<p dir="ltr">(New York, January 29, 2015) –<a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c46%3d9-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=4432086&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=71405&amp;Action=Follow+Link"> Thailand</a>’s military government has severely repressed fundamental rights and freedoms since the May 22, 2014 coup, Human Rights Watch said today in its <a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c46%3d9-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=4432086&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=71404&amp;Action=Follow+Link">World Re</a></p>

<p><span>On 23 January 2013 the Criminal Court in Bangkok convicted Somyot Prueksakasemsuk of two violations of Article 112 of the Criminal Code. Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is a long-time labour rights activist and human rights defender. The Court found Somyot guilty on both charges, and he was sentenced to ten years in prison in this case, as well as to one year in prison in relation to a prior case.</span></p>

<p dir="ltr">The Appeal Court granted bail to an ex-lese majeste convict, sentenced to jail for failing to report himself to the junta after the coup.</p> <p>The Appeal Court on Monday granted bail to Nat S., a former lese majeste convict who was first to be sentenced to prison without suspension for defying junta’s order, after the defence lawyer submitted 40,000 bail request. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><span>Yukti Mukdawijitra is one of the dissidents who fled the country right after the coup. The Thammasat anthropologist said his role as an anti-coup, pro-democracy activist</span><span>&nbsp;and campaigner against Article 112 or the lèse majesté law made him feel it was unsafe to stay in the country.&nbsp;</span><span>Yukti, who is now a fellow at U of Wisconsin at Madison discusses the junta’s campaign to crack down on lèse majesté and the outlook for the country after the coup.</span></p> <p></p>

<p>Thai Ministry of Culture aims to promote the junta’s controversial 12 nationalistic Thai values by publishing books of fables.</p>

<p>The highly criticized and controversial National Human Rights Commission (NHCR) of Thailand is facing a downgrade of its status by the network of interneational human rights organizations due to its failures in tackling human rights violations in Thailand.</p>

<p>The curtain is drawn. The year 2014 is coming to a close. In the past twelve months, Thailand has experienced some excitements as well as tragedies. This article revisits the year’s calendar and picks the ten most memorable events that have characterized 2014.</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7529/15844421252_50ee099ab1_z.jpg" /></p>

<div><span>Record on lese majeste cases since 2010 shows that the military court is likely to hold &nbsp;more trials in camera and sentence lese majeste convicts to more years in prison in comparison to the civilian court.</span></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p>After the paranoid Thai military pressured students in northern Thailand to cancel a discussion during a lunch session, students responded by distributing anti-junta leaflets in the university’s restrooms. &nbsp;</p> <p>Over 30 military officers came to Chiang Mai University on Tuesday afternoon to monitor an activity ‘Eating and Debating Student Activities under Martial Law’, an event organized by students from Chiang Mai University in the northern province of Chiang Mai.</p>

<p>(New York, November 25, 2014) – Thailand’s military government is severely repressing fundamental rights and freedoms six months after its May 22, 2014 coup, Human Rights Watch said today. The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has shown no genuine signs of restoring democratic civilian rule.<br /></p>

<p>The military summoned Loei anti-mine village activists about links with five anti-junta Khon Kaen students arrested earlier this week while some soldiers allegedly plan to enter the mining area in conflict to transport ore deposits.</p>

<p>Two cinemas in downtown Bangkok were pressured into withdrawing a popular blockbuster, Hunger Games 3: Mockingjay ,from their schedule after the authorities earlier today arrested five anti-coup protesters in the Northeast.</p> <p>Spokespersons for the cinemas belonging to Apex company at Bangkok's Siam Square shopping district, announced on Wednesday afternoon that the company had decided not to screen Hunger Games 3: Mockingjay Part 1 in any of its cinemas, without clarifying the reasons why the company decided to do this.</p>