Showing 1 - 10 of 209
Time to end Bangkok's feudalistic control
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 26/09/2013
» This week the cabinet approved the nationwide annual reshuffle of provincial governors, involving 31 appointments - signalling that times may have changed but feudal practices remain. Thai feudalism wears many faces, the issue discussed in this article is but one.
Chalerm in charge
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 20/02/2014
» Chalerm Yubamrung represents many undesirable things about Thai society, but he does get things done. Whether the things he gets done are desirable or not is, however, a matter of perspective.
Crime and punishment of Somyot
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 01/05/2014
» I don’t much care for Somyot Prueksakasemsuk's politics, although his strong conviction to them is admirable. I respect his idealism, but his allegiance leaves much to be desired.
Cheating the cheaters
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 30/05/2013
» Foreign workers are useful. They fill the jobs we don’t have the proper skills to do, or the jobs that we simply don’t want to do.
Just reflections of ourselves
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 16/05/2013
» The wonderful thing about representative democracy is that, not only do we get exactly what we vote for, but the people sitting in government also represent exactly the people walking in the streets. It’s like a reflection in the mirror.
Out with the outdated Thai regime
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 25/12/2013
» A friend of mine who is a businessman was asked why he was not out in the streets protesting. Is he not against corruption? But of course, he’s against corruption. In fact, he hates it so much that he has filed a lawsuit against a certain government ministry over unethical practices.
Thaksin needs to make the sacrifice
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 07/11/2013
» Why should Thaksin Shinawatra make the sacrifice? It is because the amnesty that would whitewash his corruption convictions could very well lead to social upheaval. It could possibly lead to chaos and bloodshed. This is a road Thailand can ill afford to go down.
The mysterious men in black
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 11/04/2013
» When analysing politics we should connect the dots as far as the dots (or our intellect) go, rather than stop at whichever dot satisfies our moral righteousness and ignore the rest. And we should be mindful of imaginary dots
Scandals confirm what we already know
Oped, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 07/05/2018
» Thailand has no shortage of national scandals; one after another in less than six months, starting from November of last year. It began with junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha berating a fisherman down south for daring to matter-of-factly ask him tough questions. Next came deputy junta leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon flashing his posh taste for luxury watches, which supposedly were borrowed from generous friends.
Quick-fix political remedies set us back years
Oped, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 14/05/2018
» News media described it as a "shock", an "upset" and a "political earthquake" among other things. Few, if any, predicted it or expected it. But alas, the seemingly invincible populist regime with the mass working class as its support base is defeated in the national election. The victor? An opposition that's historically backed by the traditional establishment and urban elite.