RAYONG — 21 May 2026, Thailand’s Army Chief met with the head of the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) from the Philippines on Thursday to reaffirm a joint commitment to maintaining stability and security along the Thai-Cambodian border.
Gen. Pana Claewplodtook, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army, alongside high-ranking military officials, welcomed Brig. Gen. Gregorio Sibayan Nieveras, Head of the ASEAN Observer Team-Thailand (AOT-TH), and his AOT delegation from the Philippines on Thursday. The official introductory meeting was held in the Sri Sitthi Songkhram Reception Room within the Royal Thai Army Headquarters.
Both sides emphasized the vital mechanisms outlined in their Joint Statement, which aims to drive bilateral cooperation across all levels, from high-level policy down to ground operations. This is designed to foster peace, security, and orderly conduct along the shared Thai-Cambodian border, paving the way for sustainable peace and shared prosperity in the region.
Brig. Gen. Nieveras underscored the AOT’s core operational principles, promising that the observation team will adhere to strict neutrality at all times. This principle guides their mission to observe and collect information with absolute accuracy, transparency, and fairness, in accordance with the mutual agreements.
Gen. Pana confirmed that the Royal Thai Army stands fully prepared to support and facilitate the AOT’s mission across all dimensions, so the AOT delegation can carry out its oversight duties successfully within the established frameworks of the Joint Statement and existing cooperation agreements. This collaboration directly reflects the army’s commitment to anchoring the security mechanisms of the ASEAN Community.
Tourists check an electronic board departure schedule at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn Province, Thailand, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Chatkla Samnaingjam)
Thailand is considering raising its proposed tourist “landing fee” to more than 300 baht as authorities work on a new collection system that would include premium insurance coverage for foreign visitors.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the government is finalising both the collection model and appropriate pricing to avoid negatively affecting tourists’ travel experience.
Officials are currently studying two collection methods.
The first option would include the fee in airline tickets, which authorities view as the most convenient approach because tourists would not need to make additional payments upon arrival.
However, airlines currently cannot clearly separate Thai passengers from foreign tourists or business travellers. To address this, the government plans to create a refund application allowing Thai nationals and exempt travellers to reclaim the fee after entering the country.
The second option would collect the fee through the immigration system using electronic payment before entry into Thailand. While this method would allow authorities to clearly identify visa categories and traveller types, it may add extra procedures for visitors before arrival.
Surasak said the fee could exceed the previously discussed 300 baht because the government wants to provide premium insurance coverage for tourists immediately upon arrival in Thailand.
The proposed insurance would include treatment at leading private hospitals and help reduce the government’s financial burden when tourists’ own insurance coverage is insufficient.
Authorities are currently holding discussions with insurance associations to determine an appropriate fee structure. Part of the revenue would also be used to support tourism development projects nationwide.
RAYONG — 21 May 2026, Immigration authorities have raided a Chinese-operated health spa in Rayong province after undercover officers exposed an illicit prostitution services targeting foreign nationals behind the facade of a traditional massage business.
On Thursday, Pol. Col. Parinya Klinkesorn, Spokesperson of Immigration Division 3, revealed that following directives from national police chief, Pol. Gen. Kitrat Phanphet, to prevent and suppress transnational crime, illegal immigration, and the use of Thailand as a hub or transit point for illicit activities. Furthermore, it also targets unauthorized foreign workers and nominee businesses operating unlawfully across the country that adversely affect the livelihoods of citizens and national peace.
Under the directives of Commander of Immigration Division 3, Pol. Maj. Gen. Songprod Sirisukha, and his deputy, Pol. Col. Chinawut Tangwonglert coordinated, a specialized task force led by Pol. Col. Suriya Phuangsombat, Superintendent of Investigation, Immigration Division 3, raided a health spa located in Moo 4, Mab Yang Phon Sub-district, Pluak Daeng District, Rayong Province.
Following tip-offs from confidential informants alleging that the health spa was operating a wellness spa as a front while covertly offering illicit prostitution services exclusively to Chinese patrons, a sting operation coordinated by Pol. Lt. Col. Pitipat Srithana-aphinan, deputy superintendent, and Pol. Lt. Col. Jaturachok Phetkong, inspector, along with investigators, gather incriminating evidence. Upon entry, spa employees approached and offered a body-to-body massage package that included sexual services. The illicit package was priced at 4,500 Baht for a 50-minute session.
Pol. Col. Parinya stated that on Wednesday, Pol. Lt. Col. Pitipat sent an undercover officer to an upper-level service room where two Vietnamese women prepared to fulfill the service indicative of prostitution, back-up teams received the signal to storm and secure the premises.
A thorough search of the two-booth commercial building revealed that the second and third floors had been modified into more than 10 individual service rooms equipped with beds and service equipment. Officers seized a quantity of condoms and lubricants as criminal evidence.
Authorities arrested a total of eight foreign suspects: two Chinese, four Myanmar, and two Vietnamese. The suspects face charges under both the Prostitution Prevention and Suppression Act and the Royal Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens. During the raid, all female staff members found inside the establishment were strictly processed through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to determine if any of the workers had been subjected to forced labor, coercion, or human trafficking networks. Final assessments confirmed that none of the individuals met the criteria to be classified as victims of human trafficking.
For a country which hosts over two million migrant workers from Myanmar and at least half a million from Cambodia, they remain mostly invisible in Thailand. This is partly due to physical similarities, but also due to the fact that they are rarely acknowledged publicly as an indispensable part of the Thai economy, performing hard but low-paying work in the seafood, construction, and service industries, among others.
A small but significant step towards rectifying that will take place this Saturday, when a large mural painting belatedly acknowledging the contributions of migrant workers will be inaugurated in one of Bangkok’s most affluent neighbourhoods, in an alley between Thonglor Soi 9 and Soi 11.
The mural itself is far from small, measuring 10 metres high and 12 metres wide.
The artist team was led by Paris-based Burmese artist Chuu Wai, who has experience painting murals across Europe—including Zurich, Toulouse, and Marseille, and also India. Two Myanmar artists based in Bangkok also contributed: Sai Chit Min and Khant Win (YG).
While the project was initiated by SEA Junction—a Bangkok-based non-profit organisation that aims to promote a better understanding of Southeast Asia—in partnership with the International Labour Organization’s Ship to Shore Rights programme, which is funded by the European Union, and other partners including Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), it was Chuu Wai who scouted for the location. Her search eventually led her to the wall of Thonglor House Music Bar and Restaurant, owned by the generous Khun Jiab who will look after the mural for the next two years.
Earlier, at several other locations, property owners asked how much she would pay to use the space.
“So I said, ‘No, no. It’s public art,’” she told Khaosod English on Tuesday evening, as the mural was 99 per cent completed. “I almost gave up.”
While migrants from Myanmar are scattered across many countries in the region, including Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, the artist said Bangkok is the preferred location. After all, Thailand hosts the largest number of migrant workers from the repressive country outside Myanmar, with with estimates, including both registered and undocumented workers, likely approaching three million.
“If I have to talk about migrant workers from Myanmar, I have to choose Thailand. Thailand is the most interesting,” she continued in English, with a hint of a French accent after the years she spent there. “There are a lot [of migrant workers] and a lot is going on. I want to bring Thai people and migrant workers closer together. Many people will be walking past and seeing this mural.”
The mural depicts 13 migrant workers — 12 from Myanmar and one from Cambodia, two babies, and a dog. All are based on real migrant workers whom the artists spoke to, discussing how they would like themselves to be represented in the mural.
“They face a lot of difficulties. They want people to put themselves in their shoes. They are not coming here [to Thailand] to do bad things. They don’t want [Thais] to look at them like shit,” Chuu Wai explained, adding that she nevertheless told them the mural painting should not be depressing or sad, but should instead radiate positive energy.
With that goal in mind, Chuu Wai, who returns to Paris in a week, added with pride that the mural is located in the middle of an affluent area in Bangkok. To paint a mural celebrating the pride and aspirations of migrant workers here was, in her words, “so cool!”
One of the project’s main artists, Sai Chit Min, who works under the name Syncfio, is based in Bangkok. Sai, 28, fled the political turmoil in Myanmar three years ago. He was formerly an art teacher at an international school in Yangon but now tries to make ends meet by selling watercolour paintings here in Bangkok and teaching people, mostly expats, how to paint.
The biggest challenge in this project was the height of the mural, he told Khaosod English, adding that he is not entirely comfortable painting 10 metres above the ground. “The higher you get, the shakier it becomes.”
Sai said many people from Myanmar try their best to make a new home in Thailand and, despite the harsh working conditions, “this is still better than Myanmar.”
He was modest when asked about his expectations for his mural painting work. “I don’t hope for that much, but I hope they will see the lives [of migrant workers] and the work that no one else wanted to do. I wish we could do more projects like this to raise awareness. I am very happy that this mural project happened. I got a chance to be part of it and meet a lot of amazing people,” Sai concluded as we sat inside Thonglor House for the interview.
Because it is a work of public art, many people passed by during the process, which took over 10 days to complete. Alongside the three core artists, around 40 volunteers took turns painting. Sai said some passers-by stopped and asked him about the meaning of the painting.
“I said ‘Together We Build’,” he replied, referring to the name of both the mural and the project. You can contact Sai on Instagram at @some.paints
By around 20:00 on Tuesday, the rain had stopped. SEA Junction’s founder and executive director, Rosalia Scortino, led this writer outside to elaborate on the painting. The Italian-born Scortino pointed to a female migrant worker in purple holding a shrimp, explaining that her work involves shelling shrimps in Samut Sakhon province, just south of Bangkok. Scortino added that the woman’s work has become doubly hard because the factory reduced its workforce, requiring one worker to do the volume of work that used to be handled by two.
Photo: Sai Chit Min
Then there is a male Cambodian construction worker on the upper right of the mural.
Scortino said the man is currently unemployed due to the Thai-Cambodian border conflict but has two children who are married to Thais. She then spoke about the red tape related to the work visa application process, and how it was depicted on the left side of the painting by a man carrying a tall bundle of papers over his head.
There was also a tuk-tuk with a dog in the back seat. The dog is real as well, a rescued mixed-breed adopted by Scortino five years ago. It accompanied her to inspect the daily progress of the project, and it was Sai who decided to feature the dog in the mural.
The ‘Together We Build’ mural painting by Chuu Wai & Co will be inaugurated on Saturday, 23 May 2026, from 17:00 to 20:00 at Thonglor House, with complimentary canapés provided by the restaurant. All are invited.
CHAIYAPHUM — 21 May 2026, villagers in northeastern Thailand have begun digging for “mang jeenoon”, a seasonal scarab beetle delicacy popular in Isaan cuisine, as the arrival of the rainy season creates opportunities for extra income.
Residents in several communities in Chaiyaphum province said the insects emerge only once a year during the early rainy season, allowing villagers to collect and sell them for up to 1,000-1,500 baht a day.
In Na Yang Klak subdistrict of Thep Sathit district, villagers gathered with hoes, digging sticks and plastic bottles before heading into nearby community forests to search for the beetles, which burrow underground beneath shrubs and small trees to lay eggs.
The insects are commonly found in burrows about 20 centimetres below the soil surface, particularly near loose soil or small openings around tree roots, locals said.
Villagers said each burrow can contain between six and 10 beetles, which are carefully dug out using traditional techniques passed down through generations.
The beetles are sold for about 1 baht each, while larger ones can fetch up to 2 baht.
Locals describe mang jeenoon as a high-protein seasonal delicacy that can only be found during the rainy season.
Before cooking, the insects are usually soaked in water overnight or cleaned to remove waste before being fried, roasted or added to spicy local dishes.
Popular recipes include chilli dips, bamboo shoot curry, herbal soups and fried beetles mixed with eggs, often served with steamed rice.
Villagers said the annual beetle hunt reflects a long-standing local tradition and provides valuable supplementary income during the rainy season.
KHON KAEN — 21 May 2026, A spectacular showcase with the grand launch of the “Mor Lam Carnival: The Charm of Isan Khon Kaen” under the theme, Khon Kaen to the World 2027, aiming to cement the province’s reputation as the global “metropolis of mor lam,” elevating the traditional folk music genre for UNESCO World Heritage status.
On Thursday, reporters observed five dazzling mor lam parades marched down Klang Mueang Road in Khon Kaen’s municipal district. Performers paused along the route to showcase elaborate, shimmering costumes and dramatic routines for both eager spectators and judging panels. This colorful carnival procession is a core highlight of the Mor Lam Carnival: The Charm of Isan Khon Kaen festival. The ceremony features vibrant contemporary and creative parades, stunning light and sound productions, and star-studded performances from top-tier troupes like “Rabiab Wathasin.” The showcases by all five processions left a lasting impression on attendees before making their way to the Anti-Drug Sports Ground.
The festival runs from 20 to 22 May at the Anti-Drug Sports Ground near the Bueng Kaen Nakhon lake, Khon Kaen. In addition, the venue features stalls selling local community products and traditional Isan cuisine, offering visitors fully immerse themselves in shopping and dining.
Saratsanun Unnopporn, Secretary to the Minister of Culture, officially inaugurated the event. The ceremony featured a headline performance by Rabiab Watthasilp, mor lam troupe. Despite pre-show rain showers, thousands of dedicated fans remained gathered on mats across the grounds to support the artists.
Saratsanun noted that mor lam is a highly popular performing art in the Isan region, drawing vast followings of devoted fanbases for each troupe, which in turn generates local trade and stimulates the regional economy. The Mor Lam Carnival, now in its third consecutive year, reflects the Ministry of Culture’s ongoing dedication to promoting Isan’s mor lam heritage. Moreover, mor lam is a treasured cultural asset that must be preserved and championed by all sectors. The Ministry of Culture is also actively preparing to nominate mor lam to UNESCO as World Heritage status. The Ministry is currently conducting thorough research and is confident that once Cabinet approval is secured, the nomination will successfully progress through the official UNESCO listing cycle, officially registering mor lam as a world-class cultural heritage.
The executives and Board of Directors of CLICX Bank Public Company Limited, or “CLICX”, officially received the license to operate a branchless commercial bank, or Virtual Bank, from the Bank of Thailand.
This marks an important milestone for CLICX, established through the collaboration of KTB, AIS and OR, as it moves forward to become Thailand’s first branchless bank. The official license handover reflects CLICX’s readiness to fully enter the digital banking business, supported by its strengths in technology, security, service standards and understanding of the financial behaviours of modern Thai consumers. CLICX aims to develop digital financial services that are accessible, secure and designed to meet the everyday needs of users.
Ms. Suporn Sunthornrohit, Chief Executive Officer of CLICX Bank Public Company Limited, said that “The establishment of CLICX marks an important step for Thailand in advancing its financial system to support the digital economy, while creating new opportunities for Thai people to access financial services that are more inclusive, fair and safe. We believe that the new era of banking is not merely about providing transaction channels, but about building financial infrastructure that helps remove long-standing barriers for individuals and micro-entrepreneurs, enabling everyone to manage their money, plan for the future and gain better access to economic opportunities. CLICX is therefore committed to bringing together technology and financial services to set a new standard for Thai banking and serve as a key force in driving the country’s sustainable economic growth.”
CLICX aims to design app-based services that understand the diverse lifestyles and financial needs of each individual, covering everything from savings and money management to financial products tailored to each user. The platform will also help drive Financial Inclusion by enabling Thai people to access quality financial services more widely and equally. CLICX plans to launch its services by June 2026, as it moves forward to set a new benchmark for Thailand’s banking industry and redefine the financial experience of Thai consumers in the digital era.
For more information about CLICX, please visit www.clicxbank.com, Facebook: CLICX Bank, and Instagram: CLICX_Bank.
Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati
Update 12 June 2026: Princess Bajrakitiyabha died on 11 June 2026 following a prolonged illness. Readers can find Khaosod English’s latest coverage here
The Royal Household Bureau on Thursday said a severe and uncontrolled infection has affected multiple vital organs of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati.
In its seventh statement on the princess’s condition issued on 21 May, the bureau said doctors treating the princess at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital had detected an abdominal infection since April 2026 caused by inflammation of the large intestine.
(AP Photo/Mark Baker)
The statement said the infection caused unstable symptoms including low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and abnormal blood clotting.
Despite continuous life-support treatment for her lungs and kidneys, along with multiple antibiotics and medications to stabilise blood pressure and heart rhythm, the princess’s condition has continued to deteriorate, according to the statement.
“The condition indicates a severe infection that remains uncontrolled, affecting the function of multiple vital organs,” the Royal Household Bureau said.
Doctors are continuing to provide full treatment and closely monitor her condition.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha has been receiving treatment at the hospital since 15 December 2022 after losing consciousness due to a heart condition.
Princess Bajrakitiyabha, 47, is the eldest daughter of King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Princess Soamsawali.
She graduated in law from Thammasat University before obtaining advanced law degrees from Cornell University.
The princess has worked in diplomacy and law, previously serving as Thailand’s ambassador to Austria and as a public prosecutor. She also represented Thailand at the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, focusing on issues including crime prevention, criminal justice, human rights and migration.
MILAN — 21 May 2026, Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) brought 25 Thai brands to exhibit handcrafted products and sustainable material innovations at Milan Design Week 2026, one of the world’s largest design festivals, held in April.
The exhibition, titled “Slow Hand Design 2026”, was held at Superstudio Events in Milan under the concept “Heritage Reimagined: The Futuristic Thai Crafts Evolution”.
Organisers said the exhibition aimed to demonstrate how innovative materials rooted in local Thai wisdom could meet international design standards.
Participating brands presented materials developed from agricultural and industrial waste, including tiles made from mycelium, rice scraps and coffee grounds, as well as materials developed from acid sulphate soil.
The exhibition reflected growing global interest in sustainable materials with strong cultural and environmental narratives, organisers said.
Among the featured works was “SEA of Love” by AVALON ARTISAN GALLERY, which showcased a wall sculpture created from “MyraShell”, a biomaterial developed from discarded mussel shells from Thailand’s seafood industry.
The material was developed in collaboration with Thailand’s National Innovation Agency, Kasetsart University and the university’s Faculty of Fisheries.
According to the developers, the material’s microporous structure allows it to diffuse fragrance, highlighting its potential in sustainable design and material innovation.
DITP said the exhibition highlighted the potential of Thai designers and sustainable materials on the global stage while introducing contemporary interpretations of Thai craftsmanship to international audiences.
KANCHANABURI — 21 May 2026, A Moo Kata (Thai BBQ) restaurant owner has released security camera footage and demanded swift disciplinary action after a police sub-lieutenant allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old waitress and members of his party allegedly dismissed the incident as a “normal” occurrence.
A CCTV video shared on Facebook on Wednesday appeared to show a male customer inappropriately touching the young waitress at a local Thai BBQ eatery. According to the accompanying caption, the incident occurred on the night of Tuesday. Legal action is being pursued, with the restaurant management vowing not to overlook the offense and pledging to seek justice for their staff member.
Reporters visited the “Ton Pradoo Mookata” restaurant, a Thai BBQ restaurant located in Lat Ya Sub-district, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province, to speak with the victim, Jane, 20, a server. She told reporters that at approximately 21:30 on Tuesday, she was attending to a large party of approximately 12 customers, consisting of both men and women.
One male customer, wearing a shirt featuring an emblem resembling a military or police insignia, called her over and asked her to sing. After consulting management, Jane said she was instructed to decline the request in order to avoid disturbing other patrons. She said she then returned to inform the customer, who allegedly asked her to step closer before reaching out and touching her inappropriately without her consent. Jane said she was shocked by the incident and immediately stepped away from the table before reporting the matter to the restaurant owner, who then contacted police.
Jane admits she is deeply shaken by what happened. Moreover, she expressed deep anxiety over her safety after learning her attacker is an active-duty police sub-lieutenant. She is just working a part-time job, having to ride motorcycle home alone late at night.
Meanwhile, the restaurant owner, Phanupong, 31, informed reporters that after learning of the assault from his employee, he immediately contacted local authorities to handle the situation. When responding officers arrived, he led the victim to identify her attacker. The suspect denied the allegations and challenged the owner to check the establishment’s CCTV network. He played the footage directly in front of the entire gathering.
Instead of apologizing, members of the accused officer’s party allegedly shrugged off the footage, reportedly suggesting the act was “just a normal matter.” Their reaction angered the owner, who said his employees work hard to earn a living and that he would not tolerate such conduct toward his staff. He said he would continue supporting the employee throughout the legal process. An official report has been lodged at the Lat Ya Police Station.
Furthermore, the owner called on the accused officer’s superiors to intervene and ensure appropriate action is taken. He said police officers are expected to protect the public and uphold professional standards, and questioned how the public could maintain confidence in the legal process if such incidents are not properly addressed. He also urged authorities to ensure a fair investigation and justice for his employee.
