The Bulletin

Stephff's world

Thai government tour of China’s Xinjiang region after deportation of 40 Uyghurs

Panel discussion,
Wednesday, 26 March, 7pm

A delegation of Thai officials and local media visited northwest China’s Xinjiang autonomous region between March 19 and 21 in a bid to calm concerns about possible mistreatment of a group of 40 Uyghurs who were deported from Thailand in a secretive pre-dawn operation late last month.

The deportation the Uyghurs, who have been detained by Thai immigration for more than a decade, drew strong rebukes from Western countries, particularly the US, along with human rights groups.  

Thailand has insisted that the deportation was lawful and mindful of humanitarian concerns, while China has reassured Bangkok that the Uyghurs will be safe.

The Thai delegation included Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong and Secretary General of the National Security Council Chatchai Bangchuad, and a small pool of local Thai media.

Join us at the FCCT clubhouse for a panel discussion on what this all means and an update on the overall Uyghur situation in China.

Speakers:

Adrian Zenz, senior fellow and director in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Abdulhakim Idris, executive director of the Center for Uyghur Studies in Washington D.C.

Chalida Tajaroeunsuk, chairperson, People's Empowerment Foundation (PEF).

Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher, Thailand, Human Rights Watch.

Representative from the Thai government to be confirmed.

Moderator: Phil Robertson, FCCT board member.

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Live translation will be available in Thai and English.

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Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.

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Members free, non-members 450 baht; Thai media and students with ID, 150 baht.

Bar and restaurant open.

Burma Peacock Film Festival

Film screening,
Thursday, 27 March, 6.30pm

Enjoy award-winning films, inspiring stories and a panel of experts to talk about documenting what’s happening in Myanmar.

Five short films will be screened, showcasing the resilience, bravery and creativity of Myanmar’s filmmakers. The films highlight the untold stories of resistance, survival and hope from the frontlines of Myanmar’s struggles since the February 2021 military coup.

Following the films, there will be a panel featuring Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) reporters, filmmakers, Myanmar experts and activists to discuss the films and provide updates about what is happening inside Myanmar.

Films to be shown are:

‍Tomorrow of Loikaw

‍A city battered by enemies, urban strikes and the lingering scent of gunpowder remains silent, bearing the weight of untold suffering. This poignant documentary captures a local resident's yearning for their beloved, war-torn hometown.

‍Again and Again

‍In 2023, a village in Myanmar's Sagaing region was burned, its men warned never to return. In 2024, the military returns -- but so do the villagers -- sparking a powerful fight for survival and freedom.

‍Silent Heroes

‍In response to the military's aerial attacks on fleeing civilians after the 2021 military coup, an air force air traffic controller decided to risk his life to protect the public by providing intelligence about military air operations.

‍Steps Forward

‍Thinzar Oo trained with KNDO, founded Yakka 60, Unity PDF, and the White Elephant Column to resist the military council. Despite her husband’s imprisonment and her mother’s life sentence, she runs a small restaurant, raises her children and tirelessly supports the revolution.

‍Towards Light

‍A son who lost his parents and an ethnic youth who lost his limbs due to the military's brutal atrocities have fled to a liberated area. While hiding, they continue to compose songs seeking justice and speaking out for truth.

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Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.

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Members free, non-members 150 baht.

Bar and restaurant open.

Tuesday coworking at the FCCT

Tuesday, 25 March, 10am

Need a change of scenery from your home office? Join us for a coworking day at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) -- a perfect space for working professionals, digital nomads and anyone looking to break free from the home-office routine.

Enjoy a spacious, comfortable workspace with dedicated tables, a full restaurant, café and bar and exclusive lunch specials just for this event.

Whether you're tackling deadlines or networking with like-minded professionals, this is an opportunity to be productive in a collaborative, social environment. Come work, connect, and enjoy great food because working remotely doesn’t have to mean working alone.

Hosted by Nick Bernhardt, FCCT treasurer and managing director of Khayan Consultants.

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Free and open to all.

Board games night

Tuesday, 25 March, 7pm

Join us for a chilled night of board games with The Boring Club. Try your luck with classics like chess and backgammon or modern games including Catan and Pandemic.

The bar and restaurant will be open. Try our pizzas from the new pizza oven. The Boring Club meets at the FCCT clubhouse for games every Tuesday at 7pm.

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Free and open to all.

Trump’s shutdown of Voice of America and Radio Free Asia

Panel discussion,
Wednesday, 2 April, 7 pm

In what has already been dubbed “Bloody Saturday”, the Trump administration ordered the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) to cut off funds to the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA) and other US-supported media on March 15.

VOA immediately let go over 1,300 journalists and staff and ceased broadcasting for the first time in its 83-year history. RFA, which receives a separate congressional appropriation, had to furlough at least 75% of its journalists and staff since its funds are disbursed through the AGM, which has refused to make transfers to continue operations.

Along with other broadcasters focused on Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Cuba, the shuttered media reached more than 420 million people in 63 languages and over 100 countries each week.

There will be a huge negative impact on regional coverage in mainland Southeast Asia. RFA reporters cover in their own languages and in English many of Thailand’s neighbors, including Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and China.

Not surprisingly, authoritarians across Asia and the world are cheering the shutdowns. China’s state media called VOA “a dirty rag” and its foreign ministry described it as a “lie factory”. Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen cheered the cut of RFA, calling it “fake news”.

The US National Press Club meanwhile said the actions "undermine America's long-standing commitment to a free and independent press". Issues of media freedom, coverage of hard-to-reach stories, US government funding and editorial independence all swirl in the debate about the cuts.

VOA journalists, and the leadership of RFA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, have all filed lawsuits against the US government and USAGM to reverse these actions and keep the broadcasters open, but it is still early days in the courts.

What will this all mean for the media landscape in Asia and across the world, and for the wider cause of media freedom?

Panelists:

‍Steve Herman, chief national correspondent, Voice of America, and board member, US National Press Club.

‍Tommy Walker, FCCT board member, and Bangkok-based reporter for VOA.

Representatives of Radio Free Asia, media freedom NGOs and US Embassy Bangkok to be confirmed.

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Members who wish to book in advance should email info@fccthai.com or call the FCCT office on 02-652-0580.

Non-members can use this link.

Members free, non-members 450 baht; Thai media and students with ID, 150 baht.

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Bar and restaurant open.

The FCCT is grateful for the support of corporate sponsor Bitkub. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

The FCCT expresses appreciation for the support provided by corporate sponsor Bumrungrad International Hospital. For more information about the club's corporate sponsorship program contact: info@fccthai.com.

Heart valve disease: A possible hidden danger!

The heart consists of 4 chambers with the valves opening and closing to let blood pass through between the upper and the lower chambers in one direction, and not backward.

Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of the heart valves do not open or close properly. This causes the heart muscles to work harder to pump blood for the body’s requirements. This can result in heart failure and death.

What are the symptoms of heart valve diseases?

• Fatigue, tired when doing daily activities.
• Difficulty breathing while doing activities or lying down.
• Rapid weight gain.
• Swelling in various organs such as the abdomen, legs, ankles and feet.
• Cardiac arrhythmia such as fast or irregular heartbeat.
• Fever and body aches, if due to infection.
• In severe cases, too much fluid in the lungs, difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.

What is the treatment for heart valve disease?‍

There are many ways to treat heart valve disease. Currently, Bumrungrad Hospital has the technology for heart valve replacement without surgery, offering good results and highly safe.

Learn more about heart valve disease and treatment option here.

Send us an enquiry today by clicking here.

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok episode three

For this week's episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Mookdapa Yangyuenpradorn.

This interview will discuss Mookdapa’s work as an activist, Thailand’s marriage equality bill and the LGBTQ+ community.

Mookdapa talks about how she got into activism for gender rights, including her studies in London, her work at Fortify Rights and her participation in Thailand’s 2020 protests.

Mookdapa also explains the importance of Thailand’s marriage equality law, why it matters and what other gender related issues she continues to advocate for.

Watch the full episode here.

Also now on Spotify.

New to Bangkok? Under 35?

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New FCCT merchandise

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Individuals and organisations are welcome to take out advertising in the weekly FCCT Bulletin which reaches nearly 4,000 people in the club’s network. Guidelines

• Write a catchy headline, followed by a maximum of three sentences + contact email/phone number/ link to a website for further details if applicable.

To book an ad please email: info@fccthai.com