Transnational bribery involving the military is not a fresh dilemma but a long-entrenched issue. This recurring problem received renewed attention when Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai responded to a recent claim about kickbacks allegedly paid by a US company to the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). “It’s been around for a long time,” Phumtham remarked, addressing the gravity of the situation that has plagued the military sector for years. Currently navigating through an inundation crisis, Phumtham noted his immediate focus is on coordinating military relief operations for flood victims in the North and Northeast. Thus, he hasn’t yet delved into the minutiae of the recent allegations. “I’ll have a look later. I don’t have information yet,” he added, emphasizing the pressing need to prioritize disaster response over the investigation at the moment. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has vowed to scrutinize reports claiming that the US-based agricultural…
Posts published in “Thailand”
In the bustling Muang district of Phayao province, the aftermath of receding floodwaters reveals a chaotic scene with vehicles piled high, reminiscent of a child’s haphazardly discarded toys. This urgent scenario set the stage for a critical cabinet meeting on Tuesday, where the Ministry of Interior, with an eye on immediate relief, secured a significant diversion of funds amounting to 3.04 billion baht from the central budget. This decision comes in the wake of catastrophic flooding that has beleaguered 57 provinces since May, impacting an estimated 338,391 households. The freshly minted cabinet, eager to prove its efficacy, rubber-stamped this financial lifeline in its inaugural weekly meeting. Traisuree Taisaranakul, a ministry spokeswoman, detailed the relief measures designed to alleviate the plight of flood victims. “Financial assistance will range from 5,000 to 9,000 baht per household,” she stated, “depending on the duration of flooding endured.” Households submerged for 1 to 30 days…
Covid-19 is set to be treated like a standard respiratory disease moving forward as case numbers continue to dwindle and symptoms become milder, according to Dr. Yong Poovorawan, a virologist from Chulalongkorn University. In a Facebook post on Monday, Dr. Yong highlighted the noticeable decline in this year’s caseload. At the onset of the rainy season, up to 30% of the 6,000 patients with respiratory diseases were suffering from Covid-19. However, by August, that figure had plummeted to just 5%, he noted. This downward trend is expected to persist until November, after which a slight uptick is anticipated during the New Year holiday, peaking around January or February. Nevertheless, Dr. Yong expects these peaks to be significantly lower than those seen at the beginning of this year’s rainy season, a typical period for Covid-19 spread. Steady decreases in both infection rates and severity are paving the way for Covid-19’s transition…
A protest sign against the Land Bridge megaproject is seen in Chumphon’s Phato district in January. (Photo: Phusadee Arunmas) A chorus of dissent echoed from the southern provinces of Thailand as a group of impassioned residents called upon the government to scrap two contentious Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) bills and the Land Bridge megaproject. These southern souls, steadfast in their cause, believe the ambitious project threatens to unravel the fabric of their cherished way of life. On a resolute Monday morning, approximately 50 dedicated members of the Phato-Ranong Conservation Network flocked to the bustling headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party in Bangkok’s lively Chatuchak district. Their mission was unequivocal: to persuade the party to retract the SEC bills they had drafted. The network’s spirited coordinator, Somchok Chungchaturan, raised a resounding voice of concern, painting a vivid picture of their plight. According to Chungchaturan, these bills would give rise to an “independent…
In the tranquil yet vigilant district of Phato, Chumphon, a sign stands tall, voicing staunch opposition to the Southern Economic Corridor and the ambitious Rayong-Chumphon Land Bridge megaproject. The message is inescapable—a call to rethink a future some southern residents are far from ready to embrace. Picture this: A determined collective of around 50 impassioned citizens, proudly representing the Phato-Ranong Conservation Network, converged upon the bustling headquarters of the Bhumjaithai Party in Chatuchak district, Bangkok, last Monday. Their mission? To fervently demand the withdrawal of two consequential SEC bills poised to reshape the landscape of four southern provinces. Somchok Chungchaturan, the network’s outspoken coordinator, captured the gravity of the situation, decrying the proposed bills that could potentially create an “independent state” for investors. The implications were stark—relaxed labour regulations, flexible land use policies, and an unsettling exemption from environmental protections. “The Bhumjaithai Party should take into serious consideration the impacts…
Jirayu Houngsub has recently taken up the mantle of public relations adviser to the Prime Minister while his application for the government spokesman’s role undergoes further scrutiny. (Photo: Government House) Jirayu Houngsub, former spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence, is poised to step into the shoes of the government spokesman as early as next week, insider sources divulge. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on Tuesday, roped in Mr. Jirayu as her public relations adviser, kicking off an in-depth qualification review. The vetting process for political assignments has ramped up its rigor, driven by an uptick in ethics-related grievances. The Pheu Thai Party, along with Ms. Paetongtarn, is currently wrestling with a dozen complaints touch on appointment controversies and other issues. A past incident involving a controversial cabinet minister appointment even led to the judicial ousting of Srettha Thavisin from his prime ministerial post last month. Traditionally, verifying the criminal records of…
In the quiet Muang district of Samut Prakan, a scene unfolded on Monday that seemed straight out of a crime thriller. Sompong Sroithong, a 62-year-old woman with a past as murky as the waters she exploited, was finally apprehended by an anti-trafficking police officer. For over a decade, Sompong managed to evade capture, living in the shadows as law enforcement agencies pursued her across the country. Her arrest, a dramatic moment loaded with years of anticipation, was a testament to the relentless efforts of the police Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD). According to Pol Maj Gen Sarut Kwaengsopha, the ATPD commander, Ms. Sompong was one of the last remaining fugitives from a warrant issued by the Criminal Court back in 2012. This warrant placed her firmly on the police radar, and she became a top target following a harrowing complaint filed by a Thai-African victim the same year. The victim,…
(Bangkok Post file photo) In a tragic turn of events, a dedicated factory employee tragically lost her life after an alleged refusal from her manager to grant additional sick leave without a new medical certificate. The worker, known only as May, was a devoted 30-year-old from Sukhothai province, employed at an electronics plant nestled within the Bang Pu Industrial Estate in Muang district of Samut Prakan province. The harrowing story came to light through a series of screenshots shared on a Facebook page, capturing the conversations of her colleagues. The grim announcement detailing May’s untimely death after being denied further sick leave sent ripples of outrage across social media platforms, sparking an uproar against the company. Described by her friends as a diligent employee, May had initially taken medical leave from September 5 to 9 after being diagnosed with an inflamed large intestine. Her ailment led her to spend four…
Pol Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertparp, head of the consumer protection police division, stands proudly on the right, holding up the recently seized insect repellent products during a press briefing in Bangkok on Tuesday. (Police photo) In a major crackdown, officials have confiscated around 7,300 Chinese-made plug-in bug repellent devices from three different warehouses in Bangkok, citing potential health hazards and fire risks associated with these products. The alarming discovery was made on Monday in warehouses located on Sukhumvit Soi 54 in Phra Khanong district, Thian Thale Doi 20 in Bang Khun Thian, and a commercial building at the bustling Sampeng 2 market on Kanlapaphruek Road in Bang Khae, as revealed by Pol Maj Gen Withaya Sriprasertparp. The raids were initiated following a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), pointing out the rampant availability of unsafe plug-in bug repellent products being sold online. These devices had made their way…
In a heart-stopping incident on Tuesday, the serenity of Chumphon was shattered as a Bangkok-bound express train clashed brutally with a pickup truck at a crossing in Lamae district. The vehicle, en route to an unknown destination, met its fate in the early hours of the morning, around 10:30 AM. Eyewitnesses described a scene of utter chaos as Special Express Train No. 40, traveling from Surat Thani to Bangkok, plowed into the pickup truck just 30 kilometers past Lamae station. The collision left the vehicle a mangled mass of metal, flipped upside down and lifeless by the tracks. The sound of the crash resonated through the air, alerting residents and rescue workers to the horrifying accident. Tragically, the adult occupants of the truck—a man and a woman—couldn’t be saved. They perished in the violent impact, leaving behind a heart-wrenching scene of destruction. However, amidst the wreckage and debris, a glimmer…