Thailand
Thai floods compound government’s political problems
By John Roberts, November 12, 2011
The ongoing flooding has impacted heavily on the Thai economy and is also taking its toll on the newly installed government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
Political tensions rise as Thai flood disaster continues
By John Roberts, November 2, 2011
Amid rising anger and resentment among flood victims, the Thai government’s chief concern has been to reassure big business and foreign investors.
Thousands flee flooding in Thailand
By John Roberts, October 27, 2011
Public holidays have been declared to enable some of Bangkok’s 12 million residents to evacuate and allow others to prepare last-ditch sandbag defences.
Business leaders oppose Thai government’s rice price scheme
By John Roberts, October 27, 2011
Amid the country’s worsening flood crisis, industry chiefs and economists have urged the government to abandon its election promises.
Millions impacted as floods engulf Bangkok
By John Roberts, October 24, 2011
Infighting has erupted in ruling circles as the effects of the record monsoon rains are exacerbated by deforestation, development projects and inadequate flood mitigation measures.
Thailand: Hundreds dead as floods threaten Bangkok
By Oliver Campbell, October 10, 2011
Over the weekend, there were chaotic scenes and frantic evacuations in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, 80 kilometres upriver from Bangkok.
New Thai government seeks to appease factional rivals
By Peter Symonds, August 15, 2011
Efforts to patch up the deep rifts in Thai ruling circles reflect fears that last year’s anti-government protests began to express class hostility toward the wealthy elite and threatened to spiral out of control.
Thai parliament endorses Yingluck as new PM
By Peter Symonds, August 8, 2011
Yingluck takes power after five years of intense political upheaval in Thailand following an army coup against her elder brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, in 2006.
Thai parliament to convene next week
By John Roberts, July 29, 2011
Prime Minister-elect Yingluck Shinawatra has not yet named her cabinet, with the entire process fraught with the intense tensions that have marked Thai politics over the past five years.
New Thai government faces pressure to ditch election pledges
By Peter Symonds, July 14, 2011
Having raised expectations during the election campaign, any move by the new government to abandon its promises to working people would heighten social and political tensions.
After the Thai election: A warning to the working class
By Peter Symonds, July 8, 2011
No one should be under any illusion that Puea Thai’s win has brought to power a government that will act in the interests of the millions of urban and rural poor who voted for it.
Pro-Thaksin party to form next Thai government after election win
By John Roberts and Peter Symonds, July 5, 2011
The election outcome expressed the bitter resentment among the urban and rural poor involved last year in months of anti-government protests that were violently crushed by army.
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