Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
Two government MPs nearly came to blows in Parliament today. While Mr. Mongkolkit Suksintaranont, leader of the Thai Civilized Party, was in the middle of a media interview, on the ground floor of the parliament building, Mr. Sira Jenjakha, of the Palang Pracharat Party, walked toward the group. Mongkolkit immediately sprinted toward Sira, grabbing his
The conservative all-girl Rajini School has announced that it will not allow students to refer to the Thai Monarchy in an offensive manner and will not allow any actions which are against the school’s regulations, regarding the singing of the national anthem, or bullying. Any student found to have defied this instruction will be dealt
The growing number of students passionately demanding an end to dictatorship, better protection of rights, and greater public participation has sent waves of shock, excitement and fear rippling through Thai society. “Their responses to my questions remind me of the [1980] Gwangju Uprising [in South Korea] and the French Revolution,” said Asst Prof Dr Kanokrat
Thailand’s Criminal Court today granted bail to three anti-government protest leaders and approved the extended detention of six other core members of the Free People and Free Youth movements, as requested by the police. Baramee Chairat, Secretary-General of the Assembly of the Poor, Mrs. Suwanna Tarnlek and Korakot Saengyenphan were freed on bail, on the
Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission has called on all protest groups to specify their demands clearly, supported them with reason and not to claim a monopoly of legitimacy. In a statement issued yesterday, the NHRC said it has been closely monitoring the protests since July 18th and has heard the demands of the various protesting
In another move to appease protesting students, Deputy Permanent Secretary at Thailand’s Ministry of Education, Ms. Duriya Amatavivat, issued an urgent order today instructing all schools to provide space for them to air their views freely on politics and education. This free expression is to be arranged through student councils or groups, while school administrators
Four core members of the Free Youth and Free People movements were taken to the Criminal Court by police this morning, to seek an extension of their detention. They are human rights lawyer Anon Nampa, Assembly of the Poor Secretary-General Baramee Chairat, Suwanna Tarnlek and Korakot Saengyaengpan. All were apprehended separately by police. Anon was
Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa was arrested again by police on Wednesday night, this time in the compound of the Criminal Court, for his alleged role in the protest at the Democracy Monument on August 3rd. He was charged with several offences, including inciting public unrest, and was taken to Chana Songkhram police station to
Former Democrat MP for Phitsanuloke province, Dr. Warong Dejkitvigrom, unveiled a new royalist group today (Wednesday), which is dedicated to protecting the Thai Monarchy, culture and way of life. Dr. Warong and 27 other founding members of the new political group, called the “Thai Pakdee” (Loyal Thai) group, were present at its official launch at
Student activists have threatened to step up their protests in Bangkok and across the country in September to press their demands. Tatthep Ruangprapaikitseri, secretary-general of the Free Youth Movement, said today that the planned protests include a march through the streets of the capital and prolonged nation-wide protests. He cited the protest on August 16th
Respected social critic Dr. Prawase Wasi has proposed that Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the commanders of the three armed forces and former prime ministers hold an official ceremony to seek forgiveness from the people for previous political violence, as well as the most recent coup d’état six years ago. In an exclusive interview with
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha today warned protesting students to be mindful of the risk of COVID-19 infection at congested protest sites, citing a report of the first case, in several months, of a locally-transmitted infection. The reported new case is a Thai who returned home after completing the mandatory 14-day state quarantine and subsequently
