As Srettha Thavinsin, the prime ministerial candidate for the Pheu Thai party, walked into the 15th polling station on Soi Sukhumvit 16 in vibrant Bangkok on a balmy May 14, 2023, anticipation swelled amidst his supporters. Given the political climate, it’s apparent that the followers of Pheu Thai are confident of their chosen candidate’s victory in the forthcoming vote, insiders reveal. Despite their optimistic outlook, political forecasts have hinted at a potential turn of events. The hopeful Prawit Wongsuwon, leader of the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP), might just emerge from the shadows as the new prime minister, backed by a substantial number of PT’s renegade MPs. All speculation is now focused on the likely move of parliament’s president, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, whose declaration of the prime ministerial vote’s date is eagerly anticipated. According to standard procedures, this proclamation needs to be made three days in advance; hence the likelihood…
Posts published in “Thailand”
With Sino-American competition escalating in Southeast Asia, it’s critical for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to strategize its foreign policy meticulously. Simultaneously, industry experts emphasize the importance of equipping the youth with pivotal life skills for addressing future uncertainties. Such a perspective comes from Assoc Prof Jittipat Poonkham, who serves as an Associate Dean for Academic and International Affairs at Thammasat University’s Political Science Faculty. Unfolding during a recent dialogue titled “ASEAN and Thai Foreign Policy”, on the ASEAN Day, the professor drew parallels between the current political climate echoing the state of affairs during the Cold War. According to him, ASEAN members, including Thailand, are caught in a geopolitical dilemma where taking sides becomes an inevitability. Prof Poonkham suggests an alternative, a united front from ASEAN member states that move forward together as a consolidated entity. Drawing an analogy between Thailand’s foreign policies and a flexible bamboo…
In the day-to-day dynamics of Thailand’s political arena, the Pheu Thai Party spearheading the endeavour to forge a fresh government and its prime collaborator, the Bhumjaithai Party, find themselves at crossed paths over the schedule for cabinet portfolio allocation. Pheu Thai holds firm that the dispensation of cabinet positions will transpire only subsequent to their prime ministerial candidate earning the parliament’s endorsement, in contrast, Bhumjaithai is advocating for early resolution of the matter, before the ballot. “Proceedings for deciding roles within the cabinet will commence only post the vote for the prime minister,” declared Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Leader, Pheu Thai, on a fine Tuesday afternoon. Unconcerned about the circulating speculations that the imminent coalition compatriots are exerting pressure on Pheu Thai to distribute cabinet ranks beforehand, he reiterated that the nominations for the various positions will originate only after the House and the Senate have held the prime minister elections.…
Yesterday in the late afternoon hours, the watchful guardians of the peace at Bang Kaew Police Station, situated within the bustling province of Samut Prakan, dutifully responded to the desperate pleas for help from a 14-year old adolescent and his younger sibling, merely 10 years of age, from the confines of their domestic environment. Their 39-year-old progenitor was subsequently restrained and taken for an intense round of interrogative discourse following serious accusations surfaced by the preadolescent’s maternal bearer of recurrent child maltreatment. The father was alleged to have dispatched intimidating multimedia content showcasing brutal acts of violence targeting the young boy, in a disturbing attempt to pressurize their return home. An unpleasant examination revealed the boy bearing several physical markers indicative of repeated abuse. As the questioning continued, the 39-year old presented an elaborate defense, vehemently rejecting the maltreatment charges and claiming a crafty subterfuge had taken place. The blood-soaked…
The tourism sector finds itself wrestling with forecasts of an unusually lackluster off-peak season, defined by tepid demand, rising operational expenses at tourist hotspots, and the aftermath of tropical tempests. Charoen Wangananont, acting president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, underscored the fact that current sales figures for outbound travel packages are trailing noticeably behind those recorded in the pre-Covid era. This, he implies, is due to a growing sense of vigilance and thriftiness exhibited by individual consumers and businesses alike, with both segments opting to curb their travel expenditure. Intriguingly, he also noted a change in group tourism dynamics, particularly centered around governmental agencies, which have traditionally provided a steady stream of customers for tour operators. However, in the current climate of political instability, these agencies have become increasingly wary of assigning budget for travel, explained Charoen. Consequently, a large number of them have opted to scale back on foreign trips to preclude…
In the beautiful Phuket, environmental advocates are urging the governing bodies to reclaim the ancestral territory of the indigenous sea-gypsy people, currently being leased to a hotel on Mai Khao beach. A group of around 20 individuals, which is part of the Andaman coast sea gypsies network and includes other activists, has taken the initiative to submit a petition to the provincial office and the Move Forward Party (MFP) representatives. Their primary concern is to shield the land from commercial exploitation, thereby protecting both local heritage and the natural living space of sea turtles. The plea was received by deputies governor of Phuket, Anuphap Rodkwan Yodrabam, and MFP delegates Somchart Thechathaworncharoen, the representative of Phuket’s Constituency 1, Poonsak Janjampee, and Julapong Yooket. Orawan Hanthaleh, a member of the network, emphasized that the territory has been held sacred by the sea gypsies for multiple generations. She also pointed out that the…
Amid the political chaos in Thailand, the doubt hangs heavy among Senators regarding whether they should stand united behind Srettha Thavisin, a prime ministerial nominee from the Pheu Thai Party, when the time arrives for the upcoming parliamentary vote for Prime Minister. Senator Seree Suwanpanont shared the concerns that before making a decision, it’s imperative for the 250 Senators to thoroughly scrutinize the candidate’s qualifications along with understanding how the election promises, like the proposed “digital money” distribution of 10,000 baht, would be administrated. “The Senators wish for Thavisin to defend his stance and strategies in the parliament prior to the vote,” said Senator Seree. In response to Senator Wanchai Sornsiri’s statement, who suggested that more than 90% of senators are in favor of Thavisin, Senator Seree voiced that the reality might be different and such majority support remains uncertain. “Circumstances may take a turn before the actual vote,” Seree…
Stunning Viewpoints from Pratumnak Hill: Revitalizing Pattaya’s Tourism From atop Pratumnak Hill, one can lusciously absorb panoramic views of Pattaya city in its entirety. This is one of the sought-after tourist sights that the city’s administration targets to revitalize in the subsequent fiscal year post-pandemic. Mayor Paramet Ngampichet of Pattaya City confirms that the prime focus for next year’s economy boost lies in reigniting the tourism sector, eagerly awaiting a refreshing comeback after the pandemic-induced hiatus. For the upcoming fiscal year commencing October 1, the city administrators, local government colleagues, and Pattaya City executives gathered recently to deliberate on expenditure priorities, subsequently approving a hefty budget of 1.9 billion baht. A substantial part of the budget – 1.6 billion baht – is rightfully reserved for meeting fixed expenses, chalking down utility bills and salaries. The remaining financial chunk is allocated to investment purposes and development crusades. Contrary to the predominant…
The ebb and flow of the Mekong river in Nakhon Phanom province has always held a rhythm for the locals; a natural cycle they’ve graciously lived with for centuries. Yet, in recent times, this rhythm has been interrupted. The bounteous Mekong river is receding at a significant pace, dropping 10-20 centimetres a day. Its depth, as per Monday morning’s readings, stood at 10.70 metres, a whole 1.30 metres below the overflow point. As a hub for phlegmatic local life and a lifeline for agriculture in the region, these fluctuations hold prominence. The current undulations in the river level bring not only a sigh of relief but also a glimmer of hope for Nakhon Phanom, a serene northeastern border province of Thailand. Local authorities now see a silver lining, a faster pace for water drainage from thousands of rai of flooded rice fields. The mighty Mekong’s retreat welcomes these prospects, which…
Caught amidst an intense political climate, the streets of Bangkok vibrate with tension. Two parties, the Move Forward and Thai Sang Thai, have expressed public outrage against the current caretaker administration led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The reason? A new controversial legislation that caps income-earning ceilings for those who are eligible for elderly pensions. This regulation, which was recently signed into law by the interim Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda, and propagated in the Royal Gazette, has become effective since August 12. The earlier legislation promised monthly stipends ranging between 600 and 1000 baht to every senior citizen. Payments increased proportionally with age, with the oldest demographic, 90 years and above, receiving the maximum amount. The key distinction lays in Item 6 (4) of the newest regulation: only those devoid of income, or those with income levels inadequate for sustenance, are considered viable candidates for such age-based allowances. This is…