Showing 21 - 30 of 114
Eyes wide open
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 08/05/2020
» The literature about modern Thai politics is not abundant, and by this I mean a narrative that grounds its characters in the double-whammy of coup d'etat and street protest that characterised the mid-2000s to mid-2010s. The period, plus a few years earlier when Thaksin Shinawatra rose to power, contains some of the most convulsive and era-defining moments that continue to shape the visible and invisible dimensions of Thai society in the present time, and it's astonishing that not more writers find it a rich wellspring of artistic expression (on the contrary, visual artists and theatre artists seem more responsive to the political currents of the same period).
Broken by design
Oped, Postbag, Published on 25/04/2020
» Re: "Covid-19 exposes our broken system" (Opinion, April 23).
Flair for debate wins praise for Sutin
News, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 11/11/2019
» Due to its failure to form and lead the new coalition government despite pulling in the most votes in this year's general election, the former ruling Pheu Thai Party has seen its profile dim during its time in opposition.
Red shirts plead guilty to violence
News, Published on 28/09/2019
» Four red-shirt co-leaders have pleaded guilty for their roles in a violent 2007 protest outside the home of the late Privy Council president, Prem Tinsulanonda, apparently hoping the Supreme Court will give them clemency and a less severe punishment.
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.
PM's tricky position
News, Postbag, Published on 30/03/2019
» Re: "Poll uncertainty lingers as count nears finish line", (Commentary, March 29).
Let's get political (art)
Guru, Pasavat Tanskul, Published on 08/03/2019
» With the upcoming general election finally happening on Mar 24, the fate of the city hangs in the balance of voters hoping for some actual policy changes that leans toward democracy. However, some may express scepticism and while expressing one's doubts and criticism could be met with scorn and censorship, there are a few people who have expressed their opinions in other forms -- namely street art. Enter Headache Stencil, an anonymous masked political painter whose art usually deals with Thailand's recent social and political happenings.