Showing 1 - 10 of 12
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.
Yingluck gone but populism sticks around
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 30/08/2017
» Ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra has gone -- some might say -- with the wind. And the way she fled the country was so sly, like a Hollywood film noir where the femme fatale coolly sashays out of the scene having outwitted everyone.
Regime push for 'Thainess' turns sinister
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 26/01/2018
» "Thainess", or <i>Thai Niyom</i>, has become the moniker attached to the latest fad of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his government. First, the premier floated the idea of "Thai-style democracy", on Children's Day.
Promenade halt might just save Chao Phraya
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 07/02/2020
» The Administrative Court made a crucial decision that might just save the Chao Phraya River from the government's "development" plan it calls the Riverside Promenade.
November poll dreams may turn to dust
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 19/01/2018
» The general election is just 311 days away -- as long as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) keeps to its promise and sticks to the timetable for the political roadmap to democracy so the poll can proceed in November.
An election singing the same old tune
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 05/06/2017
» The harsh public criticism against Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his "four questions" gives an impression that people in country look forward to an election. Putting aside the fact that some politicians can be unscrupulous, or there might be a possibility of street demonstrations, it appears people are willing to give democracy a chance. After all, it is my belief that Thais have special relations with democracy.
Leaders reject govt proposal to limit terms
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 24/04/2017
» Clad in official khaki uniforms, a group of kamnan and phuyai ban, local leaders at the subdistrict and village levels respectively, recently made their presence felt in Bangkok as they gathered to call for the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA) to rethink its proposal to limit their terms in office.
Local voting offers clues to reconciliation
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 30/01/2017
» The charter drafting process is dragging on. Again. Another national reconciliation effort -- which have historically led to irreconcilable differences -- is back on the horizon. Again. These hurdles are enough to make many of us wonder whether a general election will occur as the junta promised. This year? Next year?
The valuable lessons from US election
News, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 14/11/2016
» As expected, the US presidential election which has just passed was a nail-biting event for millions of people around the globe, as Donald Trump emerged the winner. His success is being challenged by anti-Trump demonstrators (although some are protesting against the electoral college concept!) in major cities around the US.
No shark fins please!
Life, Anchalee Kongrut, Published on 19/07/2012
» Once in a blue moon, the Chinese government gets it right when it chooses to ban something.