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  • News & article

    Democracy is a creation of the people, not an elite few

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 22/10/2014

    » As the National Reform Council (NRC) has convened and will soon begin to plunge into the so-called "reform" process with all the nitty-gritty details, a few points must be considered.

  • News & article

    Unity in mourning, without angry crowds

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 18/10/2016

    » Thailand has been mourning the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej -- the father to the land and the country's pillar of stability and unity.

  • News & article

    Back to the future in our political models

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 06/09/2016

    » T wo political models are presently being cited by supporters of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha as vehicles for his continuation as premier after the general election of 2017. One is the so-called "Prem Model", a reference to the era of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda who was prime minister between 1980 to 1988. The other is the setting up of a military-backed political party to become the core in the formation of the next government.

  • News & article

    New political parties must wipe slate clean

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 07/03/2018

    » As new political parties rush to reserve names and kick off the registration process, there emerges an impression that our politics is being returned to a democratic mode. The existing political parties are supposed to start confirming the memberships of their members next month. However, there still is no clear signal from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) over when it will allow political parties -- new or old -- to conduct activities. The road ahead remains full of pitfalls and loopholes. It will be a long time before the dust settles, if ever.

  • News & article

    Levelling out Thailand's political seesaw

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 25/04/2018

    » Finally, the State Financial and Fiscal Discipline Act of 2018 has taken effect, despite criticism about the controversial clause that virtually bans populist policies. It is seen as an attempt by the ruling regime under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to limit the role of elected representatives in turning campaign promises into government policies. With that, a democratic principle turns upside down.

  • News & article

    Laying siege to the City of Angels

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 18/04/2018

    » The appointment of Sakoltee Phattiyakul as deputy governor of Bangkok by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha through the use of Section 44 has been seen as a move by the regime to take control of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and pave a path towards securing votes in the capital for the election in the near future.

  • News & article

    The rich history of 'siphoning' in our politics

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 02/05/2018

    » Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha is accused of "siphoning" ex-members of parliament from various political parties into a party of his own that is currently setting up, rumoured to be the Palang Pracharat Party.

  • News & article

    Stop procrastinating, call the election now!

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 21/03/2018

    » The latest proposal by Somchai Sawaengkarn, a member of the coup-installed National Legislative Assembly (NLA), asking for a consensus from political parties for a further delay of the general election of another three months has been seen as a regime tactic to extend its grip on power. Such a proposal deserves to be condemned.

  • News & article

    'Talk show' debate sets tone for election

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 28/03/2018

    » The first open debate between representatives of political parties since the 2014 coup took place last week at a forum in Bangkok. It pitted veteran politicians against young bloods entering politics for the first time. Even though the event was more like a talk show and somewhat superficial, it did set the tone for the kind of politics we could expect leading to a general election next year.

  • News & article

    Major parties in battle to repel NCPO attack

    News, Suranand Vejjajiva, Published on 04/04/2018

    » At the end of March, 97 political groups applied to be registered as political parties. Come April, public attention has turned to existing political parties whose party members are required to reconfirm their membership status. These are some of the steps the military regime under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has taken to manipulate our politics ahead of the election next year.

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