<p>Under the disease control measures announced on 27 June 2021, construction workers are not permitted&nbsp;to leave their camps after several Covid-19 clusters were found in them and are now left with very little assistance from the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The explosion and fire at a factory in the middle of a populated area near Suvarnabhumi International Airport proves the lack of vision and law enforcement in town planning and public safety.</p>

<p>Artist Wittawat Tongkeaw&#39;s latest solo exhibition &quot;The L/Royal Monument,&quot; launched on 24 June, tells stories of Thailand at a political crossroad and buried memories. Prachatai speaks to Wittawat about his work, the role of art in opening up spaces for discussing what is seen as taboo, and what it means to be political and an artist in this country.</p>

<p>Suicides have been a controversy since the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. The significant rise in the number of cases warrants attention.</p>

<p>In a conversation with Prachatai, the President of the Blind Society Association of Thailand, who has just filed a second complaint of royal defamation against another blind person, insists that the monarchy can be criticized with proper language, reason and factual evidence. Despite sending a blind woman to jail in the past, he believes that the accused this time can adjust to prison life as it is &ldquo;the same as boarding school&rdquo;. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;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&rsquo;s escape from Thailand, life in exile in Cambodia and the last days before he disappeared.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The rich get infected, the poor be damned&rdquo; describes the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak in Thailand, especially now that the disease, starting from the VVIP guests at luxury night clubs, has reached densely-populated communities in Bangkok.</p>

<p>Ong Dam Warriors may claim to be peaceful, but one cannot forget too easily. The group has a long history in right-wing pro-monarchy campaigns that have included threats, assaults, and even death.</p>

<p>The Cabinet has approved a major amendment to the 24-year-old Official Information Act. While some flaws have been fixed, there is a new, huge loophole that allows the authorities more excuse not to disclose information to the public and even criminalizes disclosure.</p>

<p>A story of Patiwat Saraiyaem, or &ldquo;Mor Lam Bank&rdquo;, a prominent young traditional mor lam singer whom his&nbsp;political expressions cost himself&nbsp;freedom and misfortunes as the state see&nbsp;them as&nbsp;illegal.</p>

<p>In an era of political tension and ideological conflict, Thai society has reached a turning point. While the military government has paved its way to maintaining power, a new pro-democracy movement is trying to put rights and power back into the hands of the people.</p>