Longer-form commentary and opinion pieces across all geographic sections
The expected release of convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra next week is set to inject more heat into the simmering powerplay between conservative elites and the ex-PM, analysts say. The ex-premier is expected to be freed on bail even if he is hit with a fresh charge of lese majeste under Article 112 of
The Thai government’s controversial plan to raise 500 billion baht through an off-budget loan for the digital wallet scheme has run into another roadblock. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) recently issued a warning that the scheme risked violating the Constitution and related laws and was vulnerable to corruption. In January, the Council of State —
Thai society was shocked when well-known serial petitioner Srisuwan Janya, who has been a thorn in the flesh of the powers that be for years, was arrested on January 28 on an extortion charge. Following a sting operation that included anti-corruption officials, Srisuwan was arrested for allegedly demanding 1.5 million baht from the director-general of the
The ongoing push in Parliament to improve Thailand’s appalling record of air pollution offers hope that the decades-long threat to public health posed by PM2.5 smog could soon be curbed. The severity of the threat is so grave that the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly for seven “clean air” laws on January 17. The seven
Last week, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US National Security Advisor Jack Sullivan held two days of talks at a five-star hotel in Bangkok. The outcome of their in-depth exchanges, which lasted nearly 12 hours, succeeded in further reducing the longstanding tension between the world’s two great rivalries. This trend will continue as both
The Thai government is grappling with a dilemma on how to deal with an unresolved maritime border issue with Cambodia amid political pressure at home, while also pursuing joint development of the abundant crude oil and gas reserves in an area of the Gulf of Thailand over which the two have overlapping claims. The two issues
Budgetary provisions are under scrutiny as Thailand’s House of Representatives is currently in the process of vetting the much-delayed budget bill for fiscal 2024. The total outlay is 3.48 trillion baht (US$99 billion). Public attention has turned to the widening income and wealth inequality, which has plagued Thailand for long. There has been a growing
A shocking murder recently committed by a group of boys aged 13 to 16 has prompted a big question in Thailand. Should children who commit serious crimes be sentenced as harshly as adult criminals? Under current Thai law, children aged between 12 and 15 are protected from criminal punishment but can be subject to measures
While a court case ousted Saksayam Chidchob as transport minister in the previous government, his formidable political networking skills mean there’s a good chance he will return to power. On January 17, the Constitutional Court found him guilty of concealing his stake in a construction company that was awarded a contract with a state agency.
The idea of a land bridge connecting the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea has been in the pipeline for a few years. Former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob had pushed for the multi-billion-dollar project when serving in the Prayut Chan-o-cha government. The current Cabinet of Srettha Thavisin has given it added impetus, approving the
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s estimate, one in eight of us is currently struggling with mental health problems. But in Thailand, only a fraction of these sufferers receive the help they need. “Only a few million Thais have ever been treated for their mental health issues,” Mental Health Department spokesman Dr. Varoth Chotpitayasunondh
The coalition government led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has come under fire from the opposition, which is accused it of lacking a strong commitment to pursue military reform following a slight hike in the defense budget for fiscal year 2024. Defense Minister Sutin Klungsang told Parliament during the three-day debate on the budget bill
