Author: Wadi

Labour Ministry Targets Transparency Thailand’s Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced on June 14, 2025, the formation of a new committee to investigate the Social Security Office’s acquisition of the SKYY9 building. The probe aims to scrutinize the deal’s inflated price and hold accountable those responsible for any irregularities. Initial Findings Reveal Overpayment SKYY9 Bought for Double Market Value A special audit committee, established by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, uncovered that the SKYY9 Centre on Rama IX Road was purchased for 7 billion baht between 2022 and 2023, despite a market value of approximately 3 billion baht. This significant overpayment triggered…

No Forced Repatriation Planned Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on June 15, 2025, that Thailand has no plans to deport foreign workers, including Cambodians, despite ongoing border disputes. Her statement, shared via social media, aims to ease concerns among migrant laborers amid heightened tensions with Cambodia. Workers’ Freedom to Decide Voluntary Return Encouraged Paetongtarn emphasized that the decision to return home rests with the workers themselves, not Thai authorities. She noted that if any country, such as Cambodia, facilitates job opportunities for its citizens, workers are free to choose their path under their home country’s guidance. Cambodia’s Call for Returnees…

Cambodia Welcomes Thai Trucks Cambodian authorities lifted a brief border restriction on June 15, 2025, allowing Thai fruit trucks from Trat province to enter Koh Kong after negotiations. The decision followed a temporary blockage due to high demand, enabling the resumption of vital fruit exports. Initial Restrictions Cause Delays Trucks Halted Since Saturday Starting Saturday noon, Cambodian customs officials blocked Thai fruit trucks at the Ban Hat Lek checkpoint in Trat’s Khlong Yai district. By Sunday morning, dozens of trucks were queued, awaiting clearance, as Cambodia initially restricted access to manage the influx. Negotiations Secure Access Agreement Reached by 9:30…

No Progress on Territorial Issues The two-day Joint Boundary Commission meeting between Thailand and Cambodia ended on June 15, 2025, in Phnom Penh without resolving their ongoing territorial dispute. The talks, aimed at easing tensions following a recent border clash, highlighted persistent disagreements over contested areas along their shared border. Clash Sparks Urgent Dialogue Chong Bok Skirmish Triggers Talks The meeting was prompted by a May 28, 2025, skirmish in the Chong Bok area of Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani province, where Cambodian troops violated a no-man’s-land agreement by establishing a military base and trench. After Thailand’s border measures, Cambodian forces withdrew,…

Party on Brink of Collapse Deep Divisions Threaten Survival The United Thai Nation Party, a key player in Thailand’s conservative politics, is grappling with severe internal conflicts that could lead to its dissolution. Political observers predict the party may not endure until the 2026 general election, as factional disputes over leadership and cabinet positions escalate, undermining its cohesion. Roots in Military Ambitions Prayut’s Failed Political Platform Launched in 2021 to extend Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure as prime minister, the United Thai Nation emerged from a rift with Gen Prawit Wongsuwon’s Palang Pracharath Party. Despite high hopes, the party’s fifth-place finish…

TMD Forecasts Increased Rainfall The Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning on Saturday, June 14, 2025, predicting heavy rainfall across upper Thailand in the coming days. Although tropical depression Wutip is not expected to directly impact the country, its influence is set to bring significant wet weather to northern regions. Monsoon Trough Drives Storms Southwest Monsoon Intensifies A monsoon trough stretching across upper Laos and northern Thailand, combined with a robust southwest monsoon, is fueling the anticipated downpours. These weather patterns are expected to create conditions conducive to heavy rain, particularly in the upper provinces, posing challenges for local communities.…

12,181 New Cases Reported Thailand is grappling with a dramatic surge in Covid-19 cases, with 12,181 new infections recorded on Friday, June 13, 2025, according to the Department of Disease Control. This sharp increase, reported in Saturday’s update, underscores the severity of the latest wave, prompting heightened public health measures across the nation. Rising Death Toll Sparks Concern Three Fatalities Push Total to 151 The virus claimed three additional lives on Friday, bringing Thailand’s cumulative Covid-19 death toll to 151 since the pandemic’s onset. With total confirmed cases now reaching 471,781, the rising fatalities highlight the urgent need for enhanced…

Four Disputed Areas Targeted Cambodia has escalated its border dispute with Thailand by filing a case with the International Court of Justice on June 15, 2025. Prime Minister Hun Manet announced the move, seeking clarity on four contested zones: Tamone Thom, Tamone Touch, Ta Krabey, and Mom Bei. Disputed Territories Named Thailand and Cambodia Claim Areas Cambodia identifies these areas as part of Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, while Thailand asserts they lie in Surin’s Phanom Dong Rak and Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen districts, referring to them as Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, Ta Kwai, and the Emerald…

UAE Visitor Charged 5,000 Baht A 22-year-old tourist from the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed Alsuwaidi, was fined 5,000 baht for illegally driving a rented Jeep on Layi Beach in Phuket’s Kathu district. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, June 14, 2025, drew attention after the vehicle became stuck in the sand. Incident Sparks Police Action Vehicle Stuck on Layi Beach The Jeep, driven by Alsuwaidi, became immobilized in the beach’s soft sand, prompting a response from Kamala police. Authorities quickly intervened, issuing a fine for causing a public nuisance, as the act disrupted the popular beach’s environment and safety. Charge…

Dutch Association Leads Campaign The Dutch Association in Thailand is mobilizing to block the proposed sale of the Dutch Embassy compound at 206 Wireless Road, Bangkok, a distinctive property known for its unique architecture. The group aims to preserve the historic site from being sold to local developers. Cost-Cutting Drives Sale Proposal Dutch Government Faces Budget Cuts Willem Pentermann, chairman of the Dutch Association, learned of the sale plan through a Dutch newspaper, revealing negotiations to offload the embassy due to a government-wide cost-saving initiative. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, facing budget reductions, is exploring the sale as a…