Showing 1 - 10 of 54
People’s Party’s diplomatic 'elegance' rings hollow
Oped, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, Published on 16/01/2026
» On Jan 11, the People’s Party held a high-profile event to showcase its “People’s Government”, offering a glimpse of its proposed executive leadership. Among the key speakers was Pisan Manawapat, a former diplomat and senator, designated as the party’s future foreign minister.
Power with no sensitivity
Oped, Editorial, Published on 26/12/2025
» The border may be contested, but the message sent by bulldozing a Hindu god was unmistakable -- and damaging.
Another wasted year in Thai politics
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 26/12/2025
» As Thailand winds down 2025 with an early election looming on Feb 8, the most consequential issue to watch in the coming year will be whether recent topsy-turvy political patterns of polls, protests, and military and judicial interventions give way to a compromise between the old guard clinging on to vested interests and the new generation clamouring for reform and change.
Klatham MP faces grilling over ties to gambling
Oped, Aekarach Sattaburuth, Published on 13/11/2025
» A House committee has summoned Chonnaphat Naksua, a Klatham Party MP for Songkhla, to clarify allegations regarding his involvement with online gambling networks after the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) froze 159 million baht of his assets.
Scams grow, as laws lag
Oped, Editorial, Published on 30/10/2025
» Last week, police in Chiang Rai province arrested a 35-year-old Chinese national as he went from one ATM to a multitude of others to withdraw cash. A subsequent search of his rented room showed he had in his possession 2,057 ATM cards, 537,900 baht in cash, 35 bank books, and 39 SIM cards. He was initially charged with illegally possessing ATM cards belonging to others in a manner that may cause damage, a charge carrying a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment.
Time to rethink Thailand's soft power
Oped, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa, Published on 09/04/2025
» For years, Thailand has marketed itself to the world through golden temples, glittering beaches, street food, and warm hospitality. The "Land of Smiles" has become a global brand, but soft power is not a marketing campaign -- it's a long game of developing and nourishing values, trust, and strategic diplomacy. In that game, Thailand is falling behind.
Making the case for foreign aid
Oped, Nilima Gulrajani, Published on 07/03/2025
» Foreign aid is being slashed across the Global North, nowhere more so than in the United States. Within his first month back in the White House, President Donald Trump dismantled the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and froze foreign aid, calling it wasteful and fraudulent. The United Kingdom recently followed suit, trading off its international-aid budget for higher defence spending.
Scammers face losing their protection
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 30/01/2025
» With mounting pressure from Bangkok and Beijing, it is becoming more difficult for Karen Border Guard Force (BGF) chief Maj Gen Saw Chit Thu to protect the grey business empire along the Moei river in Myawaddy and also to lead the force.
Haze looms, action lags
Oped, Editorial, Published on 29/01/2025
» The PM2.5 situation in Bangkok has worsened over the past week, and needless to say, the city's residents have become increasingly exasperated.
Nuclear warning
Oped, Postbag, Published on 18/01/2025
» Re: "New plan prepares for nuclear power", (Business, Jan 14).