In an audacious move, Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister of the incumbent Pheu Thai Party, echoed his steadfast support for the 10,000-baht digital wallet stimulus package aimed at every Thai citizen above the age of 16 years. This declaration was made despite a wave of disapproval rippling through the expert panels. He made this bold assertion during a press event held on a balmy Friday matinee. Renowned Bank of Thailand governor, Sethaput Suthiwartnarueput, had previously criticised this very policy. In response, the head of the government acknowledged his commentary and iterated that the Pheu Thai Party’s ears are wide open to any and all suggestions or recommendations related to the said scheme. In an ambitious stride to underscore this digital wallet venture, the ruling government targets 56 million recipients. The plan is slated to hit the ground from the 1st of February. While the program’s budget stands at an estimated…
Posts published in “Thailand”
On a recent Friday, Srettha Thavisin, the esteemed Prime Minister of Thailand, made a critical visit to Ubon Ratchathani province. This was no routine visit, but rather a mission to hold discussions with provincial officials bearing the weight of the area’s flooding situation. His chosen location for this urgent conversation was the Regional Irrigation Office 7, seated in the heart of the Muang district, where he hoped to inspire quick and efficient responses to the flooding. Mr. Thavisin not only emphasized the need for immediate action but also the importance of long-term strategies to prevent future flooding. Despite the fact that the current flooding situation isn’t as dire as what was experienced in the previous year, each flood’s mark on the province’s industrial sector cannot be ignored, he pointed out. Additionally, he expressed concerned about the potential for floods to instigate outbreaks of transmittable diseases, which he assured would be…
Caught between two watchful guardians of the law, stands the awe-inspiring silhouette of the Democracy Monument, forming an unforgettable vista during an anti-government demonstration on the crisp afternoon of October 14, 2021. This breathtaking snapshot was captured by the talented lensman, Pattarapong Chatpattarasill. Following this grandiose spectacle, our attention shifts to the crucial meeting of the newly-formed 35-member panel tasked with formulating a referendum that aims to set in motion essential amendments to the constitution. The council’s inception received a nod from the cabinet in the preceding week, reliable sources confirm. Chusak Sirinil, an esteemed member of the panel and the Pheu Thai-list, provides insights into the agenda for this key meet, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. The team central priority is to orchestrate a common ground on the critical matters such as the number of referendums required to make concrete decisions regarding the structure…
Could a seemingly innocent Instagram snap of ex-prime minister Thaksin contentedly splashing around in a pool with his grandchild, in July 2021, trigger a stirred-up controversy? A former politician asserts it could, and according to him, it just did. The man behind this assertion is the ex-Democrat Party MP, Watchara Phetthong, who is using that image to raise suspicions about Thaksin, the 74-year-old, convalescent, convict. Thaksin’s recent homecoming to Thailand after over a decade and a half of self-imposed exile was immediately marked with an eight-year prison sentence for abuse of power and conflict of interest during his time as premier, which, fortunately for him, was ultimately abbreviated to a year. A mere 13 hours into the jail term saw him admitted to the Police General Hospital, where he has resided till date. Watchara is now challenging Thaksin’s admission into the hospital and doubting whether he indeed qualifies medically for…
Unveiling their bold initiative, the Move Forward Party submitted a comprehensive amnesty bill on a fine Thursday that sought to encompass all political protestors, dating back to February 2006. Aiming to stitch together the cracked unity of the nation, party leader Chaithawat Tulathon described the bill’s purpose as condoning the multitude of political protestors who faced legal consequences for their involvement in political demonstrations since the inception of protests incited by the People’s Alliance for Democracy on Feb 11, 2006, against the government of Thaksin Shinawatra. Optimism emanated from the opposition party as they projected this sweeping amnesty to embrace countless protestors previously chastened by sundry laws linked to their politically driven activities, giving outspoken rationalization through Mr Chaithawat. The party holds a staunch belief in the potential of their initiative to mend societal peace, harmony, and unity by liberating individuals involved in past political demonstrations. The daring proposal forwarded…
The former steward of Thailand’s police force, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves, stirred the political milieu recently when he lodged a formal complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Commission, or NACC. At the crux of his grievance stands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and the Police Commission, who, according to Temeeyaves, have egregiously violated the law in their recent appointment of Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol as the fresh face of the national police force. Not just any former chief, but a leader of the Seri Ruam Thai Party, Sereepisuth Temeeyaves was seen entering the NACC offices last Thursday, lawyer Ananchai Chaidet in tow. Rendering his presence even more pronounced in the political scene, Temeeyaves is a pivotal figure among the eleven parties merged in the Pheu Thai-led coalition government. This bold move came in the wake of Ananchai’s tantalizing forecast of an upcoming “super big surprise” slated for October 5th. The complaint lodged by Sereepisuth…
In an effort to understand the motives behind the horrific shooting spree at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok earlier this week, local authorities are set to interrogate a shooting instructor who supervised a fourteen-year-old shooter during his practises. In the wake of the incident, valuable insight was gleaned about the shooting range where the adolescent undertook his training, as stated by Pol Maj Gen Nakharin Sukhonthawit, the commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6. The shooting range in question is located within the Territorial Defense Command of the Royal Thai Army on Charoen Krung Road in the Phra Nakhon district. Following the Siam Paragon shootings, a video quickly went viral, revealing the young person in question engrossed in a shooting practice under the vigilant supervision of an instructor clad in military camouflage. The date of the video’s shooting remains unknown. Pol Maj Gen Nakharin communicated that the team of…
Renowned child and family expert, Assoc Prof Adisak Plitponkarnpim, who serves as director of Mahidol University’s National Institute for Child and Family Department, recently offered his insights in the wake of a disturbing event. The incident under discussion is the shocking shooting at Siam Paragon, a popular mall in the bustling city of Bangkok. Tragically, two people lost their lives in the event, while five others sustained injuries. Diving into the psychological aspects of such incidents, Adisak conjectured that the ruthless act by the teenager could potentially stem from two major causes. Firstly, it could be due to an inherent brain abnormality or secondly, the result of violent tendencies nurtured over time in certain environments. Adisak explained that if the root cause of this violent outburst was the boy’s upbringing, then the blame could not solely rest on the family’s shoulders. This is because the societal environment also plays a…
When one casts an eye over the recent court cases in Thailand, there’s a particularly disquieting element that rears its head: crimes committed by juveniles. Weerasak Chotewanit, the esteemed vice president and deputy spokesperson of the revered Thai Lawyers Professional Group, brings this pressing issue to light by discussing a case that has garnered much attention and prompted challenging questions about the intricacies of Thai law. Infamously known as “the Siam Paragon Mall incident”, this case involved a 14-year-old boy who allegedly unleashed a barrage of bullets in one of Bangkok’s busiest shopping destinations, resulting in two fatalities and sending five others to the hospital with injuries. These circumstances inevitably open up complex legal conundrums; what happens when a teenager, not yet of age, commits an offence of this magnitude? Weerasak painstakingly breaks down the legal implications. According to him, the Criminal Procedural Code of Thailand exhibits leniency towards children…
In his versatile role as the Finance Minister, Srettha shed light on how the freshly inaugurated space would serve as a collaborative hub for tech enthusiasts. He shared his delight and gratitude for this initiative, emphasizing that the technology-oriented individuals from all walks of life now have an exciting space to learn in unity and unfold their potential. The hub is a fertile ground for individuals to share and gain insights into a wide range of pioneering innovations and technologies. Key technological domains like blockchain, digital currency, and financial technology are some of the focuses of this platform. The event showcased a mix of rich global equity content and interactive workshops for attendees to harness. “Envision this space as a stage providing the youngsters with the liberty and security to deliberate on an array of socio-economic and technological concerns. It serves as a melting pot for knowledge and solutions that…