Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Thaksin chapter closes, another opens
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 19/09/2025
» In yet another dramatic twist in Thai politics, erstwhile anti-establishment political juggernaut and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra accepted a one-year jail sentence and began serving his time behind bars on Sept 9. After his return from a 15-year self-imposed exile in August 2023 and a concomitant royal pardon that reduced his eight-year imprisonment on corruption convictions to just one year, Thaksin cited his gravely ill health and spent the time comfortably at the Police General Hospital before being released on parole. The Supreme Court's ruling that his get-out-of-jail health card was invalid means Thaksin's renewed imprisonment and its aftermath are likely to reshape and realign Thailand's political landscape ahead of the next election, due by mid-2027.
No justice in sight for Billy or his people
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 19/04/2023
» The eldest child of missing Karen rights activist Porlajee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen enrolled in university this year, while her younger siblings are school students, some with financial help from kind-hearted donors. The youngest remains at home in Phetchaburi with his mum and Billy's widow Pinnapa "Mueno" Prueksapan.
What the two Oct 6 tragedies expose
Oped, Chaiwat Satha-Anand, Published on 13/10/2022
» Early this month, a bright young colleague called me, telling a story about her difficulty in persuading a leading Thai research agency to explore how society could prepare policies to handle the prevalent problems of violence.
Six months into war, Ukraine's fate still uncertain
Oped, Matthew Chance, Published on 24/08/2022
» It is often said that journalism is watching history unfold. I've never felt that so acutely as that night, six months ago, standing on a hotel balcony in the centre of Kyiv reporting live on a bellicose speech from Vladimir Putin.
Keeping democratic institutions weak
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 22/07/2022
» The worst thing one can do in Thai politics is to run for office and win by a landslide. When this happens, the knives will come out and the massive election winner will be overthrown before long -- one way or another -- because the real source of power in Thailand is unelected. Such was the fate of Thaksin Shinawatra when he spearheaded the Thai Rak Thai Party to win two landslide poll victories in January 2001 and February 2005, first a near majority and later a thumping 75% of the lower house of parliament.
Crisis deepens, violence fears grow
Oped, Larry Jagan, Published on 11/02/2021
» Myanmar's political crisis is deepening rapidly, raising fears of an imminent violent confrontation between the military and pro-democracy protesters. Every day hundreds and thousands continue to demonstrate their refusal to accept the military coup. In the past few days, the military have begun a concerted crackdown: using water cannons, riot police charges and shooting above the crowd's heads to scare them.
No time for risks
Oped, Postbag, Published on 17/07/2020
» One thing about the coronavirus pandemic that seems certain is that no government will get its response 100% right. Thailand has to try to balance the health and lives of the people against how much and for how long the economy can be decimated. Many Thai people are suffering severe hardship and stress.
A forest lockdown will fuel more fires
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 11/04/2020
» With strong wind and fast-approaching forest fires, a group of forest dwellers on Doi Mon Dok mountain in Chiang Mai's Samoeng District are racing against time to stop the flames from engulfing their village.