THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

The Police Commission, Thailand’s leading authority for law enforcement, recently convened at the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, where they supported the recommendations of the disciplinary committee regarding law enforcement officers who have engaged in serious breaches of conduct. Subsequent to the meeting, police spokesperson Pol Lt-General Artchayon Kraithong revealed that, in May alone, nine police officers were dismissed with no pension benefits, while two more faced removal but still maintained eligibility for pensions. According to Kraithong, a total of 65 police officers had their employment terminated without pension and an additional 14 were removed but permitted to receive pensions between January and May of this year.  In attendance at the meeting, and chairing the proceedings, was outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also serves as the official chair of the Police Commission. Currently, Thailand’s police force is comprised of approximately 210,700 to 230,000 individuals and constitutes around 17%…

A nurse administered a Covid-19 vaccine in Bangkok on May 11, marking a continued effort in combatting the pandemic. (Photo: Chanat Katanyu) The Public Health Department reports a decline in Covid-19 related deaths last week, indicating that the prevalent strain is not more contagious or severe. Permanent Secretary Opas Karnkawinpong announced on Monday that there were 42 Covid-related fatalities last week, decreasing from 64 the week before. “The (fatality) rate is starting to fall,” he commented. A majority of these deaths were among elderly individuals, those with pre-existing health conditions, and pregnant women. Causes of death typically included lung inflammation, respiratory failure, and complications stemming from chronic kidney disease. “Most of them had not sought the vaccination advised by the health ministry. Some people had fears of side effects,” Dr. Opas stated. “Vaccines reduce symptoms and fatalities. Young family members should take their elders for vaccination. However, sometimes it turns…

On Sunday, a group of Pheu Thai Party supporters encouraged the party to allow the Move Forward Party to attempt forming a coalition government without its assistance. Clad in red, these supporters appeared at Pheu Thai’s headquarters to voice their opinions about the “disrespect” shown towards their party in the government formation process. Pheu Thai’s leader said he would take the group’s opinion into account. Niyom Nopparat led the group of Pheu Thai supporters, stating that they wanted their party to step back from the Move Forward Party’s efforts to form a coalition government because Pheu Thai had been treated with disrespect. Niyom Nopparat said, “The Pheu Thai fanclub wants to urge parties to think carefully if a government can be formed without the Pheu Thai Party.” This appeal comes amidst a disagreement between Pheu Thai and Move Forward over the House Speaker’s position. The supporters’ statement suggested that Pheu…

The footbridge at Na Ranong intersection remains unfinished, as Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt has urged contractors to speed up their construction efforts. During a recent unannounced visit, he expressed concerns about the overpass’ unfinished parts and insisted that the project be ready for the public this Thursday. Chadchart took to his Facebook page to share his visit, questioning workers if they believed they would meet the deadline. He also emphasized the importance of working tirelessly to ensure that the overpass is completed on schedule. In 2018, the Department of Public Works signed a contract with Sahakarn Wisavakorn Co Ltd, outlining a 2021 completion date for the overpass. The project commenced in the same year with a budget of 1.47 billion baht. However, due to a combination of technical issues and the Covid-19 pandemic, the project experienced a delay, attracting a series of complaints that caught the governor’s attention on June…

The Democrat Party has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the reasons behind its significant loss of ground in the recent elections. To accomplish this, the party has assigned each of its 25 elected representatives, unsuccessful candidates, and provincial offices to gather relevant information and insights that could shed light on the factors that contributed to their defeat. This collected data will then be closely examined and analyzed to identify the causes of the party’s decreased seats across various provinces. Following this analysis, the findings will be submitted to the Democrat Party’s newly appointed executive board for further action and discussion, as announced by Ramet at a press conference held at the party’s Bangkok headquarters. In the latest elections, the Democrats secured 25 MP seats, with 22 coming from constituencies and the remaining three from the party-list system, based on unofficial data from the Election Commission. This figure is significantly lower…

The highly-anticipated meeting set for Tuesday at 2:30pm will encompass a variety of topics, one of the most pressing being the selection of the next House of Representatives speaker, as per an informed source. Move Forward, the victor of the May 14 general election, securing a significant 151 of 500 MP seats, has found itself in a dispute with Pheu Thai, the coalition’s secondary partner, regarding the highly coveted House speaker position. On Friday, Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat encouraged both parties to resolve their differences through negotiation rather than engaging in a public feud. This suggestion was made in response to the disagreement escalating into a fiery social media debate among supporters of both parties. In the election, Pheu Thai managed to win 141 MP seats, based on unofficial results. Chaithawat, acting as the Move Forward coordinator in the coalition’s endeavor towards forming the next government, stated on Saturday…

On Saturday morning, a tragic incident occurred at Patong beach, Phuket, when a 53-year-old Russian man, Rafaylovich Pavel, drowned during a swim in the sea. The authorities, including police, lifeguards and rescue workers, were on the scene to assist in the situation. A photograph captured the somber situation as these professionals tried to deal with the unfortunate event. The report of the drowning reached the Patong police station at 7.55am, and upon their arrival, officials found rescue workers and lifeguards already present at the scene alongside personnel from Patong Hospital. Eager to save the tourist’s life, the medics attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Sadly, their valiant efforts were in vain and the Russian man passed away. During an interaction with the police, the deceased’s wife revealed that they were both Russian nationals vacationing in Phuket. They had been staying at a hotel in the vicinity of the beach and decided to…

Human rights activists have urged Thai authorities to conduct a thorough and unbiased investigation into the tragic killing of Bounsuan Kitiyano, a former Lao political activist who held UN refugee status. Found with three gunshot wounds in the forest of Sri Muang Mai district in Ubon Ratchathani, a northeastern province bordering Laos, Bounsuan had been living in Thailand for four or five years, according to Radio Free Asia. Before his untimely death, Bounsuan reportedly had plans to visit Bangkok to complete the necessary documents for his asylum-seeking journey to Australia. In response to his murder, Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), said, “This cold-blooded killing of a prominent exiled Lao political activist demands an immediate response from the Thai authorities. The Thai government should urgently conduct a credible and impartial investigation into Bounsuan’s death and bring to justice all those responsible.” At the age of 56, Bounsuan…

Officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) have successfully shut down a store involved in the sale of illegal mobile phone SIM cards in Nong Khai province. These illicit SIM cards were linked to fraudulent call centers and their operations. Led by CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakornbancha, the operation took place in Muang district, in accordance with the Technology Crime Prevention and Suppression Act. Authorities were able to pinpoint the store’s location by monitoring online comments left by purchasers of the illegal SIM cards. The store conducted its operations through a web-based front, falsely claiming to sell registered SIM cards that are ready for immediate use. This deceitful practice garnered numerous positive reviews, which eventually led the police to the store’s whereabouts. With the information obtained from these reviews, a sting operation was set up, targeting Kitipat Telecom, a physical store identified as part of the larger…

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital has reported that it cannot accept any more patients, as all beds in the intensive care unit (ICU) and inpatient department (IPD) are currently occupied. On its Facebook page, the hospital announced, “As well, the emergency department also has Covid-19 patients who are awaiting referral. Thus, the hospital cannot accommodate more Covid-19 patients. We apologize for this inconvenience.” The situation has raised concerns about healthcare capacity in Bangkok, with governor Chadchart Sittipunt describing the bed situation as worrying but not yet critical. Situated on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the 345-bed private hospital neighbors the highly-regarded Siriraj Hospital, which also felt compelled to issue a clarification in light of the news. Contrary to some claims, the public hospital stated that its bed situation for Covid-19 patients was still controllable and normal. It added that it had not increased the number…