Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Thailand’s so-called pro-democracy bloc is still far from breaking down, but the rift between opposition allies Pheu Thai and Kao Klai could very well undermine their common goal of changing the military-backed Constitution. The two parties recently failed to agree over how the charter should be amended. The main opposition Pheu Thai and six other
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is up in arms against the possible resumption of the use of two hazardous substances, paraquat and chlorpyrifos, the use of which, in the agricultural sector, has been prohibited in Thailand since June. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held an urgent meeting, with top public health officials, on Sunday
The royalist Thai Pakdee group has announced manifesto. Its policies include protection of the Thai Monarchy, no constitutional changes and strict enforcement of the law, with action to be taken against those who offend the revered institution. A number of the group’s followers, who are mostly adults, attended its first rally at the Din Daeng
The opposition Pheu Thai party will seek a reduction of 389 million baht, allocated by the Department of Primary Industries and Mines to legal expenses to defend the suspension of the goldmining operations of Akara Resources Company by the military junta in 2016. Pheu Thai MP for Maha Sarakham province, Mr. Yutthapong Charassathien, who is
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) to postpone the procurement of two Chinese-made submarines, worth about 22.5 billion baht, for about one year, Government Spokesman Mr. Anucha Burapachaisri said Monday. He said the RTN will, at a later date, clarify the progress of its negotiations with the Chinese supplier
The throwing of paint over a police officer by a singer, during a protest in front of Samranrat police station in Bangkok on Friday, has drawn mixed reactions from all sides of Thailand’s political divide. The lead singer of the Bottom Blues Band, Chai-amorn Kaewviboonpant, alias Emmy, threw blue paint at an officer during a
Activists and academics have criticized the Prayut government’s new youth forums as a propaganda exercise aimed at retaining power while excluding student protesters’ calls for change in the country. “It’s clear the government is not sincere or even willing to listen to us, so there’s no point in us joining these forums,” Tattep Ruangprapaikitseree,
Democrat MP Thepthai Senpong, and his sibling Manote, were both sentenced this morning (Friday) to two-years in prison, without suspension, after being found guilty of election fraud. The Senpong brothers were accused of vote buying after holding a party for voters, ahead of the election of the mayor of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial
Thailand’s “red-shirt” movement leader, Jatuporn Promphan, has hit back at the Kao Klai party and its supporters, branding them “a new breed of dictators” who claim to champion democracy, but do not tolerate different opinions. The chairman of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) made the remark in response to fierce criticism, from
A brief commotion occurred in front of the Samranrat police station in Bangkok on Friday morning when a leader of the anti-establishment protesters marched from the October 14th Memorial to the station to acknowledge charges filed by the police. The leader, Chatupat Boonpatthararaksa, alias Pai Daodin, has been charged over matters relating to his
Whatever the truth, the impression among anti-government protesters is that mainstream media are not doing the job they are supposed to. The protesters believe that the role of keeping the public informed in this most critical time is being taken over by social media. Even members of the traditional media also agree. Thapanee Eidsrichai, a
TOKYO (Reuters) – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving premier, announced his resignation because of poor health on Friday, ending a stint at the helm of the world’s third-biggest economy in which he sought to revive growth and bolster its defences. “I have decided that I will step down as prime minister, with the
