Showing 1 - 10 of 24
MFP must dare to rebuke dubious deals
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 04/03/2024
» Convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's first foreign visitor since his release on early parole from Police General Hospital on Feb 18 was Cambodian Supreme Privy Council President Hun Sen.
And the winner is — Thai Buddhism
Oped, Published on 31/05/2023
» Having followed Thai politics rather closely since the 1960s, I suggest that the best explanation for the results of the recent May 14 election is Thai Buddhism.
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.
When art gets stifled
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 21/11/2022
» 'Art is short, a case is long," read a banner. Students apparently hijacked the well-known motto "art is long, life is short" by Prof Silpa Bhirasri, the father of Thai modern art, in protest of Chiang Mai University's legal action against its own lecturers and a student who "trespassed" on the art centre to exhibit works, some of which might challenge those in power, last year. It is a case in point for stifling democracy in Thai art.
Nationalism is not the answer to land woes
Oped, Thana Boonlert, Published on 04/11/2022
» Resistance to the controversial foreign land ownership bill is giving rise to the term khai chat -- used to denounce traitors who sell the motherland -- being used in political discourse. Whether a person is a government critic or supporter, he or she believes their ancestors fought very hard to protect our land and it should not be given away to foreigners.
Public trust in govt is quickly eroding
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 05/07/2021
» The Covid-19 pandemic chaos has worsened in Bangkok and its vicinity in the past week. With the rise of cases, the arrival of new variants, dubious vaccine deliveries and a lack of hospital ICU beds, people are becoming more infuriated about how the government is handling the Covid situation.
Ethnic armies fight for a federal future
Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 07/04/2021
» Myanmar's ethnic armies have effectively declared war on the country's military government, increasing the prospect of civil war. In the face of the army's continued violence against civilian protesters -- the death toll is now more than 600 in the last nine weeks -- many of the country's ethnic leaders felt impelled to take drastic action.
Empathy is needed to bridge conflict
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 21/12/2020
» Despite all the conflicts brewing in the country at the moment, there is no denying that this is an exciting time as several changes have provided us with a glimpse of the Thailand of tomorrow. Whether the demands are social, political, or regarding basic rights and equality in society, one of the most interesting developments is how the young generation is speaking up and making themselves heard.
PM must learn to turn other cheek
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 13/07/2020
» After six years in office and having earned the unenviable reputation of being an "angry pot" for his occasionally unprovoked outbursts at Government House reporters, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha might have thought it was about time for him to change tack and reach out to media outlets that he didn't appear to admire.
Outbreak no reason to delay polls
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 22/06/2020
» After a six-year vacuum in local politics, by the end of this year, some Thais might be able to cast their votes to elect local administrators.