Prachatai English

Independent, non-profit, daily web newspaper established in June 2004 FCEM has 6 board members to look after the projects under FCEM, including Prachatai.

Prachatai (prachatai.com or prachatai.org) is an alternative, non-profit, daily web newspaper established in June 2004 to provide reliable and relevant news and information to the Thai public during an era of serious curbs on the freedom and independence of Thai news media. Prachatai was established by a group of concerned Thais who included a senior member of the Press Council of Thailand, a well

-known lecturer in Journalism, two members of the Thai Senate, a number of senior journalists, and a number of Thai NGO leaders. Prachatai Objectives

- To provide the Thai public with access to reliable news and information relevant to developing and strengthening the democratic functions of Thai civil society.
- To focus news coverage on the problems, concerns, activities and accomplishments of local communities and civil society movements and organisations.
- To strive for freedom and independence of Thai news media.
- To promote active public participation in Thai news media. Since January 2006 Prachatai has been registered as a Thai non-profit foundation, named The Foundation for Community educational Media(FCEM). Prachatai has a management team consisting of 4 senior staff, the management team is in charge for the operations of Prachatai. On September 6th 2004, Prachatai began its daily publication on the web with a staff of one editor and five reporters. At present Prachathai has a staff of 17: a Director, Manager, Editor in Chief, News Editor, 7 Bangkok office reporters, 2 regional reporters, a web administrator, a multi-media officer, a graphic designer and a finance officer. The first achievement of Prachatai was the investigative report on the Tak Bai massacre in October 2004. After that the readership gradually increased until the coup d’etat happened on September 19th 2006. After the Coup the readership Prachatai grew drastically readership but Prachatai was also faced with some levels of state interference and censorship. On 6th March 2009 the Prachatai office was raided by over 10 policemen and the Director of Prachatai got arrested with charges under the Articles 14 & 15 from the Computer Crime Act 2007 because of contents posted by users in the webboard (web-forum). On 24th September 2010 the Director of Prachatai got a second arrest at Bangkok Airport after returning from an international conference and was transported to Khon Kaen province where an arrest warrant was issued. She faced similar charges plus Article 112 (Lese Majesté) and Article 116 (Sedition) from the Penal Code. Prachatai website was first officially blocked once the government declared the Emergency Decree on 7th April 2010, Prachatai also filed the lawsuit against the shutting down ordered. Although Prachatai lost in first stance it decided to appeal and now the case is under the Appeal Court. Any inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

23/05/2025

The Appeal Court has overturned a lower court ruling and found a 32-year-old man guilty of royal defamation for throwing paint at a portrait of King Vajiralongkorn at an expressway entrance in Nonthaburi’s Pak Kret District.

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23/05/2025

Cartoon by Stephff: The useful ghosts

23/05/2025

Activist and conscientious objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal has been indicted for draft evasion for protesting military conscription by refusing to participate in the draft in April 2024.

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22/05/2025

The Supreme Administrative Court has ordered the former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to pay 10 billion baht in damages following her administration’s rice pledging scheme.

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22/05/2025

Hear from Chiang Mai’s creative workers as they navigate rock-bottom wages, contract violations, and harsh working conditions, while employers cite obstacles to paying a living wage, and what makes it possible.

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21/05/2025

A candlelit vigil took place on Monday (19 May) at the Ratchaprasong Intersection on the 15th anniversary of the 19 May 2010 crackdown on the Red Shirt protest.

The 19 May 2010 operation was the culmination of a series of military operations against Red Shirt protesters, who were protesting against the government led by Abhisit Vejjajiva, during which live rounds were deployed. Between 10 April - 19 May 2010, 99 people died and over 1200 were injured. None of those responsible for the crackdown has ever been held accountable.

The event began with a Buddhist merit-making ceremony at 16.00, followed by speeches by former Red Shirt leaders and other political activists. The candlelit vigil took place afterwards, before the event ended at around 20.30.

20/05/2025

The cremation ceremony for former senator Jon Ungphakorn, a social activist and Prachatai founder, took place today (20 May) at Wat Bang Peng Tai Temple.

Among the guests were politicians, activists, and civil society workers, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai, former senator Niran Pitakwatchara, former human rights commissioner Sunee Chaiyaros, Thai Lawyers for Human Rights head Yaowalak Anuphan, and activist Jatupat Boonpattararaksa.

Jon passed away on 13 May at the age of 77. The oldest son of of well-known economist and former Bank of Thailand governor Puey Ungpakorn and Margaret Smith, Jon served as the first director of the Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS). He later co-founded the AIDs Access Foundation and served as its director from 1991-2000.

He founded Prachatai in 2004, and helped established several other civil society organizations, including iLaw. In 2005, Jon was awarded a Ramon Magsaysay laureate in Government Service.

His brother Peter Maitree Ungphakorn said in his eulogy that Jon was referred to by his friends in the memorial book they published for his funeral as a very stubborn person, but that he listened to others with differing opinions and that he could be convinced to change his mind if given enough reason.

Quoting from a sermon given during Jon's funeral by the Buddhist monk Paisal Visalo, Peter said that Jon was hopeful and did not give up despite the obstacles he faced or at a time of social regression.

"If anyone would like to get to know Jon, I would recommend that they look at his work, why and in which context he founded Access, what kind of heart made that Foundation," Peter said, quoting from Jon's funeral book.

19/05/2025

Cartoon by Stephff: Premchai wants Thaksin's special room

16/05/2025

Believing that aid sent through the Myanmar junta may never reach those truly in need, small groups of Thais and Myanmar nationals in Thailand are working tirelessly to collect donations and deliver them through grassroots networks.

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16/05/2025

Even though the government has launched a campaign, hoping to convince young couples of the perks of having children, Thailand’s birth rate continues to decline sharply. Many young people, including a young Thai artist Lynny Blackbunny, are resisting societal pressure on women to marry and have children.

In her upcoming exhibition, Lynny questions traditional markers of success, including marriage and family.

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15/05/2025

Representatives from the three armed forces, the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), the Ministry of Defence, and the Royal Thai Police were called on 1 May to explain their involvement in Information Operations (IOs) that have targeted Thailand’s own citizens. The Thai security apparatus has been under the spotlight following a series of allegations.

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