Showing 91 - 100 of 171
NCPO job not to teach voters
News, Editorial, Published on 15/11/2018
» As the general election draws nearer, the military regime is right about one thing -- a seeming lack of understanding about the new poll system among the electorate. However, the regime has assigned itself the wrong task in trying to raise people's awareness.
Army chief feels a draft
News, Editorial, Published on 06/11/2018
» As a new batch of conscripts reported to the army late last week, army commander Apirat Kongsompong used the occasion to defend conscription into the Royal Thai Armed Forces. In the process, Gen Apirat stated two different points in one pithy sentence -- one basically true and the other off the track. He also unfortunately took the occasion to champion current military discipline. He would have been better advised to speak about reform of the Thai military, starting with its methods of discipline.
PM, a plan and a canal
News, Editorial, Published on 31/10/2018
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has taken the right steps over the latest resurrection of the Kra Canal. But that doesn't mean he's going to get much support or win over public opinion on the matter. By ordering two new studies into updated proposals for building the canal, he will get criticism from both sides. Proponents of what they want to call the "Thai Canal" think he is taking too long and opponents of the proposal believe he should do nothing.
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".
Military needs to step back
News, Editorial, Published on 20/10/2018
» While Thailand is still being ruled by the coup-installed government, the newly appointed army chief has already laid the foundations for a siege of the country's future democracy.
Level political playing field
News, Editorial, Published on 19/10/2018
» Despite vehement denials by his close aides that Prime Minister and regime leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's social media campaign is all about his political future, the facts speak for themselves.Gen Prayut's launch of personal Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts over the weekend has caused a major stir.
Cyber army holds promise
News, Editorial, Published on 09/10/2018
» The new military lineup that moved into formation on Oct 1 has quickly unveiled plans to reinforce Thailand's "cyber army". Such mentions of this opaque force in the past have usually been a warning of another tightening of Big Brother-like surveillance, accompanied by arrests. The cyber army, frequently touted for 15 years but never publicly revealed, supposedly exists to protect the country from a cyber war. Perhaps this time, the Royal Thai Armed Forces can be persuaded to step up their protection while also allowing citizens more freedom online.
An old idea rejected again
News, Editorial, Published on 02/10/2018
» Ex-prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has got his name in the media again, but for old, tired and ultimately unacceptable reasons. The 86-year-old former army chief trotted out his tired recommendation for solving the country's political division and problems. Once again he plumped for what he and a handful of supporters have previously called a national government. He has ever so slightly altered his plan by calling for an indefinite delay in national elections and formation of what he now calls "interim government".
Welcome the army pullout
News, Editorial, Published on 11/09/2018
» The army has revealed plans for its greatest change of strategy in public memory. Beginning in a year, it will close the bases and shift most Bangkok-based combat units to outlying provinces. The planned move includes most major units of infantry, cavalry and artillery -- troops, tanks and big guns -- as well as headquarters and support units needed to support them. Two well-known regiments are to be completely decommissioned and all their soldiers reassigned.
More excuses from the army
News, Editorial, Published on 25/08/2018
» In the wake of another assault occurring within a military unit that resulted in a 22-year-old conscript, Kacha Pacha, falling into a coma, army chief Chalermchai Sitthisad has assured there will be an investigation and that the wrongdoers will be punished.