Showing 51 - 60 of 232
Crackdown on youth protesters will backfire
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 10/08/2020
» Remember how just two decades ago, Thailand was regarded as a progressive democracy among Asian nations? The recent arrests of a civil rights lawyer and a student activist, which appear to be the prelude to a widespread crackdown on youth movements, made me lose hope over the state of democracy in the country.
Police need a slap on the wrist
News, Editorial, Published on 09/08/2020
» The arrest of civil rights lawyer Arnon Nampa and a student leader on Friday on sedition charges for their roles in a series of rallies against the government is an ill-thought, excessive act by the police. The tough action against pro-democracy activists which has sparked a public outcry is an embarrassment to the government that came to power through an election.
'Wizards of democracy' wait to be heard
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 03/08/2020
» A movement by young students under the umbrella of Free Youth and the Students Union of Thailand appears to have gained steam. A series of "flash mob" rallies have taken place in Bangkok and the provinces almost on a daily basis.
#ProtestIdeas
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 31/07/2020
» Accompanying the student-led protests against the government that continue to spread in many provinces, are new hashtags. #ไอเดียออกม๊อบ (unofficially translates to #IdeasForMob) is the latest one that has caught my eyes. Thai twitter users use the hashtag to come up with ways to make the protest more fun and interesting. Leave it to Thais to find lighter sides of things. Here are a few examples. g
Let students have their say
Oped, Editorial, Published on 25/07/2020
» In a noteworthy response to the ongoing political conundrum, the House of Representatives this week set up a panel to listen to the complaints of student protesters.
Protests must be heeded
Oped, Editorial, Published on 23/07/2020
» If the Prayut Chan-o-cha government wants to ease simmering political tension, in which political groups are starting to challenge the administration, it has no choice other than to kickstart a process of amending the constitution.
Cool heads must prevail
News, Editorial, Published on 21/07/2020
» The government should tread extreme carefully in its handling of Saturday's political protests by young students at Democracy Monument in Phra Nakhon district and in the provinces. In a challenge to the emergency decree, these were the first major gatherings since the coronavirus hit the country in March.
Don't politicise the Hagia Sophia
News, Editorial, Published on 19/07/2020
» After it was designated as a museum in 1936 by the founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Hagia Sophia took on a different meaning. It wasn't just a place of worship as it had been under the Byzantines and the Ottomans. It became a meeting place for people of different faiths but held by no religion in particular. It was a place where laymen, leaders, popes and presidents met to marvel at the grandeur of its domed roof, which has seen empires come and go over its long history.
It's not a good time to be a statue
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/06/2020
» This past week has seen statues of controversial historical figures under attack around the globe. It is surprising it has taken so long. Hopefully the statues can be used for educational purposes by being placed into museums, accompanied by accurate historical accounts of what these people really did. The statues are an important reminder of an inglorious part of history. There is a possibility, however, that any statue or monument could become a target. One problem with statues is that they are quite vulnerable unless they are atop towering columns, like Nelson in Trafalgar Square.
White bows pose no harm
Oped, Editorial, Published on 11/06/2020
» The police arrest of student activists for their white bows campaign was an unnecessary attempt to enforce the city's cleanliness law and could be seen as a veiled threat to freedom of expression.