Key members of the Democrat Party, Suchatvee Suwansawat and Watanya Bunnag, have announced the ambitious plan of turning the resort island of Phuket into a technology hub and model city for Thailand and the ASEAN region. As part of their election campaign, the Democrat Party aims to make Phuket a top tourist destination by providing free internet access in various locations across the island, creating a public transportation system to ease traffic congestion, and upgrading Phuket Rajabhat University to expand its fields of study. Suchatvee Suwansawat, who is also the head of the party’s policy committee, believes Phuket’s appeal as a top tourist destination makes it a perfect candidate for the proposed free internet access initiative. He emphasized that the service should be offered as a form of public welfare and be more convenient for locals and tourists alike. In addition, the Democrat Party has committed to supporting the development…
Posts published by “Editorial Team”
With his popularity on the rise, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is setting his sights on the South as he campaigns with his United Thai Nation (UTN) Party in the upcoming May 14 election. Deputy UTN leader Witthaya Kaewparadai notes the party’s growing support in the region, and they aim to secure at least 20 seats in the South. Gen Prayut is set to visit Trang, Phatthalung, Songkhla, and Satun, where his presence is anticipated to boost the UTN’s chances in the race. While the UTN is a new party, Gen Prayut’s personal appeal and the reception he receives on the campaign trail are expected to work in their favor. With a total of 60 House seats available in the South, up from 50 in 2019, the stage is set for a fierce competition between the Democrats, who won 22 seats last time, and the UTN, which has emerged as a…
Residents of Bangkok were reminded of the continued threat posed by Covid-19 when a 70-year-old woman, living in the city’s Bang Phlat district, was discovered deceased at her home after testing positive for the virus. Upon receiving a report of the woman’s passing, a specialized team from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation, a well-known rescue organization, arrived at the scene in soi Charansanitwong 40. Accompanying them were a forensic doctor from Siriraj Hospital and officers from the Bang Yi Khan police station. An antigen test kit (ATK) confirmed that the deceased was a Covid-19 patient. After conducting a thorough examination of the body and the surrounding area, the Ruam Katanyu Foundation arranged for her to be cremated at a nearby temple. While investigating the case, it was revealed that four individuals who resided in the same property as the victim had also contracted the virus. Consequently, the infected family members were…
Small fishing boats are grounded in Tak Bai district, Narathiwat on Nov 7, 2014 due to rough seas in the Gulf of Thailand. (File photo) In a bid to promote sustainable fisheries management, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) is preparing to establish a one-stop-service center to distribute compensation funds to boat owners who wish to exit the industry. This initiative is part of the Sustainable Management of Marine Fisheries Resource Project. Deputy Secretary-General Chonthun Sangpoom of the SBPAC visited the site of the one-stop-service center in tambon Bana, situated in the Muang district of Pattani province. Chonthun said that the primary goal of the project is to reduce the number of fishing boats in the deep South. He added that the center will start its operations on May 8, and the owners of the first 96 fishing boats are expected to receive compensation for leaving the fishing industry.…
As the general election approaches in Thailand, political dynasties continue to hold significant influence, with the Thienthong family being a prime example. With five members from this prominent family running for office in the upcoming election for two different parties, their name can be seen plastered on campaign posters throughout the rural province of Sa Kaeo. The Thienthong family, along with others like the Shinawatras, have managed to build successful businesses and maintain power in the region since the 1970s, with politics and family affairs often intertwining. Families such as these are an integral part of Thai politics and offer voters a measure of stability and influence in a country that has experienced 12 coups since the end of absolute monarchy in 1932. In a system where there was no rule of law, rich and powerful families like the Thienthongs flourished through their relationships with the military, police, and influential…
On a fateful Friday night in Surat Thani, a serene evening was disrupted by a violent gunfight that left two men dead and two women injured. The incident took place at the car park of Bunjongburi Hotel on Liang Muang Road in tambon Makham Tia. The air of celebration after a wedding party quickly turned to dread when gunshots echoed in the parking lot. The victims were identified as Panuphong Suwannasin, 35, a well-known amulet expert, and Wirat Sudphakdee, 39, a pub owner. The injured women were Kansiri Suwannasin, wife of the amulet expert, and Thanaithorn Luetheng. The crime scene was littered with spent bullets, a pistol, and the lifeless bodies of the two men, cruelly marked with multiple gunshot wounds. Panuphong, also known as “Khunphaen Surat,” hailed from Surat Thani’s Tha Chang district, where he had gained prominence and respect as an amulet expert. He had been shot in…
Over 20 samples have been collected from the vehicle of the alleged murderer Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn. Cyanide traces were discovered in samples collected from the driver’s side dashboard, according to Assoc Prof Weerachai Phutdhawong of Kasetsart University’s Department of Chemistry. Weerachai plans to conduct additional tests on a suspicious substance package confiscated at the suspect’s residence. Weerachai is a chemistry expert that works closely with the Office of Police Forensic Science in examining chemical samples. The police have put together a list of 19 individuals they suspect may have been poisoned by Sararat. Police claim that 18 of these victims perished under questionable circumstances. Only one person, Kantima Paesaard, aged 36, managed to survive after allegedly being poisoned by the suspect. The two were acquainted for over six years, with Kantima having lent Sararat 250,000 baht before being poisoned in September last year. Deputy national police chief General Surachate Hakparn,…
Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Jantararuangtong recently expressed concern regarding the number of ballot papers printed for the upcoming general election on May 14. According to Prasert, the Election Commission (EC) has printed approximately 7.3 million more ballot papers than the actual eligible voters, totaling to about 57 million ballot papers. At a press conference centered around the appointment of a legal working group focused on preventing electoral fraud, Prasert called on the EC to ensure that any additional ballot papers are returned if they go unused. Furthermore, he requested clarification on the measures in place to manage the excess ballot papers. Prasert also urged the EC to execute its responsibilities with diligence and accuracy, citing some errors in documents involving Pheu Thai candidates. He fears that such mistakes could potentially confuse voters. In addition to addressing these concerns, Prasert revealed that Pheu Thai will be writing to the EC to…
During a recent police operation in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district, authorities arrested a Chinese man on a tourist visa and 23 unregistered Myanmar migrant workers at a construction site. The raid was initiated following a report indicating the employment of illegal workers near a bridge over the Paed canal. As law enforcement officers arrived on the scene, many workers attempted to escape, but a total of 23 individuals were caught, all of whom were Myanmar nationals with no work permits. The operation was led by Pol Col Chinnawut Tangwonglert, the superintendent of the Samut Prakan immigration office. During the on-site investigation, the officers questioned a man, seemingly of Thai-Chinese descent, who was supervising the construction project in order to obtain information about the workers. The man’s evasive behavior raised suspicion, and after further investigation, it was revealed that he was a Chinese national named Nibg Shoshi, who had entered…
The first group of 78 Thai evacuees, including 40 women and 38 men, from conflict-stricken Sudan arrived at Bangkok’s Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base on Thursday night. They were greeted by caretaker Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Defense Forces Chief Gen Chalermpol Srisawat, Air Force Commander ACM Alongkorn Wannarot, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai, Prime Minister’s secretary-general Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, and other high-ranking officials. Gen Prayut expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all agencies involved in the successful evacuation and thanked Saudi Arabia and Egypt for their valuable assistance in evacuating and accommodating the Thai citizens. A second batch of evacuees was set to arrive on Saturday, and the prime minister conveyed his hope that the situation in Sudan would not escalate further. Many of the evacuees were visibly exhausted from their arduous journey home, which involved taking a bus, a ship, and a plane and lasted nearly…