In a bustling and lively atmosphere, Thai-Muslims gather at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakan, their hearts filled with overwhelming excitement and devotion; they are about to embark on the sacred hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The scene is reverential, a blend of spirituality and respect for their sacred journey, united in their intention, hope, and expectation. However, this journey of deep religious significance recently became a challenge for more than 500 faithful Thai pilgrims hailing from Yala. They found themselves abandoned upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia, despite having each paid a hefty sum of around 270,000 baht for the opportunity to fulfill this important pillar of their faith. This unrest has galvanized the Bhumjaithai Party’s dedicated task panel on the deep South. They plan to make significant strides to prevent such mishaps in the future, ensuring that Thai-Muslims who go to fulfill their religious obligation of hajj do…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In a recent course of political events, both the Bhumjaithai Party and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) stated their disinterest in partaking in a coalition government that the Pheu Thai Party aims to form, on the assumption that the Move Forward Party (MFP) remains in the eight-party bloc. This stance was established following the Pheu Thai Party’s endeavors, which observed a second-place victory in the votes, to extend an olive branch to other political outfits to join their coalition to spur the formation of the government post MFP’s unsuccessful bid to get their prime minister candidate elected. MFP declared its withdrawal on Friday, leaving the leadership to Pheu Thai. The Pheu Thai leader, Cholnan Srikaew, held discussions with representatives from the Bhumjaithai, Chartpattanakla, and United Thai Nation parties at the Pheu Thai headquarters on Saturday. On the condition of MFP’s exclusion from the eight-member coalition, Dr. Cholnan acknowledged the potential blockade…
Generating quite a buzz lately, a trailblazing initiative driven by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) targeted at encouraging orderly waste segregation amongst households, has been posting encouraging results. The spokesperson for the BMA, Mr. Aekvarunyoo Amarapala, revealed during a decisive Saturday press announcement that decreasing trends in the overall volume of rubbish reaching the city’s waste management facilities, along with resultant reduction in waste treatment expenditures, have been observed over the past half a year. Amid February and the conclusion of the previous month, noteworthily, a substantial drop in the aggregate volume of the city’s waste, equating to a daily average deduction of around 444 tonnes, has been recorded. This phenomenal dip, as quantified by Mr. Amarapala, translates to about 67,248 tonnes as compared to figures from the equivalent timeframe a year ago, thereby resulting in a remarkable saving of 127.8 million baht in terms of waste treatment expenditure. Elaborating…
Phlai Chao Nga, an elephant renowned for his nomadic tendencies, found himself as the center of a significant court order. On a sun-drenched morning in May, within the quaint ensemble of homes known as the village district of Nop Phi Tham, GPS-tracking collar fitted snugly around his thick neck, Phlai Chao Nga was making headlines amid the quiet corners of Nakhon Si Thammarat. The saga unfolded as the Nakhon Si Thammarat Administrative Court issued a directive to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), in no uncertain terms. The directive demanded the capture and subsequent relocation of our wanderlust-driven elephant friend within a stringent timeline of 15 days. Alas, Phlai Chao Nga’s marveling at the breathtaking panoramic views and grazing the bountiful crops outside his native Tai Rom Yen National Park had been causing quite the stir among the local community. They claimed their livelihood, reliant on…
In a successful nationwide operation that kicked off on the first of July, the law enforcement heroes of our nation successfully closed their nets on a significant quantity of illegal weaponry and detained a staggering 966 individuals involved in their distribution and misuse. The initiative, driven by the deputy police chief, Police General Torsak Sukwimol, was announced on the Sunday following the 21st of July. The operation’s magnitude and impact unfolded with the sharing of impressive numbers. Police General Torsak candidly disclosed that the authorities executed 1,658 meticulously planned raids scattered all over the country. These meticulous operations yielded a bounty of 911 illicit firearms, various ammunition amounting to 44,540 rounds, two explosives, and a high number of methamphetamine pills, totaling a whopping 6,239. These astonishing figures are an endorsement to the effectiveness of this sweeping crackdown on the criminal underworld. An episode that underscores the bravery and resolve of…
In an unprecedented proactive action for national security, law enforcement officials in Chanthaburi, located in Eastern Thailand, successfully detained six foreign nationals who were attempting to illegally enter the country. This strategic move was triggered by an extensive national effort to tighten security in response to the directive from the Ministry of Labour urging the registration of non-native workers residing in Thailand. The thrilling tale of the arrest followed a high-speed chase. Guided by the firm hand of Superintendent Khemarin Phitsamai of the Chanthaburi Province Immigration Office, and his second-in-command Swas Chotronnapas, a seasoned team of officials was assigned to patrol the Rayong-Chanthaburi-Sa Kaeo route. This effort was primarily aimed at stemming the influx of undocumented foreign workers, most importantly given the ongoing work permit registration open for such individuals already clandestinely living in Thailand. Highlighting its commitment to uphold legal processes, the Ministry of Labour greenlit the directive enabling…
Former monk Warakorn Kongu-tit found himself under the arclights, not for his spiritual practices, but for his dubious business operations which landed him in hot water. The 46-year-old former practitioner turned entrepreneur was nabbed in Phang Khon district’s lively night market, nestled in the gentle curves of northeast Sakon Nakhon province, for defrauding unsuspecting customers of a staggering 10 million baht through his online religious artifact business. Warakorn ingeniously blended his religious background with commerce to ensnare spiritual seekers looking for authentic Buddhist relics. However, these seekers, who emanated from monasteries and temples nationwide, soon found themselves embroiled in a distressing scam. Warakorn would pull the plug on all communication, leaving the pious individuals distraught over their substantial cumulative losses. The audacity of his deceit had become a thorn in the side of authorities. Warakorn’s misconduct went beyond creating false Facebook handles, each more fanciful than the last – Petch…
Taking significant strides against under-the-table healthcare operations, authorities in Thailand have effectively closed down an unauthorized beauty clinic, named as CCoco Beauty Clinic, nestled in the bustling heart of Ekamai, Bangkok. This illicit operation, which was brought to a swift halt on uncovering, was unearthed during a routine inspection by the Department of Health Service Support. This unsuspected beauty clinic, it turned out, was merely a mask operated by a collective of Chinese entrepreneurs, as revealed by Pol. Maj Gen Anan Nanasombat, who heads the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD). Astonishingly, this dubious entity had been stealthily offering its services for as long as nine months, making it part of a wider network of 15 other CCoco clinics scattered across various countries, including China, the UK, Australia, and Japan. In an interesting turn of events, Anan reckoned that the clinic was strategizing to primarily appeal to international customers by endorsing…
Current events in Thai politics have taken an intriguing turn, as Thailand’s Democrat Party brings clarity to the speculative narratives taking a toll on its collective integrity. Reports revealing that a number of their members—over fifty percent, as per the grapevine, are shifting alliances to a coalition led by Pheu Thai, a notable political party in Thailand, have been dutifully shunned by the Democrats. The Democrats, led by their eloquent spokesman, Ramet Rattanachaweng, confronted these conjectures assertively. “To casually suggest that our stringent party member list, populated by 25 well-established MPs, including our acting secretary-general, Chalermchai Sri-on, is dwindling down from a count of 25 to a meagre nine, is a gross overstatement, to say the least”, exclaims Ramet. Conversations insinuating the potential inclusion of the supposed group of 16 MPs in the forthcoming government were met with a firm denial from Ramet. The Democrats regard their stance towards the…
Protesters from the Move Forward Party (MFP), a significant portion being students, assembled outside the gates of Kasetsart University, situated in the heart of Bangkok’s Bang Khen district. The trigger for this gathering being the mounting frustration towards the influential senators, accused of further stirring the ongoing political turmoil in the country. The rally was passionately organized by a student assembly called the New Sunrise Party, which put forth a call to arms for fellow protesters with the slogan, “Join hands to eradicate evil-hearted senators.” Just as the afternoon sun began to descent halfway through the sky, supporters flocked to the university grounds in front of the grand auditorium, uniting in a common sentiment of disappointment towards these elected senators. These individuals have recently cast their votes against the proposed prime minister Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, in two distinct parliamentary sessions. Their discontent was visibly…