<p itemprop="description"><em><strong>Can the expected referendum on whether to allow the military regime of General Prayut Chan-o-cha to stay for two more years "legitimise" the government?</strong></em></p>

<p>The criminal court has refused to take legal action against the Thai junta leader and his associates for staging a coup d’état against the former elected administration and the former constitution.</p>

<p>(New York, May 22, 2015) – One year after seizing power,&nbsp;<a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c7389-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=4369775&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=78572&amp;Action=Follow+Link" target="_blank">Thailand</a>’s military junta has used dictatorial power to systematically repress human rights throughout the country, Human Rights Watch said today. The ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), led by Prime Minister Gen.</p>

<p>Trial lawyers, so I am told, are warned to be careful about what questions to ask witnesses.&nbsp; They are advised never to ask a question unless they are confident about what the answer will be.</p> <p>Not so journalists, so I don’t suppose we can berate the reporter who decided to ask Prime Minister and junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha if there was enough money for a referendum on the draft constitution.</p>

<p>An anti-junta group plans to file charges against the Thai junta leader and his associates for instigating rebellion to topple the constitution. &nbsp;</p>

<p>(Bangkok, May 14, 2015) –&nbsp;<a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c7197-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=4432086&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=78082&amp;Action=Follow+Link">Thailand</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://hrw.pr-optout.com/Tracking.aspx?Data=HHL%3d8%2c7197-%3eLCE593719%26SDG%3c90%3a.&amp;RE=MC&amp;RI=4432086&amp;Preview=False&amp;DistributionActionID=78081&amp;Action=Follow+Link">Malaysia</a>, and&nbsp;<a> </a></p>

<p>Thailand’s junta leader expressed reluctance to hold public referendum before passing the draft constitution, saying that it could cost billions of baht.</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1430994766">Prachachat News</a>, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, on Thursday afternoon told the media that holding a public referendum on the draft constitution may cost the government three billion baht (about USD 89 million).</p>

<p>Thai authorities have issued an order to shut down immediately a TV station affiliated with the anti-establishment red shirts. &nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jatuporn.UDD/photos/a.487524008026365.1073741828.487512048027561/678275055617925/?type=1">Jatuporn Prompan</a>, one of the key leaders of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), a red-shirt group, posted on his Facebook profile on Thursday evening that the authorities issued an order to immediately stop Peace TV, a TV station affiliated with the UDD, from being broadcast. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>The European Union is to impose sanctions on fishery products from Thailand if the Thai junta does not make efforts to eradicate illegal fishing. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>According to the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BBCThai/photos/np.1429577367583410.100005193978650/1646765948877772/?type=1&amp;notif_t=notify_me">&nbsp;BBC Thai Service</a>, the European Union (EU) plans to announce that it will give the Thai government six months to come up with concrete policies to tackle illegal fishing and overfishing in the region.</p>

<p>The Thai junta leader claimed that the Thai economy is improving and that it has made progress in several national reform issues, but people should not criticise the regime. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, said on his Friday evening TV programme that the government is looking into mega infrastructure projects, such as developing the international airports in Bangkok and tourist hubs in other regions, and projects to improve the national and Bangkok metropolitan railway networks.</p>

<p>The Thai junta has issued a new order to expand the definition of ‘Assistant Peace-keeping Officer’ and the authority to appoint Peace-keeping Officers and Assistant Peace-keeping Officers. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>