<p dir="ltr"><em>Note: On 29 April, a university professor was<a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/7132"> arrested</a> as part of a sweep of six individuals accused of committing lèse majesté by posting to Facebook. He has been denied bail, as most are in these cases. Last week, Yukti Mukdawijitra, an anthropology professor at Thammasat University went to visit him. What follows are his reflections on their conversation, which was first published in Thai in his usual<a href="https://blogazine.pub/blogs/yukti-mukdawijitra/post/6013"> blog column</a> for Prachatai.—trans.</em></p>

<div><a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/6805">Porntip ‘Kolf’ Mankhong</a>, a former political prisoner, looks back at her more-than-a-decade of activism, arguing that the rise of ‘heroism’ among student activists is threatening solidarity and participation in Thailand’s democracy movement. Prontip gave this speech at the 2017 Asia Youth Leadership Forum For Democracy in Seoul.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>I’m lucky to have been an activist since the age of 16; it means I got to know myself early. I had time to try many things, to make mistakes and learn from them too. </div>

<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4165/34654218016_9ee357b1ec_b.jpg" style="width: 640px; height: 334px;" /></div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Last month, a photo of Saudi Arabia’s Girl’s Council became viral because of one peculiarity: the total absence of women and girls in it. Thousands of Thais – including many LGBTIs – must have sniggered at the image. </div>

<p>Thailand’s military government hurriedly approved the budget to purchase three submarines from China, defending its decision as “strategically necessary” in the age of uncertain security situation in the region. However, the junta’s decision has been heavily criticised by the Thai public on the real need for the costly submarines at the time of the country’s economic downturn.</p>

<p><em>Note: Jit Phumisak (25 September 1930 – 5 May 1966) was one of the foremost Thai Marxism thinkers of the twentieth century. His most well-known work, The Real Face of Thai Feudalism, was published while he was still a student in the Faculty of Arts at Chulalongkorn University in 1957. The Real Face, which was later translated into English by Craig Reynolds, offered an analysis of feudalism and its remnants in Thai society, politics, and law. The volume was swiftly banned and he was arrested later that year and accused of being a communist.</em></p>

<p dir="ltr">When Ajarn Tum (Sudsanguan) Suthisorn was released from prison, Ajarn Charnvit Kasetsiri greeted her with a public message on Facebook that read, “Welcome back from the small prison to the large prison” (he did not use these exact words, but this was the gist). I gave my knee a loud slap when I read these lines. That is exactly right.</p> <p></p>

<p>On a Saturday night in mid-September 2013 I was sat at table in a deserted restaurant in an exclusive beachside resort in Phuket. My companions were graduate students and researchers from Chulalongkorn University and Japan’s prestigious Kyoto University.</p>

<div>Between 21-24 March 2017, Ratchaburi Provincial Court will hold witness hearings for and against <a href="https://prachatai.com/english/node/6516">the criminal case of Taweesak Kerdpoka</a>, 25, a Prachatai journalist. </div>

<p>I took a taxi from Kuala Lumpur's bustling shopping centre at the Petronas Twin Towers in the heart of the city. It was taking me along one of the busy highways which cuts through the city to a tom yam restaurant. Thai food is very popular in Malaysia but what most people are unaware of is that most of the owners and workers of the thousands of tom yam restaurants across Malaysia are Patani Malays from across the border in Thailand's Patani region of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat.</p>

<p>Japan’s Emperor&nbsp;Akihito and Empress Michiko&nbsp;will visit Thailand from 5-6 March 2017. This will be their first visit in ten years, mainly to strengthen ties between the two countries and for Their Majesties to pay the last respect to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3793/33079952542_3ce0394132_z.jpg" /></p>

<p>I decided to write this letter for you,&nbsp;my&nbsp;little&nbsp;son, and for the many other children&nbsp;who may be confused when you hear the story of&nbsp;“Pai.” You may not understand the disappearance of the once-beautiful world.&nbsp;When you grow up a bit, you will come to be aware of more than your own life and comfort.&nbsp;</p> <p>Pai&nbsp;is a university student and activist.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the Thai political crisis that eventually led to a coup in 2006 overthrowing the government of Thaksin Shinawatra, it became evident that the Thai middle class and an army of civil society organisations were not performing as agents of change. Instead they became defenders of the old power to protect their political interests. In 2005, the Bangkok-based People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) launched protests Thaksin. Clad in yellow shirts, the protesters accused Thaksin of commtting corruption and disrespecting the much-revered monarchy—a sacred institution in Thailand.</p>