Showing 51 - 60 of 102
Time to prove them wrong
News, Editorial, Published on 04/06/2019
» Tomorrow is one of the most important days in Thai political history, as elected members of parliament (MPs) and senators will be attending a joint meeting to vote for the next prime minister. It's a moment when Thailand's commitment to democracy will be tested.
Power is the regime's drug
News, Editorial, Published on 15/05/2019
» If power is as addictive as a drug, the military regime must have been overdosed with its latest appointment of its trusted friends and family members who will run the Senate for the next five years and have a say in the selection of at least two prime ministers.
EC must not act as censor
News, Editorial, Published on 22/12/2018
» With concerns over how words and images will be spread to the electorate in the lead-up to the Feb 24 general election, some have proposed measures for the Election Commission (EC) and the media to guard against "disinformation, fake news and misleading information" in online campaigns.
Time for Prayut to show his integrity
News, Editorial, Published on 16/12/2018
» As the country gears up for an election, initially expected to take place late February next year, the military regime under Prime Minister Chan-o-cha should learn about the political etiquette that obliges it to refrain from the business-as-usual edict in running state affairs.
Inequality exposed
News, Editorial, Published on 10/12/2018
» The economy expert Banyong Pongpanich was studying recent statistics last week when he made an interesting discovery. Based on figures reported in the latest annual Global Wealth Databook by Credit Suisse (CS), the inequality gap in Thailand has become the worst in the world. The figure represents national assets held and controlled by a nation's richest 1%, compared with the other 99%. In Thailand, that 1% is about 500,000, compared with the 50 million Thais of working ages.
Apply assets law equally
News, Editorial, Published on 08/12/2018
» One with great power should shoulder great responsibility. Those holding executive and advisory roles in government agencies now have a new responsibility to publicly disclose their assets and debts, because of the National Anti-Corruption Commission's (NACC) regulation to prevent corruption in the public sector. But a number of the officials oppose the new rule.
Asset declaration law angers academics
News, Editorial, Published on 11/11/2018
» A new regulation issued by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) that requires university council members to declare their assets and liabilities has drawn mixed reactions.
No decency in Myanmar
News, Editorial, Published on 23/10/2018
» With its army about to be indicted for crimes against humanity, it is shocking that Myanmar's government continues to violate the rights it so very recently swore to uphold. Last week, with global eyes already on Nay Pyi Taw, the government threw more journalists in jail. Three men from the Eleven Media company are inside infamous Insein Prison on extremely flimsy charges amounting once again to essentially practising journalism while Burmese. The government of Aung San Suu Kyi once again is trying to defend the scandalous arrests as "law and order".
Time to lift rights bans
News, Editorial, Published on 17/09/2018
» The best thing that can be said about last week's action by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is that the all-male group understands it has created a problem. It has returned to the public a tiny bit of the civil and human rights it removed 52 months ago. On Friday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha used his extraordinary powers under Section 44 to give some small but important freedoms to political parties. While the order restores the right to organise party affairs, it falls lamentably short of restoring basic and constitutional rights to all Thais.
Only a total ban lift will do
News, Editorial, Published on 30/08/2018
» After having imposed its political ban for more than four years, the continued reluctance of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to restore full political rights and freedom of expression to the Thai people and political parties has raised grave concerns about a hidden agenda.