Showing 1 - 10 of 30
The art of persuasion
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 10/02/2026
» Following the Siamese Revolution, the country held its first general election and only indirect vote on Nov 15, 1933. Voters chose village representatives, who then elected candidates in their province to enter parliament. In the run-up to the country's first poll, Samran I-machai, an MP candidate in Ayutthaya, handed out booklets to voters.
UK pressures Elon Musk over Grok AI deepfake porn scandal
Life, Puriward Sinthopnumchai, Published on 07/01/2026
» The British government is demanding Elon Musk take immediate action to rein in his Grok artificial intelligence tool following reports that the software is being used to generate non-consensual sexually explicit images.
When students rise
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 28/10/2025
» Back in the mid-19th century, female education increased literacy and access to jobs and they began to fight for participation in public life. The public sphere promised them a new horizon. From the 1890s onwards, print media began to allow women to express their voice and authors vaunted personal talent and equality, including gender relations. Following the Siamese Revolution in 1932, women were enfranchised for the first time.
Voices from Chana
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 24/06/2024
» The Rainbow Warrior is used to promote Greenpeace campaigns and is a symbol of protecting the environment and human rights. It was launched on April 29, 1978, against whaling in Iceland and the ship later visited Thailand to promote action against incinerators in Phuket in 2000.
Historical horrors
Life, Suwitcha Chaiyong, Published on 18/06/2024
» The Oct 6, 1976, massacre was one of Thailand's most tragic incidents -- a violent crackdown by the Royal Thai Police and right-wing paramilitaries against student protesters at Thammasat University and areas around Sanam Luang.
Faces of sacrifice
Life, Atiya Achakulwisut, Published on 13/10/2023
» Is the appointed Senate integral to a regime of democracy? Should students enjoy the right not to wear uniforms? How about freedom of speech? Or assembly? At what point should fair criticism be taken as an insult to be punished by law, and when will street protests come to an end?
Tunes for the chill season
Life, John Clewley, Published on 09/11/2022
» The music scene has been given a boost this year with the return of tourists and the reopening of entertainment venues. Festivals are returning to the provinces this month and the local circuits for rock and luk thung are back, too. The summer festival season in Europe, Japan and North America also returned and coincided with lots of summer and now winter music releases. The World Beat desk is groaning under the weight of new music.
Time is on our side
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 15/08/2022
» Win or lose, a protest is a process of trial and error. To put it simply, it is disruption, innovation, or something in between, just the way the now-defunct but shape-shifting Future Forward Party was in 2019 because it is born out of a spirit, not a person or a party. If the student-led demonstration goes down in history for demanding the boldest political reform, including the role of the monarchy, its resurrection last week proves that the pro-democracy movement is coming of age.
In pursuit of academic freedom
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 07/02/2022
» A temple is more than a place of worship. Located on a bank of the Chao Phraya River, Wat Thong Noppakhun is offering food for democratic thought. Surrounded by leafy trees, its library is now home to a large number of non-official history books, some of which are controversial in what remains a conservative society.
Lessons of history
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 13/10/2021
» After decades of military authoritarianism, student demonstrators in Bangkok began to call for the restoration of constitutional rule and a return to democracy. In the face of the challenge, the entrenched generals refused to negotiate and arrested the protest leaders, claiming they were influenced by communism. It paved the way for the popular uprising of Oct 14, 1973.