Showing 1 - 10 of 10
What Tingsamitr on the way forward for the NHRC
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 19/12/2015
» Former Supreme Court judge What Tingsamitr, 65, has taken the chairmanship of the troubled National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Here he explains his roles and responds to critics’ doubts of his knowledge and experiences on human rights protection.
Uphill battle looms after the honeymoon
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 15/11/2015
» Amid a mix of astonishment and relief in Myanmar, optimism is running high. The triumph of Aung San Suu Kyi in last week’s polls means democracy in Myanmar stands poised to stride ahead in the next five years, while progress in neighbouring countries has stalled, or slid backwards.
Public must wait for chance to deliver its verdict
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 21/04/2015
» A thought about the charter has disturbed me for weeks. On the one hand, I have optimism as there is some progress in the political roadmap with the 315-section charter draft now finalised and put to a national debate.
They distrust the politicians and voters ... so who's left?
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 10/02/2015
» As the country is entering a mode of reconstructing socio-political landscapes, debates on who will call the final shots for democracy in Thailand are unfortunately tamed, thanks to martial law.
Southern peace talks hang by a thread
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 02/02/2015
» While Bangkok and the rest of the nation accept the well-explained steps in the Prayut government's plan for the next phase of the southern peace dialogue, civic groups in the Deep South are not holding their breath.
Critical thinking takes back seat with NCPO’s core values
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 11/11/2014
» It is becoming a harsh reality that my children will grow up in an authoritarian society like I did in the 1970s.
Confidence is low in renewed South peace talks
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 31/08/2014
» As Thai authorities prepare to revive peace talks with separatists in the far South, signals are already emerging from both sides which indicate the morass of impractical expectations and false hopes will continue.
Losing our sanity in the political abyss
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 13/05/2014
» The political chaos made me rush to check my Oxford Learners’ Dictionary for the meaning of "sanity" (the state of having a normal healthy mind; and the state of being sensible and reasonable). It is something that is currently hard to find in our society as warring parties try to justify their own unbending aims. Those holding the middle ground will be automatically dubbed “un-Thai”, disloyal, or hired/paid by the other side.
Myanmar embraces civil society
Asia focus, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 17/03/2014
» Myanmar is preparing for its largest regional civil society conference in decades, further evidence of its impressive engagement with the world.
South wasn't ready for megaphone peace talks
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 13/08/2013
» There is not much to lament about the demise of the peace talks between the government and the southern separatists. After all, this was a forced marriage between the Buddhist Thai state and the Malay Muslim separatist movement. The match-makers were former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the Malaysian government.