Longer-form commentary and opinion pieces across all geographic sections
Political and economic systems are vulnerable to corruption and abuse to favor a few influential persons at the expense of the public at large. The challenge is how to correct and manage it. First breakthrough Almost a decade after the 2014 coup, the reins of power in Thailand are still held by a military general,
The recent deportation of at least 59 children to Myanmar – which has been engulfed in violence since the 2021 military coup – has brought to light many problems in Thailand. The country is still struggling with how to efficiently handle kids fleeing from its strife-torn neighbor, manage its small schools, and more. The children
The return of ailing Thai elephant “Sak Surin”, after 22 years in Sri Lanka, not only brought joy and relief to Thais, but also raised awareness of animal welfare. Many people have demanded that the government search for other Thai elephants sent to various countries. They also demanded that the Thai government repatriate all of
The chance of Move Forward Party chief Pita Limjaroenrat becoming Thailand’s next prime minister shrank on Wednesday as Parliament prepared for Thursday’s vote to select the country’s leader. The Election Commission asked the Constitutional Court to rule if Pita, who is the top PM candidate by virtue of Move Forward’s election win, had violated election
This Thursday (July 13) will see a crucial vote in Thailand’s Parliament when 500 MPs and 250 senators convene to select the country’s 30th prime minister. Move Forward Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat is the main candidate for the top job as he is backed by a coalition of eight political parties with a combined 312
Although the rainy season has begun in Thailand, the threat of prolonged drought and water shortages is hovering on the horizon because of El Nino. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which monitors sea temperatures at over 200 locations, forecasts that El Nino – a change in the weather system that increases global
Thailand is host to the second-largest refugee population in Asia. There are over 150,000 stateless children in the system, plus an estimated 50,000 who are not registered. Though Thailand has made a lot of progress in the past ten years, especially in terms of policies, there is still room for improvement in accelerating the process
Unlike many other countries, Thailand does not usually celebrate its national day. And it is not uncommon to find Thais who have no idea what date it takes place or even that it exists at all. December 5, the birthday of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, has been marked as Thailand’s national day since May 1960. But
How will the coalition partners reconcile their differences in approach towards resolving the long-running conflict in the predominantly Muslim deep South? In the second of a three-part series, our Political Desk analyses the challenges in pursuing a peace process. The eight-party coalition expected to form the new government led by the Move Forward Party faces tough
The first of a three-part series by Thai PBS World’s Political Desk analyses the latest disputes among political forces over the right to self-determination and the peace process in Thailand’s predominantly Muslim region. The knee-jerk reaction of security agencies and ultra-right-wing groups against student activists and politicians who dabbled with the idea of holding a
If the accomplishment of Bangkok Pride 2023 can be measured by the number of participants, then it was a success. The event, which was held earlier this month, drew around 50,000 people, more than double that of last year. Thais and foreigners, cisgender heterosexual people and members of LGBTQ+ community, from all walks of life,
The eight-party coalition’s bid to form Thailand’s next government is threatened by a dispute between its two leaders – Move Forward and Pheu Thai – over the House Speaker’s seat. Both parties are well aware of the crucial roles that the Speaker, who heads the legislature, plays in Parliament and Thai politics. The coalition is
