<p>The US has developed a project which can emit electromagnetic waves into the atmosphere to be reflected back to the earth to cause ‘natural disasters’ at targeted areas, as a new kind of weapon to destroy enemies, said Panthep Puapongpan, spokesperson for the People’s Alliance for Democracy in an ASTV-Manager television programme on 20 June.</p>
<p>Sensate: A Journal of Critical Media Practice has launched a special issue of its online journal "Unspeakable Things" ["สิ่งที่แตะต้องไม่ได้"].</p>
By Andrew Spooner |
<p>After years of waiting for Amnesty International's support, lese majeste detainees hope smuggled letter will bring NGO on board</p>
<p>The following is an English translation of a letter addressed directly to Amnesty International from a political prisoner in Thailand, <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/search/node/thanthawut">Thanthawut Taweewarodomkul</a>, who was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment for breaching Thailand's draconian lese majeste law.</p>
<p>Video clip of panel discussion on the lese majeste law held on 7 June in Bangkok with speakers including Benedict Anderson, Pravit Rojanaphruk, Andrew MacGregor Marshall (via Skype), and Sulak Sivaraksa, moderated by Lisa Gardner.</p>
<p>On 30 May, the Criminal Court found Prachatai Director Chiranuch Premchaiporn guilty of allowing readers’ comments deemed offensive to the monarchy to remain on the Prachatai webboard for too long.</p>
<p>A yellow shirt in Roi Et has filed a lèse majesté complaint against Nation reporter Pravit Rojanaphruk, for his contributions to Prachatai. </p>
<p>Surachai Danwatthananusorn has been hospitalized since 17 May with high blood pressure and a swollen prostate, resulting in fatigue and loss of appetite, said his wife Pranee. </p>
<p>On 18 May, a bail request by Somyot Prueksakasemsuk was denied yet again and the Constitutional Court dismissed his petition to seek its ruling on the constitutionality of Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lèse majesté law.</p>
<p>On 16 May, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs met to hear the case of Amphon Tangnoppakul, the lèse majesté convict who died from liver cancer during detention, and invited officials from several agencies including the Corrections Department, the Court of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission, as well as Amphon’s lawyers and family members.</p>
<p>National Human Rights Commissioner Niran Phithakwatchara and members of an NHRC subcommittee have been accused of lèse majesté by the head of Kaeng Krachan National Park after they intervened in a project, which the park claims was implemented in honour of the King.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.ccaa112.org/web/">Campaign Committee to Amend Article 112</a> (CCAA) has already collected over 10,000 signatures to propose the <a href="http://www.prachatai.com/english/node/2997">Nitirat bill</a> to Parliament to amend the lèse majesté law.</p>
<p>The utterly sad thing about being human is to mistake wrong for right, seeing evil deeds as maintaining justice because one is so misguided as to see oneself as superior to others</p>