Showing 1 - 10 of 71
Come clean on Anocha
News, Editorial, Published on 27/01/2016
» The Sundance Film Festival, currently under way in the US state of Utah, has two items of strong interest to Thailand this year. The first is the presence on the jury of Apichatpong "Joe" Weerasethakul, the film director who has won top awards abroad and the ban of the censor at home. This latest, notable achievement deserves praise, but the premiere of a British-made documentary is arguably even more important.
Myanmar's shirked duty
News, Editorial, Published on 08/10/2018
» Last Thursday, police arrested two men in Ayutthaya for possession of drugs. They were driving a pickup with 700 one-kilogramme bags of crystal methamphetamine, a so-called recreational drug without medical or social value.
Hemp needs more support
News, Editorial, Published on 02/10/2022
» Marijuana is a drug. It needs proper control. But hemp is not pot. It is a valuable crop for diverse industries, and it needs policy support.
Cleaning up the kitchen
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/10/2022
» Thailand is not shy about promoting its farm products and national cuisine -- a perhaps over-sized sense of pride that has emboldened the government to position the kingdom as the "kitchen of the world" and enshrine our gastronomic heritage as "soft power".
Review 5-pill drug limit
Oped, Editorial, Published on 15/02/2024
» In response to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's pledge to review a policy that lowers the punishment for ya ba users found to have no more than five methamphetamine pills, the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) said it is considering reducing the limit to three.
Drug reform path unclear
News, Editorial, Published on 14/09/2016
» The government has a hard job ahead of it trying to sell the need for drug reform. A survey conducted a week ago by the Nida Poll shows just about half the country is opposed to any move to ease access or punishment for any currently illegal drugs. More than that, 60% want to keep mandatory imprisonment for possession of any methamphetamines, or ya ba. Governments have done such a terrific job of convincing Thais of a no-sympathy "war on drugs" that change is going to be difficult.
Yes to drug policy mend
News, Editorial, Published on 21/06/2016
» Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya caused a major uproar with a statement out of the blue about the country's leading drug problem. The statement in question featured a proposal he presented at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on drugs, known as UNGASS, in New York to demote methamphetamines from Category 1, the official designation of the most harmful and banned drugs, to the far more tolerant category.
Why futile wars on drugs persist
News, Editorial, Published on 31/05/2020
» This month, two international rights advocate groups highlighted "drug war" killings as a result of the brutal campaign initiated in 2016 by Rodrigo Duterte, the maverick president of the Philippines.
Rethink debt servicing
News, Editorial, Published on 01/12/2023
» Informal debt has been a chronic problem in Thai society, affecting a large number of people, particularly low-income earners.
End impunity for unjust killings
Editorial, Published on 26/11/2023
» Chaiyaphum Pasae, 17, was a passionate advocate for the indigenous rights of the hill tribe people. Six years ago, he was shot dead at an army checkpoint.