Meet Pita Limjaroenrat, the face of Thailand’s main opposition party, the Move Forward Party, standing tall despite political chaos in Bangkok. Limjaroenrat has sounded a cautionary note, intuitive to the country’s turbulent political waters. Court rulings slated for this month could potentially disband his party and unseat the current prime minister, stirring up an economic storm in Thailand. Pita Limjaroenrat, who championed the Move Forward Party’s victory in last year’s election but was stymied from forming a government, expressed his premonitions in an interview. He candidly spoke of an impending “political inferno” in Thailand, triggered by these legal proceedings. Top constitutional judges are poised to decide next week whether Move Forward violated election rules concerning its campaign to amend a stringent royal defamation law. Subsequently, they will rule on whether Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin should be ousted over an alleged ethical misconduct. The anticipation has been electric, with the stakes…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Bangkok Expressway and Metro (BEM), under the visionary leadership of Dr. Sombat Kitjalaksana, recently orchestrated a grand blessing ceremony to mark a momentous occasion – the 6th cycle anniversary of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua. This auspicious event took place on July 28, 2024, at the prestigious Rama IX office. With a spirit of reverence and national pride, Dr. Sombat led the ceremony, embodying the collective tribute of an entire organization towards their revered monarch. The event was crafted to perfection, intricately weaving cultural traditions with modern-day elegance, creating an atmosphere that was both solemn and celebratory. As dawn broke, the Rama IX office was adorned with resplendent decor featuring vibrant flowers and majestic flags that captured the country’s rich heritage. Employees dressed in formal attire, their faces glowing with admiration and respect, gathered to pay homage to their King. The room buzzed with anticipation as monks, draped…
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt revealed yesterday that City Hall requires additional time to deliberate on resolving its substantial debts owed to Bangkok Mass Transit System Plc (BTSC), the operator of the celebrated BTS Skytrain. Over the years, City Hall has racked up billions of baht in debts, primarily due to its contracts with BTSC to operate and maintain the electric train service on two extended segments of the BTS, often referred to as the Green Line. The plot took a dramatic turn last week when the Supreme Administrative Court upheld a lower court’s decision, mandating that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) along with its commercial wing, Krungthep Thanakom, must settle the overdue payments accrued from hiring BTSC for operating and maintaining the electric rail system on these expanded routes. With the court’s decision now public, BTSC subtly suggested its openness to negotiations. If the BMA is amenable, these negotiations could…
In a climate rife with political speculation, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confidently swept aside rumors of a “backup prime minister” set to replace him, despite burgeoning concerns. The center of this speculation is Srettha’s controversial decision to appoint former convict Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office Minister in the recent cabinet reshuffle. Dismissing such chatter, an unflinching Srettha remarked, “I am still the prime minister and am working to the best of my ability,” underscoring his commitment to his role. In a moment tinged with both resolve and acceptance, Srettha clearly stated his readiness to embrace the Constitutional Court’s decision on August 14, regardless of the ruling. “I already sent a closing statement to the court on Tuesday. I don’t want to comment any further,” he added, maintaining a respectable distance from speculative commentary. He further downplayed rumors about the potential ousting of the Palang Pracharath Party from the coalition…
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is contemplating an invitation to US Ambassador Robert F. Godec for a visit to the northern region later this month, where they can closely monitor the advancements in anti-drug operations. During a discussion on Wednesday, Mr. Srettha shared the nation’s pressing drug issues with Mr. Godec. The US anti-narcotics agency has been collaborating with Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board, but field visits have been relatively scarce, noted Mr. Srettha. This upcoming trip might just change that, as he hinted at involving Mr. Godec in his next northern tour, slated for later this month. The prime minister drew attention to the alarming surge in methamphetamine distribution in the region. What’s more concerning is the uptick in heroin destined for international markets, including Australia and the United States, he added. With a fervent drive to dismantle the drug menace, the government is zeroing in on 25…
Deputy Public Health Minister, Thanakrit Jitareerat, has raised his voice in favor of introducing a dedicated law to control the sale and use of e-cigarettes in Thailand. Citing the ineffectiveness of current laws, he addressed the issue during a discussion at the National Health Commission Office on Wednesday. Although the Public Health Ministry has assigned a task force to dig into the e-cigarette dilemma, none of the existing laws specifically cover this modern, controversial issue. In the absence of a targeted law, various agencies have been left to enforce measures based on an assortment of legislations. This fragmented approach, Mr. Thanakrit argues, is far from ideal. “All agencies need to harmonize their efforts to successfully clamp down on the problem,” he urged. The current measures have repeatedly fallen short, he noted, stressing the need for a comprehensive law to curb what he referred to as a “serious threat to society.”…
National Security Council (NSC) deputy secretary-general Chatchai Bangchuad expresses confidence that the ongoing peace talks between the Thai government and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a separatist group, will yield fruitful results now that a new facilitator has been appointed. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim selected Datuk Mohd Rabin Bin Basir, the former director-general of Malaysia’s National Security Council, to succeed Gen Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkiflei Mohd Zin as the peace talks facilitator on July 1. Reports suggest that Gen Sri Zulkiflei’s tenure was cut short due to his overly stringent approach, which was perceived as an impediment to progress. With his term nearing its end, the Malaysian government found it opportune to appoint someone new. In stark contrast, Mr. Mohd Rabin operates directly under Prime Minister Anwar’s command, adding a layer of urgency and determination to the proceedings. Mr. Chatchai, who spearheads the Thai government’s negotiation efforts, revealed…
Senators emerging from the professional frontline of mass communications and literature—Group No.18—are on a mission to uplift the status and quality of life for media professionals. Among them, Sen Chaiyong Maneerungsakul, a prominent figure, shared insights with the Bangkok Post on their collective aspirations. Representing a diverse range of media backgrounds, including public relations, these senators are poised to drive significant changes. Chaiyong, a 68-year-old veteran, holds distinguished titles: chairman of the Southern Newspaper Association of Thailand and head of the Daily News Southern Office. Reflecting on his career beginning in 1974, he emphasized the stagnation in the welfare of local journalists—particularly those operating as news stringers or local correspondents. The grind remains unchanged; the vast majority—95% to be precise—endure the uncertainties of freelance work, relying on the publication of their pieces to earn a living. “Being a local journalist often feels akin to volunteering, especially with the prevalent wage…
In a surprising twist of events, all Members of Parliament (MPs) from the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) are set to transition to the little-known Thinkakhao Chaovilai Party if the Constitutional Court rules to dissolve Move Forward next week, according to a reliable insider from the MFP. The court is poised to decide whether Move Forward should be disbanded for allegedly breaching Section 92 of the organic law on political parties. This ruling stems from a complaint lodged by the Election Commission (EC) back in March. The EC’s complaint is pegged on a January 31 court ruling, which indicated that the party’s initiative to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, commonly referred to as the lese-majeste law, was seen as an attempt to destabilize the constitutional monarchy. In addition, the EC has called on the court to not only dissolve the party but also to impose a ban on…
All Members of Parliament from the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) are looking to take a leap to the relatively unknown Thinkakhao Chaovilai Party if the Constitutional Court decides to dissolve Move Forward next week, according to insider information emerging from MFP. This impending decision stems from accusations that Move Forward violated Section 92 of the organic law on political parties, a complaint first lodged by the Election Commission (EC) back in March. The EC’s case hinges on a prior court ruling from January 31, which stated that the party’s initiatives to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, commonly referred to as the lese-majeste law, showed a clear intent to destabilize the constitutional monarchy. Alongside pushing for the party’s dissolution, the EC has also petitioned the court to bar its executives from participating in future elections and prevent them from registering or acting as executives for any new party…