Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Stop procrastinating, call the election now!
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 21/03/2018
» The latest proposal by Somchai Sawaengkarn, a member of the coup-installed National Legislative Assembly (NLA), asking for a consensus from political parties for a further delay of the general election of another three months has been seen as a regime tactic to extend its grip on power. Such a proposal deserves to be condemned.
Reform of the police force must serve people
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 23/05/2017
» A fresh "police reform" has recently been proposed by a special committee under the joint whip of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) and the National Legislative Assembly (NLA). It, however, has drawn opposition from people's organisations who criticise the proposal for lacking concrete structural reforms.
Local governing bodies badly need reform
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 04/04/2017
» Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon recently sent up a trial balloon on the possibility of calling elections for local administration organisations before the general elections. His line of thought is that if the local elected bodies are in place before the national body, national politicians will not be able to manipulate local politicians during their poll campaign.
Paving over the cracks in reconciliation
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 17/01/2017
» After two and a half years without serious and meaningful efforts to reconcile political conflict, the military government is vowing to press ahead with its national reform and development strategy. But the regime will find it hard to achieve meaningful reconciliation if it is not committed to a return to full democracy and applying the rule of law.
Unity bid doesn't tackle conflict's root causes
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 24/01/2017
» The week before last, the government renewed its reconciliation efforts. This time, it set up a new committee under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
'Reset' by charter drafters fails to deliver
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 22/11/2016
» The Constitution Drafting Committee's (CDC) current effort to deliberate the draft organic laws to "reset" independent organisations fails to touch on anything of real substance.
Shutting out parties is recipe for trouble
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 06/12/2016
» The gag order issued by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) after the 2014 coup which prohibits political gatherings of more than five people will be a key obstacle for parties when preparing for the next general election.
Hawaii-gate shows regime dangers of 'perks'
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 11/10/2016
» Public attention has been riveted on the high-profile trip to Hawaii of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon to attend the Asean–US Defence Informal Meeting although those involved have made a massive attempt to downplay it.
No room for hypocrisy in anti-graft junta
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 27/09/2016
» Last Sunday, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha returned home from his US trip into the eye of storm. The recent controversies surrounding family members of his younger brother, defence permanent secretary Preecha Chan-o-cha, have diverted public attention from what he tried to achieve at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. With his anti-graft mandate, Gen Prayut has a tough choice to make or he could risk the legitimacy of his government.
Open debate on the draft charter is critical
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 27/07/2016
» As the nation rounds the last corner towards the Aug 7 constitutional referendum, the outcome remains uncertain and the aftermath worrisome.