<p>A supporter of anti-junta activists and the anti-establishment red shirts has pleaded guilty to accusations of lèse majesté in a military court.</p>
<p>On 24 January 2017, Burin Intin, accused of offences under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté,<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3364"> pleaded guilty</a> to all charges during his trial in Bangkok Military Court.</p>
<p>The court will read the sentence on 27 January.</p>
<p>Anti-junta activists have filed a civil lawsuit against the Thai army, police, and the Prime Minister’s Office for abusing the rights of peaceful demonstrators. </p>
<p>On 24 January 2017, activists from the New Democracy Movement (NDM) led by Rangsiman Rome, key leader of the group, attended a <a href="http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1485242721">preliminary hearing</a> at the Southern Bangkok Civil Court.</p>
<p>Amid widespread public opposition, the Thai junta has given the green light to a controversial plan to spend billions of baht on a Chinese submarine.</p>
<p>On 24 January 2017, <a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/438518">Adm Jumpol Lumpiganon, spokesman of the Royal Thai Navy (RTN), announced</a> that the government of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and Prime Minister, has approved the purchase of a submarine from China. The 13.5 billion baht purchase has been cleared by the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly.</p>
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<div>According to a recent political survey, the Thai public believes that the country is in need of political reconciliation. However, it is divided over whether reconciliation can be achieved under the military regime.
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<p>An anti-establishment red shirt activist has reportedly been abducted by men believed to be soldiers.</p>
<p>On 23 January 2017, Om Singnoi told Prachatai that her husband, Bunmee Singnoi, 43, was abducted by a group of men at around 12 noon on 19 January 2017. </p>
<p>She reported that a group of 10 men, two of whom were wearing what seemed to be military uniforms, visited the garage where her husband works in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan. They searched the garage before abducting Bunmee.</p>
<p>A poll conducted by Bangkok University shows that more than half of respondents still support Thailand’s junta leader as Prime Minister.</p>
<p>On 22 January 2017, the research centre of Bangkok University published the results of a <a href="http://bangkokpoll.bu.ac.th/poll/result/poll813_2.php?pollID=699">poll</a> about political parties and Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the current junta leader and Prime Minister.</p>
<p>The poll was conducted using random sampling methods via mobile phones to reach 1,216 people from across the nation.</p>
<p>The junta’s National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) has proposed a new bill to set moral standards for the media which it blames for social ills. Media groups, however, say the bill gives the government greater control.</p>
<p>Six leading media associations plan to <a href="http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1184917/media-groups-renew-control-bill-battle">meet at the Thai Journalists Association (TJA)</a> on Sunday 29 January 2017 to voice their stance against the NRSA’ Media Reform Bill.</p>
<p>A provincial court in northeastern Thailand has denied bail for an anti-junta student activist accused of lèse majesté.</p>
<p>At about 12:30 pm on 20 January 2016, the Khon Kaen Provincial Court of in an in-camera hearing granted police permission to continue the detention of Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, a law student and key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM).</p>
<p>The Supreme Court has fined two of Yingluck’s supporters 500 baht each for staring at public prosecutors during the trial on the rice pledging scheme corruption case.</p>
<p>On 19 January 2017, judges of the Supreme Court ruled to fine ML Mingmongkol Sonakul, a member of the aristocracy and film director and writer, and Tas Wanpharuehat 500 baht each.</p>
<p>In the presence of dozens of soldiers and police officers, people gathered yesterday evening in central Bangkok to show solidarity with an embattled anti-junta activist held in custody for lèse majesté.</p>
<p>At 5 pm on 18 January 2017, about 50 people — many of them members of the anti-junta activist groups New Democracy Movement (NDM) and Resistant Citizen — gathered on the skywalk above Ratchaprasong Intersection in Bangkok.</p>
<p>The Thai police have intimidated the family <del cite="mailto:Alec%20Bamford" datetime="2017-01-21T18:49">of the wife </del>of a former Bangkok-based British journalist wanted for lèse majesté.</p>
<p>The Royal Thai Police have announced that as many as 200 people might be arrested for cheating in the highly competitive police recruitment examination.</p>
<p>On 18 January 2017, Pol Lt Gen Sanit Mahathavorn, Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner, announced that as many as 200 people could face arrest warrants over the recent police entrance exam scandal.</p>
<p>The scam-ridden exam where 85,989 applicants were competing for 5,000 lance corporal positions was held at the Bang Na and Hua Mark campuses of Ramkhamhaeng University on 4 December 2016.</p>