• OPINION

  Death law behind times

  News, Editorial, Published on 21/11/2016

  » The author of the draft organic law on political parties last week produced a surprise proposal that is really quite extreme. Meechai Ruchupan, the head of the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), wants to see the death penalty as the maximum punishment for politicians caught selling or buying political positions.

• OPINION

  Drug reform path unclear

  News, Editorial, Published on 14/09/2016

  » The government has a hard job ahead of it trying to sell the need for drug reform. A survey conducted a week ago by the Nida Poll shows just about half the country is opposed to any move to ease access or punishment for any currently illegal drugs. More than that, 60% want to keep mandatory imprisonment for possession of any methamphetamines, or ya ba. Governments have done such a terrific job of convincing Thais of a no-sympathy "war on drugs" that change is going to be difficult.

• OPINION

  Army torture must stop

  News, Editorial, Published on 08/04/2016

  » The recent death of Private Songtham Mudmad at Payak Camp in Yala's Bannang Sata district is clear proof the army cannot keep its promise to ban the brutal treatment of conscripts.

• OPINION

  Dark force grips police

  News, Editorial, Published on 19/03/2016

  » Following the military regime’s crackdown on “dark influences”, the Royal Thai Police have transferred more than 100 officers over allegations of illegal conduct. Anyone expecting corrupt officers to be severely punished will be sorely disappointed.

• OPINION

  Grasp drug policy nettle

  News, Editorial, Published on 10/02/2016

  » The United Nations is aiming to set a new macro policy on recreational drugs worldwide, starting Wednesday. It has taken almost a generation even to get to this point, which is the token beginning of a UN General Assembly Special Session on drugs. There are strong feelings emerging that the UN itself might even take a stand leaning towards legalisation of such drugs. A kickoff meeting this evening in New York will hear testimony, mostly from the pro-enforcement side.

• OPINION

  Anti-graft talk not enough

  News, Editorial, Published on 10/12/2015

  » Thailand joined many other countries in observing International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday. In Bangkok, National Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Panthep Klanarongran and the other commissioners led a few hundred people representing the government and private sectors in a short march from TOT Public Company to the government office centre in the Chaeng Watthana area to highlight the importance of the day.

• OPINION

  Truth needed on human trafficking

  News, Editorial, Published on 13/12/2015

  » The government, police and military must show a commitment to tackling human trafficking and take the matter seriously. This is the only option in response to Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin’s request for asylum in Australia. If the authorities want to prove Pol Maj Gen Paween’s statement wrong, they have to ensure responsible agencies or officials are able to suppress human trafficking without fear or interference from influential figures. It would be unwise to blindly dismiss Pol Maj Gen Paween’s statement as simply politically motivated. Regardless of the officer's motives, his statement revealed some inconvenient facts about the situation.

• OPINION

  Drug payoffs thwart action

  News, Editorial, Published on 27/10/2015

  » A group of concerned Myanmar citizens has made the biggest advance in the struggle against illicit drugs in many years. The grassroots group, which calls itself the Kachin Anti-Drug Committee, has taken action where government authorities have fallen short.

• OPINION

  Justice gets major boost

  News, Editorial, Published on 12/08/2015

  » The opening of three new special courts for cases related to illicit drugs, corruption and human trafficking is a huge, positive step. The new court divisions began work officially on Monday. They come under the Criminal Court, where chief judge Athip Chitsamrerng promises speedier trials. To be truly successful, however, this interesting and encouraging development will depend on earlier steps in the justice system, especially police and prosecutors.

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