Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Elections still too bloody
News, Editorial, Published on 16/12/2024
» The brutal assassination of Chaimet Sitsanitphong, a provincial council member, at the home of Soonthorn Vilawan, president of the Prachin Provincial Administrative Organisation (PAO), has sent shockwaves across Thailand.
HRC term off to shaky start
News, Editorial, Published on 04/12/2024
» Winning a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) in October is one thing. But walking the line of good human rights protection seems to be a different issue for the Thai government, which starts its three-year term with the body on Jan 1.
Thailand-South Korea dual narratives
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 03/12/2024
» Thailand-South Korea relations are paradoxical. The countries share a dynamic that boasts both heroic achievements and glaring challenges. While their cultural and economic ties have progressed over the decades, they are black-eyed by labour and immigration issues. Solving these irritating issues can elevate friendship and unleash the potential of bilateral cooperation.
End dangers to Thai workers in Israel
News, Matan Kaminer, Published on 13/11/2024
» The deaths of Akkhaphol Wannasai, Prayad Pilasram, Thana Tichantuek and Kaweesak Papanang, killed together with their employer on an Israeli farm near the Lebanese border on 31 October, were foretold. These workers, who came to Israel from Isan to provide a better future for their families, were killed by a rocket fired by Hezballah -- an indefensible attack on civilians by the Lebanese organisation. But they were exposed to danger by the Israeli and Thai states, both motivated by cold economic calculations.
Embracing a greener economy
News, Muthukumara Mani, Published on 11/11/2024
» Thailand stands at a pivotal crossroads. While it has progressed from a low-income to an upper-middle-income economy, its path to high-income status faces formidable obstacles.
Thailand has human rights role to play
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 04/11/2024
» The recent election of Thailand to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) is, in a sense, a cause for elation. Yet it also comes with the responsibility of proving to the global/local community that the country can set an example for good practices and propel the HRC to take effective action on key matters based on international standards. This is daunting in a world of multi-and-mini polarities and poly-crises.
Open up reserved jobs
News, Editorial, Published on 28/10/2024
» The recent mass arrests of over 2,000 undocumented foreign workers -- including 1,289 Myanmar nationals, along with Cambodians, Lao, Vietnamese, and others -- have spotlighted a pressing issue in the labour market.
Behind Thailand's winning UNHRC bid
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 22/10/2024
» Thailand's being elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2025-2027 term was not a stroke of luck.
Reimagining human rights and China?
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/09/2024
» Should human rights be reimagined, especially in the context of China? From one angle, the answer is obvious. Plenty of norms are already agreed upon globally without the need for reimagination, and China is part of that universality. Yet given the situation on the ground level and the evolving nature of human rights, there might be room for some innovative reimagination, and this deserves balanced reflection.
The lighter side of politics
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 30/03/2018
» Amid the deluge of headlines that pop up on my (and perhaps your) smartphone screen, a few manage to catch my attention with their unexpected funniness especially those regarding Thai politics. Some are so ironic, they are jokes. Not sure what I'm getting at? Here are a few examples for your entertainment. After reading too many corruption scandals involving state officials, one just needs a few laughs, y'know.