Showing 11 - 20 of 37
Battle over land rights law far from over
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 19/05/2018
» After calling the landless protesters freeloaders, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha suddenly made a U-turn by sending a close aide to promise the moon and the stars to the forest poor who were demonstrating in Bangkok. Why?
Poll without people power holds no promise
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 10/05/2018
» After four years of heavy-handed repression, why has the military government suddenly softened its stance with grassroots and civil society movements? The answer is in the front-page photo of every newspaper on Tuesday.
Seeing through the smokescreen of spin
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 18/04/2018
» Just as the protests against the judiciary's housing estate on sacred Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai reach their height, the protesters have been thrown off guard by seemingly coordinated spin to detract and discredit their moves.
Safe food, health lose out to chemicals
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 29/03/2018
» Why is it so difficult for organic farming to grow in Thailand? Is it the farmers' resistance to wean off chemicals for fear of low productivity? Is it consumers' unwillingness to pay more for safe foods? Is it the expensive logistics and the government red tape that prevent small organic farmers from reaching consumers?
Ministry's power trip bad for people's health
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 25/07/2017
» If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Public health authorities are not paying heed to these cautionary words however, because their plan to fix the National Health Security Act is not about how to better serve the 49 million people under universal healthcare coverage. It's about their own power.
Punish corruption, not migrant workers
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 05/07/2017
» What does it take to effectively regulate migrant labour? A tougher law? The Labour Ministry believes so. So does the military government. Hence the draconian decree on migrant labour management -- and the subsequent red faces all around.
Paying lip service to HM the King's efforts
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 02/11/2016
» After His Majesty the King's 70-year-long dedication to fight poverty, why is disparity in Thailand among the worst in the world?
Kaeng Krachan and the state's charade
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 16/03/2016
» In his column "From the Prime Minister's Heart" in the government's newsletter, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha reaffirms his administration's commitment to sustainable development and the sufficiency economy. The gap between words and actions is as wide as an ocean.
Military, Sangha share many similarities
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 09/03/2016
» The photo of a serene-looking monk being escorted out of a news conference by a group of police officers for a brief "discussion" was on the front page of most newspapers on Tuesday. Is it an image of religious peace versus state violence? Definitely not.
PM's gender equality stance stuck in the past
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 03/02/2016
» I always thought fathers who have daughters would be supportive of women's rights. After all, would they want their girls to face the same unfair practices their grandmothers did?