Showing 1 - 10 of 31
Thailand should emulate Japan's art of adaptation
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 03/11/2015
» I recently embarked on a family holiday to Japan. It was only our fourth visit in 10 years. This time we paid a brief visit to Osaka and Kobe, but in my opinion, the highlight of the trip was my first ride on the Shinkansen, Japan's high-speed train.
Prayut's stance at UN must stand the test of logic
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 21/09/2015
» As a Thai citizen I would like to wish Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and his delegation good luck on his imminent visit to the annual United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Thailand needs a new constitution free from fear
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 18/08/2015
» In the entire history of the world, human beings have come up with some pretty outrageous ideas, like the man who solved the problem of his low ceiling by chopping off his legs. In my view, the Constitution Drafting Committee's (CDC) so-called crisis committee, inserted in the draft constitution, is a far worse idea. The Borwornsak draft constitution has hit a new low, because the crisis committee will essentially attempt to institutionalise military coups. It will seek to legitimise the illegitimate and make lawful what is inherently unlawful, which is an abomination to the very concept and study of law. It is nothing less than constitutional heresy!
The silence is deafening
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 07/07/2015
» What kind of society is the junta creating when the peaceful "New Democracy Movement" protesters, all in their early twenties, are jailed without due process, to have their fate decided on by a military tribunal? Without any doubt the junta's behaviour in this matter is utterly deplorable. But what is soul-destroying is the comfortable silence from certain sections of our society. You can almost hear a pin drop. The leader of the Democrat Party? Not a sound. Venerable statesmen? Not a squeak. Or maybe the rector of Thammasat University would like to voice his objection? Not a single word. Ladies and gentlemen, right or wrong, the only people that have demonstrated any courage at all through this episode are the 14 kids in jail, while the adults hide.
The constitutional merry-go-round revolves once again
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 23/05/2015
» So finally we’re going to have a referendum on this draft constitution. Hooray! This makes it 20 constitutions since 1932. That’s one constitution every four years on average if you do the maths. Therefore, it will come as no surprise to foreign observers that Thais have very little emotional investment in this document, because it’s more than likely we’ll be rewriting, redrafting, rewinding and reinventing another constitution in a few years time. Thailand has become a serial murderer of constitutions and the more constitutions we put to death, the less meaning each one has.
Thailand's political landscape rivals that of 'Hamlet'
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 02/06/2015
» I was recently invited by the British ambassador to attend a performance of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' organised by The British Council and the British embassy at Chulalongkorn University. I must admit to never having seen Hamlet but I'm glad I finally did because it rather reminded me in parts of what's happening here in Thailand.
Thailand needs an informed citizenry
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 11/06/2015
» The concept of citizenship is fundamental to the principles of democratic governance. The two go hand in hand. The democratic state can basically be reduced down to the citizen, and citizens can only exist under the auspices of a democratic state. Without delving into political theory, it is this "social contract" which defines the relationship between a citizen and the state.
Only real democracy will solve Thailand's problems
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 29/01/2015
» In my view, the Yingluck Shinawatra impeachment proceedings were shameful and will go down in history as one of the most horrendous events in modern Thai history.
In the Thai political rule book, not all crimes are equal
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 19/02/2015
» The year 2015 is a rather special year for students of British history like myself, because it marks the 50th anniversary since the death of Sir Winston Churchill and the 750th anniversary of a much less celebrated but equally vital historical landmark called the de Montfort Parliament.
Reforms must ensure state apparatus is on our side
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 19/12/2014
» Among the reforms the National Reform Council (NRC) is expected to design is a new election system that will help Thailand mitigate the influence of vote-buying.