Showing 1 - 10 of 30
Curb S112 abuse
Oped, Postbag, Published on 05/09/2025
» Re: "Thaksin acquittal sparks debate", (BP, Aug 31). To prevent abuse of our lese majeste law, S112, we should follow law Professor Olarn Thinbangtieo of Burapha University's suggestion that all lese majeste complaints be vetted by a body of prosecutors, judges, academics, and civil society representatives, operating like a prosecutor's screening panel but with broader representation, before proceeding to court.
Council needs experts
News, Editorial, Published on 09/08/2025
» For another year, the Metropolitan Administration Council -- known locally as the City Council -- has thrown cold water on a bid to have outsiders join its committees scrutinising the city budget to ensure efficiency, transparency and good governance, as proposed by the People's Party (PP).
Ishiba's exit may lead to turmoil
News, Tomoyuki Tachikawa, Published on 28/07/2025
» Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's resignation could herald a political turmoil in Japan, as no decisive winner emerged from the latest House of Councillors election, in which the ruling bloc suffered a major setback.
Provincial Administration Organisation polls a gamechanger for Thais?
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 16/01/2025
» On Feb 1, Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) elections will be held in 47 out of 77 provinces. Late last year, there were elections in 29 provinces, where the PAO presidents resigned before their terms ended.
Spot-on words
Oped, Postbag, Published on 28/12/2024
» Re: "No more excuses", (PostBag, Dec 26) and "Shrinking the naughty list", (Editorial, Dec 24).
Shigeru Ishiba's premiership could be short
News, Taniguchi Tomohiko, Published on 02/10/2024
» After a 15-day election campaign, Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has elected Shigeru Ishiba as its president. Since the ruling party holds a majority in the National Diet (parliament), Mr Ishiba will be Japan's next prime minister. For the 67-year-old Mr Ishiba, long a leading rival of the late Shinzo Abe, ascending to the post is the realisation of a long-held dream. But Mr Ishiba's political star will likely soon fall.
Thailand's Election Commission must improve local poll practices
Editorial, Published on 22/09/2024
» Thailand is set for major provincial elections early next year, after the four-year terms of their administrative leaders and councillors end in December.
People's Party rises from MFP's ashes
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 10/08/2024
» The heavy axe that the Constitutional Court wielded on the Move Forward Party (MFP) earlier this week failed to stop its resurrection on Friday as the People's Party (PP).
Thailand's semi-democracy returns
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 01/12/2023
» The appointment of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as privy councillor has neatly bookended Thai politics over the past decade. It coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the street demonstrations that were led by the People's Democratic Reform Committee, paving the way for Gen Prayut to stage a military coup in May 2014. While the interim was a period of hard and soft military-authoritarian rule in 2014-19 and 2019-23, the new moving balance in Thai politics is a semi-democracy of sorts under the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government.
A tricky issue
Postbag, Published on 16/11/2023
» Re: "Anutin mulls ban on public gun carrying", (BP, Nov 14).