The Move Forward Party, currently gaining momentum in opinion polls leading up to the May 14 election, is eager to recover from the “lost decade” under a military-backed rule. It aims to implement comprehensive reforms to reinvigorate Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Pita Limjaroenrat, the 42-year-old Harvard Kennedy School of Government graduate and party leader, is advocating for spreading economic activity beyond Bangkok, dismantling business monopolies, and reducing the armed forces’ political influence. “In terms of policies, we need to do three things: de-militarise, de-monopolise, and decentralise,” said Mr. Pita during a Bloomberg TV interview. “That’s very much my 100-day agenda.” The upcoming general election presents a struggle between the ruling military-backed coalition’s pro-establishment parties, which have controlled the country since the 2014 coup, and the pro-democracy opposition, including the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties. One major focus is reviving the once-thriving economy that experienced the slowest regional growth last…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
A team of eight police officers were injured in a bombing incident in the southern border province of Pattani in Thailand during their patrol on Wednesday night. The incident took place on Pa Thung-Bang Kao Road at Moo 4 village in tambon Bang Kao of Sai Buri district as two pickup trucks carrying 11 officers on a night patrol passed by. The explosive device was detonated shortly after the officers had driven past the location, causing injuries to all eight members on duty. One officer suffered from shrapnel wounds, while the other seven experienced ringing ears and chest pains due to the impact of the explosion. All injured officers were promptly transported to Yupparaj Sai Buri Hospital for treatment and evaluation. The blast not only injured the officers but also caused considerable damage to both patrol vehicles. The police source has confirmed the extent of the damage to the pickup…
In a shocking turn of events, Tasapong Suprom-in, a 32-year-old man accused of the brutal murder and subsequent burial of a 53-year-old Bangkok Bank manager, was taken into custody in Bangkok’s Din Daeng district. On Thursday, Nonthaburi investigators and Din Daeng police apprehended the suspect, who was then escorted to Sai Noi police station in Sai Noi district, Nonthaburi. Tasapong was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by Nonthaburi Provincial Court, charging him with murder and concealment of a body. The warrant was issued after a report from the victim’s daughter, Kritika Hasadindetdamrong, led authorities to investigate the case further. The victim, Rotenaruebet Hasadindetdamrong, was the manager of Bangkok Bank’s headquarters in Bangkok’s bustling Silom area. Tragically, his life was cut short, and his body was discovered buried in his own backyard in Sai Noi. The chilling chain of events began when Kritika and her cousin decided to visit…
In the wee hours of the morning at 4:30 am, in the Bang Lamung district of Chonburi, a tragic incident unfolded. Authorities and emergency responders discovered the lifeless body of Kris (last name withheld) on the ground beside a condominium complex. It is believed that the victim fell and struck a garage roof, causing it to break apart during the fall. The area was immediately secured by police authorities for further investigation, and the deceased was transported to the Police General Hospital Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok. An autopsy will be performed to conclusively determine the cause of death. Sombat Sasamrong, a seasoned 55-year-old security guard at the condominium, reported that the Belgian man had attempted suicide twice that night. Kris had initially leaped from the second floor of the building but only sustained injuries upon landing. Sombat added that despite his efforts to intervene, he was unable to…
As Thailand’s oldest political party, the Democrats are ramping up their efforts in the South, particularly given that recent opinion polls suggest they may be gaining the upper hand in this region. Party leader Jurin Laksanawisit expressed confidence in the party’s ability to make a resurgence in the South. “We have faith that the people in the South continue to support us, and we expect a strong Democratic comeback in this region,” Jurin stated. According to the polls, many voters remain undecided, but other parties also appear to be making inroads in the southern territories. Jurin acknowledged that the Democrats are concentrating their campaign efforts on multiple regional constituencies, with the party’s secretary general and a former leader at the helm. In the 2019 election, the South used to be a stronghold for the Democrats, who claimed 22 out of 50 seats in the region. The remaining seats went to…
UTNP coordinator Himalai Phiewphan has expressed his criticism of Paetongarn’s recent statements, in which she claimed that Pheu Thai, the leading opposition party, would not form a coalition government with past coup leaders. In her clarification, she called attention to her disdain for the two previous coups and her dedication to democracy, implicitly ruling out any partnership with Palang Pracharath PM candidate General Prawit Wongsuwan and UTNP PM candidate General Prayut Chan-o-cha. Prayut led the 2014 coup against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s aunt, with Prawit’s support. In 2006, a coup also overthrew Thaksin Shinawatra, Paetongtarn’s father. Himalai, however, believes that taking such a definitive stance prior to the elections is both premature and disrespectful towards fellow parties with a chance to lead the next coalition. He expressed his concern about Paetongtarn using “coup rhetoric” to gain support, urging her and Pheu Thai to focus on their policy plans…
The Move Forward Party, currently gaining momentum in opinion polls leading up to the May 14 election, seeks to reverse the “lost decade” under military-backed governance through extensive reform proposals aimed at reinvigorating Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy. Party leader Pita Limjaroenrat, a 42-year-old Harvard Kennedy School of Government graduate, envisions spreading economic activity beyond Bangkok, dismantling business monopolies, and reducing the influence of the armed forces in politics. “In terms of policies, we need to do three things: de-militarise, de-monopolise, and decentralise,” said Mr. Pita in a Bloomberg TV interview, citing these objectives as his 100-day plan priority. The stakes are high in the upcoming election, as it will likely be a contested race between the current pro-establishment, military-backed coalition and pro-democracy opposition parties such as Move Forward and Pheu Thai. A key issue in the election is the revitalization of the economy, which experienced the slowest growth in the…
In a recent incident, eight police officers faced grave injuries caused by a bomb explosion in Pattani province. This unsettling occurrence took place during a night patrol, specifically on Pa Thung-Bang Kao Road at Moo 4 village in tambon Bang Kao, situated in Sai Buri district. The unsuspecting officers, part of a team of 11, were driving past in two pickup trucks when the bomb detonated, wreaking havoc in the vicinity. The injured officers were immediately rushed to Yupparaj Sai Buri Hospital for emergency medical attention. Among the wounded, one officer suffered from shrapnel wounds while the others experienced symptoms such as ringing ears and chest pains. Resulting from the explosion, the vehicles the officers occupied endured significant damage, as reported by a police source. Southern Thailand, where Pattani province lies, has been plagued by an insurgency movement for years, leading to an increased need for patrolling and security measures.…
Authorities have successfully apprehended Tasapong Suprom-in, a 32-year-old man accused of murdering a 53-year-old bank manager and burying the body in Nonthaburi. The joint efforts of Nonthaburi investigators and Din Daeng police led to Tasapong’s capture in the Din Daeng district of Bangkok on Thursday. He was subsequently taken to the Sai Noi police station for further questioning. Tasapong Suprom-in was the prime suspect in the murder and concealment of Rotenaruebet Hasadindetdamrong’s body, the Bangkok Bank manager overseeing the Silom area headquarters. Nonthaburi Provincial Court issued an arrest warrant for Tasapong following a complaint lodged by the victim’s daughter, Kritika Hasadindetdamrong. Rotenaruebet Hasadindetdamrong’s body was discovered buried in the backyard of his Sai Noi residence. Growing increasingly concerned after not hearing from her father for several days, Kritika, accompanied by her cousin, decided to visit Rotenaruebet’s home. Upon arrival, they encountered Tasapong leaving the premises. Unsettled by the encounter, they…
In a recent statement, the Bhumjaithai Party offered clear opposition to any planned activities centered around World Cannabis Day, slated for Thursday. The party emphasized that consuming cannabis in public remains illegal, and those considering staging related events should cancel them. Public cannabis smoking is currently in violation of Section 74 of the Public Health Act, and the consequences for such an offense include up to one month in jail and/or a fine of up to 2,000 baht, resulting from causing a public nuisance. Party registrar Supachai Jaisamut made this announcement in response to reports that several activities that included cannabis smoking were being organized in numerous locations. Some of these venues included popular tourist spots in Bangkok, specifically Khao San and Rambutri roads. The Bhumjaithai Party had previously advocated for the decriminalization of cannabis, citing the plant’s potential as a valuable economic crop and its various medicinal applications. However,…