By George Orwell* |
<p>On 2 June 2014, a group of academics, mostly from Chiang Mai University, and other activists <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/4074">went to the Kawila Military Headquarters</a> in the city of Chiang Mai to meet with two Generals responsible for much of the summoning and detention of academics and activists after the 22 May coup in Chiang Mai and neighboring provinces. The first meeting took place at about 1pm with Major General Suthat Charumanee, Commander of the 7th Infantry Division.</p>
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<div>The military released Suthachai Yimprasert, a red-shirt history lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, at about 5 pm, after he reported to the military junta along with ten other activists on Tuesday morning.</div>
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<div>He was released on condition that he will not join any anti-coup activity and not write about the lèse majesté law. </div>
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<div>Suthachai said he did not about the fate of the others. </div>
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<div>Tewarit Maneechay, a Prachatai journalist who was summoned by the same order as Surachai, has not be
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<div>A group of Thai and foreign students from various universities in Japan, approximately 20 students, on Tuesday organised a symbolic protest against the recent military coup, the military’s assumption of power in an illegitimate means, the curbing of freedom of expression, particularly among academics and media, as well as the continued arrests and detentions of critics of the coup, some of whom are university students.</div>
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<div>The protesters wore masks representing those who are behind the political movements against the coup, politicians, academics, po
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By Thanapol Eawsakul |
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<div>This is my account as a person who reported himself following an order of the junta and was detained for 7 days. As a number of friends have not yet reported themselves, and many have been called to do so, I think that this account may factor into the decisions of many people. </div>
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<div>The conditions under which I reported may be different from those of many others. Since I was arrested on the evening of 23 May, I was detained for one night before there was a list of summons for people to report themselves.
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<div>The Criminal Court on Monday for the second time rejected a bail request of Apichat (last name withheld due to privacy concerns).
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<div>The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) is proposing a plan to build a state-owned Facebook-like social networking site called Thailand Social Network. </div>
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<div>Surachai Srisarakam, MICT Permanent Secretary, said the Thailand Social Network is part of the Ministry’s plan to build the country’s digital infrastructure, called “Smart Thailand,” according to Matichon Online.
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By Harrison George |
<p>At last, an international survey result that the nation can take some comfort from.</p>
<p>Every time you see a survey comparing various national attributes, the score for Thailand is often disappointing. Corruption? – persistently high, no matter whose government is in power. Press and media freedom? – disappearing without trace. Economic inequality? – a regional embarrassment. English language proficiency? – don’t ask.</p>
By Mitrasahai Tanneung |
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152408525394354&set=a.391286429353.169785.42940254353&type=1">In Turkey</a>, it goes like “If you can't stop the bad events, at least stop the bad news.” Again, this has already proven to be true in Thailand when the current military junta can stop the bad news so early and no need to stop the bad events anymore.</p>
By Pavin Chachavalpongpun |
<p>The US’s disinclination to shift its pro-establishment perception raises the crucial question of whether Washington simply aimed at pursuing its interests or indeed failed to fully comprehend Thailand’s political development that has taken place in the past decade.</p>
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