Hydropower generates 7,000 megawatts of energy in Thailand alone. Isaan Record’s Olivia Everett sits down with Geography Professor Ian Baird of the University of Wisconsin-Madison to see how dams impact people in and out of the country.
“The Bangkok Tragedy” refers to the government-backed massacre of members of the red shirt movement, when a military crackdown on protesters from May 10 to May 19, 2010, resulted in at least 94 deaths.
“The heart of this law is about making the one being discriminated against and the one discriminating understand each other better, especially for HIV-positive people. The law also sets up a rehabilitation process that can lead to change for a better future.”
A young man aspires to become a judge. But his dream might be dashed simply because the agency doesn’t accept people living with HIV. Everyone applying for a position is forced to take a blood test. He can only hope that the judiciary will stop stigmatizing people like him, and open up its ranks for everybody equally.
Over the past year, pro-democracy movements among the young generation have blossomed across the kingdom. The originally forceful campaign however has been curbed with constant arrests, intimidation, and violence. Despite facing such threats, one teen in Udon Thani remains unflinching, and turns to performance art to challenge the state’s attempt at oppression
"Now I think it’s time for change. Everyone’s awakened." Kwankhao Tangprasert, leader of Khon Kaen KKC student movement
Amid calls from Thailand’s new generation for the resignation of the prime minister, the amending of the constitution, and reform of the monarchy, the Isaan Record talks with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somchai Phatharathananunth from Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences about a solution for the country’s political crisis.
“If Thailand wants to end the conflict, the constitution needs to be amended,” says Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somchai Phatharathananunth from Mahasarakham University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, in proposing a way out of the political crisis.
At political rallies, Thanawit Sepsuk or “Nick Sarakham,” who is also known as “Nattawut 2,” speaks about the problems faced by people at the grassroots after he was inspired by the red-shirt protests he had attended with his parents as a child. “People at the grassroots have been seen merely as a base of resources that the central government can take away.”
"It’s a lesson learned by the redshirts: it’s always been about the middle class. The thing that other leaders, including the redshirts, that everyone has tried to demand: a good life, rights and equality, that’s it." said Thanawit Sepsuk, (Comrade Nick) MSU Democracy Front. Series: "The New Generation of Isaan rises up" - We must dare to speak the truth (3)
“LGBT people are more present in political movements than others because we face more problems than ordinary people. We’re suppressed, discriminated against by society. We face inequality based on our diverse genders.” Pornsit “Lawyer Tor” Raksasap, a representative of local LGBT group and member of the “Sisaket Can’t Stand It” group.
Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community is pushing for the legal protection of gender equality but still faces many obstacles, especially the prejudice of government agencies. Advocating for a law against gender discrimination appears to be a long, uphill task. Guest contributor Chawinroj Terapachalaphon weighs in.
