About: General Prayuth Chan-ocha
Migrants petition Thai seafood giant, as EU yellow card remains
More than 2,000 migrant workers at a major Thai seafood exporter called on Monday (30 January) for higher wages and better working conditions, a rare stand in a country where foreigners are banned from forming trade unions.
Thai exiled activist: Royal succession is an abyss for human rights
The EU suspended Free Trade Agreement talks with Thailand after its military coup. Now into its third year under dictatorship following the coup d'état on May 22, 2014, things are likely to get worse before they get better, writes Jaran Ditapichai.
Malmström backs EU whistleblower over Thai labour rights
EU Trade Commission Cecilie Malmström on Thursday (6 October) strongly backed the British labour rights activist who helped expose labour abuses in Thailand, for which he received a three-year suspended jail sentence.
EU activist gets 3-year Thai jail sentence for exposing labour abuses
A British lawyer who helped expose labour abuses in Thailand’s fruit factories has been handed a three-year suspended jail sentence.
UN condemns ‘mounting’ Thai junta rights restrictions
The United Nations condemned "mounting" rights restrictions in junta-ruled Thailand on Friday (19 August), calling on the kingdom's generals to quickly return power following the passing of a new military-crafted constitution.
Thai junta finance minister brushes off foreign investment plunge
Thailand's finance minister on Thursday (18 August) brushed off concerns about plunging foreign investment under junta rule, saying "there is light ahead" now that voters have approved a military-crafted constitution.
Thai voters approve junta-backed constitution amid Western concerns
Thailand voted on Sunday (7 August) to approve a junta-scripted constitution, preliminary results showed, in a boost to the army's political aspirations and a body blow to the country's stuttering pro-democracy movement.
The Thai junta expects people to ‘shut up and obey orders’
With under two weeks to go to Thailand’s crucial 7 August referendum on a new constitution, supposedly paving the way to a return to democracy, the ruling military junta in Bangkok has cracked down on dissent and press freedoms, making a free and fair vote impossible, says Sunai Phasuk.
Thailand’s referendum on constitution ‘could be delayed’
EXCLUSIVE / Thailand’s make-or-break referendum next month on a new constitution could be postponed, one of the men in charge of drafting it has admitted.
German lawmakers denounce Thailand’s draft constitution
The Thai government is increasingly cracking down on its critics, warned the German government's foreign affairs committee ahead of the Southeast Asian country's vote on its new constitution. EURACTIV Germany reports.
NGOs criticise US downgrade of Thai human trafficking record, ahead of referendum
NGOs have condemned as the “wrong signal” a decision by the US State Department to downgrade Thailand’s human trafficking record, a month ahead of a referendum being closely watched by the EU.
Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi to meet Thailand junta leader
Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi arrived in neighbouring Thailand on Thursday (23 June) where she will meet military junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha, as well as hear from the hundreds of thousands of Myanmar migrants in Thailand.
EU warns Thailand over illegal fishing
The EU warned Thailand on Tuesday (7 June) to take "swift and determined" action against illegal fishing, or risk a European ban on its fish exports.
EU to Thailand : ‘Free and fair elections’ or face consequences
Senior MEPs have warned the military junta ruling Thailand that the country must return to “free and fair elections” or risk the future of all EU-Thailand relations.
Thailand’s human rights record under UN spotlight ahead of EU visit
Thailand’s human rights record under the military junta was in the dock Wednesday (11 May) at the United Nations Human Rights Council – ahead of a visit next week by EU parliamentarians to the country.
EU extends ‘yellow card’ on Thai fishing exports
The EU has extended its ‘yellow card’ warning to Thailand over persistent abuses in its fishing industry.
EU ambassadors confront Thai junta over referendum fears
Nearly 20 EU ambassadors in Bangkok have confronted the military junta with their fears over the country’s forthcoming referendum on a new constitution.
MEP Langen: Thai junta must ‘guarantee free and fair elections in 2017’
The draft of a new constitution and democratic elections in 2017 will be the benchmark for the European Union's relations with Thailand, said MEP Werner Langenin an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Thailand’s economy: Free trade, fishing and fruit industries in the spotlight
As the Royal Thai Army plotted its coup against the democratically-elected government in May 2014, Thailand was the second largest economy in ASEAN, and stood on the brink of signing a landmark Free Trade Agreement with the EU.
Thailand’s rocky road back to democracy
Late last year, the chairs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the head of its ASEAN delegation, issued an invitation to deposed Thai prime minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, to come to Brussels to address MEPs on the state of democracy in her country.
Thai tuna factory pays $1.3m compensation, ahead of EU ban decision
A Thai tuna processing factory has agreed to pay staff $1.3 million compensation for a litany of labour abuses, officials said Tuesday, a rare victory for migrant workers in the kingdom's scandal-mired seafood industry.
Thailand claims junta better placed to tackle fish sector abuses
Thai authorities have registered more than 70,000 previously undocumented foreign workers in its fishing industry, navy officials said Thursday (11 February), part of a bid by the junta to stave off a potentially ruinous EU ban on its seafood exports.
Thailand hits back: Abandoning EU free trade deal hurts Europe, too
EXCLUSIVE / Thailand has hit back in its dispute with Brussels over the shelved free trade agreement with the EU, arguing that it hurts European businesses, not just the military junta in Bangkok.