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Re: Protests update
Drafters threaten legal action against critics of new charter
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 09/02/2016
The head of the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has threatened legal action to quell criticism of the new draft constitution.
Thai News Agency on Monday, 8 February 2016, reported that Meechai Ruchuphan, President of the CDC, said that the CDC will meet to discuss possible legal action against people who distort facts to criticise the 2016 charter draft.
He made particular mention of an anti-junta Facebook page тАШYut Datjarit Prathet ThaiтАЩ (Stop Fake Thailand), saying a certain political party is behind the page.....(read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5840? ... m=facebook
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Re: Protests update
09 February 2016
Torture in Deep South Systematic and Spreading Elsewhere, Report Alleges
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK тАФ Torture ranging from waterboarding and strangling to threats of violence and sexual assault are used systematically by the army and police to force confessions from suspected insurgents in the Deep South, a new report alleges.
The second such report to be issued this month based on interviews with former detainees, the report to be released Wednesday by the Cross Cultural Foundation,..... (read more)...... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6§ion=
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Re: Protests update
The Staying Power of ThailandтАЩs Military
The ruling junta is likely to remain in power for the foreseeable future.
By Shawn W. Crispin
February 10, 2016
Thailand is currently under the strictest military regime the country has seen since the early 1970s, an era when China-backed communist guerrillas threatened to overthrow the established monarchy-military symbiotic order. Despite rising controversy surrounding the current National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) juntaтАЩs heavy-handed rule, itтАЩs a military regime that will likely remain in power for the foreseeable future.
To understand the present and project into the future, itтАЩs important to understand ThailandтАЩs recent past. The 2014 military coup marked the crescendo of anti-government street convulsions, staged initially against an amnesty bill that would have paved the way for the criminally convicted self-exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to return to Thailand a free man under his younger sister Yingluck ShinawatraтАЩs elected government... (read more).... http://thediplomat.com/2016/02/the-stay ... -military/
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Re: Protests update
10 February 2016
Junta Threatens to Summon Critics of Charter Draft
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter
BANGKOK тАФ Anyone who criticizes the new constitution drafted recently by a junta-appointed body risks being summoned for a тАЬdiscussionтАЭ with the military junta, a spokesman warned yesterday.
The warning Tuesday from junta spokesman Piyapong Klinpan came at the same time military forces are being dispatched to local communities across the country to tout the new charter draft, which will go to a vote in July.....(read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1455080816
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Re: Protests update
Arrest warrants up for youth anti-junta activists again
Submitted by editor2 on Thu, 11/02/2016
The Military Court for the second time issued arrest warrants for youth anti-junta activist calling for an investigation into corruption allegations concerning a park constructed by the Royal Thai Army.
Anon Numpa, a human rights lawyer, at 4 pm on Thursday, 11 February 2016, posted a status on his facebook profile that the Military Court of Bangkok granted to the police arrest warrants for Sirawit Serithiwat, 23, Chonticha Jaeng-rew, 22, Chanoknan Ruamsap, 22, and Korakoch Saengyenpan, 23, and Abhisit Sapnaphapan.
The five activists are accused of violating the juntaтАЩs.... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5847? ... m=facebook
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Re: Protests update
Thai pro-democracy 'Red Shirts' to reject army charter
By Afp
11 February 2016
Thailand's pro-democracy "Red Shirt" movement will vote against a new junta-scripted charter in a looming referendum, their leader said Thursday, a move that could deepen the country's political impasse.
The political play comes a day after the military, which seized power two years ago from a civilian government, said it will hold a plebiscite on their proposed charter in July.
The country's nearly century-long struggle with democracy has seen a dozen military takeovers since absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932, with constitutions torn-up and rewritten every time power changes hands.
The Red Shirts support toppled premiers Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother -- the self-exiled billionaire Thaksin..... (read more).... https://t.co/UuRRj9uslu
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Re: Protests update
Puea Thai still has support, says Yingluck
PUBLISHEDFEB 11, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT
Thailand's former premier, who is banned from politics, has raised her public profile recently
Tan Hui Yee Thailand Correspondent In Bangkok
Despite restrictions on political activities under Thailand's military government, the Puea Thai party - as well as the powerful Shinawatra clan that features prominently in it - looks set to remain on the country's political scene..... (read more)..... http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asi ... s-yingluck
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Re: Protests update
Teeranai Charuvastra
12 February 2016
Yingluck тАШConfusedтАЩ by Signals on Rice Subsidy
BANGKOK тАФ Former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said sheтАЩs been left befuddled by the military governmentтАЩs announcement that her controversial subsidy for rice farmers benefited the nation but was still potentially fraudulent.....(read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 1455288279
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Re: Protests update
THAILAND: Rights defenders threatened for documenting army torture
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 12/02/2016
Asian Human Rights Commission
On 11 February 2016 the Thai army threatened human rights defenders for documenting the militaryтАЩs continued use of torture on detainees in the countryтАЩs south. Major General Banpot Poonpien, the spokesperson for a specialist counterinsurgency agency, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), accused the human rights groups of fabricating accounts of torture to obtain funding from abroad. He also asked whether or not the groups had the mandate to investigate the work of state officers. He ended with the threat that they could be committing defamation by issuing a report referring to international law..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5853
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Re: Protests update
13 February 2016
Getting in Touch With the Inner Dictator
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
EVALUATION FILE
FILE NO. 220514
Subject: Full-time military dictator since late May 2014. At present, subject has held absolute power without the consent of the people for nearly two years.
Subject Title: The General, Dear Junta Leader, Mr. Prime Minister, The Dictator, Uncle.
Age: 60-something.
Future Occupation: Very uncertain.
SYMPTOMOLOGY
Mood Lability: Subject suffers from severe mood lability (mood swings) characterized by..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.ph ... 6§ion=