Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Playing with taxes could prove costly
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 21/03/2017
» ' In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," Benjamin Franklin once wrote. However, as the Reaper is sure to collect the dead, governments may not always be able to do the same with taxes.
A citizen's response to the unity questions
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 14/03/2017
» The government recently sent 10 questions to each political party as a guideline for discussions on reconciliation. I went through them and tried to answer -- call it a citizen's response, if you may.
Why corruption continues to plague us
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 31/01/2017
» Those following news reports over the past few weeks likely have the impression that corruption is rampant in Thailand, with a series of bribery cases emerging one after another starting with the shady Rolls-Royce deals. The poor ranking by Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 speaks volumes about the state of corruption in the country.
PM faces big decisions in cabinet revamp
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 13/12/2016
» As Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha prepares for a cabinet reshuffle, some political observers, including myself, watch with anxiety.
New US president and Thai foreign policy
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 08/11/2016
» After Americans cast their ballots today, Southeast Asian nations will have to deal with a new US presidency. Notwithstanding whoever wins the election, Thailand and its Asean neighbours will need to come up with strategic positioning and get their acts together.
Hawaii-gate shows regime dangers of 'perks'
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 11/10/2016
» Public attention has been riveted on the high-profile trip to Hawaii of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to attend the Asean–US Defence Informal Meeting although those involved have made a massive attempt to downplay it.
Denials, blame game won't stop bombings
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 16/08/2016
» Some days after the Mother's Day blasts and arson attacks in the Upper South and Prachuap Khiri Khan, authorities still can't say with any certainty what happened at each incident, about 15 in all, who the culprits are -- though manhunts are on, and why. No group claimed responsibility or demanded any terms, making it easy for false rumours and conspiracy theories to spread, especially via social media.
Technocrat regimes and liberal democracy
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 02/08/2016
» Rao ma tueng jud nee dai young ngai? or "How did we arrive at this point?" is a Thai popular phrase expressing how one is facing a situation, with wonder and surprise, or just plain sarcasm. Many are asking the same question amid the current political predicament and ahead of the referendum on a constitution that imposes more control than gives way to liberal democracy.