Opinion pieces and commentary on Thailand's current affairs, in English, from Thai PBS World contributors.
Many young Thais are automatically expected to just “listen” to their elders, rather than being encouraged to speak up or to take part in a healthy conversation, in which anyone, regardless of age, can freely exchange their views without being judged.
The coup in Myanmar on February 1st, 2021 has attracted harsh condemnation from the international community, especially from Western countries. In the past year, the military regime, headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, has committed all kinds of violent acts against its own citizens, many of which defy description. Leaders on the world stage,
As host of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits and Myanmar crisis resolution, Thailand faces major challenges of superpower rivalry and ASEAN centrality in 2022. However, seasoned diplomats fear this Thai government is not up to the task. Preparations indicate Thailand will focus on APEC process and protocol rather than substance, meaning this year’s summit will
It was clear from the 50-minute conversation between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that their countries will be able to survive only through future cooperation. Both sides stated their bottom lines and their common destiny is sealed. They need to work out a compromise, which requires further negotiations face
At the latest Thai cabinet meeting, on Dec 28th, the draft bill on so-called Not-for-Profit Organisations was withdrawn at the last minute. The bill will now be considered after the New Year holiday. The Prayut government would like to reign in both local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) because they allegedly perpetuate fake news against
Public anger is growing after five key convicts in high-profile corruption scandals were granted hefty cuts to their jail terms. Four were convicted for their role in the Yingluck government’s graft-riddled rice-pledging scheme. Over the past year, their original court-set terms have been cut by more than half — and upwards of three-quarters in some
It should have been an occasion of soaring national pride as Thai badminton champions enjoyed the crowning success of their career. Instead, Thai viewers watched in embarrassment recently as the national flag was banned at the world championship victory ceremony for the Kingdom’s No 1 mixed doubles duo. Patriotic fans were frustrated and angered by
“Mystery boxes” have become a hot trend in recent months, as COVID-19 spurs a switch to online shopping in Thailand. One influencer, Pimrypie, even managed to sell Bt100 million worth of mystery boxes in less than 10 minutes. But not everyone was happy with the boxes’ mystery contents. Less than a month later, many buyers
Before the birth of the youth-led protest movement in 2020, criticism of the monarchy and calls for changes to the institution were only limited to academia. But after the movement made three core demands – a more democratic Constitution, the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, and reform of the monarchy – the historically taboo
Thai political parties have undergone change, evolution and even transformation in the past year, ahead of a general election expected in the coming year. Parties large and small – as well as newcomers to the political arena – are actively preparing for the next electoral battle, with more contenders expected to launch as early as
The Thai government has been accused of waging “lawfare” against the anti-establishment movement over the past year, charging its key leaders with serious criminal offenses after they demanded political and royal reforms at street protests. Many of the youth-led movement’s chiefs are either in detention awaiting trial or busy fighting court battles over charges of
These days, state-owned broadcasters are coming under heavy criticism because of their one-sided remarks and off-the-mark comments. In the past few days, Thailand’s excellent relations with its closest neighbour, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, suffered a major blow when a well-known TV anchorman, who works for the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand (NBT), which is
