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The Wire
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Thailand's Judiciary Is Flexing Its Muscles, Yet Dozens of Activists Are at the Mercy of the Courts
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is currently feeling the sharp end of the country's powerful judiciary. On July 2, 2025, Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn from office as a result of a leaked phone conversation in which she was heard disparaging Thailand's military and showing deference to former the prime minister of Cambodia, Hun Sen, despite an ongoing border dispute between the two countries. Initially set for 14 days, many onlookers believe the court's suspension is likely to become permanent. Meanwhile, far from the prime minister's office is Arnon Nampa, another Thai national whose future is at the mercy of the Thai judiciary – in this case, the Criminal Court. Arnon, a lawyer and internationally recognised human rights defender, is one of 32 political prisoners imprisoned over 'lèse majesté,' or insulting the Thai monarchy. He is currently serving a sentence of nearly 30 years for a speech questioning the monarchy during pro-democracy protests in 2020. Unless he is both acquitted in his remaining cases and his current convictions are overturned on appeal, Arnon will likely spend the rest of his life in prison. The plights of Paetongtarn and Arnon may seem distant. But as a historian of Thai politics, I see the cases as connected by a judiciary using the law and its power to diminish the prospects for democracy in Thailand and constrain the ability of its citizens to participate freely in society. Familiar Troubles The Shinawatra family is no stranger to the reach of both the Thai military and the country's courts. Paetongtarn is the third of her family to be prime minister – and could become the third to be ousted. Her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, was removed in a 2006 military coup. Her aunt, Yingluck Shinawatra, was ousted prior to the May 22, 2014, coup. In common with past coups, the juntas who fomented them were shielded from the law, with none facing prosecution. For now, it is unclear whether Paetongtarn's suspension is the precursor to another coup, the dissolution of parliament and new elections, or a reshuffle of the cabinet. But what is clear is that the Constitutional Court's intervention is one of several in which the nine appointed judges are playing a critical role in the future of Thai democracy. Protecting the Monarchy The root of the judiciary's power can be found in the way the modern Thai nation was set up nearly 100 years ago. On June 24, 1932, Thailand transitioned from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Since then, the country has experienced 13 coups, as the country has shifted from democracy to dictatorship and back again. But throughout, the monarchy has remained a constant presence – protected by Article 112 of the Criminal Code, which defines the crime and penalty of lese majesté: 'Whoever defames, insults, or threatens the king, queen, heir-apparent or regent shall be subject to three-to-fifteen years imprisonment.' The law is widely feared among dissidents in Thailand both because it is interpreted broadly to include any speech or action that is not laudatory and innocent verdicts are rare. Although Article 112 has been law since 1957, it was rarely used until after the 2006 coup. Since then, cases have risen steadily and reached record levels following a youth-led movement for democracy in 2020. At least 281 people have been, or are currently being, prosecuted for alleged violation of Article 112, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights. Challenging the Status Quo The 2020 youth-led movement for democracy was sparked by the Constitutional Court's dissolution of the progressive Future Forward Party at the beginning of that year, the disappearance of a Thai dissident in exile in Cambodia, and economic problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In protests in Bangkok and in provinces across the country, they called for a new election, a new constitution and an end to state repression of dissent. On August 3, 2020, Nampa added another demand: The monarchy must be openly discussed and questioned. Without addressing such a key, unquestionable institution in the nation, Arnon argued, the struggle for democracy would inevitably fail. This message resonated with many Thai citizens, and despite the fearsome Article 112, protests grew throughout the last months of 2020. Students at Thammasat University, the centre of student protest since the 1950s, expanded Arnon's call into a 10-point set of demands for reform of the monarchy. Making it clear that they did not aim to abolish the monarchy, the students' proposal aimed to clarify the monarchy's economic, political and military role and make it truly constitutional. As the protests began to seem unstoppable, with tens of thousands joining, the police began cracking down on demonstrations. Many were arrested for violating anti-COVID-19 measures and other minor laws. By late November 2020, however, Article 112 charges began to be brought against Arnon and other protest leaders for their peaceful speech. In September 2023, Arnon was convicted in his first case, and he has been behind bars since. He is joined by other political prisoners, whose numbers grow weekly as their cases move through the judicial process. Capricious Courts Unlike Arnon, Paetongtarn Shinawatra is not facing prison. But the Constitutional Court's decision to suspend her from her position as prime minister because of a leaked recording of an indiscreet telephone conversation is, to many legal minds, a capricious response that has the effect of short-circuiting the democratic process. So too, I believe, does bringing the weight of the law against Arnon and other political prisoners in Thailand who remain behind bars as the current political turmoil plays out. Tyrell Haberkorn, Professor of Southeast Asian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Straits Times
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Thai military prepared for ‘high-level operation' if Cambodia border row escalates
Deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thailand last erupted in 2011 over the Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old temple at the heart of a decades-long row. PHOTO: REUTERS BANGKOK - Thailand's military said it is ready to launch a "high-level operation" to counter any violation of its sovereignty, in the strongest words yet in a simmering border dispute with Cambodia that re-erupted with a deadly clash last week. The army said in a statement late on June 5 that its intelligence gathering indicated Cambodia had stepped up its military readiness at their border while diplomatic efforts were ongoing, describing that as "worrisome". The statement was in sharp contrast with one from the government just hours earlier, when it urged Cambodia to positively engage in dialogue via an existing mechanism between them. "The army is now ready for a high-level military operation in case it is necessary to retaliate against the violation of sovereignty," it said, ahead of a meeting of its armed forces top brass scheduled for June 6. "Operations of units at the border have been conducted carefully, calmly and based on an understanding of the situation to prevent losses on all sides, but at the same time, are ready to defend the country's sovereignty to the fullest extent if the situation is called for." Cambodia's government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Thai military statement on June 6. The governments of the two countries had for days exchanged carefully worded statements committing to dialogue after a brief skirmish in an undemarcated border area on May 28 in which a Cambodian soldier was killed. Although the two countries have a historic rivalry, their governments enjoy friendly ties, partly due to the close relationship between their influential former leaders, Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra and Cambodia's Hun Sen, whose daughter and son respectively are now the prime ministers in their countries. The issue comes at a tricky time for the Pheu Thai Party-led administration in Thailand as it battles to revive a flagging economy that could be hit by steep US tariffs, while facing a challenge to its popularity having paused a signature cash handout to tens of millions of people. The party of the billionaire Shinawatra family has a troubled history with the Thai military, which twice toppled its governments in 2006 and 2014 coups. Deadly clashes between Cambodia and Thailand last erupted in 2011 over the Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old temple at the heart of a decades-long row that has stirred nationalist sentiment on both sides. The International Court of Justice in 2013 ruled in favour of Cambodia in clarifying a 1962 decision to award it jurisdiction over the temple, saying part of the land around it was Cambodia's and Thai troops must withdraw from the area. Cambodia said this week it is committed to peace and plans to resolve the issue by referring disputes over four parts of their border to the ICJ and has asked Thailand to cooperate. Thailand says it does not recognise the court's jurisdiction. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
China's EV manufacturers face their ‘Evergrande moment'
YOU know that things have reached an inflection point when China's People's Daily newspaper warns against 'involution' in an industry, noting that firms and factories have been racing to produce the same products and barely making a profit. In this case, the warning was aimed at the 100 or so electric vehicle (EV) makers. That number is, by any measure, way more that any car market, even one as big as China's, can sustain. Evidence that the nation's car market remains oversupplied has been mounting in recent years. As recently as five years ago, there were about 500 firms producing EVs. That their numbers have declined so dramatically provides a useful metric about brutal market conditions. Indeed, one industry executive spoke of an industrial 'elimination round' taking place over the next two years. A few days later, the chairman of Great Wall Motor, Wei Jianjun, was quoted as saying that China's EV industry is experiencing its own 'Evergrande moment', referencing the collapse of the country's most indebted property developer last year. The fear among carmakers (and economists) is that, as it was with the crash of China's property giants, cascading bankruptcies in the EV industry will spread misery not just throughout the automotive sector as suppliers and dealers go under, but, eventually, the wider economy will feel the chill. However, from a macroeconomic perspective, everything is going well. Cut-throat competition is driving efficiency and innovation. For instance, BYD, one of the three car firms actually making some profit, is furiously trying for a breakthrough in autonomous driving with its so-called God's Eye technology. Tesla, which has a big presence in China, says it will unveil its self-driving robotaxis on Jun 12. These vehicles are reported to be undergoing trials in Austin, Texas. Then again, robotaxis were first promised in 2016. It should be noted at this juncture that the consolidation in China's automotive sector hews to a familiar script. That is the way Beijing's industrial policies play out. Subsidies and policy support are bestowed on favoured industry players until they reach a certain size, and when they are deemed ready to compete with anyone in the world. Beijing then stands back and allows the market to sort out the winners from the losers. We have seen how this approach worked with solar panel manufacturers. It is harsh and unforgiving, but it is certainly far better than the system of continual state support for ailing zombie firms, which has now become almost routine in the West. That said, it should be noted that there are some 3.5 million EVs piling up as unsold stock in China, despite incentives Beijing has offered to encourage owners of combustion-engine vehicles to trade them in for EVs. Prices are being cut. One BYD sedan is selling for as little as 69,800 yuan (S$12,487). More significantly, China's top carmakers are still only operating at half capacity. Expect a push to export the surplus. In Asean, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have their own automotive industries. How will they react if a tsunami of cheap, but technically superior, cars swept into their markets? The instinct may be to erect tariffs walls and subsidies, to protect the local industrial base and the supply chains and, above all, jobs. The better option might be to invite the best of China's car producers to set up factories locally and let the market decide the winners.
Fashion Network
29-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Etro makes Southeast Asia real estate debut with new Phuket residences
Etro has announced plans for its Southeast Asian real estate debut with "Etro Residences Phuket', a new development that marries luxury design with an integrated brand experience by the Italian luxury fashion house. Designed in partnership with Amal Development and The One Atelier, the Etro Residences Phuket is comprised of luxury dwellings ranging from three-bedroom apartments to duplexes - crafted to reflect Etro's heritage, craftsmanship, and aesthetic. Inside, the interiors showcase the brand's bold patterns, rich textures, and color palette, designed to flow with the Thail city's natural beauty. Each dwelling features special pieces from the Etro Home Interiors collection, made in collaboration with Oniro Group, the brand's distributor since 2017. Residents will also have access to tailored services and amenities, including private wellness retreats, spa experiences and holistic wellbeing programmes as well as fitness facilities and a personalised concierge service. Lastly, the residence will host immersive brand activations will provide residents access inside Etro's "exclusive network of art, culture, and fashion," according to a press release. 'Etro Residences Phuket represents a window into the future of luxury living. Branded real estate is about more than aesthetics; it is about creating a seamless blend of hospitality, wellness, and exclusivity that reflects the lifestyles of the world's most discerning buyers," said Michele Galli, CEO of The One Atelier. "At The One Atelier, we specialise in crafting spaces that go beyond the expected to offer something deeply personal, immersive, and transformative. With Etro Residences Phuket, we have designed an environment where every detail, from the architectural vision to the smallest interior elements, align with the brand's DNA to deliver a project unlike any other.' The Etro Residences Phuket will be completed in 2027. The project follows the recent opening of Etro Residences Istanbul, an Etro-branded residence in Turkey. 'Following the success of Etro Residences Istanbul, Etro Residences Phuket represents the brand's continued growth into the luxury real estate, further reinforcing its identity as a lifestyle brand," said Etro CEO, Fabrizio Cardinali. "This ambitious project is poised to set a new standard in Southeast Asia's rapidly expanding luxury property market, while further enhancing the brand's remarkable heritage and reinforcing its commitment to innovation and timeless design.'
Fashion Network
28-04-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Etro makes Southeast Asia real estate debut with new Phuket residences
Etro has announced plans for its Southeast Asian real estate debut with "Etro Residences Phuket', a new development that marries luxury design with an integrated brand experience by the Italian luxury fashion house. Designed in partnership with Amal Development and The One Atelier, the Etro Residences Phuket is comprised of luxury dwellings ranging from three-bedroom apartments to duplexes - crafted to reflect Etro's heritage, craftsmanship, and aesthetic. Inside, the interiors showcase the brand's bold patterns, rich textures, and color palette, designed to flow with the Thail cities natural beauty. Each dwelling features special pieces from the Etro Home Interiors collection, made in collaboration with Oniro Group, the brand's distributor since 2017. Residents will also have access to tailored services and amenities, including private wellness retreats, spa experiences and holistic wellbeing programmes as well as fitness facilities and a personalised concierge service. Lastly, the residence will host immersive brand activations will provide residents access inside Etro's "exclusive network of art, culture, and fashion," according to a press release. 'Etro Residences Phuket represents a window into the future of luxury living. Branded real estate is about more than aesthetics; it is about creating a seamless blend of hospitality, wellness, and exclusivity that reflects the lifestyles of the world's most discerning buyers," said Michele Galli, CEO of The One Atelier. "At The One Atelier, we specialise in crafting spaces that go beyond the expected to offer something deeply personal, immersive, and transformative. With Etro Residences Phuket, we have designed an environment where every detail, from the architectural vision to the smallest interior elements, align with the brand's DNA to deliver a project unlike any other.' The Etro Residences Phuket will be completed in 2027. The project follows the recent opening of Etro Residences Istanbul, an Etro-branded residence in Turkey. 'Following the success of Etro Residences Istanbul, Etro Residences Phuket represents the brand's continued growth into the luxury real estate, further reinforcing its identity as a lifestyle brand," said Etro CEO, Fabrizio Cardinali. "This ambitious project is poised to set a new standard in Southeast Asia's rapidly expanding luxury property market, while further enhancing the brand's remarkable heritage and reinforcing its commitment to innovation and timeless design.'
