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A minimal start would be for the Junta to comply with the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Thailand has been  a signatory since 1996 and  which Thailand ratified in 1997.

"I cannot interfere because this is a matter of the law."  But he did lead a coup which  was illegal under the constitution in place at the time.

Small particulate matter (PM^2.5) is a carcinogen, and is small enough to enter the blood stream so that not only the lungs are affected. Once again we are offered this bland advice to wear masks. The commonly seen surgical masks made of paper or other non-woven materials are next to useless as protection against outdoor air pollutants.

'Natives'?

Yesterday The Nation reported Sansern as asserting that the S.44 orders are already laws.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/politics/30335891

An article in today's Bangkok Post reports that according to a Deputy PM about 50 S.44 orders will be made into laws to avoid them lapsing after the general election:
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/1393458/section-44-orders-to-be-legislated-into-law
Confused?

The UK-Thailand extradition treaty of 1911 is still in force and can be read here:
http://www.thailawforum.com/database1/Treaty-Thailand-and-Great-Britain.html

Her Thai conviction for dereliction of duty as PM probably doesn't cut the mustard.

Prawat's apparent obsession with flashy, expensive watches is highly reminiscent of that character of similar appearance in Wind in the Willows.

1 hour ago, Ossy said:

167 deaths already registered but many more expected from those with life-threatening injuries in hospital. These typically add a further 10% onto the initial figure, 16 let's say, giving a 'grand' - no sic-pun intended - total of 183.

 

Last year's 3-day total was 199, so we could be in for a nigh-on10% reduction . . . if we're not careful.

Fair point, but are they added to the tally on the day they died or the day of their fatal injury?

Better so far than recent years, but still so very tragic. The numbers for last year and the year before can be found here:
http://www.richardbarrow.com/2017/01/full-road-accident-statistics-for-new-year-2016-2017-in-thailand/

The key problem is income inequality and this is just as much a concern in urban areas as in the rural communities.  Thailand has the 3rd highest level of income inequality in the world – 58% of Thai wealth is in the hands of only 1% of the population.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/advanced/1147468/thailand-third-most-unequal-country-in-world
It's not just a matter of fairness.  Income inequality has potentially serious negative health and social impacts.  Physical health, mental health, drug abuse, education, imprisonment, obesity, social mobility, trust/harmony and community life, violence, teenage pregnancies, and child well-being are all worse in countries with high income inequality.    The problem is not resolved by reducing the levels of poverty because the driver is the  difference between high and low incomes rather than the prevalence of poverty in the low income earners  and the indications are that, if left unchecked, income inequality increases with economic growth.  

It would be more helpful if the Medical Science Department listed the names of the 12 cosmetic products containing mercury and set up system for reporting where these items are being sold.

"If it is necessary, we will set up a party, but if it’s not, we won’t."

Of course, the shorter the time allowed between the election and the lifting of the ban on political activity, the more poorly organised parties other than a NCPO party will look. and the stronger the argument will be that a NCPO is "necessary".

Catch 22. Since preparing to commence political activities is itself a political activity and political activities are banned, it's hard to see how any political party can ever be ready.

Right now Tropical Depression Twenty Four is about to cross the northern Philippines heading due west. The depression is forecast to strengthen to a category 1 typhoon as it crosses the South China Sea  before making landfall in Vietnam on Monday.  On Tuesday it is forecast to be a tropical storm over northeast Thailand and Laos:
https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/western-pacific/2017/tropical-depression-twentyfour?map=5day

So, for how much longer will the ban on political party activities remain in force?

"How can election be held if there are still bombings and the use of war weapons, conflicts among the people and the same old problems?”

How can the junta justify its continuation if there are still bombings and the use of war weapons, conflicts among the people and the same old problems?

Trump will be seeking advice on how to rewrite constitutions:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-us-constitution-archaic-really-bad-fox-news-100-days-trump-popularity-ratings-barack-a7710781.html

16 hours ago, simoh1490 said:

Your link shows PM <2.5 being higher than PM <10 and I wonder how that can be possible since PM <2.5 is a component of PM <10?

I agree this is confusing, but the numbers in the table are AQI values and not concentrations. See:
http://aqicn.org/faq/2013-02-02/why-is-pm25-often-higher-than-pm10/

As usual, no report of PM^2.5  particulate levels which are far more dangerous to health, and these smaller particles travel much further afield from their sources. The failure to report these levels and their more serious consequences is beginning to look more like deliberate childish obstinacy rather than just ignorance. Despair!

The headline is 'Thai English'. The normal English is 'rain' and 'hail;'

This ambient air pollution interactive map provided by WHO is helpful. The problem of airborne small particulate matter seems to have been just as much an issue in the northeastern and central regions as in the north. Note that the map shows levels of PM_2.5.   The World Health Organisation's guideline limits for PM_2.5 are  a 10 μg/m3 annual mean and a 25 μg/m3 24-hour mean.
http://maps.who.int/airpollution/

The World Health Organisation's guideline limits for PM₁₀ are  a 20 μg/m3 annual mean and a 50 μg/m3 24-hour mean.  More importantly the article does not mention PM_2.5.  It's these smaller particles which are the major risks to health.