Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s first public address in Thailand on Thursday evening has stirred a whirlwind of controversy, slicing through the heart of the nation with sharp, impassioned criticism from his relentless detractors. Thaksin, who made his dramatic return last August after 17 long years in self-imposed exile, faces accusations of wielding power as if the entire country was his to command, according to Jatuporn Prompan, a former leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and an influential political figure allied with the ruling Pheu Thai Party. This grand reentry into the spotlight saw the ex-premier addressing an audience teeming with politicians and business magnates at a forum dubiously titled “Vision for Thailand 2024”, held in the pulsating heart of Bangkok on that fateful Thursday night. In a fiery rebuke, Mr. Jatuporn continued, decrying Thaksin as someone the public should steer clear of, highlighting that…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
Picture this: The vibrant ambiance of the Pattaya Floating Market, where tourists from around the globe glide through tranquil waters in traditional wooden boats. These markets, with their bustling stalls brimming with exotic fruits, handcrafted souvenirs, and tantalizing street food, are a magnet for adventure seekers and culture enthusiasts alike. (Photo: Pattaya Floating Market Facebook) What you wouldn’t expect amidst this picturesque setting is a covert operation by the local tourist police. In an unexpected twist, law enforcement swooped into action, resulting in the arrest of a 41-year-old Chinese national named Wang Hao. The scenic market located in the Bang Lamung district of this enchanting resort city became the backdrop to this drama last Thursday. Wang Hao, who had been reveling in the local culture and perhaps even making a decent living for himself, found his clandestine activities coming to an abrupt halt. The Pattaya tourist police, having kept a…
On a quiet Friday night in Sa Bot district, Lop Buri, a disturbing event unfolded that has left the community in shock. A 14-year-old boy was apprehended by police for the fatal shooting of a 16-year-old, driven by a whirlwind of jealousy over online interactions. The tragic incident took place at the Nong Krathum intersection, shaking the otherwise serene neighborhood. Pol Lt Col Chayan Seekiang, an officer at the Sa Bot police station, recounted the harrowing details of the night. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but the scene they encountered was heart-wrenching. They found the victim, identified as Suphakit, lying lifeless on the pavement, a fatal gunshot wound piercing his chest. Despite their efforts, Suphakit succumbed to his injuries before they could get him to the hospital. An eyewitness, a friend of Suphakit, provided a vivid account of the attack. He explained that they were simply on a routine motorbike ride…
Early Saturday morning, Thitiphong Thongsuk, 39, found himself in a precarious position, pointing out his motorcycle after being arrested on an attempted rape charge. (Photo: Warin Chamrap Banhao, Ubon Ratchathani Facebook) In the heart of Muang district, Ubon Ratchathani, a disturbing incident unfolded. Thitiphong Thongsuk, mounted on his motorcycle, was apprehended by police after being accused of trying to rape a young German teacher who had booked his service through a ride-hailing app. Pol Col Khanongrit Darat, chief of the Muang police station, confirmed that Thitiphong was arrested on a road in tambon Kham Yai at around 1am on Saturday. The chain of events that led to this dramatic arrest began when a 22-year-old German woman, employed as a language teacher at a public school in Muang district, lodged a harrowing complaint. On Friday evening, around 7pm, she had called for a motorcycle via a ride-hailing application to take her…
Under the watchful eyes of both police and soldiers, two handcuffed suspects helplessly observed as authorities unloaded sack after sack of fertilizer bags filled with an astonishing 14 million speed pills from their pickup truck in Chiang Dao district of Chiang Mai this past Friday night. The scarcely-believable cache of illegal drugs was discovered through the collective efforts of a sharp-eyed team of law enforcers. The turn of events unfolded when a combined police and military squad identified not one, but two suspicious vehicles traveling south at the Muang Ngai intersection in Chiang Dao. The convoy consisted of a seemingly unassuming pickup truck accompanied by a car, each bearing the camouflage of mere civilian presence. But behind the façade lurked a high-stakes criminal endeavor that was about to be unraveled. Acting on their gut instincts, the officers intercepted the vehicles behind the Kadmuang Piangdao market in tambon Mae Na. It…
Tedy Teow is the first suspect in an economic crime that Thailand has turned over to China since an extradition treaty between the two countries took effect 25 years ago. (Photo: CCTV) A Malaysian businessman accused of masterminding a sprawling fraud syndicate has been extradited from Thailand to China in a landmark case involving a mind-boggling 100 billion yuan (US$14 billion). Teow, better known as Tedy Teow Wooi Huat, founder of the business conglomerate MBI Group, becomes the first suspect in an economic crime that Bangkok has handed over to Beijing since the extradition treaty between the two nations came into effect in 1999, according to the Chinese public security ministry. “The successful extradition … is of landmark significance to the consolidation and deepening of law enforcement and judicial cooperation between China and Thailand,” the ministry declared, hailing the move as a “major achievement.” The ministry revealed that the suspect…
This week, authorities made a significant breakthrough when they intercepted a shipment of crystal methamphetamine cleverly concealed within decorative cement ware destined for Taiwan. According to Panthong Loykulnan, the spokesman for the Customs Department, officers from the Seaport Interdiction Task Force (SITF) were carrying out a routine inspection at Bangkok Port in the Klong Toey district on Wednesday. It was during this thorough check that they stumbled upon two boxes containing some rather unusual cargo. These boxes, Mr. Panthong explained, were filled with cement-crafted animal stucco dolls in the shapes of cats, giraffes, deer, and goats, alongside some intricately designed decorative fountains. At first glance, these whimsical items seemed innocuous enough, ready to bring a touch of charm to any garden or living space. But upon closer examination, the officers discovered they were hiding a far darker secret. Buried within the hollow confines of these decorative items was a staggering…
Political tensions in Thailand reached a fever pitch on Thursday night when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra delivered his first public address since returning from 17 years of self-imposed exile. The event did not go unnoticed, and his sharpest critics did not hold back. One of the most vocal detractors was Jatuporn Prompan, a former leader of the red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) and now a key political ally of the ruling Pheu Thai Party. Jatuporn took Thaksin to task, claiming the ex-premier acted as if the entire country had been handed over to him on a silver platter. Thaksin’s return last August was a dramatic moment, colored by his admission of corruption and subsequent petition for a royal pardon. According to Jatuporn, Thaksin has done little to prove his claims of wanting to come back solely to care for his grandchildren. “The first day he returned,…
Looking over their shoulder, an air of uncertainty has surrounded the People’s Party (PP) barely two days since it became the rescue vessel for MPs from the dissolved Move Forward Party (MFP). Analysts are speculating on how many parties they will have to move to before they reach the next general election three years from now. Dissolution is no stranger to these MPs, and the PP could be standing on shaky ground despite having formally accepted former MFP MPs into its fold on Aug 9. More than 140 migrated to their new home and declared outright that despite the MFP’s demise, its MPs have shrugged their shoulders and will soldier on. This statement adopted as an informal PP slogan embodies these MPs’ defiant spirit in the face of adversity. Before the MFP, its predecessor, the Future Forward Party (FFP), was disbanded by the Constitutional Court in February 2020 over an…
In a recent announcement, the government has decided to push back the upcoming Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit until further notice. This comes as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed yesterday that the event, originally scheduled to be held in Bangkok on September 3-4, required postponement due to the ongoing formation of a new government in the country. According to the ministry, the extended time needed to establish the new government and complete the related parliamentary and legal procedures necessitates this delay. “In order to ensure Thailand is fully prepared to advance this initiative for the utmost benefit of both the Thai people and the member countries of BIMSTEC,” they said, “we have made the difficult decision to reschedule the summit and its related visits.” New dates for the 6th BIMSTEC summit will be announced at the earliest possible opportunity, the ministry assured.…