Red Siam

The Red Siam Democratic Power Network (Thai: เครือข่ายพลังประชาธิปไตยแดงสยาม), commonly known as Red Siam (Thai: แดงสยาม) is a leftist, militant, anti-monarchy Thai political movement.^[1] Red Siam is a splinter group of the pro-democracy Red Shirts movement.^[2][3]

History

In 2009, republican professor Giles Ji Ungpakorn published the Red Siam Manifesto while fleeing Thailand, which openly criticized the monarchy and government.^[4]

The manifesto served as inspiration for the Red Siam movement, which was founded in 2009 by Chupong Theethuan, a member of the New Aspiration Party, former communist party member Surachai Danwattananusorn, and former minister Jakrapob Penkair.^[5] The movement emerged from the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship by members discontented with the Red Shirts movement.^[6][7]

In March 2010, the Red Siam movement was denounced by Red Shirts leaders at a demonstration in Bangkok.^[8]

Following the 2014 Thai military coup, the leaders of Red Siam fled to neighboring countries, including Laos.^[9][10]

In March 2024, Jakrapob Penkair, a former minister and leader of Red Siam, returned to Thailand from exile.^[11][12] A vocal advocate for reform of the Thai monarchy, Jakrapob's return was described as a positive sign for democratic renewal in Thailand.^[11]

Leadership

• Chupong Theethuan (In exile in France since 2009)
• Surachai Danwattananusorn (In exile in Laos since 2014, disappeared in 2018)
• Jakrapob Penkair (In exile since 2009, returned to Thailand in 2024)