Showing 1 - 10 of 29
Commission on a mission
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 17/03/2019
» "The Election Commission shall announce the result of the election", and there really hasn't been any more vast difference between the EC and the members of the public. It's not even supposed to be a worry. But everyone's worrying about the scraping of all the foreign votes and the vital gathering of all today's advance votes and the really major assembling next week of every one-person-one-vote.
Indictment of the innocent
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 17/02/2019
» It wasn't a good week for those who claim the March 24 general election will be free and fair. The "gateway to resumption of government accountability and democracy building" seemed firmly closed.
Go to Plan B
Alan Dawson, Published on 13/01/2019
» Normally notable for his silence, the Minister of Interior and inflatable blimp expert Gen Anupong Paojinda released the cat from his bag. His drones and workers, who had already begun setting up election facilities and security barriers, downed tools.
Long and winding roadmap
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 01/04/2018
» Question: Is it more scary, or less scary, that the junta doesn't have an actual plan slash conspiracy to keep itself in power? That it has extended its time and generous pay and perks without any design ever since the phantom 2015 election?
I'm asking the questions here
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 12/11/2017
» Well, that changed quickly. Instead of reporters and the political class shouting questions at an absolutely livid general prime minister, there was Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha doing the asking, serenely calm as a midnight millpond while the media squirmed and the political classes went apoplectic.
What he's thinking
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 24/09/2017
» The election campaign began rolling in earnest last week. Now if only the government had kept its promise and actually had an election. Minor detail, perhaps, but memories are so short when they operate on political bias that it's good to do history.
No, really, Big Brother is watching
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 25/06/2017
» The Big Three of International Computing have convinced tens of millions of customers to spy on themselves. Considering this, what's the big deal when the government listens in too -- well, apart from the going-to-jail part -- at least?
The more things change
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 19/03/2017
» A military regime is in power. It is driving Meechai Ruchupan's new constitution and passels of laws through its handpicked National Assembly to enable and ensure military hands on power even after it nominally returns to the barracks to allow elections the red shirts will probably win again. It has a new Computer Crime Act to intimidate and if necessary incarcerate infuriating pests complaining about lack of democracy. Oh, and almost forgot: it's not 2017.
The old stomping grounds
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 25/09/2016
» On the day of the coup, May 22, 2014, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha commanded the Royal Thai Army and his little three-star brother Preecha held command of the 3rd Army. That is a post with a good deal of prestige, and it fit Lt Gen Preecha to a T. He was a helicopter pilot by military occupation, and disposed to chase drug smugglers. Where else is better? He staked out the 3rd Army as his stomping grounds, and life was good.