BANGKOK — Soldiers reportedly ordered a university in Bangkok to cancel a panel discussion on the new constitution, which will be put to national referendum next January.

The forum was organized by a student activist group at Ramkhamhaeng University, and scheduled to take place today at 1 pm. However, a representative from the Network of Student Activists for Society, Pongnarin Nonthakam, arrived at the venue and announced that the university had asked his group to cancel the forum, citing orders from soldiers. 

"I'd like to insist that this forum and this discussion was [meant to be] an expression of academic opinion about the constitution, without any political agenda or intention to cause unrest, or harm the climate of reconciliation," Pongnarin said. "We will discuss whether to organize this activity again in the future."

Political gatherings have been banned in Thailand since the military junta seized power from an elected government in May 2014. The ban also extends to academic seminars.

One of the soldiers observing the event told Khaosod that the students will not face any legal action because they "fully cooperated" with the soldiers' request to cancel the talk. 

Nanthapong Panmas, a former Student President of Ramkhamhaeng University, said he was disappointed to see authorities block discussion of the junta's charter.

"This forum was about spreading knowledge," he told reporters. "I'd like to tell the government to let all universities open a space for students to express academic opinions."

Niran Pantarakit, the member of the junta's reform council invited to sit on the panel, said he was told by the organizers at around midday that the event would not take place. 

"When I was contacted to join the talk, I didn't think there would be any problem at all, because it is just about explanation about the process of drafting of the new constitution, and about the process to amend the [current] interim constitution, so that the students will understand, and encourage them to ask questions," Niran said. 

Thailand's Election Commission has tentatively scheduled the referendum for 10 January 2016. The military junta says elections will be held in September 2016 if the charter passes the referendum, but officials have not commented on what will happen if the charter is rejected.

The junta has also dismissed calls to lift its ban on political activities and campaigning, which has been in place since it staged a coup, to allow for free debate about the charter before the referendum. 

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BANGKOK — Fourteen young pro-democracy activists charged with sedition have been imprisoned while they await trial for their recent demonstration against the military junta in Bangkok.

The thirteen men and one woman are being held at Bangkok Remand Prison and Bangkok Central Women Prison, respectively. Authorities can detain them for up to 12 days, which can be extended seven times, before they are formally tried in court. 

The fourteen, eleven of whom are university students, have been charged with violating the junta’s ban on political gatherings, and inciting "unrest and disaffection among the people in a manner likely to cause disturbances in the country.”

Poonsuk Poonsukcharoen, the group’s legal representative, said she believes the charges – which carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison – were filed over the peaceful pro-democracy demonstration the group held at Ratchadamnoen Avenue on 25 June.

They are now facing trial in martial court, where military officers serve as judges and appeals are not permitted.

Police arrested the group at around 5pm yesterday at a hostel in Bangkok and took them to Phra Ratchawang Police Station for several hours of interrogation before bringing them to martial court, which normally closes at 6pm on Fridays, but stayed open until midnight yesterday to process their case.

Around 50 people gathered in front of the court to light candles, make speeches, and sing pro-democracy songs in support of the group.

At around 20 minutes past midnight the court rejected the lawyers' request to release the students, and ordered the fourteen to be jailed. Police vans were seen taking the activists away to their prisons. 

The group's lawyer told reporters last night that the activists expressed their intention not to post bail because they refused to acknowledge the military court’s legitimacy to try them, and insisted on being tried by a civilian court instead. However, Poonsuk and other lawyers still attempted to contest the court's order to have them remanded.

"All of the suspects were in good spirits throughout their time inside the interrogation room," she said. 

The fourteen activists are Rangsiman Rome, Chonticha Chaeng-rew, Ratthapol Surasopon, Songtham Kaewpanpruek, Pornchai Yuanyee, Pakorn Arrekul, Abhisit Sapnaphana, Jaturapak Boonpatararaksa, Apiwat Suntararak, Payu Bunsophon, Panupong Srithananuwat, Suwitcha Thipangkorn, Supachai Pukrongploy, and Wasan Sethsitthi.

The latter seven are members of Dao Din, a social justice group formed by law students at Khon Kaen University. 

All fourteen activists are also facing charges of violating the junta's orders for staging events on the one-year anniversary of the May 2014 coup in Bangkok and Khon Kaen. Police had ordered the activists to surrender by 19 June, but the fourteen refused to do so in what they referred to as an act of "civil disobedience."

The arrests highlight the ongoing suppression of civil rights in Thailand by the ruling military junta that seized power from an elected government in May 2014. 

Today, Human Rights Watch released a statement calling for an immediate and unconditional release of the fourteen activists. The US-based rights group also called upon the military junta to stop trying civilians in martial courts. 

"Thailand’s junta should immediately stop arresting and prosecuting student activists," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "While insisting they aren’t dictators, the Thai generals have used the military courts as a central feature of their crackdown against peaceful criticism and political dissent."

Yesterday, Human Rights Watch itself became a target of censorship by Thailand's military government when police canceled the group’s scheduled press conference on human rights abuses in neighboring Vietnam. According to the order delivered by police, Thai authorities were concerned that the event could affect relations between Thailand and Vietnam. 

Speaking to reporters today, Gen. Udomdet Sitabutr, commander of the Thai army, suggested that the fourteen activists pursue other activities, like sports and academic competitions, instead of protesting. 

"I would like to see these students, who are like young siblings to me, try to do things that help develop the country and improve its reputation, instead of disrupting peace and order," Gen. Udomdet said. "I'd like to beg them, please don't do it. My plea extends to groups that still support this movement, which are not many in number. Please stop. Don't do things like this." 

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BANGKOK — Police have arrested the fourteen activists who defied the junta's ban on protests and led a pro-democracy demonstration in Bangkok yesterday.

The activists, most of whom are university students in their early 20s, were arrested this evening at Suan Ngern Meema hostel in Bangkok's Charoen Nakhon district, where they had been staying for the past two days.

Police and army officers entered the hostel, which is owned by the prominent historian Sulak Sivaraksa, at around 5:30pm with arrest warrants approved by a martial court. The activists were taken in police vans to Phra Ratchawang Police Station.

According to the arrest warrant, the group, known collectively as the Neo-Democracy Movement, violated the military junta's Order 3/2015, which bans public gatherings "for political purposes" of more than five people.

The activists are also accused of violating Section 116 of the Criminal Codes, which outlaws causing "unrest and disaffection among the people in a manner likely to cause disturbances in the country." 

They are now facing trial in martial court, where military officers serve as judges and appeals are not permitted.

The fourteen activists are Rangsiman Rome, Chonticha Chaeng-rew, Ratthapol Supasopon, Songtham Kaewpanpruek, Pornchai Yuanyee, Pakorn Arrekul, Abhisit Sapnaphana, Jaturapak Boonpatararaksa, Apiwat Suntararak, Payu Bunsophon, Panupong Srithananuwat, Suwitcha Thipangkorn, Supachai Pukrongploy, and Wasan Sethsitthi. The latter seven are members of Dao Din, a social justice group formed by law students at Khon Kaen University. 

The students singing an anti-coup song in front of Bangkok's Democracy Monument on 25 June 2015.

Yesterday, the activists announced the formation of their group, the Neo-Democracy Movement, and marched along Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the site of numerous political protests and uprisings in Thai history.

To the surprise of many, security officers trailed the activists throughout the demonstration but did not attempt to arrest them.

All fourteen activists are also facing charges of violating the junta's orders for staging events on the one-year anniversary of the May 2014 coup in Bangkok and Khon Kaen. Police had ordered the activists to surrender by 19 June, but the fourteen refused to do so in what they referred to as an act of "civil disobedience." 

BANGKOK — Leaders of Thailand's military junta have accused young pro-democracy activists of receiving backing from established political groups in an effort to discredit the junta and cause "unrest."

Gen. Udomdet Sitabutr, Thailand’s army chief and a member of the junta, said this morning that he was "uncomfortable" with the fourteen activists, most of whom are university students, who marched in Bangkok yesterday after forming a group called the Neo-Democracy Movement.

"We have received information about the political groups who are involved in the students' movement," Gen. Udomdet said. "I have the names of everyone who has supported the movement, but I don't want to disclose these names."

When asked to specify which "political groups" are allegedly backing the activists, he replied:

"Those who are dissatisfied with national administration of the government. I think that's the case. But I'd like to tell them that I still have respect for them. We might invite them for a discussion in practical way, and we will certainly not be negligent about this. But I will not tell the media things that are inappropriate for my position."

The army chief also warned that if left unchecked, the activists' campaign could lead to "conflicts with people who are unhappy with the activists, and then they will use weapons against each other and stage bomb attacks again."

"I am uncomfortable seeing students come out and engage in a movement like this," he said. "Teachers and lecturers have a duty not to teach students to express their opinions when the country has been damaged so much."

The Neo-Democracy Movement was founded by fourteen young activists from Bangkok and Khon Kaen province who are wanted by police for organizing pro-democracy demonstrations on the one-year anniversary of the 22 May 2014 coup. Police surprised many yesterday by only observing – and not arresting – any members of the group as they marched down Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok.

While Thailand's major political parties and organizations have largely stayed quiet under orders from the junta this past year, student activists in Bangkok and Khon Kaen have staged regular, small-scale demonstrations against the military government.

Junta chairman and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha also told reporters today "there is certainly someone behind" the activists.

"You can see for yourself on social media," Gen. Prayuth said at the Government House. "Go see for yourself on the websites. I have seen it on websites."

Gen. Prayuth added that he has given the students "many chances," but still failed to reach an understanding with them.

"I have invited them for talks, but they accuse me of censorship. If we do not talk, how can we understand each other? Yet, after we talk, we still don't understand each other. That means there must be someone behind this. We have to unmask these people."

Gen. Prayuth asked the activists to stop "referencing old events in 1973 and 1992," referring to two popular uprisings in Thai history that successfully brought down military juntas. 

"They are totally different situations," he said. "Don't bring those days into today. History is a lesson for us … If we do something bad now, that will become the future of Thailand. Mark my words."