Golden garlands graced the 14th October 1973 Memorial on the vibrant Ratchadamnoen Avenue in Bangkok. These tributes were laid there on the 50th anniversary of a student uprising that courageously took a stand against dictatorship. The sites, saturated with historical importance, resounded with echoes of change and hopes for freedom. The stage was set against the backdrop of the Bangkok city skyline – a city profoundly impacted by the waves of events that occurred five decades ago. Raising his voice for this significant occasion, the House Speaker, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, represented the government’s sentiments on Saturday. Filling in for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, he delivered a profound message, emphasizing the importance of learning from the past. He urged every Thai citizen to reach back into their turbulent history, relive the ferocious spirit of the Oct 14, 1973 student uprising, and harness this passion to shape the future political system…
Posts published in “Thailand”
The rising tensions in Israel have wreaked havoc on its non-native workforce, with the Thai population bearing a significant brunt of the effects. Recent reports from the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv disclose that the number of Thai casualties has surged to 24, following the large-scale attack initiated by Hamas on October 7. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who revealed these sorrowful figures, also lamented the unsettling state of affairs for Thais in the foreign country. A tragic total of 32 Thais have been met with the unfortunate fate of abduction or injury amidst the conflict between the Palestinian Islamist group and Israel, 16 in each category, he announced while preparing for his departure to Phitsanulok province from Bangkok’s Don Mueang military airport. Despite the grim circumstances, Mr. Thavisin extended grateful acknowledgement to commercial Thai airlines – Thai Airways International (THAI), Nok Air, and Thai AirAsia. Their unhesitating cooperation in the…
Grabbing headlines recently is an image making rounds on social media platforms, purported to show former Preeminent Minister Thaksin Shinawatra being transported from his room at the Police General Hospital to undertake a CT and MRI scan. This development took place on Friday and sparked widespread discussions. Addressing the situation ahead of his departure to Phitsanulok on Saturday, Premier Srettha Thavisin backed the Corrections Department which was in the line of fire, suspected to accord preferential treatment to the incarcerated ex-leader, Thaksin Shinawatra. He affirmed that he had seen the viral photo featuring the former Preeminent Minister and was confident that there wasn’t any disparity in the way the department was handling all the detainees. Mr. Srettha was commenting on the Friday photo that had made waves on social media, seeming to depict Thaksin in a hospital gown and mask, lying on a stretcher, with two individuals striking a resemblance…
For over two decades, Israel has been a top destination for Thai workers seeking abroad employment opportunities, particularly within the agriculture sector. It is currently home to approximately 30,000 Thai workers, 5,000 of whom are placed near the contentious Gaza Strip. While these workers are very aware of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they occasionally find themselves in the midst of it. The latest round of violence witnessed a significant casualty rate among Thai labourers, fuelling growing consideration on the continued appeal of Israel for foreign labour. Despite the realistic risks, many Thai workers are opting to continue their employment in Israel, striving to remain steadfast in their pursuit of a better future for their families. They understand and accept the hardships their work demands, viewing it as a small price to pay for the higher wages they receive. The income earned overseas is often instrumental in stabilising their families’ financial standing.…
The repercussions of war are harrowing, personal, and far-reaching; they affect not just the locations where conflict happens, but also those who’ve journeyed there to work and make a living, thereby hoping to make a better life for themselves and their families back home. A somber reminder of this is the plight of the Thai laborers who recently found themselves amidst the reignited Hamas attacks in Israel, creating a distressing experience that has led some to question the wisdom of allowing Thais to find work in such volatile regions. On a fated Thursday, 41 Thai laborers made an emotional return home from Israel, onboard Israel Airlines flight LY 083. Of these, 15 were under the auspices of the Thai government, while the other 26 had managed to secure passage by financing their own tickets. Thailand’s government has dispatched around 30,000 workers abroad, a staggering 7,000 of whom landed jobs in…
On his recent trip to the vibrant region of Phitsanulok, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended an invitation to the public to express their stance on the government’s digital wallet scheme. The ambitious plan, promising to deposit 10,000-baht into the digital wallets of Thai citizens, has soared into the limelight, sparking a rigorous debate among economic experts. Emphasising the urgency of this digital economic stimulus, the Prime Minister announced that the government is compelled to implement the giveaway by February. “The digital wallet scheme is more than a handout; it’s an injection of energy into our economy and fuel for personal spending,” commented Mr. Srettha. Encouraging public involvement, he urged the citizens who are in favour of the scheme to make their support count. In a landscape increasingly swayed by social media narratives, the Prime Minister has been utilising his X account to assemble followers in support of the digital wallet…
In a significant recognition of his tireless environmental advocacy, Niwat Roykaew, fondly known as “Kru Thi”, has become the first Thai recipient of the renowned Leader on the Frontlines Award. Bestowed by the Asia Foundation in its headquarters in San Francisco, this award celebrates the relentless efforts of Mr. Niwat to preserve the pristine ecosystems of the Mekong River and the livelihoods of its resident communities. Notably, the Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organisation committed to improving lives across the dynamic landscape of Asia. At 64, Mr. Niwat holds reputable positions as the chairman of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group and the director of the Mekong School’s Institute of Local Knowledge. His most acclaimed accomplishment lies in rallying communities to successfully thwart a series of disastrous explosions and dam constructions that, if left unchecked, would have wreaked irreparable havoc on the river and its dependents. According to the…
The peaceful tranquility U-Tapao International Airport in the Ban Chang District was interrupted in the early morning hours as the third batch of Thai workers from Israel made their landing. There were 90 individuals in total, forming a group with a broad gender imbalance, comprising of 88 men and just two women. The returnees had left Israel the day before and, through the nurturing care of government arrangements, journeyed home on a commercial flight. The trek was far from linear. The workers embarked from their foreign home on Fly Dubai Flight FZ1550 at 11am local time. This flight was their first link to the outside world from their now ex-home, taking them to Dubai, located in the affluent realm of the United Arab Emirates. After a layover, the workers then boarded another flight, FZ1837, at 7pm on the same day. The second leg of their Odyssey took them to their…
The city of Paris, the epitome of romance and glamour, transformed into a somber landscape of escalating tension as French authority heightened its national threat alert to an unprecedented level. This turn of events came in the wake of a gruesome knife attack at a public school in Arras, a city located in the northern region of France. Primarily resulting in the tragic loss of a teacher and causing injury to several other individuals, this incident is reportedly the handiwork of an erstwhile student suspected to have fallen prey to the tentacles of Islamic radicalisation. Staggered by the gravity of the evolving circumstances, the quick-acting French governance initiated an immediate surge protocol to ensure the safety of people. Landmarks that often buzz with the cacophonous chatter of tourists, such as the iconic Louvre Museum and the grand Palace of Versailles, witnessed an emergency exodus on Saturday. Prompted by speculative intel…
Early Sunday morning, the scenic U-tapao airport in Rayong witnessed the emotional homecoming of the third wave of Thai expatriates who had been flown home. The latest group is comprised of 90 men and women who were formerly employed in Israel. The blissful reunion took place at SC Park Hotel in Thailand’s bustling capital, Bangkok, where families eagerly awaited the arrival of their loved ones. This return home was a matter of life and death considering the conflict that the workers had experienced in Israel. The unsettling reality is that four more Thai nationals who were working in Israel have had their lives claimed in the terrifying Hamas attacks. This brings the death toll of Thai nationals to 28, alongside 16 injured individuals and 17 more being held captive. Reports from a counselor assigned to look after labour affairs at the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv, relayed this chilling information…