Showing 81 - 90 of 383
Time to cast nets wider
News, Editorial, Published on 26/01/2019
» Now that the Thai government has "cleaned up" the country's lucrative fishing industry and saved seafood exporters from potentially huge losses deriving from lost exports to European Union markets, the time is nigh for it to address a bigger problem: saving migrant workers from abuse and exploitation in other sectors.
'Thai-style' human rights raises questions
News, Paritta Wangkiat, Published on 14/01/2019
» The detention of an 18-year-old Saudi runaway and a Bahraini footballer are just recent examples of the Thai-style approach to international human rights issues that usually puts concerns over Thailand's bilateral ties with other nations before the rights and safety of individuals.
Tuning up for another festive season
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 23/12/2018
» As we hurtle into the Jinger Ben mayhem (Jingle Bells to the uninitiated), it certainly helps if you have a bit of stamina. It is the time you prepare yourself for wearing silly hats, singing even sillier songs and acting in jovial fashion when the last thing you feel like is being jovial. You might even be subjected to inebriated gentlemen singing Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.
Abetting dictators
News, Editorial, Published on 12/12/2018
» The sudden government interest in apprehending political opponents of foreign governments is disappointing. It may be coincidence but in just a week, police have forcibly detained critics of the governments of Cambodia and Bahrain. The arrests and threats of deportation or extradition to these undemocratic countries go against normal human rights practices. They also violate decades of Thai policy that often welcomed and never threatened lives of foreigners pitted against their governments.
'Worst is over' for Pheu Thai
News, Published on 01/12/2018
» The Pheu Thai Party has been battered by a series of political misfortunes of late and it is facing a hard time to get back to its former glory.
Halting child trafficking remains tricky
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 19/11/2018
» One of the positive developments in Thailand in recent years has been the governmental commitment to eradicate human trafficking. It has been complemented by a spate of court cases against human traffickers, with some evident successes. Yet, there remains a challenging situation, particularly where children are the victims, compounded by the complexity of a transfrontier situation and the opacity of the vested interests behind the sex market.
Thailand at forefront of push for LGBTI inclusion
News, Published on 16/11/2018
» Thailand could become the first government in Southeast Asia to officially recognise same-sex and transgender couples, with the final draft of a civil partnership bill expected to be concluded by the end of this year.
LGBT bill still gets it wrong
News, Editorial, Published on 10/11/2018
» Even though Thailand has adopted quite a tolerant attitude toward the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community, there are always limits to this. One of these concerns their marital status. Same sex couples can have a wedding ceremony and live together openly, for example, but they cannot legally wed as heterosexual couples can.
School policy merits praise
News, Editorial, Published on 17/10/2018
» The Ministry of Education has delivered a rare and welcome policy change for students. A laudable new regulation that was delivered out of the blue addresses the problem of teenage pregnancies in a positive manner. This commendable decision comes in the wake of a serious black eye to the system.
Abused children at risk from cadet ban
News, Ketsanee Chantrakul, Published on 12/09/2018
» In January of this year, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and armed soldiers raided "Victoria Secret" massage parlour in the Rama IX area of Bangkok.