Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Thai army needs to march to a new tune
Oped, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 13/05/2023
» I always get feelings of fear when I hear the army's famous propaganda song, Nak Paendin, which in Thai means "burden of the country". As a child born during the 1970s, this song reminds me of military putsches.
Breaking the cycle of land inequality
News, Editorial, Published on 02/04/2023
» Thailand's land ownership disparity is one of the worst in the world. As such, land reform should be a crucial campaign policy for the upcoming general election. Unfortunately, it is not.
Time is on our side
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 15/08/2022
» Win or lose, a protest is a process of trial and error. To put it simply, it is disruption, innovation, or something in between, just the way the now-defunct but shape-shifting Future Forward Party was in 2019 because it is born out of a spirit, not a person or a party. If the student-led demonstration goes down in history for demanding the boldest political reform, including the role of the monarchy, its resurrection last week proves that the pro-democracy movement is coming of age.
Long overdue history review
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/11/2020
» If the Education Ministry has its way, the subject of Thai history in the Basic Education Core Curriculum will be overhauled, with the revised version available for the 2022 academic year.
A sad Thai policy of blanket dismissal
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 10/08/2020
» Army commander Gen Apirat Kongsompong took a swipe at anti-government elements, which are increasingly hounding Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on an almost daily basis, while chatting with army cadets on the occasion of the 133rd anniversary of the founding of the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy on Aug 5.
#BehindTheHashtags
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 06/03/2020
» Many student protests that were partly set off by the dissolution of Future Forward Party over the past two weeks has also ushered in new hashtags into the lexicon of Thai social media. At the time of writing, it has been reported that there are 28 hashtags associated with campus protests. Some are humourous while others carry strong political stances and sharp gibes. Whether you agree with these students who've chosen to make their voices heard, it's better to get used to their protest hashtags as more student flashmobs are on their way (but many speculate that the designation of Covid-19 as a dangerous communicable disease may be used as a tool to suppress them). Not to mention, an online campaign calling for people to wear black on Fridays as a symbol to oppose dictatorship began last Friday.
Scum of the Earth
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 24/02/2019
» At the Bangkok Post Forum on Feb 7, Future Forward Party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit said it would be splendid if Thailand had green shirts with four stars who favour democracy. He called for a review (English translation: cancellation) of the recent, 2.3 billion-baht purchase of 14 more Chinese main battle tanks. Oh, and Thailand should halt conscription.
Darkest-day song nothing to be proud of
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 20/02/2019
» Army commander-in-chief Gen Apirat Kongsompong's decision to order the army-run radio stations to "resurrect" the old ultra-nationalist song Nak Phandin ("Burden on the Land") in an apparent response to the Pheu Thai Party's prime ministerial candidate Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan's threat to cut military spending and Future Forward Party's pledge to scrap mandatory conscription is totally uncalled for.
'Khon' dance no reason for discord
News, Editorial, Published on 02/12/2018
» Members of the public this week rejoiced as the <i>khon</i> mask dance earned global recognition with Unesco adding it to its cultural heritage list after a long wait.
'My country's got' these socio-political ills
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 02/11/2018
» The explosive Rap Against Dictatorship music video that has taken Thailand by storm has raised myriad socio-political questions and issues. Known in Thai as <i>Prathet Ku Mee</i>, the sensational music video has been viewed on YouTube more than 25 million times in just 10 days in a country of 69 million people, a feat in its own right and a record for its artistic kind in Thailand. How this five-minute rap song in the Thai language has done so much says a lot about where Thailand has been and where it is going.