Latest News in Thailand

Abhisit Proposes Referendum to End Conflict Thai Prime Minister Abhisit spoke from New York saying that he will not move forward on the setting up of a new charter amendment group if the opposition would not agree with the plan. He did say that a vote should be held on the draft revisions after they [...]

Thai Woman Sentenced to 18 Years for Speeches The Thai Criminal Court Friday sentenced Daranee Charnchoengsilpakul, also known as Da Torpedo, to 18 years in prison without parole for offensive statements directed toward the monarchy. The charge is lese majeste which is punishable in Thailand. The trial court said that three undercover law enforcement officers [...]

Thai King Allows His Name to be Attached to New Flower His Majesty the King of Thailand has permitted a Dutch tulip grower to make use of his name, “King Bhumibol”, for a new species of tulip. According to a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Wimol Kidchob the Office of His Majesty’s Principal Private Secretary notified the [...]

Petition Time for Thaksin in BKK Bangkok and Thai National Police are prepared to protect order in the capital when Thaksin Shinawatra backers file a petition at the Royal Household Bureau requesting a pardon and rivals gather at the close by Supreme Court on Monday. National police chief Wichien Pojphosri has said he had conversed [...]

Thailand’s Queen Reports on the Health of His Majesty The King The Queen of Thailand yesterday spoke to well-wishers about the health of His Majesty King during her birthday meeting with cabinet ministers, senior administration officials and members of the public who came to the Dusitdalai Pavilion inside the Chitralada Palace to celebrate her 77th [...]

Dueling Petitions and Lese Majeste Accusations At least five million Thais signed their names in resistance to the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship’s drive to petition for a royal pardon for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, according to Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat. He added that the Interior Ministry would continue to accept people’s [...]

UDD Gathers 5.4 Million Signatures for Thaksin The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) plans to forward its petition for a royal pardon for convicted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, to the palace before Aug 12. The group has finished its signature-gathering operation as of yesterday and claims its petition has the names of [...]

Former Army Chief Speaks Out About Thaksin Petition A cousin and Former army chief of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Gen Chaisit Shinawatra on Saturday denounced government attempts to hinder Thaksin partisans from seeking royal pardon for Thaksin He stressed that the hindrance means that the state was trying to thwart the people from having [...]

Thaksin and his nominee governments Thailand’s Monarchy has been around in Thailand for 700 years. It is an institution of great reverence. It is the strength of Thailand, not an obstacle to progress. The politicians are the liabilities of our democratic system. If the politicians are clean and really work for the progress of the [...]