New Mandala

There is an interesting analysis of Thai politics that was just published at Asia Sentinel.  It draws attention to “a feckless heir”, “a muddle-through scenario”, and “anti-monarchy radicalism”, among a large number of other issues.

[Read more →]

Patchara [Kerdsiri, a 32 year old Web program developer] said Twitter opens the chance for users to be close to famous people. Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, or @thaksinlive, veteran politician Chaturon Chaisang, or @chaturon, and Patee Sarasin, or @patee122, have replied to his “tweets”.
- Extracted from Kornchanok Raksaseri, “Calling Twitterers…to Thai coffeeshop”, Asia [...]

[Read more →]

[A New Mandala reader has provided the following translation of “State within the state” by Jakrapob Penkair, Thai Red News Weekly Magazine, Year 1, Volume 16, 21 September 2009. The source for the translation is here.  Translator notes are added in square brackets. ]
State within the state
This concept does not appear in progressive political science literature or research. It [...]

[Read more →]

[Dr. Paul Chambers is currently the Senior Research Fellow at the Politics Institute, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.  His research interests are civil-military relations, democratization, and Southeast Asian politics. His articles have appeared in the Journal of East Asian Studies, Contemporary Southeast Asia, and the Asian Journal of Political Science, among others.]
The Thai armed forces have [...]

[Read more →]

Taken earlier this month in Chiang Mai.

[Read more →]

Over the past couple of years New Mandala has been proud to feature regular photo-essays by Bangkok-based journalist Nick Nostitz.  Nick’s exposure of the street-level dynamics of Thai protests — Red, Yellow and Blue — has won him well-deserved acclaim.  His unique reports remain among our most popular content.  They have been read by tens [...]

[Read more →]

I arrived at 9 am, 30 000 to 40 000 Red Shirts have already gathered at Sanam Luang and surroundings.

The festivities began with a Brahman ceremony.

Songs were sung on the stage; Red Shirt leaders danced and sang along.  On Sanam Luang a large rectangle was fenced off for the procession.

[Read more →]

Some New Mandala readers may have missed the analysis of post-petition scenarios for Thailand by Reuters correspondent Martin Petty.  It is well worth a look.  Later today we will be posting an illustrated report on the Thaksin Shinawatra clemency petition by Bangkok-based photo-journalist Nick Nostitz.  It will also be worth digesting.

[Read more →]

The National libray of Australia recently received the first issue of Voice of Taksin (เสียงทักษิณ ). The magazine has 70 pages with some colour  pictures. Published fortnightly, it is sold for 40 baht. Voice of Taksin features opinion pieces that reflect the political position of Thaksin’s followers.
[This post is provided by the National Library of Australia as part of [...]

[Read more →]

“Ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra will award 6,000 scholarships in Thailand to celebrate his 60th birthday in what is seen as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s popularity…”
- Extracted from “Thaksin marks birthday with scholarships”, The Nation, 22 July 2009.
“His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is granting 152 scholarships to secondary students from needy [...]

[Read more →]