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Re: Protests update
JUNTA REVOKES MILITARY TRIALS FOR CIVILIANS
By Sasiwan Mokkhasen, Staff Reporter - September 12, 2016
BANGKOK — Civilians will no longer be tried by the military after the junta Monday revoked orders passed since it seized power over two years ago.
The order, issued under the junta leader’s absolute power granted by its interim charter, said civilians tried for cases involving national security will no longer go to military courts. The order, which went into immediate effect, is not retroactive and does not affect cases already underway.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politi...als-civilians/
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Re: Protests update
As Obama caps Asia pivot, Thailand seen as missing piece
Posted on 7 September 2016
Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha gestures upon his arrival at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Vientiane on Sept 7, 2016. — AFP
VIENTIANE: President Barack Obama attends a farewell dinner with Southeast Asian leaders Wednesday, capping eight years of careful courtship that has created new friends, but left links frayed with America's oldest regional ally – Thailand.
When Obama looks around the gala dinner table in Vientiane, he will find a bevy of new partners.... (read more)... http://m.thesundaily.my/node/393166
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Re: Protests update
WORLD NEWS | Mon Sep 12, 2016
Thai junta will stop prosecuting dissidents in military courts
Thailand's military government said on Monday it will prosecute cases concerning national security and royal insult in civilian courts instead of military courts, a change a rights group said was window dressing before a U.N. review.
Prosecution for dissent and royal insult have risen since the military seized power in a 2014 coup with the junta choosing to try such cases in military courts.... (read more)... http://www.reuters.com/article/us-th...-idUSKCN11I14T
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Re: Protests update
Soldiers visit anti-junta activists’ house
Submitted by editor4 on Mon, 12/09/2016
After a long absence, military officers visited two anti-junta activists at their house to ‘adjust their attitudes’. The soldiers said they will visit the house again with their higher commander.... (read more)... http://prachatai.org/english/node/6552
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Re: Protests update
Why does Thailand keep changing its constitution?
Sep 11th 2016, 23:50 BY THE ECONOMIST
IN AUGUST voters endorsed Thailand’s latest constitution in a tightly controlled referendum that offered no alternative to the draft put forward by the ruling military junta. It may take a year before the rubberstamp assembly ratifies it. By the time it comes into force, it will be the country’s 20th constitution in 85 years. Why does Thailand keep changing its constitution?... (read more)... http://www.economist.com/blogs/econo...ist-explains-4
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Re: Protests update
Dazed and Confused with mixed results in Ubon Ratchathani’s referendum vote
Posted on 09/10/2016 by The Isaan Record
Guest commentary by Saowanee T. Alexander
On August 7, 2016, the majority of Isaan voters rejected the draft constitution by 51.48% (4,153,178) to 48.58% (3,923,855) although with a much smaller margin than the 2007 referendum results (61.67% to 36.53%).[i] Yet, results from certain Isaan provinces had many observers dumbfounded because of either the miniscule margin of victory or a big loss (see Prachatai’s graphic analysis of the event here in Thai) despite general negative sentiments throughout the region.... (read more)..... http://isaanrecord.com/2016/09/10/da...ferendum-vote/
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Re: Protests update
Isaan Lives: Hongthong Dao Udon: From singing star to political prisoner
Posted on 09/12/2016 by The Isaan Record
Ethnomusicologist James Mitchell takes a closer look at the amazing life of luk thung singer Hongthong Dao Udon and her journey from star to political prisoner.
Hongthong Dao Udon was a child star of the 1970s who developed into a major mo lam-luk thung act during the 1980s. A second career as a radio DJ placed her at the heart of Udon Thani’s Red Shirt movement and she found herself entangled in Thailand’s color coded political conflict.
For years I had been trying to meet Hongthong Dao Udon because luk thung and the Red Shirts were two of my key research interests.... (read more)... http://isaanrecord.com/2016/09/12/is...ical-prisoner/
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Re: Protests update
THE SORRY TALE OF ANEK LAOTAMATAT’S “TALE OF TWO DEMOCRATIC CITIES”
SEPTEMBER 11, 2016 UGLYTRUTHTHAILAND
Giles Ji Ungpakorn
On 12th April 2016 the blood-stained Generalissimo Prayut admitted that he did not trust the Thai people to elect a “good” government. This was his justification for the draft military constitution which restricts the power of any democratically elected governments in the future. It is also the justification for the 2006 and 2014 military coups. It has the support of liberal, right-wing, academics in Thailand.
Liberal academics in Thailand believe that Taksin cheated in elections by “tricking or buying the ignorant rural poor”....(read more).... https://uglytruththailand.wordpress....cratic-cities/
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Re: Protests update
THAILAND’S DRACONIAN CYBERLAWS TIPPING TOWARD TOTALITARIAN
By Don Sambandaraksa, Correspondent - September 14, 2016
Amendments to the criminal code removing judicial oversight of wiretapping combined with new laws on cybercrime, cyber security and even the digital economy all suggest the Good People running the country can no longer distinguish between internal security and external threats.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/opinio...-totalitarian/
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Re: Protests update
Article 44 paves way to seize Yingluck’s assets
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION September 15, 2016
Legal execution department empowered to act against those breaking civil liability law.
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha has invoked Article 44 of the interim charter to enable the seizure of assets of those responsible for the rice-pledging scheme.
Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her commerce minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, among others, could have their assets seized over the massive damages.... (read more)... http://www.nationmultimedia.com/poli...-30295312.html