<p dir="ltr">Despite being accused of several charges, a well-known anti-junta activist has insisted on his innocence, arguing that the junta’s orders are unlawful.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 21 February 2017, the Military Court of Bangkok held a deposition hearing for Sirawit Serithiwat, a well-known pro-democracy activist battling several charges for organising and participating in anti-junta activities.</p>

<p dir="ltr">A military court has questioned an anti-junta activist’s mother accused of lèse majesté in a closed hearing.</p> <p dir="ltr">On 14 December 2016, the Military Court of Bangkok held a deposition hearing for Patnaree Charnkij, the mother of the well-known anti-junta activist Sirawit Serithiwat.</p> <p dir="ltr">Before the hearing began, the court announced it would proceed with the hearing in camera, allowing only Patnaree and her defence lawyer to be in the courtroom without any observers since the case is related to the lèse majesté law.</p>

<div>The Thai word “ja” has become popular in Thailand as a criticism of the police, following the arrest of an activist’s mother in early May on a lèse majesté charge. The case against her is seen as politically motivated and has sent Thailand’s human rights record to a new low. No evidence has been unveiled to the public other than the word “ja,” &nbsp;non-committal, colloquial ‘yes’ Thai, she said during a Facebook conversation. Assistant Professor Sawatree Suksri, expert on criminal law from Thammasat University, and core member of Nitirat, explained whether this could really deemed lèse majesté.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div>

<p>The Thai military prosecutor has officially indicted the mother of a prominent anti-junta activist under the lèse majesté law. She was later released on half a million baht bail.</p> <p><a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=1478">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)&nbsp;</a>reported that the military prosecutor on Monday, 1 August 2016, officially indicted Patnaree Chankij, 40, mother of the well-known anti-junta activist Sirawit Serithiwat, under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>

<p><strong><em>Update</em></strong><em>: Seven activists in total were arrested for commemorating the 84^thanniversary of the 1932 Siamese Revolution. Six are student activists from Ramkhamhaeng and Kasetsart University while another is Chanoknan Ruamsap, a youth activist from the New Democracy Movement (NDM). The police accused the seven of violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings and on Saturday will request permission from the Military Court to detain them. &nbsp; &nbsp;</em></p>

<p>Activists charged over Rajabhakti Park trip refuse to be tried by Military Court</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Embattled anti-junta activists charged with defying the Thai junta’s ban on political gatherings by organizing a field trip to Rajabhakti Park, the military’s royal theme park plagued with corruption allegations, have refused to be tried by a Military Court.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Key members of Resistant Citizen, a well-known anti-junta activists group, and other leading pro-democracy activists might be charged with Computer Crime Act over performing in a music video on the draft constitution referendum.</p>

<p>A self-described patriotic group has urged the police to probe a well-known anti-junta activist group who accused the Thai junta of overthrowing the constitution.</p>

<p>A youth group opposing hazing rituals commonly practised in Thai universities is urging students to confront hazers with reasons, pointing out that the rituals breed authoritarianism in Thai society.</p> <p>A youth group called ‘ANTI-SOTUS’ on Saturday, 4 June 2016, organised a public discussion at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, about the SOTUS system in Thailand.</p>

<p>A core member of Resistant Citizen, an anti-junta activist group, Pansak Srithep, and other activists commemorated the death of Pansak’s son who was killed during the military crackdown on red shirt protesters in May 2010.</p>

<p>Police have charged activists for violating the public cleanliness act by posting messages on post-its for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/category/the-eight-abducted-junta-critics">the eight abducted junta critics&nbsp;</a>while a few were interrogated for participating in the same activity.</p>

<p>The Military Court has detained a supporter of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/category/the-eight-abducted-junta-critics">the eight abducted junta critics</a>. &nbsp;He is accused by the junta’s legal team of lѐse majesté.</p> <p>The Military Court of Bangkok on Saturday morning, 30 April 2016, granted police permission to detain Burin Intin, who was arrested by the police on Wednesday evening for&nbsp;<a href="http://www.prachatai.org/english/node/6091">gathering with 15 other activists to show solidarity with the abducted junta critics</a>.</p>