Showing 1 - 7 of 7
A Thai view on the Hamas-Israel war
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/10/2023
» The Palestinians' longstanding and legitimate grievances have been irrevocably subverted by Hamas' brazen attack against Israel on Oct 7. Unlike previous rounds of conflicts and clashes between Israel and the Palestinians on the one hand and neighbouring Arab states on the other, Thailand has become a direct casualty like never before, as 30 Thai workers have been killed to date, with at least 16 injured and 17 taken hostage. As a militant political movement motivated by Islamic fundamentalism using methods of terrorism to achieve its objectives, Hamas has made a bad name for the Palestinian cause, eliciting condemnation and opposition all the way over here in Thailand.
Prospects after Cambodia's fabricated poll
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 27/07/2018
» While Thailand has a seemingly indefinite military government with no clear poll date, Cambodia is holding an election on July 29 with a foregone conclusion. After methodically taken apart oppositional forces, the incumbent government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, under the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), is set to win a landslide. At issue now will be what happens after the election. At least three dynamics are in play. How they intersect and enmesh will determine Cambodia's political future.
Lasting lessons from Malaysia for SE Asia
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 25/05/2018
» Some have likened it to an "earthquake," while others have called it a "tsunami." However it is billed, Malaysia's election outcome still reverberates far and wide. Its political aftershocks yield lessons and considerations for politics in Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand, which holds the dubious distinction as the only parliamentary system in this region that does not know when it will next stage a poll.
Malaysia's poll ramifications for Thailand
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 11/05/2018
» It was a vicarious happenstance. When the annual flagship event of Asean's consortium of think-tanks known as the Asia-Pacific Roundtable was scheduled in Kuala Lumpur for May 7-9, not a weekend but the first half of a working week, no one thought it would run into Malaysia's 14th General Election (GE14). But it did, as Prime Minister Najib Razak chose a Wednesday instead of a typical weekend, to stage Malaysia's momentous polls. But the tricky timing failed to help his cause. He lost in a big way that bears far-reaching ramifications for the fate of democracy and authoritarianism in the region and beyond, not least here in Thailand.
Global realities test Obama’s Asia pivot
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 02/05/2014
» President Barack Obama can't be blamed for not trying. Having missed the Asean-related summit season from last October because of the US government’s "shutdown", the president allotted an entire week for a make-up trip that recently took him to South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines to shore up his strategic foreign policy reorientation towards East Asia, also known as the "Asian pivot" or "rebalance".
Other 'facilitators' needed in South after Najib poll win
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 08/05/2013
» Overthrowing an incumbent regime that has been entrenched for 55 years is akin to beating a reigning champion boxer with multiple belts. Unless the challenger delivers a clean knockout or a debilitating knockdown, he is unlikely to be given the decision by the judges. And so it was for Malaysia's much anticipated elections last Sunday. It was a split decision but the champion walks away with victory amid bitter cries of foul play and dirty tricks.
New great game in mainland Southeast Asia
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 19/10/2012
» After more than a year in office with an overwhelming electoral mandate, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has parlayed her solidifying domestic standing for growing international credibility.