<div> <div>Thaksin Shinawatra has urged Thailand’s ruling junta to stop blaming him for political violence, adding he wants no place in the military government’s ongoing reconciliation efforts.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 31 March 2017, the exiled former Prime Minister condemned the junta <a href="https://www.facebook.com/thaksinofficial/?fref=nf&amp;pnref=story">on his Facebook page</a> for its failure to handle the country’s economy. </div></div>

<p>Believing that her son was beaten to death in a military base, the mother of a 22-year-old private has vowed not to cremate the body until the investigation into her son’s death is complete.</p> <p>Private Yutthakinan Bunniam of Vibhavadee Rangsit Military Base in southern Surat Thani Province&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dailynews.co.th/regional/565654">died</a>&nbsp;on 1 April 2017, after being taken to hospital from the military base the day before.</p> <p>The late private was earlier detained in a military prison within the base for allegedly violating discipline.</p>

<div> <div>The junta’s Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has confirmed that the new constitution will be ratified in April, when the CDC will also submit two organic bills — on political parties and the election commission — to the junta-appointed parliament.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 28 March 2017, Udom Ratammarit, a CDC representative, said that the draft constitution has already been submitted to the King for final endorsement. </div></div>

<p>Men claiming to be police officers in plainclothes have attempted to block a rally by a civil society group after allegedly finding illicit drugs at the meeting.</p> <p>On 29 March 2017, about 100 members of the People’s Movement for Just Society (P-Move)&nbsp;<a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/512837">gathered</a>&nbsp;at a centre of the Banthat Mountains Land Reform Network in Mueang District of the southern province of Trang. The meeting was held as the group planned to travel to Government House in Bangkok on 30 March.</p>

<p>Defending the soldier who shot dead a youth Lahu activist on suspicion of selling drugs, the national police chief said the activist could have shot soldiers.</p> <p>On 28 March 2017, at the National Police Headquarters in Bangkok, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, chief of the Royal Thai Police (RTP),&nbsp;<a href="http://m.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1490678938">announced&nbsp;</a>that the police are now investigating the CCTV footage at the checkpoint where the Lahu activist Chaiyapoom Pasae was killed on 17 March.</p>

<div> <div>The military has refused to reveal footage of the summary execution of a Lahu activist, saying it might confuse the investigation process.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 27 March 2016, the 3rd Region Army chief Lt Gen Vijak Siribansop <a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/509666">said</a> the military has already sent to the police CCTV evidence of the checkpoint where Lahu activist Chaiyapoom Pasae was executed. The military therefore has no authority to reveal the evidence to the public without court permission. </div></div>

<p>Thai media associations have voiced opposition to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission decision to temporarily ban Voice TV, saying it should safeguard media freedom rather than bow down to the junta.</p>

<p>Southern civil society groups have denounced a public forum held by the junta to gather feedback on its pro-coal policies, saying the event was merely self-promotion.</p> <p>On 27 March 2017, Lt Gen Piyawat Nakwanich, a representative of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), presided over a public forum on energy policy in southern Thailand. The forum was convened in Mueang District, Krabi Province.</p> <p>The event was organised by&nbsp;<a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/7027">a controversial committee</a>, more than half of whose members are military officers.</p>

<p>The police have accused a villager in Sakon Nakhon of breaching the Public Assembly Act for participating in an anti-potash mining event. &nbsp;</p> <p>On 27 March 2017, Satanon Chuenta, a member of the Wanon Niwat Environmental Conservation Group,<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3831">&nbsp;reported to Wanon Niwat District Police Station</a>&nbsp;in the northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon.</p>

<p>The junta’s legal officers have accused one of the nine people arrested over the alleged plot to assassinate the junta leader of lèse majesté over a Line message.</p> <p>On 24 March 2017, Maj Gen Wicharn Jodtaeng and Col Burin Thongprapai, legal officer of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3802">took nine people</a>&nbsp;accused of involvement in the alleged plot to assassinate Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in Bangkok.</p>

<div> <div>The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has proposed a suspension of Voice TV’s broadcasting license for ‘unreasonable criticism’ and ‘biased content’.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 27 March 2017, Lt Gen Peerapong Manakit, a member of the NBCT, said that it has proposed a temporary ban on Voice TV lasting seven days. The Commission will make a final decision this afternoon.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The ban was initially proposed by the junta’s media regulatory team. </div></div>

<p>Contrary to the claims of police, two Commissioners of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) have found that the recently slain Lahu activist made his living from selling coffee beans not illicit drugs.</p> <p>On 25 March 2017, Angkhana Neelapaijit and Tuenjai Deetes of the NHRC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.khaosod.co.th/special-stories/news_269988">visited the house</a>&nbsp;of Chaiyapoom Pasae of the Lahu ethnic minority who was summarily killed by soldiers on 17 March on suspicion of selling drugs.</p>