Tag Archives: Thailand

As people Protest In Thailand, Rap Against Dictatorship Release A New Song ปฏิรูป (Video)

As it often happens, the current protests in Thailand started out as student events. This generation has had to partially grow up in times started by the 2014 coup d’état in Thailand. Now more people are joining the protests demanding the resignation of General Prayuth Chan-ocha’s government and an economic reform of the monarchy.

Some members of the rap collective have been arrested for their activism as we’ve covered before here on Shouts. That does not seem to slow them down though. They blast through the new song with seemingly no concern for their own safety. Artists have been jailed around the world for using their voices in this way.

See also: Rappers From ‘Rap Against Dictatorship’ Arrested In Thailand

The name of the song, ปฏิรูป, means reform. With the song’s message the rap collective aims to speak to and for the people of Thailand: “We say what people want, because we are the people too.”

According to this article, when one of the member’s was asked what it would take for him to stop his activism he replied: “I will stop when there is nothing to talk about.”

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Rappers From ‘Rap Against Dictatorship’ Arrested In Thailand

In Thailand people have been protesting the powers in charge. People are asking for a revised constitution and for a reform of the country’s monarchy.

Today, August the 20th, a few protesters were arrested and among those 2 rappers, one of the a founding member of the group Rap Against Dictatorship.

According to this article the protests “have declared three core demands: holding new elections, amending the military-imposed constitution and ending the intimidation of critics of the government.”

Cover image: © Provided by Associated Press (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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Thai Protest Band Apply For Asylum In France

Since the 2014 military coup took place in Thailand the protest band Faiyen have not been able to perform live. After starting to receive threats they fled into hiding in Laos until finally, a few days ago, they arrived in France where they have sought political asylum.

Thailand upholds what is known as the lese-majeste law which forbids anyone from speaking negatively about, threatening or insulting the Thai royal family. Several activists have gone missing since 2014 and Faiyen did not want to become a part of an ever growing list of disappearances.

Being able to now perform in France the band is already using their voice and talent to spread the word about their oppressive government. A few days ago they organised a protest concert outside the Thai embassy in Paris along with other activists and performed some of their songs.

You can find Faiyen’s music on Bandcamp and support the band.



Article cover photo from Faiyen’s Facebook page.