From the bustling streets of New York to the serene rainforests of Malaysia, the long shadow of the wildlife black market extends worldwide. A key player, Teo Boon Ching, a Malaysian national, covertly known amongst circles as the ‘Godfather’ of wildlife smuggling, has finally been apprehended and sentenced. The court pronounced a sentence of 18 months imprisonment for his participation in the illicit trade of rhinoceros horns to the tune of several million dollars. The enormity of Ching’s enterprise was brought to light, illuminating the breaking down of regulations safeguarding endangered wildlife species – a cruel and blatantly disregard for nature’s exquisite biodiversity. As the gavel of justice struck on the languished hardwood surface amidst the urban cacophony of New York, it marked the conclusion of the court proceeding in a swanky New York court room. The announcement came straight from the woodwork of the US embassy in Thailand. The…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The vivid image of Democracy Monument, standing guard amidst anti-government rallies in Bangkok, Thailand, triggers a profound contemplation. Framed by two deputed policemen, the picture captured by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill in October 2021 encapsulates the prevailing political atmosphere of the period. The story unfolding at this historical moment revolves around talks of a potential constitutional rewrite, fueled by demands from various quarters. In response to these discussions, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Phumtham Wechayachai, underscored the government’s perspective on Friday. He highlighted the escalating costs associated with executing multiple referendums pertinent to the possible constitutional change. Mr. Phumtham, currently leading the creation of an advisory panel for referendum design, stated that each voting round could carry a hefty price tag of 3-4 billion baht. Furthermore, he predicted it might require three to four such rounds to finalize the amendment, dramatically inflating the overall expense. This prospective panel, he elaborated, would feature…
Recent discoveries in an ongoing police investigation have linked a man currently detained on suspicion of his young daughter’s murder, to a pair of mysterious infant deaths from 2013 and 2014. Songsak Songsaeng, a man of 46 years, and his present consort, Sunan Nahuanin, 40, are currently under arrest regarding the alleged murder of their 2-year-old daughter. Throughout his investigation, Mr. Songsaeng confessed to the tragic taking of four of his sons, each a product of a previous marriage. As spearheaded by Pol Maj Gen Wathee Assawutmangkul, head of the forensics division, DNA testing has unveiled grim insights. The samples obtained from Mr. Songsak, his past spouse Jessada Meepian, and the deceased infants share an irrefutable genetic match. The victims, whose bodies were uncovered in the Bang Sue district, were posthumously found to be descendants of Mr. Songsak. The eldest, a boy of roughly ten months, was discovered in 2013,…
On a momentous Saturday, the Move Forward Party announced Chaithawat Tulathon, the party’s secretary-general, as its new linchpin following the stepping down of Pita Limjaroenrat due to a persisting ambiguity around his MP status. Chaithawat, however, asserts that the alteration might be short-lived, in light of legal complexities hindering Mr. Pita from exercising his duties as the opposition leader. “If Mr. Pita is reassumed into his MP duties, myself and the newly appointed members of the executive committee are all prepared for a possible retreat,” stated Chaithawat at the general assembly of the party held over the weekend. Armed with a staggering 330 votes secured through an electronic voting system, Chaithawat only had 5 objection votes and 3 non-voting members against his leadership, he was the lone nominee making the decision almost unanimous. Our new leader hails from Songkhla and is a 45-year-old environmental engineering graduate from Chulalongkorn University. This…
In a case that has stunned the nation, the one-time spouse of Mr. Songsak Songsaeng, a suspect accused of perpetrating the horrific crime of killing five of his kids from two marriages, has been taken into custody as authorities continue their investigations. Jessada Meepian, a 33-year-old woman and the second wife of the alleged murderer, found herself on the way to the Central Women’s Correctional Institute following her appearance in the Criminal Court. In light of further evidence and witness testimonies that urgently need to be scrutinized, the court authorized the police request to detain her for an initial span of 12 days. This is pending the attention to 10 additional witnesses and anticipated forensic results. Absence of bail applications from Ms. Jessada or her family solidified her incarceration. The cloud of dread surrounding Ms. Jessada pertains to her suspected involvement in four deaths, resulting in a battery of five…
The Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok recently played host to an enlightening seminar that brought together some of the brightest minds in sustainability and environmental preservation. With panelists hailing from diverse backgrounds, this high-profile gathering brought into the limelight the urgent issues of our times, such as global climate change, carbon neutrality, and sustainable development across nations. The talks were centered around ideas tapping into a common theme – the immense pressure we as collective societies and economies face due to the ever-worsening impact of climate change. Perspectives were shared on how countries globally are adopting and implementing steps to cut down greenhouse gas emissions. This included insightful references to the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Clean Competition Act of the United States. Wannipa Bhakdibutr, president and CEO of Osotspa, highlighted the urgent need for collaboration amongst different sectors and parties for sustainability and achieving carbon neutrality.…
Thailand has reported a concerning number of 385 confirmed cases of mpox infections this year up to date, along with one disheartening fatality, according to the official records presented by the Department of Disease Control (DDC), documenting cases from January 1-September 18. Tragically, the person who succumbed to this disease was an immunocompromised individual who particularly struggled with fighting off the infection. Breaking down the cases reported this week, we find 42 new patients. Among them, an overwhelming number of 41 were male, pointing towards a possible gender predisposition, whereas only one of them was of female gender. Lounging into nationalities, it came to light that Thai citizens bore the brunt of the disease with a staggering 38 new cases. However, this disease did not refrain from lurking onto the foreigners either, with three of them confirmed to be infected. A quick dive into the specifics reveals that a majority…
As a groundbreaking move to boost tourism, both Chinese and Kazakhstani travelers are given the privilege by Thailand’s authorities to enter the country without any visa obligations for a duration of five months – expiring on February 29. This ingenious initiative is currently in its pilot phase. This breakthrough decision was made public by the Transport Minister of Thailand, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, at a high-level meeting held with the topmost executives of the Airports of Thailand (AOT). The meeting’s primary purpose was to strategize and implement initiatives to ease the process of international arrivals in the forthcoming weeks, just in time for the National Day holidays in China, which falls on October 1st. The ministry projected that the visa-free period would considerably surge the average number of incoming Chinese flights from 72 to a whopping 96 per day. Likewise, the average Chinese visitor count per day is expected to almost double…
In the midst of tussles over divisive subjects that appeared to be moving towards determining the outcome by a draw of lots, the parties finally sought middle ground. This act of unity was significantly appreciated by Pichet Chuamuangpan – the ruling Pheu Thai Party’s second deputy House speaker – who was at the helm of the conference that featured representatives from all parties. The earlier disagreement on certain matters luckily found its resolution in this meeting. From the ranks of all parties, Move Forward stood at the forefront with a strong force of 151 members. This placed them in the esteemed position of presiding over 11 House committees. Following closely is the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Even though their number of 141 MPs does not match that of Move Forward, they have been entrusted with the responsibility of governing 10 other significant House committees. This includes the critical committee established…
The Thai Transportation department has an ambitious venture on their hands – the “land bridge” – a colossal project aiming to link the Gulf of Thailand’s eastern shoreline at Chumphon to Ranong on the Andaman Sea. Currently, the baton is being passed on to potential investors worldwide, focusing primarily on China, Europe, and America. This insight on the advancements in the plan came from Suriya Jungrungreangkit, Thailand’s Minister of Transport, in response to the doubts and unease expressed by Wichai Sudsawat, a parliamentarian from Chumphon for the United Thai Nation (UTN) party. Sudsawat had raised his concerns during a parliament meeting about the detrimental consequences this project might have on his voters’ livelihoods. These worries sprouted from Jungrungreangkit’s previous intimations about high investment expenditures and eco-related problems connected with the project. The concept of the land bridge was cultivated two years ago under the aegis of the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration.…