Posts published in “Thailand”

In a twist of legal drama, the halls of justice reverberated with the clang of a gavel as a young soul found himself momentarily unfettered. The courtroom was abuzz on a fateful Monday when an order cascaded down, freeing a 14-year-old from the cold grasp of detention. The clock had struck a resounding peal; the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection investigators had strolled past the Sunday night deadline without a case, and thus, unwittingly, dropped the bars that caged the adolescent. Now, this wasn’t just any boy. The one at the heart of this story had seen the wretched gloom of a once vibrant luxury mall turned into a tableau of horror, all unfolding in the bustling heart of downtown Bangkok. His was a tale wrapped in tragedy and perplexity, finding himself in the stern care of the Galya Rajanagarindra Institute’s psychiatric ward shortly after that unforgettable, ghastly mass…

Imagine strolling through the vibrant, bustling streets of Bangkok on a sun-drenched December morning, feeling a sense of history being crafted as you watch individuals line up to cast their votes, reshaping the Social Security landscape in a democratic flourish. On December 24th, 2023, that’s precisely the momentous occasion that played out as subscribers of the Thai Social Security Fund finally had the chance to select their champions to safeguard their welfare on the Social Security Board. It was an electoral debut, etching a new milestone into Thailand’s annals of social security progression. Now, let’s concoct a distillation of the most riveting and impactful labour and social narratives that captivated us throughout the year… Democracy in Action: The Inauguration of Voice The once elusive dream for the public to take the reins in managing the Social Security Fund turned tangible in 2023, with a heralded election ushering in an era…

As the year 2023 drew to a close, the echoes of both joy and discontentment could be felt across the nation, painting a picture more multifaceted than a Monet masterpiece. The National Institute of Development Administration, affectionately known as Nida Poll, put their finger on the pulse of the nation’s heart through a comprehensive survey. They dialed numbers and engaged in earnest conversation with 1,310 individuals from the lush highlands in the north to the balmy coasts of the south, cutting across a spectrum of ages, professions, and socio-economic backgrounds. The sweetness of familial bonds and the security of employment without the chains of debt or the shadow of ill health had 42.75% of respondents humming a melody of moderate happiness. On the other hand, the bitter brew of economic downturn made 27.86% balk at the mention of happiness. The high cost of living, low farm produce prices, and the…

Imagine this: on a seemingly typical Saturday evening in the Muang district of Phitsanulok, the tranquil atmosphere was abruptly shattered. Out of nowhere, a pickup truck transformed into an unguided missile, hurtling into a multitude of vehicles, leaving an astonishing scene of metal and mayhem in its wake. As if choreographed by a director of disaster movies, passersby couldn’t help but be witness to this spectacle of destruction (Photo: Chinnawat Singha). But this was just the tip of the iceberg. As it turns out, Saturday was a notorious day on the streets across the Land of Smiles. And please, folks, don’t let the nickname fool you – the day was anything but smiling. There were 385 calamities dubbed “road accidents” shaking up the nation, and boy, oh boy, the aftermath was a sobering collage of numbers: 404 souls injured, 37 unfortunate beings departed from this world. Stats wizard and Justice…

Picture the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, its vibrant streets humming with activity. Then, amidst this daily dance of life, there’s a somber moment of stillness as a woman extends her arm to receive a flu shot, a scene set against the bureaucratic backdrop of the Government Complex on Chaeng Watthana Road. But this is no ordinary flu season—it’s a tapestry of afflictions that has unfurled across Thailand this year, interweaving the unpredictable patterns of influenza, the biting sting of haemorrhagic dengue fever, and the relentless surge of Covid-19. These illnesses have painted an intricate mosaic of public health concerns, as described by the revered Department of Disease Control. Dr. Thongchai Keeratihattayakorn, the department’s acting helmsman, charts a map of maladies from his authoritative desk. From the outset of the year, through to the waning days of December, a staggering tally of 460,325 individuals succumbed to the clutches of influenza—a…

Once upon a not-so-distant yesterday, nestled between the whispering waves of nostalgia in Phichit province, a gold mining enterprise by the name of Akara Resources unfurled its industrious arms under the watchful skies. But not all that glitters is gold, my friends, for this tale takes a twist into the thickets of law and order. Let’s delve into the curious case of Akara Resources and its entourage, caught in the web of legal entanglements as thick as the jungle surrounding their golden venture. It was back in the simmering summer of 2016 when detectives from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) donned their sleuthing hats and embarked on a journey to unravel the allegations that Akara Resources—alongside three intriguing individuals—had trespassed upon lands not theirs to claim. Now, these weren’t your run-of-the-mill trespassers; we’re spinning a yarn about Pakorn Sukhum, the CEO; Michael Patrick Monaghan, the COO; and Cherdsak Atha-arun,…

Gather ’round, dear Starfish—true aficionados of the dazzling Thai-German star, Patrick-Nattawat Finkler, or as he’s adored in the Mandarin-speaking world, 尹浩宇 (Yin Haoyu). The spotlight is on Patrick, our beloved Asian sensation who’s making waves deep into the seas of the highly competitive Chinese boy-band arena. Imagine the scene: the clock strikes 1 am, December 30th. The air at Suvarnabhumi Airport is charged with anticipation. A sea of fans, eyes twinkling with excitement, erupts in cheers as Patrick steps onto Thai soil, returning to wrap his Starfish in a New Year’s embrace, ready to dazzle and mesmerize with a show unlike any other. There’s something about Patrick’s velvety tones that transcends language barriers—his voice, a rich symphony capable of beckoning even the most distant hearts closer to the stage. His performance? Nothing short of electric, promising to captivate all of CentralWorld with his larger-than-life presence this December 31st. Our beloved…

Amidst the bustling corridors of power at Government House, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin takes the podium, his presence lighting up the room like a beacon of innovation amid a sea of tradition. Addressing the nation vividly in November, his discourse revolved around an initiative that’s the talk of the town: the government’s state-of-the-art 10,000 baht digital wallet scheme. With the click of a button, Thavisin imagines, prosperity could be right at the fingertips of the people—revolutionizing the very fabric of Thai economics. However, the gales of controversy are whirling as the Chief Ombudsman, Somsak Suwansujarit, announces a meticulous review of this digital marvel. By the whispers of late this month, the verdict on whether this tech-forward plan is draped in legal eloquence is expected to rumble through the halls of the Ombudsman’s office. Calls have been cast far and wide to the savviest of state agencies to weigh in with…

In a chilling narrative echoing Hollywood’s noir genre, a gritty tale unfolded under the urban glow of Bangkok’s cityscape, where a 30-year-old entrepreneur’s life was brutally cut short on the elevated arteries of the Chalong Rat Expressway. As the bustling streets bore witness to the darker side of human nature, we delve into the shadowy story of how a badge was tarnished by a grim meld of desperation and lead. In the heart of Wang Thonglang district’s midnight quietude, a series of events were set into a macabre motion that would have the local police scrambling to piece together a scene that seemed plucked straight from a detective thriller — yet it was all devastatingly real. Lineaments of justice began to cristalize as Pol Col Jessada Yangnok, the head honcho at Wang Thong Lang police station, declared that Pol Lt Narongwat Thachata, a former deputy inspector, exchanged his role of…