Opinion pieces and commentary on Thailand's current affairs, in English, from Thai PBS World contributors.
Thailand’s heated debate over the lèse-majesté law has been revived, with supporters and detractors clashing on social media following the arrest of dozens of alleged violators in recent weeks. Some politicians have called for the repeal of Article 112 of the Criminal Code, under which defaming, insulting or threatening the King, the Queen, the heir-apparent
The new wave of COVID-19 has forced leaders of the anti-establishment movement to break from street rallies and focus instead on legal cases stemming from their campaign. As a result, the protests have moved online, with rally organisers launching new attacks on the government and the monarchy via social media. Key protesters’ participation in last
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has tossed an explosive question into the country’s ongoing battle against the COVID-19 outbreak: Should illegal migrant workers pay for their own treatment if infected? The move by Anutin, who is also deputy prime minister, could have a serious impact not just on foreign workers, but on the entire country.
After 12 months of tumult and tragedy, 2020 will go down as the “worst year ever” for millions in Thailand. Along with a global contagion that almost shut down the economy and society, the past year saw Thailand’s political divide widen as the youth-led street movement challenged a status quo rooted in the 2014 coup.
The country is counting down to December 2, when the Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule if Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha should lose his post for violating the charter. Just days before Wednesday’s verdict, observers remain divided as to whether the court will send Prayut packing – in the same way as it has
Fear is growing that Thailand’s ongoing political conflict will intensify, with no visible way out, after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha declared that “all existing laws” would be wielded against anti-establishment protesters. Critics voiced concern that the draconian lese majeste law, which has not been used for some time, may be deployed to shackle the youth-led
As ongoing pro-democracy protests prompt more and more Thais to choose sides, actor and charity worker Bin Bunluerit has stood up to declare himself an uncompromising royalist. He surprised the public on Monday by announcing tearfully in a Facebook clip that he was severing his 34-year relationship with the Ruamkatanyu Foundation because he wanted to
Given his humble background and inspirational rise to the top, Loei governor Chaiwat Chuenkosum knows exactly where to find people in dire need. Hence, his destination one day recently was a pawnshop. Inside Loei City Municipality’s pawn facility, he pored over records of pawned items and identified 44 people in need of immediate assistance. He
After weeks of fumbling for answers to deal with the worsening coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha finally said what many had wanted to hear: “I am in charge.” But what do these grand-sounding words coming from the country’s top leader mean? As prime minister, wasn’t he supposed to be in charge all along? Probably
Opinion The Constitutional Court’s verdict to dissolve the Future Forward Party (FFP) and ban 16 party executives from politics for 10 years on February 21, 2020 sends a shock wave to the democratic development in Thailand. Legal and political experts scramble to explain, argue against, or defend the decisions. Activists and political supporters step up
The future of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) could hang in a balance as it remains uncertain which parties will form the new government. The EEC, the massive-scale infrastructure project stretching across three eastern provinces, is seen as a brainchild of the outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha government. Therefore, some questioned what would happen to
Thaksin Shinawatra’s camp always springs a surprise when it comes to who it picks as prime minister. Late Samak Sundaravej was a veteran, but everyone had ruled him out when he emerged to rule the country under the People’s Power Party. Somchai Wongsawat was virtually a political minnow when he took the top executive post.
