COLUMNIST: FRANK G. ANDERSON
Thai Traditions
Frank G. Anderson is the Thailand representative of American Citizens Abroad. He was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer to Thailand from 1965-67, working in community development. A freelance writer and founder of northeast Thailand's first local English language newspaper, the Korat Post -- www.thekoratpost.com -- he has spent over eight years in Thailand "embedded" with the local media. He has an MBA in information management and an associate degree in construction technology.
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July 01, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — The ancient kingdoms of Cambodia and Thailand are squaring off over some ancient Khmer ruins that have only barely withstood the test of time. Both countries lay claim to the temple of Phra Viharn, as the Thais call it, or Preah Vihear in Cambodian, that lies on their common border.
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June 18, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Throughout the world and throughout history, church-state marriages were made and broken – even in the United States, so proud of their clear-cut separation. Today, we may ask whether Thailand’s clergy, the Buddhist Sangha, has been crossing the line by endorsing political candidates and parties.
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June 09, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — A BBC reporter, Jonathan Head, has been accused by a Thai police colonel – who denies any political motivation – of lese majeste, or insulting the king. The topic is central to the persistent People’s Alliance for Democracy anti-government gatherings that continue in Bangkok and other cities in Thailand.
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June 02, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej Saturday threatened forceful measures to disperse pro-democracy, anti-government protestors in Bangkok – until protesters in Phuket and elsewhere threatened to close down the airports and stop tourist arrivals. The protesters are determined to bring down the government.
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May 30, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — One would have thought -- given the huge number of lawyers, legislators, academics and citizens who reviewed the junta-drafted charter prior to its enactment on Aug. 24, 2007 -- that Thailand’s Constitution would have been unassailable. But the new government is already moving to amend it.
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May 23, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thailand’s social, academic and political leadership seems to agree that the country has political woes, but they are only a symptom. The causes are related to corruption, a lack of public responsibility, and the belief that Thais must remain monolithic, non-divisive and committed to the monarchy.
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May 16, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Both Burma and Thailand have a habit of addressing reality with illusory disdain, as if reality does not matter. When events such as Cyclone Nargis occur, and there is a great deal of suffering, those ruling the country do not view the suffering in humanitarian terms the way the West does.
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May 09, 2008NAKHONRATCHASIMA, Thailand — Recently the owner of a 2000 Mercedes Benz C240 pulled into a local repair center in Thailand complaining of a non-working gas gauge. The mechanic asked, "Have you filled the tank with ethanol-based gasoline? That can damage the sensors." Lesson: don't use ethanol.
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May 05, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi warned the country's media on Friday that they need to cooperate, be responsible and ethical. The Thai prime minister has given similar advice to his country's media. It's a shame that they and other Asian leaders don't adhere to the same guidelines.
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April 28, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Thailand's most powerful political and social "hammer" may be the kingdom's lese majeste law, which states, "Whoever defames, insults or threatens the King, Queen, the Heir-apparent or the Regent, shall be punished (with) imprisonment of three to fifteen years."
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April 21, 2008NAKHONRATCHASIMA , Thailand — Thailand celebrated its New Year last week, with revelers lining streets and highways to cordon off and capture anyone not already totally drenched and splash them with water as a symbol of good luck. Being cordoned off, in fact, is a way of life in Thailand.
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April 15, 2008Nakhonratchasima , Thailand — Many have argued legitimately that the Thai police are extremely corrupt. Even Thais themselves will accept this postulation, yet like others fail to note that the police force in Thailand is not a separate entity from the rest of society, and that people make up police staff.
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April 11, 2008Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — With the government of Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej in the driver's seat -- albeit on a very bumpy road to date -- questions are being raised frequently about the legitimacy of the ruling People Power Party, which won elections as a proxy for the banned Thai Rak Thai party of Thaksin Shinawatra.
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April 04, 2008Bangkok, Thailand — The global information society is threatened by extensive state censorship of information, including on the Internet, by ruling elites in non-democratic countries. Thailand has had decades of difficulties with information management and the public's lack of access to facts.