FORMER Thai foreign minister Kasit Piromya has blasted the role of the “Jewish lobby” and “Jewish money” as a “blatant illustration” of how democracy is being subverted in the United States, and warned about the global threat to human freedom posed by the rising forces of authoritarianism. Now 80 years old, with nothing to
Tag: Democracy
Pita: Ethics still used as political tool to undermine democracy
FORMER Move Forward leader and current People’s Party campaign assistant Pita Limjaroenrat marked the fifth anniversary of the dissolution of Future Forward Party by underscoring that ethics is still being used as a political tool to destroy people’s choices while confident that democratic power will not dissipate along with disbanded parties, Naewna newspaper said
Read morePheu Thai’s digital wallet plan less costly than other parties’ schemes: Somchai
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THE PHEU THAI CAMPAIGN-PLEDGED digital wallet policy would incur a relatively smaller sum of the taxpayer’s money in comparison to those promised by other camps, remarked former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn today (Apr.13). Somchai, who is contesting the May 14 general election in party-listed mode under the Thai Liberal tickets,
Read moreMyanmar executes four democracy activists, drawing condemnation and outrage
By Reuters and published by CNA MYANMAR’S military junta today (July 25) said it had executed four democracy activists accused of helping to carry out “terror acts” in the Southeast Asian nation’s first executions in decades, sparking widespread condemnation. Sentenced to death in closed-door trials in January and April, the four men had been accused
Read moreMyanmar democracy activists’ death sentences upheld, junta says
By Reuters and published by US News & World Report MYANMAR’S military government said on Friday (June 3) that appeals by two prominent democracy activists against their death sentences had been rejected, paving the way for the country’s first executions in decades. The government has received widespread condemnation abroad for ousting an elected government
Read moreActivist groups hold Songkran event at Democracy Monument
SOME activist groups marched from Phan Fa bridge to Democracy Monument today (Apr. 13), Songkran Day, where they held a water pouring ceremony to draw attention to their demands, Matichon newspaper said. Members of We Volunteer (Vivo), Thalu Fah, People’s Group and Fem Liberated kicked off their event at 4.45 p.m. after reaching the monument
Read moreDemocracy, LGBTQ activists stage downtown demonstration
THE United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual and queer (LGTBQ) groups staged a demonstration at Ratchaprasong intersection this afternoon (Nov. 28) to push for abolition of Criminal Code Section 112, or the lese majeste law, and obtain marriage equality, Matichon newspaper said. Booths were set up to collect
Read moreDemocracy summit snub due to poorly-implemented democratic rule: Academic
By Thai Newsroom Reporters THAILAND was not invited to a United States-hosted Summit for Democracy scheduled for next month apparently due to the country’s poorly-implemented democratic rule, said a noted critic today (Nov 26). Rangsit University’s Political and Development Research Centre director/former election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn cited the Democracy Index compiled by The Economist
Read morePrayut mum on not being invited to US democracy summit
PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha today (Nov. 25) refused to comment on Thaiand not being invited to the Summit for Democracy US is holding next month, Amarin TV said. Reporters asked Prayut what signal is being given by US in not inviting Thailand to this summit just before he presided over a plaque award ceremony
Read morePolice have asked army to help if today’s rallies turn violent
THE Metropolitan Police Bureau has fully prepared to handle protests by two rival groups in Bangkok today (August 7) but if the situation turns violent the crowd control strategy will be stepped up with a request already made to the army to move in and help if need be, INN News and Sanook.com said
Read morePolice ready to handle REDEM’s demonstration tomorrow
METROPOLITAN Police has arranged 22 companies of crowd control police to handle a demonstration that the REDEM (Restart Democracy) group has called at Sanam Luang from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow (March 20), Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon. Pol. Lt .Gen. Phukphong Phongpetra, head of the Metropolitan Police, together with other senior police
Read morePolice brace for rampage at tomorrow’s protest
THE Facebook page of the Royal Thai Police posted a message fortelling that there will be heavy rampage at a protest expected to take place tomorrow (March 6) with policemen being the target, Siam Rath newspaper said this morning (March 5). The message urged all policemen to keep an eye on this situation. Meanwhile REDEM
Read moreMedical volunteer, seven others held without bail
CHARGES have been filed against the eight persons arrested during last night’s protest with a medical volunteer being among and all are still being detained after bail was denied as they will be taken to court for a pretrial detention hearing tomorrow, Thai Rath newspaper said this afternoon (Feb. 14). The DNA medical personnel and
Read more20 policemen hurt in ping pong bomb, firecracker blast
HARDCORE protest guards had flung ping pong bombs and firecrackers at unarmed policemen during last night’s protest that moved from Democracy Monument to the City Pillar Shrine injuring 20 of them, Siam Rath newspaper said today (Feb. 20). Pol. Col. Krisana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, told reporters at 9.30
Read moreProtest fracas ends with new rally set for Feb. 20
THE protest at the Democracy Monument today (Feb. 13) ended at 8.25 p.m. after a melee at the City Pillar Shrine which led to one of the key leaders, Mr. Panupong Chadnok, or Mike, ending the rally and setting a seven-day deadline for the authorities to free four detained leaders and if not they would
Read moreProtesters write messages on red cloth at Democracy Monument
A demonstration called by the People’s Party kicked off at Democracy Monument this afternoon (Feb. 13) with a large 30×30-metre red cloth spread out on the road for participants to write their grievances and demands, Thai Rath newspaper said. The rally was announced on the webpage of the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration calling
Read moreProtest kicks off with police vehicle being forced to leave
AFTER moving up their demonstration at Democracy Monument from 2 p.m. to 8 a.m. this morning (Oct. 14), the protest leaders expanded the assembly area to cover one traffic lane of Ratchadamnoen Klang Road and then forced a police vehicle that had driven in to warn them that they are breaking the law to leave,
Read moreFree Youth group starts rally at Democracy Monument, Penguin shows up
THE rally by the Free Youth group at Democracy Monument kicked off at 2.33 p.m. this afternoon (August 16) amid tight security with demonstrators calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to resign, INN News reported. The demonstrators, who insisted that their gathering was absolutely in accordance with law, said Gen. Prayut should step down to
Read morePolice arrest 2 Democracy Monument rally leaders
TWO leaders of the July 18 rally at the Democracy Monument were arrested by Samranrat Metropolitan Police under warrants issued by the Criminal Court today (August 7), INN News reported. One of the charges filed against the two men, Mr. Panupong Chadnok and Mr. Anon Nampha, is the appearing in public to create confusion and
Read moreGroup marks 1932 revolution early this morning
AT 5.30 a.m. this morning (June 24) a group of around 50 people with students among them gathered in front of the Democracy Monument in a symbolic activity to mark the 88th anniversary of the 1932 revolution, INN News reported. They projected images and played sound recording to simulate the event that took place on
Read more