In the past, the labour movement played an important role in the democratic uprisings against military rule in Thailand (1932, 1973, 1992). But what is the role of the labour movement in the struggle for democracy today?

What is the current situation of the labour movement? How did the polarization between redshirts and yellowshirts affect the unions and labour activists? Which sections of the labour movement supported the military coups of 2006 and 2014? Which groups supported Thaksin and the redshirts, and why? Could the labour movement offer a perspective to overcome the military regime and to go beyond the red-yellow divide?

Somyot Prueksakesemsuk, one of the most famous political prisoners in Thailand, has just been released from prison after seven years in jail. Somyot was involved with the Thai labour movement for many years, before becoming the editor of the magazine "The Voice of Thaksin." He is a vocal critic of the military regime and a prominent activist for free speech, for which he was imprisoned.

Speaker: Somyot Prueksakesemsuk, Moderation: Nicola Glass

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