Ken Lohatepanont
Ken Lohatepanont is a writer and commentator based in Berkeley, California.
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Opinion: Government’s vaccine strategy must remain under scrutiny
In Thai, there is an oft-used phrase: tok ma tai, “to die after falling off a horse.” It is an idiom that describes how...
America’s primacy in ASEAN is over; ‘The Longer Telegram’ completely misses the mark
On January 28th, the Atlantic Council published “The Longer Telegram”, written by an anonymous author described as a former senior government official with extensive...
Myanmar’s coup is a reminder of democracy’s fragility
In 2014, the Thai military launched a coup and democracy was suspended. In 2015, Myanmar held an election that was convincingly won by Aung...
Opinion: It is time for Thailand to move beyond typical patriotic films
In 2006, a Thai-produced animated movie called Kan Kluay was released. It was a heart-warming story, set during the Ayutthaya period, about an elephant...
Is speed critical for Thailand’s vaccination drive?
It has now been a little over a year since the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in Thailand, making it the first country...
Opinion: ‘Pimrypie’ controversy shows need for greater government attention to remote communities
In Thailand, the concept of “doing good” — tum kwarm dee — has historically been a relatively uncontroversial idea. Elders in Thai society consistently exhort...
China can win global hearts and minds with an effective vaccine and an AWOL US government
As 2020 neared its close, China’s state media began propagating new slogans in its review of the year. In the wordy style typical of CCP-speak,...
The US showed this week the importance of institutional resilience
During Thailand’s political crisis in 2013-14, US Secretary of State John Kerry was a frequent commentator. After violence occurred in February, Kerry declared: “Violence...
Will 2020 prove to be a watershed year? Or will the status quo be restored in 2021
In a country obsessed with oracles and fortune telling, few are more famous than one prophecy on Thailand’s political future. It has existed for...
Is the Thai government serious about space?
The Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation Anek Laothamatas is not a man who typically generates headlines. Yet he managed to raise...
