Showing 41 - 50 of 332
Thai political order being contested
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 21/08/2020
» It has happened every time in contemporary Thai politics since the 1970s. When genuine dissent takes place against the established political order, incumbent centres of power strike back with all the means at their disposal. Each time in the past, they prevailed. This time, as political storm clouds gather again, similar campaigns and tactics are in motion to suppress dissent. Yet the final outcome may be profoundly different compared to the past.
A reshuffle must be in the public interest
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 20/06/2020
» Even if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha makes it loud and clear he does not want to reshuffle the cabinet, the ongoing political turbulence will likely force him to rejig the portfolios, and that will likely occur very soon. Observers believe it could happen within a month.
Govt continues to exploit pandemic
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 18/06/2020
» While we dread the novel coronavirus and wish it would go away, the government is prolonging the Covid-19 pandemic scare to strengthen its iron grip on the country.
Perils of 'national security' in virus era
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 02/06/2020
» National security -- coupled with public health -- has been invoked in many countries to justify actions to curb the spread of Covid-19. It has led to a variety of actions, including curfews, lockdown, quarantine and other measures to stem the tide of the novel coronavirus disease. This is, therefore, not only the right time to validate its use, but also to recalibrate its scope and application, in order to ensure and maintain a sense of reasonableness and equilibrium.
#BehindTheHashtags
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 06/03/2020
» Many student protests that were partly set off by the dissolution of Future Forward Party over the past two weeks has also ushered in new hashtags into the lexicon of Thai social media. At the time of writing, it has been reported that there are 28 hashtags associated with campus protests. Some are humourous while others carry strong political stances and sharp gibes. Whether you agree with these students who've chosen to make their voices heard, it's better to get used to their protest hashtags as more student flashmobs are on their way (but many speculate that the designation of Covid-19 as a dangerous communicable disease may be used as a tool to suppress them). Not to mention, an online campaign calling for people to wear black on Fridays as a symbol to oppose dictatorship began last Friday.
Context is decisive in Thai high politics
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 28/02/2020
» In Thailand's high politics where governments survive or succumb, context is everything. After two decades of a political merry-go-round, marked by a series of elections, street protests, military coups, and judicial interventions only to end up with a problematic post-election rule under military domination, no deep expertise is needed to understand what has been happening in this land.
Will the Empire strike back at the Skywalkers?
News, Atiya Achakulwisut, Published on 17/12/2019
» The dark spectre of street politics has returned to a deeply polarised society, as the ruling conservatives try to hold on to their unstable coalition over a feast of shark fin soup.
'Flash mob' leaves FFP with work to do
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 16/12/2019
» There were as many bystanders as party supporters among the few thousand people who converged in front of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and the Pathumwan skywalk on Saturday evening where the Future Forward Party (FFP) held its "flash mob" to test public response to its call for justice for the party after the Election Commission (EC) last week asked the Constitutional Court to dissolve the party over a 191-million-baht "loan" to the party by its leader, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit.
Who is poor and landless?
News, Editorial, Published on 18/11/2019
» Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow's decision to grant land reform rights to a local politician appears to be a repeat of a similar scandal, which spelled the end of a Democrat-led coalition government about 24 years ago.
Army boss eyeing path to premiership?
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 26/10/2019
» It’s now more than evident that army chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong has become a key actor in the country’s post-coup politics. His actions over the past few months have stirred speculation about his intentions: Does he have ambitions to become the next prime minister?