Protests update

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Prayut backs idea of 5 years of fully appointed Senate
Published: 03/03/2016
PM Writer: Patsara Jikkham
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Thursday endorsed a proposal to have the new Senate be fully appointed for five years to ensure stability once democracy is restored.....(read more)....

Please credit and share this article with others using this link: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/poli...pointed-senate

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March 3, 2016
Yingluck Allies Blast Threat of Lawsuit Over 2014 Election
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter
BANGKOK — Supporters of Yingluck Shinawatra have lashed out against the prospect she may be sued for organizing a 2014 election ultimately derailed by the anti-government protesters besieging her government.

While no member of the Election Commission has confirmed media reports that it intends to file such a suit over the 2014 election, a high-ranking member of Yingluck’s Pheu Thai Party, which led the pre-coup government, reacted with astonishment.... (read more)... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...te=06&section=

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Foreign correspondents being denied media visas
Submitted by editor2 on Fri, 04/03/2016
At least 10 foreign correspondents based in Thailand have been denied media visas during the past two months, said the former president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5903

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04 March 2016 Associated Press
'Popcorn Gunman' Gets 37-Year Prison Sentence
BANGKOK — A gunman who wounded four people, one fatally, when he opened fire in front of scores of witnesses during a n 2014 was sentenced Thursday to 37 years in prison.

Vivat Yodprasit attained iconic status as the "Popcorn Gunman" because he concealed his assault rifle inside a large bag with the logo of a popcorn company as he fired. He became a folk hero for the side he was supporting — a mob that sought to block an election called by the government of then-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...620&section=12

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Pravit Rojanaphruk
06 March 2016
Groups to Defy Ban on Debating Draft Charter

BANGKOK — Critical assessments of the draft charter will continue being made despite the crackdown on dissent, said the coordinator of a group seeking public deliberation on its merits.

Last Sunday on Feb. 28, Yingcheep Atchanont’s group Prachamati was denied access to use the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre after police and soldiers told the venue’s administrator that the group’s activities may constitute a political gathering of five or more peeople, which is banned by the military junta.

“We will continue to go ahead, even if it risks breaking the law,” said Yingcheep, who eventually held a discussion at an alternative venue but said such circumstances are undermining the credibility of the adoption process. “As a result, the next charter may not be regarded as legitimate. But we can’t stop, as we have to foster participation.”

Two days later on March 1, Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam left no room for doubt by announcing the junta considers illegal any public.... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...sid=1457248788

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Thailand’s Deep State, royal power and the Constitutional Court (1997–2015)
Eugénie Mérieaua*
Published online: 29 Feb 2016

This article challenges the network monarchy approach and advocates for the use of the concept of Deep State. The Deep State also has the monarchy as its keystone, but is far more institutionalised than the network monarchy accounts for. The institutionalised character of the anti-democratic alliance is best demonstrated by the recent use of courts to hamper the rise of electoral politics in a process called judicialisation of politics. This article uses exclusive material from the minutes of the 1997 and 2007 constitution-drafting assemblies to substantiate the claim that the Deep State used royalists’ attempts to make the Constitutional Court a surrogate king for purposes of its own self-interested hegemonic preservation..... (read more)..... http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/...6.2016.1151917

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Red shirts detained after campaigning against draft charter
Submitted by editor2 on Mon, 07/03/2016
The Thai police detained members of an anti-establishment red shirt group for campaigning against the controversial draft constitution.

Police officers in plainclothes and in uniform on Sunday, 6 March 2016, detained Anurak Jentawanit, a leader of a red shirt group called ‘Ford Red Path’ and two other members of the group, at Victory Monument in central Bangkok.

The red shirts were arrested and taken to Phayathai Police Station after they campaigned against the controversial draft constitution, written by the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), by putting up leaflets with the simple message “Vote No”..... (read more).... http://prachatai.org/english/node/5907

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07 March 2016
Constitution Debate To Be Televised
By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer
BANGKOK — Opponents of the junta-sponsored draft charter will be limited to pre-recorded studio debates which will be televised nationwide, an elections official said.

In order to ensure a free and fair referendum, the Election Commission will provide a TV platform for debates, Election Commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said Monday. No public gatherings or forums will be held as the commission fears they are “too risky” and could turn violent, however..... (read more).... http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...te=06&section=

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Thailand’s new politics and a double wrecking ball
BY CHRISTINE E GRAY, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR – 7 MARCH 2016

Christine Gray looks at the role Thaksin Shinawatra and the Crown Prince have had in shaking up the country’s old politics and old elites..... (read more).... http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newman...wrecking-ball/

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08 March 2016
Rally in support of Vivat Yodprasit at Bangkwang Prison in Bangkok today.
By Teeranai Charuvastra
Staff Reporter

BANGKOK — A man convicted of opening fire on pro-election activists in 2014 got a prison visit and show of support from over 100 fans today.

Members of the People’s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King as Head of State, or PCAD, the ultra-conservative group that led protests opposing the February 2014 election, rallied Tuesday in front of Bangkwang Prison where Vivat Yodprasit recently began serving his 37-year jail term..... (read more)...http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail...sid=1457440390