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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 9 June 2025
Thaksin Shinawatra's Perceived Privilege Rocks Thai Government Thaksin Shinawatra //File photo Public support is waning over Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison bypass, rocking the government's foundation, reveals a new poll. The alleged favouritism shown to former PM Thaksin starkly questions the government's longevity, according to fresh data from the National Institute of Development Administration. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1363058-thaksin-shinawatras-perceived-privilege-rocks-thai-government/ -
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Politics Thaksin Shinawatra's Perceived Privilege Rocks Thai Government
Thaksin Shinawatra //File photo Public support is waning over Thaksin Shinawatra’s prison bypass, rocking the government's foundation, reveals a new poll. The alleged favouritism shown to former PM Thaksin starkly questions the government's longevity, according to fresh data from the National Institute of Development Administration. Surveying 1,310 individuals across multiple demographics, the poll captures brewing public sentiment between 3-5 June. Of those polled, a compelling 29.62% foresee Thaksin's case heavily undermining governmental stability. A close 29.31% anticipate some impact, while 24.58% predict no fallout. Notably, 15.73% see a minor ripple, and a tiny fraction of 0.76% remain indifferent or unopinionated on the matter. This drama ensues as Thaksin reappeared in Thailand in August 2023 after 15 years in exile, instantly seeing his eight-year prison term reduced to a mere year, courtesy of royal clemency. Nevertheless, Thaksin’s penitentiary stint was swiftly cut short; he instead enjoyed the comforts of a VIP hospital room, justified by age and health claims, before gaining parole by February 2024. Tensions rise further with the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division demanding an inquiry on 30 April into the correctness of Thaksin's jail term management. This pivotal hearing is set for 13 June, anticipated to shed light on these murky waters. Besides shaking political trust, the saga extends its doubting hand towards the medical field. The Medical Council of Thailand brought disciplinary measures against three practitioners involved in Thaksin's care, with two seeing licence suspensions for their subpar professional conduct. Echoing these concerns, the poll shows 38.40% of respondents losing faith in the medical practice. Conversely, 30.84% still hold trust in the medical community, whereas 15.95% have completely lost faith, leaving 14.20% with unwavering confidence and a minuscule 0.61% opting out of response. This unfolding debacle casts a shadow on both political integrity and public confidence in healthcare standards in Thailand, drawing the gaze of an attentive and increasingly disillusioned populace. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-06-09 -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Monday 9 June 2025
Myanmar Worker Killed at Rama 2 Construction Site Picture courtesy of Khaosod. A Myanmar construction worker lost his life in the early hours of morning of 8 June, following an incident at a sewage installation site on Rama 2 Road in Bangkok’s Chom Thong district. The incident occurred just before 02:00 as the man was working several metres below ground level. Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1363057-myanmar-worker-killed-at-rama-2-construction-site/ -
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Undercover with Youth Demand: A New Era of Radical Protest and Political Ambitions
In a dimly lit basement beneath a London community centre, applause echoed as a room full of young activists gathered to celebrate defiance. It was a Saturday afternoon in May, and Youth Demand, the newest movement embracing the disruptive tactics of Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion, was hosting an awards ceremony for its arrested members. The mood was festive but defiant. Prizes were handed out for various acts of resistance, including an award dubbed “Rizzing up the resistance” for those who led chants and energized crowds, and “Fried for Falestine” for anyone burned by a flare during protests. The ceremony, part of Youth Demand’s wider strategy launch, aimed to solidify the group’s identity and prepare its members for future direct actions. Youth Demand describes itself as a “non-violent civil resistance group” with two bold demands: a complete end to UK trade with Israel, and the redistribution of £1 trillion from fossil fuel companies by 2030. “For us, this isn’t about doing one big thing and going home,” said one of the co-founders during the event. “This is the inhale before we breathe out and expand into brand new territory, into something even bigger than we’ve tried before.” Dozens of the group’s members were arrested in April after staging over 70 roadblocks across London. Some also disrupted the London Marathon by throwing red powder near the men’s elite race at Tower Bridge. Other actions included placing child-sized body bags outside Foreign Secretary David Lammy’s home and hanging a banner with red handprints reading “Starmer stop the killing” at the Prime Minister’s residence. The Times sent an undercover reporter to three of Youth Demand’s events, including training sessions where participants were taught techniques likely to result in arrest. They were also instructed on legal rights and what to do if detained. “There’s a badge of honour in getting arrested,” one organiser said as awards were distributed to the mostly twenty-something crowd, many of whom wore keffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians. “None of this may be able to go on your CV, but this badge will last a lifetime. Or as long as you don’t put it in the wash.” Youth Demand’s signature protest, the “swarm,” involves blocking busy roads with banners and flares for ten-minute bursts before quickly dispersing—avoiding arrest, then repeating elsewhere. These actions fall under offences outlined in the Highways Act 1980, which criminalises the wilful obstruction of roads. Upcoming events include a June series of training sessions titled “Seeds for revolution,” as well as a summer camp involving swimming, campfires, and further instruction in civil disobedience. These are being organized in partnership with Just Stop Oil, described by co-founder Sam Holland as “one of the most serious resistance groups in the country.” “This is not your classic revolutionary organisation, which does an event once a year then goes back to their Lenin book clubs,” Holland told attendees. “We’re totally f***ing serious about this.” Youth Demand is also aligning itself with Assemble, a political initiative under the same umbrella coalition, aiming to create a “House of the People” through citizen lotteries. Holland envisions this as the political wing to Youth Demand’s street resistance, likening the movement to the revolutionary spirit of Egypt’s 2011 uprisings. “This is the spirit that leads to revolutions and this is the spirit we’re building with Youth Demand,” he declared. Among the crowd was Meaghan Leon, a 27-year-old activist who made headlines trying to disrupt Eurovision during Israel’s performance. Wearing a shirt that read “I do all my own stunts,” she told the group, “That was my first actual action. Somehow I have still never been in handcuffs… so you know what that means. I’ve just got to keep going.” The crowd erupted in cheers. Youth Demand, fuelled by grassroots donations and growing membership, is preparing for what it claims will be its most significant actions yet. Whether it succeeds in shifting policy or public sentiment remains uncertain—but its resolve is unmistakably clear. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times 2025-06-09 -
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Rethink in Germany: revamp shelter system in case of Russian attack
With mounting anxiety over potential Russian military aggression in the coming years, Germany is taking steps to fortify its civil defense infrastructure. Anticipating the possibility of a broader European conflict, Berlin is preparing to overhaul its decades-old shelter system to protect citizens in the event of an attack. “For a long time, there was a widespread belief in Germany that war was not a scenario for which we needed to prepare,” said Ralph Tiesler, head of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, in an interview reported by The Guardian. “That has changed,” he emphasized. “We are concerned about the risk of a major war of aggression in Europe.” The sense of urgency stems from growing fears that Russia, already three years into its war in Ukraine, could be capable of striking a NATO member state as early as 2029. Tiesler warned that Germany must develop a “functioning, comprehensive defense system” within that timeframe. But building new bunkers from scratch isn’t feasible given the short window of preparation. Instead, Tiesler’s agency is devising plans to repurpose existing structures such as tunnels, subway stations, underground garages, car parks, and public building basements into bomb-proof shelters. The plan, expected to be unveiled this summer, could accommodate an estimated one million people. Currently, Germany still has approximately 2,000 Cold War-era bunkers. However, fewer than 600 remain operational and even those are in dire need of renovation. These shelters could house only around 480,000 people—less than 1% of Germany’s total population. In stark contrast, Finland maintains a highly developed shelter system with 50,000 bunkers capable of housing 4.8 million people, or roughly 85% of its population, according to data from Tiesler’s office. To move forward, Tiesler is calling on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to fund the modernization plan, which includes not only upgrades to physical infrastructure but also improvements to civil warning systems such as emergency apps, road signs, and sirens. “We don’t want to unnecessarily frighten anyone, but we must nevertheless clearly warn of the danger of a military attack,” Tiesler told the news outlet Zeit Online. The war in Ukraine has deeply shaken Europe’s security assumptions, pushing many governments to reconsider their readiness. Germany is not alone in its rearmament mindset. Poland, which shares borders with both Russia and Ukraine, is taking similarly aggressive steps. According to a recent BBC report, Poland plans to allocate nearly 5% of its GDP to defense spending this year—more than any other NATO member. While there is no certainty that Russia will attack another country, the preparations underway in Germany reflect a broader European shift: one that now sees the possibility of war not as remote, but as a realistic scenario requiring urgent action. Adapted by ASEAN Now from NYP 2025-06-09 -
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Islamist Refugee at Centre of Pro-Palestinian Protest Sparks Uproar Over Two-Tier Policing
Refugee at Centre of Pro-Palestinian Protest Sparks Uproar Over Two-Tier Policing and Extremism A pro-Palestinian activist at the centre of a growing political and legal storm has been unmasked as a radical Islamist who was granted asylum in Britain. Mohammad al-Mail, a 27-year-old Kuwaiti national, avoided terror charges after making inflammatory remarks at a protest in London, including expressing admiration for the October 7 Hamas massacre and declaring, “I like an organisation that starts with H.” Despite his arrest on suspicion of terrorism offences, al-Mail was never prosecuted, raising serious concerns about inconsistent policing and the ability of UK authorities to identify threats. Exclusive: Pro-Palestinian protester in two-tier police row is Islamist propagandist granted asylum in the UK Activist claimed he was referring to Home Office when he chanted, ‘I like an organisation that starts with H’ The incident occurred during an anti-Israel rally in Swiss Cottage, northwest London, in September 2023. Footage published by The Telegraph shows al-Mail leading chants glorifying Hamas while using a megaphone. He was arrested but ultimately released after convincing investigators that the "H" in his chant referred not to Hamas, but to the Home Office. “Immediately, I answered, ‘It could be the Home Office,’ you know, the ministry of the interior,” he later said in a March Arabic-language podcast. Laughing, he added: “Truly, as the saying goes, ‘The worst calamity is the one that makes you laugh.’” Al-Mail said the case “fell apart” after his explanation and mocked counter-terrorism officers for trying to discern his true beliefs. In contrast, on the same day, a Jewish man attending a counter-protest was charged after holding a placard that mocked Hezbollah’s leader, despite the Crown Prosecution Service later finding insufficient evidence to proceed. The disparity has sparked allegations of two-tier policing, especially given al-Mail's broader history of promoting Islamist ideology since receiving asylum in 2017. His campaign group, the Upper Hand Organisation, actively disseminates extremist material online and at rallies. Al-Mail has urged followers to seize “opportunities” created by the October 7 Hamas attacks, describing the assault — the deadliest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust — as a moment to exploit. “Not every day is like October 7,” he said. “If an opportunity arises, we must fully exploit it. If you strike, make it hurt.” His website promotes jihadist manifestos and denounces terror groups like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban for being too accommodating to international systems. A pamphlet released by his group in August 2024, titled Wake Up! Protect the Honour of Islam, frames the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a religious war, glorifies jihad, and uses slogans known to incite violence against Jews. It claims the organisation is “committed to channelling resources toward strategic projects to achieve Islamic dominance.” In another appearance, al-Mail labelled peaceful Muslims “slaves and dwarves” and warned Britain: “What is coming to you is terrifying – either our annihilation or yours.” He has also pushed to de-proscribe Hamas and lobbied for taxpayer funding of sharia courts. In recent statements, he opposed banning child marriage, arguing it would discriminate against Muslim girls aged 16 and 17. According to the Metropolitan Police, they were unaware of al-Mail’s podcast admissions and public record of extremism until contacted by The Telegraph. A spokesman said the material “did not form part of the case put to the CPS” but added that officers “will carefully review it to identify any offences so the appropriate action can be taken.” The revelations have prompted outrage from politicians and extremism experts. Chris Philp, the shadow policing minister, called for an immediate re-investigation and potential re-arrest. “I am deeply worried that someone came here, was granted asylum and then abused the UK’s generosity by expressing extremist views,” he said. “This is why our human rights and asylum laws need to be changed.” Lord Walney, the Government’s former extremism tsar, said the case “raises serious questions for the Metropolitan Police.” He described the force’s initial failure to uncover widely available evidence as “an alarming lack of rigour” and stressed the need to reopen the case to protect national security. Adapted by ASEAN Now from The telegraph 2025-06-09
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