Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Projecting hope for a world in turmoil
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 10/04/2026
» Today, the world is witnessing the most explosive situation since World War II, all too visible in conflicts such as the Iran war.
China's interface with AI development
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 21/10/2024
» With intense competition between the superpowers on the development of and interface with artificial intelligence (AI), does China favour some commitments which can converge with other countries?
Handle Myanmar influxes with care
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 19/04/2024
» 'Preparedness" and "humane response" offer keywords for handling the various mass influxes from Myanmar. Those influxes might range from civilians in search of refuge to fighters ("combatants") in flight, all the more poignant today because of the armed conflagration in that country and the precarious border situation.
Kids in face of criminal justice system
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 21/02/2024
» Passions are raised understandably when children are alleged to have committed crimes. Yet, a balanced approach is required; emotions need to be moderated, and rationalisation needs to be advocated.
An Israel-Palestine conflict explainer
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/10/2023
» The armed attacks by militants from the Gaza Strip, an area controlled primarily by the Hamas group, into southern Israel in early October and the subsequent armed responses from Israel deserve to be put in a historical and political context. Gaza is one of the two parts of Palestinian territory, the other part being the West Bank, both of which are part of an age-old conflict which has not been resolved but regrettably has been left to fester.
UN General Assembly must assert itself
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 20/04/2022
» The recent vote in the UN General Assembly (GA) suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), due to its conduct in Ukraine, in early April 2022 is a rare instance of the GA asserting its powers with binding force. Generally, only the UN Security Council (SC) can adopt measures; these are exemplified by sanctions adopted by the SC periodically against errant states, non-government armed groups and individuals. Is there then room for a more assertive GA, especially when the SC is dysfunctional?
Protecting Southeast Asia's media
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 03/11/2021
» There have been reports of attacks on journalists which cast a shadow of shame on the Southeast Asian region. Yesterday -- Nov 2 -- has also been designated as the International Day to end the impunity in relation to attacks on journalists.
Slowly moving away from the death penalty
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 22/04/2021
» One of the interesting developments in Thailand is that official circles are gradually moving away from the death penalty as a sanction against crimes. This is witnessed by the Ministry of Justice's campaign to invite the public to look at options beyond the death penalty. What if there is a large proportion of the population in the country which still favours its retention rather than abolition? There is a need to balance with the international trend and the country's obligations.
Protecting migrants, refugees in our age of conflict
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 07/01/2020
» There are about 270 million international migrants today who cross borders in search of new vistas. Many such as "expatriates" do well. However, many, particularly those who are pushed out of their homes, are caught in a trap of dislocation, dispossession and coercion, often due to armed conflicts, discrimination and violence. The number of forced migrants now stands at about 70 million people globally -- some 30 million who cross borders as "refugees" and some 40 million forced to move in their country of origin as "internally displaced persons".
Challenges to gender equality in Thailand
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 08/03/2018
» Thailand's formal commitment to women's rights began in 1985 when it became a party to the key UN treaty on the subject: the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).