Showing 1 - 10 of 12
The missing agenda
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 04/02/2026
» Rights groups have urged political parties to push for gender equality in the upcoming poll on Sunday, calling for enhanced protection against domestic violence and more inclusive policies for the gender-diverse community.
Reclaiming motherhood
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 19/08/2025
» A woman slowly grows into a mother over time. It is a full-time job that never ends until the lights go out. After nine months of pregnancy, she nurtures her child for years until adulthood. Her reward? It is said that the child is the apple of her eye. It is expected for a woman to sacrifice her body, career and everything for this role.
MFP to press House on charter rewrite
News, Thana Boonlert, Published on 17/08/2023
» The Move Forward Party (MFP) will submit an urgent motion asking the House of Representatives to pass a resolution seeking a public referendum on rewriting the constitution.
Songs for life as it's no longer lived
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 17/04/2023
» Ad Carabao's new song Prachathipatung revives the myth of vote-buying and ignorance in rural society. The title is a coinage blending prachathipatai (democracy) and tung (money). On the track, parents ask children to return to their home village to vote for local politicians who give them money. It puts into song from the political discourse of an urban middle class that expresses disdain for villagers along with antipathy for one type of money politics as well as full-fledged democracy.
Equality still a dream
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 09/01/2023
» In the lead-up to its second reading, the civil partnership draft bill marks a decade since its inception, dating back to a gay couple who were denied legal recognition in 2012 because the law limits marriage to a man and a woman. Given the conservatism of earlier decades, civil partnership was "the first brick" at a time when marriage equality was almost inconceivable. However, history is often ignored. Despite its long journey in conjunction with the new bill, the uphill push for marriage rights will remain an unfinished business under the current government.
On the road to equality
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 13/09/2022
» Joyce Teng remembers the day when Taiwan's parliament passed the same-sex marriage bill in 2019, making it the first country in Asia to recognise such a union. Thousands of supporters erupted in joy outside the parliament building in the capital.
Dr Dolittle Prayut does little but talk
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 27/12/2021
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made ludicrous headlines again when he broached the subject of animals during his official visit to southern border provinces. It is not surprising that the macho general again doted on creatures. A few years ago, he shared a photo of him in casual clothes and a cuddly dog on his lap. However, his interaction with animals in provincial trips often lands him in hot water.
A cult of nothingness
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 06/09/2021
» Last week, coup-installed senators convened in the corridors of power. When one senator tabled a motion for the virtuous council, I felt like we had travelled back in time to the Second World War. In 1939, the government of Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram issued cultural mandates to strengthen Siam in the context of the global war.
Who wants a child amid such instability?
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 01/03/2021
» A few weeks ago, the Ministry of Public Health launched a programme titled "Life Balance Smart Family" to pair singles and support soon-to-wed couples in childbearing. The policy came after Thailand was found to have the lowest total fertility rate in its history, dropping below 600,000 infant births for the first time last year. This has brought the birth rate down to 1.51, which is far below the World Health Organisation's recommendation of 2.1.
Scholars weigh in on US senators' call for democracy
News, Thana Boonlert, Published on 07/12/2020
» Foreign affairs experts have weighed in after US senators proposed a draft resolution calling for Thailand to uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law following the use of violence against pro-democracy demonstrators.