Showing 1 - 7 of 7
How will post-poll Thailand look?
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 20/08/2018
» Now the Election Commission and the National Council for Peace and Order have promised to hold the general election on Feb 24 next year, should we remain hopeful that the move will eventually lead Thailand to transition into a more democratic state? The answer largely depends on our expectations of the outcome, as well as the form of democracy that we want -- and we can look southeasterly to Cambodia, or westerly to Myanmar to get a rough idea of what Thailand's new beginning may be like.
Put an end to conscription for good of all
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 23/04/2018
» Last week, I believe it must have been heartbreaking for many Thais who watched a video clip of a young man weeping and almost fainting upon learning he was drafted to serve in the army for two years via the annual conscription round. Yet, I also believe that many of them would oppose any proposal to abolish military conscription, a phenomenon that has long existed by default.
Construction accidents no small matter
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 08/05/2017
» It was horrifying to see the image of a gigantic crane that recently fell to the ground of the Red Line elevated rail construction site in Bangkok, killing three workers. What's more frightening is the knowledge that five "similar incidents" related to the same project, handled by the same contractor, took place before.
Army needs to prove it's not above the law
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 05/04/2017
» A young man was tortured to death for failing to show up for work last week.
Thailand and Bhutan: A growing bond
Life, Surasak Glahan, Published on 06/01/2017
» As a Thai awkwardly dressed up in a gho, the Bhutanese traditional dress for men, wandering through Bhutan's capital city of Thimphu, I found myself amid interesting scenes where Indian pop culture seems to top the interest of young Bhutanese with Indian songs played in cafés and bars and Bollywood movies shown on television.
Let's bite the bullet and end conscription
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 21/11/2016
» Former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva last Friday made another safe escape after dodging military conscription. More than 100,000 men drafted every year are not so lucky. Thailand has retained its conscription law against growing opposition, and has ruled out the possibility of replacing it with voluntary recruitment.
Impunity breeds political violence
News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 11/10/2016
» Forty years after the student massacre at Thammasat University, it seems as if our political leaders have learned nothing from it. The same vicious cycle of state-sponsored violence has persisted, letting those in power get away with their crimes.