The man fighting against dictatorship also has an iron fist

13 Sept 13:24 Key points summarised by AI

Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a leading critic of Thailand's monarchy and military, faces internal backlash for allegedly employing an "iron fist" in censoring content within his popular "Royalist Marketplace" Facebook group.
This criticism, even from allies, highlights a paradox: a champion of online freedom is accused of mirroring the very control he opposes, by strictly moderating discussions.
Thai authorities successfully pressured Facebook to block the original "Royalist Marketplace" in Thailand, prompting Pavin to launch a new, similarly administered group that continues to challenge the monarchy.
As a self-exiled academic and influential mentor to student-led protests, Pavin remains a significant figure in Thailand's pro-democracy movement, wanted on lese majeste charges.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Today 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.