Showing 1 - 10 of 18
Harsh laws on public gatherings a blow to democracy
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 04/05/2015
» Bye-bye democracy. Farewell to freedom of expression through public gatherings.
Root for city workers
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/02/2024
» Re: "High-perched garbos killed as truck enters underpass", (BP, Jan 24).
Thai geopolitical balancing compromised
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/07/2018
» Thailand is demonstrably famous for its foreign policy balancing. From the era of imperialism and two World Wars through the Cold War, Thailand's gifted geography and diplomatic finesse and skill shepherded the country's sovereignty and independence through the thick and thin of geopolitical headwinds. Whatever happens out there, the Thais (and their Siamese forebears) had a way to diplomatically navigate and geopolitically balance their national interests to stay out of harm's way.
Time is on our side
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 15/08/2022
» Win or lose, a protest is a process of trial and error. To put it simply, it is disruption, innovation, or something in between, just the way the now-defunct but shape-shifting Future Forward Party was in 2019 because it is born out of a spirit, not a person or a party. If the student-led demonstration goes down in history for demanding the boldest political reform, including the role of the monarchy, its resurrection last week proves that the pro-democracy movement is coming of age.
Refugee fears well founded
Oped, Published on 15/07/2014
» The announcement by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha last Friday that Myanmar refugees will be repatriated was a surprise to everyone. The army commander said he had come to a personal agreement on the matter with the head of the Myanmar military. The head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) cited national security for wanting to move out all 130,000 people and close the refugee camps. But national security will be even more irreparably harmed if any part of this huge, proposed human movement is mismanaged or bungled.
#BehindTheHashtags
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 06/03/2020
» Many student protests that were partly set off by the dissolution of Future Forward Party over the past two weeks has also ushered in new hashtags into the lexicon of Thai social media. At the time of writing, it has been reported that there are 28 hashtags associated with campus protests. Some are humourous while others carry strong political stances and sharp gibes. Whether you agree with these students who've chosen to make their voices heard, it's better to get used to their protest hashtags as more student flashmobs are on their way (but many speculate that the designation of Covid-19 as a dangerous communicable disease may be used as a tool to suppress them). Not to mention, an online campaign calling for people to wear black on Fridays as a symbol to oppose dictatorship began last Friday.
Engagement key to Sino-Thai ties
News, Published on 07/07/2020
» Gone are the days when policymakers could sit back and relax to watch Sino-Thai relations moving ahead in autopilot mode. These days, Thailand and China have to intensify mutual engagement and consultation at all levels to ensure there is no room for misunderstandings that could lead to diplomatic wrangles.
Oblivious army
News, Postbag, Published on 27/09/2019
» According to the latest UN report on rising sea levels, Bangkok is one of the cities that will be experiencing yearly floods 30 years from now. If the military was really serious about protecting the country, they would be using their budget to move their more vulnerable installations to higher ground and buying equipment to combat floods instead of the attack helicopters, missiles and rockets that army commander Gen Apirat Kongsompong wants.
'Forgotten war' strips Kachin of hope
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 14/06/2018
» Myanmar's "forgotten war" in Kachin state has received little public attention despite the scale of the impact it has had on people who have become internally displaced and the casualties caused by the fighting between ethnic rebels and the army.
Inspiring science
News, Postbag, Published on 28/11/2018
» Re: "Mars InSight spacecraft lands on Red Planet", (Online, Nov 27).