The Bulletin

Stephff's world

What’s next for Thai politics?

Panel discussion,
Wednesday, 13 August, 7pm

Credit: Panu Wongcha-um

Thai politics has once again reached a critical juncture with the government facing numerous challenges.

The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, pending a constitutional court decision over a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen, has left the country with only an acting prime minister amid an ongoing border crisis and faltering economy.

Paetongtarn’s father Thaksin Shinawatra, the former prime minister regarded as the power behind the ruling Pheu Thai party, is facing two court cases that could see him go to jail.

Meanwhile, the ruling coalition is hanging on to power by a slender majority in parliament after the withdrawal from the coalition of the Bhumjaithai party in June.

As public confidence in the government declines, there have been protests on the streets of Bangkok.

Is the country heading towards another political crisis?  Are we seeing the return of the vicious cycles of protests, coups and other turbulence that has plagued Thailand over the past two decades?

Panelists include:

Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri, former deputy government spokesperson, United Thai Nation Party.Verapat Pariyawong, former special counsel to deputy PM of Thailand and founder of VLA Law office.

Chaiwat Sathawornwichit, People's Party MP.

Chalat Ratchakitprakarn, Bhumjaithai MP.

Moderator: Panu Wongcha-um, FCCT president and Reuters senior correspondent.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; students with ID, 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Myanmar’s conflict, political and information landscape -- 4.5 years on

Panel discussion and photo exhibition,
Monday 11 August, 7pm

Four and a half years after the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s trajectory remains uncertain. The military regime continues to face major challenges on the battlefield, yet is pressing ahead with elections that will lack credibility and are likely to trigger further violence.At the same time, shifting geopolitical dynamics, including China’s growing support for the junta and regional fatigue with Myanmar’s protracted turmoil, are enabling a slow re-engagement with Naypyitaw, even as conflict and humanitarian needs grow. As regional engagement increases, there is a real risk that Myanmar’s crisis will be sidelined.This event brings together esteemed speakers to examine the country’s evolving conflict, political and information landscape and to consider what options remain for supporting the country’s people.The panel will also mark the opening of “Still Here,” a photography exhibition hosted by Crisis Group and the FCCT showcasing post-coup work from within Myanmar by local photographers and journalists. Captured despite significant risks and constraints, the images offer a rare window into how people across the country continue to live, work and persevere amid ongoing conflict and uncertainty.All photos will be available for sale via the FCCT, with proceeds going directly to the journalists featured. Richard Horsey, senior adviser, International Crisis Group.Mon Mon Myat, independent journalist and former bureaucChief, DVB; and department of peace studies, Payap University.Moderator: Margarite Clarey, senior communications and advocacy officer, International Crisis Group.Register here.This is not an FCCT-organized event.Free and open to all.

Co-working at the FCCT

Tuesday, 12 August, 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 and Tommy Walker, FCCT broad member and digital nomad.

Free and open to all.

Board games night

Tuesday, 12 August, 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.

Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok

For part 1 of this weeks episode of the Dateline Bangkok podcast, Tommy Walker speaks with Tony Cheng.Tony is a foreign correspondent who works for Al Jazeera. He has worked within the Southeast Asia region for two decades and has also worked for BBC News and CGTN covering news and conflicts in Asia and the Middle East. Tony is also a former board member of the FCCT.Tony recently spent a week covering the Thailand-Cambodia border conflict from the Thai side including in red zone hotspots such as Surin and Sisaket.In this episode he speaks with Tommy about covering the conflict, who also reported from the border, with both sharing their experiences on the ground.Watch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Is it the end of Thailand’s weed wonderland?

Panel discussion,
Wednesday, 20 August, 7pm

Photo credit: BBCThree years after decriminalising marijuana and unleashing a raucous weed business, Thailand is trying to put the genie back in the bottle.New regulations introduced by the health ministry now require a doctor’s prescription to buy cannabis products, and for every dispensary to become a registered clinic with a trained medic in attendance.Campaigners in favour of liberalisation complain that this will force many smaller growers and sellers to close down, leaving the industry in the hands of big business. But the Thai government argues that the industry is out of control, with too many growers and sellers depressing prices and encouraging smuggling to other countries.The FCCT is inviting Tom Kruesopon, the businessman who played a central role in decriminalising marijuana, but who now supports the government’s efforts to regulate it, to debate with Kitty Chopaka, perhaps the best-known campaigner for liberalisation, who believes this is the wrong way to deal with problems in the industry.Moderator, Jonathan Head, FCCT board member and BBC Southeast Asia correspondentMembers 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; students with ID, 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

FCCT pub trivia

Friday, 29 August, 7pm

Gather your friends and colleagues for a night of pub trivia at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand.Come for a bite and a beverage and test your knowledge. 1,000 baht bar tab up for grabs for the winning team, to be redeemed on the night.Advanced table bookings encouraged here.Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

On the frontline of Cambodia’s environmental battles

Documentary screening, panel discussion
Thursday, 4 September, 7pm

In July 2024, Cambodia jailed five activists from the award-winning environmentalist group Mother Nature Cambodia for plotting against the government, after they had sounded the alarm about river pollution and land reclamation projects. The Clearing, a film produced with support from the Pulitzer Center and Mongabay, follows activist Ly Chandaravuth -- one of the group’s most outspoken members -- and his colleagues in the months leading up to their incarceration. The film captures their relentless fight to expose state-sanctioned environmental destruction as they continue on their collision course with Cambodia’s rulers. and refuse to buckle under pressure.

The human rights situation in Cambodia has been deteriorating year on year, with dozens of activists and journalists facing ever-growing threats of arrest and sometimes even death. As the crackdown continues, the future of environmental activism in Cambodia looks to be hanging in the balance.

Join us for the showing of this amazing film and hear from a panel of experts who will discuss the film and the issues facing Cambodia’s environmental and rights activists.

What’s happening in the forests and neighboring communities in Cambodia? How does the deepening government crackdown affect environmental defenders and their organizations? What is happening to media reporting about forest destruction amid the rapid decline of press freedom in the country? And how are regional and international actors responding to the crisis facing Cambodia’s forests, and the attacks against the country’s activists? These and other questions that speak to the current state of activism in Cambodia under PM Hun Manet will be discussed.

Join us in the FCCT clubhouse to hear from the team behind The Clearing, alongside experts working on environmental and human rights issues in Cambodia. Speakers include:

‍Andy Ball, co-director, The Clearing.‍

‍Gerald Flynn, Southeast Asia staff writer, Mongabay.‍

‍Lisa Mean, campaigner, Mother Nature Cambodia.

Other panelists to be confirmed

Moderator: Jonathan Head, FCCT board member and BBC Southeast Asia correspondent.

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 300 baht.
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.

Advertise in the FCCT's Bulletin at special discount rates

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