Thailand
BBC names Thai protest leader Panusaya in global list of 100 most inspiring women

The BBC has named prominent Thai pro-democracy activist, Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul, aka, “Rung”, as one of the world’s 100 most inspiring and influential women of 2020. The BBC’s “100 Women of 2020” list singles out women around the world who are driving change in challenging times. Panusaya is one of 3 Thai women to be listed.
As the leader of protest group, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, she came to international attention at a Bangkok rally in August, when she read out the group’s controversial 10 point manifesto calling for reform of the Monarchy – a taboo topic never publicly discussed. Her nomination follows the news that a Grammy Music executive has filed a charge of lèse-majesté against her.
The other 2 Thai women to make the list are Kotchakorn Voraakhom and Cindy Sirinya Bishop. Kotchakorn is an urban landscape architect, who promotes the importance of green and public spaces in urban environments. Her aim is to transform vast, sprawling cities into more liveable spaces, while protecting them from the impact of climate change. The BBC describes her as someone who started by prising apart the “cracked pavement” of Bangkok’s cityscape to let new ideas come through.
Cindy Sirinya Bishop is the UN Women Regional Goodwill Ambassador for Gender Equality through Education, Communities and Governments. She is a TV host, actress, and model, known for her campaigns to end violence against women. She came to prominence in 2018, when she created the movement #DontTellMeHowToDress. The campaign was a response to authorities in Thailand telling women they shouldn’t dress provocatively during the Songkran period if they wanted to avoid being sexually assaulted.
Other women shortlisted by the BBC for the 2020 list include Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the research into the Covid-19 vaccine at Oxford University, Sanna Marin, the leader of Finland’s all-female coalition government, and Michelle Yeoh, a Malaysian actress, who the BBC notes is one of very few Asian actresses to enjoy a successful career in the US.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Protests
Security guard slaps student for displaying protest sign at Bangkok mall – VIDEO

A security guard at the luxury Iconsiam shopping mall in Bangkok has slapped a student activist after she held up a protest sign at the facility. The confrontation occurred at around 2.30pm yesterday, when the Thammasat University student displayed a sign that read, “You monopolised the vaccine so the Monarchy could take the credit.”
The student, named as 21 year old Benja Apan, was quickly surrounded by at least 7 staff members, with one security guard grabbing the sign before pushing away a camera that was recording the development. A sharp sound is then heard, followed by Benja screaming that the guard has hit her. She proceeds to call for help, while the men continue trying to restrain her.
VIDEO: Matichon TV
According to a Coconuts report, Benja and an unnamed associate appeared shortly after at Pak Khlong San Police Station, saying the security guards from the mall had taken them there. It’s understood the organisation Thai Lawyers for Human Rights have provided Benja with a lawyer. A number of protesters also gathered at the police station in a show of support for the student, while speaking to police about the actions of the security guard accused of hitting her.
A representative of the shopping mall has apologised for the confrontation, saying it’s investigating what happened. It says people should not voice political opinions on its premises.
Thailand has set aside 6 billion baht to produce the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine locally. The manufacturer, Siam Bioscience, is a new pharmaceutical company owned by the palace.
SOURCE: Coconuts
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Thailand
Thailand’s PM asks people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health

Thailand’s PM is asking people to avoid political gatherings over concerns for their health due to the recent cooler weather. As the country is still not out of the woods with the recent Covid-19 breakout, the cold weather, in the northern half of the country, is adding to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha’s health concerns for Thai people.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri says the situation still warrants the government’s role to exercise its power under the emergency decree and Communicable Disease Act to help curb the spread of Covid-19.
He says all gatherings should be avoided, but is emphasising political ones and is thanking the “majority who have cooperated.” Now, he says the government is set to introduce more measures to help those affected by the new round of Covid and are preparing new economic stimulus programs.
Anucha says another high pressure system from China will cover northern Thailand starting from today and lasting through January 19. The system would see temperatures drop by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the northern and central areas of Thailand with the northeastern area seeing a drop of 4 to 6 degrees. PM Prayut has also asked people to be careful when setting up bonfires to keep warm during the cold spell.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Protests
Student arrested in dormitory at night, charged with lèse majesté offences

A student at Thammasat University’s Rangsit Campus has been arrested and charged with violating Thailand’s strict lèse majesté law. Ironically, it was his calls for the law to be abolished that led to Sirichai Natueng, aka, “New”, being charged. The group, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, has confirmed the student’s arrest on its Twitter page.
After being taken into custody, the pro-democracy activist was driven to Khlong Luang police station, in the central province of Pathum Thani, just outside Bangkok. Other anti-government activists, including Parit Chiwarak, aka, “Penguin”, and Panusaya Sithijirawattanakul (“Rung”) followed, accompanied by representatives from TLHR.
Since the arrest, the hashtags #saveนิวมธ (Save New) and #ยกเลิกม112 (Cancel Section 112) have been trending on Twitter. Section 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code is the law governing lèse majesté, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Sirichai, a member of the pro-democracy group United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration, has been charged with 2 lèse majesté offences. He is accused of defacing an image of the Monarchy, as well as the Rangsit campus sign, with graffiti calling for the abolition of the lèse majesté law.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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gosport
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 10:46 am
What a joke! How about the other girls wondering around her?
Go home, go back to shools, the other girls. not under spotlight, better improve your own skills, improve your life and your family life. Or, just like me, selling papaya salad is much better.
Dreamon
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 7:48 pm
just shut F up and go back to your cave.
with her actions she is trying to improve everyone’s life, yours too!
Mike
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 1:17 pm
“You can’t win, Darth. If you strike me down I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”
That is how it is. Unless a government has total control like totalitarian shit-holes like China, there’s nothing they can do.
Flawed and hybrid democracies like the USA will never win over, even whilst supporting their media-backed stooges like fascists groups Antifa and BLM and piss-pot dictatorships masquerading as democracies like Thailand don’t have enough control.
Imprison them, charge them with lese majeste, ban them, discredit them and they will become martyrs for their movements, don’t do anything and they will get what they want and bring justice and equality to unjust societies.
Ian
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 5:24 pm
His post what an idiot you are ,Rung is an inspiration to million s of Thai women to not be controlled by idiots like you go make your salads these girls are inspiring and Rung the west is with you my dear never give in
Khunplastic
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 9:02 pm
The lady is an inspiration to people worldwide.
To stand up to all this archaic nonsense takes courage beyond belief.
If ever there was a person who deserved a Nobel prize it is her.
Suua
Thursday, November 26, 2020 at 8:59 am
Totally!!!!
Nail on the head….well said
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at 11:35 pm
Well the BBC would.
Not that she is a worthwhile protester, but environment, climate change, racism, save the whale, save the natterjack toad, special right for gays, dwarfs.
The horror of plastic in the ocean and the BBC, is out waving flags, demanding, and BBC 4 has lost many listeners because it is nothing but rights for women, and women’s concerns
The BBC should stop being so political correct and start being impartial and correct!!!!
The only reason the BBC is viewed. or listened to, is because the BBC has a good signal all over the world.
Suua
Thursday, November 26, 2020 at 9:01 am
Totally!!!!
Nail on the head….well said
David
Thursday, November 26, 2020 at 9:34 am
She’s probably a Communist
The Thaiger & The Nation
Thursday, November 26, 2020 at 9:49 am
??? where on earth does that comment come from? Do you have evidence of your assertion? Please provide a bit more information.
AI
Thursday, November 26, 2020 at 8:01 pm
To be honest, this lady has more balls than many men walking around and around the comments sections on this site! 55!
Go girl, go! You are a great inspiration for women not only around Thailand, but around the world 😉
Joe
Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 10:18 pm
Without the women Thailand would be in much worse shape. Just look around you, most offices, banks etc have mostly female employees, the men are taxi drivers or something like that, I don’t mean to sound sexist but that’s the reality.