In the province of Khon Kaen, a family holds onto hope and prayers as they plead desperately for the safe return of their loved one, Natthawaree Mulkan, a 35-year-old overseas worker believed to have been kidnapped in Israel. Boonyarin Srichan, Natthawaree’s mother, is grappling with the profound anguish of uncertainty, having failing to receive any form of communication from her daughter since she was reportedly seized along with her boyfriend, Boonthom, in the midst of erupting violence in Israel. The disturbing silence from Thai authorities has further fueled the family’s distress. Boonyarin, aged 56, sternly resists the urge to watch harrowing footage showing Thai workers being held captive within the strife-laden region. “I have forcefully detached myself from viewing those videos. I cannot bear the sight,” she expressed. Notably, an alarming total of 16 Thais have been reported taken hostage since the onset of this conflict, and tragically, 24 have…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
On the inaugural day of temporary visa exemptions for Chinese visitors, a Chinese man enthusiastically captures a selfie at Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi airport. Commencing on September 25, this initiative is scheduled to persist until February 25. (Photo Credits: Wichan Charoenkiatpakul) Impactful events often send ripples across various spheres of life, and the aftermath of the Siam Paragon shooting has been felt in the domain of travel and tourism. In the wake of this unfortunate incident that led to three fatalities, including a Chinese national, and four injuries, there’s been a significant dip in Chinese tourist arrivals in Thailand. Government spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, informed us that about 60,000 Chinese voyagers had retracted their plans to tour the exquisite Southeast nation. In terms of raw numbers, Airports of Thailand reported 590,000 Chinese tourist arrivals post the incident on October 3rd, indicating a drop of 9.2% from the projected figure of 650,000 tourists. Albeit…
Golden garlands graced the 14th October 1973 Memorial on the vibrant Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok. These tributes were laid there on the 50th anniversary of a student uprising that courageously took a stand against dictatorship. The sites, saturated with historical importance, resounded with echoes of change and hopes for freedom. The stage was set against the backdrop of the Bangkok city skyline – a city profoundly impacted by the waves of events that occurred five decades ago. Raising his voice for this significant occasion, the House Speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, represented the government’s sentiments on Saturday. Filling in for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, he delivered a profound message, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past. He urged every Thai citizen to reach back into their turbulent history, relive the ferocious spirit of the Oct 14, 1973 student uprising, and harness this passion to shape the future political system…
The rising tensions in Israel have wreaked havoc on its non-native workforce, with the Thai population bearing a significant brunt of the effects. Recent reports from the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv disclose that the number of Thai casualties has surged to 24, following the large-scale attack initiated by Hamas on October 7. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who revealed these sorrowful figures, also lamented the unsettling state of affairs for Thais in the foreign country. A tragic total of 32 Thais have been met with the unfortunate fate of abduction or injury amidst the conflict between the Palestinian Islamist group and Israel, 16 in each category, he announced while preparing for his departure to Phitsanulok province from Bangkok’s Don Mueang military airport. Despite the grim circumstances, Mr. Thavisin extended grateful acknowledgement to commercial Thai airlines – Thai Airways International (THAI), Nok Air, and Thai AirAsia. Their unhesitating cooperation in the…
Grabbing headlines recently is an image making rounds on social media platforms, purported to show former Preeminent Minister Thaksin Shinawatra being transported from his room at the Police General Hospital to undertake a CT and MRI scan. This development took place on Friday and sparked widespread discussions. Addressing the situation ahead of his departure to Phitsanulok on Saturday, Premier Srettha Thavisin backed the Corrections Department which was in the line of fire, suspected to accord preferential treatment to the incarcerated ex-leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. He affirmed that he had seen the viral photo featuring the former Preeminent Minister and was confident that there wasn’t any disparity in the way the department was handling all the detainees. Mr. Srettha was commenting on the Friday photo that had made waves on social media, seeming to depict Thaksin in a hospital gown and mask, lying on a stretcher, with two individuals striking a resemblance…
For over two decades, Israel has been a top destination for Thai workers seeking abroad employment opportunities, particularly within the agriculture sector. It is currently home to approximately 30,000 Thai workers, 5,000 of whom are placed near the contentious Gaza Strip. While these workers are very aware of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they occasionally find themselves in the midst of it. The latest round of violence witnessed a significant casualty rate among Thai labourers, fuelling growing consideration on the continued appeal of Israel for foreign labour. Despite the realistic risks, many Thai workers are opting to continue their employment in Israel, striving to remain steadfast in their pursuit of a better future for their families. They understand and accept the hardships their work demands, viewing it as a small price to pay for the higher wages they receive. The income earned overseas is often instrumental in stabilising their families’ financial standing.…
The repercussions of war are harrowing, personal, and far-reaching; they affect not just the locations where conflict happens, but also those who’ve journeyed there to work and make a living, thereby hoping to make a better life for themselves and their families back home. A somber reminder of this is the plight of the Thai laborers who recently found themselves amidst the reignited Hamas attacks in Israel, creating a distressing experience that has led some to question the wisdom of allowing Thais to find work in such volatile regions. On a fated Thursday, 41 Thai laborers made an emotional return home from Israel, onboard Israel Airlines flight LY 083. Of these, 15 were under the auspices of the Thai government, while the other 26 had managed to secure passage by financing their own tickets. Thailand’s government has dispatched around 30,000 workers abroad, a staggering 7,000 of whom landed jobs in…
On his recent trip to the vibrant region of Phitsanulok, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended an invitation to the public to express their stance on the government’s digital wallet scheme. The ambitious plan, promising to deposit 10,000-baht into the digital wallets of Thai citizens, has soared into the limelight, sparking a rigorous debate among economic experts. Emphasising the urgency of this digital economic stimulus, the Prime Minister announced that the government is compelled to implement the giveaway by February. “The digital wallet scheme is more than a handout; it’s an injection of energy into our economy and fuel for personal spending,” commented Mr. Srettha. Encouraging public involvement, he urged the citizens who are in favour of the scheme to make their support count. In a landscape increasingly swayed by social media narratives, the Prime Minister has been utilising his X account to assemble followers in support of the digital wallet…
In a significant recognition of his tireless environmental advocacy, Niwat Roykaew, fondly known as “Kru Thi”, has become the first Thai recipient of the renowned Leader on the Frontlines Award. Bestowed by the Asia Foundation in its headquarters in San Francisco, this award celebrates the relentless efforts of Mr. Niwat to preserve the pristine ecosystems of the Mekong River and the livelihoods of its resident communities. Notably, the Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organisation committed to improving lives across the dynamic landscape of Asia. At 64, Mr. Niwat holds reputable positions as the chairman of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group and the director of the Mekong School’s Institute of Local Knowledge. His most acclaimed accomplishment lies in rallying communities to successfully thwart a series of disastrous explosions and dam constructions that, if left unchecked, would have wreaked irreparable havoc on the river and its dependents. According to the…
The peaceful tranquility U-Tapao International Airport in the Ban Chang District was interrupted in the early morning hours as the third batch of Thai workers from Israel made their landing. There were 90 individuals in total, forming a group with a broad gender imbalance, comprising of 88 men and just two women. The returnees had left Israel the day before and, through the nurturing care of government arrangements, journeyed home on a commercial flight. The trek was far from linear. The workers embarked from their foreign home on Fly Dubai Flight FZ1550 at 11am local time. This flight was their first link to the outside world from their now ex-home, taking them to Dubai, located in the affluent realm of the United Arab Emirates. After a layover, the workers then boarded another flight, FZ1837, at 7pm on the same day. The second leg of their Odyssey took them to their…