• OPINION

  Regime plays familiar game to retain grip

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 29/04/2018

  » The once invincible Pheu Thai Party is facing one of the toughest times in its history as the military-led government looks to use the very tactic that it deployed over the past decade to make sure that it returns to the helm after the elections.

• OPINION

  Hypocrisy of double standards

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 01/10/2017

  » Thailand's political landscape saw a dramatic change on Wednesday when the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions handed down its verdict to imprison former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra for five years for negligence of her duty as premier.

• OPINION

  Great escape could lead to backlash

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 27/08/2017

  » Friday was supposed to be Judgement Day but became Great Escape Day when former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra reportedly managed to sneak out of the country ahead of the verdict by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Position Holders.

• OPINION

  Dismal EC needs people with ethics

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 04/06/2017

  » The move by the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) to possibly remove the current members of the Election Commission (EC) comes as a surprise to many in the country. The NLA has proposed that the five commissioners, appointed under the defunct 2007 constitution, vacate their posts after the new EC organic law comes into effect.

• OPINION

  Army needs to learn to be neutral

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 26/03/2017

  » The Prayut Chan-o-cha government's plans to forge reconciliation in the country seem to be falling flat after the Pheu Thai party came out to denounce the committee put in charge of the process.

• OPINION

  Military must accept the obvious

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 02/04/2017

  » The Central Administrative Court on Friday ruled the military junta's moves to take away the three passports held by the former Education Minister, Chaturon Chaisang, was a "serious violation" of the fundamental rights of the key leader of the previous government.

• OPINION

  Time ripe for PM to revisit amnesty plan

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 06/01/2017

  » After having been rejected and buried many times, the idea of granting an amnesty to those involved in political violence in past years has emerged again. This time the bid comes from Suchon Chaleekrea, a member of the National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), who proposes an amnesty be granted to those charged with minor offences during political unrest, excluding major crime and lese majeste offenders.

• OPINION

  PM's strong words risk unity mission

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 22/04/2016

  » As the summer temperatures soar in Thailand, so does the political mercury. The tension seems unavoidable as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resorts to harsh reaction to critics who have opposed the draft charter, written by the Meechai Ruchupan-led Charter Drafting Committee.

• OPINION

  Benefit of the doubt not an invite to stay

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 26/02/2016

  » The military government's controversial 16-point proposal for the Meechai Ruchupan-led Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) that many see as an attempt to hold on to power has left pro-democracy supporters feeling anxious.

• OPINION

  Make reform of education a reality - fast

  News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 12/02/2016

  » When the military took power from the civilian government and seized control of the country in 2014, it made a lot of promises to bring about reconciliation and reform. After nearly two years, we have come to realise that the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration has achieved very little in fulfilling those promises. 

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