Prachatai English

At least 25 lèse-majesté prisoners still behind bars, says TLHR

On Friday (23 August), Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that, as of August 2019, there are at least 25 people still imprisoned throughout the country on charges under Article 112 in cases related to freedom of expression. This number does not include those charged under Article 112 in cases...

News

Missing activist’s family requests court to declare him legally dead

The family of Karen human rights defender Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, along with a lawyer from the Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA) and the Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), filed a request with the Phetchaburi Provincial Court to have Porlajee declared legally dead on 27 August, says...

Alien Thoughts

Where learned you that oath, fool?

‘Where learned you that oath, fool?’ (William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act 1 Scene 2) ‘I, (name of the declarer), do solemnly declare that I will be loyal to His Majesty the King and will faithfully perform my duties in the interests of the country and of the people. I will also uphold and...

Interview

One year of Future Forward: From Gramsci-Laclau-Mouffe to the ‘inferno’ challenges of Piyabutr Saengkanokkul

Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a former law lecturer now the Secretary General of the Future Forward Party, discusses in long interview how Gramsci, Laclau, and Mouffe, influenced the party-building, its 'inferno' challenges, and what is the future of the Future Forward Party.

Originally published in Thai version on 101 27 May 2018, Gymnasium 5, Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus The 38-year-old Associate Professor level academic delivered a speech as a politician for the first time at a meeting on preparations to found the Future Forward Party. Five months earlier,...

News

Singha Water to turn labels into missing person posters

Boon Rawd Trading Co., Ltd. and the Mirror Foundation have launched a “Return heart to home” campaign to turn water bottle labels into missing person posters for missing children.

Boon Rawd Trading Co., Ltd. and the Mirror Foundation have launched a “Return heart to home” campaign to turn water bottle labels into missing person posters for missing children. One of the labels with an image of a missing child, edited to represent how she would look today, along with contact...

Pick to Post

Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future receive Amnesty International’s top honour

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg and the Fridays for Future movement of school-children have been honoured with Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for 2019, the human rights organization announced today.

Alien Thoughts

Draft Press Statement from Government House

This week in Alien Thoughts, Harrison George imagines what a government press release on the reported conviction and incarceration of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Thamanat Prompow in 1993-1997 in Australia and the allegations that he falsified his education might be like.

In light of the serious allegations made in the media both here and in Australia about the reported conviction and incarceration of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Thamanat Prompow in 1993-1997 in Australia, on a charge of illegally importing a commercial quantity of an illegal...

News

Missing activist’s mother says authorities don’t want her talking to the UN

Kanya Theerawut, mother of missing political refugee Siam Theerawut, said at the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF) on Thursday (12 September) that the Rights and Liberties Protection Department (RLPD) told her not to take her son’s case to the UN, as it could ruin the country’s image.

Round Up

Oath error: recapping case that shakes government

The government will soon face a showdown in parliament over its oath error. Here is a recap of all that has happened. It has been almost three months since Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Cabinet attended the constitutional oath-taking ceremony before King Vajiralongkorn on 16 July 2019. 9 days...

News

Court postpones academic’s hearing after editor’s no-show

The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing in the case of Sarinee Achavanuntakul, an academic accused of contempt of court for the publication of an article in the Krungthep Turakit newspaper, after the co-accused news editor did not appear at the hearing on 9 September 2019.

Pick to Post

Human Rights Watch: Thailand: Investigate Detainee’s Death

Thailand: Investigate Detainee’s DeathProsecute Wrongdoing, End Torture in Military Custody August 26, 2019 Thai authorities should immediately conduct an independent and credible investigation into the death of a suspected insurgent after being interrogated in military custody. Abdulloh Esormusor...

News

Suspected insurgent dies after 35 days in ICU

On Sunday (25 August), the family of Abdullah Isomuso, who was admitted to hospital after being found unconscious in his cell at Ingkhayutthaborihan Military Camp in Pattani, announced that he had died after 35 days in intensive care.

Opinion

The return of an unconscious body

Sumaiya Minka had to spend the night in great anxiety after her husband, Abdullah Isomuso, was detained as a suspect by the security forces on 21 July 2019 after he finished the Maghrib prayer (the prayer after the sunset). He was taken for interrogation to Ingkhayutthaborihan Fort, the largest military installation in the southern border provinces of Thailand. She was later informed that her husband was found unconscious in his cell and was admitted to the ICU.

News

Suspected insurgent admitted to ICU after being held in military camp

Abdullah Isomuso, 32, was admitted to the intensive care unit of Pattani Hospital on 21 July after he was found unconscious in his cell at the Ingkhayutthaborihan Military Camp in Pattani.

Abdullah Isomuso, 32, was admitted to the intensive care unit of Pattani Hospital on 21 July after he was found unconscious in his cell at the Ingkhayutthaborihan Military Camp in Pattani. The sign in front of the Ingkhayutthaborihan Military Camp, where Abdullah was detained Abdullah was detained...

Opinion

Where is the Safety Zone?

The stagnation of the peace dialogue process The peace dialogue process to solve the extended conflict in the southernmost part of Thailand, or Patani, has been stagnant for more than a year since April 2018. Several people in significant positions related to the peace process have been replaced...

News

Pick to Post

Greta Thunberg and Fridays for Future receive Amnesty International’s top honour

Prachatai

Sep 17, 2019

News

Missing activist’s mother says authorities don’t want her talking to the UN

Prachatai

Sep 14, 2019

News

Court postpones academic’s hearing after editor’s no-show

Prachatai

Sep 12, 2019

Highlight

News

Supreme Court summons academic for ‘contempt of court’

Prachatai

1 Sep 2019

Sarinee Achavanuntakul, writer, translator, and independent researcher, has been summonsed by the Election Cases Division of the Supreme Court after she was accused of contempt of court for the publication of an article in the Krungthep Turakit newspaper, says TLHR.

News

Former Mahachon PM candidate joins Future Forward

Prachatai

31 Aug 2019

Palinee “Pauline” Ngarm-pring, the Mahachon Party candidate for Prime Minister and head of strategy, joined the Future Forward Party (FFP) on Wednesday (28 August), reported MCOT.

News

Angkhana Neelapaijit calls for re-consideration of anti-torture bill

Prachatai

31 Aug 2019

On the International Day of the Disappeared (30 August), former human rights commissioner Angkhana Neelapaijit published an open letter to the government, parliament, and other relevant agencies calling for the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Bill to be presented to the elected House of Representatives for re-consideration.

Feature

The forest reclamation case: when the court sent the Sapwai villagers to prison and off their land

Nutcha Tantivitayapitak

Aug 16, 2019

Feature

Justice delayed is justice denied: remembering the 19 May 2010 killing of ‘red shirt’ protestors

Anna Lawattanatrakul

May 26, 2019

19 May 2019 was the nineth anniversary of the crackdown on the 'red shirt' protest on 19 May 2010. Gatherings were held at Ratchaprasong Intersection in memory of the dead, while justice for the victims of military violence continues to be denied.

Feature

All They Could Do To Us: Courage in Dark Times from a Fighter (Not a Victim)

Metta Wongwat

May 21, 2019

Interview

One year of Future Forward: From Gramsci-Laclau-Mouffe to the ‘inferno’ challenges of Piyabutr Saengkanokkul

Pokpong Junvith

Aug 18, 2019

Interview

Capital of Mae La: in a world where states don’t accept refugees as citizens

Nutcha Tantivitayapitak

Jun 24, 2019

Interview

Tanapong Luekajornchai: 110 years of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty, history without the nationalism

Kritsada Subpawanthanakun

May 24, 2019

On the 110th anniversary of the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909, let’s talk with the author of ‘Malayan Land Lost: National History, Plot Twist Version’ (Lit: Sia dindaen malayu prawattisat chat chabap Plot Twist; Thai: เสียดินแดนมลายู ประวัติศาสตร์ชาติ ฉบับ Plot Twist) to understand the factors that lead to the agreement. Did Thailand really lose land? What is the wound on the land of Pattani? And how do borders on the map frame our mind and thoughts?