Showing 1 - 10 of 13
Hurdles for new party
News, Editorial, Published on 16/08/2024
» A few days after the Move Forward Party (MFP) was dissolved, it proved its resilience by transforming into the People's Party. There were no political cobras or traitors, as previously speculated. Meanwhile, MP Nattaphong Reungpanyawut took the MFP baton from Chaitawat Tulathon with a small executive team.
Angkhana fights on after 20 long years
News, Editorial, Published on 17/03/2024
» During the peak of the violence in the Deep South, prominent human rights lawyer Somchai Neelapaijit was abducted and disappeared without a trace on March 12, 2004. Despite two decades having passed, truth and justice remain elusive, compounding his family's pain stemming from an unjust justice system.
New phase for Prayut
News, Editorial, Published on 09/01/2023
» Today is a major day in Thailand's political calendar, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will apply to join the United Thai Nation (UTN) party at a grand event later in the day, where he will also be formally introduced as a party member.
MPs set poor example
News, Editorial, Published on 19/12/2022
» Parliament president Chuan Leekpai informed the House last week that more than 30 MPs from various parties had resigned from the House of Representatives.
Myanmar poses Asean quandary
News, Editorial, Published on 13/02/2022
» In the year following the coup in Myanmar which unseated Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner and then State Counsellor (a position equivalent to prime minister), the country's military has continued to pursue a policy of violence against detractors, leaving the world aghast. It has also left Asean in a quandary over how to handle the situation in a manner befitting its aspirations for growth, future prosperity and influence on the world stage.
Time to lift rights bans
News, Editorial, Published on 17/09/2018
» The best thing that can be said about last week's action by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is that the all-male group understands it has created a problem. It has returned to the public a tiny bit of the civil and human rights it removed 52 months ago. On Friday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha used his extraordinary powers under Section 44 to give some small but important freedoms to political parties. While the order restores the right to organise party affairs, it falls lamentably short of restoring basic and constitutional rights to all Thais.
Avoid trade pact for now
News, Editorial, Published on 05/05/2018
» The military government maintains sovereign power to resume efforts to get the country to join the new version of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. However, it still lacks the social mandate needed to press ahead with the move.
Party games don't wash with the public
News, Editorial, Published on 24/12/2017
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's latest use of the powerful Section 44 to extend deadlines for administrative work of political parties undermines the credibility of his own roadmap to democracy while overriding the spirit of the organic law on political parties written and passed by lawmakers appointed by his own regime.
CDC party fee unfair
News, Editorial, Published on 25/04/2017
» The constitution writers have set off yet another dispute with their new order for political parties to collect annual membership fees. Some see the Constitution Drafting Committee's measure as yet another way to obstruct parties. The CDC claims rather implausibly that it will encourage more thoughtful politics at the grassroots. Yet the outlines of the proposal deserve a thoughtful response.
Voter, party links critical
News, Editorial, Published on 08/09/2016
» The Election Commission (EC) did the right thing in maintaining existing political parties and making sure their dissolution will be difficult in the draft organic law on political parties it submitted to the Constitution Drafting Committee.