<p>A key leader of the anti-establishment red shirts has vowed to bring justice to the victims of the 2010 crackdown after&nbsp;<a href="https://prachatai.org/english/node/7351">the country’s top court dismissed murder charges</a> against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban, his former deputy.</p>

<p>As a provincial court began the hearing on the case of the summary killing of a young Lahu activist by a soldier, the lawyer of the slain activist family said the prime evidence on the case might still be withheld by the military.</p>

<p>Media professionals and human rights advocates have called on the regime to stop using the sedition law to instil an environment of fear and silence its critics.</p> <p>On 3 August 2017, members of the press and human rights advocates gathered at the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) in Bangkok for a public discussion on the use of Article 116 of the Criminal Code, the sedition law.</p>

<div> <div>The courts have dismissed defamation charges against a controversial motivational speaker who in a talk last year accused Isaan people of being disloyal to the late King Bhumibol.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>November last year, Thai social media was flooded with video clips of motivational speaker Orapim ‘Best’ Raksapon. She was reportedly subsidised by the Royal Thai Army to give lectures on the late King Bhumibol across the country. </div></div>

<p>Family members of the victims of the 2010 crackdown on red-shirt protesters have denounced the&nbsp;<a href="https://prachatai.org/english/node/7351">Supreme Court verdict</a>&nbsp;to dismiss murder charges against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep Thaugsuban, his former deputy.</p>

<div> <div> <div>A progressive student has been dismissed from the position of Student Council President for staging a symbolic protest during a university initiation ceremony. </div></div></div>

<p>The Supreme Court has acquitted Abhisit and Suthep of murder charges for authorising the violent military crackdown on anti-establishment red-shirt protesters in April and May 2010. Meanwhile, a former government investigator who dared to accuse the two of murder is now facing lawsuits. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 31 August 2017, the Supreme Court confirmed a previous ruling by the Court of Appeal and dismissed murder charges against former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, and Suthep Thaugsuban, his former deputy.</p>

<p>The Criminal Court has handed another jail term of two months to an embattled anti-junta politician accused of contempt of court, but suspended the sentence for two years. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 28 August 2017, the Criminal Court sentenced Watana Muangsook, a well-known politician from the Pheu Thai Party, to two months in prison and a fine of 500 baht. &nbsp;</p>

<p>A well-known anti-corruption activist has called on the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to probe a Deputy Prime Minister and the national police chief over the flight of fugitive former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.</p>

<p>The Supreme Court has sentenced a former Commerce Minister in the Yingluck government to 42 years in prison for corruption over rice export deals.</p> <p>On 25 August 2017, the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions sentenced Boonsong Teriyapirom, a Commerce Minister in the Yingluck administration, to 42 years in prison while Poom Sarapol, his former deputy, received 36 years.</p>

<p>Thai Immigration Police deny all knowledge about the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra fleeing abroad.</p> <p>On 25 August 2017, Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoonthorn, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told the media that there has been no report that Yingluck has fled the country.</p> <p>“[I] confirm that there has been no report that Yingluck travelled to Singapore or to neighbouring Cambodia,” <a href="http://www.bbc.com/thai/live/thailand-41025556?ocid=socialflow_facebook">BBC Thai</a>&nbsp;quoted him as saying.</p>

<p>On 25 August 2017, the Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for Yingluck Shinawatra after she failed to turn up for the verdict on her malfeasance trial related to the rice-pledging scheme.</p> <p>Much to the surprise of thousands of supporters of the former Prime Minister Yingluck, the court issued an arrest warrant after she requested postponement of the verdict hearing to 27 September 2017, citing health problems.</p> <p>As her lawyer did not provide a medical certificate, the court ordered her arrest and confiscated 30 million baht of bail money.</p>