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Re: Protests update
Thailand scraps unpopular Internet 'Great Firewall' plan
October 15, 2015
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand's military government has scrapped a plan to create a single Internet gateway, a deputy prime minister said on Thursday (Oct 15), putting paid to a system aimed at allowing authorities to monitor content.... (read more.... http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asi ... ewall-plan
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Re: Protests update
Police attempt to prevent commemoration of 1973 student uprising
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 15/10/2015
Thai police officers have attempted to discourage people from commemorating the 14 October 1973 student uprising, citing the Public Assembly Act.
On Wednesday evening, 14 October 2015, at least 300 people gathered around the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue in central Bangkok to participate in the 42nd anniversary of the 14 October 1973 student uprising, when 50,000 students took to the streets to call for an end to the dictatorial regime of Field Marshal Thanom Kittikachorn... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5543
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Re: Protests update
Political activist accusing junta leader of cronyism taken into military barrack
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 16/10/2015
Thai military officers detained a political activist who alleged the junta leader and Deputy Prime Minister of cronyism for an тАШattitude adjustmentтАЩ session.........
Earlier on Tuesday, Srisuwan submitted a petition to the Office of the Ombudsman of Thailand, asking for an investigation of the conduct of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, including, Deputy Prime Minister Wisanu Krue-ngam for appointing their close relatives and associates into the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA)...... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5547
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Re: Protests update
Punishment in Thailand
Adjustment disorder
Generals try novel tactics to change the minds of dissenters
Oct 17th 2015 | BANGKOK |
THE generals who took over Thailand in mid-2014 have settled in for the long haul and watched the economy slump. They have stifled dissent and defended their grip on power by arguing that they are needed to restore тАЬpublic order and moralityтАЭ..... (read more).... http://www.economist.com/news/asia/2167 ... t-disorder
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Re: Protests update
Activists threaten full-scale 'cyber war' on government
Cyber activists last week announced a full-fledged "cyber war" against the government for its refusal to respond to their demands to formally scrap the controversial single gateway proposal.
18/10/2015
In preparation for subsequent attacks, a group calling itself тАЬThailand F5 Cyber ArmyтАЭ is recruiting netizens through online courses aimed at temporarily shutting down government websites тАФ this time for more than just a few hours.
тАЬWhat weтАЩve done so far is only symbolic. We want the government to realise the extent to which people are against the proposal,тАЭ said a team representative who asked not to be named. тАЬAs for serious attacks on the governmentтАЩs IT system тАФ we havenтАЩt even started them.тАЭ
The Information and Communication Technology Ministry last week announced it would abandon the single gateway plan. But the activists said they would continue their campaign until the proposal was formally scrapped by a cabinet order. The government has refused to comment on the planned тАЬcyber warтАЭ..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/733396?re ... 76ckrB4eGN
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Re: Protests update
Fri Oct 16, 2015
Field marshalling - Thai military launches rural education plan
By Panarat Thepgumpanat and Amy Sawitta Lefevre
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's junta will send soldiers to rural areas to educate villagers on topics from careers to farming, a junta spokesman said on Friday, but critics say the scheme is a thinly veiled attempt to re-educate dissenters.
The plan will see troops offering advice to villagers, said Colonel Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the junta, or National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), but it is mostly aimed at telling villagers "the truth" about military rule.
"The NCPO will send soldiers to every village to create understanding so that villagers are not listening to information that is different from the truth," Winthai told Reuters.... (read more)... http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN0SA0VV20151016
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Re: Protests update
NRSA sets 20-month reform goal
The National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has unveiled a new "1-1-18" timeframe for its work on reform and is set to establish a committee to foster reconciliation.
19/10/2015
NRSA deputy chairman Alongkorn Ponlaboot said that starting today the NRSA will spend a month drawing up regulations governing its meetings, and will also set up 11 committees to pursue reform initiated by the now-defunct National Reform Council (NRC).
The next month would be spent prioritising 37 reform proposals of the now-defunct NRC.
The last 18 months will be used to finalise action plans for reform, which will then be presented for cabinet consideration, Mr Alongkorn said.
The NRSA has replaced the NRC, which was dissolved after it voted to reject the previous draft charter on Sept 6..... (read more)... http://m.bangkokpost.com/news/733988?re ... bahqqSb0ln
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Re: Protests update
Thai Police establish l├иse majest├й investigation team
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 19/10/2015
The Thai police have established a special investigation team to intensify a crackdown on l├иse majest├й cases amid speculation about l├иse majest├й charges against a well-known fortune-teller who helped organise an event initiated by the Crown Prince.
On Sunday, 18 October 2015, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, Chief of the Royal Thai Police, issued Order No. 578/2015 to appoint Pol Lt Gen Sriwara Ransibrahmanakul, Assistant Police Chief, as the head of a team to investigate l├иse majest├й cases involving people who allegedly make false claims about the monarchy for personal gain.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5550
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Re: Protests update
19 October 2015
Bangkok Bombing Suspects Won't be Tried for Terrorism
By Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK тАФ Thai police are not pursuing terrorism charges against two men accused of staging a deadly bomb attack in Bangkok two months ago, a police commander confirmed today.
Despite the scale of the attack, which killed 20 people of six nationalities and is considered the worst attack of its kind to strike Bangkok in living memory, the suspects will only be tried on charges of premeditated murder and explosives-related charges, said Sriwarah Siripramnakul, chief of Bangkok metro police.
тАЬWe are not charging the suspects in this case with terrorism,тАЭ police Lt. Gen. Sriwarah said..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1445258925
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Re: Protests update
Editorial Opinion
Toeing state line no way to ensure reform
When top-down control is holding the country back on all fronts, reform is only possible when state abuse can be contained by civil society, grassroots groups and the media.
Published: 21/10/2015
Writer: Sanitsuda Ekachai
Despite the current constitution and reform brouhaha, one thing is clear. No constitution can rescue the country when it perpetuates central control via an unaccountable bureaucracy and military rule. Nor can any reform assembly pave the way toward meaningful change when it does not question persistent state efforts to clip the wings of civil society, communities and the media.
If anyone still believes reform is possible under the military government's tight grip, its latest attack on the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) should bring them down to earth..... (read more).... http://m.bangkokpost.com/opinion/737416