Showing 1 - 10 of 237
False promises no solution to empty pockets
Oped, Saritdet Marukatat, Published on 30/03/2026
» Thailand has returned to a painful reality under a new government still fresh from the political rhetoric bandied about during the election campaign.
Barcode vote row
Oped, Postbag, Published on 25/02/2026
» Re: "Barcodes may make poll void", (BP, Feb 20). With due respect to those prominent legal scholars, especially Prof Wissanu Krea-ngam, the presence of barcodes and QR codes printed on each ballot paper could render the entire general election process void.
People's Party needs to sort out its mess
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 23/02/2026
» Two weeks have passed since the election on Feb 8, and yet no one has come up with proof that the barcodes and QR codes printed on ballot sheets used on the day can be traced back to individual voters, showing for whom and which parties they voted for.
When voters look beyond credentials
Oped, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 20/02/2026
» Many observers of Thai politics may be wondering why the following individual of such distinguished standing failed to secure a seat in parliament in the Feb 8 election. He holds the title of professor and earned a doctoral degree in engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the world's most renowned universities. He previously contested the 2022 Bangkok gubernatorial election, securing more than 250,000 votes. He has also achieved notable academic success and served as president of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology, Ladkrabang. With credentials such as these, his electoral defeat has come as a surprise to many.
Today's date with national destiny
Oped, Editorial, Published on 08/02/2026
» Thailand has a double date with destiny today. As the polls open across all 77 provinces, it is imperative for citizens to exercise their right to vote in both the general election and the constitutional referendum.
Will poll be breakout or more of same?
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/02/2026
» As Thais go to the polls this Sunday, the most consequential question is whether Thailand will finally break out of its debilitating cycle of political instability and economic underperformance that has marked the past two decades. The signs and signals suggest otherwise -- at least not yet.
Three main parties and two directions
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 16/01/2026
» Although Thailand's election campaign is reaching fever pitch ahead of voting day on Feb 8, the dynamics and contours of its final outcome can be gleaned from past polls over the last 25 years. Only once in January 2001, as was indicated in this space last week, were voter results fully honoured and carried out. Other elections were either upended by military coups or manipulated by judicial interventions.
Thailand's political trajectory in 2026
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 09/01/2026
» What happens in Thai politics this year and the immediate horizon will be determined by the upcoming election on Feb 8. While contesting political parties are in full campaign mode, the contemporary history of Thai polls so far in the 21st century is not encouraging. Only once in the past 25 years have voting results went the way they were meant to, in accordance with the popular will. Whether the vote in four weeks will follow the same pattern will depend on whether the conservative establishment gets its preferred outcome.
Double standards
Oped, Editorial, Published on 31/10/2025
» The Senate's decision to punish Senator Nantana Nantavaropas for a "serious ethical violation" is doing more harm than good to the Upper House's image, as it exposes the double standards in Thailand's political landscape.
Myanmar's fragile pursuit of peace
Oped, Pisanu Suvanajata, Published on 23/10/2025
» A decade ago, Myanmar reached what many viewed as a historic milestone on Oct 15, 2015. The signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) between the government and several ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) brought renewed hope. After more than seven decades of internal conflict, the country seemed to be stepping towards a peaceful and inclusive future.