Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Breaking the cycle of land inequality
News, Editorial, Published on 02/04/2023
» Thailand's land ownership disparity is one of the worst in the world. As such, land reform should be a crucial campaign policy for the upcoming general election. Unfortunately, it is not.
Darkest-day song nothing to be proud of
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 20/02/2019
» Army commander-in-chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong's decision to order the army-run radio stations to "resurrect" the old ultra-nationalist song Nak Phandin ("Burden on the Land") in an apparent response to the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan's threat to cut military spending and Future Forward Party's pledge to scrap mandatory conscription is totally uncalled for.
'My country's got' these socio-political ills
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 02/11/2018
» The explosive Rap Against Dictatorship music video that has taken Thailand by storm has raised myriad socio-political questions and issues. Known in Thai as Prathet Ku Mee, the sensational music video has been viewed on YouTube more than 25 million times in just 10 days in a country of 69 million people, a feat in its own right and a record for its artistic kind in Thailand. How this five-minute rap song in the Thai language has done so much says a lot about where Thailand has been and where it is going.
Time for the regime to face the music
News, Atiya Achakulwisut, Published on 30/10/2018
» Finally, the return to democracy has begun. It's raw. It's vulgar. It's controversial. It has also unleashed a rush of polarised opinions. Police are gunning to outlaw it as more people flock to view it online, with over 21 million on YouTube for the music video in question as of yesterday mid-afternoon.
A nation of millions can't hold them back
News, Kong Rithdee, Published on 29/10/2018
» Rhymes and misdemeanours. Yo, yo. Rappers are threatened to be thrown in a slammer.
The kids are all right
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 28/10/2018
» Prathet Ku Mee is no slapped-together concert song. It wasn't made, so much as crafted. The accusatory lyrics are set against the shameful, hovering background of the 1976 dictators' massacre at Thammasat University. The rap song's finale brings the background image of the hanged, beaten student to the front of the picture, before fading out to the hopeful message, "All people unite".