Showing 1 - 7 of 7
The silence is deafening
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 07/07/2015
» What kind of society is the junta creating when the peaceful "New Democracy Movement" protesters, all in their early twenties, are jailed without due process, to have their fate decided on by a military tribunal? Without any doubt the junta's behaviour in this matter is utterly deplorable. But what is soul-destroying is the comfortable silence from certain sections of our society. You can almost hear a pin drop. The leader of the Democrat Party? Not a sound. Venerable statesmen? Not a squeak. Or maybe the rector of Thammasat University would like to voice his objection? Not a single word. Ladies and gentlemen, right or wrong, the only people that have demonstrated any courage at all through this episode are the 14 kids in jail, while the adults hide.
Asia's last 'benevolent dictator' was a giant of a man
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 25/03/2015
» There is little doubt that Singapore owes an enormous debt of gratitude to this giant of a man named Lee Kuan Yew, or Harry as he was known to his friends and family.
Thailand can learn from my hero, Winston Churchill
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 03/02/2015
» This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passing of arguably the greatest Briton that ever lived. Those who read my column will know that I have often quoted Sir Winston Churchill, because I find his life and the principles he stood for mesmerising. Churchill personified the greatness of the British Empire and his death in 1965 marked its spiritual end. I wholeheartedly believe that our anaemic leaders in Thailand should study his legacy, because even half a century after his death, Churchillian principles still have the unique ability to inspire.
Thailand after six months behind the iron curtain
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 28/11/2014
» We have marked six months since Thailand ventured into dangerous − but historically familiar − political waters. Slowly, but surely, an iron curtain has descended upon this country, snuffing out many forms of civil liberties we once took for granted.
Army must not let history repeat itself
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 21/05/2014
» Writing an article in the midst of martial law is not the most intelligent thing to do. But I’m going to do it anyway because I believe what I’m about to write is in the public interest.
PDRC’s failure will put courts’ probity to the test
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 12/03/2014
» From the self-proclaimed uprising of "the great mass of the people" marching like worker ants all over Bangkok to the ever dwindling gathering, confined to a stage in Lumpini Park the size of a small high-school play, the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) is now a mere shadow of what it once was.
Are you Thai? 11 ways to tell
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 25/12/2012
» A few weeks ago I wrote an article for this newspaper titled "How to Tell Whether You're a Farang". I got so many Tweets suggesting that I write a follow-up to even things out that I felt obligated to pen a simple test for those Thais attempting to become farang, and to determine whether they have indeed made that transformation successfully. So here's my simple test, for what it's worth.