Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
More royalist groups rallied in support of the monarchy in many provinces across the country on Wednesday. In Bangkok, hundreds of people wearing yellow shirts assembled in front of the Government Complex on Chaengwattana Road. The rally was held in response to a call by Rienthong Nanna, director of Mongkutwattana Hospital, a self-declared royalist who
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has revoked the severe state of emergency imposed in Bangkok last week to deal with the ongoing anti-government protests. The revocation, which was published in the Royal Gazette, took effect from noon on Thursday. Related orders have also been lifted. Prayut declared the state of emergency on October 15 claiming the
In a rare move, the Criminal Court admitted that its earlier order to close down all online platforms of Voice TV was “incorrect”. The court on Wednesday overturned its ruling issued a day earlier, blaming a lack of clarity in the petition filed by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES). In its petition
Most observers hold little hope that next week’s extraordinary parliamentary session will lead to concrete solutions satisfactory to both sides in Thailand’s ongoing political conflict. Critics said the move to discuss student-led protesters’ demands in Parliament was just the latest effort by the government to buy time. The crucial point remains whether Prime Minister Prayut
Royalists opposed to the on-going protests demanding a reform of the monarchy have begun to emerge to make their voice heard. As a group of students and royalists held a rally this afternoon at Ramkhamhaeng University to declare their loyalty to the country’s “three pillars” of nation, region and monarchy, similar demonstrations also took
Crowds gathered at many BTS stations around Bangkok today, just before 6pm. Then they sang the National Anthem, raised their 3-finger salute, and most went home right after the song finished. At about 4pm today, the Protest coordinators, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration and the Free YOUTH movement, took to Facebook to urge
The current political conflict in Thailand has widened the rift within Thai society and divided opinion into two main camps, namely pro-democracy and anti-establishment versus pro-government and royalists. It seems as if there is very little room for fence-sitting, especially by those in the spotlight. Celebrities can become opinion leaders, and they can easily draw
In Chiang Mai today, officials at the provincial prison turned down a request, from a group of lecturers and students, to be allowed to visit two protest leaders on remand there, Anont Nampa and Prasit Khrutharoj, claiming that they must be accompanied by the detainees’ lawyers. The two are on remand for 12 days, pending
Two prominent protest leaders, Parit “Penguin” Chivarak and Ms. Panasaya “Rung” Sitthijirawattanakul, were booked by Chanasongkhram police after they were released on bail from Tanya Buri prison in Pathum Thani province this afternoon. The two protest leaders were supposed to be released last night, after the Appeals Court granted them bail, on the condition that
Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Joint Command for the Administration of Emergency Situation, headed by the National Police Chief, to reconsider its order for the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications (NBTC) to clamp down on media outlets which are alleged to have disseminated false
Parliament President Chuan Leekpai has formally informed Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha about cross party agreement to the opening of an extraordinary parliamentary session, to discuss the current political conflict, in a bid to find a peaceful solution. In the formal letter, addressed to the Prime Minister, Mr. Chuan said he had called an
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – The two dozen students who signed up for air pollution expert James Goldstene’s advanced environmental studies class all say they are deeply passionate about fighting climate change. But when it comes to voting in the U.S. presidential election, many said climate change was not their top issue. Their priorities ahead
