• OPINION

  The story of a lese majeste prisoner

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 21/07/2013

  » Sometimes there's no need for commentary, the story speaks for itself. Allegations were made by Thanthawut Taweewarodomkul during a seminar last Sunday, recorded <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80clD_3GVUA" target="_blank">and put on YouTube</a>, that ordinary red shirt prisoners and red shirt lese majeste convicts in particular are physically abused by guards and other prisoners; ignored by leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD); and at the mercy of Pheu Thai-appointed lawyers who didn't know and didn't care about their cases.

• OPINION

  UDD can bring us change to believe in

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 19/05/2013

  » The accusation is often made that Thailand can never change. However, over the past six years, propelled by political crisis, there have been many changes, which some some would say are for the better. Some would argue the opposite, but at the end of the day it is up to the Thai people to steer the direction of change.

• OPINION

  Just reflections of ourselves

  Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 16/05/2013

  » The wonderful thing about representative democracy is that, not only do we get exactly what we vote for, but the people sitting in government also represent exactly the people walking in the streets. It’s like a reflection in the mirror.

• OPINION

  Tune in to change by television courts

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 28/04/2013

  » On Tuesday, 300 citizens travelled 200km from Prachuap Khiri Khan province to rally in front of the Appeal Court and demand transparency in the case of environmental activist Charoen Wat-aksorn, who was assassinated on June 21, 2004. Meanwhile, hundreds of red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship members were holding their own rally in front of the Constitution Court, part of a campaign to gather at least 20,000 names for a petition asking the National Anti-Corruption Commission to clear the entire court bench of nine judges.

• OPINION

  The brighter side of lese majeste

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 24/03/2013

  » Too often we focus on the negative and fail to appreciate the positive. After all, mankind's penchant for complaining is spiritually gratifying and psychologically therapeutic, while a pat on the back is nothing but a selfless act.

• OPINION

  In the name of freedom and democracy

  Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 07/02/2013

  » Sex tourism? The country's image? Baa-hum-bug! The fact of life is, if we don't take care of our own daughters, then some old, hairy foreigner will. For that matter, if we don't take care of our own daughters, then some old, hairless Thai will. There are two sides - at least - to every coin.

• OPINION

  A society in decay

  Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 17/01/2013

  » The greatest threat to Thailand is not from any foreign power. It is not the man in Dubai, nor is it the invisible hand. It is not the polarisation caused by the political divide, nor is it even the corruption.

• OPINION

  The ego has landed

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 14/10/2012

  » The government's 2.75 trillion baht infrastructure development plan unveiled on Oct 5 will, at best, have a mediocre effect on the development of Thailand. This is not a knock against the Pheu Thai regime. It would be mediocre with any of the previous governments in charge as well. We're not even factoring in corruption; instead we're factoring in an unyielding mindset.

• OPINION

  Young and the restless

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 01/07/2012

  » I read that the Republican Party of Texas called for a ban on teaching critical thinking skills in the state's schools because of its "focus on behaviour modification" that has "the purpose of challenging the student's fixed beliefs and undermining parental authority".

• OPINION

  Painting a picture

  News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 11/03/2012

  » Plainclothes police are staking out the hideout, snipers lock on to their targets from the tops of surrounding buildings and a truckload of Swat team members are hiding nearby _ it's the quiet before the storm. Suspects all accounted for in the hideout, check. Certain evidence confirmed in the hideout, check. Communication lines secured, neighbourhood cleared, weapons locked and loaded, full metal jackets in place, check, check and check.

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