Forensic officers cordon off the room where the body of a 30-year-old Cambodian female worker was found murdered in Pattana Nikhom District, Lopburi Province on September 2, 2024.
LOPBURI — A Cambodian woman who came to work in Thailand was murdered in her room. Upon examining the wounds, the police suspect that the perpetrator acted out of hatred towards the woman, as they did not steal the money or gold necklace in the room.
On September 2, Pol. Lt. Col. Sanpop Polruang, Investigation Inspector of Pattana Nikhom Police Station, Lopburi Province, along with Pol. Col. Chayachai Nathanakanchon, Superintendent, along with the investigation team and volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation, inspected the crime scene at room number 11, a single-story rental room.
Upon entering the room, officers found the body of a woman lying face down, wearing a red shirt and black pants. Initial examination revealed blood covering the room, particularly around the neck area.
The sister of the Cambodian female worker weeps after discovering her sister had been murdered. She found the body upon returning from her night shift on September 2, 2024.
Lopburi police are investigating the murder of a 30-year-old Cambodian woman, Ms. Mab. She was found with over 10 knife wounds. Her sister discovered the body at Amornrat Dormitory, near B Food Company, Moo 5, Chong Sarika Subdistrict, Pattana Nikhom District, Lopburi Province.
She called the workers’ supervisor to coordinate with the police to come to the scene of the incident. The body was sent to Pattana Nikhom Hospital for autopsy.
Forensic officers from Lopburi Provincial Police inspected the scene and found over 3,000 baht in cash and a gold necklace weighing about 1 baht near the table. The room was in disarray, suggesting a struggle before the woman’s throat was cut. Barefoot and shoe prints were found on the floor, believed to be from the perpetrator.
A group of workers gather at the scene where a 30-year-old Cambodian female worker was brutally murdered in Pattana Nikhom District, Lopburi Province on September 2, 2024.
Later, investigators questioned the victim’s sister, Ms. Charaiyon, who works at B Food Company. She stated that initially, she, her sister, and their brother rented the room together, but their brother had returned to Cambodia. When she returned from her night shift, she found the door open and discovered her sister’s body.
The investigation revealed that normally only the two sisters lived in the room, working different shifts. Police are considering motives including rape or a love affair, as the victim was attractive and had many male admirers. A neighbor reported hearing what sounded like an argument late at night.
Preliminary autopsy results showed the victim suffered blunt force trauma to the head and face, as well as what appeared to be knife wounds, severely disfiguring her face. The nature of the wounds suggests the perpetrator harbored intense hatred towards the victim.
Andrei, a Russian national, is apprehended at an unnumbered house along Thong Sala-Ban Nai Wok Road, Moo 1, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province on September 1, 2024.
KOH PHANGAN — Russian retiree and Ukrainian teenager arrested on Koh Phangan for illegally working in Thailand, renting out vehicles advertised in Russian Telegram groups
Dmytro, 18, a Ukrainian national, is caught in a hotel parking lot in Moo 4, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province on September 1, 2024.
On September 2, the Tourist Police revealed that in cooperation with the Koh Phangan District Chief, the District Security Investigation Officer, Koh Phangan Police Station, Tourist Police, and Koh Phangan Immigration Police, they conducted an operation to check on foreign workers illegally engaged in occupations reserved for Thai nationals. They arrested two foreigners on Sunday.
Andrei, aged 60, a Russian national, was apprehended at an unnumbered house along Thong Sala-Ban Nai Wok Road, Moo 1, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province. He was charged with “being a foreigner working without a work permit.” A Mazda car with Surat Thani license plate was seized as evidence.
Dmytro, aged 18, a Ukrainian national, was caught in a hotel parking lot in Moo 4, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province, on the same charge. A Yamaha motorcycle with Lopburi license plate was seized as evidence.
Andrei confessed to illegally renting out cars, advertising through online channels, specifically the Telegram application. He collected a deposit of 15,000 baht per person as a guarantee from customers, who were mostly Russians residing in Koh Phangan District.
A Mazda car with Surat Thani license plate and a Yamaha motorcycle with Lopburi license plate are seized as evidence.
Dmytro, who came to Thailand to study, wanted to earn extra income and had been renting out vehicles for about two months. Recently, he advertised a motorcycle for rent in Andrei’s Telegram group for Russians living in Koh Phangan District.
His rental rates were: 10,000 baht for one month, 699 baht per day for 1-3 days, 599 baht per day for 3-9 days, 499 baht per day for 10-20 days, and 399 baht per day for 20-29 days.
Both were taken to Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings. Under Thai law, Section 8 states that foreigners working without a work permit or working beyond their permitted rights face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation to their home country, and a two-year ban on applying for a work permit from the date of punishment.
The American Bully dogs named Fino and Tesla, which fatally bit Apisit's younger brother, are still living in Apisit's house in Lopburi Province, waiting for experts in raising this breed to take them.
LOPBURI — A shocking incident has occurred once again, where American Bully dogs have fatally attacked a person, within a span of one month. The latest incident is even more heartbreaking, as a member of the family that owned the dogs became the victim.
A 18-year-old man was mauled to death by two American Bully dogs left at his home in Lopburi Province by his 23-year-old police brother, Apisit, who left for work in Bangkok on Friday night.
The incident occurred while only the victim and the dogs were at home and the attack was captured on a CCTV camera showing the victim trying to flee downstairs to a bedroom but failed to close the door in time.
His father later found the son inside the room with the two dogs, both his ears missing and with many other serious wounds and blood all over. The dogs were locked up as of Saturday with the owner saying the two are normally gentle.
Apisit pays respects at his younger brother’s funeral, who was fatally attacked by two American Bully dogs, at the funeral ceremony in Lopburi Province on September 1, 2024.
Apisit, the owner of the American Bully dogs, is doubly saddened after being attacked on social media with comments like ‘You brought dogs to kill your brother.’ He pleads for understanding in light of his family’s immense loss. His father is severely stressed, his mother fainted and is inconsolable. He himself has to face the cruelty of people who show no mercy or sympathy for his family.
He appeals through the media for understanding of his family’s mental state after losing a loved one irretrievably.
On September 1, the deceased’s family held a funeral at Wat Luang Thai Talat in Mueang Lopburi District, in deep sorrow. The mother, in particular, fainted and collapsed to the ground, requiring first aid from relatives as officials brought her son’s body to the hall. The funeral chanting will be held from today, with cremation scheduled for September 5.
Apisit said tearfully that he feels immense pity for his younger brother who was fatally attacked by his dogs. It’s difficult for him to come to terms with it. He recounted that at the time of the incident, his father was at work and his mother had gone to see a doctor. He himself was on night shift and didn’t return home in the evening as usual.
He had left the three American Bullies with his younger brother. He suspects that Fino and Tesla became stressed because he didn’t come home in the evening as usual. It’s possible that his brother might have played with them incorrectly or inappropriately.
The accumulated stress from not seeing Apisit, combined with this, might have triggered their aggression. Once they started biting and smelled blood, they became uncontrollable and wouldn’t listen to commands to stop.
Tank Gas, aged 4, the mother of the two American Bullies, was injured on her leg. Apisit thinks this was because she tried to help his brother but couldn’t withstand the strength of her two offspring and had to retreat. Now, ‘Tank Gas’ has already been taken in by a volunteer.
For the other two dogs, he will only choose fosters who are knowledgeable in caring for American Bully dogs. The man said the dogs now remind him and his family of the tragic incident so he can’t keep them.
The owner grieves having to send Tank Gas, a female American Bully dog, to be raised by someone else after a tragedy occurred.
“I implore the media not to further wound my family,’ Apisit said. ‘Everyone’s mental state is terrible right now, and we’re having to deal with harsh accusations from ill-intentioned people that are unbearable. Please, I beg the media not to present any more stories about me and my family,” said Apisit.
On July 26, 2024, three American Bully dogs fatally attacked a 70-year-old man on the street in front of a house in Phu Wiang District, Khon Kaen Province on the night of July 24. In that case, the owner also gave them away for free to those willing to adopt them.
According to Caroline Coile, the author of the Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds,American Bully, breed of muscular companion dog created in the United States in the 1980s and ’90s. With proper training and care, it can often be an excellent family dog. However, because of its strength and potential for aggression, this powerful breed has been banned or restricted in several countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
Kittichate Rattanakunsart, a first-year student in the Faculty of Painting at Silpakorn University, is the creator of the viral seascape paintings.
BANGKOK — An acrylic seascape paintingby a first-year student, posted for sale online for just 800 baht ($24), went viral. It received an overwhelming number of likes and shares, causing the price of the subsequent work to skyrocket to 159,999 baht ($4,700) at auction.
Kittichate Rattanakunsart, a first-year student in the Faculty of Painting at Silpakorn University and creator of the viral artwork, told Khaosod Online that he was shocked and very confused by this viral trend. He never expected to receive this much attention, as his previous works only received about 20-30 likes.
“I’ve previously sold 2-3 paintings on the page, which were works completed after class assignments at university. Back then, they received 20-30 likes and only 4-5 people wrote compliments. I priced them at 1,000-1,500 baht ($30-45). But this time, there are over 80,000 likes from people sharing it continuously,” he said. People also questioned, “Isn’t this beautiful painting being sold too cheaply?”
Composition “Shadow Light” (left) and Wave Sparkle”
Kittichate posted his work, Composition “Shadow Light”, using acrylic on paper technique, sized 42×59″, on the Facebook group ART & CRAFT Lovers Market on August 26, with the caption “I’m selling my work for 800 baht.”
About 15 minutes after posting, someone contacted him to buy it for 800 baht. Kittichate revealed that he priced it this way because he didn’t spend too much time on it, about 4 hours. He painted it late Sunday night to submit on Monday morning, rushing to finish so he could sleep and wake up to submit the work in the morning.
The student whose work became famous overnight said he was happy that everyone appreciated his work and got to know it better. Usually, after submitting assignments to teachers, he sometimes posts them for sale. He works on paintings daily, following teachers’ instructions, gradually becoming more skilled.
Kittichate Rattanakunsart
“The inspiration for this painting came from shadows reflecting on sea waves, which look fluid and soft to the eyes. I painted based on a seascape photo I took myself. Although it’s not exactly like the photo, I tried to make the painting look dimensional, emphasizing light and shadow weights, highlights to make the work look complete and beautiful,” he said.
Kittichate added that next time, he would probably price his paintings at 1,200 baht and up. He wants to encourage everyone to support student works. He’s very grateful and proud to have this opportunity.
Later, on August 30, Kittichate painted a similar work but with brighter blue seas, posting it for auction. He included a photo of himself painting with a cat sitting in front of the work.
This time, Kittichate stated that the painting is called “Wave Sparkle”, using acrylic on canvas technique, sized 45×60 cm. The auction started at 800 baht, with any bid amount accepted, 200 baht for shipping with frame, closing on September 1, 2024 at 1.30 p.m.
As of September 1, the highest bid reached 159,999 baht. Kittichate posted a message on his Facebook page, saying: ‘Thank you to everyone who participated in the auction and showed interest in and appreciation for my work, recognizing its value. I feel grateful and happy to have received such a great opportunity. I am ready to listen to all of your advice and criticisms, and I am prepared to continue developing and improving my work. Thank you very much. You can follow my work on INSTAGRAM: art_fillm‘
BANGKOK — We’re not sure how to define her whether as a vendor, a streamer, or an actress. But for ‘Guitar – Phromporn Phrommaphirom‘, she ‘knew it’ that she has achieved her dream of becoming a singer, marking the first step in her journey.
At 13, Guitar spent her free time after school as a live DJ on the Talk Talk platform. She started with a small salary of 500-1,000 baht, which grew to 100,000 baht by the time she was 15 or 16 years old. Even woke up at 4 am and live-streamed whenever she could to build a fan base.
During her time as a DJ, she began interacting with her audience through various means, including singing. By the age of 16, she started covering songs by her favorite artists and posted them on her YouTube channel, ‘Guiitarima’. This helped her gain recognition as a girl who enjoyed covering popular songs.
“I began live streaming on social media platforms for the first time and earned hundreds of thousands of baht per month. When I was 16, the Talk Talk platform closed. Other platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok started to grow, which gave me a chance to reach a larger audience. My viewers increased from hundreds on Talk Talk to thousands on these new platforms,” she shared confidently.
‘Guitar – Phromporn Phrommaphirom’
On Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, Guitar not only interacts with her fans and shares her daily activities but also covers popular songs and tells short stories of movies she has watched. This has helped her followers see more than just her singing.
Today, Guitar’s success as a streamer has led her to be invited by the Faculty of Management Sciences at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University to give an inspiring lecture to students. This is a testament to her achievements as a content creator on online platforms.
At ages around 16-17, Guitar faced significant changes in her life. After struggling with various singing contests and dealing with family business issue, she had to transfer schools. Adapting to the new environment was challenging, so she decided to focus on becoming an actress after attending a casting for a series. This led her to change her look from a young girl to a more mature appearance with curly hair.
“However, the series was never re-recorded, so I chose to use this look to enter the Miss Teen Thailand contest, where I made it to the top 50. I think my unique personality set me apart from other contestants. Although I didn’t win, the contest opened doors for me in the casting industry as an advertising actress,” she said.
Guitar added, “I feel more confident with my curly hair than with my straight hair because straight hair made me feel like I had to conform to trends. With my curly hair, I can be myself, which is my natural look.”
Being a Miss Teen Thailand contestant helped Guitar land her first acting role in the 2020 horror film ‘Who Haunted Forest,’ where she played a supporting role alongside Naek-Charlie Trairat. Their shared love for music led to Guitar contributing to Naek-Charlie’s hip-hop single ‘Maeng Wan,’ bringing her closer to her dream of becoming a singer.
Between 18-19, as Guitar’s life shifted towards the pageant world and acting, she also ventured into business due to her own skin problems. Using a secret Thai herbal formula from her mother, she created the brand Maertar. The brand, which includes a variety of products, achieved significant sales on e-commerce platforms, thanks in part to Guitar’s promotion of the products through her streaming channels.
Guitar was determined to become a singer. She had the chance to train with a record label for several years, but due to opportunities in advertising and acting, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to leave the trainee position. Instead, she became a freelance artist, continued acting, and ran her skincare brand, all while hoping to release first song someday.
Despite her successful acting roles and the thriving skincare business, Guitar faced language barriers that led her to pursue language studies in England at age 20. “Living in England for nearly a year helped me mature. London is a place of opportunities, and I met music producers who broadened my understanding of different music styles. It was also when I started writing lyrics inspired by my experiences there,” she said.
The inspiration for her lyrics, combined with the help of ‘Look Peach The Voice’ to refine the song, and produced by ‘Ben (benlussboy)’, culminated in her first single, ‘Knew It.’
“Knew It” is based on her personal experiences with love and disappointment during her time in England. The song reflects her fear of being hurt again after previous betrayals. Guitar explained,
“The song’s message is about opening up to love but being afraid of getting hurt. It’s about the struggle of wanting to love but fearing disappointment. At times, I felt numb and believed that
any new relationship would end the same way. Despite wanting love, I was afraid of starting over.”
“This song is an R&B track that blends Thai and English lyrics. It has a melody and lyrics that truly reflect who I am, which is why I chose it as my debut song as an independent artist, released through my own YouTube channel.”
Although “Knew It” is an R&B song, which is her favorite style, Guitar’s look reminds us of many Diva singers. She admires the singing styles of Diva artists like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. However, when it comes to life and style, Rihanna is the artist she looks up to. For Thai artists, she would love to collaborate with Da Endorphine and Palmy Eve Pancharoen.
‘Guitar – Phromporn Phrommaphirom’
Guitar explained that she chose “Knew It” as her debut song because, without the restrictions of a record label, she has the freedom to release music that best reflects who she is. With advice from a music producer, she felt this song was the perfect choice for her debut. However, she doesn’t limit herself to just R&B. She hinted that in the future, she might explore rock music or Diva-style songs as well.
“The thing that brought me to this point is my speaking skills,” Guitar said confidently. Her ability to communicate is clearly reflected in the variety of content she shares on her guiitarima account across various platforms, which has led to income generation and business expansion. Another aspect of Guitar’s charm is her versatility in entertainment.
“People remember me differently some as a streamer, some entertainer, some a vendor, some as a movie reviewer, and some as a singer. I see these as the colors of being an artist. For me, being an artist is about creating art, and art has no boundaries. The same goes for music. Even though I love R&B, it’s not the only genre I enjoy because I believe I can be any kind of artist as long as I can entertain the audience.”
Guitar’s confidence shines through as she shares, “I think I got to this point because I’m good at speaking.” Her enthusiasm and self-assurance were evident throughout the conversation. When asked about the future, she compared her journey to Whitney Houston’s song “I Have Nothing.”
She explained, “Five years ago, I had nothing, and now I have something. In the future, I want to be someone that everyone remembers. I want to be an iconic figure that people recognize, no matter what they remember me.”
When asked whether she would prioritize being a singer, streamer, or vendor, Guitar responded, “For singing, I see it as a job that brings happiness to both me and my listeners because I want to be a creator of happiness. As for being an entrepreneur, I view it as a way to generate income for my family and to expand into other ventures that will also bring joy to my fans who follow me.”
This combination of six undated photos shows hostages, from top left, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Yerushalmi, from bottom left, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat, who were held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, the Hostages Families Forum announced their deaths while in Hamas captivity. (The Hostages Families Forum via AP)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Sunday said it had recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza, including a young Israeli-American man who became one of the most well-known captives held by Hamas as his parents met with world leaders and pressed for his release, including at the Democratic convention last month.
The military said all six had been killed shortly before they were to be rescued by Israeli forces. Their recovery sparked calls for mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who many families of hostages and much of the wider Israeli public blame for failing to bring them back alive in a deal with Hamas to end the 10-month-old war. Negotiations over such a deal have dragged on for months.
In a separate development, gunmen killed three people when they opened fire on a vehicle in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has been carrying out large-scale military raids in recent days. Israel’s Magen David Adom rescue service confirmed the casualties.
Militants seized Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, and four of the other hostages at a music festival in southern Israel during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, which triggered the war.
People protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
\The native of Berkeley, California, lost part of his left arm to a grenade in the attack. In April, a Hamas-issued video showed him, his left hand missing and clearly speaking under duress, sparking new protests in Israel urging the government to do more to secure his and others’ freedom.
The army identified the other hostages as Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; and Alexander Lobanov, 33; who were also taken from the music festival. The sixth, Carmel Gat, 40, was abducted from the nearby farming community of Be’eri.
“According to preliminary information, they were cruelly murdered by Hamas terrorists shortly before we reached them,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesperson, told reporters.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas. The militant group has offered to release the hostages in return for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants.
Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed and says military pressure is needed to bring home the hostages. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that he got into a shouting match last week with his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who accused him of prioritizing control over a strategic corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border — a major sticking point in the talks — over the lives of the hostages.
People protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, said: “The heart of an entire nation is shattered to pieces.” Gallant said: “In the name of the state of Israel, I hold their families close to my heart and ask forgiveness.” There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu.
A forum of hostage families called for a massive protest on Sunday, demanding a “complete halt of the country” to push for the implementation of a cease-fire and hostage release.
“A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive. It’s time to bring our hostages home,” it said in a statement.
President Joe Biden, who had met with the parents, said he was “devastated and outraged.”
“It is as tragic as it is reprehensible,” he said. “Make no mistake, Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages.”
Vice President Kamala Harris also released a statement, saying her prayers were with the Goldberg-Polin family and condemning Hamas.
Goldberg-Polin’s parents, U.S.-born immigrants to Israel, became perhaps the most high-profile relatives of hostages on the international stage. They met with Biden, Pope Francis and others and addressed the United Nations, urging the release of all hostages.
FILE – Jon Polin, left, and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, speak on stage during the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
On Aug. 21, his parents addressed a hushed hall at the Democratic National Convention — after sustained applause and chants of “bring him home.”
“This is a political convention. But needing our only son — and all of the cherished hostages — home is not a political issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” said his father, Jon Polin. His mother, Rachel, who bowed her head during the ovation and touched her chest, said “Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive.”
She and her husband sought to keep their son and the others held from being reduced to numbers, describing Hersh as a music and soccer lover and traveler with plans to attend university since his military service had ended. At events she often addressed her son directly in the hope he could hear her, urging him to live another day.
Some 250 hostages were taken on Oct. 7. Before the military’s announcement of the latest discovery of bodies, Israel said it believed 108 hostages were still held in Gaza and about one-third of them were dead. In late August, the Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages in southern Gaza.
This undated photo shows Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza. On Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024, the Hostages Families Forum announced the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin while in Hamas captivity. (The Hostages Families Forum via AP)
Eight hostages have been rescued by Israeli forces, the most recent found on Tuesday. More than 100 were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Two previous Israeli operations to free hostages killed scores of Palestinians. Hamas says several hostages have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and failed rescue attempts. Israeli troops mistakenly killed three Israelis who escaped captivity in December.
Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, when they stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, attacking army bases and several farming communities.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not say how many were fighters or civilians. It has displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times, and plunged the besieged territory into a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ms. Kattiya Sawasdiphol, a party-list MP from the Pheu Thai Party, whose father was a prominent member of the Red Shirt group assassinated during the 2010 protest crackdown, was seen talking with Mr. Chaichana Detdecho, a Democrat Party MP from Nakhon Si Thammarat, in the parliament meeting. This occurred before Pheu Thai invited the Democrat Party to join the government on August 28, 2024.
In bringing in its longtime nemesis the Democrat Party to the fold as a coalition partner of the new government, PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Thursday calls for people to look into the future and put the bitter past behind.
The new PM also argues that the old guards of the Democrat Party are no longer in power and people, particularly her supporters and pro-Thaksin redshirts should move on despite the fact that many of the 99 people who were killed during the massive crackdown on redshirt demonstrators occurred in 2010 when they seek to oust the Democrat government under then PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. The argument was this the current Democrat Party is different from the past. This is partly true.
Abhisit has since resigned from not just Democrat Party leadership but from the conservative-royalist party itself after his party lost in the general election in 2019 and other leaders inside his party decided to join the coalition government led by then former junta-leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha despite Abhisit pledging to the public just before the election day his party would never join the pro-military parties in a coalition government.
As much as this writer wishes to see bygone be bygone and Thailand stepping out of the two-decade old political division and hatred where Thaksin Shinawatra and ultra-royalist forces clash against one another time and again, it is unlikely to happen soon for the following reasons.
First, some relatives of those who were killed or imprisoned on both sides of the political conflicts as a result of demonstrating on the streets are still waiting for justice or closure and no one, no big player, has been held responsible.
Second, for those who want to move on, do consider that although at the surface level, this could be seen as a major step, a reconciliation between who arch political enemies, the Pheu Thai and the Democrat, but in reality, the move was actually a very public punishment and humiliation against the old guards of the Democrat Party and its die-hard anti-Thaksin supporters, mostly from the southern region but also in Bangkok.
Chuan Leekpai, the former PM, ex House Speaker and former Democrat Party leader and arguably the patriarch on the Democrat Party, was publicly dressed down humiliated and literally discarded by the current party leadership led by Chalermchai Sri-on as the party went ahead to join the Pheu Thai-led coalition despite Chuan warning that the party is literally abandoning its pledge and its longtime supporters as people who voted for party voted for a party that is supposedly and unmistakably against the Pheu Thai Party and the Shinawatra clan.
In this sense, the move can be seen not as reconciliation or a move towards national unity as a ploy used by Paetongtarn and her father, Thaksin, to punish and humiliate the old guards and their long-time enemies particularly Chuan Leekpai and Abhisit, and destroy the party by literally turning the Democrat Party into a servile party under a new Pheu Thai-led coalition in exchanged of two Cabinet seats for the current DP leaders.
The future of the Democrat Party looks more uncertain than ever. It’s unclear what they now stand for and current MPs might even run under the Pheu Thai banner in future elections. Thailand’s oldest party in existence could be left to disintegrate.
Third, political division is far from healed but the bogeyman of the Pheu Thai Party, the royalist conservatives and the Paetongtarn/Thaksin government is now the opposition People’s Party. A prominent pro-Thaksin propagandist has even declared earlier this week that People’s Party, which is the avatar of the now-disbanded Move Forward Party, is now the “new” Democrat Party, the enemy of Thaksin and Pheu Thai Party supporters.
Also, there’s always the army waiting around the corner to exploit the new tensions as even Abhisit himself said today the past could repeat itself if Thaksin doesn’t learn from the past.
A Chinese woman posts a picture to show that she has obtained a Thai driver's license by simply paying an agent.
CHIANG MAI — The Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office has clarified the case of a Chinese woman who posted a review claiming she could buy a Thai driver’s license, which became a widely criticized issue among internet users.
On August 31, Mr. Manop Phutthawong, the Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Officer, stated that this case involved a Thai netizen sharing a post by a Chinese woman. The post indicated that this woman, living in Chiang Mai, obtained a Thai driver’s license. In the comments, she claimed she had never learned to drive and simply paid an agent to help her get the Thai license.
The person who shared this post added at the end, “Is this illegal? If so, someone should warn her,” and “I hope everyone won’t criticize all Chinese people or think all Chinese people are bad. Our Chinese friends also hate people like this.”
A post by a Chinese woman indicates that she is living in Chiang Mai and obtained a Thai driver’s license. In the comments, she claimed she had never learned to drive and simply paid an agent to help her get the Thai license.
Mr. Manop further explained that officials investigated and found that the person in question did come to apply for a driver’s license on August 21, 2024. She came alone, and the transport officials followed the standard procedures. Since she had a Chinese driver’s license, she was able to use it to obtain a Thai driver’s license through a conversion process.
“The officials followed all the Department of Land Transport’s procedures, thus issuing a temporary driver’s license. We’re not sure why she posted such a message or what her intentions were, given that it was a straightforward conversion of a Chinese license to a Thai one,” Manop said.
He affirmed that the Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office followed proper procedures and did not solicit any benefits from the person who made the post. However, the post has caused damage to the reputation of the Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office. The office has already sent a letter of explanation to the Director-General of the Department of Land Transport in Bangkok.
BANGKOK — Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA) points to the trend towards foreign ownership: a new post-COVID peak will be reached in 2024. It is estimated that 5,700 units will be transferred by the end of this year, surpassing the 1,000-5,000 units that will be transferred annually in 2020-2023.
The government is recommended to collect taxes from foreign property buyers in four areas: “transfer, property tax, inheritance and capital gains” with higher rates than for Thai citizens, ranging from 1-20 percent or 10,000 to 200,000 baht per million baht.
Dr. Sopon Pornchokchai, president of the Real Estate Research and Valuation Center of the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA), told Prachachat Business that in the first half of 2024, foreign buyers purchased 2,885 condominiums in Bangkok and the Bangkok metropolitan area. This leads to an estimate that foreign buyers will purchase a total of 5,770 units this year, the highest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
From 2020 to 2023, 1,017, 1,243, 4,203 and 5,036 units were sold to foreigners respectively. The forecast of 5,770 units in 2024 therefore means growth of 15 percent compared to 2023.
According to AREA’s overall statistics, there were 97,813 condominiums on the market in the first half of the year, of which 17,306 units were sold, worth 76.355 billion baht. Foreign buyers purchased 2,885 units, representing 16 percent of the market and 18.205 billion baht ($535 million) or 23 percent of the total market value.
The initial assessment indicates that the decline in Thai purchasing power due to the ongoing economic downturn has led to an increased role of foreign buyers.
The Ratchada-Ladprao zone is a popular area where foreigners bought 1,024 units out of 2,012 available units worth a total of 4.031 billion baht. This represents 51.7 percent of the total sales value in the area. However, the area with the highest sales value is the city center, where foreigners bought 895 units out of 3,730 available units with a total value of 10.373 billion baht ($305 million), accounting for 27.7 percent of the total sales value in the area.
Foreigners tend to buy units at an average price of 6.31 million baht, which is higher than the average price of 4.5 million baht paid by Thais. In the 2-3 million baht price range, foreigners bought 985 units, followed by 752 units in the 3-5 million baht range. The most popular price segment among foreigners are units costing over 5 million baht.
Dr. Sopon further mentioned that it is obvious that foreigners have a strong preference for buying condominiums in Thailand. Therefore, AREA proposes to the government under Paetongtarn Shinawatra to regulate the purchase of real estate by foreigners by imposing higher taxes on foreign buyers than on Thai nationals, as is common practice in many countries.
He proposed four types of property taxes on foreigners based on market transaction prices (rather than government-assessed values) to raise revenue to boost the economy and increase funds for national development:
Purchase tax or transfer tax: Levied at the Land Department on transactions, with a tax rate of 10-20 percent or 100,000 to 200,000 baht per million baht.
Property Tax: With a tax rate of 1 percent or 10,000 baht per million baht.
Capital gains tax on resale: With a tax rate of 10-20 percent or 100,000 to 200,000 baht per million baht.
Inheritance tax: Proposed at a rate of 10 percent of the market value of the estate or 100,000 baht per million baht.
This is in line with the viewpoint of Prasert Taedullayasatit, president of the Thai Condominium Association, who stated that it is time for Thailand to regulate taxes for foreign property buyers. This is a model practiced in many countries where foreigners are taxed at higher rates than locals.
In the case of Thailand, if such taxes on foreign buyers are introduced, initial estimates suggest that the tax revenue could amount to 10-20 billion baht annually. This revenue could be used to set up a fund to help low to middle-income people gain access to home ownership, easing the burden on the national budget.
Importantly, this measure would boost the economy both directly and indirectly. The real estate sector has a 2.9-fold multiplier effect, i.e. for every million baht ($29,400) in property value, the economic impact extends to related businesses, including renovations, repairs, furniture purchases, household appliances, home decoration and construction projects, generating an economic turnover of 2.9 million baht ($85,200) in the Thai economy.
Red Cross officials create awareness around mpox in the Don Bosco refugee camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
GENEVA (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization believes the ongoing mpox outbreaks in Africa might be stopped in the next six months, and said Friday that the agency’s first shipment of vaccines should arrive in Congo within days.
To date, Africa has received just a tiny fraction of the vaccines needed to slow the spread of the virus, especially in Congo, which has the most cases — more than 18,000 suspected cases and 629 deaths.
“With the governments’ leadership and close cooperation between partners, we believe we can stop these outbreaks in the next six months,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing.
He said that while mpox infections have been rising quickly in the last few weeks, there have been relatively few deaths. Tedros also noted there were 258 cases of the newest version of mpox, with patients identified in Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Sweden and Thailand.
FILE – This undated image provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows a colorized transmission electron micrograph of monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory that was captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Md. (NIAID via AP, File)
Earlier this month, WHO declared the ongoing mpox outbreaks in Africa a global emergency, hoping to spur a robust global response to the disease on a continent where cases were spreading largely unnoticed for years, including in Nigeria. In May, scientists detected a new version of the disease in Congo that they think could be spreading more easily.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is related to smallpox but typically causes milder symptoms, including fever, headache and body aches. In severe cases, people can develop painful sores and blisters on the face, chest, hands and genitals. Mpox is typically spread via close skin-to-skin contact.
WHO estimated about 230,000 vaccines could be sent “imminently” to Congo and elsewhere. The agency said it was also working on education campaigns to raise awareness of how people could avoid spreading mpox in countries with outbreaks.
Maria Van Kerkhove, who directs WHO’s epidemic and pandemic diseases department, said the agency was working to expedite vaccine access for affected countries — given the limited supply available.
Scientists have previously pointed out that without a better understanding of how mpox is spreading in Africa, it may be difficult to know how best to use the shots.
Earlier this week, the head of Africa’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the continent was hoping to receive about 380,000 doses of mpox vaccines promised by donors, including the U.S. and the European Union. That’s less than 15% of the doses authorities have said are needed to end the mpox outbreaks in Congo.
