<p dir="ltr">With the north and Isan (northeast), the three southernmost provinces (Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat) are where the majority of the people rejected the draft constitution in the referendum held on 7 August 2016. It also must be noted that in 5 districts in the region, a majority of voters failed to cast a ballot (Khok Pho District in Pattani, Mueang and Betong districts in Yala, and Su-ngai Kolok and Sukhirin districts in Narathiwat).</p>

<p>Many foreigners, it seems, often cite the Thai media as being cowardly and not performing the noble job that the Fourth Estate is poetically linked with – establishing truth, fighting injustice, exposing graft, fighting for the people, etc. For Thai media critics or just people that want to read why things are so difficult for Thai media, allow me to relate a story to you…</p> <p>Note that often below when I say “I” I might be referring to my Thai wife who was legally registered as the paper’s owner and editor.</p>

<div><span>7 August 2016</span></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>As regards what happened today, I would like to inform state officials, the media, and the people that I was fully conscious of my actions. I am not mentally ill. I was neither on drugs nor was I drunk.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>My actions grew out of the consciousness of a citizen who only wishes to demand and stand firm for rights and freedom, which ought to be ours. Whatever the result, I will take responsibility for my actions. </div>

<p dir="ltr">As the voting for the referendum for the 21th constitution will be held tomorrow, here is what you need to know before casting your ballot.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>What has been going on with the referendum campaign lately?</strong></p>

<div>For the past number of months, youth and student activists around the country have been challenging the upcoming constitutional referendum, and, certainly with the help of the junta, have made it clear this referendum is a democratic farce.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 7 August 2016, Thai citizens, many of whom are unaware there is a referendum, and or are unable to make an informed vote, will take to voting stations to decide on a constitutional referendum, put forward by the junta.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In Thailand, the country with 99.99 per cent democracy, according </div>

<p>In order to understand why the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), formal name of the Thai junta, chose to stipulate that the draft constitution be passed by a referendum, we must return to the first period after the coup.</p> <p></p>

<p dir="ltr">Unlike Thailand, Sweden was successfully elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council recently. Sweden was by far the favourite amongst the European candidates. It had already received enough votes to secure its position on the Security Council in the first round.</p>

<div><em>The second round of the peace process in Patani seems to be following the first round’s suit: ending up in a stalemate. However, even an abortive attempt for a peace process is not at all useless, and is able to create a considerable impact on the political public sphere in the conflict area.</em></div> <p></p>

<div>The Patani conflict in southern Thailand has been seen as an internal issue for both sides of the conflict. The Thai authorities have always insisted that it is a domestic matter and even still refuses to recognize it as a conflict but rather criminal activity or banditry. On the separatist side, the militant organizations' leadership and fighters have always come from inside Patani despite the fact that in the past, some financial support and military training came from outside such as from the Libyan and Syrian governments. </div>

<div> <div>Harit Mahaton, a fiction and fantasy writer and ramen shop owner from Khon Kaen, was arrested and placed in military detention on 27 April 2016 for violating Article 116 of the Criminal Code (sedition) by allegedly working with others to make a Facebook page ridiculing the current prime minister in Thailand. While he was in detention, he was further accused of violating Article 112 (lèse majesté) in relation to a private Facebook conversation. After one night in military detention, he was transferred to the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he remained until being granted bail on 8 July 2016. This essay was first published on his personal Facebook page in Thai.</div> </div>

<div><em>Brazil’s long term policy on Proalcohol (sugarcane-based ethanol fuel programme) has provided a platform for Brazil to develop its sugar industry and subsequently dominate the world sugar trade. </em></div>

<p>If you think being a political prisoner in Thailand is already a nightmare, being an ordinary prisoner can be worse. A junta critic, accused of lèse majesté, has shared an experience after being rejected from visiting his cellmates just because they do not have a same surname.</p> <p><img alt="" src="https://scontent.fbkk5-5.fna.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/s960x960/13603828_1068155469939211_5092692340048842351_o.jpg" /></p>