<p>Pro-democracy activists charged with defying the Thai junta’s orders have submitted a statement to the court of justice, urging the judicial authorities not to let military courts try civilians. &nbsp;</p> <p>Four activists from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/category/resistant-citizen">Resistant Citizen</a>, a pro-democracy activist group, on Thursday afternoon submitted a statement to Bangkok’s Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court to call for the court of justice to resist the junta’s orders in letting military courts try civilian defendants.</p>

<p>A Cambodian academic says the derailment of democracy and coming to power of the junta regime in Thailand sets a bad example for other ASEAN countries.</p>

<p>The junta cabinet has approved a bill on religion which can be used to prosecute, with jail terms, people who propagate ‘incorrect’ versions of Buddhist doctrines or cause harm to Buddhism. The bill also posts jail terms specifically for homosexual monks.</p> <p></p>

<p>UN Human Rights High Commissioner has urged the Thai junta to respect freedom of expression to ensure open discussion during the drafting of constitution.&nbsp;</p> <p>Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on Thursday pointed out his concerns on the imposition of the martial law, which has given to the military the power to crack down on political dissent and opposition.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4add403e-c508-eba1-b50f-ac180db41f42">A people’s forum on reform pointed out that the junta uses martial law to silence people while plundering natural resources in communities nationwide against the will of the local people. &nbsp;</span></p>

<p>On 23 February 2015 student activists&nbsp;Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Pornthip Munkong (f), 26, were each sentenced to two and a half years in prison for&nbsp;violating Thailand’s “lèse-majesté” law. The charge of&nbsp;“lèse-majesté” criminalises alleged insult of the monarchy&nbsp;under&nbsp;Article 112 of the Criminal Code, and is commonly used to silence peaceful dissent.</p>

<p>On the morning of Monday, February 23, the live broadcast of the 87th Academy Awards from Los Angeles will be broadcast in Thailand. Almost simultaneously, at 1:00 pm, an entirely different type of show will be staged at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.</p>

<p>Thammasat University has sacked the renowned embattled lèse majesté critic Somsak Jeamteerasakul, who has been in self-imposed exile since the 2014 May coup, due to his absence. &nbsp;</p> <p>Somkit Lertpaithoon, the Rector of Thammasat University and a member of the junta’s National Legislative Assembly, on Monday signed an order to end the civil service employment of <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/category/somsak-jeamteerasakul">Somsak Jeamteerasakul</a>, a history lecturer in the Faculty of Liberal Arts, as a punishment for his absence from the university for about nine months.</p>

<p>The Thai authorities summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires for talks over visits by US Embassy staff to red shirt leaders and ex-Pheu Thai politicians in the Northeast, noting that the visits might have a political effect and be inappropriate. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<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>

<div class="asset-body"> <p>Bangkok, January 20, 2015--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thailand's military-appointed legislature to scrap proposed legislation that would allow for mass surveillance of online activities and platforms. The Cyber Security Bill was approved this month by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's Cabinet and is pending in the National Legislative Assembly.</p> </div>

<p>The junta leader has admitted that one of the prime goals of the controversial digital economy bills is to catch lèse majesté suspects and did not deny reports concerning Thai authorities’ implementation of software for mass surveillance.</p> <p>At Government House on Thursday morning, Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader, revealed to the press that among the prime objectives of the controversial Digital Economy Bill and Cyber Security Bill is a crackdown on online lèse majesté content.</p>