Showing 1 - 10 of 25
Collar bombers not scapegoats
News, Editorial, Published on 04/08/2019
» The series of bombings in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, which injured four people last week, is a challenge to the new Prayut Chan-o-cha administration and those in charge of security affairs.
Defence is no joking matter
News, Editorial, Published on 23/01/2019
» Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has been rightly pilloried in both local and foreign media lately. He has shown himself to be lacking in a too-long series of events. These have run from his luxury watches to last weekend's tasteless feast of mangoes and sticky rice. Still, there was something especially disconcerting and disappointing in his offensive and supremely unfunny "joke" about last week's terrorist attack on the Thai-managed DusitD2 hotel complex in Nairobi.
Religious abuse perils
News, Editorial, Published on 15/08/2018
» Friday is the third anniversary of the worst single terrorist attack in modern Thailand. The poorly investigated, badly prosecuted bombing of the Erawan shrine killed 20 people and injured more than 100. The hurried police work concluded it was the act of foreigners angry at the government's success against human trafficking. The "foreigners" turned out to be Chinese Uighurs, two of whom were arrested and are still undergoing trial. The only known Thai suspect is on bail and her trial is officially pending, unofficially unlikely.
The Uighur dilemma
News, Editorial, Published on 23/11/2017
» The jailbreak of 20 illegal Uighur migrants from a detention centre in the southern province of Songkhla earlier this week poses a foreign policy dilemma for the military regime.
Jumping to conclusions
News, Editorial, Published on 05/06/2017
» There is a certain familiarity about the spat between some officials in the Philippines after the calamitous midnight suicide attack on a Metro Manila resort last week. Gunfire and arson caused by the attacker left at least 37 people dead. Most died from smoke inhalation in the fire set by the attacker at the Resorts World Manila complex not far from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
A strategic balance is best
News, Editorial, Published on 04/05/2017
» Needless to say, the phone call by US President Donald Trump to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha caused a stir at the Thai Khu Fah building. The call, and also the invitation for Gen Prayut to make an official trip to Washington, signifies a thaw in relations frozen since the 2014 military putsch.
Case lost in translation
News, Editorial, Published on 27/10/2016
» At a glance, the postponement of a court trial for two suspects in connection with the deadly bombing at the Erawan shrine due to the lack of an interpreter sparks suspicion there may be foul play in the case which has been long delayed.
Bomb probe in disarray
News, Editorial, Published on 22/08/2016
» It is almost two weeks since the Mother's Day bombings in Prachuap Khiri Khan and six provinces in the South and the investigations are not going well. Many of the errors in the Erawan investigation that drew widespread criticism are being repeated. Diverse agencies of the police, the armed forces and even the intelligence community are giving the impression they are competing to solve the case.
Tourism Pokemon No
News, Editorial, Published on 18/08/2016
» It is no surprise that Thai tourism officials moved quickly to try to contain the negative impact of the multiple attacks in seven provinces last week. Since the bomb attacks occurred at the start of the long holiday weekend, tourists -- local and international -- were well on their way to their holiday destinations. The initial impact could be described as minimal.
Terrorism is all too real
News, Editorial, Published on 06/06/2016
» The new US report on world terrorism offers some positives for Thailand, which makes a nice change by Washington. The Country Reports on Terrorism 2015, however, does show some weaknesses in security that the government would be wise to take action to address. These apply to the detection and prosecution of would-be terrorists. The report lauded Thailand for its continuing support in the fight against international terrorism, but suggested both the government and specialist units could do more.