Opinion pieces and commentary on Thailand's current affairs, in English, from Thai PBS World contributors.
Many commuters voted for Chadchart Sittipunt in May’s Bangkok governor election in the hope he would deliver on his vow to cut BTS Skytrain fares sharply. But that is not what the newly elected Chadchart will deliver in the foreseeable future. “When I said a BTS ride should only cost between 25 and 30 baht,
As the host of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (G20 FMM) in Bali, Indonesia did it best to manage the highly charged atmosphere and a divided meeting. Fortunately, all G20 foreign ministers participated, including the invited guest, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, by video link. Soviet Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov sat at the same table
For the first time in the city’s history, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt has designated locations for public gatherings, bringing joy to political activists planning protests but causing concern among many residents and officials. He issued the unprecedented order last Friday (June 24), just days after a group of hardline anti-government protesters known as Thalu Gas
Older persons are highly visible across Asia and the Pacific: they work in agricultural fields producing our food supplies, peddle their wares as street vendors, drive tuk-tuks and buses, exercise in our parks, lead some of the region’s most successful companies and form an integral part of our families. Indeed, population aging is one of
The overwhelming victory of Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt in the recent gubernatorial election has come as a breath of fresh air on the national political landscape, as voters are now expecting to elect better-quality politicians through ballot power. “Politics is no longer frightening, but it’s about hope…we create hope. I will be the governor of
Although Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has vowed to revolutionize the city’s budgeting process, significant change is on hold as the budget plan for next year has already been prepared under his predecessor. The 79-billion-baht draft budget plan for Bangkok was drawn up before Chadchart took the helm of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) late last
Branded a breeding ground of corruption by newly elected Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, Krungthep Thanakom Co Ltd is set for a major transformation under his administration. Chadchart’s chosen man, Prof Tongthong Chandransu has taken over as chairman and president of the state enterprise, which functions as City Hall’s investment arm. He is expected to inject
During a recent United Nations Security Council meeting, Russia’s ambassador abruptly left the room when the European Council’s president Charles Michel blamed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for causing increases in global food prices – “You may leave the room, maybe it’s easier not to listen to the truth, dear Ambassador” were the last words he
The courtroom drama between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard offers food for thought for Thais, should a famous Thai man and his former partner ever go head-to-head before the judges and in the full glare of the media. Thailand may reach that point one day, although for now, it’s a far-fetched scenario. Getting a free
Opinion surveys of voters before elections have been a commonplace occurrence in Thailand for years, yet their findings are often a poor guide to the actual vote results. In fact, opinion polls have been flat wrong in several notable cases. Meanwhile, all polls ahead of Sunday’s Bangkok governor election correctly predicted a big victory for
Many Bangkokians say they will have a “difficult decision” to make on Sunday when they come to vote for their next governor. With information hitting them from all directions and so many interesting candidates, choosing the right one is no easy feat. Hence, we may see a few surprises when the result of Sunday’s election
For decades now, Thai parents have been letting their children ride in cars without a car seat, and sometimes even without a belt. The practice – which also applies to school buses – is so prevalent that people fail to realize the danger involved. However, from September 5, it will be banned by law. The
