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The embattled Prayut Chan-o-cha government seems set to ignore calls by several sectors of society to compromise and hold out the olive branch of a seat at the negotiating table for the young protest leaders. Instead, it looks increasingly prepared to up the ante by censoring the news reports of media outlets sympathetic to the cause of the pro-democracy movement.
As the tiny specks of light from the protesters' mobile phones at the student-led rallies grow into an ever-widening galaxy of discontent by the day, the lighting along the road ahead for Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha only seems to get darker.
The surging numbers of Covid-19 infections in Yangon and northern Myanmar over the past few weeks is putting the excellent Thai-Myanmar relations under great stress. At this point, the 2,401-kilometre border between both countries is more heavily guarded than ever before.
The embattled Prayut Chan-o-cha government seems set to ignore calls by several sectors of society to compromise and hold out the olive branch of a seat at the negotiating table for the young protest leaders. Instead, it looks increasingly prepared to up the ante by censoring the news reports of media outlets sympathetic to the cause of the pro-democracy movement.
Youthful demonstrators across Thailand loosely linked by smartphones and smart-aleck attitudes have found a way to gather, taunt and disperse with subterfuge and speed.
When General Prayut Chan-o-cha and his allies seized power in 2014, they promised to bring about national reconciliation, but the divisions in society have become worse. They promised to combat corruption, but nothing has really changed. They promised to eradicate any remaining poverty, but the number of people living below the poverty line actually increased for the first time in decades before the pandemic. They promised to drive economic growth, but Thailand continues to lag behind its neighbours. They promised to restore happiness to the Thai people but few are smiling now. The constitution they made is a national headache.
The surging numbers of Covid-19 infections in Yangon and northern Myanmar over the past few weeks is putting the excellent Thai-Myanmar relations under great stress. At this point, the 2,401-kilometre border between both countries is more heavily guarded than ever before.
As the tiny specks of light from the protesters' mobile phones at the student-led rallies grow into an ever-widening galaxy of discontent by the day, the lighting along the road ahead for Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha only seems to get darker.
As the political temperature in Thailand is rising again, with thousands of young people on the streets to voice their displeasure with the government, the country is looking for strong yet sensible leadership. I think all of you agree.
The crackdown on peaceful, unarmed protesters last Friday signalled the government's intention to get tough with pro-democracy groups. Such a stance prompts condemnation as well as concerns over violent confrontation.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the government need to listen to the protesters in order to defuse the rising political tension before it escalates into violence which could seriously destabilise the country.
The anti-government protest at three main locations in Bangkok on Saturday, namely Lat Phrao intersection, the BTS station near the mouth of Soi Udomsuk or Sukhumvit Soi 103 and Wong Wian Yai was different from earlier protests in at least two aspects.
What are the roles and responsibilities of teachers and schools? As understood in almost every context, schools are meant to be a second home for children and a place where parents and guardians send them with hope and trust of their mental and physical well-being as teachers are supposed to take care of them, provide knowledge, and train them to develop good habits.
