Showing 1 - 10 of 689
Clean Air Bill unites rivals
Oped, Editorial, Published on 10/04/2026
» It is encouraging news that opposition parties -- political rivals who rarely see eye to eye -- have launched a campaign this week to push for clean air legislation. This move comes after the former Clean Air Bill was killed off in its final reading last week by lawmakers led by the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), which controls the Lower House.
Rein in Gun's influence
Oped, Editorial, Published on 03/04/2026
» Influencer Guntouch "Gun" Pongpaiboonwet needs little introduction. Rising from being a noodle seller, he built his reputation through philanthropic activities -- fundraising, providing aid, and rescuing victims -- roles that also highlight systemic flaws in Thailand's bureaucracy.
Our schools must do more to protect kids
Oped, Karnjana Karnjanatawe, Published on 03/04/2026
» Recent disturbing cases of child sexual abuse again show how our education system has failed to keep children safe at school. The new education minister must prioritise school safety and enforce safeguards to protect the next generation.
Rethinking Thailand's visa-free policy
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 31/03/2026
» Thailand is planning to cut visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days. This long-overdue change reflects growing concern over the effectiveness of immigration surveillance. Moreover, scaling down visa-free stays underscores the seriousness of the Anutin government's efforts to combat scammers, illegal work, and other underground activities that exploit easy visa access to turn Thailand into a base for under-the-table operations.
Power rivalry heats up Mekong region
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 24/03/2026
» The Thai saying, maenam maimee promdan (rivers have no boundaries), fittingly applies to the mighty Mekong River, known in China as the Lancang.
Start from home
Oped, Postbag, Published on 23/03/2026
» Re: "Can we design universal access to compassion?", (Opinion, March 19).
Impacts of Iran war on Southeast Asia
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/03/2026
» For the most part, Southeast Asia as a region has taken a neutral stance toward the joint attack between the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Even the Philippines and Thailand, two formal US treaty allies, have distanced themselves, calling for restraint and de-escalation.
Freedoms fall once more
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/03/2026
» Thailand's score on Freedom House's latest "Freedom in the World" report dropped by two points, from 36 to 34. While a two-point slip may seem insignificant, the grade effectively placed the country in the "not free" category -- down from "partly free" in 2024.
75 years of Thai-Lao relations
Oped, Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Published on 18/03/2026
» December is a meaningful month for the peoples of Thailand and the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), as it marks the national days of both countries -- 2 Dec for Lao PDR and 5 Dec for Thailand. December 2025 is particularly significant as it commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao PDR and, on 19 Dec, the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Lao PDR when both countries launched the formal establishment of diplomatic relations on 19 Dec 1950.
When being neutral is no safeguard
Oped, Philip J Cunningham, Published on 18/03/2026
» 'Don't worry about it, we are neutral!" was Thailand's flippant response to the Islamist terrorist attack on America in 2001 when hijacked jets carrying innocent passengers and filled to the brim with aviation fuel smashed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on Sept 11.