Showing 1 - 10 of 812
Challenge awaits
Postbag, Published on 17/02/2026
» Re: "Anutin dismisses 'sick man of Asia' label for Thailand", (BP, Feb 15).
When journalism still exists -- but no longer matters
News, Carla Norrlöf, Published on 14/02/2026
» 'Democracy Dies in Darkness" became the motto of the Washington Post in 2017, four years after Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and one of the world's richest men, purchased the newspaper. Today, however, Mr Bezos, who has throttled the Post's opinion page and now slashed the newspaper's staff, seems determined to demonstrate that a free press, an essential component of democracy, can be killed off in broad daylight.
Implications of conservative triumph
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/02/2026
» The incumbent and conservative Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has surprisingly swept Thailand's Feb 8 election with a commanding win. With the previously poll-leading and progressive People's Party (PP) coming in a distant second, Thailand appears headed for a conservative coalition government revolving around BJT and like-minded junior partners. Known for its conservative stance and being pro-status quo, it would not be surprising if the BJT-led coalition government, led by Prime Minister-elect Anutin Charnvirakul, were not challenged by the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, and other supervisory agencies, which have derailed and dissolved reform-minded winning parties in the past.
How world's super-rich are rewriting the rules
Oped, Joseph E Stiglitz & Jayati Ghosh, Published on 13/02/2026
» Ongoing efforts to derail multilateral tax cooperation lie at the heart of a global programme to replace democratic governance with coercive rule by the extremely wealthy -- or what we call 21st-century Caesarism. Any strategy to counter this programme, therefore, must recognise that taxing extreme wealth is essential to saving democracy.
50-party race comes down to just this
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 09/02/2026
» By the time this opinion piece goes into print, the unofficial outcome of Sunday's election will already have been announced by the Election Commission. Which of the two front-running parties, Bhumjaithai and the People's Party, has emerged the winner and earned the right to form the new government will also be known.
No easy road ahead for PP greenhorns
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 02/02/2026
» The latest opinion polls, conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) and Rajabhat University ahead of the general election on Sunday, have put the People's Party (PP) ahead of its rivals and its leader, Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, as the most favoured prime ministerial candidate among voters.
Living in Thailand's age of impunity
News, Kong Rithdee, Published on 17/01/2026
» There's no place like Thailand. Joyscrolling TikTok and Reels reveals dozens of clips made by international visitors lamenting having to leave our lovely country and return to dreary Europe or joyless America. "Nobody talks about how hard it is to go from this" -- insert a cut of a wonderful beach in Krabi -- "to this"--cut to a drab, damp suburban street somewhere in the West. Add a crying-face emoji. "I want to move here!" the traveller announces. True, everybody loves Thailand.
America's new age of empire dawns
Oped, Joseph E Stiglitz, Published on 13/01/2026
» US President Donald Trump has drawn a wave of criticism for his actions in Venezuela, violations of international law, disdain for longstanding norms, and threats against other countries -- not least allies like Denmark and Canada. Around the world, there is a palpable sense of uncertainty and foreboding. But it should already be obvious that things will not end well, neither for the United States nor the rest of the world.
Anti-military tag harms PP poll hopes
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 12/01/2026
» War creates heroes. It also fuels a strong sense of patriotism. Hence, in the eyes of most Thais, the Thai military -- especially Lt Gen Boonsin Padklang, former commander of the 2nd Army Region -- have become heroes for risking their lives, or for the lives lost and injuries sustained, during the two rounds of bloody armed conflict with Cambodian forces in July and December.
Misplaced focus
Postbag, Published on 04/01/2026
» Re: 145 killed in first three 'dangerous days', (BP, Jan 2).