<p dir="ltr">Although the junta promised to eradicate the alleged corruption of the former civilian government which served the capitalists, the new Mining Bill is designed to give mining businesses easy access to more land without the need for mitigation of environmental and social impacts in most areas. &nbsp;Meanwhile marginalised people affected by mines will find it difficult under martial law to oppose the bill.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div>Following the notorious Gammy case, where a baby born with Down's syndrome to a Thai surrogate mother was abandoned by his biological Australian parents, the Thai junta is to push for a bill to outlaw commercial surrogacy. However, the bill also rules out the rights of singles and LGBT couples to have children by this technology.</div> <div> </div></div>

<p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">After the coup d’état in May, the junta promised to return happiness to the Thai people. One of the policies that the junta has announced to deliver on this promise is an order to increase Thailand’s forest cover and tighten measures for land resource protection. Although the policy might seem ecologically sensible to many conservationists, the green-grabbing policy of the junta harms many of Thailand’s marginalised communities.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div>Another gender-related bill to be deliberated soon is the Gender Equality bill, which criminalizes discrimination among the sexes and genders. If passed, it will be the first Thai law to contain language mentioning homosexuals. However, gender activists have cried foul, saying that the bill still perpetuates discrimination.&nbsp;</div> </div> <div> </div>

<div>The accounts of torture include electric shocks to the genitals, suffocation, continuous beatings all night, and detention in a hole in the ground, while the hole was being filled.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div>

<div>The parliament appointed by the military junta is expected to pass the Civil Partnership Act, the first law in Thailand to recognize the existence of same-sex couples. However, the bill is widely unacceptable to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists.</div> <p></p>

<div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Since the coup d’état on 22 May, the junta has threatened and detained academics and students in many tertiary educational institutions. It even sent soldiers to storm on-going academic seminars and force them to stop. Despite the climate of fear, Thai academics are now protesting against the junta and the suppression of free speech by using a metal box. Yes, a metal box -- or ‘<em>Peep</em>’ in Thai.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p dir="ltr">&nbsp;</p>

<div> <div>Instead of throwing an ice bucket over one’s head, the challenge is to sing a song whose lyrics touch every free spirit.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div></div>

<div>Female paramilitaries in the troubled Deep South are dubbed “Iron Flowers” by the military. They are assigned to use their soft side to connect with locals. This story explores whether they are successful and what obstacles they face.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p>The conflict over the mine in Loei is the first test of the junta’s policy to create reconciliation. The villagers say they have lost trust after the military intervened.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div>Contrary to what the junta has tried to claim, that all detainees have been very well treated while in custody, a student activist said he was threatened with enforced disappearance and being killed. The story also shows how the media saved him from detention.</div> <div> </div></div>

<div> <div>Tuesday is the sixth anniversary of the arrest of Da Torpedo. She is currently serving a 15-year sentence for three alleged violations of the lèse majesté law. During the past 6 years, she has experienced consistent obstacles in accessing justice.</div> </div>