“` Imagine the vibrant colors, the air pulsating with excitement, and the spirit of festivity enveloping you. This isn’t just any celebration; this is the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai, a spectacle that transforms the charming city into a playground of cultural riches and joyous revelry. As the splashes of water bring the summer heat down a notch, Chiang Mai is gearing up for a Songkran festival like no other, expected to draw in millions of tourists and generate a staggering 20 billion baht in revenue. Yes, you read that right! Mark your calendars for April 7-17, as Chiang Mai’s deputy governor Weerapong Rithrod along with the city’s mayor Assanee Buranupakorn have rolled out the red carpet for this year’s festivities. Celebrating not just the wet and wild fun of Songkran, this festival is a profound gesture of respect towards the local Lanna culture and a grand toast to the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a galaxy not so far away, nestled within the bustling streets and vibrant landscapes, there lurks a new entrant in the realm of e-cigarettes that’s capturing the attention of scholars and concerned citizens alike. Meet the “toy pods” – the latest iteration of vaping devices that are not just any run-of-the-mill e-cigarettes. These devices have cleverly donned disguises borrowed from the world of beloved cartoon characters, creating an allure that’s hard to resist for many, especially the younger crowd. Srirach Lapyai, a guardian of public health and a project manager at the revered Tobacco Control Research and Knowledge Management Centre (TRC), recently shed light on this intriguing phenomenon. With the finesse of a detective unveiling the secrets of an enigmatic case, Ms. Srirach explained how e-cigarette moguls have ingeniously morphed their products into enchanting figurines. Imagine your favorite childhood cartoon character, but instead of wielding magical powers or embarking…
Imagine a story that feels like it’s been lifted straight from the pages of a gripping crime thriller, except this one’s unfolding in real-life right before our eyes. At the heart of this tale is Deputy National Police Chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn – a name that sounds like it belongs to a character in a blockbuster movie, but is very much part of this enthralling narrative. This saga took a dramatic turn when the police contemplated the idea of issuing an arrest warrant for the high-profile figure, Surachate Hakparn, or as he’s more colloquially known, Big Joke. This bold step was considered after he seemed to play a game of hide and seek, not responding to a summons that was gracefully extended not once, but twice, to his residence and office. Picture this – a team of officers, with papers in hand, arriving at the tranquil scene of his…
In a scene peppered with the tension and drama of a political thriller, Parit “Penguin” Chiwarak strides into the Samran Rat police station, the latest chapter unfolding in his relentless dance with the law. It’s December 16, 2020, the air is charged with anticipation, and cameras flash as reporters cluster around this emblem of resistance. Parit, a name synonymous with political activism in Thailand, is not here for a casual visit; he’s responding to yet another lese-majeste case, hoisting the tally to a staggering 25. This record-setting figure is not just a number but a testament to his unwavering defiance, as noted by the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR). The root of this particular rendezvous with the law? A social media dispatch dated December 2021, catching the ire of former Palang Pracharath Party MP Pareena Kraikupt. At the heart of the controversy is a post critiquing a Constitutional Court…
In a move that’s stirring up the waters of Thai politics and military education, Pheu Thai Party stalwart Paetongtarn Shinawatra recently stepped into a role that’s part strategic genius and part fashionista. As she sifted through jackets, picking out the perfect ensemble for her orientation day, there was an air of anticipation and style that one could argue, only a Shinawatra could bring to the military corridors. This was no ordinary Friday. Paetongtarn was gearing up to join the orientation for the nation’s inaugural national defence curriculum for young executives, or as the cool kids are calling it, the mini-NDC course. But why stop at just attending? Paetongtarn Shinawatra is going full-throttle, wearing the hat of an advisory board member for the course, alongside two notable figures: Issara Sereewatthanawut from King Prajadhipok’s Institute, and Khanapoj Joemrith, who’s not just Paetongtarn’s friend but also a visionary in his right. Together, they’re…
In the quiet of the night, when most were embraced by the comforting arms of sleep, an alarming series of events unfolded across the southernmost reaches of a land known for its vibrant cultures and historic tranquility. In a meticulously coordinated spree that seemed to challenge the calm of the night, suspected insurgents launched attacks on no less than 39 locations across four provinces, painting a morning of uncertainty with a broad brush of chaos. As dawn broke over Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, the aftermath of a night filled with turmoil lay bare. Pattani, with its serene landscapes now marred by 20 attacks, bore the brunt of this orchestrated mayhem. Yala followed with 11 points of unrest, while Narathiwat and Songkhla felt the tremors through six and two incidents, respectively. The narrative, as reported by the vigilant eyes of the Internal Security Operations Command’s Region 4 forward office, spoke…
In the bustling heart of Thailand’s political theater, a twist worthy of a prime-time drama unfolded as Surachate Hakparn, known to the media and swathes of the populace by the intriguing moniker “Big Joke,” found himself swept from the limelight of active service to the shadowy corridors of the Prime Minister’s Office. His company in this unexpected journey? None other than the National Police chief, Pol General Torsak Sukvimol. The duo, pillars of the Royal Thai Police, were ensnared by the tendrils of growing discord within their ranks, culminating in their simultaneous reassignment to desks quaintly cloaked in bureaucracy. The news broke on a Thursday morning, the ink barely dry on a double-transfer directive authorized by the Prime Minister himself. Surachate and Torsak graced Teerapong Wongsiwawilas, the Prime Minister’s Office’s permanent secretary, with their presence, marking the commencement of their 60-day administrative limbo. Yet, the very next day, an aura…
In the sun-drenched, azure-bordered paradise of Phuket, a dramatic tale unfolded on the pristine sands of Pak Phra beach in Thalang district, captivating both local residents and international spectators. Russian national, Iakhia Guseinzade, found himself in a rather tight spot last Friday, when the long arm of the law finally caught up with him. The picturesque setting, often associated with leisure and escape, became the backdrop for a confrontation that one usually expects to find in action-packed cinema, not in everyday life. Clothed in nothing but shorts, an image that starkly contrasted with the seriousness of his situation, Guseinzade walked alongside an officer, a scene that was captured and has since been shared widely, turning him into an overnight sensation. But what was the cause of this unexpected turn of events? The answer, as it happens, lies in the increasingly controversial and immensely lucrative world of tourism. It was around…
In the wee hours of an otherwise uneventful night in Pattani province, Thailand, tragedy struck with an intensity that would leave the local community reeling. A convenience store, situated snugly beside a petrol station in the Mayo district, became the focal point of a harrowing event that underscores the volatile nature of peace in this serene corner of the world. The store, a beacon of light in the dark, offering travelers and locals alike a refuge for their midnight snack cravings or emergency fuel top-ups, unwittingly became the stage for a devastating act. A homemade bomb, crafted with malevolence and placed with precision, shattered the night’s tranquility, claiming the life of an unsuspecting soul. The victim, a diligent employee of humble origins from Myanmar, who had found her place amidst shelves of instant noodles and rows of refrigerated drinks, met with a fate no one could have predicted. Her journey,…
In the gently humming streets of Rattaphum district, Songkhla, a tale as old as time with a digital age twist unfolded. On a day that seemed like any other, the calm was shattered by the arrival of law enforcement, led by the intrepid Pol Maj Gen Supakorn Chanthabutr, commander of the Special Service Division. Their destination? The residence of one Ms. Tawanna Tarawasant, 55, whose unsuspecting home became the climax of an intriguing operation. The reason behind this visit was no small matter. Ms. Tawanna had been entangled in a web of deceit so vast it caused ripples of disruption, leading to over 50 million baht worth of distress among numerous victims. It was said she dabbled in the creation of mule accounts, a practice as nefarious as it sounds, designed to facilitate the dark arts of fraud, particularly in the realm of phantom online marketplaces. These were not your…