US-funded Thai Protests: iLaw

iLaw is a US government-funded front petitioning the Thai government to have the entire Thai constitution rewritten and rewritten in such a way as to make it easier for US-backed opposition parties to get into power.

I cover iLaw's US government funding and why it seeks to change Thailand's constitution and how it threatens Thai-Chinese relations and ultimately Thailand's economic future.

References:

Bangkok Post - Three parties want to rewrite charter: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1485300/three-parties-want-to-rewrite-charter
Thai PBS - Thanathorn vows to bring people onto streets after rally in downtown Bangkok: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thanathorn-vows-to-bring-people-onto-streets-after-rally-in-downtown-bangkok/
Bangkok Post - Protesters reiterate 3 key demands: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/1998947/protesters-reiterate-3-key-demands
Nation Thailand - iLaw launches petition for charter rewrite: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392491
iLaw - About Us: https://ilaw.or.th/about
Bloomberg - Thailand Needs Hyperloop, Not China-Built High-Speed Rail, Junta Critic Says: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-10-01/junta-critic-says-thailand-needs-hyperloop-not-china-built-rail
Bangkok Post - Chinese embassy condemns Thai politician's meeting with Hong Kong activist: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1769959/chinese-embassy-condemns-thai-politicians-meeting-with-hong-kong-activist

Chinese high-speed rail vs. "hyperloop" references:

Global Times - China’s high-speed rail carries record 10 billion passengers: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1149608.shtml

"China's high-speed railway had transported more than 10 billion passengers by the end of the first quarter of 2019, a new world record, China Railway said on Saturday."

Reuters - Exclusive: Virgin Hyperloop picks West Virginia to test high-speed transport system: https://www.reuters.com/article/virgin-hyperloop-west-virginia-idUSKBN26U08Y

"Construction is slated to begin in 2022 on the site of a former coal mine in Tucker and Grant Counties, West Virginia, with safety certification by 2025 and commercial operations by 2030, the company said."