Protesters returned to the streets of Bangkok in late 2021 – after a hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions – with anger over curbs to civil and political rights as well as calls for reform of the Thai monarchy. In response, Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government has sought to quell the pro-democracy protests by restricting and monitoring internet use, and by ramping up enforcement of lèse-majesté laws. Analyst of Thai politics Dr. James Gomez joins presenter Jane Hutcheon to decipher the complex political landscape of the predominantly Buddhist nation.
An Asia Institute podcast. Produced and edited by profactual.com. Music by audionautix.com. Transcript here.
Main image: Dr James Gomez.
Listing image: H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Thailand, 2017. Credit: World Travel and Tourism Co./Flickr.