Nanthida Rakwong
| Nanthida Rakwong | |
|---|---|
| Born | September, 1982 (age 41) Northeast Thailand, Thailand |
| 🏳️ Nationality | British, Thai |
| Other names | Thaipolitica |
| 🎓 Alma mater | Goldsmiths, University of London |
| 💼 Occupation | Campaign manager Political analyst Activist |
| Known for | Case to bring Thailand to the International Criminal Court Advocacy for pro-democracy movements in Thailand |
Nanthida Rakwong (Thai: นันทิดา รักวงษ์; born September 1982) is a Thai and British political analyst, campaign manager and activist known for advocating for the republican and pro-democracy movements in Thailand.[1] She worked for the law firm Amsterdam & Partners on its case to hold Thailand accountable at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity at the 2010 Thai military crackdown.[2][3]
Early life and education[edit]
Rakwong was born in 1982.[4] In an interview with The Times, she explained that she moved to the United Kingdom because of the severe punishments against critics of the Thai monarchy and that she had received death threats.[1] She was a postgraduate in the Department of Media, Communications and Cultural Studies of Goldsmiths, University of London.[5]
Work and activism[edit]
Rakwong worked for the law firm Amsterdam & Partners when it lodged a case to take the perpetrators of the 2010 Thai military crackdown, which saw over 90 civilians killed, to the International Criminal Court at The Hague.[6] The case accused several perpetrators for crimes against humanity, including General Prayut Chan-ocha, the current Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prawit Wongsuwan, then minister of defence and current Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Abhisit Vejjajiva, then Prime Minister, as well as his deputy Suthep Thaugsuban, and several other military and civilian figures.[7][8][9]
As a response, General Prayut launched a criminal defamation lawsuit against Robert Amsterdam, the law firm's managing partner, and Rakwong, who was then referred to as the "unnamed female translator" who always appeared on Thai TV and stages with Amsterdam.[10]
In 2019, Rakwong was the official campaign manager for a pro-democracy candidate at the general election in Thailand that year. She was the director of a digital consultancy in London which was also hired by a Hong Kong pro-democracy candidate and the then German government lead party-affiliated think tank Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.[11]
At a rally of the Milk Tea Alliance supporting Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters, she spoke to Apple Daily about how she felt that the situation in Hong Kong was similar to that of Thailand.[12]
In 2021, at a remembrance event of the 6 October 1976 massacre, alongside speeches from other pro-democracy figures such as Jaran Ditapichai, Rakwong called for the abolition of the Thai monarchy.[13]
Reception[edit]
In 2012, General Prayut, the current Prime Minister of Thailand, launched a criminal defamation lawsuit against Rakwong and Robert Amsterdam for "insulting the Royal Thai Army", where she was referred to as his interpreter.[14][15]
In 2021 the Thai government's Ministry of Digital Economy and Society announced an investigation into her Twitter account for violations of the Thai Computer Crimes Act alongside other prominent activists including Pavin Chachavalpongpun.[16]
Several far-right royalist media outlets in Thailand, including Manager Daily and The Truth, attacked Rakwong after she highlighted how royalists praised the efforts of carrying a portrait of king Bhumibol and queen Sirikit into a poor and remote area with no proper infrastructure, rather than meeting the basic needs of the people living in that area.[17][18]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Why Thailand must continue to protest". The Times. 10 Mar 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "【泰國大選】從泰國紅衫軍候選人的首次參選，一窺曼谷選情的現實與挑戰". The News Lens. 17 Apr 2019. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "โรเบิร์ต อัมสเตอร์ดัม". Matichon. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "UK Companies House Records". Companies House. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Goldsmiths University MediaComGold FB post". MediaComGold. 4 Aug 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "รเบิร์ต อัมสเตอร์ดัม รวมพลปราบกบฏ ถ.อักษะ 10 5 57". UDD TV, news station shut down by the Thai government. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Thai PM Gave 'Carte Blanche Order to Massacre Civilians'". Der Spiegel. 31 Jan 2011. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Prime Minister of Thailand is accused of crimes against humanity". The Times. 1 Feb 2011. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Preliminary Report into the Situation of the Kingdom of Thailand With Regard to the Commission of Crimes Against Humanity, p.51" (PDF). Preliminary report by Amsterdam & Partners submitted to the ICC. Sourced on newmandala.org. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Thai military launches defamation complaint against Canadian lawyer Robert Amsterdam". Toronto Star. 21 Aug 2012. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Data Chats: An Interview on Data-Driven Campaigns, Bias & Ethics". Martin Chan Github interview. 27 Apr 2020. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "12港人送中｜倫敦撐港集會 奶茶聯盟台灣成員現身聲援". Apple Daily. 25 Oct 2020. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "Il y a 45 ans des étudiants ont été brutalement assassinés à Bangkok". Arrêt sur info. 13 Oct 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "ยัวะทนายแม้วขึ้นเวทีด่า'บิ้กตู่'สั่งลุยฟ้องคดีหมิ่นกองทัพ". Kom Chad Luek. 19 Aug 2012. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "ผบ.ทบ.ส่งนายทหารพระธรรมนูญแจ้งจับ "โรเบิร์ต อัมสเตอร์ดัม" พ่วงล่าม ข้อหาหมิ่น "กองทัพบก"". Prachatai. 18 Aug 2012. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "'ดีอีเอส' เปิดบัญชี 'เฟกนิวส์-'ปวิน' ยังติดโผ". Voice TV. 17 Aug 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "คนรักในหลวงโต้สาวตลาดหลวง บิดเบือนภาพซุ้มเฉลิมพระเกียรติ เหน็บสาธารณูปโภคไม่ทั่วถึง". Manager Daily. 11 Sep 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
- ↑ "กลุ่มจิตอาสาสุดทน! ยันใช้เงินส่วนตัวนำซุ้มเฉลิมพระเกียรติติดตั้งถิ่นทุรกันดาร". The Truth Thailand. 11 Sep 2021. Retrieved 24 Oct 2021.
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