Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Rethinking local flood management
News, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 12/12/2025
» As global temperatures rise, extreme rainfall and severe flooding are happening around the world. The science is clear; with every 1 degree Celsius increase, the atmosphere will hold 7% more water vapour. This may explain why storms are more intense as the world warms.
Thailand's unfinished 'Lodi' journey
News, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 24/11/2025
» It all began with a song. "Lodi", written by John Fogerty and sung by Creedence Clearwater Revival, tells of a musician stranded in a small town -- out of luck but not out of hope. "Oh Lord," he sings, "stuck in Lodi again".
Thailand still has chance to shine
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 31/07/2025
» Thailand's economy is losing momentum. Growth rates have steadily declined, from 7.2% in 2012 to just 1.9% in 2023. Without a new vision for development, the country faces the real possibility of becoming stuck in permanent stagnation. The absence of bold leadership and structural reform has left Thailand vulnerable, while its regional peers -- Singapore, China, and South Korea -- surge ahead. These countries have demonstrated that visionary and compassionate leadership, combined with political reform and good governance, can transform the economic fortunes of an entire nation.
Lessons and hopes from May 11 poll
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 22/05/2025
» The May 11 municipal elections across Thailand, although extensive in scope, offered little to celebrate in terms of democratic progress. Rather than signalling a political shift or new energy in local governance, the results underscored a deeply familiar pattern: vote buying remains the dominant strategy in Thai politics.
Provincial Administration Organisation polls a gamechanger for Thais?
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 16/01/2025
» On Feb 1, Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) elections will be held in 47 out of 77 provinces. Late last year, there were elections in 29 provinces, where the PAO presidents resigned before their terms ended.
Progress through decentralisation
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 30/05/2023
» The results of the latest general election have indicated a clear direction that most citizens would like the country to go. However, because of the entrenched power structure, the effort by a coalition of opposition parties to form a new government that could radically transform Thailand may be futile. The first reason is the Election Commission's scrutiny of the claims that Mr Pita Limjaroenrat, the Move Forward Party's leader, owns ITV shares. Second, he may be unable to garner the needed 376 votes from the Senate and parliament. Finally, will the dispute over the House speaker position affect the coalition?
Less local control a threat to Thai democracy
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 19/11/2021
» After an almost seven-year suspension, Thailand held its first local elections for chief executive officers (CEO) and council members of provincial administrative organisations (PAO) on Dec 20, 2020, followed by the election of mayors and city council members on March 28 of this year.
Leading by serving, not ruling
News, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 24/05/2021
» About two weeks ago, through a Facebook group, more than half a million Thais expressed a desire to leave Thailand to settle down in countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, among others.
Planting the seeds of development
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 03/02/2021
» Economic development in Thailand has not just been a responsibility of the central government, but its exclusive domain. Thus, the management inventiveness and fiscal autonomy of local governments for this function are often shackled by the rules, regulations and orders from the bureaucrats within the central government agencies or by those at the provincial level.