<p>Leading anti-junta activist groups have planned to gather at Ratchaprasong Intersection in central Bangkok from 5-6 pm on 18 January 2017 to support Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa.</p> <p>The organisers of the ‘Anything for Pai’ event are the New Democracy Movement (NDM) of which Jatuphat is a member and Resistant Citizen, another well-known anti-junta group. &nbsp;</p> <p>The group will gather on the skywalk at the intersection to write postcards and perform other activities.</p>

<p>Despite hopes an embattled student activist would be able to sit his exams behind bars, a Dean of Khon Kaen University has confirmed the university will not make an exception for Jatuphat ‘Pai Dao Din’ Boonpattararaksa.</p> <p>On 17 January 2017, Asst. Prof. Kittibodee Yaipool, Dean of Khon Kaen University’s Law Faculty,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3283">announced</a>&nbsp;that currently the university has no plans to facilitate examinations in Khon Kaen Prison for Jatuphat a.</p>

<div>A commission tasked by Thailand’s junta with achieving political reconciliation will be dominated by military appointees, even though military interference in politics is itself a prime source of conflict.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Last week, Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, the deputy junta head, revealed the military government’s national reconciliation plans, <a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/6833">receiving both criticism and support from politicians.&nbsp;</a></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>The plans include political amnesties and Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) between all </div>

<p>A public transportation expert has warned that Bangkok’s Airport Rail Link, which transports almost 100,000 people daily, is at risk of derailment due to lax maintenance. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Military and civilian courts have released more suspects under the lèse majesté law on bail in 2016. However, the number is still less than half. &nbsp;</p> <p>Since the coup d’état on 22 May 2014, out of 46 suspects under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law, who submitted bail requests, 18 were granted bail by civilian and military courts, according to<a href="https://freedom.ilaw.or.th/StatsonBail112">&nbsp;iLaw</a>, a human rights advocacy group.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Officials have confirmed the death of a key leader of Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the largest armed insurgent group operating in Thailand’s restive Deep South. Authorities claim the death will not disturb ongoing peace talks between the government and rebel groups.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 15 January 2017, Gen Aksara Kerdphol, who leads the government’s committee on border province peace talks, confirmed the passing of Sapaeing Baso, a leader of BRN.</p>

<div> <div>The mother of a jailed anti-junta activist has begged his university not to expel her son after a court refused to release him to take his final exams.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 12 January 2016, Prim Boonpattaraksa submitted a petition to Khon Kaen University asking for her son, Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattararaksa, to retain his student status.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Jatuphat risks expulsion from Khon Kaen University’s Faculty of Law since his incarceration means he is likely to miss his final exams on 17 January. </div></div>

<div> <div>Thailand’s junta-appointed parliament has passed amendments to the constitution, after the newly crowned King Vajiralongkorn requested changes to the section on royal prerogatives.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 13 January 2017, the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved an amendment to Article 2 of the junta’s 2014 interim charter. The changes were passed unanimously with 228 votes in favor and three abstentions. </div></div>

<p dir="ltr">Anti-junta activists and others have travelled from Bangkok to Khon Kaen to campaign for the release of an anti-junta activist accused of lèse majesté.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 12 January 2016, members of Resistant Citizens, an anti-junta activist group led by Sirawit Serithiwat, gathered at Hua Lamphong Train Station, Bangkok to take a trip to Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand.</p>

<div> <div> <div>The junta’s installation of dinosaur statues at Government House for Children’s Day has backfired, drawing satirical comments that Thai politics is already haunted by ‘old dinosaurs’.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources unveiled 20 dinosaur models on the lawn of Government House for National Children’s Day this Saturday, 14 January.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>But the stunt by Thailand’s military government has backfired, inspiring cynical criticism that Thai politics is already haunted by ‘old dinosaurs’ — a term used to describe persons whose v </div></div></div>

<p dir="ltr">Thailand’s military government has taken up the late King Bhumibol’s philosophies and knowledge as the main theme for Children’s Day in 2017.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 11 January 2017, Col Thaksada Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister’s Office, said that from 8 am-3 pm on 14 January the government will organise an event for Children’s Day at the Government House in Bangkok, according to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1327160904009031&amp;set=a.440635312661599.102230.100001454030105&amp;type=3&amp;theater">Wassana Nanuam, a Bangkok Post reporter</a>.</p>

<p dir="ltr">The military has prohibited university lecturers and students from organising an event in support of an anti-junta activist accused of lèse majesté, reasoning that the Thai people are still mourning for the late King Bhumibol. &nbsp;</p> <p dir="ltr">On 11 January 2017, Asst. Prof. Winai Phoncharoen of Mahasarakham University told Prachatai that military officers had forbidden him from organising an activity to show solidarity with Jatuphat ‘Pai’ Boonpattaraksa, the first person charged with lèse majesté under the reign of King Vajiralongkorn. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>