<div>Citing the King’s wishes, a former lèse majesté prisoner has filed a petition urging the junta head to use his absolute power to abolish the lèse majesté law.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 12 September 2017, Ekachai Hongkangwan <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/09/73190">filed a petition</a> to junta head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke Section 44 of the Interim Constitution to terminate Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>He said that after Jatuphat Boonpattaraksa, also known as Pai Dao Din, pleaded guilty of lèse majesté last mont </div>

<div> <div>Citing the need for education reform, the junta has invoked Section 44 to allow outsiders to serve as executives in Thai universities.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 8 August 2017, the Royal Gazette published <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/08/72715">NCPO Head Order No. 37/2560</a> called “The Solution for Problems in University Administration”.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The order claims that problems in the selection process for university executive positions have led to inconsistency, inefficiency and obstruction of national education reform. </div></div>

<div>After a relatively long absence, a pop music band has made a stunning comeback with a music video mocking the junta. The MV neatly sums up Thailand’s politics during the past week.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>For the sake of a peaceful life, artists in Thailand usually stay away from politics. </div>

<div> <div>Migrant workers are uprooting themselves from Thailand in response to the junta's new migrant law that imposes huge fines for unregistered workers and their employers.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 3 July 2017, Jetn Sirathranont, a whip in the junta’s National Legislative Assembly, said that the Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens, which went into effect on 23 June, will be <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/07/72239">submitted to the NLA</a> for final approval in the near future.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In response to concerns that the new law will put an excessi </div></div>

<div> <div>According to a recent political survey, most Thai people believe Section 44 of the Interim Charter, which gives the ruling junta absolute power, is crucial to the country’s political reform. </div></div>

<div> <div>Mahidol University has censured its human rights institute for demanding the junta cease its use of Article 44. The demand came after a follower of the Dhammakaya sect committed suicide to protest the junta’s ongoing harassment of the temple. </div></div>

<div>Human rights lawyers have called on the junta to cease the use of absolute powers during the ongoing clash between authorities and monks at Wat Dhammakaya.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 20 February 2017, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) released <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3520">a statement</a> calling on the military government to cease the use of special powers in its raid of Wat Dhammakaya. </div>

<div> <div>Monks and worshippers of the Dhammakaya sect have staged a protest against orders for the arrest of their spiritual leader, after the authorities blocked them from entering the temple.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 22 February 2017, Ai Petthong, a representative of Dhammakaya followers, <a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/472942">told the media</a> that the authorities have prohibited over a thousand worshippers from entering Dhammakaya temple. </div></div>

<div> <h2>Order of the Head of the National Council for Peace and Order No. </h2></div>

<div>A politician in the northern Thailand has been detained for spreading letters allegedly distorting the junta-sponsored draft charter’s content although the referendum has already ended. </div>

<div>With only a week to the draft charter referendum, Thailand’s statesmen have urged the junta to use its absolute power to enshrine coups d’état into the constitution, ironically adding that this amendment will prevent future coups.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img alt="" src="//c2.staticflickr.com/8/7224/7065116651_f9f0b2ed82_o.jpg" /></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Friday, 29 July 2016, Gen Saiyud Kerdphol, the Chairperson of Thailand’s Statesmen’s Group, proposed that the junta should amend the draft constitution, which </div>