Showing 1 - 10 of 59
Historic preservation needs you and me
Oped, Kanitha Kasina-Ubol, Published on 29/09/2025
» Thais deeply revere our heritage. Millions of us visit museums, temples, old towns, and monuments every year.
Bad for democracy
Oped, Editorial, Published on 04/09/2025
» A House dissolution is meant to be a democratic coup de grâce -- a final option when governments can no longer govern and lawmakers cannot form a new coalition or find a leader to continue running the country. Once the House is dissolved, the nation must quickly hold a new general election.
'Old guard' weighs idea of outsider PM
News, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 09/08/2025
» As the Constitutional Court is set to hand down a ruling against suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra for her controversial phone call with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen that was later leaked, most political pundits remain downbeat on her prospects. Should she be dismissed, the ruling Pheu Thai Party would have to form a new cabinet.
A 'dangerous' July for the Shinawatras
News, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 28/06/2025
» The Hun Sen effect -- caused by a controversial private telephone call recording between Cambodia's de facto leader and Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra -- has thrown Thai politics into disarray. Ms Paetongtarn is in treacherous waters as calls for her resignation grow. Her opponents are to gather today in a bid to throw her out of office.
Weaponising data against democracy
News, Jayati Ghosh, Published on 17/02/2025
» For those who have witnessed the shock-and-awe tactics of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past decade, the events unfolding in the United States since Donald Trump returned to the White House evoke a sense of déjà vu. In India, we have learned the hard way: authoritarian leaders are often far more dangerous in their second term than in their first.
A New Year of high stakes
Oped, Editorial, Published on 01/01/2025
» The year 2024 was favourable to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's government and the Pheu Thai Party. Last month, the charter court rejected some petitions from political opponents accusing her and Pheu Thai of violating election laws and malfeasance.
Political activist or lawfare warrior?
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 16/11/2024
» The Pheu Thai Party faces an uncertain future as the Constitutional Court is due to decide on Nov 22 whether it will accept the case based on petitions that the part is allowing itself to be controlled by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, father of the incumbent premier and party leader. If found guilty, the ruling party will be dissolved.
Thailand needs middle power ambition
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 18/10/2024
» Having participated in the recent Asean-related summit meetings in Vientiane, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her team must now work out Thailand's foreign policy priorities and posture. Foreign policy projection peaked around 20 years ago when Thailand was recognised as an emerging regional leader with the potential of a middle power. Since then, foreign policy has been patchy and hostage to polarisation and domestic political volatility. It is time to chart a way forward for Thailand's international standing and role despite ongoing political conflict at home.
Thai foreign policy needs new rudder
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 27/09/2024
» Thailand's foreign policy posture and projection under Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa and the new government of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is off to a good start under severe structural constraints. Given the widespread consensus both at home and abroad that Thailand has fallen behind its peers over the past two decades, the imperative of regaining its international standing is undisputed. But doing so under what the foreign minister has outlined as a "neutral stance" under "non-alignment" among the great powers is moot and misguided. What Thai foreign policy needs is multi-alignments and omni-directionality under a new rudder.
New government is new wine in old bottle
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/09/2024
» On the face of it, the new government under Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra appears to be a generational shift and gender breakthrough. Ms Paetongtarn is the youngest prime minister ever at 38 and only the second female government leader after her aunt Yingluck Shinawatra in 2011-14. The Paetongtarn cabinet features a record eight women among 36 with more ministers in their 30s-50s and fewer above 60. Yet on closer scrutiny, the new and younger faces are largely family legacies and proxies, surrounded by old-style politicians, while the new government's policy directions sound dated not well-suited for the times ahead.