<div>Thai authorities are waging a campaign to criminalize and punish dissent by targeting civil society and political activists who peacefully exercise their rights to freedom of expression and assembly, a new briefing from Amnesty International said today.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Dozens of human rights defenders, pro-democracy activists and others are currently being investigated and prosecuted under draconian laws and decrees, which are used as tools to silence critics by Thailand’s military government.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“The Thai authorities have created a fearful environment w </div>

<p>Since the Thai political crisis that eventually led to a coup in 2006 overthrowing the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, it became evident that the Thai middle class and an army of civil society organisations were not performing as agents of change. Instead they became defenders of the old power to protect their political interests. In 2005, the Bangkok-based People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) launched protests Thaksin. Clad in yellow shirts, the protesters accused Thaksin of commtting corruption and disrespecting the much-revered monarchy—a sacred institution in Thailand.</p>

<div>A faction of the red shirts has launched a referendum watch campaign, aiming to prevent electoral fraud in the August referendum and to educate people about the content of the charter draft. Meanwhile, Deep South civil society has also started a similar campaign. &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Monday, 30 May 2016, Thanawut Wichaidit and Somwang Asrasi, key members of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), a main faction of the red shirts affiliated with Thaksin, revealed that they will launch an Anti-Electoral Fraud in the Referendum campaign on 5 June. </div>

<div> <div>Civil society and student activists have rallied at military bases in Bangkok and the southern province of Songkhla after the military recently asked a university to silence academics who oppose a coal-fired power plant. Southern civil society also accused the military of being biased in favour of investors.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The Commander of the 42nd Military Circle recently submitted a letter asking the President of Prince of Songkla University to ‘educate’ opponents of a controversial coal-fired power plant under construction in the southern province of Songkhla. </div></div>

<div>The draft constitution is a written attempt by the junta to take Thai politics and society back to the pre-Thaksin era. The draft not only aims to prevent the emergence of a Thaksin-like government, but also the emergence of Thaksin-like policies, which were tangible and ‘edible’ for the poor.</div> <div> </div>

<div> <div>China has controlled the water level in the Mekong for more than two decades and it is ruining local people’s way of life in the downstream countries, says civil society.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>China released water from a dam in Yunnan inside China claiming that this policy aims to ease drought among Mekong downstream countries <a href="http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/facing-mekong-drought-china-to-release-water-from-yunnan-dam/">(further detail)</a>. </div></div>

<div>Leaders of 6 Mekong Countries Must Listen to the People!</div> <div>Listen to Downstream Communities.&nbsp;</div> <div>Stop All Mekong Dams.&nbsp;</div> <div>Implement Transboundary Impacts Studies.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>23 March 2016</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Mekong River is the mother of lives and the giver of local economies in 8 provinces of Thailand, from the Golden Triangle in Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai Province to Chiang Khan, Loei Province and Khong Chiam, Ubonratchatani </div>

<div>The anti-Thaksin civil society has condemned the junta government for issuing orders that intentionally benefit big construction projects which affect locals, and has urged people to use the upcoming referendum as a bargaining chip against the junta.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Academics and civil society state that NCPO Orders 3/2016, 4/2016 and 9/2016, which were issued using the power of Article 44 of 2014 interim charter, are turning Thailand into a capitalists’ paradise. </div>

<p>About 100 NGO workers, activists, students and academics have signed an open letter addressed to their peers in civil society, rejecting the Reform Thailand plan being pushed by Prawase Wasi and Anand Panyarachun, and criticizing it as illegitimate and untrustworthy.</p> <p>According to the letter, the signatories are part of the civil society movement, including current and former NGO workers, students, academics and social activists who are seriously concerned with their fellows&rsquo; response to the call to the Reform Thailand.</p>