<p>The Director of the Isra Institute has filed a defamation complaint against a well-known Scottish journalist over sexual harassment allegation.</p>
<p>The Isra Institute on 16 September 2017 issued <a href="https://www.facebook.com/isranewsfanpage/photos/a.690863000942040.1073741840.480564141971928/1822210514473944/?type=3&theater">a public statement</a> that Prasong Lertratanawisute, its director, had filed a complaint with the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) against Andrew MacGregor Marshall, a former Bangkok-based Scottish journalist wanted for lèse majesté.</p>
<div>Surat Thani farmers have called for protection from to various government agencies after two companies initiated lawsuits against them and destroyed their corps. </div>
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<div>On 12 September 2017, <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/09/73214">13 farmers</a> from Southern Peasants Federation of Thailand (SPFT) filed a petition to Lawyers Council of Thailand (LCT), Royal Thai Police (RTP), and National Human Right Commission (NHRC) to help them in the lawsuit they are facing.</div>
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<div>The prosecution against the farmers emerge from a land disput
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<div>Thailand has taken another step closer to general elections after the promulgation of the new junta-written election commission law. New election commissioners will be selected by the 250 junta-appointed senators. </div>
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<div>On 13 September 2017, the <a href="http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2560/A/093/1.PDF">Organic Act on the Election Commission</a> was published in the Royal Gazette after being passed by the National Legislative Assembly on 8 September.
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<div>Citing the King’s wishes, a former lèse majesté prisoner has filed a petition urging the junta head to use his absolute power to abolish the lèse majesté law.</div>
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<div>On 12 September 2017, Ekachai Hongkangwan <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/09/73190">filed a petition</a> to junta head Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to invoke Section 44 of the Interim Constitution to terminate Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</div>
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<div>He said that after Jatuphat Boonpattaraksa, also known as Pai Dao Din, pleaded guilty of lèse majesté last mont
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<div>A local businessman faces 15 years in prison for trafficking nearly a hundred Rohingya migrants in 2015, two of whom suffocated to death during their journey. </div>
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<div>On 12 September 2017, the Appeal Court confirmed the Court of First Instance’s decision to <a href="http://www.benarnews.org/thai/news/TH-trafficking-rohingya-09122017132511.html">jail Sunan Saengthong</a>, a local businessman in Phang Nga, for 15 years and to fine him 660,000 baht.
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<div>The Supreme Court has ordered a lead mining company to restore a local creek contaminated by its industrial waste. The company also has to pay 36 million baht in compensation to affected Karen villagers. </div>
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<div>On 11 September 2017, the Supreme Court <a href="https://prachatai.com/journal/2017/09/73171">delivered its verdict</a> in a case where 151 Karen from lower Klity village, Kanchanaburi, accused Lead Concentrate Company of contaminating their water source with lead, threatening their health and wellbeing.
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<div>The Interior Minister’s permission for a Red Bull company to build a reservoir on the site of a community forest has run into protests. </div>
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<div>On 8 September 2017, the Facebook page <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Watchdog.ACT/posts/1632784810086915">Watchdog Act</a> published Interior Ministry documents on a request from KTD Property Development Limited to use over 12 acres of Huai Mek community forest in Khon Kaen Province.
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<p>The police have arrested two anti-establishment red shirts in Isaan (northeast Thailand) for joining a red shirt demonstration seven years ago.</p>
<p>On 7 September 2017, police officers from the Department of Special Investigation took Somphon Chaikong, 49, to the public prosecutor of Udon Thani Province.</p>
<p>He was accused of joining an illegal assembly of more than 10 people and blocking a public road in Udon Thani on 25 April 2010 in parallel with the red shirt demonstrations in Bangkok.</p>
<p>The Appeal Court has dismissed charges against an anti-establishment red shirt accused of preparing explosive devices to bomb several locations in Bangkok in 2014.</p>
<p>On 7 September 2017, Min Buri Provincial Court read the verdict of the Appeal Court in the case of Amporn ‘Khru Khaek’ Jaikon, 57, a supporter of the anti-establishment red shirts from Chiang Mai Province, accused of procuring and making explosive devices in order to bomb venues in Bangkok in March 2014. The Appeal Court dismissed the charges, citing insufficient evidence.</p>
<p>The Appeal Court has dismissed one charge against one of the ‘men in black’ suspects accused of taking part in the deadly political violence on 10 April 2010.</p>
<p>On 6 September 2017, the Appeal Court confirmed the ruling of the Court of First Instance to dismiss one of the charges against Kittisak Soomsri, 47, one of the five ‘men in black’ suspects.</p>
<p>The court dismissed the accusation that he illegally carried explosive devices in a car due to weak evidence, but other charges against him still stand.</p>
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<div>Facing criticism over the dismissal of a leading student activist, Chulalongkorn University (CU) has published a statement arguing that the university “has the right to reserve a certain space or activity as an exception from the free speech rule.”</div>
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<div>On 6 September 2017, CU <a href="http://www.chula.ac.th/en/archive/9213">published a statement</a> in response to the criticism it has faced since the <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/7353">dismissal of its Student Council</a> President Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal.
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<div>The next general election might be again postponed after a Deputy Prime Minister said that he is uncertain if the organic laws can be finalised within 2018.</div>
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<div>On 5 September 2017, Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan told the media at Government House that <a href="https://www.matichon.co.th/news/653436">the next general election remains unscheduled</a> as the drafting of organic laws is not yet finished. </div>
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<div>This statement contradicts the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT) who <a href="https://www.matichon.co.th/new</p>
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