Chadchart


Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Chadchart should work to widen Bangkok’s civic spaces
Posted On June 29, 2022
Last week, newly-elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt signed an order that declared seven public areas as suitable venues for public demonstrations, including the Bangkok Youth Center, Lan Khon Mueang Town Square, an area under the Ratchavipha Bridge, and four others. Chadchart had suggested that designating the seven areas would both ease the impacts of protests on Bangkok’s commuters, as well as keep protesters safe. Protesters would need to give at least 24 hours notice before the city can authorize and prepare for them.
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Southeast Asia  / Thailand
Chadchart ruling a reminder of Thailand’s distrust in the Election Commission
June 2, 2022

After a landslide victory in Bangkok’s gubernatorial election, Chadchart Sittipunt should have felt at ease. He had secured a record 1.38 million votes on May 22, far outpacing the next runner-up who received just over 200,000 votes. Many called the former Transportation Minister’s victory a democratic ray of light in an otherwise gloomy authoritarian state. But of course, this is Thailand. Victories are not automatic, and resistance from anti-democratic forces and electoral challenges are to be expected. It wasn’t long before complaints were launched over Chadchart’s recyclable campaign banners, most notably from political activist Srisuwan Janya, who noted that the campaign banners, which could be turned into shopping bags or aprons, was tantamount to vote buying. Another complaint alleged that Chadchart had insulted the government by saying that its complicated steps would affect his operations as the governor of Bangkok.