<div> <div> <div>The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the junta to negotiate with anti-coal protesters after seven hunger strikers were admitted to hospital.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 15 February 2018, the NHRC expressed support for the rally at the UN building, Bangkok. The rally urged the junta to withdraw its plans to build coal-fired power plants in the southern provinces of Songkhla and Krabi. </div></div></div>

<div> <div>Despite its efforts to regain mass support, the junta is facing a backlash for cracking down on anti-power plant protesters and a series of ham-fisted statements.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Southerners used to play an active role in the anti-election movement, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), that paved the way for the 2014 coup.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>However, over the past three years, the ruling junta has put in place various policies that have affected the livelihood of southerners, such as regulations on fishing and plans for coal-fired power plan </div></div>

<p>The police are preparing to issue arrest warrants for 20 more protestors against the coal-fired power plant in Songkhla.</p> <p>On 30 November 2017, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthernThaiPBS/photos/a.576429142408040.1073741828.575717802479174/1701818463202430/?type=3&amp;theater">Thai PBS reported</a>&nbsp;that police of Mueang District of Songkhla Province are preparing to issue arrest warrants for 20 people who joined 15 key leaders of the network from Songkhla and Pattani provinces in a protest against the planned coal-fired power plant and deep sea port in Songkhla.</p>

<p>The UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia has called on the Government of Thailand to release and drop charges against all those arrested during a peaceful demonstration against the construction of a 2200 MW coal powered plant in Songkla province, in southern Thailand.</p>

<p dir="ltr">15 of the southern environmental activists protesting against the controversial coal-fired power plant in Songkhla have spent the night behind bars as they failed to obtain 1.35 million baht bond for bail request.</p> <p>On 28 November 2017, the court granted to the police the custody permission to detain 15 key leaders of of the network from Songkhla and Pattani provinces protesting against the planned coal-fired power plant and deep sea port in Songkhla, according to Khaosod.</p>

<p>The authorities have arrested 16 southern environmental activists after brief clash with the protesters.</p> <p>At 4:30 pm on 27 November 2017, military and police officers arrested 16 key leaders of the network from Songkhla and Pattani provinces protesting against the planned coal-fired power plant and deep sea port in Songkhla.</p> <p>Those detained include Direk Hemnakhon, Somboon Kamhaeng, and Ekachai Isarata.</p>

<p>People in Songkhla and Pattani have rallied against plans for a coal-fired power plant and deep sea port ahead of a cabinet meeting.</p> <p>On 26 November 2017, a network from Songkhla and Pattani provinces protesting against a planned coal-fired power plant held a rally in Songkhla ahead of the coming cabinet meeting in the province on 28 November.</p> <p>The group plans to submit a petition to Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, asking the government to cancel plans for a 2,200-megawatt power plant and deep sea port in Thepha District, Songkhla.</p>

<div> <div>A leader of the recent protest against a coal-fired power plant has urged a high-ranking general to stage a coup against the ruling junta if it does not keep its promise to postpone the power plant project.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 20 February 2017, ML Rungkun Kitiyakara, one of the leaders of the <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/6935">recent protest</a> at Government House, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1840318166225491&amp;set=a.1409401019317210.1073741839.100007419761220&amp;type=3&amp;theater">posted on his Facebook page</a> a message u </div></div>

<div> <div>The military has released villagers detained for protesting against the junta’s plans for a coal-fired power plant in Krabi Province. </div></div>

<div>Fully armed soldiers guarded state electricity executives during their visit to a controversial coal-fired power plant project in Thailand’s restive Deep South amid opposition from the local community.</div> <p>On Wednesday, 13 July 2016, armed troops and Humvees were sent to guard executives of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) during their visit to the site of a coal-fired power plant project in Thepha District, Songkhla Province.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><em>A highly respected conservation organisation in the UK, the RSPB, just released a planning document which provides a close-to-zero target for UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, Thailand is still locked into a coal future, despite clean coal being illusory and despite encouragement by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to embrace more solar. According to the World Bank, a similar attitude across Asia would end the world.</em></p> <p></p>

<div> <div>The military has asked a university in the Deep South to ‘educate’ the opponents of a local coal-fired power plant. </div></div>