AK Rockefeller Topics

politics

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 ...

I am a politician who used to be a soldier

I am a politician who used to be a soldier

The head of Thailand’s military government declared Monday he is “interested” in participating in politics, in a new indication he may seek to remain in office after elections scheduled for early n ...

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 ...

Media Regulator Intimidates Voice TV, Again

Media Regulator Intimidates Voice TV, Again

Pressures from Thailand’s media regulator, the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has forced Voice TV to suspend two news commentators for alleged partiality and frequently reportin ...

Inequality in Bolehland

Inequality in Bolehland

Will there be any improvements to the state of poverty and hardship for Malaysians and migrant workers? What are NGOs and government agencies doing to improve the quality of life for marginalised communities? Or will ...

An Election Without Fundamental Rights

An Election Without Fundamental Rights

It has been four years since the ruling Pheu Thai party was removed from power in Thailand in a military coup. Four years of flip-flops, of abrupt reversals of decisions, and of broken promises. Four years of propaga ...

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 ...

Body Politics

Body Politics

“To me, art is always political. One way or another, whether or not you, as an artist, you think it or not. It doesn’t matter. To me, it’s always political. Because, if everything’s already go ...

Thailand’s 2014 Coup and Call for Democracy

Thailand’s 2014 Coup and Call for Democracy

Rome Ramsignam from Thailand’s Democracy Restoration Group (DRG) talks to Peoples Dispatch about the current political scenario in the country and the people’s movement for elections and democracy.   ...

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. ...

The Art of The Deal

The Art of The Deal

In a devastating realm of self-righteous, ignorance and political fuckery.   ...

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 ...

Young Malaysians on a Mission: #TangkapNajib

Young Malaysians on a Mission: #TangkapNajib

Tough times for an unpopular Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, and for ordinary citizens. The country is deeply engulfed in scandals, primarily regarding Najib’s pet project, a state-investment fund, 1Mala ...

Memory loss, political strangulation as a messiah rampages again

Memory loss, political strangulation as a messiah rampages again

She doesn’t know, he doesn’t remember, while another friend seems disinterested with my queries, and my persistence. While it was all passionate intelligent talk almost a month ago, now it’s simply ...

ThaiSouth: Barisan Revolusi Nasional’s Demand Exposes Insincerity

ThaiSouth: Barisan Revolusi Nasional’s Demand Exposes Insincerity

Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) is at it again. The Pattani-Melayu elitist militant leadership made more demands on YouTube in relation to Ramadan, the holy month in the Muslim calendar. Chief BRN representative, Has ...

Public Servants Bearing Witness Vol. 4

Public Servants Bearing Witness Vol. 4

Public Servants BEARING WITNESS serves as a supplement to mainstream news’ output. P.S. BEARING WITNESS was created to help maintain an informed public by covering the major international stories mainstream me ...

ThaiSouth: Ownership at its Height of Hypocrisy

ThaiSouth: Ownership at its Height of Hypocrisy

The Barisan Revolusi National (BRN) will continue the carnage in the ThaiSouth until their demands are met by the “Siam” (Thailand) government. BRN, has lost much of its influence in the three Thai provin ...

Kashmir: Breaking the Silence

Kashmir: Breaking the Silence

In Kashmir, the scale of human rights violations—from collective punishment and assassinations, to custodial deaths and disappearances—is staggering. Yet little of what goes on in that Himalayan region ...