The serene but fateful Nak Koet Hill in Phuket has turned into a focal point of controversy following a deadly landslide on August 23 that claimed the lives of 13 individuals and injured another 19. The calamity has escalated into a legal quandary involving the Royal Forest Department, the Foundation of Phra Ming Monkul Sattha, and a towering 45-meter Buddha statue. Bannaruk Sermthong, the Royal Forest Department’s deputy chief, personally led an investigative team to the Moang district scene to probe the fatal landslide. According to their preliminary findings, the root cause of the disaster was linked to the deforestation at the hill’s apex, part of an ambitious project to erect the colossal Buddha figure, which weighs an astonishing 135 tonnes. The towering statue is an integral part of Wat Kittisankaram. The temple had originally sought permission from the Royal Forest Department to utilize 15 rai of land within the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has gracefully accepted an invitation to visit Vietnam, extended by the Vietnamese premier. This exchange marks a promising step toward enhancing bilateral trade and investment ventures. On her X account yesterday, Ms. Paetongtarn shared the exciting news, revealing a congratulatory call from Pham Minh Chinh on her recent appointment. In an admirable act of diplomacy, Ms. Paetongtarn expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Vietnam for the warm hospitality extended to HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn during her recent visit. The gesture underscores the profound respect and camaraderie between the two nations. Ms. Paetongtarn articulated her eagerness to collaborate closely with Mr. Pham, particularly focusing on bolstering trade and investment relationships. Both leaders are keen to propel their strategic partnership to new heights, envisioning broader and more dynamic platforms for cooperation. “I expressed my sincere appreciation to the government of Vietnam for the close relations between our two…
The political landscape of Thailand took a surprising twist as the Seri Ruamthai Party, spearheaded by the lone but formidable MP, Pol Gen Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, decided to withdraw from the Pheu Thai Party-led coalition government. In an electrifying briefing at Seri Ruamthai headquarters, Pol Gen Sereepisuth revealed that the party’s executive board reached a narrow 7:4 decision on Tuesday to step away from the coalition. Pol Gen Sereepisuth, with characteristic candor, expressed his dissatisfaction with the ruling party’s dismissive attitude, lamenting that they had failed to heed crucial reformist calls. “It’s been frustrating to let oneself be walked all over,” he proclaimed. A significant bone of contention was Pheu Thai’s lack of commitment to overhauling the police force. The former national police chief pointed out that the ruling party was more interested in controlling who would ascend to the position of national police chief. Reflecting on his tenure, Pol Gen…
The Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection (DJOP) is currently in the midst of a decision-making process that could reshape its future operations and staffing. Thicha Nanakorn, a seasoned veteran in juvenile justice, finds herself at the center of this bureaucratic whirlwind. The looming question is whether her contract will be extended as the DJOP prepares to trim its budget for hiring experts and specialists. According to a document released on Thursday, the DJOP has adopted a stringent policy aimed at reducing its workforce, particularly focusing on specialists and experts, for the 2025-2028 fiscal years. This has triggered a ripple effect, leading to the resignation of Thicha, who has been a cornerstone of the Baan Kanchanapisek Vocational Juvenile Training Centre for Boys, serving as its director for an impressive two decades. DJOP director-general Pol Lt Gen Prawut Wongsrinil shed more light on the situation, explaining that the department is currently…
In an effort to stave off impending devastation, disaster mitigation teams are working tirelessly, piling sandbags to construct a floodwall along the banks of the Chao Phraya River in Nonthaburi. This scene, captured by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill, is just a glimpse of the proactive measures being taken as Bangkok braces for the Chao Phraya River’s overflow, a situation exacerbated by relentless upstream flooding in northern provinces. According to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID), the inundating waters from the upper northern provinces have finally reached Bangkok. Eight days after the initial floods wreaked havoc up north, the turbulent waters have made their way downstream, fast-tracked by the Chao Phraya dam barrage in Chai Nat. This critical structure adjusts the water discharge levels, directly influencing the water situation in the Central Plains and Bangkok. On Thursday, the barrage ramped up its discharge to 1,300 cubic meters of water per second, a significant increase…
Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) deputy leader Paiboon Nititawan, flanked by his colleagues and fueled by an air of resolve, faced the press on Thursday at the party’s headquarters in Bangkok. The atmosphere crackled with tension, almost like an electric storm was brewing. Paiboon minced no words as he pointed a finger at Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, accusing her of betraying a crucial promise. This was no ordinary gripe; it was a full-blown ethical conundrum. According to Paiboon, Paetongtarn had pledged to keep the PPRP close, snug within the coalition, holding onto their cabinet quota like a cherished treasure. But now, as Paiboon theatrically put it, that promise lay shattered like a broken mirror. The PPRP had cast their votes in her favor, swayed by her assurances, believing that she would lead as Thailand’s 31st Prime Minister while keeping her word. Yet, reality appeared to be a starkly different tale. Invoking…
Chalermchai Sri-on was elected the new Democrat Party leader on December 9, 2023. (Photo: Nutthawat Wichieanbut) In an unexpected turn of events, the Democrat Party decided on Thursday to join forces with the Pheu Thai-led coalition government, despite having long regarded it as their political arch-enemy. The vote saw Democrat leader Chalermchai Sri-on, along with executive members and MPs, cast their ballots, with the majority favoring the coalition move. A few members chose to abstain, while others chose to skip the meeting altogether. The Democrat Party received an invitation from Pheu Thai after the latter severed ties with the Palang Pracharath Party due to internal disagreements. For the Democrats, this was a noteworthy pivot. They haven’t won a general election since 1998 when Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai party emerged victorious. Notable figures in the party’s history, like former prime minister Chuan Leekpai, have ardently opposed any alliance with Pheu…
Political activist Panupong “Mike Rayong” Jadnok, who has been grappling with a lese majeste charge for posting a controversial message about His Majesty the King last year, made a striking appearance in New Zealand on Thursday. It is anticipated that he will apply for political asylum and embark on a fresh chapter of his life. Eakapop Luara, known popularly as Tang Achiwa, is a former member of the red-shirt movement and a political refugee who previously fled to New Zealand to sidestep a Section 112 charge. In a heartfelt message on Facebook, Eakapop warmly welcomed Panupong, who had recently set foot in the country. “Welcome to a new land, a land of freedom with a welfare state that supports every life,” Eakapop declared with fervor. “Enjoy the beginning of your new life.” It emerged on May 8 that the Criminal Court handed Panupong a four-year prison sentence for violating the…
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has teamed up with Chiang Mai University in a bid to tackle childhood blindness in Thailand, thanks to the generous support of the Yoovidhya family. This ambitious, multi-year project is focused on improving the diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases in children, spearheaded by the renowned Dr. Neil M. Bressler, James P. Gills Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins. The primary target? Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that arises when abnormal blood vessels grow on the retinas of premature infants, potentially leading to blindness. Shockingly, in Thailand, one in every thousand children is affected by blindness, with ROP accounting for two-thirds of these cases. Current screening methods are not only stressful and risky for infants but also demand highly specialized skills from ophthalmologists, who are scarce in many parts of the world. A Vision for Prevention Enter the project’s groundbreaking approach: advanced imaging…
For an impressive 86 years, the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy at Thammasat University—widely known as Thammasat Business School (TBS)—has not only set the benchmark in Thailand but also earned its stripes on a global scale. Flaunting the distinguished title of Thailand’s first Triple Crown Business School, TBS has secured international acclaim through accreditation from three highly respected bodies: the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) from the United States, EQUIS (EFMD Quality Improvement System) from the European Union, and AMBA (Association of MBAs) from the UK. To put things into perspective, only a mere 1% of business schools worldwide can boast this coveted Triple Crown accreditation. As if that weren’t enough, TBS clinched the top spot as the premier business school in Thailand and came fourth in Southeast Asia according to CEOWorld Magazine’s “The Best Business Schools in the World 2024.” Further cementing its status, TBS’s MBA,…