Showing 1 - 10 of 10
'Rare earth' and the risk of Mekong havoc
News, Paskorn Jumlomgrach, Published on 13/09/2025
» Satellite imagery cited by the Shan Human Rights Foundation (SHRF) in a recent statement, together with findings from the US-based think tank Stimson Center released in July, confirms the alarming reality: a massive concentration of rare earth mining sites is emerging across Southeast Asia, particularly in Myanmar and Laos.
Tackling Myanmar's crime corridor
News, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 12/02/2024
» On Feb 4, a small piece of news indicated that the Myanmar police were planning to send back over 90 Thais and more than 1,000 Chinese nationals and other foreigners who were lured to work in Shwe Kokko, Myawaddy. Under this plan, all would have been sent back from Myawaddy -- a special economic zone -- to Mae Sot district in Thailand's Tak province.
Niwat award a call to act
Oped, Editorial, Published on 27/05/2022
» After two decades of campaigning to protect the Mekong River, Niwat Roykaew, a local teacher and founder of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group in Chiang Rai, finally received the accolade he deserved. Mr Niwat was one of six recipients of this year's Goldman Environmental Prize, a prestigious award for grassroots environmental activism.
Junta brutality triggers desertions
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 01/02/2022
» Becoming a commissioned officer in the Tatmadaw was a dream for many young men in Myanmar. Among them, was Captain Zero (real name withheld for safety reasons), an army officer who was once stationed in Magway, which lies northwest of Nay Pyi Taw.
Rush to Riyadh may harm workers
News, Paskorn Chamlongrach, Published on 31/01/2022
» Last week, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha returned from Riyadh with big news for workers -- Saudi Arabia has high demand for labour, and eight million jobs are now up for grabs.
Heritage bid shows a clash of priorities
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 24/07/2021
» This week, villagers from Bang Kloy village, Kaeng Krachan district, in Phetchaburi province put their heads together to find solutions to a raft of issues, including the Covid-19 outbreak that looks set to pile upon more misery on them.
Anti-migrant stance asking for trouble
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 06/01/2021
» The rapid rise in Covid-19 infection cases among migrant labour -- thousands are located in Samut Sakhon alone -- has caused alarm.
People from Nowhere
Asia focus, Erich Parpart, Published on 18/03/2019
» A person can be born or made stateless, but either way the limitations such a status places on one's rights are severe. The issue has come into sharp focus with the case of Shamima Begum, a 19-year-old Islamic State supporter who was stripped of her British nationality for her decision to joined the self-declared caliphate in 2015.
Clicked off
Life, Story: Paskorn Jumlongrach and Kong Rithdee, Published on 02/10/2018
» The conference room full of minority representatives erupted in laughter when Parue O-dochao retold a bizarre and frustrating incident concerning the hacking of his Facebook page, called "Ha Kariang". The laughter was caused by the Karen man's mirthful style of talking, his long and free-flowing speech in accented Thai, even when he was clearly upset by the black-mirror scourge of social media.
The plight of the stateless
Life, Story: Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 14/08/2018
» Thanom's ancestors lived in what was Siamese territory, near Bang Saphan district in Prachuap Khiri Khan, over a century ago. Back then Burma, to the west, was a British colony and people who lived along the border crossed back and forth without much difficulty. When state boundaries were redrawn during the reign of King Rama V, his family was stuck on the other side. As a young man Thanom was a cattle herder, and he travelled around Karen villages to buy cattle and buffaloes and crossed over to sell them on the Thai side. When he started this job, a cow was just 20 baht and a buffalo was 50 baht.