Showing 91 - 100 of 174
UDD can bring us change to believe in
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 19/05/2013
» The accusation is often made that Thailand can never change. However, over the past six years, propelled by political crisis, there have been many changes, which some some would say are for the better. Some would argue the opposite, but at the end of the day it is up to the Thai people to steer the direction of change.
'If I'm guilty, execute me': Abhisit on the red shirt crackdown
Spectrum, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 19/05/2013
» Three years to the day that the events of April and May, 2010 culminated in the red shirt crackdown and the surrender of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's leaders, Thai society remains deeply divided. Some 92 people were killed in the crackdown, from protesters to innocent bystanders, journalists to security personnel.
Just reflections of ourselves
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 16/05/2013
» The wonderful thing about representative democracy is that, not only do we get exactly what we vote for, but the people sitting in government also represent exactly the people walking in the streets. It’s like a reflection in the mirror.
Getting over those tribal instincts
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 12/05/2013
» Thai culture still relies far too much on relationships, rather than ideologies. Time and again we see democratic ideals sacrificed for the sake of relationships on both sides of the political divide. This is why our political structure is often termed a feudal system rather than a true parliamentary democracy.
I dreamed of Yingluck
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 09/05/2013
» Last night I went through my usual routine. Before going to bed I burned incense, prayed to the spirits of the condo and rearranged my feng shui. I then stretched out on my MUJI bed sheet, my head rested on a soft pillow stuffed with duck feathers, my legs wrapped around a side pillow.
Setting the stage for The Boss
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 05/05/2013
» From the Skype meetings to the speech in Mongolia, from the military cleared of all charges and the rally against the Constitution Court _ join the dots and we can see pressure being brought to bear.
Tune in to change by television courts
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 28/04/2013
» On Tuesday, 300 citizens travelled 200km from Prachuap Khiri Khan province to rally in front of the Appeal Court and demand transparency in the case of environmental activist Charoen Wat-aksorn, who was assassinated on June 21, 2004. Meanwhile, hundreds of red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship members were holding their own rally in front of the Constitution Court, part of a campaign to gather at least 20,000 names for a petition asking the National Anti-Corruption Commission to clear the entire court bench of nine judges.
Political gambit being played out at The Hague
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 25/04/2013
» If you want a moral-based analysis of politics, go see a monk. You would then feel good about yourself, but still wouldn’t understand politics. If you want to understand politics, read a political analysis, but then you would hate politics.
Democracy loses in halls of parliament
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 21/04/2013
» In theory, a democratic nation is governed by three branches: the executive, judicial and the parliamentary or legislative. In Thailand's reality, the country is governed formally by those three institutions, but also informally by two other institutions, the military and what we shall term as the "old establishment".
The mysterious men in black
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 11/04/2013
» When analysing politics we should connect the dots as far as the dots (or our intellect) go, rather than stop at whichever dot satisfies our moral righteousness and ignore the rest. And we should be mindful of imaginary dots