Prachatai English

Chana villagers returned to protest industrial project

Villagers from Chana District, Songkhla Province, have returned to Ratchadamnoen Avenue to protest against the Chana industrial project after they were arrested on Monday night (6 December) while protesting in front of Government House.

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Civic space in Thailand remained repressive in 2021, says CIVICUS

Thailand’s civic space rated as ‘repressed’ as majority of countries in Asia are suppressing civic freedoms in 2021, stated by CIVICUS, a global platform tracking civic space and civil society. Majority of countries in Asia restricting civic freedoms Singapore downgraded from ‘obstructed’ to ‘...

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Constitutional case to be filed over Thai-only Covid-19 cash handouts policy

Migrant workers and stateless persons to file case with Constitutional Court concerning access to Ministry of Labour’s “Section 33, We Love Each Other” Covid-19 handouts for constitutional breach. The Constitutional Court logo. On 8 June 2021, representatives of the persons insured pursuant to...

News

Construction tycoon sentenced to prison for black leopard poaching

The Supreme Court ruled today (8 December) to sentence Ital-Thai Development President Premchai Karnasuta to 3 years and 2 months in prison for poaching in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.

The Supreme Court ruled today (8 December) to sentence Ital-Thai Development President Premchai Karnasuta to 3 years and 2 months in prison for poaching in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. Premchai Karnasuta (seated) when he was arrested at his forest camp His driver Yong Dodkrua was...

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Myanmar: Unbridled destruction of freedoms as Aung San Suu Kyi sentenced

Aung San Suu Kyi's prison sentence is "the latest example of the military’s determination to eliminate all opposition and suffocate freedoms in Myanmar," said Amnesty International yesterday (7 December).

News

Court dismisses police lawsuit against beating victim

On 29 November 2021, the Prachinburi Provincial Court affirmed a Court of Appeals decision to drop a lawsuit filed by a police officer against Ritthirong Cheunchit, a man detained and beaten by the police. The suit alleged that Ritthirong previously gave false testimony in court.

News

Family, friends hold gathering in memory of missing activist

Friends and family of activist in exile Siam Theerawut, who went missing 2 years ago, met at his family home in Samut Sakhon on Saturday (31 October) for a gathering on his 36th birthday, while his fate remains unknown.

News

Missing activist’s sister charged with Emergency Decree violation

Sitanun Satsaksit, sister of missing activist in exile Wanchalearm Satsaksit, has been charged with violation of the Emergency Decree for giving a speech at a protest on 5 September 2021 at the Asoke Intersection.

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ICJ and Al submit recommendations on draft law anti-torture bill to the Parliamentary Committee

Thailand’s parliament should amend the draft law on torture and enforced disappearance without delay in order to ensure compliance with Thailand’s international legal obligations, said the ICJ and Amnesty International.

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Thailand should promptly enact the anti-torture bill, says UN Human Rights Office

On 4 October 2021, the UN Human Rights Office for South-East Asia welcomes Thailand’s initial approval of the draft law on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance and urges the Government to ensure the legislation fully meets international human rights standards and enact it promptly.

Feature

Next steps on Thailand’s road to marriage equality

Despite the Constitutional Court's ruling that only allowing marriage registration to heterosexual couple does not go against the Constitution, Thai activists are moving forward in their fight for marriage equality.

On 17 November 2021, the Thai Constitutional Court ruled that Article 1448 of the Civil and Commercial Code, which states that marriage can only be contracted between a man and a woman, does not violate Section27 of the Constitution, which states that all persons are equal, and equally protected,...

Feature

Recapturing messages from the 18 July protest

Although barred from approaching Government House, the protesters dispersed by crowd control police on 18 July left behind a number of clear ‘statements’ including a model guillotine, federalist graffiti, and demands for effective vaccines.

Feature

What Happened to Wanchalearm?

A year after Wanchalearm Satsaksit vanished, authorities say there is no proof he was abducted in Phnom Penh. A joint investigation reveals details of the Thai dissident’s escape from Thailand, life in exile in Cambodia and the last days before he disappeared.

Reporting by Jacob Goldberg, Danielle Keeton-Olsen, Anna Lawattanatrakul, Matt Surrusco, and Yiamyut Sutthichaya Illustration by Pssyppl Graphics by Ellena Ekarahendy and Matt Surrusco The authors reported this story with a Cambodian journalist who requested their name not be included due to fears...

Alien Thoughts

Viral Conspiracy

If I might call this meeting to order, please. Thank you, thank you. Pardon? Yes, you may continue replicating during this meeting, but quietly, please. No cheering unless you turn into a particularly virulent mutation, OK? So I declare this meeting of Covid-19 International, Thailand Chapter,...

Feature

Myanmar’s unity government lays out roadmap to topple junta

In order to eradicate all forms of dictatorship and restore democracy in military-ruled Myanmar, the newly formed National Unity Government (NUG) has called for urgent international recognition and an end to violence before political dialogue.

Opinion

Overview of the experience of human rights violation in Patani

Transcript of talk presented by Adam John at the Tak Bai 17th Anniversary Commemoration organised by the Civil Society Assembly for Peace (CAP) on Monday October 25th 2021.

Transcript of talk presented by Adam John at the Tak Bai 17th Anniversary Commemoration organised by the Civil Society Assembly for Peace (CAP) on Monday October 25th 2021. Asalamalakum. Good evening. I’m really pleased to have been invited to talk tonight to commemorate the 17th anniversary of...

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Action group calls for international help in administering vaccine in the Deep South

Conflict and historical mistrust between the Malay Muslim in Thailand’s southernmost border provinces (Patani) and the Thai State have taken their toll on the government’s effort to carry out Covid-19 vaccinations, said on 4 June by Artef Sohko, President of The Patani, a political action group advocating rights to self-determination for the people living in this conflict-affected region bordering Malaysia.

News

185 accounts related to Thai military information operation removed by Facebook

In its February 2021 Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior Report, Facebook says it detected and removed 77 accounts, 72 pages, 18 groups and 18 Instagram accounts originating in Thailand, targeting audiences in the Southern provinces.

News

Pattani protesters visited by officials

Six people who participated in a demonstration at the Krue Se Mosque on 2 August have since been visited by police and military officers.

Six people who participated in a demonstration at the Krue Se Mosque on 2 August have since been visited by police and military officers. The Federation of Patani Students and Youth, or PerMAS, posted on their Facebook page that several army rangers twice went to visit Fadel Madeng, a participant...

Feature

Songs, tales, tears: State violence in the periphery from past to present

The war against the communists ended long ago over but the facts about the violence of the time are still not clear. We do not know the exact number of lives lost, particularly of villagers living in remote areas. Even the losses that happened in the middle of the city such as the events of Oct 14, Oct 6, May 1992, and May 2010, still remain obscure and the facts have not been proven.There has been no punishment for those responsible for these events, so it is hard for Thai society to learn lessons in order to prevent violence in the future.

1The Deep South: The Numbness of Repeated Loss Saya berita nok beri tahuI have news to tell you Dalae bongo berito hok Baru-baruBreaking news from Ba ngo Subdistrict Demo bedey ore dok tebae kayuThey shot people cutting wood Buleh mikey kito anok Melayu(Wondering) Perhaps because they were Malay...

กางร่มตาใส รอประชาธิปไตย 390 บาท จัดส่งฟรี

News

Chana villagers returned to protest industrial project

Prachatai

Dec 9, 2021

News

Construction tycoon sentenced to prison for black leopard poaching

Prachatai

Dec 8, 2021

The Supreme Court ruled today (8 December) to sentence Ital-Thai Development President Premchai Karnasuta to 3 years and 2 months in prison for poaching in Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary.

News

Villagers arrested for protesting industrial zone, ordered not to protest again

Prachatai

Dec 8, 2021

On 6 December, 36 villagers from Chana District, Songkhla Province, were arrested after they camped in front of Government House, asking for an update on the promise made last year to reconsider a 16,700-rai industrial estate in the South that would affect their livelihoods.

Highlight

Feature

Struggling with mosquitoes (1): The past and present of dengue control in Thailand

Yiamyut Sutthichaya

3 Dec 2021

The rainy season comes and goes, leaving behind hundreds of thousands dengue fever patients. Each year, hundreds die of the disease. The recurring outbreak was bad enough before. Now mosquitoes have developed improved resistance to control measures, creating a new challenge for public health officials.

Feature

Next steps on Thailand’s road to marriage equality

Anna Lawattanatrakul

3 Dec 2021

Feature

Threats, violence, and lawsuits became 'normal' for Thai journalists

Prachatai

2 Nov 2021

Journalists in Thailand continue to face regular physical threats, lawsuits, and harassments from the authorities, most of which are not investigated and no perpetrator has been brought to justice. On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, Prachatai presents a report on the threats faced by journalists in Thailand and the impact of such threat on the journalists themselves and on communication rights.

Feature

Next steps on Thailand’s road to marriage equality

Anna Lawattanatrakul

Dec 3, 2021

Feature

Struggling with mosquitoes (1): The past and present of dengue control in Thailand

Yiamyut Sutthichaya

Dec 3, 2021

Feature

The Silencing of the Din Daeng Crackdown

Prachatai

Dec 1, 2021

An interview of a lawyer, a severely beaten protester and an arrested citizen media over what happened in one of the most brutal night raid at Din Daeng Intersection.

กางร่มตาใส รอประชาธิปไตย 390 บาท จัดส่งฟรี

Round Up

One way in, no way out: a month of travel bans against critical voices

Prachatai

Dec 3, 2021

Round Up

How political parties stand on the lèse majesté law

Prachatai

Nov 18, 2021

When protesters and members of the public again raised the issue of amending the lèse majesté law in November, political parties and affiliated think tanks responded in different ways.

Round Up

Explainer: What has been brought up in the 2nd constitutional amendment?

Prachatai

Jun 18, 2021

The parliament will reopen debate on constitutional amendments on 22-24 June, a major event that will affect the Kingdom’s political structure. After the issue was delayed in 2020 and withdrawn in 2021, political parties and civil society have another chance to address what they see as hindrances to democratization and political advantage.

Interview

Let the children dream: Srisamorn Soffer’s mission to draw hope for the future

Anna Lawattanatrakul

Nov 15, 2021

Prachatai spoke to Srisamorn Soffer, primary school teacher and children’s book writer, who started the “Dream of Hope Tales” project and who wrote most of the poems in the series, about how the project began, the importance of the stories, and young people’s freedom to read.

Interview

‘Nonviolence in my catapult’: protestors explain their use of force

Yiamyut Sutthichaya, Nontawat Numbenchapol

Oct 5, 2021

These interviews with 5 among the many people who have clashed with Crowd Control Police at the Din Daeng intersection attempt to explain the motives behind the burning, explosions and firing at the police in a way that they still believe is nonviolent.

Interview

Din Daeng Intersection: Solutions that may lie beneath the confrontations

Kritsada Subpawanthanakun

Sep 29, 2021

On the surface of events, we may only see media photos of the confrontations at Din Daeng since August 2021, but an observer of the protests sees many minor details under the surface which could help defuse the violence.

Opinion

SOTUS: From dictatorship in disguise to perpetual political and social failure in Thailand

Bandhukavi Palakawong na Ayudhya

Nov 9, 2021

An opinion that shows how SOTUS and hazing culture in education institutions and society pave a foundation for dictatorship and authoritarianism in Thailand.

Opinion

Overview of the experience of human rights violation in Patani

Adam John

Oct 27, 2021

Transcript of talk presented by Adam John at the Tak Bai 17th Anniversary Commemoration organised by the Civil Society Assembly for Peace (CAP) on Monday October 25th 2021.