Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Riding the green wave
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 27/06/2022
» Only two weeks after decriminalising cannabis, Thailand is experiencing a green rush. Since June 9, when the legalisation of marijuana for home and commercial use took effect, almost 1 million people registered to grow it with food and drug officials, while more than 40 million have checked out the registration platform. There's a growing public interest in the cash crop -- though some farmers remain doubtful -- and it is paving the way for "cannabis journalism".
Anti-coup crackdown takes fatal turn
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 01/03/2021
» Myanmar's security forces have unleashed a concerted crackdown on the country's peaceful protesters leaving 23 dead and thousands injured throughout the country in the last two days. In planned pre-emptive strikes, the police moved ruthlessly to disperse and arrest protestors preparing to join yesterday general strike. "They used teargas, stun grenades and fired live ammunition indiscriminately into the crowds," said Soe Soe, a young university student at a protest site told the Bangkok Post.
Ethnic parties give wake-up call to NLD
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 06/11/2018
» Analysts are poring over the results of Myanmar's by-elections which took place on Saturday, vainly trying to read the tea leaves, and perhaps reading too much into them. But it was certainly a wake-up call for both major parties -- the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) and the previous governing party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) -- but the lessons that can be drawn for the future are limited.
Hopes rest on new president to reinvigorate govt
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 31/03/2018
» President Win Myint has been sworn in as Myanmar's new president, raising hopes that with him at the helm government administration will be strengthened and revitalised.
Myanmar's military commander-in-chief on the rise
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 02/02/2018
» Myanmar's military chief, Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing, has become the man of the moment in the country's unfolding political crisis. While he and the country's civilian leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, may not trust each other, he has become increasingly her indispensable ally amid the increasing international turmoil surrounding the government's handling of the Rakhine crisis.
Learning from history
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 28/08/2017
» I recently watched Netflix's Death Note adaptation, officially released last Friday on the streaming site. Based on a famous Japanese manga series, the film revolves around a young man's twisted crusade for justice after having received a special notebook -- the titular death note -- that has the power to kill anyone whose name has been written in it, provided the writer knows their face. Fed up with the many injustices in the world, the young man -- named Light -- uses the note to kill bullies, criminals and even corrupt officials from around the world under the alter-ego Kira, earning a cult-like following from those who agree with his extreme brand of justice.
NLD believes Suu Kyi can be president
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 23/11/2015
» Myanmar's opposition leader is planning to be the country's next president after her party overwhelmingly won this month's polls. Although the constitution bars Aung San Suu Kyi from the position -- because she was married to a foreigner and her two children are foreign nationals -- she and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are preparing to nominate her when parliament convenes at the end of January.
Democratic era dawns on the generals
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 10/11/2015
» Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), are heading for a historic landslide victory in Sunday's elections. Although the official results are days away -- the charismatic pro-democracy leader seems certain to control the lower house, and may even have an absolute majority in the parliament as a whole.
Another year to remember, or maybe forget
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 28/12/2014
» Well, we've just about scraped through another 12 months, although at times things did look a bit on the shaky side. At least all the whistle-blowing has abated. Here are a few reminders of events and characters that graced the year 2014, although some you may prefer to forget.