• OPINION

  The silence is deafening

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 07/07/2015

  » What kind of society is the junta creating when the peaceful "New Democracy Movement" protesters, all in their early twenties, are jailed without due process, to have their fate decided on by a military tribunal? Without any doubt the junta's behaviour in this matter is utterly deplorable. But what is soul-destroying is the comfortable silence from certain sections of our society. You can almost hear a pin drop. The leader of the Democrat Party? Not a sound. Venerable statesmen? Not a squeak. Or maybe the rector of Thammasat University would like to voice his objection? Not a single word. Ladies and gentlemen, right or wrong, the only people that have demonstrated any courage at all through this episode are the 14 kids in jail, while the adults hide.

• OPINION

  Thailand on global trial

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 15/07/2015

  » As a direct result of the military coup in 2014, all international observers have their eyes on Thailand. We are in the spotlight, but not in a good way. Instead of proudly taking our place on the world stage with dignity and honour, Thailand finds itself on trial by the international community.

• OPINION

  Thailand needs an informed citizenry

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 11/06/2015

  » The concept of citizenship is fundamental to the principles of democratic governance. The two go hand in hand. The democratic state can basically be reduced down to the citizen, and citizens can only exist under the auspices of a democratic state. Without delving into political theory, it is this "social contract" which defines the relationship between a citizen and the state.

• OPINION

  Let's face it, the chickens are coming home to roost

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 25/06/2015

  » No single Thai administration is capable of solving the country's most chronic and deeply embedded problems. Any administration that says it can is talking absolute tosh and insulting the nation's cumulative intelligence.

• OPINION

  Thailand's political landscape rivals that of 'Hamlet'

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 02/06/2015

  » I was recently invited by the British ambassador to attend a performance of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' organised by The British Council and the British embassy at Chulalongkorn University. I must admit to never having seen Hamlet but I'm glad I finally did because it rather reminded me in parts of what's happening here in Thailand.

• OPINION

  Democracy must be built on mistrust of 'good people'

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 28/04/2015

  » Thailand's new draft constitution has set a new world record. At 131 pages, it's officially the longest love letter in the history of mankind. It's also a galactic demonstration of unadulterated vanity because it's a letter written by a group of people, to themselves. That's right, essentially it's a love letter written by the "good people" to the "good people" telling the "good people" how extremely "good" they are. To all you self-absorbed, emotionally detached Thai men out there (myself included), this is how you write a love letter!

• OPINION

  Setting the record straight on my conservative roots

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 05/05/2015

  » On Thursday, the United Kingdom will go to the polls in what looks to be one of the most closely contested general elections in British history.

• OPINION

  Time to redefine Thainess for 21st-century success

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 16/05/2015

  » When the government seeks to promote Thainess, what exactly do they mean? I guess every nation has their particular traits, but what are our national traits? And are they traits which we would want to advertise or encourage?

• OPINION

  The constitutional merry-go-round revolves once again

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 23/05/2015

  » So finally we’re going to have a referendum on this draft constitution. Hooray! This makes it 20 constitutions since 1932. That’s one constitution every four years on average if you do the maths. Therefore, it will come as no surprise to foreign observers that Thais have very little emotional investment in this document, because it’s more than likely we’ll be rewriting, redrafting, rewinding and reinventing another constitution in a few years time. Thailand has become a serial murderer of constitutions and the more constitutions we put to death, the less meaning each one has.

• OPINION

  Our children deserve education, not indoctrination

  News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 07/04/2015

  » All three of my children attend Bangkok Patana International School. So I would like to declare my bias upfront.

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