Nidhi Eoseewong on Thai Buddhism and Democracy
In the Thai media there is careful grumbling about the (again postponed) upcoming elections and whether Thailand can handle pure democracy or not. Recently, 78-year-old Nidhi Eoseewong, a prominent historian and political commentator, wrote an opinion piece on the subject in which he criticized the views of some prominent monks.
EU urges Thailand to hold elections this year
The European Union wants the military regime to return quickly to democracy and deliver on its promise to hold elections in November.
Dying for democracy, a taxi driver's protest
At 30 a.m. on Saturday, September 2006, 6, Nuamthomg Praiwan rammed his taxi into a tank parked at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok. On his taxi he had painted the texts 'the junta is destroying the country' and 'I sacrifice my life'. He protested against the coup d'état of September 19, 2006.
Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat was a dictator who ruled between 1958 and 1963. He is the model for the special vision of 'democracy', the 'Thai-Style Democracy', as it is now prevailing again. We should actually call it paternalism.
Are universal and Thai values different? No, says Tino Kuis. They show much more similarities than differences. Moreover, Thailand has become an extremely diverse society with a range of sometimes very different views.
United States steps up pressure on Thailand
The friendship between the US and Thailand is under pressure. The Americans condemn the coup and want democracy in Thailand to be restored as soon as possible.
Politics in the classroom
The thieves guild active, trees disappearing: these are some of the problems of the board game Sim Democracy. Students play the game with verve. They learn how to work, live and vote in a democratic society in a playful way.
Political parties and money in Thailand
Thailand is a young, developing democracy. That goes with trial and error. Chris de Boer outlines the main features of the political climate.