Showing 1 - 10 of 10
A childhood behind bars
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 22/09/2013
» To their classmates at an elite Bangkok international school, Nip and Djo are much like any of the other hundreds of foreign students.
Out of mind, in plain sight
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 21/07/2013
» Son was a familiar figure wandering aimlessly and obviously "out of it" in Rangsit district, where he lived in a local temple. Rescue workers came to the temple in response to a call from a concerned citizen and took him for treatment at a government mental hospital, and slowly he regained his wits and memory. Son couldn't remember anything about his family but fortunately they did not forget him. Now he is safe, recuperating at his home in Chaiyaphum province. Son is one of a lucky few suffering from severe mental illness on the streets who receive attention and help. Most suffer in silence and loneliness.
Nationalist agenda stirred ahead of temple meeting
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 07/04/2013
» Thai villagers living near the disputed territory around Preah Vihear are demanding that their ''traditional'' farmland be returned to them in a reflection of a nationalist agenda being nurtured on the border.
'Human cargo in need of compassion'
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 03/02/2013
» 'Why is this not human trafficking? If this is not human trafficking, what else could it be?'' asked an emotional Abdul Kalam, coordinator of Thailand's Rohingya National Organisation. He was referring to the decision last Monday to repatriate Rohingya from Myanmar's Rakhine state. The National Security Council, along with the Foreign Ministry, ruled that human trafficking plays no part in the rickety boats full of Rohingya that have washed up on Thai shores because there was no evidence of slave labour, forced prostitution or forced begging. Therefore the Rohingya can stay a maximum of six months in Thailand before they are sent back to Myanmar.
Easy guns bring Wild West mentality
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 18/11/2012
» In recent years Thailand has been flooded with illegal firearms and the misery they cause is plain for all to see. Every day there are media reports of shootouts and homicides that begin with domestic quarrels, school rivalries and traffic accidents, and quickly escalate. Law enforcement officials say the root cause is the easy availability of guns, and this is true for teenagers as well as adults. People prefer to buy weapons outside of legal channels because they are much cheaper, and don't involve the hassle of registering the guns as required under Thai law.
When mum and dad are the kidnappers
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 28/10/2012
» It was only a month ago, on Sept 28, that 11-year-old Michael was abducted from his school in Nonthaburi province by his own father. Lek, the mother left behind, has yet to hear any word of their whereabouts.
Merger of HIV/Aids plans praised, but follow-up needed
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 24/06/2012
» HIV/Aids activists are hailing Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's decision in a cabinet meeting on Thursday to merge medical benefits for those suffering from the disease. But they caution that treatment standards must be set and maintained once the merger goes forward.
Pioneering advocate for worker health says battle still uphill
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 15/04/2012
» In 1993 when Somboon Sikhamdokkae discovered she was suffering from an occupational lung disease caused by working in a textile factory, she decided to establish a group to help other sick workers.
Regional unity 'lies in sharing languages'
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 11/03/2012
» There has been a great deal said about the need to improve English-language skills ahead of the formation of the Asean Economic Community in 2015, but much less emphasis is put on communication between members in their native languages. While English is indispensable as a common international language, a multilingual approach also has clear advantages for building regional understanding and relations.
Living over troubled waters
Spectrum, Tunya Sukpanich, Published on 01/01/2012
» Obstructions along canals in Bangkok and nearby provinces are commonly cited as a major factor behind this year's flood disaster. However, clearing them has proved a thorny issue for authorities as it means not only removing debris and sediment, but also tearing down people's makeshift homes.