Showing 71 - 80 of 104
New setbacks in the South
News, Editorial, Published on 12/09/2016
» It has been another bad week for the government in the deep South. Separatists are believed to be behind a vicious bombing attack that killed a five-year-old schoolgirl, her father and another bystander. It shocked the nation and drew outrage from around the world. Another bomb blew apart a railway car and stopped all rail traffic between southern Thailand and Malaysia. Then, men claiming to represent the bombers, told the press they were trying to sabotage efforts to negotiate peace in the violent region.
Agonising blow to peace
News, Editorial, Published on 09/09/2016
» A heartbreaking incident took place on Tuesday in Narathiwat when a motorcycle bomb went off at around school time, killing a five-year old girl along with her father and a street vendor.
Bomb probe in disarray
News, Editorial, Published on 22/08/2016
» It is almost two weeks since the Mother's Day bombings in Prachuap Khiri Khan and six provinces in the South and the investigations are not going well. Many of the errors in the Erawan investigation that drew widespread criticism are being repeated. Diverse agencies of the police, the armed forces and even the intelligence community are giving the impression they are competing to solve the case.
Tourism Pokemon No
News, Editorial, Published on 18/08/2016
» It is no surprise that Thai tourism officials moved quickly to try to contain the negative impact of the multiple attacks in seven provinces last week. Since the bomb attacks occurred at the start of the long holiday weekend, tourists -- local and international -- were well on their way to their holiday destinations. The initial impact could be described as minimal.
Make the South safer
News, Editorial, Published on 09/08/2016
» A thwarted attack in the deep South last week emphasised a problem that has been ignored by both military authorities and previous governments. A petrol station owner in rural Yala province became suspicious and called 191 after a man parked a pickup beside her pumps and fled on a waiting motorcycle. Sure enough, there was a large unexploded bomb in the truck. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team rushed to the scene.
Forgers feel the heat
News, Editorial, Published on 26/07/2016
» Credit is due the Immigration Police Bureau (IPB) and its dynamic chief Nathathorn Prousoontorn for arresting one of the region's top forgery suspects. Abdullah Ghani Bhori, known as "Baboo" in certain quarters, is helping police investigate the dirty and dangerous business of fake travel documents, especially passports. After many years of paying lip service to this crime, it now appears authorities are taking it seriously. It is certainly time to remove the stain from Thailand being known as a "hub of passport forgers".
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.
An atrocity in Florida
News, Editorial, Published on 14/06/2016
» The barbarous butchery carried out by one man in a Florida gay nightclub indicates failures on several fronts. Omar Mateen, son of an Afghan refugee and salesman and consumed by hatred, opened fire and killed at least 50 people on the spot. By all accounts, he was motivated by two things. First was his growing and finally overwhelming hatred of the gay community, particularly gay men. Second was the call by the Islamic State (IS) for "lone wolf" terrorist attacks during Ramadan.
Internet laws a time-bomb
News, Editorial, Published on 30/05/2016
» The military regime continues to create deeper digital confusion. It refuses to jettison its campaign for a single internet gateway that would out-firewall the "great firewall of China". Now it seeks official authorisation to legally and secretly intercept all internet traffic. This amendment to the military's poorly conceived Computer Crime Act (CCA) is sailing through the appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA).
High alert for terrorism
News, Editorial, Published on 03/05/2016
» The savage murder last week of a Canadian hostage by self-styled Filipino Islamists was a reminder of the terrorist threat in this region. Authorities have said on several occasions they have not uncovered any case of an active Islamic State network or agent in Thailand. The need for constant alert is clear.