<p>2 online reporters were arrested on the night of 13 September while covering the protest at Din Daeng intersection and charged with violating the curfew and the emergency decree.</p>

<p>The prosecutor in the Deep South province of Pattani has dropped the charges against 3 prominent human rights defenders who documented allegations of human rights abuses in the restive Deep South.</p>

<p>Despite an earlier agreement, the military has not withdrawn its complaints against three human rights defenders who exposed torture in Thailand’s Deep South. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<div>The decision by the junta’s lawmakers to drop consideration of a bill on torture and enforced disappearance is largely seen as a major setback by civil society organisations and victims’ families who are calling for answers and justifications.&nbsp;</div> <div> </div>

<p>The Thai military has dropped criminal defamation charges against three human rights defenders who exposed torture in Thailand’s Deep South.</p> <p>On 7 March 2017, Col Pramote Promin, Deputy Spokesperson for Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Region 4, said the military has withdrawn criminal defamation charges against Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Director of the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF); Somchai Homla-or, Advisor to the CrCF; and Anchana Heemmina, President of the Duay Jai group.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Embattled Thai human rights activists insist their innocence as they continue to fight against lawsuits filed by the military.</p>

<div> <div>Police in the restive Deep South of Thailand have accused three prominent human rights defenders of defaming the Thai army after the three published a report on the torture and inhumane treatment of Muslim Malay suspects in military camps. &nbsp; &nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Tuesday, 26 July 2016, police officers in Pattani Province accused Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, Director of the Cross Cultural Foundation, Somchai Homla-or, Advisor of the Duay Jai group, and Anchana Heemmina, President of the Duay Jai group, of defaming the Royal Thai Army. </div></div>

<div>Amnesty International has today issued a worldwide <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/search/?q=ASA+39%2F4292%2F2016+">Urgent Action</a> appeal for Somchai Homla-or, Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, and Anchana Heemmina, who have been charged by the Thai military with criminal defamation and violations of the Computer Crimes Act.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 21 June 2016, Amnesty International headquarters in London issued an appeal to its members worldwide to write to the Thai authorities calling for them to immediately and unconditionally drop charges against Somchai Homla-or, Pornpen Khongka </div>

<div>The Thai authorities must reverse their decision to charge three prominent human rights defenders with criminal defamation and computer crimes for documenting and publishing details of human rights violations in the country, Amnesty International said today.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“Instead of using broad and vague laws to target human rights defenders, the Thai authorities should be following up on the reports of alleged torture and other ill-treatment, with a view to holding those responsible accountable,” said Audrey Gaughran, Amnesty International’s Director of Global Issues.</div>

<p>Another victim of state violence in 2010, Mr. Thanuthat Assawasirimankong, aka &ldquo;Uncle Kim&rdquo;, passed away yesterday after almost two years of pains and immovability. He died of the excessive use of force by the Abhisit government that has led to many unnecessary deaths. He had just recovered from cancer and was celebrating this good news with his family when the shooting happened.</p>

<p>The recent spate of lese majeste charges against opponents of the government - including academics, journalists and red-shirt leaders - is creating a climate of fear that has further politicised the monarchy, critics say.</p>

<p>On 11 March 2011, the Appeals Court reads the verdict on the case brought by the criminal case public prosecutor and Mrs. Angkhana Neelapaijit, the wife of Mr. Somchai Neelapaijit, former Chairperson of the Muslim Lawyer Club and his children. The case was brought against five police officers1 on an offense concerning the use of vehicle to commit a thief, for coercing another person to commit an act or to refrain from committing an act against his or her willingness and physical assault. The case is related to the disappearance of Lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit on 12 March 2004.</p>