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By Human Rights Watch |
<p><a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8-32%3d9-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=4432086&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=95605&amp;Action=Follow+Link">Thai</a>&nbsp;authorities should immediately disclose the whereabouts of an outspoken critic of the government who has not been heard from since his arrest on March 9, 2016, Human Rights Watch said today.</p>
<p>The Thai military have abducted the administrator of an anti-junta Facebook page who has been reported missing since last week, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR).</p> <p>TLHR on Monday, 14 March 2016, issued a public statement, urging the authorities to immediately release Sarawut Bamrungkittikhun, the administrator of the Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/issuesopen">‘Poet Praden’ (Open Issues)</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Military officers intimidated a politician from Pheu Thai Party, warning him over his criticisms towards the junta, while on the same day, visiting an anti-establishment red shirt campaigning against the controversial draft charter. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The administrator of a Facebook page critical of the military regime is the subject of an online rumour that he has gone missing, but the Thai junta say that the authorities do not know his current fate. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<div>The Thai police have filed additional charges against a well-known anti-junta youth activist leader over his role in an anti-coup gathering in February 2015.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) <a href="https://tlhr2014.wordpress.com/2016/03/09/new_and_ratchapakdi_park/">reported</a> that on Tuesday, 8 March 2016, the Pathumwan Police Station in Bangkok filed additional charges against Thammasat University student activist <a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/category/sirawit-serithiwat">Sirawit Serithiwat</a>, who was abducted and reportedly ill-treated w </div>
<p>Chiang Mai Provincial Court has dismissed charges against a Lahu ethnic minority activist accused of posting a video clip defaming the Thai military.</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://tlhr2014.wordpress.com/2016/03/08/maitree_verdict/">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a>, the Provincial Court of Chiang Mai on Tuesday, 8 March 2016, dismissed charges against Maitree Chamroensuksakul, a Lahu activist and citizen journalist, indicted for offences under Article 14 of the 2007 Computer Crime Code (importation of illegal internet content).</p>
<p>Thai police have confiscated banners of textile workers rallying on International Women’s Day and checked their identification cards to see if the workers are Thai.</p>
<p>Thai police stormed into a meeting of Buddhist monks discussing the Supreme Patriarch row and took two monks out of a temple. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/61165">Matichon Online&nbsp;</a>reported that 20 police officers at 10: 20 am on Monday, 7 March 2016, stormed into a meeting of Buddhist monks at Wat Sri Sudaram, Bang Khun Non Subdistrict, Bangkok Noi District, Bangkok.</p>
<p>The Thai police detained members of an anti-establishment red shirt group for campaigning against the controversial draft constitution.</p> <p>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.</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>Update</strong>: The Criminal Court on Thursday granted 100,000 baht bail to Watana after he was charged by the military with the 2007 Computer Crime Act for criticising Gen Prawit Wongsuwan on facebook. In response to the lawsuit, Watana posted a status on his facebook profile after he was granted bail “why can’t I criticise you.” &nbsp;</em></p>
<p>Military officers have taken a Pheu Thai Party politician to an army base after he criticised Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and deputy junta leader.</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/55548">Matichon Online</a>, at 10 am on Wednesday, 2 March 2016, 10 military officers visited the house of Watana Muangsook, former Minister of Social Development and Human Security of the Pheu Thai Party, and took him to the 11th Military Circle on Rama V Rd., Bangkok.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Military and police officers intimidated a key anti-mine leader in northern Thailand, telling her not submit a petition against a gold mining operator.</p> <p><a href="http://manager.co.th/Local/ViewNews.aspx?NewsID=9590000021828">The Manager Online</a>, reported that on Tuesday at 7 pm, 1 March 2016, 20 military, police, and other officers visited Tanyarat Sintathammatat, key leader of an anti-mine activist group in the lower northern province of Phichit.</p>