Showing 261 - 270 of 283
CDC party fee unfair
News, Editorial, Published on 25/04/2017
» The constitution writers have set off yet another dispute with their new order for political parties to collect annual membership fees. Some see the Constitution Drafting Committee's measure as yet another way to obstruct parties. The CDC claims rather implausibly that it will encourage more thoughtful politics at the grassroots. Yet the outlines of the proposal deserve a thoughtful response.
End the local leader mafia
News, Editorial, Published on 14/04/2017
» The National Reform Steering Committee (NRSA) has for the first time in years come out with an issue where it has broad-based support from academics, politicians and the general public.
Unity cannot be ordered
News, Editorial, Published on 29/03/2017
» The military regime says its plans for national reconciliation are moving along splendidly. The man in charge, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon, has a timetable and he says everything is proceeding according to plan. By June, he will issue a social contract laying out a formal pact on national unity. The image he presents of agreement and progress is not what the public currently sees.
Propose a deal with Beijing
News, Editorial, Published on 22/03/2017
» Thailand is currently welcoming Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, on his first official visit. Mr Duterte flew to Bangkok last year to pay his respects after the death of King Bhumibol. In Asean terms, his "meet and greet", post-election tour is later than usual, but then the president has some perplexing problems back home. One of them is how to deal with China.
Coal no longer an option
News, Editorial, Published on 22/02/2017
» Just when it appeared the dispute over the Krabi coal-fired power plant was on the verge of boiling over, cooler heads prevailed.
PM silences the nation
News, Editorial, Published on 26/12/2016
» It should not be news when a national leader pledges to enforce a law. Yet Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha made front-page headlines on the weekend when he felt compelled to promise he would implement the massively amended Computer Crime Act 2016 (CCA 16) with neither fear nor favour. The premier has turned this law into a controversy. Instead of consulting the country, he has reinforced -- again -- the claim that the military regime considers legitimate criticism as scurrilous attacks.
Question with no answer
News, Editorial, Published on 26/08/2016
» Nearly two weeks of drama created by the military government's handpicked members of the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) finally came to an end on Wednesday when the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) decided not to allow the yet-to-be-handpicked 250 members of the Senate to nominate candidates to become the next prime minister.
PM's dithering risk for nation
Oped, Editorial, Published on 19/08/2016
» By not ruling out the possibility that he will stay on longer in politics after the election next year, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given the nation an uncertain future.The prime minister told the media on Wednesday there were many more people suitable for the premiership, but "if you cannot really find any good one, then come to discuss that with me".
Credibility is at stake
News, Editorial, Published on 01/08/2016
» With less than a week until the referendum, there is no shortage of opinion about the draft charter. In these final few days, it seems discussion is becoming more open, and several leading voices have stated their preference in no uncertain terms, causing speculation as to whether they have violated the Referendum Act. But with such limited time left, it has become apparent that voters are short of information, if not outright fact-starved.
PM bows to the inevitable
News, Editorial, Published on 25/07/2016
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha deserves credit for moving the draft constitution to where it belongs -- the public forum. The prime minister made an unexpected about-face on the issue late last week -- one day he was advocating the multi-facet ban on free speech brought in by the Election Commission (EC) through the poorly considered Referendum Act; the next, he specifically authorised open debate at the provincial level. It is a welcome evolution.