Image from the Facebook page of Prachatai

Global Voices’ new partner in delivering independent news is Prachatai, a non-profit online newspaper from Thailand.

Prachatai was established in 2004 by senior journalists and NGO leaders to provide alternative reporting of news and current events in Thailand. In the past decade, it also focused on human rights issues and other advocacy championed by civil society movements and organizations.

Prachatai, which means ‘Free People’ in Thai, has consistently promoted the protection of free speech in Thailand. In 2011, its director was arrested at Bangkok airport for allowing the posting of ‘offensive’ comments by anonymous readers on the website.

Prachatai has defied authorities by making a stand against martial law, which was declared by the army a year ago. The coup regime has enforced severe restrictions on the media, but Prachatai continued its mission of informing the world about the situation in Thailand and the various efforts of Thai citizens to restore democracy in the country.

Through this partnership, Global Voices will focus on the delivery of news and commentary that the mainstream media in Thailand are not able to give adequately because of the continuing media regulations imposed by the military-backed government. We will continue to highlight anti-coup voices and other perspectives which are either repressed, silenced, and distorted by censors.