News
Jun 9, 2023
A group of pro-democracy activists have demanded that the Election Commission (EC) certify the results of the 14 May general election by 20 June and dismiss the complaint against Move Forward Party leader and prime minister candidate Pita Limjaroenrat over iTV shares because it is no longer a media provider.
Jun 8, 2023
The electricity company Gulf Energy Development has filed a defamation lawsuit against two members of the Thai Sang Thai party over a press conference about rising electricity costs.
Jun 8, 2023
A group of organizations claiming to protect the monarchy has filed a complaint against Pita Limjaroenrat under the royal defamation law and the Computer-Related Crime Act, alleging that his interview with BBC has affected the country’s highest institution.
Highlight
12 Apr 2023
A series of photographs and essay by Real Frame photographer Yostorn Triyos explores life in communities on the banks of the Salween River after the Covid-19 pandemic and the February 2021 Myanmar coup, such as Sop Moei and Mae Sam Laep where people continues to live in uncertainty amidst the war. Meanwhile, the Thai and Myanmar government's project to build 6 dams across the Salween River has been put on hold due to the pandemic and the war.
11 Mar 2023
Following the February 2021 coup in Myanmar and subsequent violence against protesters, a large number of people from Myanmar came to Thailand seeking safety and are now living as refugees in urban areas. Some came with valid visas, while some are undocumented, but all are unrecognised as refugees and unprotected under Thai law.
11 Mar 2023
During the pandemic, Thai musicians and workers in the music industry faced unemployment as bars and entertainment venues were ordered to close. Many had to sell their instruments to keep themselves afloat, or make a living doing whatever else they could, while some left the industry altogether.
In "Unplugged: Music in Crisis," Thai musicians talk about their lives during and after the pandemic, and the future of creative economy in Thailand.
Feature
Jun 7, 2023
While women have long been considered “ornamental,” with the media and the public mainly focusing on their looks or how they dress and act, LGBTQ representation is nearly non-existent. They are subject to the same fate and even worse. A watershed moment for the community came in the last election when 3 self-identified LGBTQ people won MP seats.
May 11, 2023
As the 2023 general election approaches, activists and members of civil society hope for policies that will ensure LGBTQ rights and gender equality for Thailand.
May 2, 2023
During the Covid-19 pandemic, when performance and entertainment venues closed, Thailand's musicians faced unemployment and lack of income. Many were forced to sell their beloved instruments or resort to finding other jobs to make ends meet, while missing out on assistance from the government for being informal workers. Meanwhile, the pandemic brought to the surface issues faced by workers in the Thai music industry, from precarious employment and unfair working conditions to lack of support for the creative economy.
Round Up
Dec 17, 2022
A monarchy supporter with a large online following was arrested on Saturday, hours after he claimed to have raised nearly 700,000 baht to cover the cost of what he described as a ritual to extend the life of King Vajiralongkorn’s eldest child.
Nov 17, 2022
Thailand is currently hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, taking place between 14 – 19 November at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), with the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on 18-19 November. Meanwhile, activist groups and civil society organizations are planning series of protests over the week against what they see as an attempt by the government to boost its legitimacy and greenwash the country’s major polluters.
Oct 15, 2022
A week has passed since the Northeastern massacre that left 37 dead. In the wake of the heartbreaking carnage, authorities and the media have begun to reflect on past errors and look for a way forward.
Interview
Nov 24, 2022
On the same day various leaders from Asia-Pacific nations mingled at a shiny convention center in Bangkok, photographer Chalinee Thirasupa was among a huddle of journalists taking photos of a phalanx of riot police close to Democracy Monument. A glass bottle was suddenly hurled toward her face.
Nov 16, 2022
The Thai office of Amnesty International over the past few months has increasingly turned to tackle more domestic human rights issues. An interview with the Country Director reveals that this decision has had a great impact, even threatening the organization’s existence, and including death threats against Amnesty personnel.
Nov 9, 2022
Two representatives of Buddhists in the Deep South group have gone to Malaysia to meet leading figures in the insurgency. The conversation hints at positive signs toward greater public participation in the peace process.
Opinion
May 9, 2023
In convening the DRAPAC23 Assembly, EngageMedia envisions a space for changemakers to build and strengthen knowledge, collaborations, and momentum to advance the digital rights movement after over two years of virtual convenings and limited networking opportunities.
In this blog post, EngageMedia Executive Director Phet Sayo invites old and new allies in the digital rights space to join in the collaborative sense-making process and reflect on the lessons and challenges ahead in navigating the digital rights landscape.
Apr 13, 2023
With the arrival of the Songkhran holiday comes concerns over road accident and traffic safety. However, Hugo Volkaert writes, the holidays are not why the yearly number of road accidents and casualties in Thailand are among the highest in the world. Design flaws in the road network is part of the problem.
Jan 20, 2023
A recent letter from the Royal Thai Police to the Ministry of Justice indicates that the police now want to delay implementation of the newly-touted points system for improving driver behaviour.
Pick to Post
May 29, 2023
Following the murder of Lao activist-in-exile Bounsuan Kitiyano, whose body was found with three gunshot wounds in the forest in Si Mueang Mai district, Ubon Ratchathani, 10 human rights organizations call on the Thai government to independently investigate the murder and ensure effective remedy to the victim’s family and loved ones.
May 25, 2023
Thai authorities should immediately and impartially investigate the killing of an exiled Lao political activist, Bounsuan Kitiyano, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday (24 May).
May 16, 2023
Following the general election on Sunday (14 May), ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) welcomes the result of the election and calls for the Thai authorities to protect and uphold the will of the people in government formation, condemning any subversion of election result or blocking the formation of a new government by the winning parties "an unconscionable betrayal."
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