Picture this: an illustrious career in the high-flying world of politics, a labyrinth of laws to navigate, and the heart-stopping moment when one misstep sends shockwaves through the hallowed halls of governance. That’s precisely the rollercoaster ride former transport minister Saksayam Chidchob embarked upon—a tale of concealed assets, nominees, and a tumble from power that gripped a nation. It was on a quite ordinary Wednesday that the Constitutional Court dropped the legal bombshell that changed the game for Saksayam. In the hot seat for allegations hotter than Thailand’s summer sun, he faced the heat for using a front to camouflage his stake in a company cozying up to government construction deals. This court ruling wasn’t just any ruling; it came thundering down following a petition that saw a posse of opposition MPs rallying like a scene straight from a parliamentary western, spurred into action from a censure debate in July…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Picture this: an architectural marvel in the making, a raised roadway designed to ease the commotion of Bangkok’s bustling streets. Then, in a twist of fate, on a seemingly ordinary July evening last year, tragedy struck along Luang Phaeng Road in Lat Krabang district when a segment of the unfinished On Nut-Lat Krabang elevated thoroughfare suddenly gave way. This collapse wasn’t just any small hiccup in construction—it was catastrophic, claiming the lives of an engineer and a construction worker, and leaving a dozen more with injuries. The aftermath was a scene of chaos: vehicles lay in ruins, electricity lines dangled precariously, and the peace of nearby structures was shattered. The echo of that day rippled through the heart of the city, and it became clear—construction had to pause, for the sake of safety and introspection. In the months that followed, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Public Works Department, along with…
Imagine a world where diplomacy dances with delicate precision, where nations intertwine in a delicate twirl of aid and peace-promotion—this is the visionary ball that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, attended at the prestigious Davos meeting during the 54th Annual convocation of the World Economic Forum. In the snowy mountains of Switzerland, global leaders gathered to sculpt the future, and our very own Mr. Parnpree was at the heart of the action, discussing weighty matters of state with the grace of a seasoned statesman. But let’s not get tangled in the stiff jargon of officialdom; instead, picture this: Parnpree, the esteemed Thai diplomat, nestled among the high peaks, sharing the stage with his Vice Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow and a coterie of notable figures from across the international community, deliberating the future of Myanmar with passion and determination. The ambiance was not just that…
Imagine a world where the law bends and flexes with age—a world where youthful offenders slip through the thin cracks of a legal system designed to protect innocence but inadvertently enabling crime. Now, enter the stage: Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, the National Police Chief with a vision. He’s not just sitting back; he’s calling his agency to action, demanding a deep dive into the dark ocean of juvenile delinquency that has held Thailand in its murky depths. His mission? Unearth every speck of juvenile criminality from the last half-decade and scrutinize whether the existing juvenile laws deserve a reform for an era where violent youth no longer speak with childish lisps but roar with egregious actions. As the clock ticks towards the end of an anticipative month, the incumbent responsibility he’s shouldered could potentially redefine justice within the ‘Land of Smiles.’ The findings of this colossal inquisition are not merely…
In the heart of Bangkok’s buzzing Ekkamai district, a tale as confounding as it is tragic has been unfolding, with new developments that have both clarified and compounded the mysterious demise of Prawrawee “Yoko” Sahatthatphong, a 28-year-old motor show model whose sudden passing on November 1st has captivated the nation. In what could read like a screenplay, the latest twist in the investigation brings us to a startling revelation. Police divulged on a balmy Tuesday that they had pieced together a sequence of events that seems to lend weight to the idea that Prawrawee may have orchestrated her own curtain call. The linchpin of their finding? A transaction made in the digital shadows of the internet: the purchase of a bottle of cyanide, no less, which our ill-fated model acquired for 33,000 baht two months prior to her departure from this world. Pol Maj Gen Wittawat Chinkham, the commander at…
Welcome to a tale of international diplomacy, a splash of tension, a dash of controversy, and a tuk-tuk procession with a mission! As we turn our gaze to the bustling streets of Bangkok and the hallowed halls of global gathering in Davos, we’ll encounter the enigmatic Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, a character who’s as diplomatic as he is determined. Amidst the shimmering heat and the symphony of city sounds, a campaign jolted the political atmosphere—a tuk-tuk parade, no less. The Israeli embassy pulled an eye-catching stunt, a rolling rally comprising a hundred tuk-tuks adorned with banners. The message? A plea for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, inclusive of an Israeli-Thai united call to “Bring Them Home.” Now, while these tuk-tuks traversed the Thai capital, fluttering with the solemn faces of the detained, Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara had quite a different tune to play. From…
Welcome to the bustling metropolis of Bangkok, where an eclectic fusion of culture, cuisine, and commerce thrives beneath a sky recently shrouded by an unwelcome visitor: a dense veil of fine-dust pollution. The city’s skyline — often a breathtaking vista of gleaming spires and vibrant lights — has found itself beneath a gray haze after a substantial rise in PM2.5 levels last week, leaving locals and visitors alike yearning for a breath of fresh air. In a decisive act of leadership, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called upon the high-flying defenders of the skies, the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), to deploy a veritable arsenal of technological wizardry and tactical nous. The mission? To battle the microscopic airborne assailants that have the city in their grip. This directive came straight from the air force chief, ACM Phanpakdee Pattanakul, who on Tuesday laid out a plan befitting of any sci-fi epic.…
As the pristine snow blankets the undulating hills of Davos, Switzerland, a hive of political and corporate juggernauts is buzzing with activity at WEF 2024. Amidst the intellectual ballet of energetic dialogues that will conclude this Friday, Thailand steps into the spotlight with a session poised to reconfigure the economic atlas of Southeast Asia – the “Thailand Land Bridge: Connecting ASEAN with the World,” as announced by spokesman Pichai. Imagine, if you will, a line drawn through the heart of Thailand from Chumphon to Ranong, the land bridge seeks to bridge continental divides with its audacious vision. Two deep-sea ports, as pearls on a string, await to revolutionize industry and maritime trade at a project cost that whistles to the tune of a colossal 1 trillion baht. Pichai’s voice resonates with optimism as he envisions giant industry player DP World anchoring itself to this venture. The reasons he cites unfurl…
Picture this: A much-anticipated government meeting, key to ushering in an era of digital wizardry with a new digital wallet scheme, was poised to set the stage. This wasn’t just any ordinary rendezvous—tentatively, it held the promise of revolutionizing how we tap and go about splurging our baht. But, in a plot twist that could chill the spine of even the most stoic of bureaucrats, the confab’s curtain call has been delayed. The whispers in the corridors of power point fingers at a myriad of elements causing this abrupt turn, as elusive as they are intricate. Our sources hint at the high-stakes nature of the game—nothing less than meticulous scrutiny and inclusion of every stakeholder’s voice seems to have taken precedence. From the austere halls of the Bank of Thailand to the gilded corridors of the Finance Ministry, and even the bustling offices of private sector bigwigs, all counsel requires…