Showing 61 - 70 of 218
Military spend makes budget a hard sell
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 21/10/2019
» The opposition's decision to abstain in the voting on the government's 3.2-trillion-baht budget bill for the 2020 fiscal year is a smart move that makes them look reasonable and not a "bad guy" who opposes everything associated with the government simply because they are in opposition.
Get budget priorities right
News, Editorial, Published on 17/10/2019
» The Prayut Chan-o-cha administration faces a crucial challenge from the opposition in the debate on the 2020 fiscal budget bill scheduled to begin on Thursday morning.
China's fast-track solutions in Myanmar fail to take off
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 07/09/2019
» The stand-off between Myanmar and Bangladesh over the planned repatriation of tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees continues. But things have just got a bit more complicated with China's intervention. Beijing -- with all good intentions -- is now trying to soothe the troubled waters, in part, a result of their earlier misjudged involvement, having proposed a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in New York in the coming weeks -- sponsored by the UN secretary-general -- to try to find a way out of the growing impasse.
Tank splurge beyond pale
News, Editorial, Published on 07/09/2019
» At a time when people are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, the army's recent and planned multi-billion-baht purchases of "refurbished" tanks from the US have provoked the ire of many. The growing criticism is understandable. Taxpayers are still largely kept in the dark over why and how their money is spent on these and other military hardware and weapons listed in the military's post-2014 coup shopping cart.
Army budget out of control
News, Editorial, Published on 06/07/2019
» With Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha's return to power as prime minister and him being tipped to also become the defence minister, the downsizing of the military and defence budget and repealing the military conscription rule -- which were electoral campaign pledges of key opposition parties -- are unlikely to take place.
5 years backwards under military rule
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 24/05/2019
» Now that five years have elapsed since Thailand's last military coup, it is an opportune juncture to take stock of where the country is heading. When it seized power in May 2014, the military junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order, initially had legitimacy from royal ascent and broad approval from its restoration of stability and order after more than half a year of street protests in Bangkok by the People's Democratic Reform Committee that was intent on overthrowing the Pheu Thai government.
Cough up cash to stop road carnage
News, Ploenpote Atthakor, Published on 15/05/2019
» Thailand will soon have new traffic laws, based on the more stringent Japanese model, a senior land transport official said recently. Obviously, he was thrilled.
Apirat singing wrong hymn sheet
News, Ploenpote Atthakor, Published on 20/02/2019
» Army chief Apirat Kongsompong's harsh reaction to the idea of politicians who want to push for military reform has triggered a number of questions.
Thai Proverbs: 2019 Edition
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 01/02/2019
» New words and verbal expressions are born every day yet our classic proverbs remain unchanged with references that are dated or we can no longer relate to. I’ll say it’s time to give classic proverbs a makeover with contemporary references. Some meanings are changed, by the way. Shall we give this a try?
Who has the lead in the AI race?
News, Peter Apps, Published on 17/01/2019
» In October, 31 Chinese teenagers reported to the Beijing Institute of Technology, one of the country's premier military research establishments. Selected from more than 5,000 applicants, Chinese authorities hope they will design a new generation of artificial intelligent weapons systems that could range from microscopic robots to computer worms, submarines, drones and tanks.