Opinion

When it comes to politics, Thai people can’t seem to agree to disagree and respect each other’s political ideologies.

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.

A “political marriage” between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai Party gone wrong leading to a divorce? Unfortunately for many Thais, this is how they perceive the current acrimonious political situation – and they could not have chosen a worse analogy because the political alliance has very little, if nothing to do with romantic love and matrimonial union.

Ever since Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit of the Thai Summit Group declared for politics and unveiled the Future Forward Party, the phenomenon has gripped Thailand, or more accurately, Bangkok.

By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

Any decision on Chinese visas should be driven by expert consultation – not internet paranoia.

It was chaos, confusion and pain for millions of migrant workers from neighboring countries, chiefly Myanmar, after much harsher penalties under the new Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens – passed by the junta-appointed rubber-stamp parliament – came to effect on June 23 with fines ranging 400,000 to 800,000 bahts.

Khaosod English recently removed a photo depicting a student protest at school in Bangkok following complaints from the student activist seen in the image.

Even among those who profess to be for democracy, disagreeing without insult is difficult.

The trade war serves no one’s interests, and the voice inside the US opposing its imposition of additional tariff is getting louder and louder.