Thailand’s political landscape seems haunted by figures, events and images that once symbolised progressive change. Such change arguably has not come, yet the same symbols linger on, in newspapers, activist pamphlets and state media.

In an interview with Prachatai following the constitutional referendum, Nidhi Eoseewong maintained that the results were due to the lack of free and open debate and criticism. Many people consequently made what seemed the easy choice giving the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) a sort of split legitimacy: While Thais may accept the results, it will be difficult to claim legitimacy with the international community where the process has been seen as unjust from the start. Despite the referendum result, he holds out hope for democracy future.

A Military Court in northern Thailand has detained 10 people, including a former Member of Parliament for Chiang Mai, accused of sedition over letters criticising the junta-sponsored draft constitution. The Chiang Mai Military Court on Thursday, 4 August 2016, granted the police permission to remand in custody Tassanee Buranupakorn, former Pheu Thai Party MP for Chiang Mai, Boonlert Buranupakorn, former chief of the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation, Khachen Jiakkhajorn, mayor of Chang Phueak Subdistrict of the province.

An embattled former Education Minister from the Pheu Thai Party has denied sedition charges, vowing to continue to fight the charges against him through civil disobedience.

The Thai military have summoned former Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Pheu Thai Party in Isan, Thailand’s northeast, for a discussion after their names appeared on the junta’s list of ‘influential figures’.