Thailand to Legalize Same-sex Marriage

LGBTQ NATION: The Asian country will be the next to give citizens marriage equality.

Only two Asian countries recognize same-sex marriages, but Thailand will be the next to give citizens marriage equality.

Thailand’s cabinet recently approved a bill that would legalize same-sex weddings. The amendment to the country’s laws will be submitted to the parliament this month. » | Bill Browning | Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Three People Killed and Teenager Held over Bangkok Mall Shooting - BBC News

Oct 3, 2023 | Three people have been killed in a shooting at a luxury shopping mall in the centre of Thailand's capital, Bangkok, medics say. Four other people were injured in the incident, including a foreign national.

A suspect - a 14-year-old boy - has been arrested after surrendering. He had been using a handgun, police said.

The prime minister said the situation had been brought under control and police were clearing the scene, according to the AFP news agency.

Woman’s Leg Amputated at Bangkok Airport after Getting Stuck in Moving Walkway

THE GUARDIAN: Airport expresses ‘deepest condolences’ after 57-year-old gets caught and has left leg removed from above the knee

A woman’s leg has been amputated in a Thai airport after it became trapped by a movable walkway on Thursday, officials said.

The 57-year-old Thai passenger was due to board a morning flight from Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport to Nakhon Si Thammarat province when she was caught by the walkway in Terminal 2. A medical team there eventually had to remove her left leg from above the knee, according to the airport’s officials. » | Associated Press | Friday, June 30, 2023

Thailand Pride Celebrations Kick Off in Bangkok - BBC News

Jun 4, 2023 | Pride celebrations have begun in Thailand. Thailand is open to LGBTQ+ communities but has never passed the same-sex marriage law. However, the winner of the recent election, the Move Forward party, has said that adopting this law is part of its main agenda.

Weed Is Now Legal in Thailand. How Long Will the High Times Last?

THE NEW YORK TIMES: Cannabis shops have multiplied since the drug was decriminalized, with caveats, in June. But some lawmakers are pushing for tighter regulation.

Thailand’s military government is carrying out an experiment: What happens when a country in Asia, a region where drug laws tend to be harsh, essentially legalizes marijuana overnight?

In the first few months, lots of people have opened weed dispensaries, and their customers have smoked a lot of weed.

Thailand’s marijuana industry has a joyful, freewheeling vibe on a street level. Some dispensaries offer workshops on rolling joints and brewing “weed tea.” Next week, one is holding “yoga on high” class; the ticket price includes a joint, a beverage, a snack and a yoga mat rental. » | Mike Ives | Thursday, November 10, 2022

Thailand Attack: 22 Children among 34 Killed in Nursery Mass Shooting

THE GUARDIAN: North-east region preschool centre attacked by gunman who also killed himself and his family

Thirty-four people have been killed, including 22 children, in a mass shooting at a preschool centre in a north-eastern province of Thailand, police have said.

The attacker, a former policeman, also killed his wife and child before shooting himself dead.

About 30 children were at the centre when the gunman entered the building at 12.30pm (0530 GMT), during the children’s nap time, police and local officials said. The victims were as young as two years old. With video » | Rebecca Ratcliffe and Navaon Siradapuvadoli in Bangkok and agencies | Thursday, October 6, 2022

A Feared Law to Protect the Monarchy Returns Amid Thailand’s Protests

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The country’s lèse-majesté law, which makes insulting the king punishable by years in prison, is being used against the protesters’ leadership for the first time.

BANGKOK — The number 112 strikes fear in Thailand. It refers to Section 112 of the country’s criminal code, which makes insulting or defaming the king and his close kin an offense punishable by three to 15 years in prison.

On Tuesday night, a leader of the protest movement that is calling for changes to Thailand’s monarchy and political system received a summons to face multiple charges of lèse-majesté, as the crime is known. It was the first time that Section 112 had been applied during the protests, which have brought thousands of people onto the streets since July.

The protest leader, Parit Chiwarak, commonly known as Penguin, must report to a police station by Dec. 1 to face the charges, which stem from speeches he gave in September and this month. In those speeches, Mr. Parit and others called for the monarchy to come under the Thai Constitution and for the public to be allowed to scrutinize its considerable wealth. » Hannah Beech and Muktita Suhartono | Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Thailand: Anti-Government Protest in Bangkok Draws Massive Crowd | DW News

Thousands of pro-democracy protesters are rallying in the streets of Thailand's capital Bangkok to demand democratic reforms. The student-led demonstrations are calling for the prime minister's resignation and changes in tough laws against criticizing the monarchy. Organizers say tens of thousands have turned out. That would make it the biggest protest since a 2014 coup when now-prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took power. Authorities have warned against holding demonstrations amid fears that the coronavirus could spread rapidly among participants.

Why Is the Monarchy in Thailand Targeted? | Inside Story

They've been rallying almost daily for the past month - anti-government protesters led by students are attracting different sectors of Thai society.

Their main demand is a change of the entire political system.

That includes the resignation of former army general now Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha.

Some are calling for what has long been unthinkable; reform of the monarchy Any criticism of the royal family is an offence that can lead to a long prison sentence.

How likely is political change in Thailand?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra | Guests: Pravit Rojanaphruk - political reporter and columnist for Kaosod English news website; David Streckfuss - Thai historian and author of: 'Truth on Trial in Thailand; Defamation, Treason and Lèse-majesté; Jade Donavanik, Dean of the Graduate School of Law at Siam University and a former Adviser to the Constitution Drafting Committee in Thailand

Thailand's Lèse-majesté Law ‘Stifling Dissent’

Thailand’s former King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest-serving monarch, will be cremated on Thursday, over a year after he died.

While millions of people are mourning the revered monarch, who ruled for 70 years, Thailand's military government is ramping up its crackdown on people insulting or criticizing the royal family.

Over the past three years, more than 100 people have been charged or convicted for violating the country’s strict draconian lèse-majesté law (violating the dignity of a ruler), which forbids insult of the monarchy.

The military leadership says some sort of democracy will return next year, but there is no indication that will mean freedom of speech when it comes to the monarchy.

Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from the capital, Bangkok.

Thailand Cracks Down on Criticism of the Royal Family

Thailand's military government is ramping up its crackdown on people insulting or criticising the royal family.

Over the past three years, more than one-hundred people have been charged or convicted under strict lèse-majesté laws.

Wayne Hay reports from Khon Kaen.

Who Is Thailand's New King? BBC News

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has been proclaimed Thailand's new king, 50 days after the death of his father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. What do we know about Thailand's new monarch?

Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn Becomes Thailand's New King

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn has formally succeeded his father Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in October after a 70-year reign. Al Jazeera's Emma Hayward reports from London.

Thailand: Regent Appointed as Crown Prince Mourns

The head of Thailand's royal advisory council will stand in as regent until the late king's son accedes to the throne.

Thousands Line Streets to Mourn Thai King | DW News

Mourners have gathered on the streets of the Thai capital, Bangkok to catch a glimpse of the hearse carrying King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s body from the hospital to the grand palace. Many people are overcome with grief at the 88-year-old monarch’s death.

Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej Dies at 88

Thailand's venerated King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world's longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 88, the palace has announced.

Islamic State Terror Squad 'In Thailand' Planning To Kill Russians, Warns Moscow

THE TELEGRAPH: Ten-person terrorist squad entered the Kingdom in October on a mission to target Russians, Moscow warns

Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isil) has dispatched a ten-person squad to kill Russian tourists in Thailand, Russian security services have warned.

Thai police confirmed on Friday that they had received intelligence from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), the main successor agency to the KGB, about 10 terrorists from Syria who reportedly entered Thailand in October.

The warning came to light in a leaked letter, marked “secret” and “urgent”, that began circulating on Thai social media on Thursday.

Thailand is a popular holiday destination for Russians, especially in the peak Christmas and New Year periods.

Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok are all also popular with British visitors, meaning there is a high chance any terrorist attack there could also target Britons. » | Roland Oliphant, Moscow and Philip Sherwell, Bangkok | Friday, December 4, 2015

Thai Printers Refuse to Publish New York Times Edition over Article about King

King Bhumibol celebrating his 84th birthday in 2011. In
April, a Thai man was jailed for 30 years for insulting
the monarchy on Facebook.

THE GUARDIAN: Front-page story in International New York Times on declining health of King Bhumibol, 87, considered too sensitive, with strict lèse-majesté laws in place

The Thai printers of the International New York Times have refused to publish the paper’s Tuesday edition because a front-page article on the country’s ailing king was deemed too sensitive.

Strict lèse-majesté laws in Thailand make it a crime to criticise, defame or insult members of the royal family, and can land people in jail for up to 15 years on each count.

The article, headlined “As Thai king ails, crown’s future unclear”, focused on the declining health of 87-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej and discussed concerns surrounding the succession.

“Today’s edition of the International New York Times was not printed in Thailand because it includes an article that our locally contracted printer deemed too sensitive too print,” the paper told subscribers in an email.

“This decision was made solely by the printer and is not endorsed by the International New York Times,” it said. » | Oliver Holmes in Bangkok | Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Polygamous Gay Marriage Ceremony Held in Thailand: 'We All Had a Lot of Feelings for Each Other'

What may be the world's first polygamous gay marriage took place in Thailand on Valentine's Day, as three gay men were married in a religious ceremony. The men, identified only by their first names as Joke, 29, Bell, 21 and Art, 26, say their marriage is recognized by Buddhist law. The marriage is not recognized by…

Crown Prince of Thailand Takes Refuge in Five-star Hampshire Hotel

Thailand's Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his entourage take over a wing of grade-II listed Tylney Hall in the village of Rotherwick as martial law is declared in Thailand

The Crown Prince of Thailand has escaped the political turmoil in his own country and is staying in a five-star hotel in the Hampshire countryside.

Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and his 30-strong royal entourage have taken over a wing of grade-II listed Tylney Hall in the village of Rotherwick, the Evening Standard reported.

Prince Vajiralongkorn, the heir apparent and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyade.

Tylney Hall, where room start at £250 a night, rising to £530 for the Duke and Duchess Suites with four-poster beds and whirlpool baths, declined to comment on their royal guest.

“We never discuss our guests and will not be making any comment about this,” said a spokesman. » | Keith Perry | Friday, May 23, 2014