Thailand News 24

A safe bet? Weighing up the new 10-Baht Gold Futures
The Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) will begin trading 10-baht gold futures contracts on Monday. The mini-contracts are targeted at current stock market investors who want lower risk and an alternative to gold trading.

Examining the roots of Buddhist Lent with Sumana the florist
As Thais and other Buddhists around the world welcomed Buddhist Lent on Tuesday, I was enjoying listening to two young DJs on Good FM, 102.5MHz talk about an old Saraburi tradition - making floral alms.

Abhisit outmanoeuvred by Hun Sen on disputed temple
THE DISPUTE between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear temple complex has once again flared up to rattle the national psyche. However, this time the Abhisit government appears to be inept in its diplomatic manoeuvring, and completelyunprepared for the campaign by Cambodian Prime minister Hun Sen.

In the fog of war, things are rarely what they seem
Over the last few days, few people have not heard of the explosive exposure by Wikileaks of what it calls the "unvarnished and grim picture of the Afghan War". More than 90,000 classified military intelligence documents were given to the media on the condition by the "leaker" that they not be released before Sunday, July 25.

Exhibit shows Thailand is free
The most notable thing about the recent "exhibition" staged by the Pheu Thai Party was not the blatant propaganda the opposition had on display.

Is Bangkok really the world's best city for visitors?
Bangkok is a leader for five-star hotels and shopping malls, but it's a diffferent story on the sidewalks

Cambodia's day of judgement arrives at last
Former Khmer Rouge cadre found guilty in a historic verdict that all Cambodians must learn from

Public participation that looks good ... on paper
IF YOU THOUGHT our police force wasn't under any kind of public supervision and control, then you were wrong. And if you weren't aware of the existence of such a body, it's not your fault. I'm afraid the Police Commission has perhaps inadvertently taken great pains to keep that a national secret.

Rainy season retreat is a better description
Re: "Buddhism doesn't need Christian terms", Letters, July 27.

Not a hero, only a victim of cowardly killers
I don't know how to describe Tawatchai Thongmak, who died in the Big C bomb attack at Rajprasong on Sunday evening. Surely, he was not a "democracy hero", was he? He was just a very unlucky man who happened to be at that bus stop when the bomb went off. He could have been any of us. Just about anyone could have been there, but Tawatchai's name came up in a cruel lottery draw somewhere, and the rest is history.

Promote fruit for good health and better business
Thailand is blessed with an abundance of fruits, but we often take them for granted without realising their true value

Pheu Thai chose their candidate; nobody else
I do not understand the complaints by the Pheu Thai Party over the emergency decree [after their recent loss in the Bangkok Constituency 6 by-election]. Elections are best conducted when there is no decree in existence, but when there is, it is applicable to all candidates.

The yuan defied expectations, but then shifting currencies are treacherous
Last month we talked about the Chinese policy to allow the yuan more flexibility. After the de-pegging the currency did strengthen, from 6.83 against the US$ to 6.77 - a 0.88 per cent rise - but the movement was smaller than expected.

Are Thailand's Buddhists more heretical than the heretics?
While the Buddha's twin miracle can be understood as a cleverly-constructed repudiation of the contending explanation of karma (see yesterday's article), the karma doctrine held by many modern Thai "Buddhists" is shockingly similar to those refuted therein, despite the Venerable Buddhadasa's and Phra Dhammapitaka's efforts to reform Thai Buddhism to reflect the Buddha's original teachings.

Election victory, but a rude awakening for the Democrats
The Democrat Party might have been euphoric after its by-election victory over its chief rival Pheu Thai Party. But with a winning margin of less than 15,000 votes - 96,000 over 81,000 votes - out of 380,000 eligible voters in the constituency, it was a close shave.

Buddhism doesn't need Christian terms
May I respectfully suggest that The Nation reconsider using "Buddhist Lent" as a translation of pansa?

Buddhist 'Lent' exemplifies our cultural heritage
As the rains retreat begins, this should be a time to realise the way to end suffering and reach enlightenment

US-China rivalry in Asean looms over an Expanded EAS
Asean foreign ministers tried to stomach the response by Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi last week when he noted with "an open attitude" Asean's latest decision to expand the leader's forum, the East Asia Summit (EAS). He then proceeded to say that China looks "forward for further consultations" and "would abide by Asean's decision." On the same day in Beijing, the Foreign Ministry's spokesman said China respects the Asean consensus on EAS. All said, this is China's new sentiment towards Asean.

Time to prove our human rights' values
I fully agree with chairman of the Truth and National Reconciliation Committee Kanit na Nakhon, who said that we should not chain red-shirt detainees when they are out of prison, because such a practice violates UN human rights principles. He says, "This is not just for the red shirts, but to establish good human rights practises. If human rights are being violated in the country, how can this committee talk about the principles of human rights?"

The pervasive power of external influence
This week, actor Pongpat Wachirabanjong will be summonsed to hear his lese majeste charges and if he fails to show up after two summonses have been issued, police will seek an arrest warrant. On Thursday, the police are also planning to invite witnesses, lawyers and Thai-language experts to listen to the actor's acceptance speech at this year's Nataraj Awards as part of the investigation.

THAILAND NEWS 24 - Opinion

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