Opinion

Reductio ad Absurdum

By Harrison George | 27 June 2008

One would have thought that after ‘Siam Mapped’ by Acharn Thongchai Winichakul, we’d all grown up a bit.  But no such luck.

Alien Thoughts

Democratic deficit.

By Harrison George | 20 June 2008

There is a common perception in Thailand that democracy is a delicate flower.  It wilts easily, and not just because the military keep yanking it up by the roots.

Opinion

BURNING ISSUE: Cynicism abounds for a just and fair judicial process

By pravit rojanaphruk, | 19 June 2008

The depth of feeling grows for calm and reason to prevail so that Thaksin Shinawatra can get a fair hearing in Thailand's judicial system. A worthy sentiment indeed, but are we likely to see an end to the brooding political atmosphere?

Opinion

Populist coupons: State welfare and politics

By Suree Mingwannalak | 18 June 2008

In brief, the issues of “poverty” and “the poor” (depending on the definition which may vary and is related to income, resource management and budget, etc.) have existed in Thailand since before it became a nation state.  They survive in all periods, whether pre-capitalist or capitalist, pre-modern or post modern, and affect various classes and/or groups that take over state power including powerful military regimes or political parties.

Alien Thoughts

Looking not so good

By Harrison George | 13 June 2008

Rizwaan Sabir is a graduate student at Nottingham University doing research on terrorist tactics.  Now is that wise?

Alien Thoughts

What&#8217;s in a name?

By Harrison George | 6 June 2008

“That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as much”--(William Shakesomething) It all depends on what you call something.

Opinion

Story from the night of the Demonstration: Another perspective about the &#8220;evil mob&#8221;

By Korakot Phiangjai | 30 May 2008

On the hot and humid late afternoon of 25 May on Ratchadamnoen Nok Avenue near the Democracy Monument, people had gathered and were listening to public speeches by speakers of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).  The yellow of the shirts and diverse colours of the umbrellas which linked to one another like a floating raft made the afternoon uniquely more colourful than usual.  The spokesperson on the PAD stage continued to invite the public from their homes to show their stance against the “outlaw government which is trying to amend the constitution for themselves”.

Alien Thoughts

&#8220;The very rich are different from you and me.&#8221; &#8220;Yes, they have more money.&#8221;

By Harrison George | 30 May 2008

I really had no idea how difficult it was to be rich in Thailand.  M L Nattakorn Devakula, in his last column for the Bangkok Post before a ‘semi-political’ break, relates his experiences in pretending to be an elected politician (or perhaps that should be ‘rehearsing’?) and trying to file a declaration of assets

Opinion

Talk of a coup is illegal and clearly highly disturbing

By Pravit Rojanaphruk | 28 May 2008

<div> Here we go again. The talk of a coup d'etat is making the headlines once more. That's nothing to be surprised about in Thailand. The surprising thing is that most of the Thai media should treat the issue with a degree of casualness when asking generals and politicians about what may happen. </div>

Opinion

&#8216;Heaven knows who we were fighting for&#8217; in May 1992

By Somchai Preechasilpakul | 26 May 2008

What is the meaning of the bloodshed in May 1992, and what significance does it have in terms of Thai political history? ‘Rajdamnoen’, a song written by Ad Carabao after the event, says that the May uprising was ‘for the people, for Democracy’.

Alien Thoughts

I say tomato and you say foreign eggplant

By Harrison George | 23 May 2008

Yesterday morning’s Bangkok Post had an interesting caption to a photograph.  The picture is of a protestor outside the offices of the Land Transportation Department and his sign concerns the rise in fuel prices, which the government only sort of controls, and the implication for bus fares, which the government does control quite strictly.

Alien Thoughts

Just Deserts

By Harrison George | 16 May 2008

The British government is a great believer in targets. This is, they think, the way to get improvements in services. You set targets for people and you put the fear in them. If they don't meet your targets, then they're in trouble. Incentives, that's the game.

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