Opinion

When it comes to the English name of the capital of Thailand, are you Team Bangkok or Team Krung Thep Maha Nakhon?

Accused of indoctrinating its students with distorted Thai history and monarchy, Thammasat University High School defended itself over the past few days through a statement denying the allegation which hits the headline when Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha said he will send related agencies to look into the school’s syllabus and more.

Looking at many Thais donning red dresses during the latest Lunar New Year earlier this week in Bangkok with all the accompanying Chinese music and signs, I think President Xi would have approved of.

Given that an average of two persons are killed every hour on Thai roads, according to the Thai Road Safety Center, some wonder why the recent tragic accident of Waraluck Supwatjariyakul struck so many chords.

Recently, Move Forward Party announced that Mr. Wiroj Lakhana-Addisorn was chosen to be their candidate for Governor of Bangkok. The 44-year old parliamentarian was considered by many to be the rising star of the party, as well as of Thai politics as of late.

Having charged at least 167 people under the lese majeste law over the past year, the regime of Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha is now trying to find out who are active underground, the shadowy members of the monarchy reform as well as anti-monarchy networks. And their money pipeline.

In a quasi-dictator’s wet dream, the ‘democratic’ state gets to decide who can become a journalist, who not, and what journalists cannot write about – basically turning them into public relations servants.

How do you control NGOs that are against the state on various issues such as how to handle the Deep South insurgency, monarchy reformists, anti-megaproject environmentalists and the like?

Another year, 2021, is drawing to a close. It’s time to take stock on how we led our life – at least for me. It's been a very difficult year for most of us due to COVID-19 and It's hard to find someone who doesn't know someone who lost a person due to the virus. But this article is not about that.

When famous rocker turned philanthropic runner Artiwara “Toon Bodyslam” Kongmalai recently announced another charity run, he was faced with a different political environment. Instead of a unison and warm receptions, a hero’s welcome for Toon’s return after four-years absence from a very successful run to raise donations to buy hospital equipment, his latest bid to raise 28 million baht to fund 109 school children raised more questions.