Members of a labour network have gathered in front of the Labour Ministry, calling on the government to address the cost-of-living and energy crisis.

14 Thai civil society organisations have called on newly re-elected Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to urgently address the fuel crisis, criticising the PM for mishandling the issue, which has driven up the overall cost of living in the country.

During a no-confidence debate on Monday (24 March), two MPs from the People’s Party blamed Thailand's soaring electricity bills on the government’s overpayment for energy from companies linked to the Shinawatra family.

<p>In Thailand, there is a long and distinguished tradition of citizens and non-citizens being able to petition the reigning monarch. This tradition leads dates back at least to the time of the King Ram Khamhaeng stele. Given the circumstances, this open letter to General Prem Tinsulanonda, Head of the Privy Council, is an exercising of that right.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>CC HRH the Heir Apparent Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>General,</p>

<p dir="ltr">Fusion, a more environmentally friendly form of energy that operates at the nuclear level, but by combining atoms -- typically forms of hydrogen -- is a potential new answer not only for Thailand's quest for clean energy but for the requirements of the entire planet, and especially economies in transition.</p>

<p dir="ltr"><strong><span id="docs-internal-guid-53064c4f-1112-8fa4-85d4-8b3703dd3c85">Introduction</span></strong></p>

<p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-59fea16f-8289-c40b-1553-c1f3c0ce4706">One of the downsides of authoritarian military dictatorships is that the public has little influence on politically important issues, such as energy policy. No major Thai daily newspaper supports coal, and they regularly carry articles lobbying against a coal-fired future (e.g., see this recent </span><a href="http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thailands-power-dilemma-amid-a-climate-of-fear-30267497.html">lead opinion editorial</a> in The Nation).</p>

<p>The Energy Ministry has warned that if nuclear power is not an option, the public will face higher electricity rates, due to the high price of liquefied natural gas.</p>