Showing 21 - 30 of 53
No right to bear arms, no right to violence
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 28/03/2017
» Three separate incidents in last few weeks defined a deep-rooted malevolence that continues to tear the fabric of Thai society apart.
Playing with taxes could prove costly
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 21/03/2017
» ' In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes," Benjamin Franklin once wrote. However, as the Reaper is sure to collect the dead, governments may not always be able to do the same with taxes.
A citizen's response to the unity questions
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 14/03/2017
» The government recently sent 10 questions to each political party as a guideline for discussions on reconciliation. I went through them and tried to answer -- call it a citizen's response, if you may.
S44 addicts need some cold turkey
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 07/03/2017
» Two recent opinion polls show a number of Thais still have a strong love affair with Section 44, the all-inclusive tool employed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Freedom of temple, religion must be assured
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 28/02/2017
» The cat and mouse game the government is playing with Phra Dhammajayo, the revered leader of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, and his disciples has become a stand-off that is further dividing the nation. There are lessons and implications that all Thais, Buddhist or not, need to think about.
Parties need to change their line of thinking
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 14/02/2017
» The military government's reconciliation forum has been well-received by political parties. The Democrat Party has agreed to join while the Pheu Thai Party has not taken its usual belligerent position against the proposal. They will eventually cave in. No one wants to miss the train.
Public interest, not their own, will save media
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 07/02/2017
» The recent attempt by the National Reform Steering Assembly's media reform panel to push through a media regulation bill seems like part of a "roadmap" to restrict freedom of speech.
Why corruption continues to plague us
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 31/01/2017
» Those following news reports over the past few weeks likely have the impression that corruption is rampant in Thailand, with a series of bribery cases emerging one after another starting with the shady Rolls-Royce deals. The poor ranking by Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index 2016 speaks volumes about the state of corruption in the country.
Unity bid doesn't tackle conflict's root causes
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 24/01/2017
» The week before last, the government renewed its reconciliation efforts. This time, it set up a new committee under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
Paving over the cracks in reconciliation
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 17/01/2017
» After two and a half years without serious and meaningful efforts to reconcile political conflict, the military government is vowing to press ahead with its national reform and development strategy. But the regime will find it hard to achieve meaningful reconciliation if it is not committed to a return to full democracy and applying the rule of law.