The Australian National University’s National Thai Studies Centre is hosting a seminar later this week that will be of interest to many New Mandala readers. The details are:

Post Coup Politics in Thailand: The Return of Bureaucratic Governance?

Dr Surin Maisrikrod

Venue: Coombs extension lecture theatre 1.04, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies

Date: Thursday 7 June, 2007 12:30-2.00

Politics in Thailand has been going through a protracted period of political crisis, exacerbated by the coup on 19 September 2006. Debate over ways of avoiding pitfalls of the Thaksin period have focused on proposals for strengthening the democratic provisions of the 1997 constitution, against opponents who look to a return of more traditional bureaucratic-dominated processes. A new constitution is currently being debated to facilitate Thailand’s return to democratic rule. Who is gaining the upper hand in this debate? What impact will the recent court decision to ban Thaksin and his popular Thai Rak Thai party from political activities have?

Dr Surin Maisrikrod is a senior lecturer in political science from James Cook University, and one of the country’s foremost commentators on Thai politics. He is well placed to analyse these developments and comment on all aspects of Thailand’s current political debate.

All are welcome.

The National Thai Studies Centre is grateful to the Australia-Thailand
Institute for assistance in funding Dr Surin’s participation.

Hopefully New Mandala will be in a position to provide an account of this seminar for interested readers who live far from Acton.