<div>The junta has file charges against seven pro-democracy activists for criminal sedition and violating the junta’s public assembly ban after the seven held a symbolic activity calling for elections last weekend.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 30 January 2018, the junta has ordered seven of the most prominent pro-democracy activists charged with crimes including sedition after they launched a protest campaign calling for general elections to be held in November.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><em>Read more at <a href="http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2018/01/30/junta-orders-pro-democracy-le</p> </a></em></div>

<div> <div>The director of a university polling institute has resigned after being ordered to delay publishing a survey on Gen Prawit’s luxury watches.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 29 January 2018, Arnond Sakworawich resigned as Director of the Research Centre of the National Institute of Development Administration, also known as NIDA Poll.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The day before, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Arnond.s">Arnond posted</a> on his Facebook account that his resignation was to protest the university’s failure to preserve academic freedom under the military regime. </div></div>

<div> <div>A group of academics has thrown their support behind the organisers of the civil rights march who are accused of violating a junta order. </div></div>

<div> <div>A court in Ratchaburi has acquitted a Prachatai journalist and four activists of violating the Referendum Act. The journalist faced charges for merely reporting on the anti-referendum campaign.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 29 January 2018, the Ratchaburi Provincial Court acquitted Prachatai journalist Taweesak Kerdpoka and the other four activists from the New Democracy Movement. </div></div>

<div> <div>An anti-junta activist has decided to flee Thailand after learning that she faces up to 15 years in prison for sharing a profile of the Thai King written by the BBC. </div></div>

<div>The Administrative Court on Saturday early morning ruled to guarantee the right to freedom of assembly of the civil rights marchers. However, the march organisers still face charges for violating a junta order.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The court said it is believed that the police had attempted to obstruct the marchers from using their right to assembly. </div>

<div> <div> <div>A group of civil rights activists has planned to march in Bangkok and Hat Yai every Sunday to show support to the embattled ‘We Walk, Walk for Friendship’ marchers, who are on their way to Khon Kaen.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The People Go Network, the organisers of We Walk, has invited its followers on Facebook to join mini-rallies on Sunday at Lumphini Park, Bangkok, and&nbsp; Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai Campus, Songkhla Province. </div></div></div>

<div> <div>A prosecutor in Ratchaburi has indicted a red-shirt country singer for lèse majesté, without giving prior notice to the suspect or his lawyer.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 25 January 2018, a public prosecutor in Ratchaburi indicted Thanat Thanawatcharanon, 60, whose stage name is Tom Dundee, for lèse majesté under Article 112 of the Criminal Code. </div></div>

<div> <div>An unknown guarantor has offered bail for a blind woman convicted of royal defamation in Yala.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 25 January 2018, Adilan Ali-ishok, from the Yala Muslim Attorney Centre, told Prachatai that the court had granted bail to Nuruhayati Masoe, 23, a blind woman accused of lèse majesté, a violation of Article 112 of the Criminal Code.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Nuruhayati’s relatives revealed that two days earlier, an officer from Yala Provincial Court told them that the convict had been released on bail. </div></div>

<div> <div>Thailand’s Foreign Ministry has condemned a report on the human rights situation for having a ‘political bias,’ while a Thai anti-corruption organisation has decided to opt out of Transparency International.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 24 January 2018, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) released a <a href="http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/news3/6886/86001-Thailand%E2%80%99s-comments-on-Annual-World-Report-of-Huma.html">press statement</a> condemning the 2018 World Report of Human Rights Watch (HRW) for carrying “obvious political bias.”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“We do not co </div></div>

<div> <div>The police and military have created the climate of fear among HIV activists, making them decide to stop giving assistance to the HIV-positive in provincial hospitals. This intimidation came after activists signed a petition in support of the civil rights march.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 25 January 2018, the police and soldiers visited members of the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS in Sisaket and Surin provinces. </div></div>

<div> <div>Religious and security officials have intimidated an environmentalist monk from Phrae Province who joined a march for civil rights from Bangkok to Khon Kaen. </div></div>