Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Military treats democracy like a video game
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 13/06/2017
» Our leaders handle politics as if it were a video game. There is a reset button. Everything can be reset to zero -- and we start all over again.
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.
Three questionable years under NCPO rule
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 09/05/2017
» May 22 will mark the third anniversary of the 2014 coup that saw the country switch to authoritarian mode under the stewardship of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) led by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. Even with a new constitution now in place, the regime is relentlessly maintaining its tight control into a fourth and final year -- that is if a general election is called in accordance with the timetable of the charter.
Scrap the unconstitutional media bill
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 02/05/2017
» The name of the National Reform Steering Assembly's (NRSA) media bill runs against its real purposes. Branded as the "protection and promotion of media rights, freedom, ethics and professional standard law", the contents of the bill have nothing to do with the title in their intrusive and abusive nature against freedom of speech.
No right to bear arms, no right to violence
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 28/03/2017
» Three separate incidents in last few weeks defined a deep-rooted malevolence that continues to tear the fabric of Thai society apart.
A citizen's response to the unity questions
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 14/03/2017
» The government recently sent 10 questions to each political party as a guideline for discussions on reconciliation. I went through them and tried to answer -- call it a citizen's response, if you may.
Public interest, not their own, will save media
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 07/02/2017
» The recent attempt by the National Reform Steering Assembly's media reform panel to push through a media regulation bill seems like part of a "roadmap" to restrict freedom of speech.
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.
Knee-jerk reactions won't lower road toll
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 10/01/2017
» The public outcry over fatal road accidents in Thailand has been seasonal and tied to major long public holidays, namely the New Year break and the Songkran festival. This is not news. Unfortunately, past governments' responses to the chronic problem have usually been short-lived.
Rice politics and the death of Thai farmers
News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 01/11/2016
» The latest dramatic fall in the price of rice could not have come at a worse time for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.