<p>Thammasat University issued an announcement on Tuesday (9 June), signed by University President Kesinee Vitoonchart, allowing students to dress according to their gender identity as well as prohibiting all staff and faculty members from discriminating against LGBT students.</p>

<div>While our schedule for the assembly on 21-22 May to mark the 4th anniversary of the coup remains (to start at 5 p.m. on Monday at Thammasart University and 7 a.m. on Tuesday before marching to the government house), there are certain developments that need to be addressed.</div> <div> </div> <div>1. Over the last few days, the junta has stepped up their harassment towards people whom they guess would join our assembly. </div>

<div>A woman said she was held involuntarily for three nights and drugged at a state-run mental hospital after encouraging the monarchy’s support for the people at a recent pro-democracy rally.</div> <div> </div> <div>Sasinutta Shinthanawanitch said some 20 police officers from Chanasongkram Police Station led her away from the Saturday rally at Thammasat University for interrogation. </div>

<div> <div>The junta’s Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) has confirmed that the new constitution will be ratified in April, when the CDC will also submit two organic bills — on political parties and the election commission — to the junta-appointed parliament.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 28 March 2017, Udom Ratammarit, a CDC representative, said that the draft constitution has already been submitted to the King for final endorsement. </div></div>

<div>Three prominent universities in Thailand will host commemorative events for the 6 October Massacre to remind society about the culture of impunity, political violence and the role of student activists in Thai politics.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This year marks the 40th anniversary of Thailand’s 1976 massacre, also known as the 6 October. </div>

<div><strong>40 Years after the 6th October Massacre, is it all forgotten?</strong></div> <div>For the death, the living and for the future of our society.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This year arrives the 40th Anniversary of the 6th October Massacre, the most dreadful and horrible incident of Thai history. One which some try to forget, and most never heard about. </div>

<div> <div>A public seminar to commemorate the 2006 coup was abruptly ended after the audience was outraged by a politician from the Democrat Party.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On 18 September 2016, a public seminar titled “Thai Society: 10 Years Without Progress” was cut short after Tankhun Jitt-itsara, a Democrat Party politician, argued in support of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) movement that pushed for the 2014 coup.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Rangsiman Rome, a New Democracy Movement (NDM) activist and event organiser, then addressed the audience to argue they </div></div>

<div> <div>A recent survey has shown that the majority of Thai people want the size and tasks of Thai military to be curtailed, and believe it should not have any responsibility other than protecting national sovereignty.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>People Poll Thailand has <a href="http://peoplepollthailand.com/poll/result/recent/70">published</a> the result of a survey on Thai military reform, revealing that more that 79 percent of respondents think that the size of the Thai military should be reduced, and only 11.9 percent think that the current size is appropriate.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div p> </div></div>

<p>The Court has ruled that Somsak Jeamteerasakul, the embattled lèse majesté critic and ex-Thammasat lecturer now in self-imposed exile, is not guilty of leaving Thammasat University after the 2014 coup d’état.</p> <p>The Administrative Court on Monday, 11 April 2016, ruled that an order to fire Somsak Jeamteerasakul,56, was illegal.</p> <p>The court reasoned that it did not appear that Somsak intended to be absent from his lectureship at Thammasat University and that his position at the university prior to his self-imposed exile shall remain intact.</p>

<div>The anti-Thaksin civil society has condemned the junta government for issuing orders that intentionally benefit big construction projects which affect locals, and has urged people to use the upcoming referendum as a bargaining chip against the junta.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Academics and civil society state that NCPO Orders 3/2016, 4/2016 and 9/2016, which were issued using the power of Article 44 of 2014 interim charter, are turning Thailand into a capitalists’ paradise. </div>

<p>An officer of the Administrative Court has said that Somsak Jeamteerasakul, the embattled lèse majesté critic and ex-Thammasat lecturer in self-imposed exile, is not guilty of being absent without leave because he faced grave danger.</p>

<p>The Student Affairs Section of Thammasat University has issued a statement saying that people should not to associate Thammasat with activists demanding a probe into Rajabhakti park scandal, while many academics have urged the University to reconsider its statement.</p>