BANGKOK, Thailand -- Coup-maker Prayuth Chan-ocha hopes his snappy new promise -- "no coup again" -- will get him re-elected prime minister in May and end worries that the U.S.-trained military will topple the next government if the polls go against them.

Prime Minister Prayuth dissolved Parliament's elected half, the 500-seat house of representatives, on March 20, three days before its four-year tenure expired.

The Election Commission then had to choose an election date within 45-60 days, and selected May 14.

Parliament's 250 junta-appointed senators remain unchanged.

"There should be no coup again," the now-Caretaker Prime Minister Prayuth recently told reporters.

"If any serious conflict occurs again [after the election], I don't know how to solve it because I have nothing to do with it now."

Coups, cannabis, and corruption are the biggest issues nationwide facing candidates for prime minister and parliament.

Some analysts wonder if the military will launch a coup if the next government does not satisfy them and their cronies among the elite's conservatives and old money.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023, 7:00 PM
On April 4, 1967, exactly one year before he was murdered, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave an historic sermon at New York’s Riverside Church on the profound connection between US militarism abroad with violence, racial repression, and widespread deprivation on the home front.  

Over 50 years later, from Ukraine to Uvalde, the crises of militarism, materialism, racism and the prospect of spiritual death that Dr. King warned us about are still very much with us. Not only does this militarism abroad continue to seed violence and poverty at home, it now aggravates the climate crisis and consumes vital resources that could alleviate climate-related suffering.

The New Democracy Coalition (NDC), Massachusetts Peace Action (MAPA), and cosponsors will present a public reading of “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence”, May 2, with 100 readers, on Boston City Hall Plaza, to bring community focus to the issues of war, militarism and racism.  

The Central Ohio Workers Center is currently circulating an on-line petition and providing a suggested letter for those wishing to physically mail a show of support for this program. Implementing this program in Columbus will provide necessary identification for tens of thousands of residents, especially those in vulnerable populations who have trouble obtaining traditional forms of ID such as victims of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants, and those re-entering society from prison/jail​. This would represent a significant step in addressing a critical city‐wide problem since lack of acceptable identification keeps these populations isolated and susceptible to exploitation. This municipal ID card will be helpful for proving identity and could connect residents to services, programs, and benefits.  Click here to sign onto the letter of support. 

In the aftermath of the February 3rd train derailment in East Palestine, questions continue to swirl. While media coverage has largely shifted to spotlight transportation company Norfolk Southern’s ongoing legal woes, little attention has been paid to area citizen sentiment. As local and national debates play out over air and water safety, comparatively little focus has been given to the lifestyle changes made by East Palestine residents.

A recent poll from WaterFilterGuru highlights the drastic changes in behavior and beliefs among Ohio residents. The study, which centers on citizen sentiment amidst the fallout of the hazardous chemical spill, makes clear that the incident’s impact reaches far beyond Columbiana County. In fact, the data suggest that Americans across the country have rethought daily routines ranging from tap water use to acid rain.