As part of a continued effort to combat financial crimes and sexual misconduct among monks, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) have teamed up with the National Office of Buddhism (NOB). This partnership comes in the wake of recent allegations against Phra Vajirayankosol, Wat Pah Dhammakhiri’s founder, and Phra Maha Wuthima Thaomor, its abbot. Both officials were stripped of their titles and defrocked for allegedly stealing roughly 300 million baht from temple funds and engaging in sexual relations. Once revered monks, Khom Khonggaew and Wuthima Thaomor are now imprisoned laymen, arrested since May 8th. An astounding 130 million baht of stolen temple funds have been found in Mr. Khom’s bank account, with 51 million baht in cash discovered at the home of his sister, Jutatip Pubodeewachorupan, who faces arrest as well. This seizure and subsequent police investigation have drawn significant public attention, prompting the ACD to…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
South Korea’s renowned shipbuilding company, Samsung Heavy Industries, is actively seeking to employ 1,227 skilled Thai workers to bolster its workforce, according to Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin. The highly sought-after positions include 527 welders, 500 painters, and 200 electricians, offering attractive monthly salaries ranging from 2.5 million to 3 million Korean won, equivalent to approximately 90,000 to 108,000 Thai baht. Suchart emphasized that the Labour Ministry has maintained a strong relationship with Khoshipa, the Korea Offshore and Shipbuilding Association, ensuring a smooth process for Thai workers to obtain E-7 visas for skilled labor in South Korea. As a result, local job placement firms have informed the ministry that they have contractual obligations to provide 4,477 workers for seven different shipbuilding companies, with 711 individuals already sent to South Korea. South Korea’s aging population has led to a shortage of skilled workers, prompting higher salaries and overtime offerings to incentivize foreign…
Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat recently held a press conference, joined by the leaders of seven potential coalition partners, to announce their intention to form a new government and endorse Mr. Limjaroenrat as the next prime minister. As of now, these potential governing coalition parties are still in the process of agreeing on the terms of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), which is expected to be announced shortly. A top MFP official, Secretary-General Chaithawat Tulanon, stated that the party plans to meet separately with representatives from each potential coalition party to finalize the terms of the MoU, encompassing not only the MFP’s agenda but also those of other parties. Key issues include peace efforts in the southern border provinces and ending market barriers to competition in the alcoholic beverage market. The MoU will also address the legalization of same-sex marriage to promote social diversity. According to Mr. Chaithawat,…
A rally has been scheduled for May 23rd in front of the Parliament building in Bangkok’s Kiak Kai area, with the goal of urging the 250 members of the Senate to support the people’s desire for the Move Forward Party to form a government led by Pita Limjaroenrat as Prime Minister. The United Front of Thammasat and Demonstration (UFTD) announced the rally plans on their Facebook page this past Sunday. The UFTD believes that elections are a vital instrument to showcase the will and needs of the people. They argue that when citizens have voiced their desire for change, the democratic system should adapt accordingly. However, the 2017 constitution allows the 250 unelected senators to vote in the election of the Prime Minister. The UFTD stated in a Facebook post, “No matter how much this election has demonstrated the people’s true intention, some senators have shown disagreement with the democratic…
The Election Commission (EC) announced the cancellation of voting in Bang Khaem Subdistrict Administration Office in Muang district, Nakhon Pathom, at 4:45 pm on May 14, after severe thundershowers and strong winds caused the polling station tents to collapse. As a result, some eligible voters were unable to cast their votes before the decision was made to call off the proceedings. EC Chairman Itthiporn Boonprakong stated that there are a total of 943 eligible voters registered at this polling station, with a portion of them already having voted on the morning of May 14. To ensure that everyone has a fair chance to exercise their right to vote, the EC’s Nakhon Pathom office has been instructed to invite all registered voters to return to the same polling station on May 21, from 8 am to 5 pm, to cast their votes once again. Meanwhile, in the six constituencies of Nakhon…
Social media platforms, especially Twitter, erupted with chatter as officials of the BTS Skytrain announced at 8:50 AM that their services were disrupted on the Lat Phrao to Mor Chit line section. This unfortunate event resulted in a 30-minute delay, which also had a domino effect on the Sukhumvit line. Consequently, a significant number of passengers were left stranded at the Lat Phrao intersection station. The situation at the station escalated quickly, with overcrowding becoming a pressing issue. As the trains were unable to accommodate the growing number of passengers, the crowd at the platform continued to inflate with people disembarking from trains arriving from Chatuchak station, further contributing to the chaos. As news of the BTS disruption spread, social media users made it their mission to keep others informed. Though it was not just the train delays that were causing grievances. Passengers were also perturbed by a malfunction in…
The forthcoming energy minister should ideally be sourced from the Move Forward party, according to Korn, a key party leader. This would better equip the minister to manage the corporations holding a monopoly over the country’s energy sector. Korn reminded that the Move Forward party previously pledged to challenge monopolies during their election campaign. “If Move Forward is successful in implementing its policies, the nation will reap the benefits,” Korn stated. He further emphasized that, should their policies fall short, improved ones could be devised as an alternative. Korn mentioned that his party concurs with Move Forward on several of their policies, especially those relating to the economy and energy. Nevertheless, Korn holds a dissenting view regarding any amendments to the lese majeste law, maintaining that the law is indispensable to Thai society. While Move Forward expressed intentions to modify the law, Korn proposed establishing a committee that can sift…
As planting season commences for the Thai agricultural sector, there is mounting concern over the availability of water resources necessary for farming, given the low levels of rainfall recorded since the beginning of the year. Supit Pitaktham, director-general of the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, has reported that soil moisture levels are relatively low, consequently impacting around 78% of the 116 million rai (18.56 million hectares) of agricultural land situated outside the irrigated zone. Approximately 230 million rai (36.8 million hectares) of agricultural land and forestry have been affected due to insufficient water supply for crop cultivation. This has resulted in numerous farmers and individuals in several provinces appealing for artificial rain services. During the first half of May, a total of 1,387 requests were received for artificial rain from 64 provinces and 459 districts across the country. Concurrently, water stocks in storage reservoirs have dwindled, sometimes to…
Consular affairs are essential elements of foreign services, playing a crucial role in maintaining strong international relations. Established in 1999, the Department of Consular Affairs operates under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and has evolved to adapt to globalisation, the rise of IT and digital technology, and changing geopolitical landscapes. The Department of Consular Affairs provides a range of services, including passport issuance, visa facilitation, legalised services, and the protection of Thai nationals abroad. With a focus on improving services for the people and ensuring effective coordination with relevant authorities, the department has significantly enhanced its services over the years. Some notable advancements include reducing passport processing times, embracing online applications, and leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as cloud systems, blockchain, and chat GPT. Below are a few examples of the department’s future plans: E-Passport: Streamlining the passport application process, the Department of Consular Affairs has introduced an online system,…
Support for Move Forward Party (MFP) leader Pita Limjaroenrat’s bid for prime minister is growing among senators, following the mandate in Sunday’s election that displayed the people’s trust in the leader and his party. Pita’s quest to form a new government has been backed by several senators, with Senator Sathit Limpongpan pledging to support any coalition that secures over 250 seats in the House, while Prapasri Suchanthabut also indicated her support for Pita’s bid. So far, an MFP-led alliance has amassed 313 seats from eight parties, working towards a government bloc. The next step for the alliance is to win at least 376 votes in the 750-seat parliament, which comprises 500 Members of Parliament (MPs) and 250 senators. To bridge the gap, the coalition needs to acquire the support of parties outside the existing bloc and approach additional senators. One significant issue several senators have with the MFP is the…