Showing 1 - 7 of 7
The time and need for civilians in cabinet
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 16/12/2016
» In view of the royal transition that has transpired, Thailand's interim period since its military coup in May 2014 has now entered a new phase. When the military seized power back then, the Thai public largely put up with what became a military dictatorship, spearheaded by Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister and leader of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). This rough bargain, whereby the military stepped in to be the midwife of the royal transition, has passed. It is time to recalibrate and prepare for a return to popular rule by placing more civilian technocrats in government in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
EU leaders try to wish away bloc's next refugee crisis
News, Published on 16/12/2016
» Migration was originally given top billing at a meeting starting yesterday of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels. But a draft concluding statement, obtained by Politico, shows just how little attention the matter will actually get. That's worrying. Europe's refugee system is like one of those precarious smuggler's boats in the Aegean: unstable and likely to end in disaster.
Trump, Brexit and voter discontent
News, Published on 16/12/2016
» The big question in Asian countries right now is what lesson to take from Donald Trump's victory in the United States' presidential election, and from the United Kingdom's Brexit referendum, in which British voters opted to leave the European Union. Unfortunately, the focus is not where it should be: geopolitical change.
On your bike, deputy governor
News, Ploenpote Atthakor, Published on 16/12/2016
» So, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is to give up its plan to make the City of Angels a bit more liveable.
Donald Trump and China: The 'madman' strategy
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 16/12/2016
» 'When two elephants fight against each other, the grass always suffers," said Yu-Fang Lin of the National Policy Foundation, a Taiwan-based think tank, in an interview with the Washington Times. He was talking about the famous phone call between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen and Donald Trump on 2 Dec. If the US and China get into a military confrontation, Mr Lin suggested, it is Taiwan that will be crushed.
Computer bill deeply flawed
News, Editorial, Published on 16/12/2016
» The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) must uphold its honour by rejecting the deeply flawed draft amendment to the 2007 Computer Crime Act and send it back for further revision.
BTS Etiquette
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 16/12/2016
» On Sunday, a picture of three teenage girls hanging out and eating on the floor inside a BTS car got circulated online. I guess they didn't get the memo that drinking or eating is not allowed while on the Skytrain. Or perhaps they thought it was OK, so long as they were sitting down?