Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Temple, state forever tied at the hip
Oped, Published on 12/10/2024
» On Oct 2, the Lower House rejected a bill to liberalise the liquor industry. Such a decision reflects the desire of Thai policymakers and legislators to control and reduce alcohol consumption and related industries. Earlier this year, the bicameral parliament passed the strictest alcohol control act to date -- a complete prohibition of alcoholic advertisements and sponsorships, regardless of whether they are explicit or implicit.
Empty rituals
News, Published on 09/06/2018
» Re: "Buddha's path must guide reform of clergy", (Opinion, June 7).
Buddha's path must guide reform of clergy
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 07/06/2018
» The recent crackdown on the Sangha Supreme Council elders is long overdue. Corrupt monks in high places have escaped the law for far too long. But abuse of power will not go away as long as the clergy remains a closed, feudal autocracy under state patronage.
Arrests not enough to reform Thai Sangha
News, Khemthong Tonsakulrungruang, Published on 31/05/2018
» The early morning of May 24 was the morning of the long knives for the Thai Sangha. Commandos stormed Wat Or Noi in Nakhon Pathom to arrest the abbot, then Phra Buddha Isara, a staunch supporter of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). In an unrelated case, five of seven other senior monks accused of embezzlement and money laundering were arrested from three famous temples in Bangkok. The other two remain on the run.
Ban toxic glyphosate
News, Postbag, Published on 26/05/2018
» According to a May 24 report, the Hazardous Substance Committee, in reference to a ban on three toxic pesticides, said "there were insufficient studies confirming they were health hazards", and thus have allowed their continued use. One of the three is glyphosate, known as "Roundup".
A land where the law is too easily bought
News, Atiya Achakulwisut, Published on 13/02/2018
» A photo showing fugitive former prime ministers Thaksin and Yingluck Shinawatra chilling out in Beijing? The alleged poaching of a rare black panther in a wildlife sanctuary by Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) president Premchai Karnasuta? The absurdity of a deputy premier insisting on his virtuousness in order to carry on in his job even though he was caught "borrowing" almost 30 million baht worth of luxury watches from his businessman friends without informing the relevant authority?
Scandal won’t go away
Oped, Postbag, Published on 27/01/2018
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha needs to understand that this luxury watch scandal is a serious issue. This so-called “private matter” of his deputy will weigh heavily on his credibility as long as he stays on as Thailand’s prime minister -- and will never stops unless and until this apparently inappropriate behavioural problem is corrected.