Posts published by “Editorial Team”

The Democrat Party has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the reasons behind its significant loss of ground in the recent elections. To accomplish this, the party has assigned each of its 25 elected representatives, unsuccessful candidates, and provincial offices to gather relevant information and insights that could shed light on the factors that contributed to their defeat. This collected data will then be closely examined and analyzed to identify the causes of the party’s decreased seats across various provinces. Following this analysis, the findings will be submitted to the Democrat Party’s newly appointed executive board for further action and discussion, as announced by Ramet at a press conference held at the party’s Bangkok headquarters. In the latest elections, the Democrats secured 25 MP seats, with 22 coming from constituencies and the remaining three from the party-list system, based on unofficial data from the Election Commission. This figure is significantly lower…

The highly-anticipated meeting set for Tuesday at 2:30pm will encompass a variety of topics, one of the most pressing being the selection of the next House of Representatives speaker, as per an informed source. Move Forward, the victor of the May 14 general election, securing a significant 151 of 500 MP seats, has found itself in a dispute with Pheu Thai, the coalition’s secondary partner, regarding the highly coveted House speaker position. On Friday, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat encouraged both parties to resolve their differences through negotiation rather than engaging in a public feud. This suggestion was made in response to the disagreement escalating into a fiery social media debate among supporters of both parties. In the election, Pheu Thai managed to win 141 MP seats, based on unofficial results. Chaithawat, acting as the Move Forward coordinator in the coalition’s endeavor towards forming the next government, stated on Saturday…

On Saturday morning, a tragic incident occurred at Patong beach, Phuket, when a 53-year-old Russian man, Rafaylovich Pavel, drowned during a swim in the sea. The authorities, including police, lifeguards and rescue workers, were on the scene to assist in the situation. A photograph captured the somber situation as these professionals tried to deal with the unfortunate event. The report of the drowning reached the Patong police station at 7.55am, and upon their arrival, officials found rescue workers and lifeguards already present at the scene alongside personnel from Patong Hospital. Eager to save the tourist’s life, the medics attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Sadly, their valiant efforts were in vain and the Russian man passed away. During an interaction with the police, the deceased’s wife revealed that they were both Russian nationals vacationing in Phuket. They had been staying at a hotel in the vicinity of the beach and decided to…

Human rights activists have urged Thai authorities to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into the tragic killing of Bounsuan Kitiyano, a former Lao political activist who held UN refugee status. Found with three gunshot wounds in the forest of Sri Muang Mai district in Ubon Ratchathani, a northeastern province bordering Laos, Bounsuan had been living in Thailand for four or five years, according to Radio Free Asia. Before his untimely death, Bounsuan reportedly had plans to visit Bangkok to complete the necessary documents for his asylum-seeking journey to Australia. In response to his murder, Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said, “This cold-blooded killing of a prominent exiled Lao political activist demands an immediate response from the Thai authorities. The Thai government should urgently conduct a credible and impartial investigation into Bounsuan’s death and bring to justice all those responsible.” At the age of 56, Bounsuan…

Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) have successfully shut down a store involved in the sale of illegal mobile phone SIM cards in Nong Khai province. These illicit SIM cards were linked to fraudulent call centers and their operations. Led by CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakornbancha, the operation took place in Muang district, in accordance with the Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Act. Authorities were able to pinpoint the store’s location by monitoring online comments left by purchasers of the illegal SIM cards. The store conducted its operations through a web-based front, falsely claiming to sell registered SIM cards that are ready for immediate use. This deceitful practice garnered numerous positive reviews, which eventually led the police to the store’s whereabouts. With the information obtained from these reviews, a sting operation was set up, targeting Kitipat Telecom, a physical store identified as part of the larger…

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital has reported that it cannot accept any more patients, as all beds in the intensive care unit (ICU) and inpatient department (IPD) are currently occupied. On its Facebook page, the hospital announced, “As well, the emergency department also has Covid-19 patients who are awaiting referral. Thus, the hospital cannot accommodate more Covid-19 patients. We apologize for this inconvenience.” The situation has raised concerns about healthcare capacity in Bangkok, with governor Chadchart Sittipunt describing the bed situation as worrying but not yet critical. Situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the 345-bed private hospital neighbors the highly-regarded Siriraj Hospital, which also felt compelled to issue a clarification in light of the news. Contrary to some claims, the public hospital stated that its bed situation for Covid-19 patients was still controllable and normal. It added that it had not increased the number…

A high-profile arrest has taken place in Wiang Sa district, Surat Thani province, where a 36-year-old man, identified as Suriyong, was detained on suspicion of murder. The chilling incident unfolded as Suriyong allegedly took the life of a 47-year-old man, Sayan Lathawanit, whom he believed to be pursuing a romantic relationship with his recently widowed mother. Following the violent act, Suriyong attempted to conceal the victim’s body. Authorities were alerted to the crime by local residents who discovered a pickup truck cap discarded in Suriyong’s yard. Upon further investigation, the bloodstained, wrapped body of the victim was found beneath the cap with a severe head wound. Not long after, the suspect was apprehended at the scene. In the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Suriyong had grown increasingly unhappy with Sayan’s constant visits to his mother’s home, prompting him to lie in wait near an outdoor bathroom to…

Sak Surin, a cherished Thai elephant, was one of three elephants gifted to Sri Lanka as a symbol of friendship between the two nations in 2001. As this ageing and ailing elephant prepares for a journey back home to Thailand, a highly skilled team of veterinarians and experts are scheduled to visit Sri Lanka next month to ensure his well-being and readiness for the trip. The team, set to visit from June 6-9, will be focusing on the health and safety aspects of Sak Surin’s departure and ultimate reunion with Thailand. Jatuporn Burutphat, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, revealed that the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) will be tackling several matters, including the necessary paperwork to ensure full compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Moreover, they plan to construct a specialized…

The Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) recently alerted Thai industries that the implementation of the European Union’s new green reform policy, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), may put certain industries at risk, particularly those involved with iron and aluminum. As a result, businesses in these sectors must rapidly adapt their production processes to avoid bearing the brunt of the carbon tax that could significantly impact their production costs. Warawan Chitaroon, the Director General of the Office of Industrial Economics, explained that the CBAM is the EU’s attempt to prevent carbon leakage, as well as to reduce competitive disadvantages faced by foreign producers that are subject to less strict greenhouse gas emission regulations. Specifically, the CBAM will directly affect industries known for high carbon leakage, such as steel, aluminum, cement, fertilizer, plastic, and hydrogen, with Thailand’s plastic, steel, and aluminum industries facing the greatest risks. In 2022, the total value…

The United States has reportedly advised the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to consider upgrading its aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets to next-generation F-16s or F-15s. This procurement would be faster than waiting to purchase the highly advanced supersonic stealth F-35A fighter jet, the US has suggested. However, the US has also expressed its intention to discuss any necessary preparations with Thai authorities for providing F-35A jets to the RTAF in the future. According to a spokesperson, US Ambassador Robert Godec met with the RTAF commander-in-chief to discuss Thailand’s request to acquire F-35A fighters. The RTAF had sent a letter of request for price and availability information regarding F-35A procurement to the Joint United States Military Advisory Group in Thailand (Jusmagthai). The spokesperson indicated that the RTAF needs to replace its current fleet of F-16s which are due to be decommissioned soon. “A replacement fleet is necessary to maintain…