Activist Arnon Nampa jailed for calling for royal reform
Prominent activist and human rights lawyer, Arnon Nampa (อานนท์นำภา, Aanon Namphaa), was sentenced to four years in prison last week. The BBC wrote an article about that.
Tantawan 'Tawan' Tuatulanon, a 20-year-old woman, has been advocating for a reform of the monarchy in Thailand for many years. The documentary below shows how she is followed and prosecuted by the police and the judiciary.
Thousands of Thais demand democracy and monarchy reform
An estimated 20.000 protesters gathered in Bangkok yesterday. This made this protest one of the largest ever held in Thailand. The protesters will continue their actions today. They demand a new constitution and an end to the military-dominated government. There was also a call for a reform of the monarchy, a loaded subject in the country.
December 10 – Constitution Day
Tomorrow is a national holiday in Thailand: Constitution Day. Many Thais are free on this day, especially civil servants, to reflect on the constitution and democracy. The significance of this day goes back to 1932, a year of great changes in Siam that resulted in the end of absolute monarchy.
The worship of the Thai monarchy
Read an article today about the anthropologist Irene Stengs (*1959) who obtained her PhD in 2003 at the University of Amsterdam on the worship of the Thai monarchy. She is affiliated with the Meertens Institute and has been appointed professor of anthropology of ritual and popular culture at the Free University of Amsterdam since last month.
Two women arrested for wearing pro republican T-shirt
The independent news website Prachatai published the following message on September 7: Yesterday, the Association of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights reported that the authorities had arrested Surang (pseudonym) and her 12-year-old daughter in the morning. According to Surang's niece, more than 10 officers including 4 soldiers, 5 men in black and 2 female officers arrived in a gray van and arrested them when the two returned home from a market visit.