Showing 1 - 10 of 13
The death of vote-buying
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 25/11/2018
» The government announced a brand new and unexpected Big Welfare Aid Programme (BWAP). Cynics, sceptics, anti-regime critics and even honest people wondered if the sudden decision to help the least-advantaged Thais just possibly has something to do with that other government programme -- so tantalisingly unspecified -- of an election that for the fourth year in a row has been pencilled in for, in the highly familiar phrase used by the general prime minister, "next year".
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.
The victim card
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 28/01/2018
» If you are a patriot working tirelessly and selflessly to try to save your country from the lower classes but some people think you are responsible for the actions of your friends and mentors, you may be a victim.
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.
What he's thinking
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 24/09/2017
» The election campaign began rolling in earnest last week. Now if only the government had kept its promise and actually had an election. Minor detail, perhaps, but memories are so short when they operate on political bias that it's good to do history.
The Big Issue: Whine stewards
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 23/10/2016
» A few hundred people, perhaps even a few thousand (say 0.005% of all Thai people), decided last week to become the experts in mourning. For lack of a better phrase, they appointed themselves as Mourning Police (MPs).
The big issue: How exceptional of you
Alan Dawson, Published on 24/07/2016
» When the rebels fled and events cooled down a bit in Turkey, Thailand’s opposition was ecstatic. Citizens poured onto the streets, even assaulted soldiers, forcing the Turkish military to beat feet. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s regime felt it had to say something and that something was "exceptionalism" and Thainess. Sure, Turks couldn't run a military coup, but Thailand is different, with an excellent coup.
The big issue: So help me God
Alan Dawson, Published on 31/01/2016
» Donald Trump has not mentioned “Thailand” since he began his campaign to become the Republican Party candidate for United States president last June. That's the good news. No, really, that's good news.
The big issue: Unbelievable protest
Alan Dawson, Published on 03/01/2016
» The Christmas Eve verdict to convict and condemn two Myanmar men for the unspeakable Koh Tao beach murders touched off quite a firestorm of its own. There were protests, but really, quelle surprise, right?
The big issue: The first man
Alan Dawson, Published on 27/09/2015
» There are three days left for Somyot Poompunmuang to catch the Erawan Shrine bomber before he is no longer police chief. It would be a terrific, matching bookend to the one he got in his first week on the job, when he solved the Koh Tao murders.