On 14 April 2012, for the first time in the conflict of the past 6 years, Thaksin addressed a mass rally of Red Shirt supporters. While on many occasions Red Shirts have travelled to see Thaksin at his home in Dubai, or during his previous stays in Cambodia, and also during his stay...
Read more »
“And now the end is here. And so I face the final curtain. My friend, I’ll say it clear. I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain. I’ve lived a life that is full.
Read more »
New Mandala readers with an eye to history will remember the violent events of 10 April 2010 in central Bangkok. Some of the relevant New Mandala coverage is still available here and here . For Thailand’s Reds this is the start of more than a month of dates that require reverent reflection, all the way...
Read more »
The 104.10 ‘Pathum Thani People’s Radio station’ in Lam Luk Ka near Klong 3, Pathum Thani province, held a small Songkran party on 6 April 6 2012. Previously the small community radio station, then on the 107.85 wave, was located further away at Klong 3, off the Rangsit-Nakhorn Nayok Highway, but they moved...
Read more »
Red shirts and democracy advocates should question Thaksin Shinawatra, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and the Pheu Thai Party whether their priority is to bring Thaksin home or to help those red shirts who are in jail, said Somsak Jeamteerasakul, a Thammasat lecturer and political commentator, on his Facebook page. In...
Read more »
This translation of Nick Nostitz’s work is an exciting development for Japanese observers of Thailand. Details are here .
Read more »
This past week in Thailand saw both the Red Shirts and the Yellow Shirts mobilised. Perhaps it was déjà vu. The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had its first major gathering this year on 10 March 2012, while the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) had its regular official press conference on 9 March and a concert...
Read more »
Hot off the press, this new book on Thailand’s recent political upheavals will shed light on the events of May 2010. Published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, it is edited by Michael J. Montesano , Pavin Chachavalpongpun and Aekapol Chongvilaivan . I have no doubt it will be the...
Read more »
BANGKOK, Dec 7 - Thailand's Criminal Court on Wednesday rejected a bail bid from fugitive Red Shirt activist Arisman Pongruangrong, citing concern over his possible flight after he had been at large for a long period of time, while the firebrand protest leader's lawyer said he would appeal the court decision on Thursday.
Read more »
The direct and most immediate beneficiaries of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government are undoubtedly the Red Shirts. Since Yingluck was sworn in as Thailand’s 28th prime minister, her party has made securing the release of 132 Red Shirts from various prisons throughout the country a priority. Jarupong Reaungsuwan, Pheu Thai Secretary, views such...
Read more »
The Department of Special Investigation has been investigating 258 cases involving protest rallies of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship and 29 cases of offences against the monarchy. The 258 cases include 147 cases of terrorism and sabotage, 22 cases of threats made against the government, 69 cases of attacks against the...
Read more »
In today’s Melbourne Age there is a big photograph (on page 9) of protesting Red Shirts. One is holding a sign that reads “???????????????”. This could be translated as “the creep ordered the killing”. It’s a vulgar insult (literally referring to a “monitor lizard”) and one that captures the tone of much recent...
Read more »
An article entitled “ Lessons from the Operation Encirclement at the Ratchaprasong area during 14-19 May 2010 ” reveals the military perspective on their success during the crackdown on the Red Shirt movement in April-May 2010. It is published in Senathipat (Vol.59, No.3, September-December 2010), an academic journal published by the Centre of...
Read more »
Jaran Ditapichai, Former National Human Rights Commissioner, Thailand On this coming July 3, 2011, there will be a general election in Thailand which apparently looks ordinary as any elections in democratic countries. But for those who follow the political situation in Thailand for many years would see that this is extraordinary election. It...
Read more »
Sometimes one image can capture what many thousands of words cannot. Dr Bandit Chanrojanakit and his team, Marginalised Monsoon Group (????????????????), have published a preliminary fact finding report on the political violence between 13 and 20 May 2010. Their data are collected from various sources including seven daily newspapers. The 590-page report provides...
Read more »
The Isaan Record KHON KAEN – Pheu Thai will win 80 of Isaan’s 126 constituency MP seats in the upcoming election, Northeastern Red Shirt leaders projected this past Sunday. Approximately 150 UDD provincial and district level leaders met at Khon Kaen University’s Mo Din Daeng Hotel to share their election forecasts and formulate...
Read more »
One year after the crackdown, five reports examining the violent events may alter the history of impunity in Thailand and move the country towards reconciliation. “I want to talk about my husband. He was just a normal guy, not a special career, but he loved to see righteousness...
Read more »
BANGKOK, May 20 -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will call in 19 members of the anti-government United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), the Red Shirt movement, for lese majeste charges as the court rejected latest bail bid by detained UDD co-leader Jatuporn Prompan.
Read more »
Today, is the one year anniversary of the crackdown and there are a number of stories. The death of one nurse though is prominently featured. AP : Cradling a framed portrait of her slain daughter, Payao Akkhahad approached a soldier outside a barracks in this vast Asian metropolis and delivered a letter asking...
Read more »
This month, May 2011, saw the release of probably the first independent in depth report on the 2010 red shirt protest and military crackdown in Thailand. That it has taken almost a year is a shame as this has allowed much misinformation to flourish in the meantime. The report is by Human Rights...
Read more »
If you are at all partial to creative political campaigning then this one should get your attention. It’s a Red Shirt flash mob, doing their thing. YouTube has all the details .
Read more »
Last month I had a 2000-word commentary published in The Canberra Times about the challenges that Thailand faces in the lead-up to the possible 2011 election. That article is now online and available here .
Read more »
Responding to questions raised to an international media audience of around 100 people on Tuesday 26 April three core leaders Nuttawut Saikua, Tida Tawornsed, Jatuporn Prompan explained their situation and strategy. A rough summary translation follows for readers. *** The various internal security apparatuses met not long...
Read more »
Alternative media in Thailand has no public space in which to operate without fear of repression. Thai e-news has issued an urgent statement online to say that the state decided to destroy red shirt media, currently targeting 13 community radio stations around Bangkok metropolitan area including as far as Samut Prakan and Phatumthani....
Read more »
There is no u-turn for Thailand from electoral democracy, even though some dinosaurs in the country have been creating situations to attempt to demonstrate that the parliamentary system does not fit the Thai context. Naturally, chaotic incidents – like the Thaicom satellite glitch or the Thai-Cambodian border clashes and coup rumors – preceded...
Read more »
We are having trouble keeping up with the mad use of lese majeste to repress opposition. - Extracted from “ 18 red shirts charged with lese majeste ”, Political Prisoners in Thailand , 18 April 2011.
Read more »
On Sunday, 17 April 2011, Red Shirts went to Samranrat Police Station, around the corner from Lan Kon Mueang, to accompany their leaders to file a counter case against Army Chief Prayud Chana-ocha, who filed there a lese majeste case against several Red Shirt leaders for their speeches on their Democracy Monument stage...
Read more »
Statement on the First Anniversary of Red Shirts Suppression 10 April 2011 marks the first anniversary of the start of the suppression of people protest for democracy. The protest was organized under the leadership of United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) or the Red Shirts. The peaceful assembly began on 14 March...
Read more »
Received by email: April 10 marks one year since the military crackdown on pro-democracy protestors at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument. That day alone 19 protestors were killed, including a Japanese photo-journalist. The final crackdown came on 19 May when an estimated 91 unarmed protestors were massacred on the streets.
Read more »
TAN Network The Nation Headlines