anti-government

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Amnesty finishes, protest round-up | September 21, 2020

    Thailand News Today | Amnesty finishes, protest round-up | September 21, 2020

    Daily video news about Thailand with Tim Newton Get a visa or go to jail. Thai Immigration Tourists, and anyone else with a lapsed visa, ha ve only 5 days to renew their visa or they could get arrested. The current visa amnesty ends on September 26 and there isn’t going to be another sudden announcement for another grace period,…

  • Thailand NewsProtesters’ plaque damaged historical site – Thai Fine Arts Department

    Protesters’ plaque damaged historical site – Thai Fine Arts Department

    The Thai Fine Arts Department claim the pro-democracy protesters, who installed a symbolic brass plaque in an area next to the Grand Palace yesterday morning, broke the law. The department filed a complaint saying the installation of the plaque damaged a historic site, a violation of the Archaeological Site Act. Protesters cemented the plaque in the perimeter of the Royal Field,…

  • Thailand NewsProtesters place plaque declaring Thailand “belongs to the people”

    Protesters place plaque declaring Thailand “belongs to the people”

    Protesters today have placed a plaque, in the area next to the Grand Palace, declaring Thailand “belongs to the people”. The declaration comes after anti-government sentiment has risen prompting rallies to take place in the capital hoping to oust the government and demand constituional changes. The plaque was cemented in the perimeter of the Royal Field, known locally as Sanam…

  • UniversitiesProtesters flood Thammasat University for major anti-government rally

    Protesters flood Thammasat University for major anti-government rally

    Today, Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus in Bangkok is seeing thousands of protesters flood its campus in what they say is the biggest rally yet against the Prayut-led Thai government. After unsuccessfully trying to gain permission from university officials, the protesters broke through the gates of the history-laden university and are now gathering for the schedule of anti-government speeches. Earlier…

  • Thailand Protest NewsStudents choose Thammasat University for September 19 protests without permission

    Students choose Thammasat University for September 19 protests without permission

    Students protesters are moving forward with rally plans for this Saturday, September 19, at Bangkok’s Thammasat University Tha Prachan campus, despite failing to get permission from university administration. The campus has been chosen before for such rallies and some students are reportedly threatening to break into the campus if they have to. The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration Group…

  • Thailand Protest NewsProtesters continue their plans for weekend rally without anywhere to host it

    Protesters continue their plans for weekend rally without anywhere to host it

    Negotiations continue between officials at Thammasat University’s Tha Prachan campus, police and organisers of this Saturday’s proposed anti-government protest rally. Last week the University denied permission for the students and other protest groups to hold the event on the grounds of the high-profile university. Today it was speculated that the rally could be moved to the nearby Sanam Luang park,…

  • Crime NewsStudent union president arrested in Bangkok for July rally

    Student union president arrested in Bangkok for July rally

    The president of the Student Union of Thailand was arrested while in a taxi on her way to class in Bangkok. This comes after a string of arrests police have made on political activists with many charges relating to the pro-democracy protest in July. 21 year old Jutatip Sirikhan video recorded her arrest and posted it live on her Facebook…

  • Bangkok NewsProtesters push through barricades at Bangkok police station

    Protesters push through barricades at Bangkok police station

    Paint was splattered on a police officers and police barricades were pushed away by a crowd of people protesting the recent charges filed on 15 activists involved in the July 18 rally. The protesters were able to force their way to the Bangkok’s Samran Rat police station’s front entrance and the charged activists entered to confront police. Police recently charged…

  • Politics NewsAnger as officials visit home of child who made 3-fingered salute – VIDEO

    Anger as officials visit home of child who made 3-fingered salute – VIDEO

    Thai social media is awash with outrage following a visit by government officials to the home of a kindergarten student who used the anti-government 3-fingered salute. CCTV footage, which shows officials arriving to talk to the girl’s parents, has been posted on Facebook, along with a message questioning the reason for the visit. “The authorities are looking for Om Yim,…

  • Politics NewsThai expats show their support for local pro-democracy protests

    Thai expats show their support for local pro-democracy protests

    The protests have been popping up around Thailand, and overseas. Support of the pro-democracy demands by students and activists has spread beyond the borders of Thailand. A group, calling themselves ‘Thais Rise Up” in Scotland says they are holding their own rally at the end of this week in Edinburgh with same demands – to call for the dissolution of the…

  • Northern Thailand NewsKhon Kaen sees second rally in 3 days

    Khon Kaen sees second rally in 3 days

    Khon Kaen, 1 of the “big 4” cities of Isaan in Thailand’s northeast, saw a brief anti-government demonstration in its central district last night, the second in 3 days. The rally at the democracy monument on Srichan road in the Khon Kaen municipal area started at around 9pm. A group of students and and supporters of the Free People group…

  • Politics NewsSecurity ramped up for activists’ hearing at Criminal Court

    Security ramped up for activists’ hearing at Criminal Court

    Security at Bangkok’s Criminal Court was stepped up substantially today for the arrival of 4 pro-democracy and human rights activists arrested yesterday. Anon Nampa, Buramee Chairat, Suwanna Tanlek and Korakot Saenyenphan were all arrested on charges of “inciting public unrest” and other offences related to the anti-government demonstration held on July 18 at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument. Police were deployed to…

  • OpinionThe year of living dangerously – Thai protesters utter the unthinkable

    The year of living dangerously – Thai protesters utter the unthinkable

    OPINION An estimated 10,000 anti-government protesters packed Bangkok’s Democracy Monument and the roads either side on a warm Sunday afternoon, calling for democratic reform, changes to the NCPO-written constitution and for the dissolution of parliament. They also spoke about the country’s head of state, questioning the institution. Even a few months ago this would have been considered an absolute no-go topic…

  • Bangkok NewsUp to 10,000 gather in massive Bangkok pro-democracy rally

    Up to 10,000 gather in massive Bangkok pro-democracy rally

    Special guest writer Will Langston Up to 10,000 pro-democracy supporters attended a rally at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument yesterday. The crowds started swelling from around 3pm. Prior to the event, one of the organising groups, Free Youth, promoted the rally via their massive Facebook page following of over 350,000 followers. While the demographic of the crowd mainly consisted of high school and…

  • Politics NewsReport calls for national reconciliation through constitutional reform

    Report calls for national reconciliation through constitutional reform

    A report prepared by the House Committee on laws, justice and human rights, and focusing on 9 recommendations, is set to be debated today, according to an unnamed source in the House of Representatives. According to the Bangkok Post, the report lays the groundwork for possible constitutional reform, recommending the creation of a “people’s constitution.” The report says the current…

  • Northern Thailand NewsBritish embassy in Thailand issues advice over student demonstrations

    British embassy in Thailand issues advice over student demonstrations

    The British Embassy has issued travel advice that applies to all foreigners living in Thailand. The ‘advice’ refers to the escalation of the student and activist anti-government protests. In the past, generally, these situations don’t end well once there is a critical mass and the government, via the Army, decide to step in.But at this stage the tone of both…

  • Politics NewsChiang Mai protesters perform in pouring rain

    Chiang Mai protesters perform in pouring rain

    by guest writer Will Langston Pro-democracy activism continues its public display in Chiang Mai City. For the third time in a week, activists and protestors gathered under outside old walls of the city to demonstrate. The name of the performance yesterday was entitled “EAT (I’M) ARE”. The title is wordplay based on the famous steak eatery in Thailand called ‘EAT…

  • Politics NewsPro-monarchy students plan Bangkok rally

    Pro-monarchy students plan Bangkok rally

    A group of pro-royalist vocational students and their supporters are planning a rally at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument today, possibly provoking a confrontation with pro-democracy students. The student group, calling itself “Vocational Students to Protect the Nation” said on their Facebook page that they will be demonstrating at Democracy monument and voice their opinions on the current surge of pro-democratic student…

  • Politics NewsPM voices concern over pro-government rally planned for Bangkok today

    PM voices concern over pro-government rally planned for Bangkok today

    The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha has issued a warning about a rally planned by a pro-government group, saying he is concerned members could end up clashing with anti-government demonstrators. The rally is planned to take place at the Democracy Monument in the capital this afternoon. A report in the Chiang Rai Times says the pro-government group gathers under the name…

  • Politics NewsPhuket anti-government protest attracts up to 400 people

    Phuket anti-government protest attracts up to 400 people

    Between 300 – 400 people from the Phuket Liberation Group rallied last night in Sapan Hin, Phuket Town, an east coast public park on Phuket. Around 50 police, army officers and security personnel also attended the event to ensure that everything ran smoothly. The demonstration lasted for about 2 hours. The gathering of the young protesters began around 5.30pm. They…

  • Bangkok NewsSmaller protest group outside Army HQ in Bangkok last night

    Smaller protest group outside Army HQ in Bangkok last night

    A much smaller group of activists gathered outside the Royal Thai Army headquarters on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Bangkok last night in protest against an opinion expressed by the now-former deputy spokesperson. The protesters, part of the ‘Free Youth’ group who protested in Bangkok at the Democracy Monument on Saturday afternoon, rallied outside the main gate of the Thai army HQ early in…

  • EventsPolice meet to discus legal action against pro-democracy protesters and organisers

    Police meet to discus legal action against pro-democracy protesters and organisers

    Following Saturday’s large protest at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument on Saturday afternoon and evening, Bangkok police are now pondering whether to prosecute the organisers for defying the emergency decree – the part of the law that prohibits large public gatherings. The protesters were demanding the dissolution of Parliament, the drawing up of a new Constitution and an end to official limitation…

  • EventsPolice say they are gathering evidence to arrest ringleaders of Saturday protest – VIDEO

    Police say they are gathering evidence to arrest ringleaders of Saturday protest – VIDEO

    Whilst the police attending the mostly-peaceful protest, on Saturday afternoon and evening around Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, they didn’t intervene and break up the crowd. But they were taking plenty of photos. Now Bangkok Police have announced that they were gathering evidence to press formal charges against the leaders of the pro-democracy protest. Chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Lt. Gen. Pakkapong…

  • Politics NewsBangkok sees biggest anti-government rally in months

    Bangkok sees biggest anti-government rally in months

    In the largest political rally in months, over 1,000 people turned out to protest the government of PM Prayut Chan-o-cha at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument last night. The protest was led by The Student Union of Thailand and the Free Youth group, who called for the gathering through social media. It was the largest political rally since before the Covid-19 crisis…

  • Politics NewsDefence Ministry to take legal action over anti-government slogan campaign

    Defence Ministry to take legal action over anti-government slogan campaign

    The Defence Ministry is vowing to take action after an anti-government slogan was projected onto various Bangkok monuments and buildings, including the Defence Ministry building itself, at the weekend. The Seek the Truth slogan also appeared on the Democracy Monument, at the Victory Monument BTS station and on Wat Pathum Wanaram temple. Former members of the now defunct Future Forward…

  • Politics NewsHigh school students join wave of anti-government protests

    High school students join wave of anti-government protests

    Students in some of Bangkok’s most exclusive private high schools announced yesterday that would hold rallies in solidarity with anti-government protests being staged on college campuses across the nation. Students at the all-girl Satriwithaya School, located next to Bangkok’s iconic Democracy Monument, were urged on social media to gather at 3pm. Using the hashtag #SWStandsWithDemocracy, the organizers said there would…

  • Northern Thailand News“Run Against Dictatorship” events blocked in two Thai provinces

    “Run Against Dictatorship” events blocked in two Thai provinces

    This Sunday’s planned “Run Against Dictatorship” anti-government protest event in Bangkok has spawned copycat campaigns across Thailand, which have now been prohibited in at least two provinces. Organisers of the Bangkok event have tried to clarify that they are not involved with the planning for any runs planned elsewhere in the country. The campaign’s Thai name, “Wing Lai Lung” (วิ่งไล่ลุง) literally…

  • Politics News“This is just the beginning” – Thanathorn warns the government

    “This is just the beginning” – Thanathorn warns the government

    PHOTOS: Thousands gathered in the first large anti-government rally in over five years – Khaosod English He tried to do it legitimately by running for office in the March election. His party performed above expectations, garnering the third highest number of votes after less than 12 months of existence. And Thanathorn was just votes away from being elected Thailand’s Prime Minister.…