Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has dutifully submitted his defense to the Constitutional Court, following intense scrutiny over the much-debated appointment of Pichit Chuenban as a PM’s Office minister. While Mr. Srettha confirmed that his defense was handed to the court last Friday, he deftly sidestepped discussing the intricate details of his argument when probed by the media. “It’s more of a clarification. I have the duty to clarify, and I think I’ve covered it all,” Mr. Srettha stated with an air of composure, leaving the press to speculate over the crux of his written defense. The prime minister faced a looming deadline, needing to submit his defense by Saturday. This urgency followed the Constitutional Court’s decision to entertain a petition calling for his removal—an outgrowth of a controversial cabinet reshuffle that saw Pichit’s contentious appointment. The petition, spearheaded by a faction of caretaker senators, raised questions under Section 170 (4)…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The upcoming round of Senate elections is stirring up controversy, with caretaker senator Somchai Swangkarn raising red flags about potential manipulation. According to Senator Swangkarn, several individuals have been strategically hired to influence the votes, aligning with certain political parties or interest groups. As he reviewed last Sunday’s district-level voting outcomes, he noticed an alarming trend: while some candidates were overwhelmingly favored, others didn’t receive a single vote. Senator Somchai pointed out a critical loophole in the organic Senate election law, which permits candidates to cast votes for themselves or other candidates. This gap, he alleges, has been exploited by some parties or interest groups, funding individuals to run for election merely to tip the scales in their favor. “It’s a game being played. If we closely monitor the provincial voting on June 16, collusion will become evident. Only those backed by strong parties and interest groups will advance,” he…
Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa is stepping up efforts to curb the alarming rate of domestic violence, which has shockingly accounted for nearly 70% of all reported violence cases in the last two months. After a high-level meeting with ministry officials on Monday, Mr. Varawut announced robust measures to tackle this pressing issue. The Human Security Emergency Management Center has been working vehemently to safeguard the wellbeing of citizens facing domestic strife, and now, they’ve launched a 24/7 rapid deployment task force ready to serve people across the nation. The urgency of the situation is further underlined by the sobering findings from the Human Security Emergency Management Centre’s recent report covering April and May. The survey, which targeted 6,655 individuals receiving state assistance, painted a worrisome picture. Inadequate income, strained domestic relationships, and violence surfaced as the leading challenges regularly faced by these individuals. The report highlights…
The hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s streets are no stranger to controversy, but this one is a real potboiler. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has tasked the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) with probing a thinly veiled allegation of corruption in the police ranks. The whole drama unfolded faster than you could say ‘slot machine’. It all started with a zing! Pol Col Pairoj Namuangrak, the superintendent of Phasi Charoen police, dropped a bombshell in a Line group chat. He accused one of his superiors, a police major general, of twisting his arm into allowing a local gambling syndicate to plant slot machines all over his turf. Talk about a high-stakes gamble! Rumor has it, this explosive message was swiftly removed from the chat, which had a whopping 393 members. But, in the age of screenshots, nothing disappears for long. A savvy group member snapped a screenshot and let it spread like…
Local residents were seen making the most of the fitness equipment at Wachirabenjathat Park, known affectionately as Suan Rod Fai, in Chatuchak district on June 6. The scene, captured vividly by Pornprom Satrabhaya, depicts the serene environment of the park in stark contrast to the brewing storm behind its serene facade. Rumblings of corruption have stirred within the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), prompting a deeper dive into the recent procurement of exercise equipment for public parks across the city. In a press conference following the BMA’s board meeting on Monday, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt, along with BMA deputy permanent secretary Nathapong Disayabutra, laid out plans for a broadened investigation, hinting at a possible malfeasance scandal. Mr. Nathapong divulged that initial probes have unearthed several suspicious activities that point towards possible corruption in the city’s exercise equipment procurement processes. These revelations cast a shadow of doubt over some projects which, it…
Police stood guard as passionate cannabis advocates gathered to voice their dissent against the government’s controversial plan to relist the beloved plant as a narcotic. On that crisp Monday morning, the energy was palpable as the throng of protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations until a satisfactory law regulating the plant was passed. Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin appeared unruffled by the gathering of these fervent advocacy groups outside Government House. They were led by the dynamic Prasitthichai Nunual, a key representative of the People’s Network for Cannabis Legislation in Thailand. As the sun rose on Sunday, around 300 militants for the green cause assembled, ready to oppose the blacklisting and prepared for an extended rally. Addressing the media on Monday, Mr. Somsak acknowledged the protesters were merely exercising their constitutional right to be heard by the nation’s senior government figures. However, he pointed out that the prime minister had…
Picture this: A market brimming with enthusiasm and an atmosphere teeming with excited whispers, all centered around the charming Labubu dolls. But behind this lively façade, something far more sinister was brewing. In an unexpected twist that could rival a thrilling plotline, an online seller found herself ensnared in a web of accusations and potential fraud charges involving these highly coveted collectibles. It all began when over 100 eager customers who had paid in advance for their adorable Labubu dolls reported the owner of the Facebook page “Chompoo Utaisincharoen” to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB). The reason? A shocking 12 million baht gone missing. One of the affected customers, who preferred to remain anonymous, unveiled the backstory. The seller had presented herself as an importer of Labubu dolls on Facebook, attracting the attention of buyers keen to resell the ever-popular toy figures. The plan seemed foolproof: transfer money, wait for…
TAK – On a crisp Monday morning along the bustling Highway 12 (Sukhothai-Tak), highway police officers found themselves embroiled in an unexpected escapade. Three Chinese nationals and a Thai man found their journey come to an abrupt halt when officers flagged down their silver Toyota Altis for a routine check in tambon Nam Ruem, Muang district. Commanding the operation, Highway Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Kongkrit Lertsitthikul revealed the identities of those involved. The Thai driver was 53-year-old Narong Sunanta, while the Chinese passengers were identified as Hai Yang, 25, Zhen Yong Liang, 31, and Lin Zhen, 31. As the officers scrutinized the vehicle, they uncovered a stash of about 2,000 pristine SIM cards and five mobile phones, sparking suspicions that this eclectic group might be deeply embedded in a call scam racket. The absence of ID documents heightened the officers’ curiosity, leading to their immediate detention for further probings,…
An online seller of the highly-sought after Labubu dolls risks facing fraud charges after failing to deliver the dolls which over 100 customers had paid for in advance. The buyers reported the owner of the Facebook page “Chompoo Utaisincharoen” to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on Monday, claiming losses of up to 12 million baht. One of the customers, who declined to be named, said the seller claimed to be an importer of Labubu dolls on Facebook, targeting customers who were looking to buy the popular toy figures to be resold. The victims were then instructed to transfer the money to complete the transaction, the customer said, noting everyone complied with the order as they had never had any issues purchasing items off Facebook before. About a month ago, the seller said there will be delays in the delivery of the dolls, citing supply issues caused by legal wrangling over…
As the sun began its daily ascent over Bangkok, a throng of students made their way into Wat Ratchanatda School, their faces adorned with masks and their movements cautious. Last month, Covid-19 control measures were still the order of the day. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) The recent numbers paint a concerning picture. Covid-19 cases soared by at least 900 compared to the previous week, with a somber note of one fatality recorded each day. The Public Relations Department’s Covid-19 Information Centre shared this grim revelation. From June 2-8, a staggering 2,762 people were hospitalized for Covid-19 treatment, translating to an average of 395 individuals per day. This was a sharp increase of 48.3% from the preceding week, May 26-June 1, when 1,863 hospitalizations were documented, averaging 266 cases daily. Each of these weeks bore the heart-wrenching report of at least one life lost to the virus daily. Since the beginning of…