Ken | Mathis Lohatepanont

Blog

  • It’s Time for Thai Parliament, Zoom Edition

    Today, government whips announced that he disagreed with the opposition’s calls for parliament to be recalled so that it could deliberate the economic relief bill. “I’m concerned that if parliament meets, we might create another cluster of infections like at the Lumpini boxing stadium, leading the nation to another crisis,” Chief Whip Wirat Ratanaset said.…

  • To Make Sure No Thai Is Left Behind, Build a True Team Thailand

    My article in the Thai Enquirer this week: Here is a tale of two press conferences. One is held by the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom. He announces that California will be forming a task force to help guide the state’s economic recovery. Newsom invites the task force’s co-chair on stage, and it is Tom…

  • In Times of Crisis, Scrutiny Becomes Duty

    My new article for the Thai Enquirer: King Rama VI, a distinguished poet, once wrote the Sepha Samakee Sevok, exhorting the Thai people to unite as one under common leadership. A metaphor that he deployed was that of Siam as a ship. “The people are sailors in the sea, who must display a common unity”, the…

  • The Zoomer Generation

    I woke up at 2 AM, and unlike every time I flew back to Thailand, it was not because of jet lag. It was because I had to take an exam at 3 AM. An ungodly hour, perhaps, but only for me; it was for a 1 PM class in California. I got out of…

  • Coronavirus and the Constitution

    My new article for the Thai Enquirer: What does coronavirus have to do with the constitution? In October, I argued in a piece that to convince people of the pressing need for a constitutional revision, it is imperative to make a clear link between the constitution and bread and butter issues. With the Covid-19 disease…

  • The Rise of the Bhumjaithai Party

    My new piece for the Thai Enquirer: In November 2017, amidst the political drought of long military rule, Reuters ran an article on Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party. Many, it reported, were now speculating that he could possibly be the next prime minister. Anutin, for his part, did nothing to play down expectations,…

  • The Day That Shocked a Nation

    It is difficult to describe the events that transpired in Korat today. A reprehensible and senseless act, the tragedy took the lives of ordinary people for a reason none can ascertain. The crime is without precedent in living memory: that a sergeant would steal from his armory, kill his commanding officer and then rampage through…

  • The Politics of Epidemic Immunity

    My new piece for the Thai Enquirer: “It won’t take long for Thais to develop immunity from coronavirus”, the post read, “but if we don’t deal with the nation-hating virus, a crisis will ensue.”  Dr. Warong Dechgitvigrom is not a politician known for pulling his punches, and this Facebook post was true to form. ‘Lutti chung-chard’,…

  • Thai Conservatives Should Embrace Democracy

    My article in the newly-launched Thai Enquirer:  …Just because pro-democracy conservatism did not work the first time does not mean that it cannot work in the future, under inspired leadership and a more credible commitment to democratic ideals. With the ongoing implosion of the Democrat Party, is there room for such a party to emerge?…

  • Building Broad Support for Constitutional Reform

    My new article in the Bangkok Post on building consensus for constitutional reform in Thailand: As is characteristic of our polarised society, opinion is deeply divided on whether the 2017 constitution should be amended. Some will say that constitutional revision is effectively hopeless, a remote possibility until the powers that be permit an amendment. The…