The Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning today of a southwest monsooncausing thunderstormsthroughout the country. The alert specified significant rainfallprojected across 46 provinces, both north and south, covering 40% of the country's north and south. The population should be vigilant due to the inherent danger at this time.
The southwest monsoon now covers the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf of Thailand leading to continuous bouts of thunderstorms, primarily on the side facing the monsoon. For the Andaman Sea, where wave heights may reach around 1 metre, areas affected by thunderstorms could experience waves of 1 to 2 metres. Boat operators are advised to exercise caution and avoid sailing in thunderstorm-affected regions.
Northern provinces are expecting thunderstorms in 40% of the area, including in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Tak, Kamphaeng Phet, and Phetchabun. The lowest temperatures would range between 23 to 27 degrees Celsius while the highest would be 33 to 37 degrees Celsius, with southwest winds gusting 10 to 20 kilometres per hour, reported KhaoSod.
Meanwhile, the northeast expects thunderstorms in 20% of the area, primarily in Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Chaiyaphum, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. They should anticipate low temperatures of 23 to 26 degrees Celsius and highs of 35 to 37 degrees Celsius while the southwestern winds might blow at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.
Central provinces are likely to experience thunderstorms in 30% of the area, with the majority in Uthai Thani, Saraburi, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon, and Samut Songkhram provinces. With low temperatures at 24 to 26 degrees Celsius and highs at 35 to 38 degrees Celsius, they can also expect winds from the southwest gusting at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.
The eastern region also anticipates thunderstorms in 30% of the area, especially in the provinces of Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, and Trat. The temperature lows could range from 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and the highs from 32 to 37 degrees Celsius, with winds blowing at a speed of 10 to 30 kilometres per hour. In the sea area, waves could be less than 1 metre high but could rise to 1 to 2 metres during thunderstorms.
Finally, the south expects thunderstorms in 40% of the area, mostly affecting Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, and Satun provinces. Here, the lowest temperature will stay around 24 to 26 degrees Celsius, and the highest between 31 and 33 degrees Celsius. The winds from the southwest may reach speeds of 15 to 30 kilometres per hour. At sea, waves could be around 1 metre high and could rise to 1 to 2 metres in thunderstorm areas.
Bangkok and its vicinities will most likely experience thunderstorms in 30% of the areas with temperature lows hovering at 26 to 28 degrees Celsius, and highs ranging from 33 to 37 degrees Celsius as southwest winds blow at 10 to 20 kilometres per hour.
Prime Minister Prayut announces his retirement from active politics
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday announced that he would resign as a member of the United Thai Nation Party (UTNP) and quit Thai politics altogether.
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In his Facebook post, Prayut said: "I would want to express my gratitude to the people who supported the United Thai Nation Party and me in the previous election."
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Read more: https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/politics/40029272 .
#ThailandNews #Prayut #politics #UnitedThaiNation #ประยุทธ์
The family offered a reward of 3 million to anyone who could provide information on Mack who had gone missing from his home in Bang Lamung on July.
Pattaya, Thailand – Pattaya police found the decapitated body of Hans Peter Mack, 62, a German property broker in a freezer. Two German nationals have become the targets of arrest warrants due to their suspected involvement in this gruesome crime.
Acting on a search warrant, Nong Prue police and forensic officers conducted an extensive investigation in a Nong Prue housing estate in east Pattaya. The search was prompted by information from the owners of a pickup truck who had been hired by a German individual to deliver a freezer to the rented house.
During the search, authorities were confronted with a chilling sight in one of the bedrooms – a tightly sealed freezer, secured with black tape. Opening it revealed a plastic bag containing the decapitated remains of a human body, initially believed to belong to the missing German property broker. The police noted signs of blunt force trauma on the severed head and sent the remains for further identification through autopsy procedures.
Additional evidence emerged from the rented house, including a bloodied electric chainsaw, two rolls of plastic wrap, and face masks, painting a troubling picture of the crime scene. Traces of a chemical cleanser were also detected on the upholstery of the victim's Mercedes car, which had been found parked near a condominium in Pattaya.
The caretaker of the rented house informed the police that the property had been leased by a foreigner for a one-year term at a monthly rate of 9,000 baht. However, the caretaker was unaware if the house had been sublet to others.
In an unexpected turn of events, the owners of a black Mazda pickup truck came forward, asserting their innocence. They said that they had been hired by a female German property broker to transport the freezer to the rented house. According to their account, another German man accompanied them in the back of the truck during the delivery. Both individuals claimed they had no suspicions until learning about the missing German property broker through the media.
Mack's Thai partner filed a complaint with Nong Prue police after her husband's disappearance. He had left their residence on July 4, to meet with a foreign real estate businessman in Pattaya, supposedly for discussions regarding a land deal worth over 100 million baht on Samui Island. His sudden absence deeply worried his partner, as he was known for his punctuality and had never been away from home for more than a day.
The German property broker's two sons, from his previous marriage, directly approached Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, the deputy national police chief to help them find their father.
Immigration Bureau commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakphumpipat Sajjaphan held a seminar on Thursday, July 6th, to equip immigration officers with the necessary skills to effectively address the issue of overstayers.
Overstaying is when someone stays past the date of their legal visa without permission from Thai Immigration.
Within the next three months, the number of overstayers should be reduced to zero, as they are more likely to engage in criminal activities, which can adversely affect Thailand's tourism industry, Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakphumpipat said.
He added that the immigration bureau would also develop complex investigative strategies to reach this goal of zero by focusing on dismantling networks involved in smuggling foreign individuals into the country.
Immigration officers would be deployed regularly to conduct on-site passport checks at places, especially entertainment venues nationwide, and businesses would be required to report the accommodation of foreign individuals to the officers. Thai law allows random checks of foreign nationals to ensure they are legally residing within the Kingdom. It is also the law to have legal identification on one's person at all times.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Pakphumpipat believed that in the future, the database of the Immigration Bureau on foreign people within the Kingdom would be greatly strengthened.
This would allow immigration officers and police officers to be able to track foreign individuals whether they were lost or had committed a crime within 1-2 days, he said.
The plan will also utilize smart cars which are equipped with advanced camera face recognition technology connected to the Thai Immigration Database constantly scanning faces of pedestrians and bystanders to identify those on overstay. This technology had been utilized successfully in busy tourist areas that also had many problems with overstaying like Phuket and Pattaya.
Penalties for overstaying differ based on the period overstayed but often include deportation at the overstayers expense, fines, blacklisting, and detainment at the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok until one is deported.
AOT confident 95m passenger target can be achieved
BANGKOK (NNT) - Airports of Thailand is confident that its passenger target for 2023 at 95 million will be achieved, thanks to a swift recovery in the tourism sector.
Airports of Thailand (AOT) has announced that the country is on track to hit the 95 million passenger number across all of its 6 airports this year. AOT's Chief Executive Officer Kirati Kitmanawat said 66.38 million passengers traveled through AOT-managed airports in the first 8 months of the 2023 fiscal year, starting October 2022.
This figure reflects a 170.4% year-on-year growth, with most being international passengers at 34.31 million, representing a 635.7% expansion. The number of domestic passengers in the same period was logged at 32.06 million, showing a 61.3% growth.
The AOT has set the annual passenger number target at 95 million for 2023, and at 142 million next year, which will be comparable to the pre-pandemic level.
The AOT is expected to start trialing the new satellite concourse (SAT-1) at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport this September, which will provide 216,000 extra square kilometers of passenger area. The company also reported some 2 billion baht profit in the first half of this year.
AOT (Airports of Thailand) to replace all walkways after the incident at Don Mueang airport
A committee has been formed by Airports of Thailand (AOT) to look into a recent incident involving a moving walkway at one of its airports that left a passenger with a severe leg injury.
The committee, which includes members from the Ministry of Transport, the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT), the Engineers Council, Siam Hitachi Company, and the victim's family, has been given a 15-day deadline to complete the probe.
The event happened on June 29 when the travelator passenger fell on, seriously hurting her left leg. In response, AOT Director Kerati Kijmanawat declared that the committee would consider whether to replace moving walkways at all six AOT airports, including Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, and Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, that are older than 20 to 25 years.
All 20 of the airport's moving walkways have been put temporarily out of commission following the incident. After a comprehensive examination and any required upgrades, the walkways will gradually resume use. This procedure is expected to take around one month.
Director Kerati underlined that despite some of the travelators being over 27 years old, routine maintenance had been carried out on them. He added that the group will examine the replacement of individuals who were older than 15-20 years and the deployment of new technology, such sensors, to improve safety precautions. While awaiting the results of forensic tests, investigators are now questioning people connected to the case, according to Don Mueang police superintendent Pol Col Adirek Tongkeamkeaw.
To ascertain whether negligence contributed to the disaster, CCTV footage from the airport is also being examined.
New regulations to increase tourist capacity: Tourism Council
The latest amendment to the 2008 Ministerial regulations on the classification of hotel businesses will allow some 50,000 operators offering over 2 million rooms to legally register as small hotels, further enhancing Thailand's capacity to welcome tourists while also creating more jobs, the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) announced on Monday.
According to Manosit Jangjob, head of the TCT's small hotel subcommittee, Thailand has around 85,000 businesses that fit the category of small hotels, but only 14,000 of them have been able to register under the 2008 regulations.
"The amendment, which was approved by the Cabinet in March, has extended the criteria for small hotels to include establishments with less than 8 rooms or combined guest capacity of 30," he said.
Establishments with unique features, such as tents or treehouses, can also register provided they fit the above criteria and meet the new Ministerial regulations on the characteristics and safety systems of buildings used as hotels.
The two ministerial regulations are now waiting for publication in the Royal Gazette, he said.
"Once they become effective, the tourism industry will have 50,000 more businesses registered as small hotels, offering a total of more than 2 million rooms. This will potentially create at least 500,000 jobs in the industry," said Manosit.
He added that the amended and new laws will also help small hotels comply with safety standards and install facilities required for a small hotel business, which will strengthen visitors' confidence in staying there.
Furthermore, registered small hotels will have more access to loans from financial institutes if they want to expand their facilities, he said.
New business operators can seek help in registering from the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion (OSMEP), which offers advice on legal compliance, meeting safety standards, and applying for loans.
Sak Surin called for food every 5-10 minutes on his first night back in Thailand
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Sak Surin, the ailing elephant which returned from Sri Lanka yesterday (Sunday), spent his first night in Thailand crying for food every 5-10 minutes, while under the watchful eyes of the mahouts who escorted him on his journey to the conservation centre in Lampang province.
Thai PBS reporters covering the elephant's return reported that Sak Surin would stop crying and eat grass, sugarcane and banana stalks, given to him by the mahouts.
The spot where the elephant is staying is shady, breezy and surrounded with trees. He is still restrained by a rope attached to his rear right leg, to keep him from straying from the shelter. The elephant is showing no sign of fatigue and the results of blood tests are expected in one or two days.
Chief veterinarian at the elephant conservation centre, Kajornphat Boonprasert, who was among those escorting Sak Surin from Sri Lanka, admitted to being greatly relieved after the elephant arrived safely in Chiang Mai, adding that everything went according to plan.
He said that Sak Surin was quite calm throughout the flight, except during take-off and ascent, during which the engines were very loud, adding that the elephant cried loudly as the mahouts tried to calm him down.
"Luckily, he was not in a bad mood," said the chief vet, adding that he is optimistic that Sak Surin will get used to the local environment quickly.
Members of the public can follow the condition of Sak Surin through the Elephant Conservation Centre's Facebook page, which will livestream twice a day, from 2pm to 2.30pm and from 4.30pm to 5pm, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa.
He explained that afternoons are rest time for Sak Surin, while vets treat the elephant in the morning and mahouts at the centre familiarise themselves with him.
He also said that the centre will keep the public informed about the Sak Surin's progress with video presentations throughout the 30-day quarantine period at the centre, adding that the public will be notified when Sak Surin is ready to be visited.
Observers believe that the pact reportedly brokered between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties on Thursday evening last may hold the key to avoiding a political stalemate with Move Forward agreeing to support a potential Pheu Thai Party nominee for Prime Minister if Mr Pita cannot command the required number of votes of MPs and Senators.
A breakthrough deal hatched between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties should see a Move Forward party nominee elected as the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 4th, the day after parliament is opened by the King. The deal also provides for a Pheu Thai nominee for Prime Minister in the event of Mr Pita Limjaroenrat failing to secure half the votes of the joint session of parliament to be held on Thursday, July 13th next. This should help ensure the best possible chance that a Prime Minister will be elected by the eight-party coalition during the month. The pact could see Pheu Thai's Srettha Thavisin emerging as the new government leader if Mr Pita does not secure the position first with the deciding factor being the votes of the Thai Senate and the stance taken by the Democrat Party and possibly the Bhumjaithai Party.
A breakthrough deal was hatched on Thursday night between the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties, the main participants in the eight-party coalition that hopes to make up the next government.
They agreed on a formula to allow for the election of a Move Forward party candidate to the position of House Speaker on Tuesday, July 4th in return for Move Forward's support for a Pheu Thai prime ministerial nominee if a stalemate situation arises in parliament after the July 13th vote for prime minister.
On Monday, July 3rd, His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn will open Parliament, which will be attended by 499 of the 500 elected MPs, following the resignation of one Move Forward Party MP, who voluntarily relinquished her position after being charged by the Royal Thai Police with drunk driving after her election to the role.
Newly elected Move Forward Party MP resigned
The Move Forward party-list MP Natheepat Kulsetthasit was subsequently convicted before the Nonthaburi Provincial Court and handed down a 2-month prison sentence in addition to a fine of ฿4,000 and also order to undertake community service.
Ms Natheepat was given a six months driving ban but her prison sentence was suspended for two years. She was placed on probation over the coming 12 months.
On Thursday night, sources within the Pheu Thai Party, speaking to the Bangkok Post newspaper, detailed a breakthrough arrangement whereby in return for the Pheu Thai Party backing down in a tussle between the parties over the House of Representatives Speaker post allowing a Move Forwards candidate to be elected on Tuesday, Move Forward has agreed to support a Pheu Thai nominee for prime minister if Mr Pita Limjaroenrat fails to attain a majority vote in the combined sitting of parliament, including the House of Representatives and Thai Senate, on July 13th next.
Breakthrough deal reported as agreed on Thursday by sources within the Pheu Thai Party could see Srettha Thavisin emerge as the next Prime Minister
The Move Forward Party has agreed to pursue such a move and play its part in the emerging government being formed by an eight-party coalition in the House of Representatives which has the support of at least 310 MPs.
Taking part in Thursday night's talks were Pheu Thai prime ministerial nominees Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the daughter of ex-Premier Thaksin Shinawatra and Mr Srettha, the former property mogul who resigned his business interests months before the general election on May 14th.
It is not clear yet which of the two nominees will be proposed as Prime Minister if the situation arises after July 13th next, but some sources indicate that Mr Srettha may be a more acceptable nominee to the 250 Thai senators of the Upper House, because of his seniority and long track record in business.
Some senators have, in the past, criticised Ms Paetongtarn's candidacy based on her youth and inexperience.
Mr Srettha is seen to have the edge over Ms Paetongtarn if a Pheu Thai party candidate is put forward backed by the eight-party coalition
Miss Paetongtarn's association with her father may also be a consideration, as the former prime minister is still seen in Thailand as a divisive figure, particularly among conservative factions and the establishment.
Both sides to Thursday night's negotiations were upbeat about the prospects of the agreement and emphasised the importance of the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties maintaining their association in the interests of democracy.
The alternative would be for the Move Forward Party to go into opposition, allowing the Pheu Thai Party to form a coalition arrangement with parties associated with the outgoing coalition, a move which would anger many voters on the left and centre of Thai politics, particularly those who support the Move Forward Party and even many among Pheu Thai's own base.
Pheu Thai wary of deserting Move Forward
In the weeks after the May 14th General Election, strategists with the Pheu Thai Party have consistently warned its leadership that such a course would be disastrous for the party, despite the anger felt by some of its more enthusiastic activists at the intransigence shown by Move Forward party over the position of House Speaker.
'The two parties have never made it clear whether the runner-up party should be allowed to take the lead in forming the government if the first-placed party fails in its bid until they reached this agreement,' said an enthusiastic Pheu Thai source on Thursday evening heralding the deal as a breakthrough. 'Previously, many Pheu Thai MPs had opposed the Move Forward Party taking both the House Speakership and Prime Ministerial position.'
After the Thursday night meeting, Mr Pita spoke to reporters as he made his way to a conference with the Tourism Council of Thailand.
Pita expressed confidence that Pheu Thai will stay on course with the coalition after last week's talks
He said he was confident that the Pheu Thai Party would keep its word and stay the course through the formation of a new government and afterwards as the parties take on responsibility for running the country.
He told reporters that he was unaware of many news reports as he had been working tirelessly to bring about a resolution to the standoff between the key parties to the incoming coalition.
It is understood a key player in Thursday night's negotiation is the Move Forward Party's Deputy Leader, Ms Sirikanya Tansakul, who is being tipped as the future Minister of Finance in the next government, with the Pheu Thai Party and Move Forward Party planning to take 15 seats each at the cabinet table, including that of the prime minister.
The vote, on Tuesday, for the House Speaker, will see a Move Forward Party candidate, being elected to the position. Two deputy speakers will be elected from among the Pheu Thai Party ranks under the proposed pact.
This will clear the way for a decisive meeting of Parliament on Thursday the 13th of July, where Mr Pita will be nominated for the post of prime minister.
He needs 376 votes to attain the post.
Barring a breakthrough move, Pita may not have the votes across the joint session to be elected as PM
There has been some speculation that he may receive the support of the Democrat Party and a small number of senators.
A breakthrough for Mr Pita would be the support of the Bhumjaithai Party but that party has resolved not to support any candidate for prime minister who favours amending Article 112.
It is believed, at this stage, he does not yet have the number of votes required to be elected.
Under Sections 159 and 272 of the 2017 Constitution, Mr Pita will have to attain half the total number of existing members of the combined House of Representatives and Senate to be elected as Thailand's 30th Prime Minister.
After this, the next most likely prospect according to Thursday night's brokered deal will be Mr Srettha Thavisin.
It is worth noting that in May next year, Section 272 will not apply and Section 159 of the charter allows for the election of a prime minister by a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives with the endorsement of a minimum of 10% of House members for the successful candidate.
New Suvarnabhumi airport terminal on track for September opening
The Airports of Thailand (AoT) will open the new SAT-1 satellite passenger terminal at Suvarnabhumi Airport in September.
AoT president Kerati Kijmanawat said the terminal will handle an additional 15 million passengers per year to boost the airport's total passenger handling capacity to 60 million per year.
The 216,000m² terminal has 28 contact gates and a children's play area, and is currently waiting for the installation of chairs with USB power sockets.
The airport reported a 230.8% jump in passenger traffic with 31.6 million passengers -- 23.46 million international and 8.14 million domestic -- from October to May when compared to the same period in the previous year.
The daily average for this year's tally is about 140,000–150,000, the airport said.
Mr Kerati said the AoT also plans to tackle overcrowding at the airport's passport control area by installing Auto Channel machines for inbound passengers from Singapore and Hong Kong next year.
In the future, the service will be extended for outbound passengers with e-passports from 90 countries, he said.
Suvarnabhumi Airport will be able to serve up to 8,800 departing passengers per hour, from the current 6,200, and process 13,300 incoming passengers per hour, up from 11,000 at the moment, he said.
The AoT will introduce an Automated Biometric Identification System with facial recognition technology to identify passengers at check-in counters in the middle of next year, he added.
Timeline and pictures of Sak Surin's journey home released
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Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation released the timeline and images of ailing Thai elephant Sak Surin's journey home today (Sunday), from the departure from Dehiwala Zoo in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Bandaranaike International Airport, for his historic flight back to Thailand today.
At about 10pm (Sri Lankan local time) last night, Sak Surin was moved from Dehiwala Zoo, put in a flight cage and lifted onto an articulated lorry by crane.
At about 1.05am on Sunday morning, the lorry set out for the airport and arrived at the cargo terminal at about 3am.
At about 3.25am, veterinarians collected Sak Surin's droppings and checked his condition, while other officials carried out customs clearance procedures and unloaded lorry.
By 4.50am, the flight cage containing Sak Surin was loaded onto the Russian-made Il-76 transport plane, for the flight to Chiang Mai airport, which is estimated will take between 5 and 6 hours because the plane has to fly at a low speed and altitude. The aircraft is expected to touch down at Chiang Mai Airport at about 2pm (local time).
During the journey, three Thai and one Sri Lankan mahout will be aboard the flight with Sak Surin, to look after him and keep him calm. An emergency plan to administer a sedative has been put in place, in case the elephant becomes excited or panics.
This is the first time that such a heavy animal is being transported by air, according department officials.
The United States has become a target for conservatives who were roundly defeated in the May 14th General Election and who are expected to quickly lead a return to street protests and conflict after the formation of a new government in July. It appears that despite over nine years of military involvement in the kingdom's government, the lines of division have only shifted away from populist policies and power plays. The country, today, is divided between democrats and conservatives as well as those who support the United States and China with the latter dividing line already being used by the right to swell its ranks for the next struggle to take to the streets.
The top American envoy to Thailand Robert Godec came out this week to assure the public that the United States respects the integrity of Thailand's democratic process and was prepared to work with any incoming government no matter what its political allegiances may be. The statement comes as tensions are rising within conservative factions in the kingdom with the growing likelihood of a Move Forward Pheu Thai government coming to power this month. The election of a new democratic government may be somewhat marred by a recent national poll which shows that opposition to any new government is already running at 29.54% with 49.16% of people feeling that a return to street conflict is on the cards and 29.16% believing that the kingdom faces the prospect of a future coup d'état.
The US Ambassador to Thailand, Robert Godeck, this week rejected persistent claims by conservative groups that the United States interfered in the May 14th general election.
He also assured reporters that America does not have plans to push for a military base in Thailand and was not involved in negotiations with any party towards that end.
United States ambassador says he can work with all political colours in Thailand as Move Forward Pheu Thai alliance move towards government deal
Mr Godek said the United States has shown that it is capable of working with any Thai government no matter which part of the political spectrum it originated.
The Ambassador's comments come as the Move Forward and Pheu Thai parties are indicating that they are close to finalising an arrangement to allow for a vote on the House Speaker position on July 4th and for the Eight Party Coalition which was put together in the aftermath of the election to unite behind one candidate in a vote for the next Prime Minister on July 13thin a joint sitting of the Thai parliament.
At the end of May, a credible National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) poll showed that 55.56% of the public was certain that there was no foreign interference in the election.
However, the same poll showed that 19.93% either definitely or somewhat believed otherwise.
Conservatives worry any proposed change to the lèse-majesté law will be a first step to undermining the monarchy and hence national unity in the kingdom
A significant 56.49% believed that information operations were using social media messaging to swing voters but the overwhelming majority believed that these were democratic political machines which should not come as any surprise.
The American ambassador also addressed concerns raised by conservative forces in Thailand concerning Article 112 of the Criminal Code dealing with lèse-majesté offences against the monarchy.
Traditional thinkers and conservatives in Thailand see any change to the law as both disrespectful to the revered institution and the thin end of the wedge to erode its power, seen as essential to national identity and unity.
Mr Godec clarified that, as far as the US government was concerned, the matter was an internal one for Thai authorities. He reminded his audience that the United States has always had the highest respect for the Royal Institution.
Move Forward Party committed to Article 112 change
The radical and more progressive Move Forward Party which won Thailand's General Election on May 14th in a stunning result which has shaken conservatives in the kingdom, is committed to amending Article 112 of the Criminal Code.
However, in the aftermath of the election and talks, it agreed with its coalition party partners to sideline the issue given the opposition to it from nearly all other political parties in the new parliament and a significant majority of public opinion.
It was not included in the proposed new government's programme.
It is thought that it is something the party will take up on its own initiative which is allowed for under the Memorandum of Understanding that has been agreed between the eight parties which are taught to control 310 seats in the new House of Representatives or 62% of the lower house.
Protests since the shock election result, at the United States Embassy in Bangkok as conservatives blame foreign interference and raise their concerns
In the weeks since the election, there have been protests outside the American Embassy on Wireless Road in Bangkok by conservative activists who claim that the United States is attempting to negotiate a military base in Thailand as tensions between the superpower and China grow.
A recent agreement with the Philippines under new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. saw up to four extra military bases have been handed over to the US military with full access in addition to five bases already maintained by the Americans.
The move, according to military strategists, gives the United States a significant boost in its attempts to secure Taiwan in the event of a conflict breaking out and in protecting freedom of navigation through the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, a vital shipping route for the world's economy.
The new bases are located in a province facing the South China Sea and will allow the US Air Force to counter any aggressive movement from China's artificial islands in the area in the event of a conflict.
Such issues are also being highlighted by a growing number of online voices and significant media outlets associated with Beijing, communicating to the Thai public in both English and Thai.
On this Chinese propaganda network, the election result has been described by one online YouTube influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers as a calamity for the Thai people who he suggested had voted against their own interest which is, of course, he opined, remaining as a steadfast ally of China.
Move Forward Party bigwig Rangsiman Rome strongly rejects any move towards an American military base in Thailand after Philippines move
In June, in response to rumours about an American military base in Thailand, a key member of the Move Forward Party, Rangsiman Rome, came out to dismiss the speculation of a US base as fake news and assured the public that his party would take the lead in opposing such a move, saying it was fully committed to upholding the sovereignty of the Kingdom.
There is growing concern among staunchly conservative factions in Thailand and supporters of China that the new democratic Move Forward-led government may lead to Thailand being at odds with China and compromise the kingdom's traditional foreign policy position of balancing its interests between competing powers in Asia.
Rejection of Thailand's request for F35 jet fighters
The provisional rejection of Thailand's Royal Thai Air Force request to purchase US F35 fighters at the end of May by the Pentagon is also seen in an unfavourable light by conservatives even though the official reason given was that Thailand does not have the facilities to maintain the expensive aircraft value at $70 and $80 million.
They will no doubt also be aware of unofficial sources who attribute the decision to the United States prioritising its closest allies amid a shortage of the valuable jet fighters and some US unease about Thailand's closer military cooperation and ties with China even though this is based on a deliberate foreign policy ambiguity by Bangkok.
There is also concern among more right-wing thinkers in Thailand about the Biden regime's emphasis on democratic values, a message which has grown more robust since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 with the United States strengthening its position in defence of Taiwan and also moving to include it as part of trade and investment policies.
US foreign policy under the Biden administration has been both robust and unashamedly forward at promoting democratic values in governance
At a Washington DC summit in May last year with the ASEAN bloc, the US administration unveiled a new economic framework initiative which Thailand along with other peers in the bloc has already signed up for which sets a range of standards including those on human rights and democratic values, linking these with economic co-operation.
Most analysts believe that the approach by Biden's administration when he took office has been extraordinarily successful while it plays well to US voters particularly the young and educated.
Similarly so among younger Thais a trend that on May 14th took some of the older generation by surprise.
In December 2020, at the height of the student-led protests in Bangkok, US Thai Senator Tammy Duckworth of the Democratic Party in the United States proposed a resolution to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee calling on the Thai government to heed the street-led protest movement, which was calling for democratic reform, including changes to the lèse-majesté law.
Senator Duckworth is a former US military veteran who was born in Bangkok.
The 55-year-old was elected to the Senate in 2017 and is the junior member for Illinois.
Bad news is that any new government faces the same forces that led to military coups in 2006 and 2014 with 30% believing one is just around the corner
A survey conducted by NIDA or the National Institute of Development Administration in mid-June found that nearly half of the Thai public believe that even if a new government is formed in July there will be future street protests from the conservative minority.
49.16% of respondents believe this to be the case while only 25.42% dismissed the prospect.
The same survey found that 55.5% of people were enthusiastic about supporting the new government with 22.52% saying they opposed but would not protest. 7.02% said they would, bringing the total opposition number to 29.54%, a significant number for a government that has not yet even been formed and which captured over 75% of votes in the General Election.
The survey found that 56.8% of people believed that any street protest would become violent.
32.98% of people firmly believed that there will be conflict in the future in Thailand with 29.16% fearing that a military coup is on the horizon.
The Caretaker Minister of Tourism and Sports Piphat Ratchakitprakarn told Thai media, "We have agreed to postpone the 300-baht 'land entry' fee collection which previously was expected to take effect this month to January 1stof next year."
"When arriving in Thailand tourists will have to pay a 300 baht fee for aircraft transportation and 150 baht for marine transportation. The fee will not be collected from foreigners with Border Passes, work permits and babies younger than two years old", Mr. Piphat added.
The specific reason for the future postponement was not given however was speculated to be a variety of issues including a changeover of a Thai government and issues previously trying to determine how to both process the fee and how to properly identify those who have an exception. The plan has also been enormously unpopular with both tourists and tourism-based businesses.
COVID infections falling steadily, fewer fatalities over past month
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New COVID-19 infections in Thailand and other countries were steadily falling over the past month, with fewer fatalities, according to Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong, public health permanent secretary.
He expressed concern, however, for people over 60 and those suffering from underlying diseases, pointing out that most of the fatalities were people over 70 and those who were not vaccinated.
According to the Department of Disease Control, there were 1,653 hospital admissions between June 18th and 24th. Of these, 265 suffered from lung infections, 164 need ventilators and 36 died.
Dr. Opart appealed to relatives of those over 60 or with underlying conditions to bring them to hospitals or clinics for COVID-19 vaccination, along with the anti-flu vaccine. They are also advised to bring children, aged from six months to five years, for COVID inoculation, to reduce the risk of death or severe symptoms.
He disclosed that most of the new COVID-19 cases are the Omicron hybrid, which is capable of spreading quickly, but symptoms are not severe and the infections can be detected with rapid antigen or RT-PCR tests. He also assured that there is sufficient medication to cope with the situation.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr. Thira Woratanarat, at Chulalongkorn University, said that COVID infections in Japan increased three fold after the government has eased restrictions on May 8th.
He stressed the need for preventive measures, both by medical personnel and the public in general, by wearing face masks in public venues at least.
According to a National Institute of Development Administration (Nida) survey, 80.53% of the survey respondents say they still want Thai students to stick to wearing standardized school uniforms.
The poll, conducted from June 21st to 23rd with 1,310 respondents aged over 15 years old, saw that 59.47% of the respondents stating they support the continuation of the school dress code enforcement.
A significantly lower percentage, 20.69%, suggested that students should be allowed to wear alternative attire (such as casual wear) during special casual days. Meanwhile, only 4.73% advocate for the entire cancellation of the school dress code.
The findings also show that 80.53% of respondents believe that school uniforms promote discipline, while 11.53% mention that school uniforms add financial burden to parents.
When asked how many days in the week students should be allowed to wear alternative attire, 47.60% of those who support the leniency choose one day a week.
Other interesting findings about the school uniform are as follows:
23.82% – school uniforms contribute to student safety.
21.76% – school uniforms help parents save money.
20.23% – school uniforms are a measure to prevent impersonation.
18.17% – school uniforms are a source of pride for students/parents.
10.00% – school uniforms are not applicable in every situation.
6.18% – school uniforms are a means of social stratification.
2.29% – school uniforms are a symbol of oppression/authoritarianism.
