Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Forgetting what democracy is for and all about
Oped, Antara Haldar, Published on 10/07/2025
» On June 2, I got a sense of history coming full circle in the Polish town of Sopot, on the Baltic Sea just a few kilometres from the Gdańsk Shipyard. Sharing a stage at the Plenary Session of the European Financial Congress with Lech Wałęsa, the legendary trade unionist who led the 1980 Solidarity strike at the Lenin Shipyard and later became Poland's first post-communist president, I felt I was witnessing the end of an era.
Thaksin could still escape jail time
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 16/06/2025
» What does it mean for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra now that Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin's last-ditch attempt to shield his master from the prospect of being sent back to jail to serve his one-year jail term was crushed by the Medical Council of Thailand at a crucial meeting last Thursday?
Riding the issue
Oped, Postbag, Published on 01/03/2025
» Re: "Ethics in Thailand's elephant tourism?", (BP, Feb 23).
How Italy managed to beat fascism after WWII
Oped, Mark Gilbert, Published on 22/01/2025
» Americans are alarmed by their country's stark political divisions. But they shouldn't despair. After WWII, Italy was even more politically polarised than today. Yet by the mid-1950s, it had succeeded, against the odds, in turning the page on its fascist past and constructing a contentious but functioning democracy.
Thai defamation law fails good people
Oped, Alan Morison, Published on 07/12/2024
» Pressure is likely to intensify in the new year for Thailand to repeal its abusive criminal defamation laws as flaws in the multiple cases against advocate-journalist Chutima Sidasathian. Many others have exposed the laws' deficiencies.
Creepy toys
Oped, Postbag, Published on 15/06/2024
» Re: "Doll seller faces charges over undelivered orders", (BP, June 11).
Conditional inclusivity just the first step
Oped, Titipol Phakdeewanich, Published on 14/06/2023
» Earlier this month, the Bangkok Pride parade drew a slew of rights defenders and supporters -- LGBTQ activists, politicians, ambassadors, international organisations, and businessmen. It took place under a fresh political atmosphere given the recent victory of the pro-democracy parties in the May 14 election. If these parties are allowed to govern, the future for the LGBTQ community is promising. However, before the marriage equality bill passed the first reading, it was strongly criticised, especially for supporting "unnatural behaviour".
What the Global South thinks of the Ukraine war
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 28/04/2023
» There is a deep and growing rift between "the West" and "the Rest" about the need to resist and defeat the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This is because it is really a war in defence of sovereignty, which ought to be something every sovereign country can buy into -- but Western governments publicly insist that it is a war in defence of democracy.
Foggy legislation
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/02/2023
» Re: "Actress's friend paid bribe", (BP, Feb 2).
China's future could reflect Russia's own
Oped, Nancy Qian, Published on 01/10/2022
» As China prepares for its 20th National Congress in October, when President Xi Jinping is expected to accept an unprecedented third term, many observers worry about uncertain days ahead, especially regarding Taiwan. But one doesn't need a crystal ball to glimpse its future. China's leaders, for their part, are looking at Russia.