Person of the Year

News > Local News

The TDRI has shown rational debate is the key to healing a fractured nation

Published: 31 Dec 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

Last year, the Bangkok Post nominated flood volunteers as our 'Person(s) of the Year', for the selfless acts which they performed in helping the many thousands of people hit by the big floods.

Rice is unloaded in a government warehouse in Ratchaburi. The Thailand Development Research Institute reported the scheme is wasteful and would harm the country’s finances. The Bangkok Post has selected the TDRI as its Person of the Year. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

This year, the second time we have named anyone for their outstanding contributions to society, we again name not a single individual, but the collection of academics and thinkers who make up the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). The think-tank shows we can still agree to disagree on the big issues confronting us, as it puts forward competing ideas for the public to debate.

This article is older than 60 days, which we reserve for our premium members only.You can subscribe to our premium member subscription, here.

Forum

Your comments

felixqui
Post : 622
Send message

Discussion 18 : 01 Jan 2013 at 06.5818
Post this to my Facebook
bluebkk, bew, and sunshine, re D. 9, 11, & 12, et al,
Thank you for the replies, which, however, conspicuously fail to address the point: that a healthy democracy requires an actual possibilty of well-founded, balanced opinion on important matters, and that such opinion requires absolutely that free speech be legaly protected, not banned under threat of severe legal sanction.

Thaksin was also against free speech, preferring the bliss of innocence that comes from legally enforced ignorance, as his persistent efforts to stifle negative criticism using the courts attests, and which further show the urgent need for constitutional protection.
Like dislike 6 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
brilliant
Post : 1,446
Send message

Discussion 17 : 01 Jan 2013 at 01.3717
Post this to my Facebook
Madar - glad to see your resolutions also include a better sense of humor. I got a kick out of that, particularly the Amsterdam group being paid lackeys for Thaksin. Let's only hope their efforts to get the ICC involved results in investigations and convictions of crimes against humanity in 2003-2006.
Like dislike 16 people liked / 1 people disliked this comment
ringmaster
Post : 744
Send message

Discussion 16 : 01 Jan 2013 at 01.0216
Post this to my Facebook
I would have nominated another collection of academics and thinkers - the Nitirat. They also put forth competing ideas for the public to debate... and are very brave to do so.
Like dislike 7 people liked / 11 people disliked this comment
Rab.Madar
Post : 230
Send message

Discussion 15 : 31 Dec 2012 at 23.2915
Post this to my Facebook
I am presently in Shanghai and it is already 2013. I have made my resolution to continue supporting the PTP government, of whom Yingluck Shinawatra should be nominated person of the year for her devotion to the Thai people and fighting against difficult odds to bring a true democracy. Next in line would be Robert Amsterdam for his bring to our attention that the International Criminal Court prosecutor may be granted jurisdiction to open a preliminary examination of whether crimes against humanity were committed in 2010
Like dislike 4 people liked / 15 people disliked this comment
wakeup
Post : 760
Send message

Discussion 14 : 31 Dec 2012 at 19.4914
Post this to my Facebook
#10 Yes - Nitrat - who had Thaksin's paid corporate-lobbyist Robert Amsterdam sitting in the front row at their big meeting, with the room full of Thaksin supporters literally wearing red shirts and carrying Thaksin's picture. Another attempt by dishonest people to co-opt and couch their agenda behind academia & the principles of freedom and progress.
Like dislike 14 people liked / 8 people disliked this comment
bkkblue
Post : 39
Send message

Discussion 13 : 31 Dec 2012 at 17.0513
Post this to my Facebook
Sorry, i meant Rungroj Thainiyom.
Like dislike 0 people liked / 4 people disliked this comment
bluebkk
Post : 1,356
Send message

Discussion 12 : 31 Dec 2012 at 16.0412
Post this to my Facebook
Felixqui,#8, how easily your vision gets red blurred by one of the typical PT/UDD propaganda machine smokescreens.....Nitirat has as much to do with "real" democracy as Yingluck is the "real" Prime Minister and the reds go for "real" democracy..... Ot the reconciliation scam is a " real" policy....
Like dislike 29 people liked / 16 people disliked this comment
bew
Post : 56
Send message

Discussion 11 : 31 Dec 2012 at 16.0411
Post this to my Facebook
I disagree with #5&#6, Nitirat group doesn't deserve this credit. Its members have never done extensive research on this case. If they did research on Japanese lese-majeste law before the end of WWII, their arguments would be stronger and more credible. I give the credit to TDRI because their research is very comprehensive. Thai legal system need more comprehensive overhaul, not just revising only one article for being just democratic.
Like dislike 17 people liked / 15 people disliked this comment
siamitude
Post : 792
Send message

Discussion 10 : 31 Dec 2012 at 15.3110
Post this to my Facebook
Nitirat group is my choice. Free thinking should be encouraged. Thai society needs to move on...
Like dislike 17 people liked / 26 people disliked this comment
sunshine51
Post : 165
Send message

Discussion 9 : 31 Dec 2012 at 14.569
Post this to my Facebook
felixqui, I suggest you do a little more research regarding the Nitirat group, they came out in full support of whitewashing the fugitive as soon as PT came to power. Their support regarding changes to the LM law is just a smokescreen.
Like dislike 38 people liked / 18 people disliked this comment