Jaran Ditapichai (Thai: จรัล ดิษฐาอภิชัย; RTGS: Charan Dittha-a-phichai) is a Thai political scientist, educator, writer, political activist,^[1] and advocate of human rights.

Jaran was born in Phatthalung, Thailand. He was a student leader during the 6 October 1976 massacre of student protesters and thereafter fled to join the Communist Party of Thailand, adopting the nom de guerre "สหายแผ้ว" (Comrade "Paew" – or Comrade Clarity).

He was a member of the Thai National Human Rights Commission,^[2] but was expelled on 26 September 2007 by the National Legislative Assembly, which had been installed by the military junta that had taken power in the 2006 coup.^[3]

Jaran fled to France after the 2014 military coup. The government of France granted Jaran and other lèse majesté suspects a refugee status in 2015.^[4]

• BA – Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University
• MA – Department of History, University of Paris 7
• Post Graduate Studies – Political Philosophy, University of Paris 1 (Sorbonne)

• 1990–2000: Assistant Professor on the Faculty of Social Sciences at Rangsit University
• 1998–2000: Chairman of the Union for Civil Liberty
• 2001–2006: Member of the National Human Rights Commission

• Jaran's works include reporting on the methods and works of public hearings in Thai society (with Faculty)
• report : "On the Restructuring of the Thai Parliament"
• book : "The French Revolution", Volumes 1 & 2
• book : "Leading up to 14 October"
• book : "From Ratchadamnoern to Shwedagong"
• book : "A Citizen's handbook on Human Rights"
• book : "On the Path Toward Human Rights"

• Assistant Professor^[5]