Highlight

A country for the young: first-time voters in the 2019 general election and how they can change the face of Thai politics

Anna Lawattanatrakul
23 Mar 2019

A new type of employment, a new pressure? On the immense number of ‘workers’ in electronics factories.

Tewarit Maneechai
14 Mar 2019

National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights: Hope or a Blank Page?

Taweesak Kerdpoka
5 Mar 2019

Keep a watch on management of inner Bangkok: Krung Rattanakosin and Chao Phraya Walkway Master Plans

Yiamyut Sutthichaya
3 Mar 2019

Debate on the Street: Ekachai-Chokchai vs. Dr. Rianthong

Prachatai
26 Feb 2019

The Story of October 6: Textbooks make us forget – Revival by the October 6 Project

Prachatai
18 Feb 2019

Round Up

Vietnam’s struggle over IUU fishing warning, fatal to its fisherman?

Yiamyut Sutthichaya
3 Apr 2019

Japanese Pop Culture - Thai Millennials' Secret Political Weapon

Thammachart Kri-aksorn
26 Mar 2019

The most questionable election in Thai history?

Prachatai
25 Mar 2019

ECT unprepared for high early voter turnout

Prachatai
19 Mar 2019

Voter suppression or mismanagement? Thais face obstacles as overseas voting begins

Anna Lawattanatrakul
15 Mar 2019

Dissolve any party and we still won’t vote for you: reactions to the dissolution of the Thai Raksa Chart Party

Prachatai
14 Mar 2019

Editorial

Stalemate before catastrophe? – challenges to democratic camp after election result

Prachatai
29 Mar 2019

Songkran with Sighs

We’re going to have to find something else. You mean sedition won’t be enough?  But he’s admitted giving that chappy a ride home and he’s now in his party, thick as thieves.  Cut and dried for a military court, surely. Well, yes, they may make that stretch to aiding and abetting in escaping arrest.  But even then it’s not going to look good in court when they show that the NCPO rep who persuaded the students to leave the police station at the time is the same officer who is now bringing charges of evading arrest. 

Thai expats in New Zealand protest against ECT

On Monday (1 April), members of the Thai community in New Zealand laid wreaths at the gates of the Thai Embassy in Wellington in protest at the Election Commission of Thailand (ECT)’s treatment of the 1542 overseas ballots from New Zealand.

How to have an election and avoid having democracy.

Suppose you are running an elitist authoritarian political system with one of the highest levels of economic inequality in the world.  You’ve managed to spin out your democracy-free administration for almost five years – longer than any democratically-elected government has ever lasted.  But the pressure is mounting to acquire at least the appearance of democratic rule.  Besides, you are getting a bit irritated at being called ‘the last military dictatorship in the world’. So what can you do?

6 parties united in democratic bloc

Today (27 March) at 11.00, representatives of six pro-democracy parties held a press conference at the Lancaster Hotel to announce that they are forming a coalition to become the next government of Thailand.

ANFREL issues a report on election; calls for transparency

Yesterday (27 March), the Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL) issued an interim report on the 2019 general election, calling for all issues in the election process to be addressed promptly. Meanwhile, the US and French embassies also issued statements calling for a transparent process of publishing the results and investigating election irregularities.

Stalemate before catastrophe? – challenges to democratic camp after election result

Thailand is now stuck in a political stalemate. The democratic camp can win the House, but cannot choose the Prime Minister, while the pro-junta camp can choose the Prime Minister but cannot pass legislation through the House. Only one casualty for the democratic camp, and Thailand will be under a disguised military dictatorship for the next four years.

“Support good people to rule this country,” says King of Thailand on eve of election.

Invoking a historic quotation by his father, King Vajiralongkorn has released an announcement on the eve of the election saying that voters should support ‘good people’ to rule Thailand.

Chiang Mai joins Global Climate Strike on its most polluted day.

Students and international environmentalists have joined a strike in Chiang Mai to show solidarity with the Fridays for Future movement. Just before the strike, Chiang Mai became one of the worst cities in the world in terms of air quality. The movement has been pressuring the Chiang Mai Governor to address air pollution, but the administration has still not taken serious action.
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News

New National Intelligence Act sanctions use of electronic tools to access private information

Prachatai
19 Apr 2019

Understanding the media and finding a safe solution in the age of witch-hunts

Yiamyut Sutthichaya
19 Apr 2019

Lawsuits against Future Forward proceed after Songkran.

Prachatai
18 Apr 2019

Thailand ranks 136th in world press freedom index

Prachatai
18 Apr 2019

Civil servant arrested at son’s graduation on suspicion of involvement in Thai Federation movement

Prachatai
13 Apr 2019

Thai academic network calls on ECT for transparency and end to prosecutions

Prachatai
12 Apr 2019

Interview

Phrae Sirisakdamkoeng: Within the humanity… of drug users

Kritsada Subpawanthanakun
2 Apr 2019

Pauline Ngarm-pring, the Mahachon Party’s head of strategy, and her first step into politics

Prachatai
22 Mar 2019

Nattika Loweera: the New Dem candidate in Pheu Thai stronghold

Prachatai
20 Mar 2019

Lertsak Kamkongsak: ‘Commoner’ from Street to Parliament

Prachatai
11 Mar 2019

On the 8 February Royal Command: an interview with Sawatree Suksri

Prachatai
19 Feb 2019

‘Prathet Ku Mi’ Rap Against Dictatorship, interviews with the rappers and MV director

Nutcha Tantivitayapitak
3 Nov 2018

Multimedia

Access denied: challenges for people with disabilities in the 2019 election

Thisable.me and Prachatai English
12 Mar 2019

Infographic

ECT penalties and how they could affect the election results

Prachatai
2 Apr 2019

Op-Ed

Netiwit’s ‘shoe protest’ against the Election Commission: how bodily taboos become tools of dissent

James Buchanan
17 Apr 2019

Songkran with Sighs

Harrison George
16 Apr 2019

Scum of the Earth

Nidhi Eoseewong
13 Apr 2019

How to have an election and avoid having democracy.

Harrison George
2 Apr 2019

Critique of Thailand’s preliminary Election results 24 March 2019

Jaran Ditapichai
26 Mar 2019

The military-sponsored General Election of Thailand

Muhammad Ilyas Yahprung
23 Mar 2019

Pick to Post

Thailand: End prosecution of civilians in military courts and repeal or amend Head of the NCPO and NCPO orders and announcements in line with international human rights law

International Commission of Jurists
23 Apr 2019

Brunei must immediately halt plans to introduce stonings and other vicious punishments

Amnesty International
5 Apr 2019

Thailand: Repeated Attacks on Prominent Activist

Human Rights Watch
3 Apr 2019

Teenage Somali refugee with Downs Syndrome held in Thai immigration detention despite clear medical risk

Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network
3 Apr 2019

Vietnamese and Thai authorities must come clean about journalist’s disappearance

Amnesty International
27 Mar 2019

Five parties promising legal reform to address rights abuses, advocating for freedom of expression

Amnesty International
8 Mar 2019

Quote of the Day

The people must demand the right to election, and not only that demand, but also transparency and fainess[in the election]. Not just somebody, this country must belong to everyone.

Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal

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