As the sun rose over Melbourne, Australia, on a brisk March morning, the streets thrummed with energy and a palpable sense of purpose. Individuals from the Myanmar community, along with their Australian allies, took to the sidewalks armed with placards and flags, their spirits as indomitable as the messages they bore. This was no ordinary gathering; it was a clarion call for justice, a public rally urging the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to withdraw its support from the Myanmar Military Junta. The venue, strategically chosen outside the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, became a stage for the expression of solidarity and hope on March 4, 2024. In a world brimming with diplomatic challenges, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs in Thailand isn’t sitting on the sidelines. Under the astute chairmanship of Noppadon Pattama, MP of the Pheu Thai Party, this committee has sharpened its focus on the unfolding crisis in…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Once upon a time, nestled in the heart of Bangkok’s bustling Samphanthawong district, Klong Ong Ang shimmered as a beacon of urban rejuvenation. It wasn’t just any canal; it was an emblem of hope, a testament to what community collaboration and visionary urban planning could achieve. Sadly, recent chatter amidst the digital grapevines highlights a tale of forgotten glory, igniting concern and sparking a journey to uncover the truth behind the transformation of this once-celebrated landmark. In the kaleidoscopic sprawl of Bangkok, Saphan Lek Market had been a hive of activity since 1983, where over 500 vendors unfolded their wares daily, creating a vibrant tapestry of commerce. Space became a premium commodity, leading ingenious vendors to spill their shops onto the streets and, eventually, to annex the aquatic realm of Klong Ong Ang itself. But in 2015, a wave of change swept through when the then-governor Aswin Kwanmuang ignited a…
Picture this: Deep in the heart of a lush Finnish forest, a group of Thai workers, with baskets in hand, navigate through the verdant landscape. Their mission? To harvest the wild berries that pepper the forest floor – a task that is as challenging as it is rewarding. However, this picturesque scene is currently under threat, following a significant decision from Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But fear not, for the Labour Ministry of Thailand has vowed to leap to the rescue, with plans so grand they’d make a superhero jealous – all set for the 2025 harvest season. Enter Somchai Morakotsriwan, the director-general of the Department of Employment, who has taken on this challenge with the tenacity of a wolf tracking its prey. On an unsuspecting Sunday, Somchai revealed a plan of action that would see the Labour Ministry joining forces with state agencies, including the Foreign Affairs Ministry,…
On a serene Saturday, the guardians of the deep blue, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, took to Facebook with a vital message that echoed the essence of marine conservation. Their proclamation? A heartfelt plea to keep our curious hands off the coral, especially the majestic sea fans, those delicate dancers of the ocean’s depths. As they spun a tale of underwater marvels, the department unraveled the intimate life of corals, revealing them not merely as inanimate fixtures of the sea but as living, breathing entities pulsating with life. The narrative unfurled, detailing how these marine maestros stretch their tentacles with grace, ensnaring plankton in an intricate ballet of survival. But their role extends far beyond self-sustenance. Sea fans, the department elucidated, serve as bustling metropolises for the micro-sized denizens of the deep. In the grand tapestry of the ocean, they’re cornerstones of life, shelters offering sanctuary to countless…
In a country known for its vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes, Thailand is setting the stage for an electrifying future, quite literally. Nestling amidst the serenity of Chiang Mai, an engaging conversation unfolded. The premier of Thailand, with a vision as dynamic as the streets of Bangkok, recently found himself amidst the pioneers of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The air buzzed with excitement as they gathered in Chiang Mai, not just to savor the city’s legendary hospitality but to explore the electrifying possibility of Thailand playing host to a Formula E event next year. The tale took a compelling turn during the premier’s jaunt to France. In the land known for its wine and romance, our protagonist extended an invite to the maestros of the motorsport world, urging them to allow Thailand’s charm to grace the Formula E circuit. The very thought of these silent electric gladiators…
In the quiet of the night, under a sky awash with stars, the atmosphere was shattered by a sequence of events that might as well have leapt from the pages of a suspense thriller. At the heart of this tumultuous tale is none other than Flight Lieutenant Thanitsak Pornhiranthanon, a 60-year-old military cadet who found himself embroiled in an altercation that unfurled like a flag caught in a storm. It all began around the witching hour of 9.30pm on a mundane Saturday. The scene was set near Thanitsak’s residence, where the silence of the night was punctured by the revelry of a gathering that numbered six or seven exuberant souls. The symphony of their celebration, however, did not harmonize with the Flight Lieutenant’s expectations of a serene night. The plot thickened as Supachai Yungyuen, a 26-year-old partygoer, found himself unwittingly cast in a role he hadn’t auditioned for. The twist?…
If you’ve been keeping up with the international whispers around the world of berry pickers, Thailand’s latest diplomatic maneuver regarding Schengen visas, and Finland’s firm stance on berry-picking visas, then buckle up because this tale twists more than a mountain road! Let’s set the scene: it’s a sunny Sunday, birds are chirping, and Thailand’s very own Srettha is stepping up to the press with some heavyweight news. Picture this – a room filled with eager journalists, hanging on to every word as Srettha unveils his grand strategy. He’s not just talking about any topic; no, he’s delving into the intricate world of visa negotiations. Specifically, the looming cloud over Thai passport holders eagerly awaiting the green light for Schengen visa exemptions. But wait, there’s a berry-shaped hiccup in the plan. Enter the issue of visas for berry pickers. Yes, you heard that right. In the grand chess game of international…
Imagine waking up in a city where the sun struggles to pierce through a thick, toxic veil – a city where the air tastes of ash and the horizon is a blur. This isn’t the opening scene of a dystopian novel; this was the reality for the residents and visitors of Chiang Mai this past Thursday. The enchanting “Rose of the North” was cloaked in a smog so severe that it clinched the title of the world’s most polluted city by Sunday, as captured hauntingly in a photograph by Panumet Tanruksa. Amidst this environmental crisis, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin found himself at a crossroads. In an action that would stir widespread debate, he opted against declaring Chiang Mai a disaster area, a statement he conveyed on the social media platform X. With all the weight of consideration, he spoke of his decision birthed from extensive dialogue with various stakeholders. The…
In what could easily be the plot of a high-seas thriller, the tranquil waters off the coast of Rayong’s Klaeng district turned into the stage for a mysterious drama on a calm Sunday morning. Picture this: local fishermen, setting out at dawn, their nets and hopes ready for the day’s catch, stumble upon not fish, but 19 bags floating ominously in the sea. But these were no ordinary bags. They contained something far more unexpected and illicit – 19 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine. This latest find adds another chapter to an already gripping saga of narcotics being abandoned in the seas of Thailand’s eastern provinces. It seems the azure waters of this region are hiding secrets not just beneath their waves, but also on their surface. The Klaeng police, upon being alerted by the fishermen, discovered the drugs packed in plastic containers, nestled within brownish bags. Each bag bore a…
In the sun-kissed island paradise of Phuket, a routine Saturday evening took a turn straight out of a high-octane action movie. At the heart of this unexpected drama were two visitors from New Zealand, Hamish and Oscar Day, whose holiday escapades escalated into a Hollywood-worthy chase scene along the bustling Chaofa (East) Road. It all began at the stroke of 3.50 pm when Pol Sen Sgt Maj Somsak Noo-iad, a dedicated traffic officer at Chalong station, caught sight of the Day brothers zipping through the community zone with a zest that clearly flouted the local traffic etiquette. Demonstrating a blatant disregard for the rules, these intrepid motorcycle enthusiasts opted for adrenaline over safety, weaving through traffic at a pace that made the very concept of “staying in the left lane” seem pedestrian. The plot thickened when Somsak, in an earnest attempt to restore order, signaled for the brothers to halt.…