<p>More than ten years after the war on drugs wreaked havoc on many Lahu ethnic minority families in the hilly northern Thai-Myanmar border, arbitrary abuses and discrimination from Thai state authorities continue as they struggle to come to terms with their traumatic past.</p> <p></p>

<div> <div> <div>Veteran The Nation journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk known for his anti-junta stances was allegedly ill-treated &nbsp;at the hands of the military during his 3-day detention.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div> </div></div></div>

<div><em>For the past few decades, Malay, Thai, and Chinese locals living in the southernmost provinces of Thailand have had to carry out their lives amidst an atmosphere of violence and tension.&nbsp;The story examines the everyday's life of Muslim Malay and Thai-Chinese in Patani to see how the violence affects their life and their attempt to normalize the daily discrimination and conflict.</em></div> <p></p>

<div>At the mention of the Thai sex industry, sexpats may start spouting off about their expertise in establishments at Soi Cowboy, Nana, Patpong, and Pattaya. Much less-publicized, however, is the local sex industry catering to Thais. Services offered at the so-called bathing-sauna-massage parlours are different from those for foreign tourists.</div> <p></p>

<p dir="ltr">With an increasing need for energy, the Royal Cambodian Government has spent nearly a billion US dollars on a hydroelectric dam that it claimed was necessary for industry. However, the real social and economic cost of the dam, which will flood an area equivalent to a small province and submerge thousands of families’ houses, might far exceed its construction cost as it might deprive millions of Cambodians of their most important food staple.</p> <p></p>

<div>Early August, &nbsp;Chiang Mai military court ordered a young mother, Ssiwimon, to serve 56 years in prison, reduced to 28 due to her confession, for lèse-majesté&nbsp;</div> <p></p>

<div>Decades of insurgency in the Deep South have embroiled the region in violence. A large number of people, especially Chinese business owners, have moved out of the area.&nbsp;Nevertheless, in the past few years cultural events and halal restaurants have flourished in the three southernmost provinces.</div> <p></p>

<div>While expatriates regularly complain about Bangkok's tricky taxi drivers, Bangkokian Thais are facing much worse -- the poor bus services.&nbsp;The most notorious bus line is the No. 8 Bus which drives through Bangkok’s worst traffic from eastern to central Bangkok.&nbsp;The study into quality of public transportation services and working conditions of drivers and ticket collectors reveal the source of poor service.</div> <p></p>

<div> <div>Since the 70s, Thais have been encountering periodic remakes of a military-themed romantic comedy. Its nine—that’s right, nine—manifestations, released after military coups, show themes of legitimizing and romanticizing the military.&nbsp;</div> </div>

<div><em>Two theater activists have been jailed for insulting the King for their involvement with the Wolf Bride, a student play which parodies the Thai political conflict. At least two actors have fled Thailand because they acted in the same play. &nbsp;</em></div> <p></p>

<div>Thanat Thanawatcharanon aka Tom Dundee was recognized as a celebrity for more than a decade before he disappeared from the media. Recently he re-appeared after being accused of defaming the monarchy and violating orders of the military government.</div> <p></p>

<div>Tiensutham S. , aka Yai Daengdueat, was sentenced to 50 years in jail for posting lèse majesté&nbsp;content on Facebook. The jail term was halved due to confession. Yai's wife -- Kai -- was also arrested and interrogated by the military. Kat tells the story since the arrest which she says there is no days without tear.</div> <p></p>