<p>Despite criticism from the UN, a Thai court has refused to release the embattled student activist Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa after public prosecutors indicted him for lèse majesté.</p> <p>On 10 February 2017, the Provincial Court of Khon Kaen accepted Jatuphat’s case during an in camera hearing after the prosecutor formally indicted him under Article 112 of the Criminal Code — the lèse majesté law.</p> <p>The prosecutors objected to bail, citing flight risk and the severity of the charge since it is related to the Thai Monarchy.</p>

<p>A military court has held the first trial for the lèse majesté suspect who claimed to possess telepathic powers. &nbsp;</p> <p>The Military Court of Bangkok on 9 February &nbsp;2017 held<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3451">&nbsp;the first trial for Sao Saengmuang</a>, a suspect of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p> <p>Sao was indicted by military prosecutors for submitting a complaint in March 2015 to the Criminal Division for Political Office Holders of the Supreme Court.</p>

<div>The broadcasting regulatory authority based the suspension on a January 23 episode titled “Conflict because of Judicial [Not] Review” that presented a news analysis which “led to disunity in Thai Society by not airing complete facts.”</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The NBTC said that the content of the political commentary program violates the National Council for Peace and Order’s (NCPO) announcement nos. </div>

<div> <div>The organisation responsible for Thailand’s universal health care system is facing budget cuts of 13 billion baht as the junta struggles to manage its finances.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 6 February 2017, the board of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) <a href="http://prachatai.com/journal/2017/02/69971">met</a> to review issues in its projected budget for 2018. </div></div>

<p>After criticism by the UN over the use of the notorious lèse majesté law, the Thai Foreign Ministry has claimed that enforcement of this law does not violate human rights.</p>

<div>Last week, student activists organised events to make fun of the paternalism that underpins Thailand’s National Children’s Day.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 4 February 2016, the student activist group Education for Liberation of Siam (ELS) held an event called “National Seniors Day: Seniors in the Era of a Changing World” at Banglamphu Museum, Bangkok.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The event aimed to mock National Children’s Day, a day where adults seem to impose certain values on children. </div>

<p dir="ltr">Exercising his royal power under a recently amended law, His Majesty the King Tuesday named a new leader of Thai Buddhist authorities, ending years of vacancy on the ecclesiastic throne.</p> <p>Phra Maha Muneewong, the 89-year-old abbot of Wat Rajabopit, was named the 20th Supreme Patriarch by King Vajiralongkorn, junta chairman Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters after his weekly cabinet meeting. Muneewong replaced the previous patriarch who died in 2013 at 100, and the issue of his succession has been hotly debated ever since.</p>

<p>An ophthalmologist from northern Thailand indicted for defaming then Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn last year has vowed to fight the case to prove his innocence.</p> <p>On 7 February 2017, the Military Court in the northern province of Chiang Rai held a deposition hearing for Sarawut (surname withheld due to privacy reasons), 32, an ophthalmologist accused of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>

<p>After being barred from paying their respects to the late King at the Grand Palace, Bhikkhunis — female Buddhist monks in Thailand — have urged the junta leader to amend laws discriminating against female monks. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, a long-time labour activist now lèse majesté prisoner, has denounced the junta’s political reconciliation plans.</p> <p>If the regime is really serious about reconciliation, asserted Somyot, all parties to the political conflicts since the 2006 coup d’état must be invited to the negotiation table. This includes controversial figures such as Thaksin Shinawatra, Suthep Thaugsuban, Yingluck Shinawatra, Jatuporn Prompan, Abhisit Vejjajiva, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Sondhi Limthongkul and Gen Sonthi Boonyaratglin. &nbsp;</p>

<div> <div>Thailand has again been ranked by Freedom House as 'Not Free' due to chronic human rights violations, suppressed freedom of expression and a military-sponsored draft constitution.</div> </div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 2 February 2017, Freedom House published its annual report titled <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-world-2017-freedom-decline-continues-amid-rising-populism-and-autocracy">Freedom in the World 2017: Populists and Autocrats: The Dual Threat to Global Democracy</a>, an annual review of freedom worldwide. </div>

<p>Three more military generals have been appointed to the junta’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA). &nbsp;</p> <p>On 2 February 2017,<a href="http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2560/E/036/1.PDF">&nbsp;the Royal Gazette website published</a>&nbsp;an announcement that three military generals had been appointed to the junta’s hand-picked NLA.</p>