Kansai Gaidai University, Osaka, Japan
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Category: Thailand

Thailand has serious policy problems on two fronts in Myanmar
Because of the state of internal conflict in Myanmar, the coerced return of Karen people would constitute a violation of the principle of non-refoulement, a serious violation of Thailand’s obligations under customary international law. Recent…
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Are some things better left unsaid? Media self-censorship in Thailand
Self-censorship among journalists normally refers to acts of censorship that aren’t compelled or coerced, but aim to avoid offending those that hold power, such as publishers, advertisers, the government or major business interests. However in…
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In the Milk Tea Alliance, is there no room for solidarity with Thailand’s Southern Provinces?
The Milk Tea Alliance has drawn considerable international media attention, first in solidarity with the citizens of Hong Kong as they peacefully confronted the political, economic, and social integration of Hong Kong into mainland China.…
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Hand sanitiser and banana peels: Normalising Prayut’s bizarre behaviour
This time last week, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, after feeling frustrated by a question about a list of potential candidates for vacant Cabinet posts, abruptly ended his own news conference, grabbed a bottle of…
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After violence consumes a peaceful movement, serious questions must now be addressed
February 28 represented a notable turn of events for pro-democracy protesters. Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Victory Monument for a rally organized by the Free Youth group, now rebranded as “Restart Democracy” or “REDEM.” The…
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Thailand and Myanmar’s militaries get cozy, but at what cost?
After Myanmar Senior General and now-Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing seized power on February 1, one of his earliest acts was to compose a letter to Thai Prime Minis­ter Prayut Chan-o-cha explaining why the military had…
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Thailand’s rising tension between public and state relations with China
Historically, there has been both animosity and brotherhood between China and Thailand. Famously quoted from a song written by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the relationship has been characterised as that of “brothers, which will last…
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To succeed, the pro-democracy movement must include Labour unions and marginalized groups
Gene Sharp, American scholar and expert in non-violent civil disobedience, famously theorized that the power of rulers is derived from the consent of subjects. Non-violent action, such as protests and public demonstrations are methods of…
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Understanding the three-finger salute from Thailand to Myanmar
In the dystopian Hunger Games novels by Suzanne Collins and in an adapted series of films, the three-finger salute is a gesture of thanks, respect, gratitude, or to say goodbye to someone to a loved…
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As lèse majesté cases soar, what does this tell us about the Thai state?
The number of recent lèse majesté cases in Thailand have soared to near 60, as prominent former Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit and a retired former civil servant made headlines over the past week.…
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