Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Four horsemen of Thai democracy ride on apathy
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 03/06/2015
» We are presumably more than half done with yet another constitution. Not counting the temporary ones issued after the many coup d'etats, this will be the 17th since absolute monarchy was abolished in 1932. Debates have been raging whether the new constitution will — finally — help Thailand reach its goal of being governed by democratic principles. I think not, for these reasons.
Big ideas like Kra Canal take guts to follow through on
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 07/01/2015
» With attention focused largely on holiday celebrations in the past couple of weeks, most Thais probably missed the news about a milestone event in Nicaragua just before Christmas. The event was a groundbreaking ceremony, commencing the construction of the Nicaragua Canal linking the Pacific Ocean with the Atlantic Ocean.
Keep a keen eye on the advisers, not just the NCPO
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 06/08/2014
» Recent days saw the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War One and the latest default by Argentina on its international debt.
Generals must lead way with sufficiency economy focus
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 02/07/2014
» The timetable is set. If the generals keep their word, the country will hold parliamentary elections sometime late next year. Until then, they will be running an interim government as well as working with a constitution drafting committee and a national reform assembly to draw up ground rules and an agenda for governing and developing the country in the years to come.
Coup-makers must lead by example
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 04/06/2014
» Every military intervention is costly and the current one is no exception. It costs a lot of money to keep soldiers on the streets, and their presence spooks tourists and investors, and interrupts the process of democratic development.
The 'crooks' in charge must step aside
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 01/01/2014
» A new year, a semi-failed state?
Getting rid of the government is the easy part
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 04/12/2013
» Ask any of the participants in the massive anti-government rallies about their purpose, and the answer is likely to be to get rid of something called "Thaksinocracy". When asked what it means, the answer varies, but may be roughly grouped along these five "cracies".
We're not even close to achieving democracy
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 03/07/2013
» With the government of Cuba relaxing many aspects of its rule, one may be tempted to conclude that democracy will soon completely triumph over dictatorship, just over two decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall. That, however, is hardly the case, according to William J Dobson.
Face of change needs more than a mask
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 05/06/2013
» Wearing a Guy Fawkes mask as a way of holding one's nose against the government seems to have caught on.
Some self-evident truths
News, Sawai Boonma, Published on 07/03/2012
» With apologies to the writers of the United States' Declaration of Independence, the following sentence seems to have rung in my ears every time I scanned the daily headlines or watched events unfolding on television these past few months: "These truths are held to be self-evident, that the executive branch is irresponsible, that the legislative branch is in shambles, that the judiciary branch is undependable, that Thailand is shamelessly corruptible."