Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been blamed for a lack of progress in attempts to effect major reform of the Royal Thai Police. In his Facebook post today, Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn said that the much-needed reforms have not progressed since the Prime Minister, in his capacity as leader of the junta which took power in
Ban Sisao Thewes, for more than four decades the official residence of the late Privy Council President Prem Tinsulanonda, since he served as the army Commander-in-Chief, is being demolished, after the land on which this building is sited was returned by the Army to its owner, the Crown Property Bureau. A sentry kiosk in front
The brass plaque installed at Sanam Luang on Sunday as a sign of defiance by protesters demanding reforms of the monarchy has been removed. Thai PBS news team found the spot where the plaque was embedded was covered with fresh cement. It’s still unclear when or by whom the plaque was removed. The anti-government installed
Thailand’s Former National Intelligence Agency Deputy Director Nantiwat Samart said today (Sunday) that protest leaders are likely to face legal consequences arising from their roles during the rally at Sanam Luang during the weekend, and that those free on bail may have their bail revoked. He dismissed the protest leaders’ claim there were about 200,000
The lost legacy of Khana Ratsadon was symbolically reborn when a new memorial plaque embodying the spirit of the 1932 Siamese Revolution was embedded by anti-government protesters at Sanam Luang in Bangkok early Sunday morning. In a move seen as a bold show of opposition to the Thai monarchy, leaders of the student-led anti-establishment movement
Anti-government protesters have ended their rally at Sanam Luang after submitting the so-called “10-point manifesto” aimed at reforming the monarchy to the Privy Council this morning. The demand was submitted through metropolitan police chief Pol Lt Gen Pakkapong Pongpetra after the protesters were blocked from approaching the headquarters of the Privy Council which is located
Non-governmental organization iLaw is continuing its signature collection campaign for constitutional amendments by encouraging today’s protesters to sign up. iLaw staff are manning a tent at Sanam Luang to collect signatures, hoping that they will be able to reach over 80,000 additional signatures, which will be more than enough to support its proposal for
Exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has asked the Thai people about their livelihoods today, 14 years since his government was overthrown in a coup d’état, staged by then Army Commander-in-Chief General Sonthi Boonyaglin. In his Facebook post, addressed to Thai citizens today, to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the putsch, which took place
All eyes are focused on Thailand’s student-led protest today, with a sense of anxiety over how it will develop. This morning (Saturday), Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus remains closed. after guards placed chains on all its gates, except the one leading to Phra Arthit Road, at about 8pm last night, to prevent protesting students from
TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan’s new prime minister will pursue economic structural reforms through a mixed bag of policies that target specific industries, rather than a grand strategy to reshape society and boost long-term growth. Armed with a strong grip on Japan’s bureaucracy, Yoshihide Suga knows which levers to pull to get results, say government
Hundreds of protesters are now occupying the campus of Thammasat University after forcing open its main gate to begin what they claim to be the biggest rally against the Prayut government. The protesters, led by Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul and Panupong Jardnok, tried unsuccessfully to negotiate with university officials for the gate to be open. They eventually
BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) – China began combat drills near the Taiwan Strait on Friday, the same day a senior U.S. official began high-level meetings in Taipei, as Beijing denounced tightening ties between Chinese-claimed Taiwan and the United States. Beijing has watched with growing alarm the ever-closer relationship between Taipei and Washington, and has stepped up
