Tag: news
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The Question of Reconciliation
There are a few “buzzwords” in Thailand that have been very popular for a few years now. “Reform” and “reconciliation”; these are two of the main ones; politicians, generals and the media certainly enjoy sprinkling them into their speeches and slogans. In this post, I’d like to talk a little about the latter word- the…
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Ever-closer Union?
This is a big year in Southeast Asia, not least because of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) that has just come into force this year. It bounds up the nations of ASEAN closer together economically than ever before. Any talk of economic or political unions, of course, are bound to conjure up thoughts about the…
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Into the Era of Multipolarity: The Rise of China
It has been a long time since the world has seen any nation other than the United States hold a true ‘world power’ status. No country has been able to challenge it, and especially since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the world has grown accustomed to an age of unipolarity, with…
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As Protests Continue, Thaksin’s Power Erodes
‘I came from elections’, ‘the majority chose me’; these are some of the favorite catchphrases of Yingluck Shinawatra. Indeed, constant and predictable victory in national elections is where the Thaksin regime derives its legitimacy. Despite the fact that democracy is so much more than just voting at the election booth, the government continues to position…
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Towards Reform: Thailand’s Protests
The antigovernment protests in Thailand are massive, by any standard. It’s hard to find a protest in any other country that would equal Thailand’s current round of protests in terms of numbers. The car-filled streets of Bangkok are a distant dream, because on a protest day, they’d be swelled with protesters , blowing their whistles…
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Long Live the King!
Today, 5th December, is annually celebrated as Father’s Day here in Thailand because it is His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday. This year marks the King’s 85th birthday. So, happy Father’s day and long live the King! Today, Bangkok was once again turned into a stream of yellow-shirted people. (Yellow is the King’s color, because he was born…
Ken Mathis Lohatepanont 