Showing 51 - 60 of 76
Postbag: Urging true solidarity
News, Published on 10/01/2015
» The deaths in Paris take place at a time when some divisions in society are increasing — yes, between peoples of different faiths (and none), but also between richer and poorer, between the older and the younger, between indigenous populations and newer migrants composed of a variety of colours, languages and creeds. Europe finds itself in a tinderbox — the last week has seen demonstrations by Pegida, killings by people claiming to act for Islam, bombings and burning of mosques, and much else.
Stalled reforms herald a bleak future
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 10/12/2014
» With elections planned for this time next year, Myanmar's future is at a critical crossroads. At the same time, there is increased confusion over attempts to change the constitution and introduce proportional representation rather than the first past the post system as in previous elections.The speaker of the lower house Shwe Mann has announced there will be a referendum in May next year on some proposed amendments to the constitution, but that the charter will remain relatively unchanged before next year's election.Meanwhile, the National League for Democracy (NLD) is continuing its campaign to change the constitution, although it concedes this is unlikely before the next election.
Thailand faces serious challenges on Human Rights Day
News, Achara Ashayagachat, Published on 09/12/2014
» Tomorrow is our Constitution Day; others in the international arena know it as Human Rights Day. Many of us in Thailand feel that we don't have either — at least for the time being and hopefully not for the long haul.
With abundance comes indifference
Life, Parisa Pichitmarn, Published on 03/12/2014
» When you come from a third-world country but grew up in the West, or any other country "better off" than your own, far too long for your own good, the comparing game begins. Sometimes, it brings about a seed of discontentment with your current existence, although most of the time it's just a lot of whining. There is clearly lots to moan and gripe about in Thailand, to the point I sometimes find Kuwait more attractive by comparison.
Wielding too much power can backfire
News, Atiya Achakulwisut, Published on 18/11/2014
» So what’s next? Banning The Hunger Games: Mockingjay from being screened here? Summoning Jennifer Lawrence for coming up with the three-finger salute that could provoke a real-life rebellion in “District Thailand?” Forcing people to listen to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s monotonous briefings all day long?
Demand action against journalist killers
News, Published on 01/11/2014
» The United Nations has designated Nov 2, tomorrow, as the 'International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists'. It is important for an industry usually averse to introspection to acknowledge the deaths of journalists who have died in pursuit of the news that feeds our work.
Regime apologists
Oped, Published on 28/06/2014
» I have been disappointed and incredulous over the contents of PostBag for the past few weeks. It seems to contain little but apologias for military dictatorship, anti-Western venom, and childlike belief in the miraculous powers of the junta.
Postbag: TIP reports not gospel
Published on 21/06/2014
» Today we will hear about Thailand’s Tier in America’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. Never forget the TIP report is also a programme. America makes demands under TIP and countries, including Thailand, ignore their own sovereignty, and comply. TIP demands that countries change laws, speed up justice (a conflicting thought), and set aside special treatment for one class of victims that the US can never find enough of. Every TIP report whines about the need to find more victims and prosecute more traffickers and then throw away the key. But the Somaly Mam expose in the Bangkok Post on June 1 and around the world has shown us that this issue has suffered extreme exaggeration by those who need funding and by media who benefit from sensational stories. Read a few blogs about trafficking and you too will quickly learn that “facts” about trafficking often defy common sense.
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.
Crisis harms free media
News, Published on 06/05/2014
» Thailand has again fallen in the world press freedom rankings. But the story this time is different from past days, when government actions and censorship largely decided freedom of the press. Remarkably, two important groups have reached an identical conclusion that recent losses of freedom are not connected to censorship laws or abusive prosecutions. Freedom House of America and the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) both point to divisive political groups for intimidating, pressuring and ultimately bringing down freedom of the press.