Opinion: Honest Learning From Strangers in the Next Table
One of the occasional perks of sitting alone at a cafe or bar next to a table of conversing people is you get to...
Opinion: An Educated Guess on How Many Thais Are Royalists
Over the past two weeks, we have seen royalists and ultra-royalists wearing purple shirt and dress, changed their social media account’s background color to purple, which is the birth color of HRH Princess Sirindhorn, to express their love and solidarity towards the Princess whose royal motorcade was recently honked at by monarchy-reform activist Tawan Tuatulanond.
Time to Leave the Military Dictatorship Cave?
The much-reported Luang cave rescue saga in Chiang Rai has proven too tempting not to try a political analogy, comparing Thailand under military junta...
Opinion: Mainstream Thai Press Must Adapt, or Fade Into Irrelevance
It used to be that Thailand’s ‘gate keepers,’ be it the state or the mainstream mass media, were effective in filtering any negative news about the Thai monarchy.
Opinion: Why Some Fear Thais Are Becoming Slave to the US
Former silver-screen superstar Jarunee Suksawat’s warning earlier this week that Thais may become “slaves of America” attracted frontpage news in many media and many readers, particularly young readers, who found it ludicrous and hilarious.
The Festering of Political Hatred in Juntaland
The sentencing of an anti-junta electrician who planted a pipe bomb at an army-run hospital was proof of how explosive our political hatred has become.
Opinion: A Week of Army-run TV5 Diplomatic Blunder on Russia and Ukraine News
In a week of diplomatic faux pas, a prominent state organization in Thailand attempted to publicly take sides with Russia amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, only to capitulate, having abruptly canceled its partisan press conference without a proper explanation. This was followed by a visit to the Ukrainian Embassy hours before the cancelled press conference.
Opinion: Chadchart’s Victory Gives Hope to Not Just Bangkok But Thai Democracy
Eight years of pent-up aspiration for true democracy turned into Chadchart Sittipunt mania after the former Transport Minister was elected the new Bangkok governor last Sunday.
Junta Backers Dream of Validation in US Coup
Junta supporters are using the images of anti-Trump protesters burning objects, including one defecating in public, as proof Americans are no better than Thais at respecting democracy.
Opinion: How Pheu Thai Lost to Move Forward
The Pheu Thai Party Headquarters early on the election night was unusually mute unlike four years ago as early poll results showed the party was neck-to-neck against rival opposition Move Forward Party.