Rodjaraeg Wattanapanit

Rodjaraeg Wattanapanit is the co-owner of a bookstore, Book Re:public, and co-founder of Creating Awareness for Enhanced Democracy (CAFÉ Democracy), an association dedicated to creating political awareness, empowering citizens, and promoting the free exchange of ideas. Since the 2014 military coup, she has been summoned twice to military camps for “attitude adjustment,” during which she was asked to sign an agreement to refrain from political activities. Despite being forced to close her bookstore for a year, she remained undaunted in efforts to engage her community on democracy, freedom of expression, and women’s rights. Since re-opening last fall, Book Re:public has become an indispensable public space for neighbors to gather, discuss societal problems, and develop solutions to Thailand’s political challenges.