Julian Küng is a Thailand-based journalist reporting on politics, human rights and social issues in and around Southeast Asia. His stories appeared on DW.com, Dailymail.co.uk, Stern.de, Focus.de, Blick and many more.
Deutsche Welle •

Thailand: Farmers caught between poverty, Israel-Hamas war – DW – 01/22/2024

Nearly 10,000 Thai farm workers left Israel after the start of the nation's war with Hamas. Some are now returning to escape poverty.

Bowon Nonthasi is already feeling a little queasy as he packs his travel bags.

He is preparing to leave his home village in Thailand and return to Israel in the coming days.

"The poverty here [in Thailand] scares me more than the [Israel-Hamas] war," he says as his relatives behind him nod in agreement.

Bowon was working in the fields of a kibbutz, an agricult
DW.COM •

Thailand's young pro-democracy protesters challenge military and monarchy | DW | 16.10.2020

When Thailand's premier, Prayuth Chan-ocha, declared a state of emergency in Bangkok on Thursday morning, it was supposed to be the final warning shot towards the pro-democracy protest movement.

The emergency decree bans gatherings of more than four people. Anyone publishing news or online reports that "harm national security or cause panic" is liable to prosecution.

However, the pro-democracy movement showed surprisingly little concern. Only a few hours after the "state of emergency" was anno
Deutsche Welle •

Escaping to Thailand: Fleeing military service in Myanmar – DW – 03/17/2024

The quiet villages along the Thailand-Myanmar border become escape routes for Myanmar's youth dodging the draft. Julian Küng reports from the border region.

In the village of Wale, Thailand and Myanmar are connected by a small wooden bridge. The narrow river that flows beneath it constitutes the border. The villages on the two banks share the same name, and their lives are closely entwined. Locals carry rice and vegetables back and forth across the little footbridge; children splash and play in
DW.COM •

After the Indonesian tsunami: Cashing in on the dead | DW | 02.01.2019

When the relatives of the tsunami victims come to collect the mortal remains of their loved ones from Serang District Hospital in the province of Banten, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from Java's ravaged coastal region, they are in a state of shock. Jackson Sinaga from Jakarta is one of them. He lost his 9-month-old son to the floodwaters, triggered by the collapse of the Anak Krakatoa volcano just before Christmas. "Satria was fast asleep in a rented villa on Carita Beach when the tsunami cra
CTN News l Chiang Rai Times •

Thailand’s Election Commission Now Blames Computer Errors for Incorrect Vote Totals

BANGKOK – It seems that an orderly transition from military junta to an elected opposition is looking less likely and with no clear result in sight.

Polls closed last Sunday evening in Thailand’s parliamentary elections, but nearly a week on, the results remain inconclusive. Questions about accuracy at the ballot boxes persist and jockeying between parties has resulted in a hung parliament of sorts.

On Saturday, the country’s election commission sought to allay concerns over accuracy and trans
DW.COM •

Thailand election highlights a divided society | DW | 25.03.2019

The final result of Thailand's election may not be official until the end of the week, but both sides are already claiming the right to begin forming a government. The pro-military Palang Pracharat party currently looks to have a slight edge over the Pheu Thai party loyal to exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra.

On Monday morning, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha was seen entering the government offices in Bangkok looking relaxed wearing his military uniform and aviator sunglasses
DW.COM •

Cuando el pánico bloquea la ayuda en la zona del tsunami | DW | 26.12.2018

Con una rama, Rahmat revuelve en un charco de lodo. Saca un zapato de tela empapado. "Lo hemos perdido todo", dice desesperado el niño, mientras sus tres hermanos recorren los escombros que eran su hogar hace unos días.

Cerca, Uju Sukarsi golpea con su machete los bambús entre los restos de su local en la playa inundada. "Mi querido restaurante de fideos está en ruinas", dice desconsolada esta madre de dos hijas. Son solo dos ejemplos de entre miles de destinos truncados en la región de Banten,
DW.COM •

Thailand's Muslim rebellion has army living in 'constant fear' | DW | 06.11.2018

At a border checkpoint crossing into southern Thailand's conflict zone, a police officer rushed quickly from his wooden guard post toward a reporter who had been snapping a few pictures.

After the guard realized that the journalists were working on a report covering unrest in the region, he calmed down, adjusted his brown uniform, straightened his glasses and vented his frustration.

"It's hard for me to find words that describe the permanent atrocities committed the rebels commit," he said, wh
Mail Online •

Gorilla rolls around tiny cage at 'world's saddest zoo' in Bangkok

Shocking images and video footage has revealed one of the world's saddest zoos, where animals are held captive on the highest floor of a shopping centre in Bangkok.

The disturbing video shows a distressed-looking gorilla rolling around his tiny enclosure, a big cat pacing up and down a small space and sheep crammed into a fenced area much too small for them.

Other heartbreaking pictures show a fed-up Hornbill who should be flying above Africa, a ferret curled up in the corner of its cage not t
FOCUS Online •

Seit der Flut ist sie unauffindbar: Menschen warten nach Tsunami vor Leichenhäusern

Mindestens 430 Menschen sind durch den Tsunami ums Leben gekommen, der in Indonesien die Küsten von Java und Sumatra überrollte. Die Identifizierung der Leichen wird zunehmend schwieriger. Von Julian Küng, Pandeglang.

Beißender Verwesungsgeruch liegt wie eine Wolke über dem Bezirkskrankenhaus Pandeglang im Westen der indonesischen Insel Java. Ohne Mundschutz ist es kaum auszuhalten. Dann ein lauter Schrei aus einem der vier Leichenhäuser, der durch Mark und Bein geht.

"Wohl eine Familie die ih