A Mauritian tourist shares photos of an unexpected experience - being hit with eggs in front of Hua Hin Railway Station simply for using a taxi app.
PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN — Hua Hin police have successfully apprehended suspects responsible for throwing eggs at a Mauritian female tourist. The motorcycle taxi driver claims the act was motivated by stress over declining income. Despite the incident, the tourists have forgiven the perpetrators, stating that Thailand remains the “Land of Smiles” and that they now love Hua Hin even more.
On April 18, Police Colonel Kampanart Na Wichai, Superintendent of Hua Hin Police Station, addressed the case of a tourist who shared photos of an unexpected experience – being hit with eggs in front of Hua Hin Railway Station simply for using a taxi app.
The incident occurred on April 17 at approximately 7:00 p.m. when a male Mauritian tourist, traveling with her spouse, arrived at Hua Hin Railway Station. After calling a Grab car to take them to their accommodation, unknown individuals threw eggs at the vehicle, soiling the female tourist’s clothing.
Disturbed by the experience, they posted a warning on the “Life in Hua Hin” Facebook group, which garnered significant public attention and widespread criticism of the perpetrators’ behavior.
Colonel Kampanart stated that after learning of the incident, he immediately ordered officers to track down those responsible. The investigation team reviewed CCTV footage from the area and discovered three similar incidents had occurred between April 12-17.
The perpetrator who threw eggs at a Mauritian tourist in Hua Hin performs a respectful wai gesture, apologizing to the female tourist at Hua Hin Police Station after being arrested and charged on April 18, 2025.
Officers subsequently gathered evidence and arrested two suspects: “Ms. A” (pseudonym), a motorcycle taxi driver, and Ms. B (pseudonym), a 16-year-old female minor. Both confessed to the crime.
Investigation revealed the motive stemmed from accumulated stress, as the driver’s income had significantly decreased over the past 3-4 months, with Grab cars frequently picking up passengers they considered potential customers. The suspects insisted they had no intention to harm tourists or damage Hua Hin’s reputation. Police have collected evidence and are proceeding with legal charges.
The couple later posted a message thanking Hua Hin police and locals: “We sincerely thank the people of Hua Hin and all tourists for their encouragement after yesterday’s egg-throwing incident. The police professionally brought us to meet the perpetrators for questioning. We commend the officers and Sunday who tirelessly worked alongside Thai police.”
The female tourist continued, “The perpetrator is a youth from an impoverished family. As a teacher who works with young people, I understand the stress and pressure they face, so we requested the police merely issue a warning to prevent such incidents from happening to other tourists. Thai people are hardworking, which is why we return to Thailand 2-3 times annually. We love the ‘Land of Smiles’ and love Hua Hin even more today.
CCTV footage on April 16, 2025 shows a Chinese female tourist forgetting her wallet at the counter. Few minutes later, the elderly Thai woman takes it.
BANGKOK — Pathumwan police arrested a 71-year-old Thai woman identified as Ms. Weena, or “Wee,” on theft charges after she allegedly stole a wallet belonging to a Chinese tourist at CentralWorld shopping mall.
The arrest took place on April 18 at the entrance to Soi 47 on Rama IV Road in Bangkok’s Sathorn district. Officers recovered several items of evidence, including Chinese currency, a Bank of China credit card, and the distinctive clothing worn during the theft.
According to police reports, a 28-year-old Chinese tourist filed a complaint on April 16 stating that her gray wallet containing approximately 20,000 baht, 800 yuan in Chinese currency, and a Bank of China credit card had been stolen after she accidentally left it while shopping on the mall’s second floor.
The elderly woman is arrested on April 18 with evidence including 200 yuan in Chinese banknotes, a Bank of China credit card, and a Chinese identity card.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and identified an elderly Thai woman wearing rose-colored glasses, a green and white striped shirt, and green pants with gold chain patterns taking the forgotten wallet.
After extensive surveillance, officers located Ms. Weena, whose appearance matched the suspect captured on CCTV. A search revealed she was carrying 200 yuan in Chinese banknotes, a Bank of China credit card, and a Chinese identity card.
When questioned, the elderly suspect reportedly admitted to the theft, claiming it was “a momentary lapse of attention driven by desire.”
Ms. Weena has been charged with theft and handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
Three submissions from Thailand highlight the country's rich cultural heritage and historical significance in Southeast Asia.
UNESCO has expanded its Memory of the World International Register with 74 new documentary heritage collections, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570.
The newly added entries represent 72 countries and 4 international organizations, covering diverse topics including the scientific revolution, women’s contributions to history, and major milestones in multilateralism.
Among the newly recognized collections are three submissions from Thailand, highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage and historical significance in Southeast Asia.
The first Thai-related inscription, “The Birth of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN),” was jointly submitted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. This collection documents the establishment of ASEAN by its five founding nations in 1967, featuring the original ASEAN Declaration and related records.
The Birth of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) (National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia – ANRI)
The archives showcase how these newly independent countries worked to transform neighborly relations into friendships built on mutual trust, demonstrating their agency in creating a more peaceful regional landscape.
Thailand’s second inscription, “The Manuscript of Nanthopananthasut Kamlaung,” dates back to July 22, 1736. This 190-page manuscript on khoi-paper contains Buddhist literature depicting Buddha taming Nanthopanantha-naga.
The Manuscript of Nanthopananthasut Kamlaung, 1736 (The Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand)
The document showcases complex literary forms, timeless moral values, and sophisticated multilingual manuscript traditions, reflecting Ayutthaya’s centuries of cultural interchange in Buddhism, translation, and literacy.
The third Thai entry, “The King of the White Elephant and the archival documents,” features a groundbreaking 1940 Thai feature film. Notable as the first Thai film presented in English and the only surviving Thai film from the pre-World War II era, this black-and-white production skillfully blends traditional Thai performances with Western cinematic techniques. Created at the onset of World War II, the film promotes a message of peace and harmony.
The King of the White Elephant and the archival documents, 1940 (The Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture, Thailand)
UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme continues to preserve documentary heritage of global significance, ensuring these valuable cultural treasures remain accessible for future generations.
Police arrest 2 of the 7 Indian men involved in kidnapping their fellow countrymen in a room at a house in Soi Santikam 8, Sukhumvit 109, Samrong Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18, 2025.
BANGKOK — Police have rescued three Indian nationals who were kidnapped and held for ransom by fellow countrymen in Bangkok. Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the case.
Police Major General Wason Techaakkarasem, Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police, stated that Mr. Sandhu, 22, and five male Indian accomplices: Sourav, 26; Simranjit, 35; Abhishek, 25; Nitin, 36; Gurwinder, 35; and one Pakistani national, Muhammad, 57, were apprehended at a house located in Soi Santikam 8, Samrong Nuea, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18.
This group of suspects entered Thailand legally. Immigration officials are currently checking their backgrounds and coordinating with the Indian embassy to request detailed information.
A moment police raided the house to rescue three Indian victims who were tied up and detained by their countrymen in a room at a house in Soi Santikam 8, Sukhumvit 109, Samrong Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18, 2025.
Background of the Case
According to police reports, on April 5, Sanjeev, who filed the report that his friends had been kidnapped, traveled to Thailand for tourism with Ramesh and Amandeep. They initially stayed at a hotel in Bangkok’s Sathorn area before moving to Diamond Residence Hotel, room 305, on Silom Road in Bang Rak district on April 11, 2025.
On April 14, 2025, between 6:00-7:00 p.m., Ramesh and Amandeep left the hotel with an unidentified Indian man who picked them up in a taxi, allegedly to travel ahead to Vietnam. Sanjeev did not join them as he had not yet received his visa approval.
On April 16, 2025, Ramesh’s sister contacted Sanjeev via WhatsApp, informing him that she had received communication from someone named Sandhu who claimed to be holding the pair captive. The kidnapper demanded a ransom of 2,500,000 Indian rupees (approximately $29,272) and threatened harm if the demand was not met.
Police arrest 2 of the 7 Indian men involved in kidnapping their fellow countrymen in a room at a house in Soi Santikam 8, Sukhumvit 109, Samrong Nuea Subdistrict, Muang District, Samut Prakan Province on April 18, 2025.
Ransom and Threats
Pol. Maj. Gen. Wason said that the group of Indians pretended to be agents who would arrange jobs for their fellow countrymen in Australia. However, they claimed that the victims needed to stay in Bangkok to process documents. They then tricked and detained the victims in a rented house with another Indian victim, Patel, 40, who had been similarly lured from Don Mueang Airport.
The suspects contacted the victims’ relatives demanding money transfers from India, approximately 1 million baht ($30,000) per person. They threatened that if the victims didn’t comply or contact their relatives, they would be harmed and have body parts cut off.
Police Investigation
Investigators gathered evidence from Sanjeev’s testimony, hotel records, and CCTV footage. They tracked the taxi used in the abduction and coordinated with immigration authorities to verify travel records. After tracing the phone number used by the kidnappers, police located and rescued Ramesh, Amandeep, and Patel at the house in Samut Prakan Province.
All seven suspects were taken to Yannawa Police Station for interrogation and have been charged with illegal detention and attempted extortion. The value of damages so far is approximately 30,000 baht, as officials intervened during the ransom negotiation process.
AIS, in collaboration with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), has conducted a successful test of the mobile emergency alert system “Cell Broadcast,” now compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones. The test confirmed that alerts could be delivered across both platforms following Apple’s recent rollout of Cell Broadcast support in iOS 18 for iPhone users in Thailand. AIS recommends that all iPhone users promptly update their devices to iOS 18 to ensure they can receive emergency alerts.
This marks a significant step forward in enhancing Thailand’s national emergency alert readiness, enabling timely communication of critical information to the public. The test was conducted at the NBTC auditorium on Friday, April 18, 2025, and was attended by Trairat Viriyasirikul, Acting Secretary-General of NBTC; Waroonthep Watcharaporn, Head of Business Relations, AIS; and Wasit Wattanasap, Head of Nationwide Operations and Support Business Unit, AIS.
Currently, while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) is developing the Cell Broadcast Entity (CBE) — the government’s command and control system — the agency has requested the cooperation of mobile operators to disseminate emergency alerts via two systems:
Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) via operators
Available on Android smartphones running version 12 or higher
Available on iPhones running iOS 18
** Note: CBS is not supported on:
2G and 3G devices
iPhone X (10) smartphones or earlier that cannot be updated to iOS 18
SMS System
Still necessary to send SMS messages to address the limitations of the CBS, which is not compatible with 2G, 3G phones and iPhone X (10) smartphones or earlier
DDPM will manage the SMS dispatches, including the alert message content, targeted locations, and provinces. Messages will be sent through SMS Sender Names such as “DDPM” (Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation) and “TMD” (Thai Meteorological Department).
Officials detain a Swedish passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport after he traveled from Udon Thani Airport and left suspicious objects in his luggage, on April 17, 2025.
UDON THANI — Officials at Udon Thani International Airport were alarmed after detecting explosive precursor materials in a Swedish passenger’s luggage, prompting them to call in an EOD unit for investigation.
At 8:00 p.m. on April 17, Thipawan Wangsanuwat, Director of Udon Thani International Airport, notified Udon Thani City Police Station that a male Swedish passenger had left some of his luggage behind under suspicious circumstances. The authorities requested additional support from relevant agencies.
Udon Thani Airport officials evacuate passengers of the last flight from the passenger terminal after discovering suspicious objects that needed examination, on April 17, 2025.
CCTV footage revealed the luggage belonged to Eric, 58, who was traveling from Udon Thani Airport to Suvarnabhumi Airport on AirAsia flight FB 4353, departing Udon Thani at 8:20 p.m. He left the suspicious items at Terminal 2 of the airport.
When notified, officials at Suvarnabhumi Airport located Eric, who was uncooperative and subsequently detained pending investigation. Examination of the suspicious items revealed “Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP),” an explosive precursor. K9 units were called in for additional screening, and a “Taylor Tank Bomb” (blast reducer) was moved to the location where the bag was found.
EOD officials bring the suspicious object outside the passenger terminal at Udon Thani Airport for examination on April 17, 2025. Results showed it was not an explosive device.
After all airlines had their last passengers depart, EOD Unit 23 from Udon Thani (Royal Thai Air Force) conducted the removal operation with support units standing by. After about 30 minutes, they concluded there were no dangerous materials or illegal items present.
Eric, the Swedish owner of the luggage, later admitted the bag contained used clothes and Thai herbs he intended to take back to Sweden but had decided not to bring aboard due to issues. This matched the contents found in the bag: unwashed used clothes, personal items, and dried herbs including butterfly pea flowers, roselle, bael fruit, and others.
Officials concluded that the explosive precursor detection might have come from the passenger’s clothes if he had been in places related to explosives, sound and light shows, or traditional Isan firecrackers and rocket festivals. They emphasized that all security procedures were properly followed.
Officials gather around the suspicious package after it was proven not to be an explosive, outside the passenger terminal at Udon Thani Airport late Thursday night, April 17, 2025.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodian Hun Manet, right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jingping during a welcome meeting in the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Cambodia on Thursday for a two-day state visit that serves as an opportunity to further strengthen China’s already robust relations with its closest ally in Southeast Asia.
The visit, Xi’s first since 2016, concludes a three-nation tour that included stops in Vietnam and Malaysia. China has been increasing its influence in the region over the past decade, largely by exercising its substantial economic leverage.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet recently described Beijing as “an important and indispensable friend of Cambodia that has helped support the country’s economic and social development.”
Xi was welcomed at the airport in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh by King Norodom Sihamoni, who later granted him a royal audience. Xi also met later with Prime Minister Hun Manet and Senate President Hun Sen, who is Hun Manet’s father and predecessor as prime minister.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodia’s Senate President Hun Sen, right, walks together with Chinese President Xi Jingping, left, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
In a statement at the airport after his arrival on his presidential aircraft, an American-made Air China Boeing 747, Xi declared “Cambodia is a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy.”
“China will unswervingly support Cambodia in upholding strategic autonomy and in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions,” he said, according to a transcript distributed by the Chinese embassy.
Trade was likely a major topic of Xi’s discussions in Cambodia, which faces among the highest tariff rates proposed by Washington. In addition to Trump’s universal 10% tariff, the country faces the threat of a 49% tax on exports to the U.S. once his 90-day pause expires.
Xi’s tour was organized before Trump announced his global “reciprocal” tariffs on April 2.
In Vietnam and Malaysia, Xi emphasized strengthening ties, particularly in trade and investment, amid global economic uncertainties and the backdrop of trade tensions with the United States. He underscored the need to oppose unilateralism and protectionism and uphold the multilateral trading system.
China is presenting itself as a source of stability and certainty as Southeast Asia; where Trump’s tariffs threaten the region’s export-oriented economies whose largest markets are generally the United States.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, center right, and Chinese President Xi Jingping, center left, attend a welcome ceremony at Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
“The timing of the visit is extraordinarily auspicious for China, falling just in the wake of the announcement of Trump’s tariffs that have caused managed consternation in Cambodia and Vietnam,” while also causing “upset” in Malaysia, which faces lower rates, Astrid Norén-Nilsson, a senior lecturer in the Study of Contemporary South-East Asia at Sweden’s Lund University, commented in an email interview.
“Xi Jinping can now carry out the tour equipped with the moral authority and goodwill of a singularly constant friend and reliable trading partner.”
In addition to discussing bilateral ties and regional and international issues, Hun Manet said on the Telegram social and messaging app that he and Xi presided over the signing of 37 documents covering investment, trade, education, finance, information, youth work, agriculture, health, water resources, tourism, women’s affairs and other subjects.
Xi’s visit came on the 50th anniversary of the April 17, 1975 takeover of Cambodia by the communist Khmer Rouge, who imposed a reign of terror with Maoist-inspired policies that saw an estimated 1.7 million Cambodians die of starvation, overwork or executions.
Beijing was the main foreign backer of the Khmer Rouge and supported the group in carrying on a guerrilla war even after it was ousted from power in 1979 by an invasion from Vietnam, though such history is rarely discussed by either country.
Cambodia’s rapid growth in recent decades has been fueled largely by Beijing.
In this photo released by Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP), Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni, front right, shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jingping, front left, during a welcome meeting at Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AKP via AP)
In Hun Manet’s remarks earlier this month at the inauguration of a Chinese-funded road, he called China “a first-class partner country,” pointing to achievements like the inauguration of the Chinese-named Angkor Siem Reap Airport and a Phnom Penh ring road named after Xi as evidence of continued strong relations and gratitude, and noted China’s continued ranking as the top investor in Cambodia in 2024.
China is Cambodia’s largest trading partner, surpassing $15 billion in 2024 and representing nearly 30% of Cambodia’s total trade volume, though greatly in Beijing’s favor.
Beijing also helped fund an expansion of the Ream Naval Base on Cambodia’s southern coast, raising worries it could become a strategic outpost for the Chinese navy in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia has repeatedly denied any agreement granting China special privileges or the establishment of a foreign military base.
Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at its new pier, provided they comply with certain conditions. Japan announced on Tuesday that two of its minesweepers will visit the Ream base this weekend in the first foreign navy visit since the expansion project was completed.
Damage to the BMW driven by a politician's son that crashed into a pickup truck on the highway near the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok exit on April 16, 2025.
BANGKOK — The son of a Thai politician is under fire after he drove a BMW recklessly and rammed into another vehicle. This sparked public outrage and drew comparisons to the infamous 2012 hit-and-run case involving Red Bull heir Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, who fled the country to avoid prosecution.
However, the national police chief insists that this case will not go the same way.
On April 17, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, commissioner-general of the Royal Thai Police, responded to a viral clip showing a red-painted BMW swerving in front of a pickup truck on the highway near the Rangsit–Nakhon Nayok exit late on April 16.
The pickup lost control and crashed into the roadside. The elderly driver, 65, suffered broken ribs and remains in intensive care, while a female passenger, 64, sustained minor injuries.
Damage to the pickup truck that was hit by a BMW driven by a politician’s son on the highway near the Rangsit-Nakhon Nayok exit on April 16, 2025.
The incident sparked a wave of public criticism after it was revealed that the BMW driver was a local council candidate with close ties to a well-known local politician.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat, who had seen the video, condemned the BMW driver’s behavior as “disgusting” and unacceptable in society.
“I am sad that people still drive like this on our roads. What if a child had been in that vehicle? This kind of behavior has no place in society,” he said.
He urged the public to drive calmly and considerately and emphasized that such reckless actions are intolerable and must be punished by all means available.
A screenshot from CCTV shows the moment of accident.
“The perpetrator not only broke the law, but also displayed a complete lack of conscience, especially by bragging about his connections to a famous politician in the area in order to appear influential. This person shows no remorse, continues to brag and clearly lacks maturity and responsibility. Society is watching closely to see how this case unfolds as it will test the fairness and transparency of the Thai justice system,” he added.
Pol. Col. Kuekkong Disawat, superintendent of Highway Police Division 8, said authorities will wait until the injured are released from the hospital and the medical reports are ready before summoning both sides for questioning. Charges are expected to be filed sometime next week.
Evidence has already been collected, including dashcam footage and Department of Highways video footage. Preliminary investigations show that the accident occurred as both vehicles exited the M-Four toll plaza at KM 26+100 in Thanyaburi.
At this point, the road narrowed from three lanes to two lanes. The pickup truck moved into the right lane and cut in front of the BMW. The BMW then lost control and crashed into the crash barrier, leading to the sequence of events seen in the video.
Pol. Col. Kuekkong said that when checking the BMW driver’s alcohol level, none was found. The officers therefore took his statement to gather details and recorded it in the daily log as evidence.
Meanwhile, Kritsada Leenawarattana, former mayor of Thanyaburi Subdistrict and father of the BMW driver, Smithipat “Peach” Leenawarattana in this case, gave an interview to reporters while visiting those injured by his son’s actions at the hospital in the Rangsit area. He said, “I’m not worried. My son did wrong and apologized. I’m not taking my son’s side. I don’t know where my son is going. I haven’t seen him.” He spoke with evident emotional displeasure.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, left, meets Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, right, at the Government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Thailand's Government Spokesman Office via AP)
BANGKOK (AP) — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the leader of Myanmar’s military government, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, visited the Thai capital on Thursday for diplomatic talks widely assumed to focus on efforts to restore peace in war-torn Myanmar.
Authorities said the talks would focus on humanitarian assistance following an earthquake in March that devastated Myanmar, and to promote the extension of a fragile ceasefire to facilitate aid delivery.
Anwar also met with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who said they discussed issues of bilateral interest, including development along their mutual border and how nations in the region can respond to the new tariff policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
There was scarce official news of Min Aung Hlaing’s activities on Thursday, and he had not been seen in public.
Myanmar’s military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, attends the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (6 th BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry via AP)
But the unusual top-level contacts and rare trip abroad by Min Aung Hlaing, as well as the involvement of former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, suggest a more substantive political agenda. Thaksin is serving as an informal chief advisor to Anwar, current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian nations, meeting occasionally with the Malaysian leader on various issues.
Thaksin, who is the father of current Prime Minister Paetongtarn and seen as pulling the strings of her government, has focused on back-channel diplomacy to end Myanmar’s conflict.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government in February 2021, leading to armed conflict across the country.
The United Nations last week warned that damage caused by the March 28 quake will cause food shortages and a possible public health emergency, worsening the existing humanitarian crisis in Myanmar, where the civil war had already displaced more than 3 million people.
Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesperson for Myanmar’s military government, said on Wednesday that the death toll from the 7.7 magnitude quake had reached 3,725, with 5,106 injured.
Ahead of his Bangkok trip, Anwar announced that he would push for an extension of the soon-to-expire ceasefires declared by the Myanmar army and its foes, pro-democracy resistance forces and ethnic minority armed groups, to ease aid efforts.
The U.N. Human Rights Office has accused the military of ongoing attacks after the earthquake, and independent Myanmar media and witnesses say the army has conducted numerous airstrikes and artillery attacks since the quake.
People clean debris from damaged buildings in the aftermath of an earthquake on March 28, in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, Monday, April 7, 2025. (AP Photo)
However, some experts hope what is known as “disaster diplomacy” can turn the current ceasefires into a broader peacemaking effort where other have failed before.
The 10-member ASEAN, to which Myanmar belongs, agreed soon after the army’s 2021 takeover on a Five-Point Consensus peace plan, but Myanmar’s military government failed to implement it. The regional bloc has since largely barred Min Aung Hlaing and senior members of his ruling council from its high-level meetings.
Min Aung Hlaing’s attendance at a BIMSTEC summit of leaders of nations in Bangkok earlier this month was a rare exception and drew criticism for legitimizing his rule. Thailand has been accused by the opponents of military rule in Myanmar of failing to pressure the generals to make any concessions that could end Myanmar’s violent struggle.
Thaksin claimed to Thai media that he met with Min Aung Hlaing during the BIMSTEC summit and urged him to engage in peace talks with resistance forces. He has said he met separately with ethnic minority groups engaged in fighting against the military.
In this photo released by Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, from left to right Nepal Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Bhutan Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Myanmar’s military leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, Sri Lanka Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, pose for a photograph during the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (6 th BIMSTEC) summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, April 4, 2025. (Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Ministry via AP)
Critics of the military government said Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Bangkok is not aimed at ensuring that aid is delivered based on actual needs.
“Rather than supporting the people of Myanmar, these actions risk legitimizing the illegal military coup and reinforcing the regime responsible for their suffering. Therefore, we firmly object to any such decisions,” said a joint statement Wednesday by the shadow National Unity Government, the country’s leading resistance group, and other groups battling the military government.
Opponents of the army accuse it of weaponizing aid, and say foreign humanitarian assistance should be delivered outside military channels.
Myanmar frees around 4,900 prisoners including some political detainees
The head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to around 4,900 prisoners to mark the country’s traditional new year, state-run media reported Thursday, and an independent watchdog said they included at least 22 political detainees.
At least 19 buses with prisoners aboard left Yangon’s Insein prison and were welcomed outside the gate by excited family members and friends who had been waiting since early morning.
The Political Prisoners Network — Myanmar, an independent watchdog group that records violations of human rights in Myanmar’s prisons, said in a statement that by its initial count, 22 political prisoners had been freed.
Released prisoners on a bus are welcomed by family members and colleagues outside the main gate of Insein prison as the head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark the country’s traditional New Year Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the ruling military council, pardoned 4,893 prisoners, MRTV reported. Thirteen foreigners will also be released and deported from Myanmar, it said in a separate statement.
Other prisoners received reduced sentences, except for those convicted of serious charges such as murder and rape, or those jailed on charges under various other security acts.
If the freed detainees violate the law again, they will have to serve the remainder of their original sentences in addition to any new sentence, according to the terms of their release. Mass amnesties on the holiday are not unusual in Myanmar.
Myanmar has been under military rule since Feb. 1, 2021, when its army ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected government. The takeover was met with massive nonviolent resistance, which has since become a widespread armed struggle. The country is now in civil war.
A released prisoner, center, is welcomed by family members outside the main gate of Insein prison as the head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark the country’s traditional New Year Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
Some 22,197 political detainees, including Suu Kyi, were in detention as of last Friday, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, an independent organization that keeps detailed tallies of arrests and casualties linked to the nation’s political conflicts.
Many political detainees had been held on a charge of incitement, a catch-all offense widely used to arrest critics of the government or military and punishable by up to three years in prison.
Among those imprisoned for incitement who were freed Thursday was the film director who works under the name of Steel and is also known as Dwe Myittar. He was arrested in March 2023 and had been held in Insein Prison.
Family members and colleagues wait to welcome released prisoners outside the main gate of Insein prison as the head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark the country’s traditional New Year Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
This year’s celebrations of Thingyan, the new year’s holiday, were more reserved than usual due to a nationwide grieving period following a devastating March 28 earthquake that killed about 3,725 people and leveled structures from new condos to ancient pagodas.
In a new year’s speech, Min Aung Hlaing said his government will carry out reconstruction and rehabilitation measures in the quake-affected areas as quickly as possible. He also reaffirmed plans to hold a general election by the end of the year and called on opposition groups fighting the army to resolve the conflicts in political ways.
During the holiday, the violent struggle between the army and pro-democracy forces continued with reports of clashes in the countryside but the number of casualties was unclear.
Family members and colleagues wait to welcome released prisoners outside the main gate of Insein prison as the head of Myanmar’s military government granted amnesty to thousands of prisoners to mark the country’s traditional New Year Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Yangon, Myanmar. (AP Photo/Thein Zaw)
The Chinese driver vomited and fell asleep at the wheel after crashing into vehicles parked along Pattaya 3 Road, Chonburi, on April 17, 2025.
PATTAYA — A Chinese tourist’s night out in Pattaya in a series of collisions after he crashed into multiple parked vehicles and then fell asleep at the wheel, police reported today.
The Pattaya Police Station received a call at 4:30 a.m. on April 17 about an incident involving a pickup truck that had collided with three parked vehicles – two motorcycles and one car – causing significant damage.
The accident occurred on Pattaya 3 Road at the entrance of Soi 21 Chaloem Phra Kiat, Nong Prue, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the pickup truck with its engine still running and a foreign national sleeping inside. The owners of the damaged vehicles were not present at the time.
The Chinese driver exited his vehicle to vomit on the street after crashing into vehicles parked along Pattaya 3 Road, Chonburi, on April 17, 2025.
According to witnesses, while reporters were documenting the accident scene, the driver attempted to flee but was too intoxicated to drive effectively. He stepped on the accelerator, causing his vehicle to crash again, resulting in severe damage to the front of his pickup truck that rendered it immobile.
The driver, visibly heavily intoxicated, then exited the vehicle to inspect the damage before walking to the back of his truck where he vomited profusely. After returning to his vehicle, he was seen opening the window and inducing himself to vomit again.
When police officers arrived and attempted to question him, the Chinese man was incoherent. Officers tried unsuccessfully to contact his relatives or acquaintances.
Police subsequently took the driver to the station for alcohol testing and are now working to contact the owners of the damaged vehicles to assess the property damage for legal proceedings against the Chinese tourist.
