Showing 151 - 160 of 171
Wrap up GT200 probes
News, Editorial, Published on 24/06/2016
» No more delays. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and anti-graft agencies must find an answer for the public on whether irregularities were involved in the 1.4-billion-baht procurement of the bogus GT200 bomb detector by Thai state agencies.
New land law badly needed
News, Editorial, Published on 31/05/2016
» There appears to be some good news in the offing for some of the country's hardest working, often set-upon groups. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is requesting that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his cabinet revoke the current law on forest encroachment. That is excellent news, because the present-day enforcement is unacceptable. The state deserves its land, but not at the cost of abusing citizens.
Blow for start-ups
News, Editorial, Published on 23/05/2016
» The decision to axe the start-up motorcycle taxi businesses UberMoto and GrabBike was poorly considered and has already sparked a toxic reaction from the public and entrepreneurs. The effect of the ban on the smartphone-controlled public transportation business is widespread, and is having a negative impact on government policy. More importantly, it is causing confusion and resentment among the public and potential start-up investors.
Army torture must stop
News, Editorial, Published on 08/04/2016
» The recent death of Private Songtham Mudmad at Payak Camp in Yala's Bannang Sata district is clear proof the army cannot keep its promise to ban the brutal treatment of conscripts.
Seize the drugs nettle
News, Editorial, Published on 05/04/2016
» A recent series of arrests and seizures by anti-drug forces is a rare ray of optimism in the fight for a rational drug-control policy. But they also revived serious questions and brought more confusion to the problem. It is clear that some countries in the region are keen to take more responsibility while suffering more losses than others. And it seems while authorities have a somewhat tenuous handle on who is controlling drug trafficking, efforts to deal with the kingpins are ineffective at best.
In the dark on army's shadowy powers
News, Editorial, Published on 03/04/2016
» Estimates vary, but two wrongs tend to make things twice as wrong. As bad at the Royal Thai Police have been, and this newspaper has been a strident critic of their myriad failings, the junta’s unilateral decision last week to turn soldiers, sailors and airmen into the nation’s second, shadow police force is extremely troubling.
Full probe for Rajabhakti
News, Editorial, Published on 27/02/2016
» Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya is correct. The public must be given full details about the construction of Rajabhakti Park, especially in areas where corruption is alleged to have taken place, before they can decide if the project is clean.
Sorry bridge to nowhere
News, Editorial, Published on 08/02/2016
» A task force of district officials, soldiers and police stormed a crime scene involving an international gang last week. Or so the authorities claimed. The raid on a gentle bridge tournament has made Thailand a laughing stock. Law enforcers could find no trace of gambling, which makes sense since bridge is not played for money. Then, 32 of these elderly foreign residents were arrested, marched into a police cell and, after a lengthy and exhaustive (for them) wait, charged with possessing playing cards without excise stamps.
Our next leader will have to fix economy
News, Editorial, Published on 17/01/2016
» Next year’s election, should it go ahead as planned, is shaping up as a good one to lose. Any incoming government will have the interesting task of navigating unchartered constitutional waters, with a senate most likely appointed by unconventional means and restrictions over who can become prime minister and how long they can serve. But while the constitutional drafting process and referendum is rightly getting much attention in political circles, there will perhaps be an even more daunting prospect facing those who seek and win office when the army yields the floor: fixing the economy.
Army shoots messenger
News, Editorial, Published on 13/01/2016
» The response of the Royal Thai Army to a report on treatment of military prisoners is disappointing. When a group of Thai NGOs issued a booklet discussing violence in the deep South, the army deflected the discussion. The Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) immediately attacked the non-governmental agencies. Isoc was peeved the report was made public, and that it was issued on what the army considered a bad day.