Opinion

In March, Jakrapob Penkair, former Thai minister and leader of the Red Shirt movement, returned to Thailand Can the return of exiled politicians ignite hope for Thai democracy and reshape its political landscape?

The stature of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin was further undermined this week by the “rumor” of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle next week spreading from his own Pheu Thai Party sources, only to see Srettha denying yesterday that a reshuffle will take place in the coming days.

The heated clash of views on whether it is appropriate for Chulalongkorn University students to carry the university’s emblem, known as Phra Kiew coronet and a symbol bestowed to the university by King Rama VI in memory of his then late father, Rama V or King Chulalongkorn, on the roof of a golf cart during the parade of the Chula-Thammasat Varsity Football Match on March 31 is emblematic of the deep persistence debate about the appropriate place and role of the monarchy in the 21th century.

The passing of the Same-Sex Marriage Bill by the parliament earlier this week on March 27 was a historic day for not just LGBTQI people but Thailand, and hopefully the region, as the kingdom became the first nation in Southeast Asia to recognize equal marriage rights for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, intersex, and those questioning their gender or sexual orientation.

Earlier this week, Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse, estranged son of HM the King, who grew up in the United States, told the AFP he wants to return to Thailand permanently after living there for 27 years.

Before the panel marking 20 years since the enforced disappearance of human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit at the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand on Monday began, I asked Somchai’s wife, Angkhana Neelapajit, whether she is still living in the same Bangkok house in which Somchai resided before he disappeared 20 years ago.

Thanks to PM Srettha Thavisin who said last month that the Singaporean government paid two to three million dollars per show to American songstress Taylor Swift to ensure that she performs exclusively in Singapore while in Southeast Asia, the disclosure has led to lessons and debate among the neighbors of Singapore.

During the march against Russian invasion of Ukraine in Bangkok last week on Feb. 24, around six Thais joined 50 other Ukrainians and Europeans in a peace march from Lumpini Park to Benjakitti Park.

Over the past two weeks, we have seen royalists and ultra-royalists wearing purple shirt and dress, changed their social media account’s background color to purple, which is the birth color of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, to express their love and solidarity towards the Princess whose royal motorcade was recently honked at by monarchy-reform activist Tawan Tuatulanond.

Former inmate Thaksin Shinawatra has finally returned home after 17 years today. He was first ousted in the coup in September 2006 and subsequently faced corruption-related charges before being sentenced upon returning to Thailand late last year.