Pavin Chachavalpongpun - From exile in Kyoto, a social media leader in the fight for Thailand and with the young behind him

Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a former Thai diplomat, gives regular lectures overseas criticising the junta and the Thai monarchy. - The Straits Times/Asian News Network

KYOTO/BANGKOK, Nov 2: In the world of academia, Pavin Chachavalpongpun is known as an associate professor at one of Japan’s most prestigious universities, a sought-after expert on South-East Asian politics and a regular commentator for some of the West’s largest newspapers, writes Joel Tansey of the Japan Times.

But in his home country of Thailand, Pavin might write a lengthy Facebook post about the monarchy one minute, and in the next follow up with a TikTok video in which he lip-syncs in a theatrical manner to a traditional, not-to-be-mocked song praising the king, all while employing an array of the app’s comical filters.