Showing 51 - 60 of 78
NACC breaks another vow
News, Editorial, Published on 07/08/2018
» The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has reached a crucial fork in the road. Soon, it will have to provide the public with the facts it has uncovered in the probe of the undocumented luxury watches worn by Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. Alternatively, it will continue to stonewall. This choice will inform the public that the NACC is a weak organisation, completely unwilling to speak truth to power and lacking the fortitude even to bring about the promise that brought Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to the premiership.
Myanmar in disarray
Editorial, Published on 24/07/2018
» The friends of Aung San Suu Kyi continue to desert her and to criticise her government's policies. The 10-man international advisory board she appointed to try to smooth out the Rohingya crisis has dropped to eight. The two who quit have both left in bitter disappointment over Myanmar policy. They believe they were misled by Ms Suu Kyi and her government. In truth, the Rohingya crisis is growing instead of diminishing, as Myanmar's government and army continue to mismanage and harm the country.
Stealing from students
News, Editorial, Published on 26/06/2018
» The decades of rot and wrongdoing are starting to emerge at the Ministry of Education. Dozens of cases of greed and conspiracies to defraud children and the nation have been exposed. Up until now, the minister, his bureaucrats and the government have been silent or even engaged in cover-ups.
Playing games with democracy
News, Editorial, Published on 24/06/2018
» Today in 1932, Thailand experienced a drastic transformation when a group of young soldiers and civilians known as the People's Party -- or Khana Ratsadorn -- staged the "Siamese Revolution" with an aspiration to introduce democracy to the country.
Lift ban and scrap meet
News, Editorial, Published on 22/03/2018
» This week, junta leader and Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha appeared to present himself as a more generous man. After having forbidden parties from holding political activities for almost four years, he has invited them to gather at a June meeting which will be planned, facilitated and possibly dominated by him. The move is, however, ill-advised and lacks substance. It will not be useful for anyone but it demonstrates the regime's desire to further exert control over post-election politics.
Rethink the protest ban
News, Editorial, Published on 19/02/2018
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has shown he is very aware of the recent protests that have criticised his national administration. He has criticised them strongly, but also warned his subordinates to go easy, because of the danger of violence if the army or police react with a heavy hand. This is an incorrect policy for several reasons. Gen Prayut would be better advised to come to grips with the issues at the centre of the protests, and perhaps with those who are currently dissatisfied.
The coal hard truth
News, Editorial, Published on 14/02/2018
» The Prayut Chan-o-cha government has missed a golden opportunity in the first six weeks of this year. It should have just announced it has dropped all plans and studies to build coal-fired power plants in Krabi and Songkhla in the South rather than invoke yet another delay, which gives the impression of weakness and indecision.
Govt must serve up justice for all
News, Editorial, Published on 28/01/2018
» Nearly four years after the end of the huge street protest by the now-defunct People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), and the country's public prosecutors have finally decided to press charges against nine leaders of the Bangkok Shutdown movement that brought many parts of the metropolis to a standstill.
Outsider PM bid puts democracy at risk
News, Editorial, Published on 14/01/2018
» Several developments in recent weeks have reignited speculation over the prospect of junta leader Prayut Chan-o-cha becoming a non-elected premier after the general election.
Party games don't wash with the public
News, Editorial, Published on 24/12/2017
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's latest use of the powerful Section 44 to extend deadlines for administrative work of political parties undermines the credibility of his own roadmap to democracy while overriding the spirit of the organic law on political parties written and passed by lawmakers appointed by his own regime.