<p dir="ltr">An embattled anti-junta activist ‘Pai Dao Din’ has received a prestigious Gwangju Prize for Human Rights while attending a trial at a military court. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>On 22 May 2017, Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM), was taken to the Military Court of Khon Kaen Province for attending a trial. &nbsp;</p>

<div> <div>After over two years in jail, a man suspected of bombing a Thai court has been released on bail, since no witnesses have testified to his guilt.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 18 May 2017, Bangkok Military Court released Sansern Sriounruen after his family offered a 6 million baht land deed as surety for bail. He is one of 16 suspected of being behind the bombing of Bangkok Criminal Court on 7 March 2014. </div></div>

<p>Chiang Rai Military Court has scheduled the first examination of witnesses in a case against an ophthalmologist indicted for defaming then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in June. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 11 April 2017, the Military Court of northern Chiang Rai Province&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3981">held a preliminary hearing</a>&nbsp;for Sarawut (surname withheld due to privacy reasons), 33, an ophthalmologist accused of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>

<div> <div>20 villagers have been found guilty of violating the junta’s ban on public gatherings by supporting a referendum monitoring campaign. The villagers pleaded guilty, but only because of the high costs of fighting the case.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div>On 6 March 2016, Udon Thani Military Court <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3642">ruled that 20 villagers from Sakon Nakhon province were guilty</a>&nbsp;of violating NCPO Head Order 3/2015, the junta’s ban on public assemblies of five people or more. </div>

<p dir="ltr">Despite being accused of several charges, a well-known anti-junta activist has insisted on his innocence, arguing that the junta’s orders are unlawful.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 21 February 2017, the Military Court of Bangkok held a deposition hearing for Sirawit Serithiwat, a well-known pro-democracy activist battling several charges for organising and participating in anti-junta activities.</p>

<p>A military court has held the first trial for the lèse majesté suspect who claimed to possess telepathic powers. &nbsp;</p> <p>The Military Court of Bangkok on 9 February &nbsp;2017 held<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3451">&nbsp;the first trial for Sao Saengmuang</a>, a suspect of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p> <p>Sao was indicted by military prosecutors for submitting a complaint in March 2015 to the Criminal Division for Political Office Holders of the Supreme Court.</p>

<p>An ophthalmologist from northern Thailand indicted for defaming then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn last year has vowed to fight the case to prove his innocence.</p> <p>On 7 February 2017, the Military Court in the northern province of Chiang Rai held a deposition hearing for Sarawut (surname withheld due to privacy reasons), 32, an ophthalmologist accused of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/human-rights-watch-hrw">Human Rights Watch</a> (HRW) is the Thai junta’s least favourite international human rights non-governmental organization, just below <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/amnesty-international-ai">Amnesty International</a> (AI). HRW’s 2017 report, covered in this recent Prachatai English <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/6836">news report</a>, which includes some choice quotes from Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, is quite damning.</p>

<p>A military court has sentenced a supporter of anti-junta activists and the anti-establishment red shirts to 11 years and four months in prison for royal defamation.</p> <p>On 27 January 2017, the Military Court of Bangkok handed a jail term to Burin Intin for offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code — the lèse majesté law.</p> <p>The military court reached the verdict after he pleaded guilty to the two counts of lèse majesté with which he was indicted. Burin was also indicted under Article 14 of the 2007 Computer Crime Act for publishing illegal computer content.</p>

<div>An optometrist in northern Thailand has been indicted for defaming then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn last year.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><img alt="" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5568/15214891692_d9b2535c96_b.jpg" /></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 29 December 2016, Sarawut (surname withheld due to privacy reasons), aged 32, was indicted in a military court in Chiang Rai Province for violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, and the Computer Crimes Act, which outlaws the importation of illegal </div>

<p dir="ltr">A military court has questioned an anti-junta activist’s mother accused of lèse majesté in a closed hearing.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 14 December 2016, the Military Court of Bangkok held a deposition hearing for Patnaree Charnkij, the mother of the well-known anti-junta activist Sirawit Serithiwat.</p> <p dir="ltr">Before the hearing began, the court announced it would proceed with the hearing in camera, allowing only Patnaree and her defence lawyer to be in the courtroom without any observers since the case is related to the lèse majesté law.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A provincial court has concluded that Bangkok’s military court has the jurisdiction to try a lèse majesté suspect accused of mocking the late King’s favourite dog.</p>