<p>The Thai junta has refused to extend a permit for the BBC to run one of its major global transmission stations located in central Thailand.</p> <p>The BBC World Service&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/744153">has stopped broadcasting programmes</a>&nbsp;from its transmission station located in Nakhon Sawan Province.</p> <p>The station had been broadcasting uncensored foreign-language news into authoritarian countries such as North Korea and China, and countries which still rely significantly on radio, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.</p>

<p>The Student Councils Assembly of Thailand has demanded that the Thai authorities release ‘Pai Dao Din’, an anti-junta activist accused of defaming King Vajiralongkorn.</p> <p>On 13 February 2017, the Students Councils Assembly of Thailand (SCAT), an umbrella organisation representing students from Thailand’s leading universities, released a statement condemning the ongoing imprisonment of Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa.</p>

<p>Despite criticism from the UN, a Thai court has refused to release the embattled student activist Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa after public prosecutors indicted him for lèse majesté.</p> <p>On 10 February 2017, the Provincial Court of Khon Kaen accepted Jatuphat’s case during an in camera hearing after the prosecutor formally indicted him under Article 112 of the Criminal Code — the lèse majesté law.</p> <p>The prosecutors objected to bail, citing flight risk and the severity of the charge since it is related to the Thai Monarchy.</p>

<p>The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion of freedom of opinion and expression, David Kaye, today called on the Thai authorities to stop using lèse-majesté provisions as a political tool to stifle critical speech. In Thailand, defaming, insulting or threatening the royal family carries a penalty of three to fifteen years’ imprisonment.</p>

<p>I decided to write this letter for you,&nbsp;my&nbsp;little&nbsp;son, and for the many other children&nbsp;who may be confused when you hear the story of&nbsp;“Pai.” You may not understand the disappearance of the once-beautiful world.&nbsp;When you grow up a bit, you will come to be aware of more than your own life and comfort.&nbsp;</p> <p>Pai&nbsp;is a university student and activist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Amid public outcry, a provincial court has refused to release Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa, an embattled anti-junta activist accused of lèse majesté. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>On 1 February 2017, the Khon Kaen Provincial Court in an in camera hearing granted police permission to continue the detention of Jatuphat Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM).</p>

<p>Despite hopes an embattled student activist would be able to sit his exams behind bars, a Dean of Khon Kaen University has confirmed the university will not make an exception for Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa.</p> <p>On 17 January 2017, Asst. Prof. Kittibodee Yaipool, Dean of Khon Kaen University’s Law Faculty,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3283">announced</a>&nbsp;that currently the university has no plans to facilitate examinations in Khon Kaen Prison for Jatuphat a.</p>

<p>Scholars at Risk (SAR) is concerned over the arrest and continued imprisonment of Jatupat "Pai" Boonpattararaksa, a Khon Kaen University law student and activist, based on nonviolent expressive activity.</p>

<div>On December 3, two days after Thailand’s new king took the throne, Khon Kaen Univeristy Student Pai Daodin, (real name Jatupat Boompattararaksa), became the first lese majesty victim of the King’s new reign by pushing "share" on an ordinary BBC news article: “<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38126928" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Profile: Thailand’s New King Vajiralongkorn</a>” (Pai shared the Thai version of this article). It is a good article and an important article, and I recommend you check it out.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The world was outraged. </div>

<p dir="ltr">Anti-junta activists and others have travelled from Bangkok to Khon Kaen to campaign for the release of an anti-junta activist accused of lèse majesté.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 12 January 2016, members of Resistant Citizens, an anti-junta activist group led by Sirawit Serithiwat, gathered at Hua Lamphong Train Station, Bangkok to take a trip to Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for Thailand’s Court of Justice has warned activists against gathering in front of a criminal court to support a detained lèse majesté suspect, saying they may be liable for criminal charges.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Jarupat (Pai) Boonpattararaksa is a member of Dao Din and a person who habitually uses Facebook in accessing various kinds of information and news. He is no different than the rest of us who can access social media more easily than 7-Eleven. He is one of thousands of people who shared a news story published BBC-Thai, but in his case a warrant for his arrest under Article 112 was issued for sharing this information. The person who has brought the case is a soldier. At this time, the police have taken Jatupat to the Khon Kaen police station to proceed with the case.</p>