Showing 1 - 10 of 3,193
Case of no harm, no foul
News, Editorial, Published on 08/07/2015
» The military court's decision to release 14 members of the self-styled "New Democracy Movement" is a welcome move. It will help the military regime out of a hole it should not have dug itself into in the first place.
Saving water daily is key
News, Editorial, Published on 09/07/2015
» The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority issued an announcement yesterday assuring the public that tap water in Bangkok and its peripherals will not run dry next month. This was widely feared following the Royal Irrigation Department's plan to stop discharging water from four major dams into the Chao Phraya River in the next 30 days due to critically low levels of water in the dams.
Biodiversity gains await
News, Editorial, Published on 10/07/2015
» Thailand's rich biodiversity has been largely untapped. To blame is a consistent lack of policy support for research and development into Thai plants and herbs for their medicinal values. Such R&D could yield huge economic benefits for the country.
Migrant saga shame
News, Editorial, Published on 11/07/2015
» The poorly handled exodus of Turkic Uighur people in the past few days has made Thailand somewhat of a diplomatic punching bag. In one case, the country was even the victim of violence against its diplomatic mission in Istanbul. Without public notice, the government sent 172 Uighurs from a holding camp in Songkhla to Turkey, where they reportedly had families. Then, the second shoe dropped. Authorities sent 109 Uighurs to China against their will, setting off protests that were mostly understandable.
We need a steady hand at BoT helm
News, Editorial, Published on 12/07/2015
» The announcement naming Veerathai Santiprabhob as the next governor of the Bank of Thailand last week came as no surprise. In addition to his exceptional credentials, the 45-year-old economist with a PhD from Harvard was a clear choice over the other short-listed candidate, Supavud Saicheua, the managing director of Phatra Securities, because he has earned the trust of the current government under the leadership of Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Let debate be candid
News, Editorial, Published on 13/07/2015
» The chance to hear key political figures discuss current issues on the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) weekly television programme on reform is a welcome one. But to make this opportunity more beneficial to the public interest, the NCPO should give them the freedom to speak their minds without fear of repercussion. If the military regime refuses to relax its grip on freedom of expression, the NCPO's plan will end up being nothing more than just another pointless publicity stunt.
Debasing the US TIP report
News, Editorial, Published on 14/07/2015
» Alarming reports are coming from Washington about the highly anticipated Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. It seems that US officials have been ordered to promote Malaysia from Tier 3, the bottom ranking where Thailand was controversially placed last year. The reports - not denied by US officials - say Malaysia's rise back to Tier 2 was for purely political reasons, because President Barack Obama needs Malaysia's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.
NACC sparks death debate
News, Editorial, Published on 15/07/2015
» The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has done the country a disservice by secretly changing the law and instituting the death penalty as the maximum punishment for graft. The commission claims it discussed the law at length and agreed the death penalty is appropriate for such a severe offence as corruption. The NACC has acted in a disappointing and a high-handed matter. The legislature and government should act to rescind the NACC's secret decree and start over again. A new corruption law is needed, but it must undergo public debate, including the decision to extend the use of capital punishment.
Farmers lose, city folk win
News, Editorial, Published on 16/07/2015
» On April 1, California governor Jerry Brown announced the first ever state-wide water use restrictions, issuing an executive decree mandating a 25% reduction of urban water use. At the time of the imposition of the restrictions, California was in the middle of severe drought with snowpack, the source of water in the state, reduced to about 6% of what is normally available.
Children's futures at risk
News, Editorial, Published on 17/07/2015
» All children in Thailand are entitled to free universal education. This national policy applies to both Thai and non-Thai children, with or without legal status. The Education Ministry must explain why it has allowed the Office of the Private Education Commission (Opec) to violate this policy.