• OPINION

  Making change via K-Pop and Thai-Y

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 04/05/2022

  » K-Pop and artistic ripples through films and other forms of entertainment from South Korea have been conquering the world in recent years, as part of soft power and smart power.

• OPINION

  Gender diversity is good for business

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 11/03/2024

  » A timely issue raised by a recent forum of key businesses, political leaders and civil society was the potential for more inclusion of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people in the workplace. This is complementary to the other critically important issue of the day: the role of women in business and employment.

• OPINION

  Kids in face of criminal justice system

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 21/02/2024

  » Passions are raised understandably when children are alleged to have committed crimes. Yet, a balanced approach is required; emotions need to be moderated, and rationalisation needs to be advocated.

• OPINION

  Having another go at a UNHRC seat

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 03/08/2023

  » Thailand is planning to be a candidate in the next round of elections for the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), with voting on the matter due at the UN General Assembly in 2024 for a seat in 2025-2027. What might be the reasonable expectations for this and what might be an appropriate strategy for the nation to be sufficiently self-prepared?

• OPINION

  Poll outcome invites shared wisdom

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 22/05/2023

  » That was the week that was, beginning on May 14, 2023, Thailand's monumental and momentous national election day. The results of the election were historically in favour of democratic change, with the Move Forward Party (MFP) gaining the most seats in the Lower House. It is leading a coalition of parties, aspiring to form the next government and winning over 310 seats in total, despite shenanigans from arch-conservatives.

• OPINION

  Lessons from the Khmer Rouge tribunal

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 18/02/2023

  » One of the saddest episodes of Southeast Asian history was the period during the 1970s that witnessed the rule of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. The group was driven by a warped ideology, and it perpetrated myriad crimes against the general population. Millions were killed and displaced through a range of atrocities. Decades later, an internationally supported tribunal, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC), or the Khmer Rouge Tribunal, was set up to prosecute the leaders of the group, and it is now ending its work. What are some of the key lessons the global community can learn from this?

• OPINION

  Making room for youth in Thai politics

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 29/10/2022

  » Thailand is heading towards national elections next year, and this is an opportune moment to ask how much room there is for the participation of youth in politics. The record to date has been ambivalent, and much depends on both political and social will to broaden the civic and political space.

• OPINION

  A new direction for UN in Thailand?

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 13/07/2022

  » Thailand is proudly a hub for United Nations (UN) agencies and programmes, and this adds weight to its leverage in international relations. Inevitably, the UN presence has to address key issues of sustainable development, human rights, democracy and peace. A key question is thus whether a viable balance is being struck between national practices and international aspirations.

• OPINION

  Heed the global messages against discrimination

  News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 03/02/2022

  » The past couple of months have seen two global developments sending strong messages against discrimination and exclusion. On Jan 13, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus a key resolution against denial of the Holocaust, advocating stronger action against such a refutation on an international level.

• OPINION

  Stop deporting Cambodian refugees

  Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 01/12/2021

  » The recent deportation of three internationally recognised Cambodian refugees provoked an international outcry, much to Thailand's embarrassment. The first two were deported from Thailand on Nov 9, while the third was sent back home on Nov 20 to also face the risk of political persecution. Such efforts to "push back" refugees have regrettably tarnished Thailand's generally commendable policy and practice of offering refuge to persons fleeing persecution and other dangers from foreign territories. This is all the more poignant since Thailand's human rights record is in the middle of being assessed in Geneva under the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

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