• OPINION

  Anti-populism law not for greater good

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 09/05/2018

  » Raising one finger during her campaigning to symbolise her party's ballot number ahead of the 2011 election, Yingluck Shinawatra rode a wave of popularity all the way to victory. And now the man who threw her caretaker government out of office in 2014 by force has demonstrated he is not shy of using a similar gimmick.

• THAILAND

  Embittered Thai craft beer brewers plead for justice

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 04/01/2023

  » With the onerous liquor laws that have let just a few large breweries dominate the market and have forbidden entry by small-scale newcomers for decades, Chiang Mai native Saksit Sanguanphon was forced to fulfil his dream to produce his own artisanal craft beer somewhere else. He went to Laos.

• OPINION

  Tackling Asean's corporate cronyism

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 03/10/2019

  » Many Southeast Asian countries, particularly Thailand and Malaysia, have been breeding grounds for unchecked and unregulated relations between government and big conglomerates, which have kept a handful of crazy rich Asians increasingly wealthy and widened the income gap between them and the rest of the population.

• OPINION

  PM lacking confidence despite loaded deck

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 17/12/2018

  » In the upcoming Feb 24 general election, one retired general does not need a big win if he wants to become prime minister. Under the current constitution, he just needs a small share of votes, 126 out of the 500 MP seats up for grabs. Yet, there have been an endless series of (presumably dirty) tricks and (shrewdly planted) traps to emerge over the past month which have been seen as efforts to help him gain this small win. Why?

• OPINION

  Plagiarism is innovation's cul-de-sac

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 07/09/2018

  » What's new? That's what my reaction was when I learnt about the plagiarism allegation levelled at Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag over the winning design for Suvarnabhumi airport's new terminal that has been ongoing over the past week.

• OPINION

  Put an end to conscription for good of all

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 23/04/2018

  » Last week, I believe it must have been heartbreaking for many Thais who watched a video clip of a young man weeping and almost fainting upon learning he was drafted to serve in the army for two years via the annual conscription round. Yet, I also believe that many of them would oppose any proposal to abolish military conscription, a phenomenon that has long existed by default.

• OPINION

  'Stupid' locals label mocks Thai-ism aims

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 19/03/2018

  » How do you feel if the state says it wants to hear about your plight in order to offer you help, but still holds a view that you are too "stupid" to think for yourself and continues to strictly forbid you from expressing your grievances unless it approves of the platform where you have your say?

• OPINION

  Let's hear it for the year's real heroes

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 25/12/2017

  » With the constant chilly breeze in the evening and nice temperatures during the day, the cold spell this year has been more generous to Bangkokians than the increasingly suppressive political climate (We have been through many rounds of political turmoil for years, but had rarely experienced this kind of pleasant winter.)

• OPINION

  Litter louts, not drinkers, the real park pests

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 05/12/2017

  » At national parks during the festive season every year, do you know what human behaviour I think is arguably far more disturbing than loud noises made by "drunken" visitors?

• OPINION

  Consumers made to pay for government sins

  News, Surasak Glahan, Published on 14/09/2017

  » Is this government becoming broke and hatching a new "sin tax" plan to force allegedly sinful consumers like us to pay more? I couldn't help but raise this speculation with a friend over possible price hikes in alcohol, cigarettes and coffee, when new excise tax rates take effect this Saturday.

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