Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Southern comfort?
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/01/2024
» Yesterday was no run-of-the-mill Thursday; rather, it was a red-letter day marking the decades-long violence plaguing the three southernmost provinces.
Defence is no joking matter
News, Editorial, Published on 23/01/2019
» Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been rightly pilloried in both local and foreign media lately. He has shown himself to be lacking in a too-long series of events. These have run from his luxury watches to last weekend's tasteless feast of mangoes and sticky rice. Still, there was something especially disconcerting and disappointing in his offensive and supremely unfunny "joke" about last week's terrorist attack on the Thai-managed DusitD2 hotel complex in Nairobi.
Start South talks now
News, Editorial, Published on 22/01/2019
» The barbaric murder of monks by separatists in the deep South once again discredits their claim to be responsible enough to govern the region. Worse, it comes at a time when the Thai and Malaysian governments are again offering a coordinated olive branch and appeal to decency.
Clues scarce in the South
News, Editorial, Published on 02/01/2019
» Police, the Royal Thai Armed Forces and various security agencies have brought a huge credibility gap to the new upsurge of violence in the deep South. As of now, depending on which official has taken the podium, the bombings including the severing of Songkhla's iconic mermaid are political and non-political, either the work of separatist bandits or not, and have either a national or local motive -- but not both. Over the weekend, the Fourth Army commander said it might be local politicians, which seems a head-shaker.
Censorship must go
News, Editorial, Published on 14/05/2018
» In a move criticised across all political and legal lines, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has once again banned all broadcasts by Peace TV. The station is openly run and just as openly favours the red shirts and their political face, the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, or UDD. Every Thai media, print and broadcast, blasted the blatant and poorly thought out act of censorship.
Malaysia's vital D-day
News, Editorial, Published on 09/05/2018
» A strong turnout is expected today, when Malaysians vote in the most important election in their history. On the surface, Prime Minister Najib Razak leads the incumbent Barisan Nasional, or United Front coalition against a united opposition, Pakatan Harapan, known as PH, the Alliance of Hope. The drama is intense, as former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad leads the alliance, and has possible victory in his grasp.
A 'Nimby' problem
Oped, Editorial, Published on 08/05/2018
» A major local problem has arisen in the deep South. It is a direct outgrowth of the past 13 years of violence, but the problem is a peaceful one. Some 105 people who fled to Malaysia now wish to return. They are currently stateless, and the army has plans to resettle them under a programme called Pha Khon Klub Ban (Bring People Home). The problem is that the army failed to secure support of residents in the district where the resettlement is to occur. Panare district of Pattani which houses the temporary resettlement site is strongly opposed to this project.
South shows peace signs
News, Editorial, Published on 06/02/2018
» The orchestrated "surrender" of nearly 300 men in Pattani last week is getting a rough reaction from some critics. They label it either a sham that means nothing or a misguided amnesty to admitted terrorists. The critics are wrong and the commander of the 4th Army commander is right. The welcoming "Bring People Home" ceremony won't end the southern insurgency and isn't meant to immediately bring peace. It's a true indication of the extremely difficult tasks at hand.