By Prachatai |
A 53-year-old man has been sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison for royal defamation over his Facebook posts questioning the monarchy’s tax spending.
By Prachatai |
Thai civil society organisations have urged the government to boycott Myanmar military’s oil and gas enterprises in light of the weapons trade scandal.
By Prachatai |
The Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases on Wednesday (24 July) found Bell (pseudonym), a 20-year-old student activist, guilty of royal defamation for posts made on the Facebook group of local activist groups in November 2020 and gave him a 1 year and 6 month suspended prison sentence.
Highlight
By Yostorn Triyos |
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.
By Wanna Taemthong |
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p><p>In "Unplugged: Music in Crisis," Thai musicians talk about their lives during and after the pandemic, and the future of creative economy in Thailand.</p>
By Chutikan Chaikittiwatana |
The Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities Act, which contains sections on the employment of persons with disabilities, has been in effect in Thailand since 2007. However, people with disabilities continue to face significant obstacles in every stage of the employment process, from job searching to receiving interview opportunities and fair working conditions.
By Wanna Taemthong |
Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, people from all walks of life have had to leave the country for opposing the coup. Many are seeking refuge in Thailand, including Shwe, a violinist who participated in an anti-coup performance and fled Yangon following a police raid on his family's apartment building, and San Jay, a former government worker-turned-rapper who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement after the coup.
By Chutikan Chaikittiwatana |
In mid-August 2020, at the height of the student-led pro-democracy protests, Thai high school students began protesting by displaying the three-finger salute during the the playing of the national anthem at their morning assembly while wearing white bows as symbols of resistance to dictatorship.
Despite its familiarity in daily Thai life, few are aware of the anthem’s origins, which trace back to the 1932 Siamese revolution that transformed the country into a constitutional monarchy, and as the definition of the nation become contested, the anthem becomes an arena hosting differing definitions among factions of Thais.
By Prachatai |
<p>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.</p>
By Anna Lawattanatrakul |
<p>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.</p>
By Prachatai |
<p>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.</p>
By Anna Lawattanatrakul |
Left without answers following the disappearance of her husband, human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit, Angkhana Neelapaijit has not only spearheaded the search for him but also campaigned for the criminalization of enforced disappearance in Thailand. Today, 20 years later, Angkhana is a member of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. We speak to Angkhana 20 years after Somchai’s disappearance about her life since her husband went missing and her hope for Thailand after the enforcement of the new anti-torture and enforced disappearance law.
By Sasitorn Aksornwilai |
Having spent a decade of her life promoting gender diversity. Natakamon “Priest” Siwasilp, an intersex person and a co-founder of Intersex Thailand, discovered that being intersex is a natural variation of being human. Now, she uses her voice to expand awareness about intersex people, striving for a future where intersex people are wholeheartedly accepted and granted the rights to live the lives they truly desire.
By Voranai Vanijaka |
Criticised for being undemocratic and overly complicated, Thailand's Senate election concluded with the national-level selection on 26 June. Voranai Vanijaka writes that it failed at completing its purpose, allegedly to prevent vote buying and maintain the Senate's independence from political parties, and that it is a reminder that although Thailand is no longer under a dictatorship, the dictator’s legacy continues to rule.
By Harrison George |
Thailand will soon hold its first Senate election since the 2014 military coup. Our resident satirist Harrison George takes us through what might happen when one tries to run for a seat.
By Thanapat Pekanan |
Can the return of exiled politicians ignite hope for Thai democracy and reshape its political landscape? Thanapat Pekanan argues that Jakrapob Penkair, who recently returned to Thailand after 15 years in exile, could pave the way for the return of political refugees if he could reconcile with the establishment and ensure that the plight of those prosecuted by the royal defamation law is addressed.
By Prachatai |
28-year-old Myanmar activist Alexander is one of the costume designers participating in the 2024 #BangkokPride parade. We talk to him about the ideas behind his design, how it represents the threats against the LGBTQ community in Myanmar, and the situation after the 2021 military coup.
By ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) |
On Monday (23 July), ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) held the first hearing of its International Parliamentary Inquiry (IPI) on the adverse impacts of industry activities on the environment, particularly focusing on nickel mining and deforestation in Indonesia.
By International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) |
20 July marked 19 years since the State of Emergency was declared in Thailand's Deep South provinces. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) issued a statement calling for the State of Emergency Decree to be ended or amended to comply with Thailand's international legal obligations and for emergency measures to be lifted without delay, since it has remained in effect longer than necessary, with inadequate checks and balances, leading to the suppression of fundamental freedoms, abuse of power, and violations of human rights.
By ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) |
Parliamentarians, government officials, and civil society organizations in Southeast Asia must work together to address the worsening climate crisis, ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) said following a regional conference entitled Climate Resilience in Southeast Asia: Strengthening the Role of Parliamentarians.