Follow Thai politics in English — government policy, elections, parliament and political developments, with reporting and analysis from Thai PBS World.
The House Committee, formed to study problems with and ways to amend Thailand’s Constitution, has resolved to change Section 256 of the charter, to clear the way for broader constitutional amendments. The committee’s Chairman, Mr. Peeraphan Saleeratthavipak, said today that, without amending Section 256, it will be impossible to amend other clauses. He added that
WASHINGTON (AP) — A shift to mail voting is increasing the chances that Americans will not know the winner of November’s presidential race on election night. But that doesn’t mean the results will be flawed or fraudulent, as President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday. Trump, seeking to already undermine the results of an election he
Creative student rallies ranging from an anime-themed “Hamtaro Run” to a pomelo-eating protest may be successful in attracting the young generation, but they will need crystal-clear demands and ideology to win their battle against the government, experts say. The return of student rallies against the Prayut government has made national headlines – but more
With the COVID-19 crisis receding in Thailand, restrictions on public gatherings have been relaxed and young protesters are returning to the streets nationwide to demand changes to the Constitution and dissolution of the House of Representatives. Mostly university students, the protesters have also demanded that the government stop using legal means to silence critics of
Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak was found guilty Tuesday of corruption over the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal that cost him his government, and could face decades in jail. The ex-prime minister was convicted on all charges in his first trial related to the looting of sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad. Billions of dollars were stolen
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has cried foul over Thailand’s National Economic and Social Development Board’s (NESDB) plan to cut to seven the 500 Baht monthly payments for the country’s 1.05 million public health volunteers, for their hard work in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Do not interfere. How do they (NESDB) know
An amnesty for political offenders is being proposed again, at a time when leaders of anti-government protests over the past 15 years are suffering legal penalties including jail terms and hefty damages. The renewed pardon call has reignited the issue that sparked political crisis in 2013 when a government-sponsored amnesty bill sailed through the Lower
Army Commander-in-Chief General Apirat Kongsompong said today that he is uncomfortable with some student activists using improper language about the Monarchy on social media. While admitting that student activists have the right to free expression, he said that there are limits, they must not infringe on the rights of the other people and that impolite
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took fresh aim at China on Thursday and said Washington and its allies must use “more creative and assertive ways” to press the Chinese Communist Party to change its ways, calling it the “mission of our time.” Speaking at the Nixon Library in President Richard
The leader of the “red-shirt” movement has warned student activists not to cross a line, by infringing upon the Monarchy, or they will meet the same fate that befell the red-shirt protesters in 2010 and the student activists involved in the “October 6” events of 1976. Jatuporn Promphan, chairman of the United Front for Democracy
Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has cried foul over the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s ruling, which faulted her, former PM Office Minister Niwatthamrong Thamrong Paisan and former secretary-general to the Prime Minister, Suranand Vejjajiva, for alleged malfeasance in office relating to the spending of 240 billion baht of tax payer’s money to promote the “Thailand
Thailand’s former Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, former PM’s Office Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisarn and Suranand Vejjajiva, former Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, have been faulted by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) for malfeasance in office, for allegedly wasting 240 million baht of taxpayers’ money in hiring two media firms for the promotion of the “Thailand 2020”
