Showing 1 - 10 of 27
Army unwilling to yield to democracy
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 31/07/2019
» For the country like Thailand where the military staged two putsches within the past 13 years, a coup d'état should no longer be necessary.
Cost of doing business in Land of Smiles
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 15/07/2019
» Several government megaprojects and ultra-lucrative concessions have long been a source of alleged corruption, questionable monopolies or "stupid" state incompetency in Thailand to the point it is sad that no one has been willing to do anything about it all these years.
Denial spells irrelevance for Asean
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 24/06/2019
» One big reason why members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) get along so splendidly is that they avoid talking about uncomfortable subjects, such as stunted democratic development or human rights abuses.
PM's book choice baffles nation
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 04/06/2019
» When I saw the headline, that Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha had recommended the people he is repressing read George Orwell's Animal Farm, I thought it was fake news from a parody page.
British, Thai democratic systems can't be compared
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 30/05/2019
» The National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) appointment of their allies, friends and family members to sit in the 250-member Senate has turned the NCPO members, particularly its leader and incumbent premier Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha into the subjects of accusations of nepotism.
The angel of Flight CX 613
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 13/05/2019
» It was Monday night on one of the last flights of the day from Hong Kong to Bangkok. The plane was filled with Thai passengers returning home after the long weekend to celebrate the Coronation, along with Hong Kong residents travelling for business or leisure.
Hope for refugee children
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 28/01/2019
» The cause of children's rights got a lift last week when immigration police in Thailand announced that they would stop holding migrant and refugee children in the country's crowded immigration detention facilities.
Don't rule out war over Taiwan
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 14/01/2019
» Last week was a busy one for China. Headlines took note of fresh harassment of Taiwan, reports of possibly illegal gold mining by Chinese firms in Ghana, and of separatists threatening to attack Belt and Road projects in Pakistan and Malaysia.
Smoked out? Not yet
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 19/11/2018
» No one disputes that cigarettes can kill. Each year smoking accounts for 7 million deaths worldwide -- that's seven times more than those attributable to the world's deadliest animal, the mosquito.
Saving our overburdened beaches
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 22/10/2018
» One of my favourite New Year memories is from Boracay in the Philippines, where the entire sky was lit up in red from fireworks set off from boats offshore.