The Bulletin

Stephff's world

A Rohingya Ramadan – A month inside the world’s largest refugee camp

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Documentary, panel discussion, gallery opening, Wednesday, 11 March, 7pm

The film ‘A Rohingya Ramadan’ offers a rare and intimate view of life inside the world’s largest refugee camp, seen through the eyes of several of its residents. Made in Cox’s Bazar during Ramadan 2025, this documentary is the result of a collaboration between director Jidi Guo and Rohingya human rights activists Ro Yassin Abdumonab and Sohel Khan, both whom reside in the camp.

The movie captures the texture of daily life during the Islamic holy month: families preparing iftar over open fires, children studying in overcrowded shelters, and youths searching for purpose amid uncertainty. The film will premiere on Al Jazeera Documentary. This screening at the FCCT will be its first outside the Middle East.

Following the screening, a panel discussion will give the audience insights into the production process and the realities of life inside the camps. The evening also includes a companion photo exhibition showcasing stills from the month-long shoot. Prints will be available for purchase, with proceeds donated to Mayyu Sunlight Community High School in Camp 1 East, Lambashia, Cox’s Bazar.

The panel will feature:

Jidi Guo, producer-director, A Rohingya Ramadan.

Abdullah Bawshore, Rohingya photographer featured in the film.

A representative from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. (TBC)

Other panelists (to be confirmed).

Moderator: Phil Robertson, director, Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates, FCCT board member.  

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; students and local media with ID 150 baht.

Bar and restaurant open.

What’s next for Thailand after Feb 8 election

Panel discussion,
Thursday, 12 March, 7pm

Thailand’s Feb. 8 general election delivered a decisive victory for Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Bhumjaithai Party, raising hopes that a more stable government may emerge after two decades of political turbulence marked by two military coups and street protests.

Bhumjaithai has announced plans to form a coalition with the third-placed Pheu Thai Party and several smaller parties — an alliance that would command a comfortable parliamentary majority.

Yet the aftermath has been far from seamless.

Allegations of electoral irregularities and potential legal challenges against the Election Commission have sparked debate over transparency and public trust.

Adding to the uncertainty, the National Anti-Corruption Commission has ruled one day after the election that 44 former Move Forward lawmakers breached ethical standards over efforts to amend the royal defamation law and will refer the case to the Supreme Court, where the politicians could face suspension and political bans if found guilty.

Join us at the FCCT Clubhouse as we unpack the post-election landscape and examine what lies ahead for Thailand and its new government.

Speakers include:

Sudarat Keyuraphan, veteran politician and founder of the Thai Sang Thai Party.

Tom Kruesopon, an independent political pundit.

Fuadi Pitsuwan, political science lecturer at Thammasat University.

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; local media and students with ID, 150 baht.

Bar and restaurant open.

Lance Randolph Woodruff

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Wake:
Friday, 13 March, 7pm

The well-attended funeral of Lance Woodruff was held at Saint Peter's Church in Philadelphia on Saturday, 21 February. There will be a wake for him at the FCCT on Friday, 13 March, at 7pm. All are welcome, and those who cannot join in person can email the club office (info@fccthai.com) for the Zoom link.

Asia's security order in flux: the role of US allies

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Monday, 16 March, 2pm

As the global order shifts, longstanding security arrangements in the Indo-Pacific are under strain. Power balances are changing, alliances are being tested and key regional partners are rethinking how they deter threats and protect their interests. From Tokyo to Seoul, Canberra and Manila, the US’s Asian allies are reassessing their reliance on external security guarantees and their own deterrence capabilities. This panel brings together International Crisis Group analysts to unpack how defence postures across the region are evolving and what these changes mean for the future of the Indo-Pacific security order.

‍Comfort Ero, president and CEO of the International Crisis Group will deliver opening remarks.

Panelists:

Georgi Engelbrecht, senior analyst, Philippines.

Christopher Green, senior consultant, Korean Peninsula.

Huong Le Thu, deputy director, Asia Program.

Matthew Wheeler, senior analyst, South East Asia.

To attend this event, please RSVP here.

This is not an FCCT event.

Extreme travel – The challenge of visiting every country on earth

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Wednesday, 18 March, 7pm

The innate impulse to explore has been woven into the human story since day one. For some, it has evolved into the mission of a modern nomad – those driven by a compulsion to visit every country on earth – a mission now termed “extreme travel.” While these travellers might collect the physical markers of their journey, like magnets and ink-heavy passport stamps, their true pursuit is much deeper: the acquisition of indelible experiences that remain long after the borders are crossed.

This panel of three extreme travellers will explore this growing segment of travel, where these modern-day explorers travel to countries like Afghanistan, Libya, Haiti, and others. Why do they pursue this audacious quest? What counts as visiting a country? How do they get the most difficult visas? How do they assess security and risk factors? What were their most dangerous situations? What were their most cherished and least favorite countries? And finally, what were some of their unforgettable culinary experiences?

Speakers:

Ric Gazarian is the founder of the Extraordinary Travel Festival and a globe-spanning explorer, storyteller, and community builder whose work has centred on the pursuit of understanding the world through travel. Since 2009, Ric has been on a mission to visit every country on earth, a journey defined by deep curiosity, human connection, and unguarded experiences in places both extraordinary and overlooked.

Shigeki (Shagg) Makino worked for 20 years for investment management companies in Tokyo, Hong Kong, London and Boston. He has been to 164 countries so far, with extensive time living in 10 of them. He is focused on visiting the remaining UN member nations over the next few years.

Jenna Pava was born in Russia and moved to the United States with her family when she was six. She became a teacher, a career she loves for the impact she makes in the classroom, as well as the freedom it gives her to travel during school breaks. In 2023, she moved to Bangkok. Jenna has visited 188 UN countries and continues her pursuit of reaching all 193, blending her love of teaching with her passion for global exploration.

Moderated by Imtiaz Muqbil, executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire.

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 and local media with ID 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Democratic Voice of Burma Peacock Film Festival

DVB film festival and panel discussion, Wednesday, 25 March, 7pm

The DVB will bring a selection of short films from Burmese film-makers on developments in Burma, showing untold stories of resilience, justice, and the struggle for human rights in the country. These films showcase the voices of the ordinary people of Burma, who have suffered so much since the illegal military coup in February 2021, amid ongoing fighting across the country to resist the restoration of military rule.

Following the successful Peacock Film Festival held in Chiang Mai in December 2025, DVB is now bringing selected, award-winning films to Bangkok.

After showing the films, there will be a panel of film-makers, political analysts, Burmese media figures and activists to discuss what’s happening in the country, and what 2026 holds for the Burmese people.

Aye Chan Naing, the co-founder, chief editor and executive director of DVB will give opening remarks at the event.

A full list of documentary films and panel members will be announced soon.

Phil Robertson, director of Asia Human Rights and Labour Advocates and a FCCT board member, will moderate.

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 250 baht; students and local media with ID 150 baht.Bar and restaurant open.

Co-working at the FCCT

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Tuesday, 10 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 Tommy Walker, FCCT board member and digital nomad.

Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.

Board games night

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Tuesday, 10 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.

Free and open to all.Bar and restaurant open.