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Re: Protests update
Climate of fear will boost turnout’
Juthathip Lucksanawong
The Nation July 25, 2016
80% tipped to vote in Isaan as ‘many want closure’; people afraid to discuss charter; lack of knowledge on draft common in N/east
Voter turnout in the Northeast could reach the 80-per-cent goal in the referendum in two weeks and favour approval of the draft charter despite a climate of fear and a lack of understanding about the draft, a source close to Election Commission (EC) offices in Isaan provinces has said..... (read more)...http://www.nationmultimedia.com/poli...-30291323.html
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Re: Protests update
Nitirat joins draft critics NCPO told to bow out if it fails poll test
Published: 25/07/2016
The regime must step down and let the people take part in a process to draw up a new constitution if the draft charter is shot down in the Aug 7 referendum, a seminar was told...(read more)...
Please credit and share this article with others using this link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...-draft-critics.
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Re: Protests update
July 22nd 2016
Concerns raised over referendum aftermath
Event
On July 20th the Platform of Concerned Citizens (PCC), a civil society group consisting of 16 organisations and 117 individuals, released a five-point statement which included calls for open debate on the draft constitution and the disclosure of a contingency plan should the proposed charter not pass a referendum.
Analysis
The PCC's statement comes amid.... (read more).... http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?...eid=1394438523
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Re: Protests update
August referendum disturbed by monkeys, underages, coffee, rain
Submitted by editor4 on Mon, 25/07/2016
The junta’s draft charter referendum has faced an epic struggle in the past weekend as the voter lists across the country were spoiled by kid, monkeys, and rain. The state authorities also confiscated advertorial flags of a coffee product whose name could be translated as ‘vote no.’
Thai state authorities have been in trouble during the past weekend after the voter lists for the August draft charter referendum in various provinces were reportedly destroyed due to many absurd reasons....(read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/6389
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Re: Protests update
JUNTA’S CHARTER DRAFTERS BACKTRACK ON DEBATE CHALLENGE
By Teeranai Charuvastra, Staff Reporter - July 25, 2016
BANGKOK — The drafters of Thailand’s proposed constitution did an about-face on Sunday, reversing a pledge made by its spokesmen to engage in a public debate with their critics.
Saying such a debate could be seen as a “conflict of interest,” Chatchai na Chiang Mai of the Constitution Drafting Committee said officials would therefore have to decline the debate proposed by one another spokesman to members of the New Democracy Movement, a group opposed to the charter.... (read more)....
http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politi...ate-challenge/
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Re: Protests update
Thailand: Amnesty International Thailand’s Chair and other activists face jail for exposing torture
Submitted by editor1 on Tue, 26/07/2016
Amnesty International Thailand
The Thai authorities must immediately drop the criminal investigation against three of the country’s most prominent human rights activists, including the chair of Amnesty International Thailand, who could be charged tomorrow for documenting and publishing a report about torture by Thai security forces, the organization warned.
Somchai Homla-or, Anchana Heemmina, and Porpen Khongkaconkiet, who was appointed Chair of the Amnesty International Thailand board last month, face the prospect of five years behind bars and a fine of US $4,800 if found guilty on charges of “criminal defamation” and “computer crimes”. The three are due to report to Pattani police station on 26 July.... (read more)...
https://prachatai.org/english/node/6394
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Re: Protests update
Charter draft fails to share power, Abhisit says
THE NATION July 26, 2016
DEMOCRAT Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva revealed some of his personal thoughts on the charter draft yesterday, saying he believed it failed to support a distribution of power.
Abhisit said as the party leader, he would tomorrow officially give his stance about the charter (Wed) and it would not be the party's stance because it was not allowed to hold a meeting to discuss politics.... (read more)...
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/poli...-30291411.html
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Re: Protests update
UN Expert urges Thailand to ensure free debate ahead of the constitutional referendum
GENEVA (26 July 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, today condemned the alarmingly high number of arrests and charges over public and social media expression brought under military orders and the Constitutional Referendum Act in Thailand. The Act, adopted ahead of the constitutional referendum scheduled for 7 August, criminalises expression and access to information about the draft constitution.... (read more)...
- See more at: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/P....aTuv5qZa.dpuf
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Re: Protests update
Junta head suspends officials allegedly involved with anti-draft charter letters
Submitted by editor2 on Tue, 26/07/2016
The Thai junta leader issued an order to suspend public officers suspected of involving in documents campaigning against the junta-sponsored draft constitution.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/6399
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Re: Protests update
NIECE OF ARMY TORTURE VICTIM ARRESTED FOR INTERNET MESSAGES
By Associated Press - July 26, 2016
BANGKOK — The niece of an army conscript who was tortured to death by soldiers was arrested Tuesday on a complaint filed by the Thai military over her internet postings.
Naritsarawan Kaewnopparat last year had posted photos of her uncle’s body and information about the torture he endured. She was arrested at her workplace in Bangkok on charges of criminal defamation and violating the Computer Crime Act.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/c...rnet-postings/