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Re: Protests update
Arbitrary arrest and detention must end: 6 Thai organizations for human rights
Submitted by editor4 on Thu, 28/04/2016
Arbitrary arrest and detention must end
Since this morning (27 April 2016), military authorities have carried out the arrests of at least ten individuals in Bangkok and KhonKaen provinces. The raids have been conducted with the seizure of property without informing the arrestees of their charges and the reasons for the deprivation of their liberty. They were also not told where they would be taken to. It was later reported that the individuals have been taken to the 11th Military Circle. As a result of the arrest and detention of the individuals, in the afternoon of the same day, a group of activists and citizens have organized a symbolic action at the Victory Monument to demand the release of the individuals held in custody since morning. The protesters, more than 16 of them, were later nabbed by the officials and held in custody, too.....(read more)..... http://prachatai.org/english/node/6096
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Re: Protests update
Thailand’s containment constitution
BY ALLEN HICKEN, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR – 28 APRIL 2016
Allen Hicken looks at how the new charter attempts to fight vile and venal politicians, much like an infectious disease.
Thailand is once again considering a controversial new constitution.
The nation’s two largest political parties have each condemned the draft charter as an attempt by the military to extend its time in power. Meanwhile, the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has all but banned criticism of the draft, even as it gears up for an aggressive nationwide pro-draft campaign ahead of an 7 August referendum.
The draft (available in Thai here) reflects a widely shared view among Thailand’s conservative elite regarding the problems at the root of recent political crises. This new charter can be read as a response to a two-fold diagnosis of what ails Thai democracy.... (read more).... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newman...-constitution/
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Re: Protests update
Editorial Opinion
Government playing with fire
Published: 29/04/2016 at 04:20 AM Writer: Editorial
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and government must stop the arbitrary arrest and detention of its critics through the extraordinary powers of Section 44 of the provisional charter or see itself becoming the trigger of a new round of conflicts.....(read more)...
Please credit and share this article with others using this link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/o...ying-with-fire.
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Re: Protests update
Amnesty slams govt for arrests after anti-charter FB posts
THE NATION April 29, 2016
AMNESTY International yesterday condemned the arrest of Facebook users, an act seen by Amnesty as a brazen attempt by the junta to shut down debate ahead of the referendum on the draft constitution.
In its press statement, Amnesty said at least a dozen Facebook commentators have been detained or charged since Wednesday under a draconian new order issued by the military government. The arrests come in response to comments on the controversial draft that Thailand's military government is seeking to impose, the statement said.
"If ordinary people cannot comment on a Facebook post without facing the threat of 10 years behind bars and a hefty fine, what hope is there for any open and honest debate on the military government's draft constitution?" said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International's director of campaigns for South East Asia.... (read more)... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/poli...-30284936.html
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Re: Protests update
29 April 2016
‘Personal’ Campaigning Acceptable (If Charter Vote Isn’t Canceled)
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK — Want to wear a T-shirt urging folks to vote the draft charter up or down? That’s fine, so long as you don’t wear them with a big group of friends in public. Want to hang your position from a flag or sign in your window? No problem, just don’t put it on a billboard.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...sid=1461904077
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Re: Protests update
Junta violates their own rule book: Academics
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 29/04/2016
Academics said that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), formal name of the Thai junta, has violated their own rule book in harassing critics of the junta-sponsored draft constitution.
Academics of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) of Mahidol University on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, held a briefing about the authorities’ measures to persecute and intimidate people for criticizing the draft constitution written by the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).
The academics pointed out that.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/6101
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Re: Protests update
NCPO firm on holding August 7 referendum
THE NATION April 30, 2016
Prayut also open to allowing foreign observers for vote.
THE JUNTA chief will "do whatever is necessary" to ensure that the August 7 referendum on the draft constitution goes ahead as planned, despite all the moves by opponents of the charter, according to a highly placed source.
Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), will not invoke his power under Article 44 of the interim charter to cancel the referendum in case of unrest, said the NCPO source.... (read more)...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/poli...-30285005.html
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Re: Protests update
Pravit Rojanaphruk
30 April 2016
Press Freedom Isn’t Free
Press freedom isn’t free, and the price is especially high under a dictatorship. People must fight to maintain it, as they must freedom in general. We cannot maintain freedoms of press and expression if we are not willing to pay the price in the face of threats and tyrannies.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...te=06§ion=
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Re: Protests update
30 April 2016
Campaign Guideline Bans Campaigning Before Charter Vote
Teeranai Charuvastra
BANGKOK — Official guidelines of what is prohibited during the run-up to a referendum on the charter proposed as Thailand’s 20th constitution bars virtually all aspects of campaigning, such as persuading the public “to vote one way or another.”
The eight prohibitions issued by the Election Commission yesterday to clarify the scope of a separate law which outlaws any campaigning that uses “aggressive” or “rude” language – a vague definition that alarms many critics of the charter draft.
But the guidelines replaced the ambiguity by seemingly banning all campaigns in one swoop, particularly prohibition No. 8, which bars “campaigning to persuade people in the society to vote one way or another, to incite unrest, or to obstruct voting.”... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...te=06§ion=
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Re: Protests update
Teeranai Charuvastra
30 April 2016
Lese Majeste Filed Against Two Facebookers, Anti-Junta Activist
BANGKOK — Two Facebookers and an anti-junta activist detained by the military earlier this week have been charged with royal defamation, which carries maximum penalty of 15 years per offense.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...te=06§ion=