Showing 91 - 100 of 171
Get budget priorities right
News, Editorial, Published on 17/10/2019
» The Prayut Chan-o-cha administration faces a crucial challenge from the opposition in the debate on the 2020 fiscal budget bill scheduled to begin on Thursday morning.
Still in dark over oath
News, Editorial, Published on 20/09/2019
» The single most crucial matter that should have come out of Wednesday's parliamentary debate on the prime minister's oath blunder is simple -- Gen Prayut's assurance that he and his government will abide by the constitution. That can put any wild speculation about a possible putsch and anxiety about prolonged political uncertainty to rest.
No justice, no peace
News, Editorial, Published on 27/08/2019
» The government and the army owe the public a clear explanation of what led to the death of Abdulloh Esormusor, a 32-year-old insurgent suspect who fell into a coma while in custody at a Pattani military camp.
Tank splurge beyond pale
News, Editorial, Published on 07/09/2019
» At a time when people are feeling the pinch of the economic downturn, the army's recent and planned multi-billion-baht purchases of "refurbished" tanks from the US have provoked the ire of many. The growing criticism is understandable. Taxpayers are still largely kept in the dark over why and how their money is spent on these and other military hardware and weapons listed in the military's post-2014 coup shopping cart.
Prem leaves a rich legacy
News, Editorial, Published on 27/05/2019
» With the sudden passing of Gen Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council, Thailand has lost a revered figure who gained deep respect from members of the armed forces and also those in the political arena.
'Unity' govt a non-starter
News, Editorial, Published on 15/04/2019
» Some analysts believe that Thai politics is moving towards deadlock as two major political camps, namely the pro-military Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and Pheu Thai Party, fiercely compete for a chance to lead a coalition government. Over the past weeks, negotiation and bargaining have become tense.
Tantrums sink peace efforts
News, Editorial, Published on 06/02/2019
» The failure of the government to kickstart peace talks on the South is a disappointment to all involved. The Malaysia-based Mara Patani negotiating faction said on Sunday it won't talk until a new Thai government is formed. Peace talks were already barely moving but Sunday's events mean there will be no chance of any official movement for at least six months.
Asean hobbles itself
News, Editorial, Published on 29/01/2019
» Thailand's first test as this year's Asean chair occurred two weeks ago in Chiang Mai. It was not a resounding success. At the 10-nation group's annual retreat of foreign ministers, the Rohingya issue was at the top of the agenda. But what the participants had agreed upon -- a spirited discussion -- quickly petered out. Now, the issue has been once again overtaken by the United Nations.
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.
Torture law must pass
News, Editorial, Published on 17/12/2018
» This week the junta-appointed National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will begin winding up business for the year. On the schedule for Thursday is the reading of a bill that is long overdue. If passed -- and it must -- it will officially bar government and security forces from using torture and enforced disappearance. It is shocking, this far into the 21st century, that a civilised nation has never prohibited these odious practices.