On June 14, Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, received a warm welcome from supporters in Lampang province. Serial petitioner Ruangkrai Leekitwattana continues his crusade against Pita Limjaroenrat, now requesting the Election Commission (EC) to seek a Constitutional Court ruling on Pita’s eligibility to be a Member of Parliament (MP). Ruangkrai stated that he had sent his request to the EC via express mail on Tuesday. As of Monday, the EC had endorsed all 500 MPs-elect for both constituency seats and party lists, meaning Pita has been an MP since the May 14 general election. According to Ruangkrai, there are sufficient grounds for the EC to act under paragraph four of Section 82 of the 2017 constitution, which would lead to the Constitutional Court ruling on whether Pita had lost his MP status under Sections 101 (3) and 98 (3) of the constitution. Section 82’s paragraph four…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
The latest panel discussion, focusing on the preparation of strategies for the ambitious next coalition government, addressed measures to combat the ongoing insurgency in southern Thailand, according to a Move Forward MP-elect representative. The second meeting of the panel took place at the Prachachart Party’s headquarters on Monday, following its initial meeting at Move Forward headquarters last week. Monday’s meeting was led by Prachachart secretary-general Thawee Sodsong and attended by representatives from the eight coalition partners, including Move Forward’s Ramadon Panjor, Pheu Thai’s Paradorn Pattanathabutr, Fair Party secretary-general Kannawe Suebsaeng, and Thai Sang Thai’s Chavalit Wichayasut. Ramadon explained that they discussed urgent actions to be taken within the first 100 days of the Move Forward-led coalition government and plans for the government’s four-year term. For almost 20 years, southern Thailand has been plagued by violence since an army barrack was attacked and firearms stolen on January 4, 2004. He suggested…
Yok Phalancha, a 15-year-old activist, boldly walked into the Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School in Bangkok on Monday morning, accompanied by the presence of policewomen outside to maintain order. Yok, a grade 10 student, has had her enrollment deemed “incomplete” by the school management, but she continues to fight for her right to an education. Unabashedly sporting her signature dyed hair and casual clothing — a clear violation of school regulations — Yok expressed her determination and refused to accept the school’s assertion that her enrollment was incomplete. Despite having completed the process on May 16th, paying her school fees, and attending the school for a month, she still faces resistance. Yok remains steadfast in her decision to wear her preferred hairstyle and clothing instead of a school uniform, as well as her refusal to participate in school ceremonies. She argues that her choices are a fundamental right and the…
The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP) has launched the “Pay Ten Thousand, Get Nine Thousand Back” initiative as part of its Business Development System (BDS) project called “SME WoW! Cash Return!” This campaign offers additional subsidies to MSMEs until November 30, 2023, and the first 5,000 MSMEs to participate will benefit from this fantastic offer. With a proportional subsidy of 90% or up to 10,000 baht, MSMEs of all sizes can take advantage of this unique opportunity. Mr. Veerapong Malai, Director General of OSMEP, stated that the primary objective of this initiative is to integrate and promote MSMEs in both the public and private sectors, helping them grow and compete on a global scale. The “SME WoW! Cash Return” BDS system plays a vital role in fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing the competitiveness of MSMEs across various industries. The Director General also explained the subsidy structure for different…
An election official in Bangkok displayed a ballot during vote counting following the general election on May 14. On Monday, the Election Commission (EC) endorsed all 400 constituency MPs-elect and 100 party-list MPs-elect, reserving the right to investigate any potential electoral fraud involving them within a year. EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee informed the newly elected MPs that they could report to the parliament from Tuesday until Saturday. Although the EC approved the newly elected MPs, it maintained the right to look into any fraud allegations within one year, as allowed by the election law. During this period, the EC could request the Supreme Court to nullify the electoral and candidacy rights of anyone deemed to have engaged in fraudulent activities during the May 14 general election. Since the EC could not wrap up its investigation into these allegations within 60 days after the election or by July 13, it would…
Thailand’s southern region has experienced religious and ethnic tensions for an extended period, causing disturbances and unrest among its inhabitants. The latest episode involves a group of student activists from the troubled provinces who held a controversial vote that has sparked significant backlash. The student activist group, known as “Pelajar Bangsa” or National Students Movement, organized this controversial vote during a seminar held at the Faculty of Political Science, Prince of Songkla University. The objective was to gather support for the secession of the deep South provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, and four districts in Songkhla from the rest of Thailand. This provocative act has caused an uproar within society and attracted attention from security agencies, which are now contemplating whether to take legal action against the group. This has led Jurin Laksanawisit, also known as caretaker Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister, to address the issue publicly. Jurin stated…
During the construction of a temple pavilion in the Chaiya district of Surat Thani, a stunning gold bowl, believed to be from the early Rattanakosin period, has been discovered, according to a local Fine Arts Department official. Found beneath the temple grounds of Wat Photharam, also known as Wat Nuea, in tambon Phumruang, the bowl is confirmed to be made of 52.89 grams of gold. On June 6, a backhoe unearthed the precious artifact alongside broken glassware, ceramic bowls, and other antiquities. Most striking due to its distinctive color and design, the gold bowl features an engraved pattern of lotus petals as well as a pedestal. With a total height of 5.2 cm, the widest part of the bowl measures 8.4 cm in diameter, with a 1.7 cm high and 5.3 cm wide pedestal, explains Waranyu Chusi, a member of the temple’s committee. According to Kitti Chincharoen, head of Chaiya…
Mark your calendars for a vibrant and immersive celebration of Phuket’s unique cultural tapestry! From June 23 to 25, 2023, the Phuket Peranakan Festival brings the resort island’s contemporary culture to life, with an expected revenue boost of 150 million baht for the city. This colorful festivity is a collaborative effort between the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation, Thai Peranakan Association, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), and the Thailand International Event and Festival Association (TIEFA). TIEFA Chairman Boonperm Inthanapasat eloquently explained the significance of the Phuket Peranakan Festival 2023: “This event is a celebration of local culture and Phuket’s distinct heritage. The festival aims to promote various tourist destinations, showcase local traditions, and breathe life into the local economy by providing employment opportunities for residents.” With the backing of the government’s festival economy policy, this extravaganza proudly bears the trademark of Phuket province and highlights the importance of community engagement…
The Move Forward Party (MFP) has pledged to revamp the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) after forming the next government. In a recent Facebook post, the party announced that its first order of business would be to disband the Anti-Fake News Centre, an agency under the DES Ministry. The MFP believes that the state should not dictate what is true or false but should instead allow society to scrutinize, debate, and present various versions of the truth. MFP cited Taiwan’s Cofacts as a model, a citizen-driven fact-checking platform designed to combat fake news. The party envisions a DES Ministry focused on contributing to rights and freedom instead of blocking websites. The MFP is also proposing a computer bill aimed at removing state powers that silence people. Another initiative put forward by the MFP is the implementation of a single digital identity policy, which would connect the databases of…
Soldiers discovered a large stash of opium after a skirmish with a drug trafficking gang along the Thai-Myanmar border in the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai province on Friday. The incident took place when a unit from the Pha Muang task force came across six suspicious individuals carrying backpacks near the Pang Ton Due village in tambon Mae Ai. When the task force signaled for the men to halt for an inspection, they were met with gunfire. The soldiers swiftly responded, leading to a brief gun battle between the two parties. Fortunately, no casualties were reported on either side, and the drug smugglers eventually retreated back across the border to Myanmar. Upon further investigation of the area where the engagement took place, authorities discovered four large bags filled with 51 parcels of opium. The total weight of the opium packages was a staggering 81.6 kilograms, a substantial find that…