Longtime political cartoonist ‘Stephff’ loses work permit & Visa

A longtime political cartoonist for a major English-language newspaper said today he has been denied his media visa, working permit and press card, effectively making it illegal for him to work in Thailand as a journalist.

 

Known for skewering figures across the political spectrum in cartoons for The Nation newspaper, Stephane "Stephff" Peray wrote exasperated messages on social media Tuesday afternoon questioning the reason for the decision.

 

“Very good news for those who hate me, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused me [sic] renewal of my visa, work permit and press card after 16 years,” tweeted Stephane Peray, a French national and political cartoon contributor to The Nation newspaper who works under the name Stephff.

 

Although Peray’s work was known for an anti-Shinawatra stance and lukewarm acceptance of the 2014 coup d’etat, he has for some months made fun of junta leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha as a dictator.

 

Peray was confident that for now his work would continue appearing in the newspaper, at least until his work permit expires.