<p>Amid rumours that the junta will form its own political party to compete in the political arena, the human rights advocacy group iLaw points out that the regime does not need to form a party to prolong its rule.</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/iLawClub/photos/a.10150540436460551.646424.299528675550/10159645027905551/?type=3&amp;theater">iLaw</a>, under the new political system, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) does not need to establish a political party to prolong its rule. &nbsp;It can instead rely on the senate.</p>

<div> <div>The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has announced that individuals who want to buy new SIM cards must have their faces and fingerprints recorded.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 6 November 2017, NBTC Secretary-General Takorn Tantasith told the media that the Commission has asked all mobile phone operators in Thailand to collect customers’ digital personal data from fingerprint scanners and facial recognition technology. </div></div>

<p>A provincial court has handed a four-month suspended jail term to a man who attempted to dissuade people from voting in the referendum on the junta-sponsored constitution.</p> <p>On 7 November 2017, Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Court sentenced Wichan Phuwihan, 49, to six months in prison and a 30,000 baht fine, according to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iLawClub/photos/pb.299528675550.-2207520000.1510039180./10159636041090551/?type=3&amp;theater">&nbsp;iLaw</a>.</p>

<p>The deputy junta head has announced that the regime will set up its own political party if it is ‘necessary’.</p> <p>On 6 November 2017, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, the deputy junta head and Defence Minister, told media that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will establish a political party if it is ‘necessary’, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://news.voicetv.co.th/thailand/537364.html">Voice TV</a>.</p> <p>Responded to the question whether the NCPO could confirm that it would not form a political party, he said he would not be involved.</p>

<p>46 civil society organisations have called for the release of the wife of a disappeared community rights activist imprisoned for land encroachment.</p> <p>On 3 November 2017, representatives of 46 civil society organisations submitted a petition to Cheep Chulamon, the president of the Supreme Court, calling for the release of Suphab Khamlae, 67, a villager of Khok Yao village in Chaiyaphum Province.</p> <p>The Supreme Court in July confirmed the lower court’s verdict to sentence Suphab and her husband, Den Khamlae, to six months imprisonment for encroaching into a protected area.</p>

<p>After social media attacks for criticising Thailand’s military conscription system, a former private says his criticisms should be used to make the army more professional.</p> <p>Phongsathon Chankaew, founder of the <a href="https://www.waysup.in.th/">Way’s up</a>&nbsp;media website and independent social worker, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/phongsathon.golf/posts/10211938775319530">posted a Facebook message</a> on 2 November 2017 about his decision to remove his earlier post about military conscription.</p>

<p>A provincial court has handed a six-month suspended jail term to a prominent anti-junta activist while putting six other activists on probation for one year.</p> <p>On 2 November 2017, the Khon Kaen Provincial Court read the verdict for seven pro-democracy youth activists indicted for contempt of court for organising activities on 10 February 2017 in symbolic support of Jatupat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa, They aimed to draw attention to issues in Thailand’s justice system.</p>

<div> <div>A youth group has called for the dismissal of a BBC reporter who questioned Thai royalist propaganda.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 2 November 2017, members of a group called Young Thai Blood filed a petition at the British Embassy in Bangkok, urging the UK government to dismiss Jonathan Head, South East Asia Correspondent for BBC News.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The petition came after Head <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-41756740/thai-king-funeral-relative-on-country-s-genuine-love">interviewed Narisa Chakrabongse</a>, a great-granddaughter of King Chulalongkor </div></div>

<p>The prosecutor in the Deep South province of Pattani has dropped the charges against 3 prominent human rights defenders who documented allegations of human rights abuses in the restive Deep South.</p>

<p>The Thai police have arrested 42 people at checkpoints for the royal cremation. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 31 October 2017, deputy police chief Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul revealed that 42 people were arrested at checkpoints screening the participants at the funeral of the late King Bhumibol, which took place on 26 October, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khaosod.co.th/breaking-news/news_605097">Khaosod Online</a>.</p> <p>He said the 42 had been accused of criminal offenses and had outstanding arrest warrants. But he refused to reveal details about the charges against those arrested.</p>

<p>Watched by police and soldiers, pro-democracy citizens commemorated the death of a taxi driver who committed suicide to protest the 2006 coup.</p> <p>At 7 pm on 31 October 2017, about 20 people gathered at the bridge in front of the headquarters of Thai Rath newspaper on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Bangkok to commemorate the death of taxi driver Nuamthong Praiwan, who hanged himself at the bridge to protest against the 2006 military coup.</p> <p>People lit candles and placed flowers at the bridge. The activity lasted about 20 minutes.</p>

<div> <div> <div>After raising hopes, the junta head will not be lifting the ban on political activities even though the royal cremation is over, explaining that the timing remains inappropriate.&nbsp;</div> </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha told the media today that the ban on political activity will remain in place to ensure social order and stability. He stated once again that the junta will revoke the ban when the proper time comes.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“I ask you to trust me. I myself am aware and thinking about this issue. </div></div>