Veera Prateepchaikul
Former Editor
Former Bangkok Post Editor, political commentator and a regular columnist at Post Publishing.
TV debate puts protesters on the spot
The talk of the town this weekend was the debate on Thai Rath TV's Direct Question with Jomquan talk show on Friday night on the Crown Property Regulations Act, between Dr Arnond Sakworawich of the National Institute Development Administration (Nida) and Ms Panusaya "Rung" Sitthijirawattanakul, one of the firebrand protest leaders of the Khana Ratsadon movement and a student at Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Science and Humanities.
Angry protests won’t solve issues
Frankly speaking, this is one of the few times that I agree with political scientist Kasian Tejapira of Thammasat University, despite our political differences, albeit for a different reason.
Rent-free home least of PM's woes
'What's did I do wrong?" asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha recently in the wake of boisterous calls by opposition parties and anti-establishment protesters for him to step down.
Protests will not yield all-out winner
Former prime minister Anand Panyarachun has broken his silence on the political conflict, which he described as nothing unusual as this has happened countless times in the past 88 years since Thailand transformed from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy.
Revolution is unlikely to succeed
As the anti-government protest drags on, we will witness what looks like a rerun of the months-long protest held about six years ago by the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) led by former Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban to force the resignation of acting prime minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan and the Pheu Thai-led government.
Talks vital in this cat and mouse game
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.
Endless din hinders rather than helps
This Wednesday is touted to be another day of mass protest by the "reincarnated" anti-establishment Khana Ratsadorn group, formerly known as the Free Youth Movement, Free People Movement and, lately, the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration.
Pheu Thai won't play second fiddle
This Oct 14 marks the 47th anniversary of the student-led uprising that eventually led to the overthrowing of the Thanom-Praphas-Narong regime notoriously known at the time as the Tyrannical Trio.
Protest fails to win over silent majority
The student-led protest at Sanam Luang on Sept 19-20 was anything but a success. There has been no positive response regarding their demands: changes of the constitution, an end to harassment against student activists and reform of the monarchy.
Peaceful end to protest a win in itself
Much to the relief of many, the anti-dictatorship protest at Sanam Luang yesterday ended peacefully and quickly. This was thanks to the protesters, who gathered under the United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration's (UFTD) banner, the government and especially the police, who have shown extraordinary patience in avoiding hostile confrontations -- even though some of the remarks made on stage by the speakers were provocative.
