=11 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1452921740&section=11)

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Wed Jan 20, 2016
Draft constitution for army-run Thailand 'strong medicine'
By Amy Sawitta Lefevre and Panarat Thepgumpanat
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A draft constitution for army-run Thailand to be unveiled this month will be "strong medicine", the constitution panel head said on Wednesday, adding that there was no guarantee it would pass a referendum, meaning a further extension of military rule.
The May 2014 coup ended months of political protests in Bangkok aimed at ousting a civilian government, since when the junta has curbed basic freedoms and pushed back the timetable for elections to 2017.
Meechai Ruchupan, 77, chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee, said the constitution aimed to solve long-running problems such as abuse of power by lawmakers, but might not solve decades-long political divisions..... (read more).....http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0UY13E

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US State Department deputy spokesman concerned over human rights in Thailand
The Nation January 21, 2016
US State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark C Toner Thursday expressed concerns over limitations on human rights and fundamental freedoms in Thailand following the arrest of a student activist by troops late Wednesday night.

Toner declined to comment directly on the arrest of Sirawit Serithiwat, better known as Ja (Sergeant) New, a leading student activist who has been campaigning for transparent probe into alleged irregularities in the Rajahakti Park project..... (read more)....http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 77386.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/US-State-Department-deputy-spokesman-concerned-ove-30277386.html)

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Military court releases youth anti-junta activists
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 21/01/2016
The military court has rejected the request to detain anti-junta youth activists calling for an investigation into corruption allegations on a park constructed by the Royal Thai Army.

The Military Court of Bangkok on Thursday at 4 pm, 21 January 2016, declined to grant the police custody permission to detain Sirawit Serithiwat, 23, Chonticha Jaeng-rew, 22, Chanoknan Ruamsap, 22, and Korakoch Saengyenpan, 23..... (read more)....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5787

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UN calls on Thai authorities to drop all charges against student activists
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 22/01/2016
BANGKOK (22 January 2016) тАУ The United Nations Human Rights Office for South-East Asia (OHCHR) urges the Thai military to drop all charges against 11 student activists arrested for violating a ban on political gatherings .....(read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5792? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5792?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)

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Red shirts to vote against charter draft: Nuttawut
The Nation January 22, 2016
Red-shirt leader Nuttawut Saikuar vowed Friday to campaign for the red-shirt people to vote against the charter draft on ground that it has undemocratic provisions..... (read more)....http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakin ... 77501.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Red-shirts-to-vote-against-charter-draft-Nuttawut-30277501.html)

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23 January 2016
10 Things You Might Not Want to Know About the Next Constitution
By Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK тАФ Get ready for the junta-sponsored constitution-drafting festival again. Twenty-one (mostly male, all with zero public accountability) members, appointed by junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha (also unaccountable to the public), will unveil the next draft charter Friday.

Here are some things you might not want to know about the next constitution, as it is being written:..... (read more)...http://linkis.com/khaosodenglish.com/KP4bl

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тАШUndemocratic charterтАЩ to be opposed
THE NATION January 23, 2016
Red shirts won't endorse it to hasten election: Nattawut
NUTTAWUT SAIKUAR, secretary-general of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, stated yesterday that the red shirts would not endorse an undemocratic constitution in a referendum, even if it delayed an election.

Meanwhile, Constitution Draft-ing Commission (CDC) spokesman Udom Rathamarit said opponents had the right to express their sentiments.

Nuttawut claimed that the current draft was far worse than the previous unsuccessful one, saying it would not be very hard to make a decision about it.....(read more).....http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 77537.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Undemocratic-charter-to-be-opposed-30277537.html)

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Pro-democracy student activist abducted
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 25/01/2016
Not one week after Sirawit Serithiwat, a well known pro-democracy activist, was abducted by military officers and reportedly abused under custody, another student activist has been abducted.

According to Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta facebook group, at 10:30 am, people believed to be military officers in plainclothes have abducted Chakkraponh Ponhlaoar, aka. Kankan, member of VillagersтАЩ Children, a pro-democracy student activist group based in Burapha University of the eastern province of Chonburi.....(read more)....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5796

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THE RED SHIRTS TODAY
JANUARY 24, 2016 UGLYTRUTHTHAILAND
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
A recent article at the end of last year in the web-newspaper тАЬPrachataiтАЭ discusses the state of the red shirt movement under the military dictatorship in the north-east and north of the country. It is based on interviews with local activists. All the activists have been visited repeatedly by military officers. People have been taken to military camps for тАЬattitude changingтАЭ sessions and some have been ordered to report to the military on a weekly basis. Naturally this has not been the general fate of most yellow shirt royalists or any supporters of SutepтАЩs mob.

While many red shirt activists still support Taksin, they stress..... (read more).....https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... rts-today/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/24/the-red-shirts-today/)

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Sasiwan Mokkhasen
25 January 2016
Social Media Surveillance System Planned
BANGKOK тАФ The Royal Thai Police plan to spend 12 million baht on a system to monitor messages and track users on the most popular social media platforms.

A company is being sought to provide software, hardware and training courses for such a system to be used to monitor public posts on Facebook, Twitter and Pantip, the kingdomтАЩs biggest message board, according to procurement documents, which said it is intended to suppress increasing online crime...... (read more)......http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 06&section (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453723746&typecate=06&section)

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Future unclear if charter fails
KASAMAKORN CHANWANPEN,
WASAMON AUDJARINT
THE NATION January 26, 2016
Interim constitution could stay in force, Meechai says; spurring fear over article 44.
CONCERN HAS increased with the likelihood that the post-coup interim charter will be in place longer if the new draft constitution fails to pass a national referendum.

Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan said yesterday that the current charter would stay in place if the new draft charter were rejected by the public..... (read more).....http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 77721.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Future-unclear-if-charter-fails-30277721.html)

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26 January 2016
Junta Quashes Labor Movement Despite Role in 2014 Protests
By Pravit Rojanaphruk

BANGKOK тАФ Earlier this month, veteran labor leader Wilaiwan Sae-tia traveled to Bangkok to lend her support to auto parts factory workers from Rayong province. It was routine for the 60-year-old chairwoman of what is arguably the kingdomтАЩs most influential labor group; the kind of thing sheтАЩs done many times in four decades with the movement.

This time, however, she paid a price for advocating for the workers of.... (read more)....http://linkis.com/khaosodenglish.com/jKZOJ

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Thai junta leader says Amnesty International encourages law breakers
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 26/01/2016
The Thai junta leader has scolded Amnesty InternationalтАЩs campaign for Thai political dissidents, saying that the organization encourages people who have violated the law.

After the abduction of Sirawit Serithiwat, a pro-democracy student activist leader, last week, Amnesty International (AI) started a campaign calling on its members to send letters to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, and Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to demand that the regime drop charges against Sirawit and other dissidents.

According to the Thai News Agency, yesterday, 25 January 2016, the junta leader said in response to the AI campaign that certain human rights organizations were ill-informed about the situation in Thailand and got their information from distorted media reports..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5801

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Reuters
26 January 2016
'There Will Definitely be an Election' in 2017, Prayuth Promises

BANGKOK тАФ A general election will be held in 2017 even if the draft constitution does not pass a referendum this year, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha said today.

The government had previously made a new constitution a prerequisite for a general election, but junta leader Prayuth, who serves as prime minister, said Tuesday a vote would go ahead in mid-2017, even if it had to be held under a previous constitution..... (read more)....http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1453805617 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453805617)

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Editorial Opinion
Poor suffer as regime goes back to old ways
Published: 27/01/2016
If you want to get Kanya Pankiti going, ask her about the coup-makers' self-proclaimed mission to return happiness to Thais. "Are you serious?" she asks. "What happiness?...
Kanya, 54, a grassroots land rights activist from Trang, is joining her land reform peers from different provinces to protest against the government's plan to dissolve the Land Bank, an agency with the..... (read more)....http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/841308 ... %2Fopinion (http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/841308?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2Fop inion)

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GOING BACKWARDS SERVES THE POWERFUL
January 27, 2016
A series of reports at Prachatai and at the Bangkok Post are a useful reminder of what Thailand is like when the military is in charge.
Corruption, the use of special powers, thuggery, working with business people to exploit the poor in coercive ways. And, impunity. The military and the bureaucrats can do whatever they want, and get away with murder, abduction, enforced disappearance and other gang-like bad behavior because, like a male street dog licking its undercarriage, they can.
We apologize for this rather rude analogy but the actions of the military and the junta are uncivil, uncouth and brutish.
The first story at Prachatai relates to three suspects.... (read more)....https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wo ... -powerful/ (https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/going-backwards-serves-the-powerful/)

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JANUARY 27, 2016
Thailand: Rights Crisis Deepens Under Dictatorship
Junta Gave Empty Promises to Return Democracy, Respect Rights

(New York) тАУ ThailandтАЩs military junta tightened its grip on power and severely repressed fundamental rights in the past year, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2016. Public pledges by the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to respect human rights and return the country to elected civilian rule went unfulfilled..... (read more).....https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/27/tha ... ctatorship (https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/01/27/thailand-rights-crisis-deepens-under-dictatorship)

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The trouble with ThailandтАЩs new democracy
BY JAMES L TAYLOR, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR тАУ 28 JANUARY 2016
POSTED IN: THAILAND
To restore democracy and topple an тАШancien regimeтАЩ, anti-junta activism needs to transform into broad-based, anti-fascist movement, writes Jim Taylor.

The тАЬNew DemocracyтАЭ Movement (NDM, sometimes written in English as тАЬNeo- DemocracyтАЭ), are now at the forefront of spontaneous anti-fascist activities in Thailand.

The group was founded by a core group of 14 mostly students of working class backgrounds from Bangkok and Khon Kaen, whose families benefitted from former prime minister Thaksin ShinawatraтАЩs pro-poor policies.

NDM says it is committed to..... (read more)......http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandal ... democracy/ (http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2016/01/28/the-trouble-with-thailands-new-democracy/)

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International rights body downgrades Thai National Human Rights Commission
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 28/01/2016
An international human rights agency has downgraded ThailandтАЩs National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) due to failures in addressing human rights issues.
The Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the International Coordinating Committee on National Human Rights Institutions (ICC), an independent international association of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) worldwide which monitors the performance of national human rights institutions, announced that it has downgraded the status of ThailandтАЩs NHRC from тАШAтАЩ to тАШBтАЩ, the UN revealed on Thursday, 28 January 2016.
The Paris Principles serve as the benchmark in accrediting human rights institutions in each country..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5810

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Sasiwan Mokkhasen
28 January 2016
Thailand Asks Google to Bend Censorship Rules
BANGKOK тАФ Thai officials asked Google to make an exception and remove content without a court order, according to leaked details of a meeting this past Friday with top executives from the U.S.-based search giant.

The second meeting between Google legal reps and a junta censorship committee was detailed in a document leaked by Thai net freedom advocates hours before Anonymous-aligned hacktivists shut down 20 Department of Corrections websites Thursday morning..... (read more)...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1453975227&typecate=06&section=)

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29 January 2016
The Good, Bad and Ugly of JuntaтАЩs тАШAnti-CorruptionтАЩ Constitution
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

BANGKOK тАФ Critics of the junta-sponsored draft charter say democracy will be undermined if it is approved in the national referendum slated for July while supporters insist itтАЩs designed to prevent corruption and abuse of power by politicians.

With the first draft being officially unveiled today, politicos and academics raise issues over weakening the power of voters by possibly having prime ministers they didnтАЩt choose, unelected panels with increased power to intervene in government and a new electoral system designed to ensure no political party gains an outright majority..... (read more)......http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1454046650 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1454046650)

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News 91% of Facebook users not happy with government Published: 29/01/2016
Writer: Online Reporters The result of Prachamati.org's online poll to the question: "Are you happy under... (read more)....

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politic ... government (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/844992/91-of-facebook-users-not-happy-with-government).

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Two options emerge if draft is rejected
THE NATION January 30, 2016
Govt could amend interim charter or attempt a third draft, if necessary.

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha appears to be keeping his cards close to his chest on what he plans to do should the draft charter be rejected in the public referendum. He obviously has a back-up plan, but he certainly is not revealing it to anybody right now..... (read more).....http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politic ... 78123.html (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Two-options-emerge-if-draft-is-rejected-30278123.html)

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FIRST TAKES ON THE JUNTAтАЩS DRAFT CONSTITUTION
January 30, 2016
PPT hasnтАЩt had a chance to look at the draft 270-article, 95-page constitution in any detail, but there are commentators who have (a PDF of the draft can be downloaded, in Thai). While most of the provisions have been flagged in recent weeks тАУ at last the most controversial, we thought weтАЩd combines some of that commentary here.

In the Bangkok Post, the anti-democrat agenda of the drafters and junta is made clear by.... (read more).....https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wo ... stitution/ (https://politicalprisonersofthailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/30/first-takes-on-the-juntas-draft-constitution/)

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Reformers to demand censorship from Facebook, Line Published: 31/01/2016
Executives of the giant social media outlets Facebook and Line have been called to a meeting by the national... (read more)....
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... ebook-line (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/845724/reformers-to-demand-censorship-from-facebook-line).

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CONSTITUTIONAL DEJA-VU
JANUARY 31, 2016 UGLYTRUTHTHAILAND
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
The process of ThailandтАЩs тАЬConstitutional Anti-ReformsтАЭ trundles on like some ancient dinosaur. More jobs for the juntaтАЩs cronies, funded by more public money, is being wasted on yet another farcical constitutional drafting process. The last draft was an authoritarian abomination and the new тАЬMeechaiтАЭ version is little different [See http://bit.ly/1Jv5QDC and http://bit.ly/1ScVIR6 ].

The latest draft is more subtle than last yearтАЩs draft, reducing the nonsense about тАЬGoodтАЭ leaders and hiding the all-powerful тАЬCommittee to determine state strategy and enforcement of reconciliationтАЭ under a different hat.

This latest тАЬMeechai DraftтАЭ creates an even more powerful non-elected Constitutional Court that has the power to sack an elected government..... (read more)...https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com ... l-deja-vu/ (https://uglytruththailand.wordpress.com/2016/01/31/constitutional-deja-vu/)

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Is the Thai JuntaтАЩs support network starting to fray?
31 January 2016
Author: Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Chulalongkorn University

No country in Southeast Asia shoots itself in the foot more than Thailand. With so much going for it, the second-largest economy in the region still manages to underperform spectacularly. Its growth trajectory is in the 2тАУ3 per cent range even though it has the potential to track twice that figure. Two decades after it was considered to be a consolidating democracy, Thailand is now led by outright military-authoritarian rule. In much of the region there will be considerable good news in 2016, but in Thailand good news seems hard to find..... (read more).....http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/01/31 ... g-to-fray/ (http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/01/31/is-the-thai-juntas-support-network-starting-to-fray/)

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Meechai's charter meant to be killed: Pheu Thai
Published: 31/01/2016
Writer: Online Reporters

Leading Pheu Thai Party member Surapong Tovichakchaikul believes the draft constitution prepared by the Meechai Ruchupan panel may have been written in such a way that it would be rejected in the referendum...... (read more)......http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/846060?re ... StIcxjIoKM (http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/846060?refer=https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FStIcxjIoKM)

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Misogynist military boss: Prayuth says gender equality тАШwill make Thai society deteriorateтАЩ
By Coconuts Bangkok February 1, 2016
While Canada gets self-proclaimed feminist Justin Trudeau, this is who Thailand is dealing with.
In the latest off-script blunder by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the junta chief scoffed at gender equality and said the country would deteriorate if women and men were equal..... (read more)....http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/01/m ... eteriorate (http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/01/misogynist-military-boss-prayuth-says-gender-equality-will-make-thai-society-deteriorate)

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Tongue-ThaiтАЩed тАУ A womanтАЩs (supposed) worth in a military manтАЩs world
by Saksith Saiyasombut | 1st February 2016
This is part XXXII of тАЬTongue-ThaiтАЩed!тАЭ, an ongoing series where we collect the most baffling, ridiculous, confusing, outrageous and appalling quotes from Thai politicians and other public figures. Check out all past entries here.

AS weтАЩre entering the second full year of the Thai military government and with things likely to stay the same for the foreseeable future, one thing is for certain: weтАЩre still have to endure another year of the juntaтАЩs authoritarian rule. But it also means that we will have another guaranteed year of the generals putting their foot in their mouths,.... (read more)...https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/ ... he-ladies/ (https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/tongue-thaied-prayuth-and-the-ladies/)

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Editorial Opinion
Another fine draft mess Published: 01/02/2016
Three days after the publication of the second attempt at presenting an acceptable draft constitution, there appears to be little cause for optimism. The chief drafter of Constitution 2.0, Meechai Ruchupan, doubts he can make the November2017 deadline for the first post-coup election. No political party or politician has had a kind word for his work. Newspaper headlines run along the lines of "Thumbs down for charter". The prime minister already believes voters may reject it at the... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/846532

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Call for penalties for opposing draft constitution
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 02/02/2016
The Election Commission of Thailand has proposed penalties for people who distort facts about the draft constitution while the Royal Thai Army says it will help promote a correct understanding.....(read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5821

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2 February 2016
Redshirt Leader Jatuporn Detained at Army Barracks
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Prominent Redshirt leader Jatuporn Prompan was taken into custody by a group of soldiers this morning, several days after his movement announced a boycott of the new constitution drafted by the military government.

Jatuporn is being detained at the First Region Army barracks on Ratchadamnoen Avenue for interrogation, said Redshirt core activist Weng Tojirakarn, adding that soldiers did not offer any explanation for the arrest..... (read more)...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1454395020 (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1454395020)

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2 February 2016
CharterтАЩs Uncertain Fate Mirrors JuntaтАЩs Own Lack of Confidence
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
BANGKOK тАФ Uncertainty over what will happen if voters reject the draft charter this July, critics agree, reflects the junta's own lack of confidence in its success. They differ, however, on whether itтАЩs failure is intended as a means for the junta to stay in power longer than promised.

Political scientist Puangthong Pawakapan said the whole thing has never been about drafting a new, acceptable constitution but finding excuses for the National Council for Peace and Order, or NCPO, as it is formally known, to maintain its hold on power and allow the political old guard to re-establish its grip on politics and society..... (read more)...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6&section= (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1454411487&typecate=06&section=)

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Military prosecutors dismiss l├иse majest├й charge against 3 suspects
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 02/02/2016
The military prosecutors for the first time since the 2014 coup dтАЩ├йtat have dismissed l├иse majest├й charges against three suspects alleged of defaming the Thai Monarchy via Facebook....(read more)....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5823

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They really are as stupid as this
February 2, 2016
We have several times pointed out that ThailandтАЩs military junta is made up of a bunch of dullards.

Accounting for how this collection of dunces comes to be running a once quite successful country must examine the ways in which these men have been promoted. The military is remarkably hierarchical and increasingly feudal in its organization. Promotion in the military in recent decades has been mainly based on notions of loyalty to the monarchy, overseen by palace political busybody General Prem Tinsulanonda. Getting to the top has depended on the capacity for slithering about before royals and privy councilors. Other capacities have not usually been rewarded.... (read more).....https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpres ... d-as-this/ (https://thaipoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/2016/02/02/they-really-are-as-stupid-as-this/)

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February 2nd, 2016 | Posted by Editor
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Questions MediaтАЩs Professional Ethics
BANGKOK тАУ Government spokesman Maj Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd told reporters that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is concerned about the professtional ethics of some news media, which he feels lack proper discretion on news selection..... (read more)...http://www.chiangraitimes.com/prime-min ... thics.html (http://www.chiangraitimes.com/prime-minister-prayut-chan-o-cha-questions-medias-professional-ethics.html)

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best in six years тАУ survey
by Asian Correspondent Staff | 3rd February 2016 | @ascorrespondent
CORRUPTION is on the decline in Thailand. Or that is the conclusion you might draw from a survey done by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

The UTCC survey measures the Corruption Situation Index (CSI) in Thailand, and last December, it hit the highest score in six years тАУ 55 compared to 49 the year before. A higher score indicates less perceived corruption in the country..... (read more)....https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/ ... rs-survey/ (https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/thailands-corruption-level-is-the-best-in-six-years-survey/)

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February 2016
The Constitutional Court in the 2016 constitutional draft: A substitute King for Thailand in the post-Bhumibol era?
On 29 January 2016, the Constitution-drafting committee presided by Meechai Reechupan issued the official draft of a new constitution. This draft is the third since the 2014 coup took place on 22 May 2014. The most controversial issue in the first and second drafts was the creation of unelected organs given special powers allowing them to take over the administration or impose legislation under specific circumstances, such as in times of crisis. 1 The 2016 draft grants crisis powers to the Constitutional Court. 2 This is not surprising: since its creation, the Constitutional Court has increasingly intervened in the political sphere in times of crisis, thereby expanding its power gradually, a process referred to by many scholars and commentators alike as тАЬjudicialization of politicsтАЭ. 3

The latest constitution-drafting process results in a further expansion of the CourtтАЩs scope of jurisdiction. According to the 2016 draft, the Court has now the power.....(read more)......http://kyotoreview.org/yav/constitution ... -bhumibol/ (http://kyotoreview.org/yav/constitutional-court-2016-thailand-post-bhumibol/)

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THE RISE OF THAILAND'S 'DICTATOR LAW'
BY REUTERS ON 2/3/16
REUTERS/CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha is relying increasingly on a security measure dubbed "the dictator's law" to push through unpopular policies and kickstart stalled reforms, say critics, who warn it could spark further opposition to military rule..... (READ MORE)...http://www.newsweek.com/thailand-dictat ... ime-422857 (http://www.newsweek.com/thailand-dictator-law-junta-unpopular-prayuth-chan-ocha-security-prime-422857)

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Can Thai Junta Convince Investors It Knows What It's Doing?
Chris Blake Tony Jordan
February 4, 2016
Thailand is waiting for a new constitution, waiting for the restoration of democracy, waiting for the succession in its monarchy, waiting for an economic recovery and waiting for rain.
While the junta says it is taking the time and steps needed to unify the Southeast Asian countryтАЩs polarized political factions, overseas investors have voted with their feet. Applications for foreign direct investment slumped 78 percent in the first 11 months of 2015. Exports have fallen for three straight years.
тАЬThe turnoff of the coup-appointed military junta just makes it easy to write off Thailand for direct investment..... (read more)...http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... s-for-love (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-03/thailand-grows-old-waiting-for-democracy-as-junta-looks-for-love)

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Constitution woes: Glasses fly as Prayuth hits podium out of frustration with media (VIDEO)
By Coconuts Bangkok February 3, 2016
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha clearly reached the end of his tether yesterday after being bombarded all day with questions from the press on the election, causing him to lose it in spectacular fashion during the afternoon press conference.
The junta chiefтАЩs bad mood had started in the morning when he visited exhibition stands outside Government House, where he wanted to discuss research on the тАЬstubbornтАЭ tuberculosis disease by the National Research Council of Thailand. But instead, he was hounded by the press with questions about the draft constitution, which was released on Friday.... (read more).....http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/03/c ... edia-video (http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/02/03/constitution-woes-glasses-fly-prayuth-hits-podium-out-frustration-media-video)

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Seminar about new charter draft aborted at juntaтАЩs order
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 04/02/2016
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), formal name of the Thai junta, has ordered academics to abort a seminar about the new constitution draft..... (read more).....http://prachatai.org/english/node/5828? ... m=facebook (http://prachatai.org/english/node/5828?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook)