Prachatai English

Independent, non-profit, daily web newspaper established in June 2004 FCEM has 6 board members to look after the projects under FCEM, including Prachatai.

Prachatai (prachatai.com or prachatai.org) is an alternative, non-profit, daily web newspaper established in June 2004 to provide reliable and relevant news and information to the Thai public during an era of serious curbs on the freedom and independence of Thai news media. Prachatai was established by a group of concerned Thais who included a senior member of the Press Council of Thailand, a well

-known lecturer in Journalism, two members of the Thai Senate, a number of senior journalists, and a number of Thai NGO leaders. Prachatai Objectives

- To provide the Thai public with access to reliable news and information relevant to developing and strengthening the democratic functions of Thai civil society.
- To focus news coverage on the problems, concerns, activities and accomplishments of local communities and civil society movements and organisations.
- To strive for freedom and independence of Thai news media.
- To promote active public participation in Thai news media. Since January 2006 Prachatai has been registered as a Thai non-profit foundation, named The Foundation for Community educational Media(FCEM). Prachatai has a management team consisting of 4 senior staff, the management team is in charge for the operations of Prachatai. On September 6th 2004, Prachatai began its daily publication on the web with a staff of one editor and five reporters. At present Prachathai has a staff of 17: a Director, Manager, Editor in Chief, News Editor, 7 Bangkok office reporters, 2 regional reporters, a web administrator, a multi-media officer, a graphic designer and a finance officer. The first achievement of Prachatai was the investigative report on the Tak Bai massacre in October 2004. After that the readership gradually increased until the coup d’etat happened on September 19th 2006. After the Coup the readership Prachatai grew drastically readership but Prachatai was also faced with some levels of state interference and censorship. On 6th March 2009 the Prachatai office was raided by over 10 policemen and the Director of Prachatai got arrested with charges under the Articles 14 & 15 from the Computer Crime Act 2007 because of contents posted by users in the webboard (web-forum). On 24th September 2010 the Director of Prachatai got a second arrest at Bangkok Airport after returning from an international conference and was transported to Khon Kaen province where an arrest warrant was issued. She faced similar charges plus Article 112 (Lese Majesté) and Article 116 (Sedition) from the Penal Code. Prachatai website was first officially blocked once the government declared the Emergency Decree on 7th April 2010, Prachatai also filed the lawsuit against the shutting down ordered. Although Prachatai lost in first stance it decided to appeal and now the case is under the Appeal Court. Any inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

12/07/2025

A court in Bangkok has refused to allow a Thai student charged with royal defamation to leave the country to study for a master’s degree in Germany on a prestigious Erasmus scholarship.

Suthini (last name withheld) was charged with royal defamation and sedition for participation in the 26 October 2020 protest, where protesters marched to the German Embassy in Bangkok to submit a petition calling for the German authorities to investigate King Vajiralongkorn’s use of power during his time in Germany.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) said that, on 9 July, the South Bangkok Criminal Court denied her request to leave Thailand for 2 years on the ground that remaining in country was a condition imposed on her when she was granted bail out of the concern that granting her temporary release would obstruct her trial. It ruled that the length of her overseas stay is too long and could affect hearing dates.

TLHR noted, however, that her earlier requests to leave the country were always approved and she never tried to flee. In 2022, the Court allowed her to travel to Germany to attend a one-month language course on a scholarship from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) on the condition that 2 people be appointed her guardians, one in Thailand and one in Germany.

Read on our website at the link in comment.

11/07/2025

On 1 July, the Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra while it investigates an ethics breach complaint filed against her over a leaked phone call to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

And this is not the first time something like this has happened. Over the past two decades, the Constitutional Court has ruled on cases that led to several political turning points for the government, political parties, even for the democratic form of government itself.

Let’s take a look back at the Constitutional Court’s role as the ultimate arbiter in Thai politics.

Link in comment.

11/07/2025

Debate began on Wednesday (9 July) in parliament on five proposed amnesty bills for prosecutions deemed political crimes. However, the House Speaker abruptly adjourned the session before parliament could finish the debate and vote on the bills.

Amnesty for people charged with royal defamation remains a point of contention, as some government MPs insisted that the charge should not be included in the amnesty bill. Meanwhile, representatives of the Network who spoke in parliament said that the royal defamation charge should be considered political prosecution and that it should be included in the bill.

Of the 51 people remaining in detention on charges relating to political expression, 32 are detained on a royal defamation charge.

Link in comment.

11/07/2025

UN experts today (11 July) expressed grave concern over ongoing judicial proceedings against Thai woman human rights defender Pimsiri Petchnamrob, calling on the Government to drop charges against her and other human rights defenders who participated in pro-democracy protests.

Link in comment.

11/07/2025

The leaked phone call between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen had rattled Paetongtarn's government. Calls for her to resign or dissolve the House intensified during the weeks after the call was leaked, and on 1 July, the Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn while it investigates an ethics breach campaign against her.

n her phone call with Hun Sen, Paetongtarn characterised Thailand’s Second Army Area Commander Lt Gen Boonsin ‘Kung’ Padklang as her political opponent, a remark she later explained was a negotiation tactic. But it would appear that the military has been defying the government’s de-escalation efforts and actively disseminated militaristic rhetoric through a public relations campaign.

Link in comment.

11/07/2025

Cartoon by Stephff: Invisible hand is back

09/07/2025

Debate has now begun in parliament over 5 bills proposing amnesty for political prosecution.

Amnesty for people charged with royal defamation remains a point of contention. Of the proposed bills, only the version proposed by the Network for People’s Amnesty and backed by 35,905 voters explicitly propose amnesty for people charged with royal defamation. Meanwhile, the government whip has said that it will reject versions of the bill proposed by Chaitawat Tulathon, former MP and Secretary-General of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party, and the Network for People’s Amnesty because they include amnesty for royal defamation.

The Move Forward Party’s version of the bill does not explicitly say that it will grant amnesty for royal defamation, but proposed establishing a committee for case-by-case consideration.

51 people remain in detention on charges relating to political expression. Of this number, 32 people are detained for royal defamation.

09/07/2025

Human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa has been sentenced to 2 years and 4 months in prison on charges of royal defamation and sedition.

Anon has so far been found guilty of 10 counts of royal defamation, 1 count of sedition, 1 count of violating the Emergency Decree, and 1 count of contempt of court. The latest verdict brought the total prison sentence he is facing for his activism to 26 years, 37 months, and 20 days, or around 29 years and 1 month.

He has been detained pending appeal at the Bangkok Remand Prison since 26 September 2023.

Link in comment.

08/07/2025

‘We are political prisoners’

Ahead of tomorrow (9 July)’s parliamentary session, where MPs are expected to debate debate five bills proposing amnesty for people facing political prosecution, the Network for People’s Amnesty staged a gathering today (8 July) in front of the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road to demand that parliament urgently consider the bill so political prisoners can be released.

Participants stood for 51 minutes – the number of political prisoners now in detention – holding pictures of each detainee. They also read out information about each detainee, their charges, and the length of their prison sentence.

Of the proposed bills, only the version proposed by the Network for People’s Amnesty and backed by 35,905 voters explicitly propose amnesty for people charged with royal defamation. Meanwhile, the government whip has said that it will reject versions of the bill proposed by Chaitawat Tulathon, former MP and Secretary-General of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party, and the Network for People’s Amnesty because they include amnesty for royal defamation.

The Move Forward Party’s version of the bill does not explicitly say that it will grant amnesty for royal defamation, but proposed establishing a committee for case-by-case consideration.

51 people remain in detention on charges relating to political expression. Of this number, 32 people are detained for royal defamation.

(Photos by Ginger Cat)

08/07/2025

BREAKING
Human rights lawyer Anon Nampa now faces 29 years in prison following another guilty royal defamation verdict.

07/07/2025

Following the 1 February 2021 military coup in Myanmar, Mae Sot saw an influx of migrants from Myanmar, who came to Thailand fleeing prosecution and violence. Some were professionals - teachers, doctors, and artists. However, writes a Burmese refugee and community organizer in Mae Sot, recent immigration raids and online anti-migrant rhetorics have sowed fear among the community.

Link in comment.

07/07/2025

Amid growing political turmoil, Parliament is expected on 9 July to debate five bills proposing amnesty for people facing political prosecution.

The royal defamation law remains a point of contention as the Government Whip insisted that all draft legislation must not propose amnesty for those found guilty of violating it. Meanwhile, the Network for People's Amnesty is calling for Parliament to bring the civil society's version of the amnesty bill before Parliament and to discuss amnesty for people charged with royal defamation.

Link in comment.