Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Army unwilling to yield to democracy
News, Erich Parpart, Published on 31/07/2019
» For the country like Thailand where the military staged two putsches within the past 13 years, a coup d'état should no longer be necessary.
Thailand's tale told via 'The Nation'
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 28/06/2019
» Nearly five decades ago, The Nation newspaper started out as a pro-democracy, anti-military news organisation. It was fiercely independent and invariably hard-hitting vis-à-vis the powers-that-be. An English-language newspaper owned by Thais from the outset, it prided itself for having neither fear nor favour. Its lamentable expiry as a print newspaper today -- an online version will continue -- provides multiple parallels for Thailand's contemporary political history, ongoing polarisation and the changing nature of the business of journalism worldwide.
Journalism's duty of quality
News, Editorial, Published on 18/05/2019
» As the #NationBusted hashtag circulated online on March 20 following widespread criticism about Nation TV's broadcasting of a doctored audio clip, The Nation newspaper did not attempt to play down the story the following day. Neither did it bury the story for the sake of saving the face of its sister media house. Instead, it carried the story on the front page of its print edition.
Political 'cobras' are poisoning our democracy
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 01/04/2019
» People who are familiar with Thai politics must know the metaphor ngu hao, literally cobra, which implies betrayal, dirty political games and bargaining.
Future Forward Party -- whose future?
News, Published on 01/11/2018
» Branding itself as a choice for first-time voters, both the "red" and "yellow" middle-class Thais who are tired of the military regime and colour-coded conflicts, the newly formed Future Forward Party is by far one of the most prominent parties in Thai politics.
Politics is sport for Newin
News, Published on 08/09/2018
» Newin Chidchob, a veteran politician who has turned his focus to football and motorsport in the northeastern province of Buri Ram, has made headlines again as the regime is expected to ease its ban on political activities some time this month.
How will post-poll Thailand look?
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 20/08/2018
» Now the Election Commission and the National Council for Peace and Order have promised to hold the general election on Feb 24 next year, should we remain hopeful that the move will eventually lead Thailand to transition into a more democratic state? The answer largely depends on our expectations of the outcome, as well as the form of democracy that we want -- and we can look southeasterly to Cambodia, or westerly to Myanmar to get a rough idea of what Thailand's new beginning may be like.
Courtship rituals fail to impress
News, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 24/06/2018
» Thailand is on track to hold a long-awaited general election by February next year if everything goes as planned, with politicians resorting to tricks of old as the polling day nears.
An Ithaca idyll with Surin Pitsuwan
News, Philip J Cunningham, Published on 04/12/2017
» During Surin Pitsuwan's visit to Ithaca, New York, this past September, a barbecue party was arranged by long-time family friends who live on the edge of town where the still lush and green rural surroundings could at a glance be mistaken for rural Thailand. Chickens cackled in a nearby coop and birdsong was everywhere in the air.
Democracy puts limits on protests
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 24/09/2017
» Just over a decade ago, friends knew they had to go to either Sanam Luang or Siam Square to find me after work. I was not there selling goods on the pavements, but instead I was being the typical democratic-minded youth looking for fairness from the government that I had not voted for.