The Bulletin

Stephff's world

Journalism and civic space: International Civil Society Week Week 2025 keynote address

Talk and cocktail reception,
Monday, 3 November, 6.30pm

From 1-5 November, nearly 1000 activists from around the world will meet in Bangkok, Thailand for International Civil Society Week 2025 (ICSW). The world's pre-eminent civil society gathering is co-hosted by global civil society alliance CIVICUS and the Asia Democracy Network (ADN). ICSW has a nearly 30-year history following its 1995 debut in Mexico City.

On Monday 3 November, CIVICUS and ADN will host journalists from around the world to a reception.The session will feature a keynote address by Yasir Khan, editor in chief of Thomson Reuters Foundation, followed by remarks from global civil society leaders in a panel moderated by CIVICUS Secretary General Mandeep Tiwana.

‍ICSW 2025 takes place at a time when civic freedoms are being curtailed in most countries, with civil society under severe attack in 116 of 198 countries and territories and significant attacks on freedoms of expression, association and assembly. To highlight the vital role of free, independent journalism in safeguarding civic space, ICSW launched a journalism fellowship bringing journalists from 16 countries to Bangkok.

At ICSW, topics for discussion range from climate justice to disability rights to artificial intelligence to protecting democracy, protest and freedom of expression.

Join us to hear from:

‍Yasir Khan, editor in chief, Context by Thomson Reuters Foundation.

‍Amitabh Behar, executive director, Oxfam International.

‍Willeke van Rijn, CEO, Resource Alliance.

‍Sonia Kwami, head of campaigning and organizing, 350.org.

Moderator: Mandeep Tiwana, CIVICUS secretary general.

‍To RSVP, please email media@civicus.org with "FCCT RSVP" in the subject line.‍

‍Journalists seeking accreditation for the week's events can email media@civicus.org with "ICSW Accreditation" in the subject line.

‍Free and open to all.

Bar and restaurant open.

What does the unresolved battle of maps along the Thai-Cambodian border mean?

Panel discussion,
Wednesday, 12 November, 7pm

ASEAN military attaches were briefed by Royal Thai Army officers in a disputed area in Sa Kaeo province on October 11. (Photo by Adryel Talamantes)

President Donald Trump called it a “momentous day for South East Asia” that would save “millions of lives” when he presided over the signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord between Thailand and Cambodia last month in the Malaysian capital.

Nobody can dispute that Trump’s tariff threats had already had a sobering effect on the two sides in the worst conflagration seen between two ASEAN member nations in the regional grouping’s nearly 60 years.

Hypernationalists on both sides have been kept at bay, and heavy weapons have been pulled back, but the border is still closed and the thorny issue of its demarcation remains largely unresolved.

The root of the dispute is usually traced to a map drawn up by imperious French colonialists in the early 20^th century and to rulings subsequently issued by the International Court of Justice at The Hague that went in Cambodia’s favour.

But how is it in the 21^st century, with pinpoint accurate mapping technology available, that two sovereign nations cannot even agree on which map to use? This is not a dispute anybody along the border – many of whom have relatives on the other side – benefits from or wants, so what still stands in the way of a final resolution?

Cambodian observers in a disputed area along the border with Thailand Sa Kaeo province. In a war of reverse selfies, both sides replicate each other's observation tactics, including in the use of drones.

Confirmed panelists:

‍Pou Sothirak is senior adviser to the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies in Phnom Penh, an independent non-profit foreign affairs think tank. A member of the royalist FUNCINPEC party Sothirak was Cambodia’s Minister for Industry, Mines and Energy from 1993 to 1998, and was also elected to represent Siem Reap province in 2003. He was Cambodia’s ambassador to Japan from 2005 to 2009.

‍Thongchai Winichakul is professor emeritus of Southeast Asian history, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and author of Siam Mapped – a history of the geobody of a nation. He is chief senior researcher at the Japanese Institute of Developing economies, and was president of Michigan’s Association for Asian Studies in 2013.

Moderator: Dominic Faulder, FCCT board member and Nikkei Asia associate editor.

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 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Can there be a renaissance in Thai arts now?

Panel discussion,
Thursday, 13 November, 7pm

Between 2015 and 2025, Thailand's art scene has undergone remarkable transformation. We have witnessed new voices emerging to challenge established hegemonies and redefine cultural narratives. This discussion brings together perspectives from across the artistic spectrum — including performing arts, music, visual arts and literature.

Panelists:

‍Boonyarith Pankamdech, modern dancer with experience on Broadway, and founder of the Chamber of Dance and Drama Company (CDDC), Thailand's first modern dance company.

‍Prach Boondiskulchok, recipient of Princess Galyani Vadhana's full scholarship, award-winning classical music composer and pianist based in London.

‍Natruja Saensa-Nga, director of sales at SAC Gallery.

Moderator: Tamruja Dharmasaroja, author of Sunrise Catcher, the 2025 S.E.A. Write shortlist poetry book.

To book in advance, please call 02 652 0581, use the FCCT's Facebook page, or email info@fccthai.com.

Find ticket details here.

Bar and restaurant open.

Inside the Whale Hunting investigation: A conversation with Tom Wright

Wednesday, 19 November, 7pm

The Whale Hunting investigation is the talk of Thailand. This series of investigative reports has exposed an alleged criminal network involved in massive cross-border scamming and money-laundering operations in Cambodia, Thailand and beyond. Its revelations have been cited in the Thai parliament, reported widely in the media and have unsettled a number of powerful figures — particularly with the presumption that more revelations are in store.

A key contributor to Whale Hunting is Tom Wright, an award-winning investigative journalist and co-author of the 2018 bestseller Billion Dollar Whale, which uncovered the 1MDB scandal in Malaysia. Ultimately, that brought about the downfall and imprisonment of Prime Minister Najib Razak. Wright is also the creator and host of Fat Leonard, a nine-part podcast about the military contractor who corrupted the U.S. Navy, and Crypto Kingpins, which dives into  power struggles at the top of the crypto world.
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Wright has spent more than two decades reporting from Asia for The Wall Street Journal. A Pulitzer finalist and Gerald Loeb Award winner, he received the 2020 Shorenstein Award from Stanford University for his outstanding contribution to journalism in Asia.Join us at the FCCT Clubhouse for an in-depth conversation with Tom Wright on Whale Hunting.Moderator: TBCMembers 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 350 baht, students and Thai press with ID 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Co-working @ the FCCT

Tuesday, 3 November, 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 board member and managing director of Khayan Consultants and Tommy Walker, FCCT board member and digital nomad.

Free and open to all.

Board games night

Tuesday, 3 November, 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.

Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre

Monday, 24 November, 7pm

A fascinating evening about Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre tracing the great bard's progress as a dramatist and the importance of the London riverside theatre in his development as a writer.

Shakespeare wrote 30 to 32 plays after 1598, the year the Globe was built. Unlike many present day dramatists, he knew the performance space intimately as he was directly involved in the theatre's management and maintenance.

The Globe was a unique venue that helped Shakespeare develop as a playwright. The evening will also focus on play production, acting and challenges faced by producers and performers. A Q&A with audience follows the presentation.

Daniel Foley trained for the stage at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where he won the Percival Steeds Prize and Royal Lyceum Awards. In 1992, he studied Wayang Kulit (Javanese puppetry) East Java with the great Pak Suleman. He trained with Yoh Izumo in Japan.

Members and non-members can use this link to book their tickets.

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Members 350 baht, non-members 450 baht, students 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

FCCT pub trivia

Friday, 28 November, 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.

Christmas dinner — save the date

Friday, 12 December, 7pm

FCCT’s new podcast: Dateline Bangkok

For part one 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 for BBC News and CGTN covering news and conflicts in Asia and the Middle East. Tony is 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.

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