<p>The Military Court has released the eight junta critics who were abducted and charged with sedition for mocking the junta leader.</p> <p>The Military Court of Bangkok on Tuesday, 10 May 2016, granted bail to Supachai Saibutr, a photographer, Harit Mahaton, former reporter of Matichon and independent writer, Noppakao Kongsuwan, a person affiliated with the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), the main red shirt faction, Natthika Worathaiwich, Worawit Saksamutnan, Yothin Mankongsanga, Thonnawan Buranasiri and Kannasit Tangboonthina.</p>

<p>Thailand’s military junta should drop sedition and other criminal charges against eight people for mocking the prime minister on Facebook, Human Rights Watch said today. The Facebook page shows memes and doctored photos, with satirical quotes, of Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-ocha, who chairs the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) junta.<br /><br />The charges against the Facebook users are part of the junta’s systematic repression of peaceful dissent and criticism since the military coup in May 2014, Human Rights Watch said.<br /></p>

<div> <div>The Thai police chief has warned anti-junta activists to take the case of the arrested activist’s mother as an example of what happens to those who oppose the junta.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Saturday, 7 May 2016, Chakthip Chaijinda, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, warned anti-junta activists that their family members can be prosecuted, just like Patnaree Charnkij, an activist’s mother who has been charged under the lèse majesté law.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Chakthip said that the junta repeatedly and clearly explained the country’s roadmap to the public. </div></div>

<div style="text-align: center;"> <div style="text-align: left;"> <div>The Military Court has issued an arrest warrant for Patnaree Charnkij, mother of a pro-democracy activist, for lèse-majesté. Her lawyer said authorities issued an arrest warrant without a summons. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Friday, 6 May 2016, Khaosod <a href="http://www.khaosod.co.th/view_newsonline.php?newsid=1462507334">reported</a> that the Bangkok Military Court issued an arrest warrant for Patnaree Charnkij under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse-majesté law. </div></div></div>

<p>In the first apparent acknowledgement it is cooperating with Thai authorities in censoring content, Facebook has blocked its users in Thailand from accessing a page satirizing Thailand’s Royal Family, citing local laws.</p> <p>Facebook users in Thailand on Thursday discovered that they can no longer view a satirical page which occasionally lampoons the monarchy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Military Court has rejected bail for&nbsp;<a href="http://prachatai.org/english/category/the-eight-abducted-junta-critics">the eight abducted junta critics&nbsp;</a>for a second time while the junta leader maintains that the eight violated the law.</p>

<p>Saturday, 30 April 2016, was the fifth anniversary of the imprisonment of Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a long-time labour rights activist and human rights defender. On 30 April 2011, Somyot was arrested on allegations of violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code. He was held for six months of pre-trial detention and then hearings in his case were held between 12 November 2011 and 3 May 2012.</p>

<div> <div>An abducted critic of the junta charged with lѐse majesté has warned that private Facebook chat is no longer safe under the military regime.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Monday, 2 May 2016, the Facebook page of a citizen journalist titled ‘<a href="https://www.facebook.com/300084093490011/photos/pb.300084093490011.-2207520000.1462250987./586259121539172/?type=3&amp;theater">Fahroong Srikhao</a>’ published an interview from jail with Harit Mahaton, one of the eight junta critics abducted by the military on 27 April. </div></div>

<p>The Military Court has detained a supporter of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/category/the-eight-abducted-junta-critics">the eight abducted junta critics</a>. &nbsp;He is accused by the junta’s legal team of lѐse majesté.</p> <p>The Military Court of Bangkok on Saturday morning, 30 April 2016, granted police permission to detain Burin Intin, who was arrested by the police on Wednesday evening for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/6091">gathering with 15 other activists to show solidarity with the abducted junta critics</a>.</p>

<p>On the eve of the five-year anniversary of his detention, we, the undersigned international organizations, condemn the ongoing and arbitrary deprivation of liberty of human rights defender Somyot Phrueksakasemsuk and call on Thailand’s authorities to immediately and unconditionally release him.</p>

<p>The junta have charged eight dissidents abducted by the military with sedition while two of the eight are also accused of lѐse majesté. Meanwhile, the police are gathering evidence against key red shirt figures allegedly linked to some of the eight. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A lawyer and the administrator of a Facebook page opposing supernatural beliefs have filed a lѐse majesté complaint, accusing many internet users of defaming the monarchy on Facebook and YouTube.</p>