Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Needless forest evictions persist
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/01/2024
» Amid the biological richness of Kaeng Krachan National Park, while forest authorities celebrate the importance of wildlife, a troubling practice of forcibly evicting native forest dwellers in the name of wildlife and biodiversity protection continues unabated. This violation of the forest dweller's rights must cease.
Begging for trouble
Oped, Editorial, Published on 28/11/2023
» Some unscrupulous Chinese, with the help of Thais, have been the subject of recent news reports about fake beggars on Bangkok streets. This began after Kanthat Pongpaiboonvej, alias "good Samaritan" Kan Chompalang, reported a woman in a school uniform with a deformed face begging in the Pin Klao area two weeks ago.
Trafficking battle yet to be won
News, Editorial, Published on 30/04/2023
» When Thailand's ranking in anti-human trafficking efforts improved last year in the US annual assessment, the government boldly declared that Thailand would make the top ranking by 2023.
Uighurs' plight a lesson for govt
News, Editorial, Published on 09/04/2023
» The case of 63 members of the Shenzhen Holy Reformed Church who were arrested for overstaying visas in Pattaya last week brings back memories of the notorious repatriation of another group of Uighur refugees back to China in 2014.
Trafficking in tiers and fears
News, Editorial, Published on 07/08/2022
» The government sighed with relief when the country's anti-trafficking performance moved up from the Tier 2 Watchlist to Tier 2 in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, released on July 19.
Avert violence at Bang Kloi
News, Editorial, Published on 23/02/2021
» Violence is looming at Kaeng Krachan National Park. Despite the government's promises to indigenous forest dwellers to pull out armed personnel from the park, new fears and uncertainties have emerged, along with fresh signs of an imminent crackdown by forest officials.
The lack of refugee policy
News, Editorial, Published on 19/02/2019
» Thailand has been at the centre of asylum and refugee disputes since the year began. But in the past six weeks, what has emerged is not a pretty picture. A young Saudi woman won world Twitter backing and a ticket to Canada. A Bahraini refugee from Australia won freedom for a second time with inventive diplomacy. Now three of the seven Uighur migrants who escaped detention at the Mukdahan Immigration office have "won" a police manhunt and a legal limbo where extradition back to China is their No.1 likely future.
Learning to listen in a time of division
News, Editorial, Published on 13/11/2016
» As Hillary Clinton's supporters gathered at the Jacob K Javits Convention Centre in New York on Tuesday night for what was expected to be a victory party -- ebullience turned to disbelief, shock then despair.
The human exploiters
News, Editorial, Published on 22/06/2016
» Within a matter of weeks, the US State Department will once again be rating and ranking itself and the world on human trafficking. All eyes in Thailand will once again be on whether this so-called "gold standard" has promoted the nation from its recent position at the bottom of the barrel. The country was moved two years ago from Tier 2 to Tier 3, a list of shame that includes nations with actual slave labour like North Korea, and long-term violators without any intention to improve. This was an appropriate ranking for "the old Thailand". But the country now appears to fare much better.
US puts up more walls
News, Editorial, Published on 07/12/2015
» The Islamic State, believed just a month ago to be "contained" in its self-proclaimed caliphate in the Middle East, is suddenly a world concern. A single memo of extremely questionable origin and reliability caused a tizzy in Thailand. European countries from Britain to Germany to Russia were rushing to join the violence against the IS. And in the United States, a confusing but deadly attack by a husband-and-wife terrorist team has sparked demands for reactions that emphasise plans which are either impossible or ludicrous.