Webinar: “A Conversation: What is happening in Thailand now?” - Part1

Date: Saturday, 21st November 2020

Time: 1PM MYT || 5AM UTC || 12PM JST

 

Panelists:

Dr Maung Zarni, Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia (FORSEA)

Edmund Bon, Former Malaysian representative of ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR)

Dr Sriprapha Petcharamesree, senior lecturer at the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies, Mahidol University, Thailand

Hishamuddin Rais, Malaysian political and social activist

Moderator:

Nageeb Gounjaria, Islamic Renaissance Front

 

The Thai people expressed their discontent with the government through massive demonstrations on the main streets around Bangkok from October 17-21, 2020. The protesters demanded that Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Thai Prime Minister who came to power through a coup d’état in 2014, steps down. His victory was disputed, with the demonstrators adamantly against the idea of Thailand being led by a former military general. However, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn inaugurated Prayut as Prime Minister for a second term on June 9, 2019. This seemingly undemocratic move has provoked various protests that are still ongoing and show no signs of abatement.