Opinion

LONDON – There has been a lot of fuss lately about the handful of Muslim women who choose to bathe on French beaches wearing a special garment that covers the head (not the face), and much of the body. That garment – the so-called burkini – was invented in 2004 by an Australian-Lebanese woman named Aheda Zanetti, with the goal of enabling even the strictest Muslim women to swim or play sports in public. Little did Zanetti know that her creation would generate a national controversy.

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.

Thai government’s latest ads reminding Thais to be a good host to the on-going ASEAN Summit in Bangkok says a lot about ASEAN identity.

The Yubamrung is a famous and powerful political family. The patriarch is Chalerm Yubamrung, a former police captain with a doctor’s degree in law. He’s also one of many politicians who had been accused of having “unusual wealth.” But nothing was ever proven.

Beyond whether you are for Israel or Palestine in the latest war, some Thai-Malay Muslims see the latest conflict in the middle east through a different prism. Soon after Hamas’ inhumane attack against Israel on Oct. 7 and Israel’s counterattack, a Thai Malay-Muslim Facebook friend said he feels as if Palestine is Pattani and Thailand is Israel.

Shopping malls in Bangkok are more than just a place to shop. To the many mall rats, it’s a place to escape the heat, meet friends, dine, date, drink, watch films and more.

As expected, Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha survived the no-confidence vote on Saturday.

Every Chinese New Year, I am reminded of a personal story of the paternal side of my ancestors and how it shaped my conscience and a deep sense of debt of gratitude towards Thailand.

By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

Police monitoring soc­ial media for booze p­ictures is just anot­her step toward Thailand becoming a military nanny state.