Opinion

This month a year ago, the Republic of Kosovo opened its first regional Embassy in South East Asia, in Bangkok. We are establishing since excellent relationships with the Kingdom of Thailand and are thankful for a warm-hearted welcome.

In 2020, the world has been hit by an unprecedented public health crisis, with the effects of COVID-19 being felt across every aspect of people’s lives.

Nearly seven years have passed since Gen Prayut Chan-ocha was repeatedly pressed by a throng of reporters as to whether there would be a military coup.

BANGKOK — Last Sunday, royalists finally formed a new group. They held a counter-protest in Bangkok in a bid to oppose anti-government protesters demanding not just new elections, new charter but reforms of the monarchy institution.

That the Thai government’s initiative to pressure Facebook to geo-block a Facebook group critical of the monarchy in Thailand has backfired big time is for all to see.

When I covered a recent protest at Mahidol University, I kept looking for a well known anti-government student leader for an interview, but he was nowhere to be found.

Khaosod English recently removed a photo depicting a student protest at school in Bangkok following complaints from the student activist seen in the image.

Less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha told the country not to perceive anti-government protesters as enemies, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak, a prominent student activist was arrested for sedition and nine other charges.

For a majority of Thai and international observers, the recent development with the student protests in Thailand is a fascinating and refreshing phenomenon. Political protests since the 2014 military coup had been tragic, as they could only attract tens if not dozen demonstrators.

Having nothing better to do, Royal Thai Army commander Gen. Apirat Kongsompong elevated a troubling political discourse to a more dangerous level on Wednesday.