Showing 11 - 20 of 24
Double-edged sword called Section 44
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 06/03/2017
» At first, the interim charter's Section 44 appears like a hidden sword that a knight in shining armour brings out only to fight a justifiable cause. Indeed, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha makes us believe so. Power and force will be used when necessary and applied constructively, we are told.
Remember Thailand's 'disappeared'
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 06/02/2017
» As I browsed the photo exhibition, "For Those Who Died Trying", at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, one item stood out. It's the photo of the late Charoen Wat-akson, the environmentalist from Prachuap Khiri Khan. It must be a photo from his funeral, as it was also displayed at Bo Nok intersection on Phetkasem Road where he was gunned down on June 21, 2004.
We are all just singing in the rain
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 03/10/2016
» I've always believed a good crisis can make for a great opportunity. Yet, I find it hard to apply the Pollyanna principle to the case of water management in Thailand.
'Billy' leads fight for the disappeared
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 18/04/2016
» Songkran should have been a time of joy and happiness for Pinnapa "Mueno" Prueksapan, 29, a Karen villager in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi province. But the passing week has only brought back painful memories for the widow.
The voices of the people are under siege
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 04/04/2016
» Taweesak In-gwang is a resident of Chiang Rak Yai district in Pathum Thani province. Lamom Boonyong is a fisherman in Rayong. Though a couple of hundred kilometres apart, they have one thing in common. They are branded "mafia" by the government because they dare to speak out against state development projects that will affect their environment and livelihoods.
Educating our kids is child's play
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 09/09/2015
» I clapped and cheered when the Ministry of Education last month imposed a new law requiring classes in schools nationwide to finish at 2pm, instead of 4pm. The two-hour gap must be compensated by activities, however, despite the policy not specifying what kind of after-class activities they will be. Of course, the policy has been welcomed by many, but there are also opponents, including some students, with some believing that fewer class hours might result in worse academic grades.
Forget Klong Dan, look at the Gulf of Thailand
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 21/08/2015
» For some, the old adage, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me," can be applied to the Klong Dan water treatment project saga.
Je suis Nattanan
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 16/01/2015
» No, I’m not trying to drag you into a debate about free speech, the celebrated value that underlines the “Je suis Charlie” movement, which erupted as a tribute to the cartoonists and editorial staff of Charlie Hebdo, who were massacred by three gunmen in Paris on Jan 7. A huge number of people around the world have shown their support by becoming “Charlie”. Hollywood stars such George Clooney and his wife are Charlie. Many of my friends, but not all, are Charlie, too. At the same time, “Je ne suis pas Charlie” has sprung up here and there as well. I believe Charlies and non-Charlies can have lively debates — or get drunk together — because both groups are alike in condemning the use of violence.
Without new toxic waste laws, we stay contaminated
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 22/04/2014
» Fear of toxic pollution from the recent blazes at a rubbish dump in Samut Prakan's Phraeksa area seem to have disappeared from our collective attention as soon as it disappeared from the headlines. However, the many health risks it poses have not gone away.
Let leaders sit in the democracy of the traffic jam
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 14/12/2012
» I remembered feeling startled after hearing my Chinese friend mention motorcades _ with their resulting traffic diversions or blockages to allow official vehicles to pass _ exist in China.