<p>Press release for the final report of the Truth for Reconciliation Commission of Thailand on April - May 2010 crackdown (see attached)</p>
<p>A special lecture "The Coming Clash with China?" by Professor Christopher Coker from London School of Economics (LSE) and a panel Discussion on "The South China Sea Controversy: The Role of ASEAN, China and the United States", organized by the Institute of Security and International Studies (ISIS) at Chulalongkorn University on 30 Aug.</p>
<p>Panelists include: Kavi Chongkittavorn, Senior Fellow, ISIS Thailand; Robert W. Fitts, Director, American Studies Program; Dr. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director, ISIS Thailand. </p>
<p>On 24 Aug, <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/warawut-thanangkorn">Warawut Thanangkorn</a>, aka Suchart Nakbangsai, and <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/suriyan-kokpuey">Suriyan Kokpuey</a> were released from Bangkok Remand Prison under the 2012 Royal Decree for Royal Pardon on the occasion of HM the Queen’s birthday on 12 Aug.</p>
<p>‘In the case of Ah Kong, all sides in Thai society have shown a lack of moral courage to do what is right. They have been concerned with their own status, positions and politics, and have done nothing. Ultimately, an ordinary old man has fallen victim, having to die away from his family’, said Somsak Jeamteerasakul, speaking to the crowd who attended the funeral of Amphon Tangnoppakul at Lad Prao Temple in Bangkok on 25 Aug.</p>
<p class="rteleft">Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, lawyer for Amphon Tangnoppakul, has published a letter from an expert on telecommunication technology in Germany on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/notes/may-poonsukcharoen/%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%94%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%87-%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%87%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%82%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%9C%E0%B8%B9%E0%B9%89%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%8D%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%B8%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%82%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%89%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%9A%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%AA%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%AD%E0%B9%87/10151155571540862">her Facebook page</a>. The letter was intended to be used in the Appeals Court before the appeal was withdrawn.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/warawut-thanangkorn">Warawut Thanangkorn</a>, aka Suchart Nakbangsai, and <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/category/suriyan-kokpuey">Suriyan Kokpuey</a> were expected to be released today, but their release has been delayed as some documents have yet to be signed by the court.</p>
<p>The Centre for the Resolution of Emergency Situation officially approved the use of snipers during its crackdown on the red shirts in 2010, according to one of its own classified documents, despite the Army Chief’s recent ‘no snipers’ claim.</p>
<p>On 17 Aug, members of the Nitirat group, which consists of young Thammasat University law academics who have proposed amendments to the lèse majesté law and the rewriting of the constitution, went to Chanasongkhram Police Station to file a complaint after mysterious men had been seen at their offices taking photographs of their schedules to meet students.</p>
<p>A 63-year-old woman, who was alleged to have committed lèse majesté during a protest in front the Constitution Court in July, has been diagnosed as mentally ill by psychiatrists.</p>
<p>On 14 Aug, the Campaign Committee for Human Rights sent a letter to Minister of Justice Pol Gen Pracha Phromnok, asking that the Ministry urgently provide protection to witnesses in the extrajudicial killing case in Kalasin in which police officers were convicted but walked free on bail.</p>
<p>On 6 Aug, the Central Juvenile and Family Court held a hearing in the case of Attaphol and Phasakorn (family names withheld), who were accused, among other charges, of setting fire to the Central World shopping complex two years ago.</p>
<p>The Tourism Authority of Thailand has organized a trip for a group of Thais to drive from the Altai Mountains in northwestern China to Thailand, with a mission to bring soil and rose plants to be planted in Ayutthaya in honour of HM the Queen’s 80th birthday this month.</p>