Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, formerly the park chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, found himself entangled in courtroom litigation, battling accusations linked to the vanishing of a local Karen rights activist – Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, a case that unfolded almost a decade ago. Even though exonerated of the severest charge of murder, he didn’t walk out free but was assigned a three-year prison term for failing to perform his duty linked to Billy’s questionable detention. A case that has captivated the international human rights communities and stirred the local media. Chaiwat, enthused to challenge his conviction, anchored on Section 157 of the nation’s Criminal Code pertaining to public officials’ operations, has his sights set on the appeal court. Considering this, bail of 800,000 baht was set by the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases, but under the condition that he remains within the country. Reports indicated that the last visuals…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Karen ethnic villagers in a demonstration marred by the downpour, was Pita Limjaroenrat, the erstwhile Commander of Thailand’s Move Forward Party. This public outcry isn’t a new sight in Omkoi district of the northern territory of Chiang Mai. However, the purpose behind it is indeed noteworthy – to rally against the mining of coal that could potentially despoil their tranquil village environment. Pita Limjaroenrat’s decision to join the villagers was not a solitary endeavor. He was accompanied by prominent MPs and affiliates of the Move Forward Party. Amidst this, the group demonstrated their protest by marching from a local sports field to the district headquarters of Omkoi, submitting a letter that mirrored their collective qualms to the District Chief. The march was preluded by a public forum, attendees of which encompassed a spectrum of human rights activists, legal practitioners, environmental stewards, and those who directly confront the…
In the Nadi district of Prachin Buri province, an unexpected occurrence has taken place. Continuous rainfall has led to flooding in the wildlife corridor tunnels situated under Highway 304. Consequently, the twin tunnels along with a major section of the highway were forced to close on Thursday morning. This is a key road, pivotal in connecting the lower Northeast and the East — a vital vein in the body of our transportation system. Breaking down the facts, the assistant district chief, Sonthaya Fueangcharas, reported floodwaters ranging from 30 to 50 centimetres in depth within an 80-metre segment of the tunnels. More worryingly, the water level on the highway itself was estimated to be between 40 and 50 centimetres deep. Not chancing any risk, Sonthaya placed orders to close both the tunnels and the adjoining Nadi-Nakhon Ratchasima segment of Highway 304. By late Thursday morning, the situation worsened in the tunnels,…
Welcome to the dawn of a new era at Suvarnabhumi International Airport! As the first set of passengers disembarked on Thursday, we witnessed the soft inauguration of a brand-new satellite terminal at Thailand’s principal international transit hub. Known as Satellite 1 (SAT-1), this modern terminal is set to elevate the airport’s passenger handling capacity from 45 million to a whopping 60 million passengers annually, announced Kittipong Kittikachorn, the director of Suvarnabhumi airport. For the past 17 years, Suvarnabhumi International Airport has proven to be the lifeblood of Thailand’s air-based transportation. Despite the dampening effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, passenger traffic has been on a steady rebound. This past fiscal year ending September 30th recorded 268,477 take-offs and landings. That’s a promising 59.4% higher than the numbers from the previous fiscal year. The total number of passengers processed at the airport during the current fiscal year reached an encouraging 44.4 million.…
The quaint province of Lamphun, in the North of Thailand, is currently under scrutiny. It’s not for its rich historical background, or for the pristine beauty that veils the city, but for an uglier wrinkle that has recently come to light, implicating certain members of the local police savings and credit co-operative. Today, we delve into the intriguing saga of the Lamphun police co-op scandal, involving fraud allegations, hundreds of victims, and an escalating sum of about 220 million baht. Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn and Witwisit Phansuanplook, both respected members of the Move Forward Party and representatives of Lamphun in the House of Representatives, has detailed the scandal. According to them, about 423 members have been wronged by the fraudulent actions of the staff at the co-operative. As the story unfolds, we learn that officers who had reported the fraud back in February of this year reached out to Mr Witwisit for…
Amid the peaceful darkness of a late Wednesday evening in Nakhon Pathom province, an act of valor unfolded as four suspects were taken into custody in what is being hailed as the largest single narcotics operation in Thailand’s history. The unfolding of this gripping incident was led by Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol. As the clock struck 11:30 pm, the quiet of the night was broken in the Muang district of Nakhon Pathom. Police officers, led by Torsak Sukwimol, swarmed the premises of a two-story dwelling located at 20/15 Soi Lamphaya-Bosco 2 Road. It was a part of their compelling mission targeted at cracking down on drug traders and their illicit activities. The daring operation resulted in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of colossal quantities of narcotics. The premises harboured Apichart Ekchin, aged 38, along with the Khiaophrai brothers—Chalit, 39 years old, Charan and…
One late August 2023 evening, in the quaint district of Samut Prakan, a grimmer side of reality emerged. In a three-storey townhouse in Bang Phli district, a macabre scene unfolded. A woman and her young sons fatally attacked, and her husband battling both physical wounds and emotional devastation, the remnants of a horrific family tragedy (credit: Sutthiwit Chayutworakan). A connection between a scam gang and this chilling homicide led to the arrest of a young woman, Jirapinya Naeyued, aged 22. On an ordinary Wednesday afternoon, while she was returning home from Cambodia, she was apprehended at the Aranyaprathet immigration check post in Sa Kaeo. A seamless collaboration between immigration investigators, local police, and paramilitary rangers facilitated the arrest at the inbound passenger terminal. She was nabbed moments after crossing the border through the Ban Khlong Luk checkpoint. Reports confirmed that she was involved with a scam gang notorious in the…
Get ready for the biggest sustainability event in the Asean region – the Sustainability Expo 2023 (SX2023) which will include a highly anticipated food festival, a uniquely themed marketplace, and a special zone just for kids. This is all happening at the distinguished Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), set to commence from Friday. With the principal exhibits and seminars taking off from October 2nd until October 8th on the grand floor of QSNCC, we are promised a memorable event indeed. The premise of SX2023 is “Good Balance, Better World”, a theme specifically chosen to stimulate visitors to investigate and embrace more sustainable practices. The whole occasion situated at the QSNCC in the thriving Klong Toey district is complimentary for all attendees. Guests can look forward to gaining valuable insights from discussions led by specialist speakers about the growing green industry, global green market trends, environmentally friendly lifestyles and cutting-edge…
In the thriving district of Huai Khwang in Bangkok, commonly known as the “new Chinatown”, crime rates involving Chinese nationals, mostly towards their fellows, have been on an unusual rise. An unfolding scenario leading to authorities zeroing in on a Chinese suspect has brought this issue to the fore. The proceeding incidents unraveled in this community point towards an elaborate robbery plot, leading to the arrest of the suspect in Sri Racha district of Chon Buri. 34-year-old, Lui Jian, found himself in the police dragnet on Wednesday after the Criminal Court issued a warrant against him on armed robbery charges and accusation of public gun and knife possession, as reported by Pol Maj Gen Teeradet Thamsuri, commander of the Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau. The police report furnishes details about how Mr. Lui along with five of his countrymen, equipped with guns and knives, executed a home invasion…
Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, once a reputed chief at the Kaeng Krachan National Park took center stage at the court on Thursday. Brought to trial due to his speculated involvement in the vanishing of a Karen rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen, he experienced a sigh of relief as the court acquitted him of murder charges. However, his victory was short-lived as the court sentenced him to a three-year stint in prison for his carelessness regarding Billy’s apprehension. This rendering has put the spotlight on this case, attracting attention and scrutiny from numerous human rights groups. A trio of allies who faced accusations alongside him were excused from all charges by the court, asserting they merely complied with the instructions of their superior. Seeking recourse, Mr. Chaiwat is prepared to contest his conviction under Section 157 of the Criminal Code. Stemming from this legislation is the exploration of conduct involving public officials. In…