Showing 121 - 130 of 209
Democracy loses in halls of parliament
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 21/04/2013
» In theory, a democratic nation is governed by three branches: the executive, judicial and the parliamentary or legislative. In Thailand's reality, the country is governed formally by those three institutions, but also informally by two other institutions, the military and what we shall term as the "old establishment".
Political gambit being played out at The Hague
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 25/04/2013
» If you want a moral-based analysis of politics, go see a monk. You would then feel good about yourself, but still wouldn’t understand politics. If you want to understand politics, read a political analysis, but then you would hate politics.
Tune in to change by television courts
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 28/04/2013
» On Tuesday, 300 citizens travelled 200km from Prachuap Khiri Khan province to rally in front of the Appeal Court and demand transparency in the case of environmental activist Charoen Wat-aksorn, who was assassinated on June 21, 2004. Meanwhile, hundreds of red shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship members were holding their own rally in front of the Constitution Court, part of a campaign to gather at least 20,000 names for a petition asking the National Anti-Corruption Commission to clear the entire court bench of nine judges.
A bridge too far
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 02/05/2013
» If there’s a problem, throw money at it. The money won’t solve the problem, but it will make a few important people richer and possibly happier. Then we just pretend that the problem is solved - until it collapses, killing four people and injuring 45.
Setting the stage for The Boss
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 05/05/2013
» From the Skype meetings to the speech in Mongolia, from the military cleared of all charges and the rally against the Constitution Court _ join the dots and we can see pressure being brought to bear.
I dreamed of Yingluck
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 09/05/2013
» Last night I went through my usual routine. Before going to bed I burned incense, prayed to the spirits of the condo and rearranged my feng shui. I then stretched out on my MUJI bed sheet, my head rested on a soft pillow stuffed with duck feathers, my legs wrapped around a side pillow.
From the back seat of a red taxi
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 20/01/2013
» Last Tuesday evening, after being rejected by the shaking head and waving hands of one cabbie, a second took me in and I was ever appreciative. From Wat Phra Si Maha That temple in Bang Khen to my home in Lumpini, it was to be a long ride, but an educational one. There was silence at first, but after a few minutes the cabbie, an elderly yet robust man, turned on the radio. We caught the last few minutes of a talk show; the topic of discussion was the Bangkok governor race.
Tangled web we weave
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 10/03/2013
» Not only is Leonardo DiCaprio an award-winning actor, he's also an admirable philanthropist. But life is rarely fair.
Cool it, let the pretty lady do her job
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 14/03/2013
» With the result still not even confirmed, there's already clear evidence that the Bangkok gubernatorial election on March 3 did, indeed, have national consequences.
It's your government, so make it listen
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 24/01/2013
» Here we go again, section 112 of the Criminal Code, the lese majeste law. Another citizen, Somyot Prueksakasemsuk, editor of Voice of Taksin, was found guilty on two counts on Wednesday and sent to prison for 11 years.