- Sunday, June 6, 2010, 21:30
- Opinion, Politics
Abac Poll: Majority named themselves as silent group
BANGKOK, 6 June 2010 (NNT) - The majority of people designated themselves in the silent group category, according to a survey by the Assumption University Research Center.
Based on the latest survey conducted by ABAC Poll Research Center of 1,237 residents of 17 provinces, the government received 5.87 points out of 10 for creating national reconciliation, 5.69 points for ...
- Sunday, June 6, 2010, 21:30
- Opinion, Politics
Suan Dusit Poll: All politicians should work with great effort
BANGKOK, 6 June 2010 (NNT) – The majority of Thai people recently surveyed want all politicians to perform their duties to their fullest capability while the government should resolve national problems including other lingering issues and build reconciliation among all Thais before House dissolution, says the Suan Dusit poll.
According to the Suan Dusit Poll, 40.76 ...
- Sunday, April 11, 2010, 11:46
- Business, Opinion
Poll: Economists support third round of talks b/w Govt, UDD
BANGKOK, 2 April 2010 (NNT) - A poll shows economists from leading organizations support a third round of truce talks between the government and the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).
According to Bangkok University’s research poll, economists believe that negotiations between both sides will enable a resolution for Thailand to overcome the political row. The ...
- Friday, November 27, 2009, 16:06
- Opinion
Welfare is the way forward
When Thailand began its quest for economic development and industrialisation five decades ago, hopes were high that the new wealth would trickle down to the poor and make society more equitable.
That development dream instead turned into a nightmare. And a very expensive one, too.
Since Thailand's economic growth was primarily based on the ruthless exploitation of natural resources, it has caused environmental ...
- Friday, November 27, 2009, 16:05
- Opinion
Continuous political provocation hurts democracy
The backing down of the red shirts from staging a rally this weekend has temporarily averted a possible head-on collision on the streets between the government and its opposition.
The government is still reluctant to revoke its imposition of the Internal Security Act (ISA) across the entire capital. Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban, in charge of national security, said the government has ...
- Friday, November 27, 2009, 16:04
- Opinion
POST BAG Sudden memory loss
Why is it that when a notable political personage dies, he is always eulogised for his "positive" achievements (if there were any)?
Suddenly no one seems to remember the low points of a career, the corruption, the political chaos caused, the disruption to national and local politics, etc. It is as if a national, mental-blackout shroud descends over everyone.
JACK DREAZEN
American fare only
Would ...
- Friday, November 27, 2009, 16:03
- Opinion
Siam rath Columnistsukhum Chaloeysap
Old politicians never die, they just fade away. That just about sums up the life and times of Samak Sundaravej, who succumbed to liver cancer on Tuesday.
The passing of the 74-year-old former prime minister is a great loss for his supporters. Considered one of the country's most colourful politicians, Samak has left an indelible stamp on Thailand's political history.
After graduating with a ...
- Friday, November 27, 2009, 16:02
- Opinion
Diplomatic tit-for-tat is pointless
The nod from Phnom Penh to allow the family of Sivarak Chutipong - the Cambodia Air Traffic Services engineer being held on a charge of spying - to visit him in a Cambodian jail came with positive signs about the Thai-Cambodian relationship.
To a certain extent, the approval from the Hun Sen government helps prevent the diplomatic rift between the two neighbours from ...
- Thursday, November 26, 2009, 17:32
- Opinion
Powers best left to courts
With barely any media coverage and little fanfare, the House of Representatives recently passed the first reading of a bill which seeks to empower all the committees of the House and Senate to summon any individual, whether he or she is a government official or a civilian, to testify before a committee.
And if the individual fails to respond to the summons, ...
- Thursday, November 26, 2009, 17:31
- Opinion
Chavalit can help, but govt does not want to lose face
During the past two decades, former prime minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh has always been only a phone-call away from leaders of neighbouring countries. In the midst of the ongoing diplomatic tension with Cambodia, his fence-mending clout could have come in handy had he not been part of the problem himself.
The retired general is now sitting back ...
- Thursday, November 26, 2009, 17:31
- Opinion
Will Abhisit respond in kind to the UDD's about-face?
Despite the disingenuous denial by leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) that their abrupt decision to postpone indefinitely the mass anti-government protest planned to begin on Saturday was not influenced by deposed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, their about-face is a welcome news - and a great relief for both the Abhisit government ...
- Thursday, November 26, 2009, 17:30
- Opinion
POST BAG Swept away
Fine obituaries seem to be flying in from everywhere for Samak Sundaravej.
But if memory serves me right, wasn't it Samak in an interview with CNN as prime minister in 2008, concerning what is perhaps Thailand's worst-ever modern-day massacre on Oct 6, 1976, denied it all by saying: "Only one unlucky guy died that day"?
STEPHEN CLEARY
A man of his times
Given the current climate, ...
- Thursday, November 26, 2009, 17:29
- Opinion
Country's in for it in a very bad way
How will this political mess end? Will Thaksin Shinawatra finally return to haunt us with his bottomless greed? Or will the old, oppressive system that perpetuates social injustice prevail to suffocate us?
Is there any way out of this madness?
Ask historian/thinker Nidhi Eeo-seewong, and his answer is a resounding no. In his latest column in Matichon newspaper, he ...
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 7:14
- Opinion
EDITORIAL Obama hits a rough spot
President Barack Obama of the United States has hit the one-year political wall hard, and it especially showed during his recent trip to Asia. In the year since Mr Obama was elected, both the excitement of the polls and the expectations have worn off. As with all democratic leaders, election hullabaloo has been replaced by reality. Not all promises can ...
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 7:13
- Opinion
Thaksin merely a symptom of the widespread malaise
During the past couple of weeks, nothing received more press coverage and analyses or made the government of Thailand more nervous than the visit to Cambodia of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
During that time, two other events occurred but received scant attention compared to Thaksin's movements although they represented something no less consequential for the long-term prospects of ...
