Showing 121 - 130 of 166
Police chief owes us an explanation
News, Editorial, Published on 14/05/2017
» While anyone who launched the bomb blasts targeting civilians at a Big C Supercenter in Pattani province that resulted in at least 61 injuries last Tuesday must be condemned, security officers have to be held responsible over what seemed to be their lax operations.
Keep a lid on Songkran
News, Editorial, Published on 13/04/2017
» The Songkran Festival officially begins today. Unlike previous years, the water splashing activities especially in Bangkok will take place in regulated calmness thanks to a series of state orders that are driven by the need to promote road safety and curb traffic-related fatalities.
Army's bullying tactics won't work
News, Editorial, Published on 09/04/2017
» Less than a month after the botched environmental and health hearing for the controversial Pak Bara deep-sea project in Satun was called off, rumours have abounded that there is an attempt to transfer a local doctor out of the area who has been helping southern villagers in their fight against the state project. Dr Supat Hasuwannakit, director of Songkhla-based Chana Hospital and a key figure in the Rural Doctors Society, has emerged as a state target owing to his sympathy for embattled villagers opposing the state's projects, which include planned coal-fired power plants in Songkhla and Krabi provinces that would adversely affect the environment and peoples' livelihoods.
A crime, not an accident
News, Editorial, Published on 05/04/2017
» The indefensible death of army Pvt Yutthakinun Boonniam at the main military camp in Surat Thani is simply the latest incident showing a lack of discipline from the top down in the Royal Thai Armed Forces. It is distressing that the army refused to announce the appalling torture and homicide. Pvt Yutthakinun's mother revealed the killing when she filed charges with police in the southern province. Then, amazingly, instead of adopting even a facade of responsibility, came the excuses.
An example to emulate
News, Editorial, Published on 21/03/2017
» In 1959, young anti-Spain nationalists broke with decades of peaceful resistance and formed a terrorist group. Their group, Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (Basque Country and Freedom) is known as ETA. It has demanded separation and independence for regions sandwiched between northern Spain and southwestern France. In 2010 it renounced all violence and now has declared it will turn all weapons over to French and Spanish authorities on April 8.
End repressive southern laws
News, Editorial, Published on 07/03/2017
» The military regime of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has claimed a lot of credit lately for cooling the tensions and decreasing the violence in the deep South. Statistics back up these claims. Despite last week's terrorist-type attacks that shocked the nation, security forces have made progress. The regime should therefore put their money where their claims are, so to speak, and move to ease and then end emergency-type laws for the region.
Fingerprint plan flawed
News, Editorial, Published on 01/03/2017
» The well-intentioned, indeed necessary military campaign to prevent bomb attacks in the deep South has taken a curious turn. The 4th Army for years has taken a variety of steps, some more effective than others, to stop separatist bombs. The most common terrorist-type bomb is one detonated from a distance by a mobile phone call.
No hope for separatism
News, Editorial, Published on 06/01/2017
» The latest statistics and statements from the deep South paint a depressing portrait of that restive region. While the military regime places the low-intensity war among its top security problems, it has actually stacked more layers of stultifying bureaucracy on the debilitating violence, now in its 14th year. Nor was there even a shred of optimism from the army commander's message for the new year, saying he hopes to tame some of the violence within a few years.
Gambling on Udomdej
News, Editorial, Published on 27/12/2016
» Today's cabinet meeting is likely to make key decisions related to operations to tackle violence in the restive deep South, and the money being spent there. Ministers will be asked to hear and make decisions on yet another roadmap to tackle the southern unrest. Even more controversially, they are likely to be asked to place the management of the entire multi-billion-baht budget supporting government actions in the South in the hands of one interesting man.
Singer sets right exercise example
News, Editorial, Published on 18/12/2016
» If the government is determined to make exercise a public agenda, it should seize the momentum in favour of exercise provided by rock singer Artiwara Kongmalai and extend it into a sustainable practice for members of the public.