Opinion

The execution of four anti-junta activists in Myanmar earlier this week and the Thai government’s reluctance to even condemn the barbaric act of the Burmese junta speak volumes about how the Prayut Chan-o-cha regime has failed to act in a dignified manner.

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

A little inconvenience for drinkers occurred on Wednesday and Thursday this week in Thailand because they were Buddhist holidays. People simply cannot buy alcohol or consume it in public, legally at least.

One day late last month I met the Swedish Ambassador to Thailand Jon Åström, who has invited me for a one-on-one meeting. For half an hour, Ambassador Gröndahl did not try to sell more Gripen fighter jets (I am not Prayut Chan-o-cha or the air force chief) or more IKEA furniture (I already bought a few bookcases) but tried to convince me that it would be best for Thailand to adopt right to parental leave for male employees and government officials.

It’s been a month since Chadchart Sittipunt was elected as the new Bangkok governor in a landslide victory. The Chadchart fever is still very much alive and on Thai Twitterverse, the hashtag #ชัชชาติ (#chadchart) continues to trend almost daily. How do we explain the Chadchart phenomena?

The 90th anniversary of June 24, 1932 revolt, which ended absolute monarchy, was only celebrated by those who believe Thailand has yet to achieve genuine democracy and aspire for more freedom and rights.

Love it or loathe it, it has become apparent to many of us that the de facto use of marijuana for recreational purposes is spreading over the past 10 days since the decriminalization of marijuana for medical purposes by the government took effect on June 9.

The decriminalization of marijuana which took effect on Thursday, the first in Asia, poses both opportunities and challenges to Thai society.

Most people, if not all, have unconscious bias when it comes to political ideology. In Thailand, you might be a royalist or anti-monarchist, pro-democracy or pro-military, the list goes on. The decline of mainstream mass media and rise of social media means we are all increasingly our own gate keeper.

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.