AK Rockefeller Topics

democracy

Pro-democracy activists rally in Bangkok as election faces delay

Pro-democracy activists rally in Bangkok as election faces delay

Human rights activists protest possible postponement of Thai election. ...

Rap Against Dictatorship

Rap Against Dictatorship

“Polarizing the people is the authoritarian’s ultimate weapon. When this happens, the people’s power will be take away.” Rap Against Dictatorship Artist : – Lady Thanom – Gentle Pr ...

Forget Genuine, Rights-Respecting Democracy

Forget Genuine, Rights-Respecting Democracy

Thailand. General Prayuth Chan-Ocha, who seized power in a coup in May 2014, said in August that the election should take place on February 24. Previous time-lines for a poll were repeatedly pushed back. Human Rights ...

Lost Decade: Despite Military Persecution, Former Thai PM Thaksin Calls For Unity

Lost Decade: Despite Military Persecution, Former Thai PM Thaksin Calls For Unity

12 Years from September 19, 2006 to September 19, 2018 Via “Oak” Panthongtae Shinawatra. Today I wish all of us could for a moment, put ourself in the right frame of mind without any prejudice and serious ...

Towards Political Extinction

Towards Political Extinction

Road-map promises have led nowhere. Democratic aspirations are on the verge of extinction. The junta-controlled National Legislative Assembly voted unanimously to approve Thailand’s 20-year National Strategy. T ...

Politics Fragmented into a Series of Hopelessness

Politics Fragmented into a Series of Hopelessness

Throughout a decade of struggles in a state of kleptocracy, Malaysians, mainly those from the lower middle class, have told me that they were unable to find equal opportunities for work. But then one day, Malaysians ...

Political autonomy is not part of the equation

Political autonomy is not part of the equation

Thailand’s junta chief General Prayut Chan-o-cha said that political restrictions would be eased to allow political parties to conduct political activities – limited and obviously closely-monitored activi ...

A Tall Order: Free and Fair Elections

A Tall Order: Free and Fair Elections

While people talk about political parties and the usual predictions of who will be the prime minister, there’s very little open debate about the role and responsibilities of the Election Commission of Thailand. ...

We Remember Moments

We Remember Moments

I remember a time when society reacted with shock and anger. The Thai coup of 2014 had provoked public resistance to the military takeover. Pro-democracy demonstrators peacefully gathered on May 24, 2014 at Victory M ...

Once upon a time when people wanted an election

Once upon a time when people wanted an election

Remembering a time when Thais demanded for the right to vote in a free election. What happened. On February 2, 2014, the world watched Thailand’s general election unfold within a tenuous political environme ...

The Land of Seas of Mountains – Part 1

The Land of Seas of Mountains – Part 1

From Bangkok to Loei. Thailand’s capital city is a mess. The stifling political heat within the city, and accompanying it was the sense of middle class apathy, has drained me. Then the opportunity presents i ...

Indonesia: Hundreds Arrested in West Papua Demonstrations

Indonesia: Hundreds Arrested in West Papua Demonstrations

Source: abc NEWS Indonesian police detained several hundred people Monday at protests around the country demanding independence for remote West Papua. Arrests were made in cities in Sulawesi, Java and Papua but demon ...

The Right to Participate

The Right to Participate

Source: Khaosod English One hundred and nine groups consisting of NGOs, civic groups, grassroots organizations, labor groups, students and anti-junta organizations met for two days over the weekend and came out with ...

No Peace Without Freedom

No Peace Without Freedom

You can’t have peace without freedom, and you can’t have freedom without peace. Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj (Malaysia’s First Prime Minister)   ...

Unhappiness in Between Smiles

Unhappiness in Between Smiles

Anti-junta protesters march against military rule on the second anniversary of Thailand’s military coup.   ...

Launching Democracy to Oblivion

Launching Democracy to Oblivion

The future of democracy in Thailand. Image courtesy: @chayika   ...

In Nothingness We Are Equal, Then We are Not

In Nothingness We Are Equal, Then We are Not

Narrowing the concerns. Wage. Debts. Housing. Family. Life. Bangkok has seen it’s fair share of hardship, during times of democracy, martial law, and in times of uncertainty under the military elites. These are ...

Attitude Readjustment to Stop Your Thoughts

Attitude Readjustment to Stop Your Thoughts

Phumtham Wachayachai, the present secretary of Pheu Thai Party, had expressed his concerns about the situation in Thailand. The recent situation was when Pichai Nariptapan and Karoon Hosakul were detained by the j ...

The Citizen’s Constitution in The Land of Smiles

The Citizen’s Constitution in The Land of Smiles

Junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha said criticism would be forbidden until a new constitution was in place. A constitution that allegedly would facilitate the return of democracy to Thailand, and increase the ...

Political gluttony in a realm torn by greed

Political gluttony in a realm torn by greed

I'm back in Bangkok, where traffic conditions, urban pollution and color-based politics have reach a screeching point, where the educated elites are in their constant political brawl against what they call the uneduc ...