The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday staunchly defended its decision to seek the dissolution of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP) over its support for revising the lese majeste law, asserting that the move adhered to proper legal procedures under the organic law on political parties. EC member Pakorn Mahannop emphasized that the commission’s choice was rooted in Section 92, rather than Section 93, of an organic law, which empowers the EC to request the Constitutional Court to disband a party without conducting an inquiry. Mr. Pakorn elucidated the distinctions between these sections. According to Section 92 of the 2018 Political Parties Act, if there is credible evidence that a party has engaged in actions deemed hostile to the constitutional monarchy, the EC is mandated to propose the dissolution of the party to the court without the necessity of an inquiry. Conversely, Section 93 necessitates the EC to launch a…
THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News
In an astonishing display of resolve and ingenuity, authorities in Lop Buri have not only met but exceeded their ambitious target of capturing rogue monkeys in the downtown area. Over a mere seven days into their second-phase operation, about 1,150 primates were rounded up, obliterating the goal initially set for a 10-day campaign. Kicking off on June 5, this intensive initiative was a joint effort between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation and the Lop Buri municipality. The aim was to capture between 800 and 1,000 of these mischievous monkeys over the period. Yet, within just one week, they have surged past their goal, proving the campaign’s extraordinary effectiveness. The captured monkeys are now housed in a specially prepared facility in tambon Po Kao Ton in Lom Buri province’s Muang district. Here, they undergo a thorough process of registration and sterilisation before being placed into enclosures, a…
A devastating fire charred Sri Somrat Market in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok, leaving over 5,000 animals—the majority of them exotic species—tragically lifeless. This calamity, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, has compelled the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to spring into action, vowing to raid unauthorized pet markets throughout the city to prevent similar heart-wrenching incidents. Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, alongside BMA representatives and a network of animal protection organizations, held a press conference on Wednesday to address the horrifying blaze that razed the market down to ashes. According to Mr. Chadchart, the flames engulfed the market, which is nestled behind JJ Mall on land belonging to the State Railway of Thailand (SRT), at approximately 4:08 a.m. The inferno was finally tamed by 4:37 a.m., but by then, irreparable damage had already been wrought. At least 5,300 animals, spread across 118 pet shops and enclosed in an area of…
Imagine the scene: bustling activity at Banbangkapi School in Bangkok’s Bang Kapi district. It’s June 9, and the Senate election station is buzzing with anticipation. Officialaters shuffle behind desks, voters line up, and a sense of civic duty fills the air. Among this orderly chaos, a cloud looms: a significant breach of personal data affecting over 20,000 applicants. EC Secretary-General Sawaeng Boonmee was quick to address the issue. “This breach is worrisome; the leaked data appeared almost immediately after the district-level voting,” he noted. The data had been released in file formats from an undisclosed agency. “We are collaborating with the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) to clamp down on further leaks,” he assured the public. This wasn’t just an internal hiccup. It seemed treacherously orchestrated from within, possibly by officials who might not have even realized the extent of the breach. The EC hammer is poised, ready to come…
An employee meticulously inspects thriving marijuana plants inside the luxuriant confines of a greenhouse operated by Actera, a reputable cannabis cultivation company nestled in Samut Prakan. (Photo: Bloomberg) Amidst the vibrant green foliage and the hum of horticultural activities, a storm brews on the policy front. Cannabis advocates are gearing up for a significant, long-term rally next month, defiantly opposing the Ministry of Public Health’s controversial plan to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic. Prasitchai Nunual, the dynamic secretary-general of the Writing Thai Cannabis’ Future Network, made waves with this announcement shortly after the group’s dramatic walkout from a tense meeting with Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin on a heated Wednesday. Before the walkout, hopes were high. The group passionately urged Minister Somsak to champion a dedicated law governing the use of cannabis and to spearhead a committee to rigorously study whether Thailand needs a bespoke cannabis act to effectively regulate…
Lawmakers attend a parliamentary session. (File photo) The majority of people surveyed by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives are expressing strong opposition to a bill sponsored by civil society groups seeking amnesty in political and lese-majeste cases dating back to September 2006. According to the final results of the month-long online survey, a significant 64.66% of respondents rejected the bill, with only 35.34% in favor. A total of 90,503 respondents participated in the survey from May 13 until midnight on June 12, as confirmed by the secretariat. However, supporters of the bill have raised concerns over a sudden surge of thousands of “No” votes in the final hours of the poll on Wednesday night, suggesting it might have been part of an orchestrated effort. They noted that before this spike, the opinions had been nearly balanced at 50:50. Padipat Suntiphada, the deputy speaker of the House, expressed doubts…
Counterfeit powdered milk and a range of other food supplement products smuggled from Vietnam were unveiled by consumer protection police during a media briefing on Thursday. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham). In a significant bust, consumer protection police have seized counterfeit powdered milk products valued at 18 million baht, smuggled from Vietnam. The raid on a warehouse in Samut Prakan also resulted in the arrest of six migrant workers. Officers from the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD) and officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confiscated 41 items of evidence, including nearly 20,000 cans of powdered milk and numerous other supplement products, according to Pol Maj Gen Witthaya Sriprasertparb, CPPD commander. The crackdown follows an FDA investigation that discovered a website making dubious claims about powdered milk products, purporting exaggerated benefits and falsely claiming certification by the FDA in the US. These ads suggested the products were No. 1 best sellers…
Imagine being a new recruit in the army, fresh out of training and full of enthusiasm, only to find out you’re losing a significant chunk of your paycheck to unexpected expenses. Picture this: newly conscripted soldiers showing off their ATM cards and cash withdrawal slips as they try to make sense of their dwindling funds, all in the spirit of promoting army activities. But here’s the kicker—these fresh-faced soldiers might not even realize they’re being charged for everything from their uniforms to a cheeky septic tank pumping fee! The drama unfurled in the Royal Thai Army’s backyard when the commander of a training unit in Nakhon Ratchasima found himself abruptly transferred. The reason? A probe into some rather questionable deductions from conscripts’ salaries. Among the eyebrow-raising charges were utilities and, hilariously enough, a fee to pump out the septic tank. How did this come to light, you ask? Thank the…
Cannabis enthusiasts are gearing up for a long-standing rally against the Public Health Ministry’s plan to reclassify the plant as a narcotic next month. This news was made public by Prasitchai Nunual, the secretary-general of Writing Thai Cannabis’ Future Network, after a rather heated meeting with Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin on Wednesday ended abruptly as the group’s representatives decided to walk out. In the prelude to the meeting, the advocacy group called on the minister to champion legislation that would control the use of cannabis and establish a committee to explore whether a specialized cannabis act is necessary. The absence of such an act would subject cannabis use to the rigorous provisions of the Criminal Code, which imposes stringent penalties for cannabis-related offenses. Mr. Prasitchai underscored the necessity for the ministry to abandon its reclassification plans unless it can be demonstrated that legalizing cannabis is detrimental to public interests.…
Confiscated vessels are anchored at the marine police pier in Sattahip district of Chon Buri. (Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham) In a twist fit for an action-packed thriller, five police officers have been reassigned to inactive posts amid the bewildering disappearance of three boats carrying a hefty 330,000 litres of smuggled oil and 18 crew members from a marine police pier in Chon Buri. The search is on for these rogue vessels, which are believed to be associated with a notorious oil smuggler operating in southern Thailand. The authorities suspect that the boats might be making their way toward Cambodian waters, although current intel suggests they haven’t quite made it to international waters just yet. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has wasted no time and sprung into action, forming a fact-finding committee to unravel the mystery behind how these three out of five recently confiscated vessels from an oil smuggling case pulled…