Showing 1 - 10 of 13
The remarkable rise of Rukchanok ‘Ice’ Srinork
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 06/02/2026
» No matter what happens on Sunday election, one fact is already sealed. Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork, a former lawmaker representing the People’s Party, is now the most popular politician in Thai history. The word “female” is almost redundant.
Corrupt monks have lost their way
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 14/07/2025
» Just as Thailand was about to celebrate Asalha Bucha Day and the start of Buddhist Lent, the nation was gripped by the biggest sex scandal ever to rock its clergy. How irony.
Breaking gender barriers in the clergy
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 22/07/2023
» Can queers be ordained as Buddhist monks? The question sparked intense debates on social media when Pataradanai Setsuwan, a well-known openly gay celebrity, entered the monkhood late last month.
Autocracy, not giggling, is the problem
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 15/09/2021
» When two influencer monks -- Phra Maha Praiwan Worawano and Phra Maha Sompong Talaputto -- were summoned to Government House last week for giggling too much in their dhamma talk shows, I expected intellectual duels between the conservatives and the liberals on the monastic codes of conduct and the clergy's need to catch up with times.
Racism is fuelling more than wildfires
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 04/05/2020
» With the May rains coming to our rescue, we can now put the forest fires and toxic haze nightmares behind us -- until they return to haunt us again next year.
Indigenous people hold climate key
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 09/10/2019
» Tackle the climate crisis. Support indigenous rights. When religious and spiritual leaders from all major traditions begin to make these demands, we should listen. Not out of respect. But for our own survival.
Scapegoating not a solution to haze
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 25/04/2019
» Despite feeling bitter from being arrested and falsely condemned as an arsonist, 56-year-old Boonpan Saenkhammuen went back to fight the raging fires on Doi Luang Mountain in Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary the next day.
Tripping the 'khon' fantastic
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 15/12/2018
» Meet lawyer Chanok Changrian, owner of the biggest private collection of classical khon masks in Thailand.
Central govt meddling no forest remedy
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 26/11/2018
» The Prayut Chan-o-cha administration has vowed to be the first government to end land rights conflicts in Thailand once and for all through its nationwide communal land use policy. Can it? Mae Tha, the first forest community under this system, has the answer.
Mixing monks with money corrupts clergy
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 20/06/2018
» Fear and fury is gripping the clergy. Following the arrest and defrocking of high-profile monks for temple corruption, temples nationwide are fearful of financial inspections while monks are up in arms against the idea of prohibiting them from receiving money from the laity.