Showing 1 - 10 of 10
The kids are all right
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 28/10/2018
» Prathet Ku Mee is no slapped-together concert song. It wasn't made, so much as crafted. The accusatory lyrics are set against the shameful, hovering background of the 1976 dictators' massacre at Thammasat University. The rap song's finale brings the background image of the hanged, beaten student to the front of the picture, before fading out to the hopeful message, "All people unite".
Into the political fray
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 30/09/2018
» Last June 30, the sometimes-accurate online Wikipedia updated the opening line of its entry on the general prime minister. For the first time, the introduction read, "Prayut Chan-o-cha is a Thai politician..." Before that, according to Wikipedia, Gen (Ret) Prayut was just a retired army general and head of the military junta -- which is what he claimed to be.
The three gutsy peers
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 16/09/2018
» The six-month Bangkok Shutdown campaign may have given off an aura of fun and games with a positive outcome for the green shirts and a negative one for the reds.
The Fakebook Diaries
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 01/01/2017
» Around 15 million or so people noticed last Tuesday that there was no bomb or large explosion anywhere in Bangkok. None of those people worked for Facebook, which is OK, but after the "explosion", people who work for Facebook insisted there was, actually, an explosion.
The big issue: How exceptional of you
Alan Dawson, Published on 24/07/2016
» When the rebels fled and events cooled down a bit in Turkey, Thailand’s opposition was ecstatic. Citizens poured onto the streets, even assaulted soldiers, forcing the Turkish military to beat feet. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s regime felt it had to say something and that something was "exceptionalism" and Thainess. Sure, Turks couldn't run a military coup, but Thailand is different, with an excellent coup.
The big issue: So help me God
Alan Dawson, Published on 31/01/2016
» Donald Trump has not mentioned “Thailand” since he began his campaign to become the Republican Party candidate for United States president last June. That's the good news. No, really, that's good news.
The big issue: Blood brothers
Alan Dawson, Published on 06/12/2015
» In 1983, Vietnamese occupation troops in Cambodia crossed into Thailand and sparked fighting that was heavy at times. A battalion from the 2nd Infantry Division under a Thai colonel thought to have high potential for leadership became bogged down, and a second Thai colonel brought up his battalion to relieve the pressure.
The big issue: Flip-flop of the year
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 28/12/2014
» Our betters of the Constitution Drafting Committee went into last week with a single issue on their minds. It was whether the Thailand of tomorrow should elect its next prime minister like the US and other republics elect their presidents — directly and nationally. The CDC's sub-committee on elections said "yes", great idea.
The big issue: Testing the water
Alan Dawson, Published on 28/09/2014
» The regime is beginning its fifth month in power with a couple of important outside trips. The message to the foreign community is — "We're here, we're not going away, so let's just get back to business as usual."
Obama gets tough on foreign policy
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 09/09/2012
» The US presidential election campaign finally began yesterday, and it promises to be an eventful 58 days of tough electioneering before Americans decide on Nov 6 who will serve.