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Re: Protests update
Fighting the junta from abroad: Struggle goes on for ThailandтАЩs political exiles
By Saksith Saiyasombut & Siam Voices Jun 18, 2015
By Asanee Waree
Hundreds of political asylum seekers have fled Thailand to escape the pursuit of the Thai military regime since last yearтАЩs coup. Renowned activists like Aum Neko and Jarun Ditthaapichai have shared their stories of exile, highlighting the threats to their lives. But for lesser known exiles, the choice to speak out is fraught, and tempered by hopes of a quiet return.
The danger of living in military-ruled Thailand
Game, a 19-year-old student, lived in fear of his safety before he escaped from military-ruled Thailand. тАЬI was afraidтАж My family was afraid. My friends were afraid,тАЭ he said. тАЬThey didnтАЩt even want to talk with me because IтАЩm targeted.тАЭ....... (read more).....
http://asiancorrespondent.com/133635/fi ... al-exiles/
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Re: Protests update
3 Dao Din Khon Kaen student activists arrested
Submitted by editor1 on Fri, 19/06/2015
The police have detained three student activists from the Dao Din group of Khon Kaen University, interrupting their plan to show moral support to seven other group members wanted by the police.
Kwanhathai Patumtawonsakul, Jiratchaya Hannarong and Krit Sangsurin were arrested at 1 pm when they were on their way to Khon KaenтАЩs Democracy Monument. The police confiscated seven drawings of the seven Dao Din members who were earlier summoned to report in for displaying placards against the junta.
They are now detained incommunicado at Sri Patcharin military camp.
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5176
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Re: Protests update
Dao Din vows to fight culture of coups
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 20, 2015
Group of 7 students happy to be 'flies who won't let the cat enjoy its meal'
AS THE DEADLINE for them to surrender to police for repeatedly and publicly opposing the military junta was set to expire yesterday, the seven wanted Dao Din students insisted from an undisclosed location that they were fighting for a legitimate cause and refused to relent.
"I think there are others who may want to come out [to oppose the National Council for Peace and Order] but don't dare to. We want to show them that we can fight and create political space that's beyond the red and yellow [political] divides," said Suphachai Phukrongpoly, one of the seven members of Dao Din.
"I feel that the military coup is a terrible culture in that it forces people to think alike," said Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, 23, the most expressive among his peers, all law students from Khon Kaen University and all from the Northeast. "It's tantamount to cutting short the learning process [of society]."..... (read more).....
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/oYdya
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Re: Protests update
Democracy activists warned to be careful
THE NATION June 22, 2015
ANY anti-government groups planning to celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the Siamese Revolution of 1932 - sometimes called the advent of Thai democracy - on Wednesday better not stray out of bounds, PM's Office Minister Suwaphan Tanyuvardhana warned yesterday.
Thailand is currently being governed under special circumstances, so any groups that have a problem with that must follow the law and organise constructive activities.
With speculation about a looming counter-coup rife on the Internet, there appears to be attempts to cause a rift between the government and the National Council for Peace and Order, Suwaphan said.
"They spread the rumours systematically. The government knows the people involved in the process but only their nicknames. We don't know who they are. We know where the information was released from, like what countries. They are just a distortion of the truth to cause misunderstanding,'' he said.
The political struggle is a struggle of ideologies, he said.
"It's normal that when there's a government, there will be an opposition. We just have to ensure fair play. We don't have to kill the chickens before the monkeys," he said, using a euphemism for causing fear among the population by singling out a few for punishment. "We just have to rationalise or resort to reason."
The government has not been able to extradite people embracing different opinions because they're still putting up a fight, he said.
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/YNgPo
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Re: Protests update
'Debate, criticism crucial to foster a democratic society'
PRAVIT ROJANAPHRUK
THE NATION June 23, 2015
CREATING a culture of debate and criticism and also respect for the political opinions of others are essential to ensure a democratic Thailand, a symposium marking 83 years since the end of absolute monarchy concluded yesterday.
People "should be willing to face the truth and respect differing political opinions and debate," social critic Sulak Sivaraksa said.
Many Thais simply do not know how to debate, he said. "Thais do not dare to argue or pose questions," he said...... (read more).....
http://linkis.com/nationmultimedia.com/y1HyS
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Re: Protests update
Human rights organizations urge Thai junta to drop charges against student activists
Submitted by editor1 on Tue, 23/06/2015
Thai and foreign human rights organizations issued statements, urging the junta to drop all charges against Dao Din, the anti-coup student activists from northeastern province of Khon Kaen.
On Monday, the Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA) and the Union of Civil Liberty (UCL) issued statements on the judicial harassment against on 19 June which 3 students of the Dao Din, an anti-coup student activist group based in Khon Kaen, were arrested and detained for drawing paintings.
The HRLA and the UCL stated that the studentsтАЩ action was their fundamental rights which is upheld by the constitution and the international agreements on human rights. They should be allowed to peacefully express their opinion. The legal proceeding against them will not be beneficial for the public...... (read more)......
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5189
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Re: Protests update
Opinion
, 83 years of democracy sabotage in Thailand
Submitted by editor1 on Mon, 22/06/2015
Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy
June 24 marks 83 years since absolute monarchy was ended in Thailand, by a prodemocracy revolution. However during the last 83 years, democracy has not been allowed to become fully established and government institutions to develop because of regular military Coup dтАЩ├йtat, approx 12 successful to date. This coupled with the 19 constitutions that have been mostly imposed on the Thai people have weakened political development and restricted progress towards a mature democracy in Thailand
Even though Thai people, especially university students, have slowly become more aware of these core problems and observed how constant military interventions have restricted the growth of Thailand into a mature democracy, they have been killed in the hundreds by the Royal Thai army whenever they have attempted to protest for their basic democratic rights. On October 14 1973, October 6 1976, May 1992 and May 2010 peaceful protests were met with brutal military force with peaceful protesters massacred by the military at the behest of the conservative Royalist establishment.
We would like to point out that in the last 10 years the crisis has politically become more serious as the country has divided into two camps. The majority on one side is prodemocracy and stand behind their elected representatives while on the other side is the minority anti-democracy group supported by the Military, the old establishment royalist elite, the conservative judiciary and other so called independent institutions under their control.
Over the last 10 years 4 democratically elected governments have been removed by both military and judicial Coup dтАЩ├йtat and this has directly resulted in the divisions we see in Thai society today, with the will of the majority of Thai people constantly thwarted by the anti-democracy minority..... (read more)......
http://prachatai.org/english/node/5181? ... m=facebook
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Re: Protests update
NCPO to ask reporters not to upset PM
The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) plans to gather over 200 local and foreign journalists next week to ask them not to upset Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other cabinet ministers with provocative questions.
Published: 23/06/2015
Writer: Wassana Nanuam
The meeting will be the largest media summons by the NCPO since the 2014 coup.
The meeting, between journalists, soldiers and police, will be held at the national police headquarters to urge reporters to ask "constructive questions" and not to "distort facts" in their reports, Lt Gen Suchart Pongput, commander of the Army's Signal Department, said...... (read more)......
http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/600340
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Re: Protests update
Ex-PAD leaders 'on road to bankruptcy'
Thirteen former leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) face bankruptcy after the Appeals Court ordered them to pay around 600 million baht in compensation to Airports of Thailand for the damage they caused in 2008, according to former activist Maleerat Kaewka.
Published: 23/06/2015
Writer: Online Reporters
Mrs Maleerat, 61, an activist during the Oct 14, 1973 student uprising, is one of the 13 PAD leaders named defendants in a civil suit filed by the AoT over the occupation of Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports for eight days in 2008 by the PAD's yellow-shirt supporters.
The protest brought air services at the two international airports to a halt.
The 12 other defendants were -- Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, Sondhi Limthongkul, Pibhop Dhongchai, Suriyasai Katasila, Somsak Kosaisuk, Chaiwat Sinsuwong, Somkiat Pongpaibul, Naranyu (formerly known as Saranyu) Wongkrajang, Sirichai Mai-ngam, Samran Rodphet, Thoedphum Jaidee and Amorn Amornratananont.
Mrs Maleerat, a former senator for Sakon Nakhon province, said in a message posted on her Facebook page that she was shocked upon learning recently that the Appeals Court ordered the 13 defendants, including herself, to pay a total of 600 million baht compensation for the physical and commercial damage they caused to the AoT.
In 2008, the PAD staged a mass anti-government protest that led to the occupation of Government House by PAD protesters for 193 days...... (read more)....
http://m.bangkokpost.com/topstories/601108
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Re: Protests update
HomeAsiaStory
I try to think positive but I hate disagreement, says Thailand's Prime Minister Prayut
Published on Jun 23, 2015
By Tan Hui Yee,thailand Correspondent In Bangkok
THERE'S a frisson in the small crowd gathered at the bottom of the staircase in Thailand's Government House. The prime minister is making his way down.
Since staging a coup in May 2014, former army chief Prayut Chan-o-cha has traded his fatigues for Thai silk tops and the khaki civil servants' uniform. Today, he dons a dark suit to meet three Singapore media journalists....... (read more)....
http://www.straitstimes.com/news/asia/s ... ime-minist