Thanathorn

  • Thailand News

    Opposition leader Thanathorn indicted for lèse majesté, says he’s political target

    Public prosecutors in Thailand have indicted Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit on a lèse majesté charge and for violating the Computer Crime Act on Monday. The charges centre on remarks he made during a livestream talk he gave last year, in which he discussed the government’s procurement of the AstraZeneca vaccine, and allegedly casting indirect suspicion on His Majesty the…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Another visa extension approved, Thai Airways goes retail | March 31

    Thai Immigration has extended the current visa extension visas for people who are still stuck in the country. The Thai Immigration Bureau announced the news through an urgent public memo yesterday. The previous extension allowed those visa holders to stay until the end of March. The new extension lasts for 60 days, which would allow people to stay until July…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Week In Review | February 14

    Thailand News Today covers five days of the news week, except this week which was the Chinese New Year on Friday. Now we have a weekend edition which goes over the biggest, or best stories, from the past week. Out every Saturday afternoon, catch up with Jett and Tim’s major Thai news stories from Thailand News Today. Welcome to the…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | Chinese vaccine on the way to Thailand | February 9

      The Criminal Court has rejected a bid by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to remove a piece of online footage that criticises the government’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout, or more precisely the lack of a Covid-19 vaccine roll out. The former leader of the Future Forward Party, Thanathorn, took to Facebook to live stream his thoughts on the…

  • Covid-19 News

    PM vows action against ‘not factual’ information on vaccine plan

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will order legal action against anyone who “distorts information” about the government’s Covid-19 vaccination plan after the banned opposition politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit had raised the topic of “Royal Vaccine: Who Benefits and Who Doesn’t?” on his Facebook Live feed on Monday. On the Facebook Live, Thanathorn criticised the government’s vaccine procurement and production, commenting that the government…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | STV updates, fuel tanker explodes, 19 dead in Viet typhoon | October 29

    Daily TV news, in English. Everything you need to know in around 5 minutes. Keep up to date on The Thaiger. “Pattaya Model” to focus on Special Tourist Visa visitors from China and Russia Firstly the Phuket Model, now the Pattaya Model as the eastern seaboard city wants to cash in on the new Special Tourist Visa scheme to help…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand News Today | German Embassy, More STV tourists, Thanathorn in trouble | October 27

    Today’s latest Thai news from The Thaiger, hosted by Tim Newton with full, echoey sound! Sorry about the minor audio issues! From Bangkok to Berlin – protesters deliver letter to German Embassy Protesting students last night submitted a letter to the German Embassy, to be passed on to the German Government. The protest started around 4pm when the rally gathered…

  • Expats

    Should foreigners go to protests and get involved in Thai politics?

    Should foreigners get involved in the Thai protests? Is it any of our business? Is there a danger of being targeted and thrown out of the country? Most foreigners, certainly the vast majority, will say they’re uncomfortable even discussing local politics with Thais, especially THAT other big topic. Most are happy to walk the beaches, explore or sit in the…

  • Politics News

    Thanathorn demands answers over budget increase for Royal office

    Progessive movement leader and former head of the now-defunct Future Forward Party Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been banned from politics for 10 years… but he’s still making his voice heard in the halls of power. In his capacity as an advisor to the House committee examining the budget bill, he questioned the justification for the increase in the budget for the…

  • Politics News

    A new generation of political voices are demanding to be heard

    Saturday’s pro-democracy rally is the largest street demonstration against the ruling Thai government since the May, 2014 military coup which brought General Prayut to power. The momentum for political change is coming from a new, younger generation, most who would have been just kids during the tumultuous Thaksin years and not even in high school when the military ousted the elected…

  • Politics News

    New ‘Progressive Movement’ party plans to take on local elections

    Thailand’s elections may look a bit different as some candidates, who normally campaign in local elections, are banding together to form a new ‘Progressive Movement.’ The move comes despite the Constitutional Court banning its founder, Thanathorn Juangroogruangkit, along with other executives, for 10 years after being involved with the Future Forward Party that was disbanded earlier this year. The banning…

  • Politics News

    Disbanded Future Forward Party vows to fight on

    Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party (FFP), disbanded yesterday by the Constitutional Court, has vowed to continue fighting and announced the formation of “the Group of Future Forward,” which he says will continue the campaign to get Thailand back on the road to democracy. He said leaders of the Future Forward Party have no intention of giving up…

  • Politics News

    UPDATE: Future Future dissolved, MPs stripped of parliamentary status

    UPDATE: The Constitutional Court has dissolved Thailand’s Future Forward political Party after finding it guilty of breaking the laws pertaining to loans, specifically from its leader Thanathorn Jungroongruangkit. The court has also ordered MPs of the party’s executive stripped of their parliamentary status and banned from politics for 10 years. Party leader Thanathorn and party supporters gathered at the headquarters in…

  • Politics News

    Thailand’s Future Forward party cleared in surprise Court verdict

    The Constitutional Court have beaten their own schedule for a verdict by announcing late this morning a decision that cleared the Future Forward Party of charges that it was attempting to undermine “the democratic system under the monarchy”. The ruling is one of the few that have come out on the side of Government opposition parties in Thailand, and is considered…

  • Politics News

    Future Forward members gather to hear Constitutional Court’s verdict at 2pm

    Members and supporters of Thailand’s Future Forward Party are massing at the party’s headquarters in the on New Phetchaburi Road in Bangkok awaiting the Constitutional Court’s ruling on charges that it has engaged “in activities detrimental to the democratic system”. The case stems from a complain six months ago that Future Forward was involved in the imaginary “Illuminati” group, thought…

  • Politics News

    Piyabutr acknowledges that Future Forward will probably be disbanded

    Future Forward Party’s secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul is urging the party’s 60,000 members and other supporters to switch their allegiances to a new party that would be formed if Future Forward ends up being dissolved by the Constitutional Court this week. The hearing by the Constitutional Court is set for Tuesday. Piyabutr acknowledges that the party will likely be disbanded. Thailand’s Constitutional Court has…

  • Politics News

    Thousands join the pro and anti government protests in Bangkok

    Protesters, from both sides of the political camp turned up in two different parts of the capital yesterday for their respective political rallies. Organiser of the anti-regime “Wing Lai Lung” (Run to Oust the Uncle), Tanawat Wongchai, told the crowds at Suan Rot Fai in Chatuchak, a northern suburb of Bangkok, that the run marked the start of the campaign…

  • Events

    Thousands gather for this morning’s protest running event in Bangkok

    This morning’s fun run/rally/political event/marathon/jog/protest at Suan Rot Fai park in Chatuchak, a northern Bangkok suburb, attracted thousands of runners. The run was organised as a protest against Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government. The “Run Against Dictatorship” was organised by opposition political parties and activists calling for greater political freedom. The event was held less than 10…

  • Politics News

    Latest NIDA poll says Thanathorn “most suitable” for PM

    A recent NIDA survey has named Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit “the most suitable person” for the post of Thai PM and his Future Forward Party as the best party to lead the country. The survey by the National Institute for Development Administration, or NIDA Poll, was conducted between December 18 – 20 on 2,511 Thai adults of various occupations and levels of education.…

  • Politics News

    Police cobble together evidence to charge Bangkok’s political rally leaders

    PHOTO: Khaosod English Bangkok Police are collating evidence to charge leaders of Saturday’s political gathering on Saturday held on the skywalk linking the National Stadium and Siam BTS stations in Bangkok, after discovering the rally was held without official permission. Chief of Metropolitan Police Division 6, Pol Maj-General Metee Rakpan, says the police were checking if the rally, near the Pathumwan intersection…

  • Politics News

    Parliament removes support banner from FFP’s offices

    PHOTOS: Facebook Parliamentary officials have taken down a large signed banner supporting the Future Forward party’s leader leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit from the door to the party parliamentary offices, saying it was “inappropriate.” Last week Thanathorn was stripped of his MP status by the Constitutional Court. He was stripped of status for owning shares in a media company when he registered…

  • Politics News

    Future Forward Party will replace Thanathorn within a week

    PHOTO: prachatai.com A new face will soon be seen in Thailand’s parliament, following the Constitutional Court’s ruling against Future Forward Party’s maverick leader Thanathorn Jungroongruangkit, disqualifying him as an MP. Thanathorn was disqualified after being accused of holding shares in a media company at the time of his application to run as a candidate in the general election last March.…

  • Politics News

    Thai MP rich list

    PHOTO: The Nation The National Anti-Corruption Commission has published a who’s who list of Thailand’s richest politicians. The NACC has reported the personal finances of 80 MPs. The personal finances report is an addition to the NACC’s previous report of 415 MPs who had earlier submitted their asset lists in July. Notable MPs whose assets and debts have been revealed…

  • Politics News

    Thai Government fails to properly address flood victims – Thanathorn

    FILE PHOTO Embattled Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has slammed the government for its handling of the current flood situation in the north-east and central Thailand. Speaking in a panel debate on amendment of the Constitution at Khon Kaen University on Sunday, he said he had visited people in Yasothon and Roi Et provinces in past days. He found…

  • Politics News

    Future Forward’s Thanathorn on European and US lecture tour – VIDEO

    The Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit spoke with American NBC’s Andrea Mitchell about his hopes and aspirations for Thailand’s future. He also addresses his own current situation in regards to charges he is facing over alleged media shareholdings. Thanathorn is currently suspended from participating in the new Thai parliament as an MP as he awaits the Constitutional Court to hear…

  • Politics News

    Future Forward legal team submits ‘share-gate’ evidence

    PHOTO: Future Forward party secretary-genera, Piyabutr Saengkanokkul In submitting further evidence and clarification over ‘share-gate’, Future Forward party’s legal team has also asked for Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit’s MP status to be reinstated. Thanathorn was suspended from his MP duties when the Constitutional Court decided to accept a case over his alleged media share holdings. The party’s secretary-general Piyabutr Saengkanokkul says, as…

  • Thai Life

    In 12 months Future Forward has grown into a leading Thai political force

    “If anyone talks about fear, we should tell them that, if we are afraid, we will never be able to step forward.” Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, Future Forward’s 40 year old leader, assured the public yesterday that the party is not aggressive and will not seek to turn everything upside down and inside out “but move Thai society forward whereby democracy is…

  • World News

    ASEAN group calls for end of judicial ‘harassment’ of Thai MPs

    The ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, based in Jakarta, is calling on Thai authorities to end what they describe as harassment of the Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. They’ve also asked the ruling Junta to stop their efforts to undermine anti-military parties in the new Thai parliament. Charles Santiago, Chair of APHR and a Member of Parliament in Malaysia…

  • Thailand Election News

    Thanathorn is able to attend this afternoon’s opening of Parliament

    PHOTO: Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, heading to the opening of Parliament today? Future Forward party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been told he can attend the opening of parliament today by His Majesty the King in the conference hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But the 41 year old leader of Future Forward is yet to confirm his attendance…

  • Thailand Election News

    Future Forward’s Thanathorn says he’s confident he will be endorsed as an MP

    Thanathorn had prepared some 27 items of evidence to prove to the poll authority that he had divested his media shares on January 8, well before he registered to run in the election that took place a month later. A defiant Future Forward leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit emerged from yesterday’s marathon ‘chat’ with the Election Commission over charges he still owned…

  • Thailand Election News

    Thanathorn says he’s confident he won’t be penalised by the EC

    Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the leader of Future Forward Party, says he’s confident he won’t be penalised by the Election Commission over allegations he breached the Constitution and the election by holding shares in a media company, V Luck Media, when registering for the March 24 election. Thanathorn says he will submit his defence with the commission by next Monday and insists on…

  • Thailand Election News

    Thanathorn faces more charges from EC over media shares

    Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, the 40 year old leader of the new party, has cut short his trip to Europe over an ‘unexpected incident’ The Thai Election Commission yesterday unanimously resolved to press charges against Thanathorn over an alleged violation of Thai media shareholding rules. Citing investigations by two EC panels, Sawang Boonmee, the EC deputy secretary-general, told a press…

  • Thailand Election News

    Deputy police chief denies foreign diplomats present at Thanathorn interrogation

    The deputy national police commissioner is denying that a group of foreign diplomats were present at a questioning session when the Future Forward party leader reported to Bangkok police on Saturday morning over sedition charges. Pol General Srivara Rangsibhramanakul said the diplomats were invited to a briefing after the interrogation of Thanathorn Jungrungruengkit at Pathum Wan police station. The Future…

  • Bangkok News

    Foreign Minister angry at foreign diplomats who attended Thanathorn’s reporting to police

    Thailand’s Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai vented his anger today at foreign diplomats who attended the reporting of Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit to police on Saturday morning in Bangkok. The diplomats were from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the US, as well as EU and UN human rights officials. Don says he’s considering inviting the diplomats in for…

  • Thailand Election News

    Thanathorn urged to ‘fight on’ as he surrenders to Bangkok police

    Hundreds of supporters gathered around the Pathumwan police station this morning as Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit handed himself in to police to face sedition charges. Barriers were placed around the police station and 620 policemen were deployed to control the crowd. When Thanathorn arrived at 10am he used a megaphone to thank his supporters who had been waiting…

  • Thailand Election News

    “We have sufficient evidence against Thanathorn” – Police

    Deputy national police chief says that police likely have sufficient evidence to support the sedition charge filed against Future Forward’s Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit. Future Forward eclipsed even their own projections with a surprising performance on the Mach 24 election, coming in a close third behind the heavyweights Pheu Thai and Palang Pracharat, at the expense of the Democrats. Thai PBS reports…

  • Thailand Election News

    Future Forward’s Thanathorn demands an apology from conservative Nation TV

    The Future Forward Party leader is demanding an apology from Nation TV for broadcasting an edited voice clip that makes it appear like a conversation between him and former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra. “I am demanding Nation apologise to me and the people who heard this content,” he said when given a chance to respond on Nation TV yesterday. Nation…