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AI: Thailand reaches new low in human rights abuses
May Barth This year, Amnesty International’s Annual Report raises concerns that both the junta and large corporations are exploiting Thailand’s legal system to harass human rights defenders. On 22...
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University investigates staff for opposing junta’s power
Mahidol University has condemned its human rights institute for demanding the junta cease its use of Article 44. The demand came after a worshipper of the Dhammakaya sect committed suicide to protest...
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Media bill: a paradox between journalist ethics and junta’s regulations
May Barth Two weeks ago, the whip committee of the junta’s National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) temporarily rejected the Protection of Media Rights and Freedom, Ethics and Professional Standards...
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14 facts about Somyot and his lèse majesté battle
On 23 February 2017, the Supreme Court sentenced Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a labour and democracy activist turned lèse majesté suspect, to six years in prison, ending his six year struggle against the...
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Royal household bureau sacks high level official close to the King
The Bureau of the Royal Household (BRH) has dismissed a high-ranking police officer close to King Vajiralongkorn.On 27 February 2017, the BRH issued an order dismissing Pol Gen Jumpol Manmai, the Grand...
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Myanmar education offers Thailand a lesson in pluralism
John Draper In a sign of what the future may offer, two major reports on Myanmar’s education system released by Save the Children and the Asia Foundation underline what can be achieved by ethnic...
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Outspoken Pheu Thai politician summoned to military base
The military has summoned an outspoken politician from the Pheu Thai Party to a military base for refusing to take part in the junta’s controversial reconciliation process.On 26 February 2017, Watana...
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No court fee exemption for parents suing police over son’s death
A criminal court is forcing the parents of a drug trafficking suspect who died under police custody to pay court fees, refusing to accept the lawsuit until fees are paid.On 27 February 2017, Southern...
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New Thai tax law doubles alcohol prices
In response to a new tax law that doubles the tax rate on Thai liquor, Thai social media has questioned whether the ruling junta has exhausted its budget. On 26 February 2017, Thansettakij published a...
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Framework agreed for safety zones in Deep South
Five months after agreeing on preconditions for peace talks, the Thai government and Deep South insurgent groups have agreed on a general framework to set up safety zones in the restive region.On 28...
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Junta lawmakers drop bill criminalising torture, enforced disappearance
After years of campaigning and lobbying by human rights groups, the junta-appointed lawmakers have dropped a bill to criminalise torture and enforced disappearance.On 28 February 2017, Pornpen...
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Court denies appeal to release Pai Dao Din
The Appeal Court has refused to release an anti-junta student activist accused of lèse majesté.On 1 March 2017, the Appeal Court Region 4 confirmed the ruling of the Court of First Instance not to...
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Media prohibited from attending junta’s reconciliation session
Media have been barred from the junta’s first regional session for political reconciliation in Chiang Mai. Even participants were not allowed to record the discussion. On 1 March 2017, Pawin...
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Postponement of elections no big deal: junta head
Thailand’s junta leader has called for the Thai people to be flexible about the country’s ‘roadmap to democracy’, suggesting that a postponement of elections would not be a big deal. On 27 February...
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Renowned royalist accused of lèse majesté postpones hearing accusation
The police have permitted a renowned royalist intellectual accused of lèse majesté to postpone hearing the charges against him.On 28 February 2017, a defence lawyer representing Sulak Sivaraksa, a...
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Civil society groups oppose junta’s plan to rush drug patenting process
Civil society groups oppose the junta’s plan to use the regime’s absolute power to speed up the process in registering medicine copyrights, warning the plan could cost billions of baht increase in drug...
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Military detains political dissident at Dhammakaya temple
Security officers have detained an anti-junta political dissident at the Dhammakaya Temple complex.At 4 pm on 2 March 2017, about 10 soldiers and officers from the Department of Special Investigation...
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University criticised for disciplining academics
Thailand’s state Mahidol University should drop a disciplinary investigation against academics who criticized the Thai military junta, Human Rights Watch said today. The action is being carried out...
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Isaan villagers oppose plan to drench local swamp
A local conservation group in Thailand’s northeast has urged the military and local authorities to reconsider plans to drench a local swamp crucial for local farmers.On 2 March 2017, 20 members of a...
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Japanese Emperor Visits Thailand at the Critical Royal Transition
Pavin Chachavalpongpun Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko will visit Thailand from 5-6 March 2017. This will be their first visit in ten years, mainly to strengthen ties between the two...
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