Showing 11 - 20 of 43
Living the high life
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 24/12/2017
» A week ago today we told a first-time visitor from the beautiful US state of Colorado to forget about seeing "the real, so-called authentic Thailand" because there isn't a square centimetre where tourists do not tread. The next day we set out on a family trip to places with not a foreign face in sight (one obvious exception).
The other woman
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 01/10/2017
» On the day the Supreme Court threw That Woman out of politics for good, judges from the same Dika Court dealt with a second fugitive.
How Bangkok came close to the big one
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 18/06/2017
» In late 2011 the chatter about terrorist attacks in Thailand reached their highest volume ever, or since. The bare bones of the plot are well known but recent arrests in America have exposed many more details.
Project Singapore gathers pace
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 23/04/2017
» Bangkok is a semi-province under the central regime, "governed" (literally) by a police general, Aswin Kwanmuang. He was working at City Hall when the general prime minister tapped him on the shoulder last October and dubbed him Baron of Bangkok, lord of all that the military regime doesn't want to bother with.
Carry on killing
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 09/04/2017
» The new constitution promulgated on Thursday by His Majesty the King re-inserts a section tossed out immediately after the May 2014 coup by the general prime minister when he decreed an interim charter with the precious Section 44. The new supreme law has an actual ban on torture, beating people to death, use of meat hooks during discipline sessions. And so on.
The more things change
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 19/03/2017
» A military regime is in power. It is driving Meechai Ruchupan's new constitution and passels of laws through its handpicked National Assembly to enable and ensure military hands on power even after it nominally returns to the barracks to allow elections the red shirts will probably win again. It has a new Computer Crime Act to intimidate and if necessary incarcerate infuriating pests complaining about lack of democracy. Oh, and almost forgot: it's not 2017.
The war bringer
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 12/03/2017
» The southern rebellion against the government begins its 58th year tomorrow. It will be the first time the anniversary is marked without any of the original 1960 instigators but in particular it will go on without its primary leader, better called the godfather of the southern conflict.
You've been gouged
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 05/02/2017
» How can we fleece you? Let me count the ways. That probably wasn't an unusual week, just a more transparent one.
Roadmap veers off course
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 15/01/2017
» The privy councillors last week met Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. When it was over, a seemingly surprised general announced to the nation that it really is new days.
Islamic State, keep out
News, Alan Dawson, Published on 27/11/2016
» The most intriguing story of the week was the suggestion that Thai Muslims had been caught out in supporting the Islamic State (IS). It was intriguing because while the neighbours have often been involved directly in international terrorism, and still are, no Thai ever has been linked to the post-9/11 groups championed by Osama bin Laden, his progeny or their many copycats.