Showing 1 - 10 of 27
The good old days
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 09/09/2018
» If you've ever said in support of the coup regime that, yes, it's great that junta and government are dedicated to returning Thailand to those good old days, then you'll be forever grateful to the national police chief and the whole bunch of the unreformed Royal Thai Police.
Long and winding roadmap
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 01/04/2018
» Question: Is it more scary, or less scary, that the junta doesn't have an actual plan slash conspiracy to keep itself in power? That it has extended its time and generous pay and perks without any design ever since the phantom 2015 election?
Rule of law
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 25/03/2018
» When your main tool is a hammer, the cliche notes well, then after a while, every problem looks like a nail. The general prime minister has wielded a totally personal, custom-made, gold-plated hammer for the past four years, and even has given it a cute nickname.
Live and kicking
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 11/03/2018
» They say Thailand is an ageing society. Thailand's getting older, they say. At one end, old farts and fartettes live longer, they point out, and at the other these young couples today, you know, they say a lot of them don't even want to have kids. All true, too.
What, we worry?
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 18/02/2018
» Last week filled out the cast of the least-awaited drama in Thai TV news history, The Untouchables: Bred Men Walking, starring the Watchman, the FAT man and the Catman.
Too connected to fail?
Alan Dawson, Published on 11/02/2018
» Sia Prem and three friends went out hunting for a new, black leopard throw rug and all we got was this disgusting news story.
Decline and fall
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 04/02/2018
» It now becomes pretty predictable, until the moment of push comes to shove-them-out. The form of the actual end game remains unknown but the beginning has ended, and the end has begun.
Living the high life
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 24/12/2017
» A week ago today we told a first-time visitor from the beautiful US state of Colorado to forget about seeing "the real, so-called authentic Thailand" because there isn't a square centimetre where tourists do not tread. The next day we set out on a family trip to places with not a foreign face in sight (one obvious exception).
The Intimidation Game
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 22/10/2017
» The military government has a propaganda unit. People know this, including reporter-people, which includes us, and editor-people. But they still call the chief manipulator of regime propaganda a "government spokesman". A two-star general whose sole task is to justify military actions without ever admitting an error was possible is also, on all front pages and news broadcasts, a military "spokesman".
The boy who cried 'Vote'
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 15/10/2017
» In the 85 years since the pioneering but no longer mentionable event concerning absolute rule, Thai citizens or some of them have voted in 27 elections. Or so. A few were free and fair. Most weren't, and things aren't looking too sunny for election No.28.