Commentary / World May 12, 2017
Land of fear, under Vajiralongkorn
by Pavin Chachavalpongpun
Loathed by the public, Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn is seeking to win over his subjects not by reverence, but fear.
Asia Pacific Oct 17, 2016
Thai police force woman to kneel before late king's photo for alleged insult
A Thai woman accused of insulting the country's late king was forced to kneel before his portrait outside a police station on the tourist island of Samui as several hundred people bayed for an apology. The woman's arrest and public shaming on Sunday was the ...
Business / Economy Oct 15, 2016
Concerts and colossal beach parties in Thailand have been canceled. An annual floating lantern festival meant to placate the country's goddess of water will not take place. And closed for the first time in years: red-light districts in the heart of the Thai capital filled ...
Asia Pacific Oct 14, 2016
Thai Crown set to pass to prince less revered than his father
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has been anointed Thailand's next monarch following his father's death, an elevation that would see him become the 10th king in the Chakri Dynasty and inherit control of a fortune that runs to the tens of billions. The sole son of ...
Commentary / World Jan 21, 2016
Thai military risks weakening the monarchy
by Pavin Chachavalpongpun
The Thai military's overuse of lese majeste law to prop up its own authority risks weakening the monarchy over the long term.