Principal speaker
Associate Professor Pavin Chachavalpongpun
At the height of the Thai protests in 2020-21 youth-led demonstrators called for immediate reforms to the monarchy. This was the first time in Thai modern history that the monarchy had been subject to public demands for reform. Since then, afaultlinein Thai politics has appeared, one more divisive than before, with the monarchy at its centre. A large number of youthful activists have been arrested - some as young as 14 years-old - and charged with the crime oflèse-majesté. The excessive use of thelèse-majestélaw has also deepened concerns among Western governments of the worsening human rights situation in Thailand. At this critical juncture in Thai politics Thailand will organise general elections on May 14, 2023. While the results of the elections will predate this talk, a crucial question to consider is whether the elections will propel Thailand forward in a direction in which these outstanding issues may be truly resolved, including those concerning the monarchy. Or, will the result wrest Thailand backwards, to an ever-more authoritarian politics with non-elective institutions prevailing over elective ones?