Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières
Notwithstanding the ongoing political shenanigans by appointed agencies to shape final outcomes after the May 14 poll, Thailand has already been forever changed. The Move Forward Party’s (MFP) victory as the largest winning side, with 151 out of 500 parliamentary seats, is profound but not (...)
The possibility of Thailand getting a new, democratically-elected government which is not a military proxy has raised hopes of a fresh and more sympathetic policy towards the forces in Myanmar that are fighting against the junta in Naypyitaw. Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward (...)
For several decades, the town of Mae Sot along the Myanmar border in northwest Thailand has been the primary entry point for Myanmar migrants arriving in the country.
Mae Sot is a major production site for Thailand’s garment sector, which employs primarily Myanmar migrants in several hundred (...)
On May 14th, Thai voters will cast their ballots in what is being touted as one of the most ‘high stakes’ or ‘monumental’ elections. Many claims this is an opportunity to dismantle the military dictatorship ‘once and for all.’
The two primary opposition parties, Pheu Thai and Move Forward, are (...)
After years of mass mobilizations, Sunday will put the country’s electoral system to the test
The last few years have been turbulent in Thai politics. Following the period of relative calm after the 2014 coup that overthrew popular social reformer Yingluck Shinawatra, a massive youth movement (...)
Longtime journalist Sumeth Somkanae runs an organisation whose mission is so controversial in the industry that the list of its members has to be kept secret, to protect them from intimidation or even being fired from their jobs.
The organisation is not some extremist group, secret society or (...)
Jailed activists Tantawan Tuatulanon and Orawan Phupong are demanding lese-majesty law be repealed
Two young Thai activists accused of insulting the monarchy are in a weak, exhausted condition and experiencing symptoms such as nosebleeds and chest pain after a hunger strike during which they (...)
• Recent raids and investigations in Thailand have highlighted potential links between Chinese gangsters and Thai local officials
• On social media where local anger over the extent of crime by foreign criminals is mounting, Thais have voiced concern over illicit Chinese money
A seized private (...)
How should we build workers’ media? With a small staff and volunteers, the MAP radio in Thailand provides both critical information and much-needed entertainment to migrant workers from Myanmar, while navigating logistical and political hurdles. Its experience offers important lessons.
In a (...)
A serious look at the formally organised Thai labour movement’s conservatism, and the radicalism of new, autonomous labour organising that emerged out of the youth-led movement in Thailand, with significant implications for the rest of Asia
In a climate of polarisation, the pro-democracy (...)
Starting next month, women may obtain abortions up to the 20th week of pregnancy – eight more weeks than before – but advocates say the law still falls short of providing access to safe abortions for all women.
Though the new law promulgated yesterday allows women to terminate pregnancies (...)
Detention without trial and denial of bail is injustice! Youths have the right to determine their country’s future!
To the Prime Minister, The Government of Thailand
To the President, the Supreme Court of Thailand
We, La Via Campesina, the international peasant movement, express our deep (...)
Part One: Thailand—A Queer Haven?
In January 2020, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched a website as part of LGBT+ travel marketing outreach called #GoThaiBeFree. TAT posted a series of five video clips on social media showcasing LGBT+ couples enjoying the best that Thai tourism has (...)
Labour activists claim authorities are selectively enforcing pandemic rules to suppress organising.
When the Thai government in May ordered a Hong Kong clothing company to pay unpaid wages to 1,250 laid-off Thai factory workers, union leader Sia Jampathong knew the rare win would not be the (...)
The recent incursion by a Myanmar MiG-29 fighter jet into Thai airspace is par for the course in the intimate ties between the militaries of both countries.
Myanmar’s military, also known as the Tatmadaw, in fact wants to be more like its Thai counterpart. The Royal Thai Armed Forces, on the (...)
Corrections officials said Tuesday afternoon that they are investigating how “stressed” inmates sneaked pain killers and sharp objects into prison after three incarcerated activists attempted suicide.
Ayut Sinthoppan, Department of Corrections director, said in a statement that he and his team (...)
The Chao Phraya River is born from mountain streams in northern Thailand, flowing hundreds of kilometers south to the sea. By the time the river travels through Bangkok and empties into the Gulf of Thailand, it is carrying huge quantities of plastic waste – an estimated 4,000 tonnes every year. (...)
Few signboards foretell the global issues of our time better than what is addressed at the annual meetings of the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore. After a pandemic-induced two-year hiatus, the most recent SLD covered the gamut on the main stage, from the United States-China geostrategic (...)
“Top or bottom?” “You’ll never find true love being gay,” “How do you have sex?” “Lesbianism is fixed by sex with a man.” They just gonna go on and on.
On the surface, Thailand seems to be one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly places in the world. But the same persistent attitudes and stereotypes say (...)
In cooperation with the convenor, Nhu Truong, New Mandala is pleased to share a series of articles based on papers presented at the People’s Power and Resistance in Southeast Asia Roundtable at the 35th Biennial Conference of the Canadian Council for Southeast Asian Studies. You can read all of (...)
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