Opinion pieces and commentary on Thailand's current affairs, in English, from Thai PBS World contributors.
Government critics and opposition politicians are campaigning for people impacted by COVID-19 and the associated restrictions to sue the state for compensation over the damage caused. They say the government, particularly Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, should be held responsible for the worsening epidemic and Thailand’s shortage of “quality” vaccines for mass inoculation. Prayut and his
In order to boost public confidence in Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul took the first jab in Thailand on February 28. The Chinese vaccine has since become the country’s main choice, despite growing doubts about its efficacy that have placed the government under scrutiny. Following loud complaints from the public and many
The failed civil effort to amend the Constitution last year has been revived by Re-Solution, a group of young politicians and activists whose stated goal is to bring down the “Prayut regime”. On June 30, the group submitted its draft charter amendment detailing four key changes to Parliament President Chuan Leekpai. Re-Solution’s proposed amendment would
Millions of Thais are closely following developments in the country’s acquisition of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, which are believed to be the most effective against the new coronavirus and its variants. Despite growing public anxiety over the country’s worsening outbreak, no mRNA vaccines are available in Thailand to date. With a current daily toll of 5,000-plus
The Thai government has resumed its tug-of-war with popular social media platforms, particularly Facebook, over the content it deems fake news and insulting to the monarchy. In the latest round of confrontations, the Ministry of Digital, Economy and Society (DES) last month threatened legal action against Facebook for refusing to close accounts it accuses of
Thailand has been quick to respond to the latest US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP), saying unequivocally that it is disappointed with the ranking. The report, which was released on July 1, downgraded Thailand to the Tier 2 Watch List from Tier 2 the previous year. This year report found the Thai government did
Hopes for a new and more democratic Thai Constitution rose this week when the referendum bill sailed through Parliament. The government-sponsored bill paves the way for a public vote on whether the population wants a new Constitution to be written by a charter drafting assembly (CDA). The new bill was passed after the Constitutional Court
Parliament is scheduled to deliberate 13 charter amendment bills this week, but only a few are expected to make it through to the national assembly, a third of which is made up of senators appointed under the post-coup junta. Observers believe only amendments that seek to restore the two-ballot voting system will sail through the
The ruling party’s latest internal reshuffle indicates it desperately wants to win the next election, amid speculation that the national poll will be called early. Palang Pracharath Party rejigged its executive board at a general assembly on Friday (June 18) which saw General Prawit Wongsuwan return as leader and his protégé Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives
The opposition Move Forward Party is pushing for an amendment to the Criminal Code that would punish judicial personnel for “distorting the law”. Move Forward, aka “Kao Klai” in Thai, endorsed its final amendment draft to the Penal Code in late May, seeking to introduce a new offense of “law distortion” against any justice officials
Over the weekend, several hospitals in Bangkok, and many other provinces, postponed vaccination appointments for this week. Today (Monday), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) did the same for its 25 non-hospital vaccination sites. This, however, is not the first time. Thailand’s mass inoculation campaign, which began last Monday, has hit hurdles from the start, as
When Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered his Cabinet last week to speed up implementation of public projects as the government only had one year left in office, many saw it as a countdown to dissolution of Parliament. And there are other signals that Prayut may be planning to call an early election before his term
