<p dir="ltr">Local people are to be evicted in the name of development, as the Thai junta invokes its absolute power to clear land for the benefit of big businesses.</p> <p></p>

<div>While Europe worries about trafficking and the so-called refugee crisis, Thai villagers are still building their hopes on women’s migration and labor abroad.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ff8c00;"><img alt="" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7080/28011964415_736455a444_o.jpg" style="width: 500px; height: 333px;" /></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#ff8c00;">Isaan-natives Sommai, Basit, Kae and Mong are married to Danish men and are all living in Denmark where they work as cleaners, in the fishing industry or other </span></div>

<div>Burin Intin, a 28-year-old welder from northern Thailand, was arrested during an anti-coup “Stand Still” protest, held on 27 April 2016, at the Victory Monument in Bangkok. Unlike other group members who were arrested and subsequently released, Burin was promptly charged with two counts of lèse majesté. He was denied bail, has been detained until today and is now on his third custody order, without much public knowledge. &nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<p><em>To commemorate the first year of the the New Democracy Movement, the up and coming anti-junta youth activists, Prachatai reviewed the development and achievements of the movement during the past year. Talking to the prominent members of the group on the future direction of the movement, a co-leader claims that they are currently the national opposer of the junta.</em></p> <div> </div>

<div>Rungsira, pen-named Sirapop, has fighted the lèse majesté case in the military court for over two years. His story is littled known to the media. When he attorney asked if there were another coup and he were again summoned: “Would you go?” He replied: "If there were another coup and I was again summoned, I promise you: I would not go!”</div> <p></p>

<div> <div>In the near future, Thailand’s ubiquitous roadside beggars may completely disappear. Under the terms of a new Beggar Control Act, they will literally be “led off the footpaths.” The authorities say under the new law people will be given what they need without having to beg. The practicality of the bill remains a question.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> </div> <div> </div>

<p dir="ltr"><em>To commemorate the second anniversary of the 2014 coup d’état, Prachatai presents interviews with some of those who had protested against the government and against elections, aka the PDRC, whose lives and political ideas have been changed under the junta. Branded as the ones who paved the way for the coup two years ago, they have now learned that it is better to have an elected government, even a ‘bad’ one, than a dictatorship.</em></p> <p></p>

<div>Harit Mahaton, a man accused of sedition and lèse majesté -- very serious crimes that could land him in prison for decades -- has a distinct character. He has great interest in literature because, to him, it is a form of freedom.&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<div>The draft constitution going up for the referendum vote on 7 August degrades the issue of disability rights to an appalling level. It shows the junta’s point of view of the disabled as those who should receive public support but are deprived of guaranteed disability rights. According to experts, this situation will weaken the force of law for equality for the disabled.</div> <p></p>

<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>

<p><em>Election? Another coup? People’s uprising? Where is Thailand heading? Academics have said that if the military decides to prolong its regime, a people’s uprising is inevitable.&nbsp;</em></p> <p></p>

<div><em>Thailand’s military courts have handled more than 1,400 cases involving more than 1,600 civilian defendants. The most pressing problem has been the overuse of pre-trial detention against those accused of lèse majesté or criminal possession of war weapons, which simply turned them into “forgotten prisoners.” &nbsp;If they decide to fight the charges, these civilians would face almost indefinite detention – both because of the seriousness of the charges against them and the Court’s own slow procedures.&nbsp;</em></div> <div> </div>