<p>The police have summoned a human rights lawyer who represented 14 well-known anti-junta youth activists imprisoned in 2015, accusing her of making false charges against officers. </p>
<p>On 31 July 2017, Sirikan Charoensiri, a lawyer from Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR), received a letter from Chanasongkram Police Station, summoning her to hear charges against her at 10:30 am on 8 August.</p>
<p>The letter states that she is accused of violating Articles 172 and 174 of the Criminal Code for making false accusations against investigating officers.</p>
<p>Human rights lawyers are arguing that suspects accused of defaming Princess Sirindhorn should not be indicted under the lèse majesté law.</p>
<p>According to<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=4680"> Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a>, from 18 July until December, the Provincial Court of Kamphaeng Phet will try four suspects charged with violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Almost one year after the constitution referendum in 2016, the police have concluded to press charges against 11 people accused of breaking the junta’s political gathering ban for participating in a discussion about the 2017 Constitution.</p>
<p>Three years after the last coup d’état, human rights lawyers have argued that the junta could not hold power without the support of the country’s judicial institutions.</p>
<p>Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) on 27 May 2017 released <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=4307">a report</a> about the relationship between the military government and judicial institutions.</p>
<p>Human rights lawyers have condemned the arrest and detention of the four latest lèse majesté suspects, including a 14-year-old. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=4298">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR)</a> on 20 May 2017 issued a statement on the arrest of Chirayu, Rathathamanun, Akharaphong (surnames withheld due to privacy concerns), and a 14-year-old in Khon Kaen on 19 May.</p>
<p>According to the police, the four were arrested for allegedly burning an arch erected in honour of the late King Bhumibol in Chonnabot District of Khon Kaen on 15 May.</p>
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<div>After over two years in jail, a man suspected of bombing a Thai court has been released on bail, since no witnesses have testified to his guilt.</div>
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<div>On 18 May 2017, Bangkok Military Court released Sansern Sriounruen after his family offered a 6 million baht land deed as surety for bail. He is one of 16 suspected of being behind the bombing of Bangkok Criminal Court on 7 March 2014.
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<p>The Criminal Court has refused to release two detainees accused of lèse majesté for sharing the Facebook post of an academic blacklisted by the junta. </p>
<p>On 4 May 2017, the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Rd., Bangkok,<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=4194"> denied </a>bail requests of 790,000 and 900,000 baht for two detainees accused of violating Article 112 of the Criminal Code, the lèse majesté law.</p>
<p>A provincial court in northern Thailand has dismissed charges against a local anti-junta activist accused of violating the controversial Referendum Act.</p>
<p>The Provincial Court of Chiang Mai on 24 April 2017<a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=4077"> acquitted Samat Khwanchai</a>, a 63-year-old anti-establishment red shirt, indicted for alleged violation of the Referendum Act for distributing leaflets at a parking lot of Panthip Plaza Shopping Mall in Chiang Mai on 21 July 2016.</p>
<p>The authorities have accused three more youth activists of contempt of court for joining a peaceful gathering demanding Pai Dao Din’s release from prison.</p>
<p>On 20 March 2017, <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3760">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights</a> reported that the well-known anti-junta activist Sirawit ‘Ja New’ Serithiwat; Panupong Sritananuwat, an activist from the <a href="https://prachatai.org/english/category/dao-din?page=1">Dao Din group</a> based at Khon Kaen University; and another law student who requested anonymity had received court notices.</p>
<p>Student activists from Khon Kaen University have been accused of contempt of court for participating in a peaceful gathering to demand Pai Dao Din’s release. </p>
<p>On 17 March 2017, <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3741">Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) </a>reported that activists from the activist <a href="https://prachatai.org/english/category/dao-din?page=1">Dao Din group</a>, based in Khon Kaen University, and New Generation Citizens (NGC), another political activist group in the region, received a court notice.</p>
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<div>Pawinee Chumsri, a lawyer at Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, has won the 2017 Somchai Neelapaijit Award. Pawinee urged society to action, saying that, ‘If people don’t fight, lawyers really can’t achieve anything’.</div>
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<div>On 11 March 2017, the Somchai Neelapaijit Memorial Fund announced <a href="http://prachatai.org/journal/2017/03/70534">Pawinee Chumsri as the winner of its annual award</a>, commending an outstanding human rights advocate.
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<div>20 villagers have been found guilty of violating the junta’s ban on public gatherings by supporting a referendum monitoring campaign. The villagers pleaded guilty, but only because of the high costs of fighting the case. </div>
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<div>On 6 March 2016, Udon Thani Military Court <a href="http://www.tlhr2014.com/th/?p=3642">ruled that 20 villagers from Sakon Nakhon province were guilty</a> of violating NCPO Head Order 3/2015, the junta’s ban on public assemblies of five people or more.
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