Showing 71 - 80 of 209
Doi Suthep: Judiciary not the villain
News, Wasant Techawongtham, Published on 14/04/2018
» It is now almost certain that officials at the Region 5 Court of Appeal in Chiang Mai will not move into the new housing project on the slope of Doi Suthep after all.
Why Putin is still – genuinely – popular in Russia
News, John Lloyd, Published on 22/03/2018
» Vladimir Putin won big on Sunday. According to the central election commission, the Russian president glides into his fourth term after winning his biggest-ever election victory, with nearly 77% favouring him. His nearest rival was an affluent multi-millionaire communist who got more than 11% by presenting himself as a Putin-plus, with a programme of nationalising the oligarchs' property instead of merely controlling it.
'Watch scandal' now and amnesty bill then
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 02/02/2018
» The gnawing scandal over Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon's dubious and expensive watches has become tantamount to the amnesty bill that upended the previous elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra, who is now on the run after being overthrown and subsequently convicted over the rice-pledging scheme. These two cases are ostensibly different but in fact they both spell the beginning of an inexorable end.
Govt must serve up justice for all
News, Editorial, Published on 28/01/2018
» Nearly four years after the end of the huge street protest by the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), and the country's public prosecutors have finally decided to press charges against nine leaders of the Bangkok Shutdown movement that brought many parts of the metropolis to a standstill.
Fairness in the workplace sadly lacking
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 12/01/2018
» The ongoing labour row at Mitsubishi Electric Consumer Products Thailand that affects members of the company's labour union shows the ugliness of the economic system with the imbalance of power between employers and employees.
Rouhani has most to lose from strife
News, Published on 04/01/2018
» Iranian authorities are concerned that nationwide unrest will undermine the clerical establishment and want to stamp out the protests quickly, senior government officials say. But the person with the most to lose is President Hassan Rouhani.
Israelis don't care about UN votes
News, Daniel Gordis, Published on 28/12/2017
» When President Donald Trump announced on Dec 6 that the US would recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Israelis cheered; support for the move in Israel was almost universal. When the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly repudiated Mr Trump's announcement last week, Israelis just shrugged.
Defeating big brother
News, Editorial, Published on 25/12/2017
» The men who stood up so dauntlessly to defeat a despicable proposal in the anti-graft organic bill in the military-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last week deserve the nation's gratitude. Earlier, a small group of the junta-backed legislature had suddenly produced the proposal as a last-minute addition to the bill to authorise widespread and unregulated wiretapping. It would have enabled the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) to launch surveillance against, literally, anyone or any group. Worst of all, there was no provision for oversight. The proposal deserved to be shot down, and one must hope it will never resurface.
The tragedy of Thailand's Surin Pitsuwan
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 15/12/2017
» Much has been and more will be said of Dr Surin Pitsuwan's sudden and unexpected passing due to heart failure on Nov 30, at age 68, just when he appeared to be going from strength to strength after his stint in 2008-12 as Asean secretary-general. Many will also say that among the 13 heads of Asean in its 50-year history, Surin was the most effective and formidable. Indeed, he managed to speak for and champion Asean's causes and roles in Asia and the wider world even long after he left the job. No secretary-general of Asean is likely to come anywhere near the level of his eloquence, charm and charisma, the presence and confidence that his tall frame and good looks yielded. But Asean was second best for Surin. He was better than what he ended up with, unable to find professional landings commensurate with what he could bring to the job.
Japan's diplomacy misperceived
News, Published on 30/10/2017
» When the human rights situation in Cambodia deteriorated last September, with restrictions on civil society groups, activists looked to foreign governments in particular those big donors like Japan for help. But a legal expert well acquainted with Japan's political norm dimmed our hope.