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An unprecedented shooting that killed one police officer and left another wounded in Nakhon Pathom province has exposed ugly corruption in Thailand’s police force and public services in general. According to investigators, 29 police officers were partying at the home of Praween Chanklai, a local subdistrict chief known as Kamnan Nok, on the night of September 6 when Praween’s close aide opened fire. The target was Pol Major Siwakorn Saibua, who was murdered after allegedly rebuffing a request by Praween that his nephew be promoted. A bullet also went astray in the shooting and wounded a policeman nearby. With two officers lying bleeding in the compound of Praween’s home amid a phalanx of policemen, the surprise was that the gunman was left free to leave the scene. Even more shocking was that CCTV recordings showed Praween and his aide leaving the house with a police escort – and not in the direction of the nearby police station. The Anti-Corruption Organization of Thailand (ACT) was quick to condemn the case as clear proof of failure in a corruption-plagued bureaucratic system. “Without good governance, dishonorable civil servants kowtow and become tools of influential figures,” the ACT said in a statement. Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/kamnan-nok-scandal-lifts-lid-on-thai-bureaucracys-corruption-crisis/ Full story: Thai PBS 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Wild west drama unfolds at Samui Airport: Minibus driver shoots Grab driver in fiery clash Photo of Petch Petpailin Photo via ThaiRath. Samui International Airport in the southern province of Surat Thani turned into a scene from a Western movie after a minibus driver shot a Grab driver following a heated dispute. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306597-wild-west-drama-unfolds-at-samui-airport-minibus-driver-shoots-grab-driver-in-fiery-clash/

Lampang girl, 9, sexually assaulted by teacher: Harrowing incident sparks outrage A nine year old girl in Lampang province was reportedly sexually assaulted in a school restroom by a 28 year old male teacher from another institution. The sexual assault was brought to the attention of the police yesterday by the victim’s mother, a 28 year old Lampang resident. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306595-lampang-girl-9-sexually-assaulted-by-teacher-harrowing-incident-sparks-outrage/

A nine year old girl in Lampang province was reportedly sexually assaulted in a school restroom by a 28 year old male teacher from another institution. The sexual assault was brought to the attention of the police yesterday by the victim’s mother, a 28 year old Lampang resident. The mother became suspicious after noticing her daughter had started menstruating, an abnormal occurrence for her age. On probing, the young girl broke down and confessed to the traumatic sexual assault that had taken place in the school restroom. She revealed that the male teacher had followed her into the restroom and sexually assaulted her, further threatening her with dire consequences if she disclosed the incident to anyone, reported Sanook. The sexual assault incident supposedly occurred on August 25 when the teacher, who was visiting for a meeting and training session, followed the girl into the restroom, locked the door and assaulted her. The girl returned home but did not report the incident out of fear. Several days passed before the parent noticed her uncharacteristic behaviour and physical discomfort, leading to the heartbreaking revelation. by Samantha Rose Picture courtesy of Bright Today. Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Special Panel Formed to Address El Nio Impact by Krajangwit Johjit BANGKOK (NNT) - The Thai prime minister has called for the establishment of a special committee tasked with preparing for and mitigating the effects of the El Ni?o weather phenomenon. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306589-special-panel-formed-to-address-el-nio-impact/

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Thai prime minister has called for the establishment of a special committee tasked with preparing for and mitigating the effects of the El Ni?o weather phenomenon. The committee’s primary focus is to assess the feasibility of declaring a state of emergency in various provinces to facilitate rapid response efforts. Government Spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said declaring a state of emergency would empower local authorities, including tambon administrative organizations, provincial administrative organizations, and local municipalities with ample budget reserves, to immediately allocate funds for critical projects. Chai noted that these initiatives could involve the construction of weirs, underground water banks, and other locally manageable solutions. During recent cabinet discussions, participants agreed that the global impact of El Ni?o is expected to persist for up to three years. They all came to the conclusion that without a comprehensive plan in place, Thailand could potentially face damage ranging from a minimum estimate of 600 billion baht to as much as 2 trillion baht over this three-year period. by Krajangwit Johjit Source: NNT 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Govt Steps Up Security Measures Ahead of Expected Tourism Surge by Paul Rujopakarn BANGKOK (NNT) - A meeting focusing on national security and tourism was recently convened in light of the temporary implementation of a visa-free policy for Chinese visitors. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306588-govt-steps-up-security-measures-ahead-of-expected-tourism-surge/

BANGKOK (NNT) - A meeting focusing on national security and tourism was recently convened in light of the temporary implementation of a visa-free policy for Chinese visitors. Prime Minister and Finance Srettha Thavisin chaired the meeting, which included officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and law enforcement agencies, specifically the Royal Thai Police, Tourist Police and Immigration Police. The prime minister has ordered proactive measures to enhance security and boost confidence among foreign and domestic tourists. Authorities anticipate a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists following the temporary lifting of visa requirements and fees. The policy is expected to boost Thailand’s tourism industry in the Chinese market. Prime Minister Srettha emphasized the importance of supporting government policies aimed at stimulating the economy, especially amid hardships faced by the public. The aim is to encourage cash flow while developing the nation’s economy and distributing income more broadly. by Paul Rujopakarn Source: NNT 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Thai-Indonesian Joint Operation Targets Major Drug Trafficking Network BANGKOK, Sept 14 (TNA) – Thai police join international operations to dismantle the drug network of “Fredy Pratama,” a major drug trafficker in Indonesia. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306587-thai-indonesian-joint-operation-targets-major-drug-trafficking-network/

BANGKOK, Sept 14 (TNA) – Thai police join international operations to dismantle the drug network of “Fredy Pratama,” a major drug trafficker in Indonesia. Thai Royal Police representatives, led by Pol Maj Gen Pantana Nutchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau joined Indonesian police officials for a press conference in Jakarta on Sept 12 regarding the apprehension of the drug trafficking network led by Fredy Pratama. The operations saw the collaboration of Indonesian National Police, Royal Thai Police, Thai Immigration Police, Thai Narcotics Suppression Bureau, INTERPOL National Central Bureau BANGKOK, Bangkok Interpol, the US Drug Enforcement Administration , Royal Malaysia Police and Indonesian Customs. Full story: TNA-MCOT 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Phaya bung magic strikes again as lottery hopefuls in Thailand conjure winning numbers by Nattapong Westwood Picture courtesy of KhaoSod. For over three hours, lottery enthusiasts performed good luck rituals at the legendary Phaya Bung hole, leading to the emergence of three full numerical digits. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306585-phaya-bung-magic-strikes-again-as-lottery-hopefuls-in-thailand-conjure-winning-numbers/

Ex-Convict Arrested in Sattahip After Multiple Restaurant Robberies by Tanakorn Panyadee Sattahip — On September 13th, a serial thief was arrested for robbing several local restaurants in Sattahip. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306582-ex-convict-arrested-in-sattahip-after-multiple-restaurant-robberies/

Chiang Mai Airport plans massive expansion to accommodate 16.5 million travellers by Mitch Connor Picture courtesy of The Nation. Chiang Mai Airport is set to table its expansion proposal to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his scheduled visit this weekend. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306580-chiang-mai-airport-plans-massive-expansion-to-accommodate-165-million-travellers/

Visa-free arrival for 2 countries, Samui's water shortage : Tim Newton Today - Sep 14 Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306579-visa-free-arrival-for-2-countries-samuis-water-shortage-tim-newton-today-sep-14/

Thailand News - The new Thai government has announced that travellers from China and Kazakhstan will be able to travel to Thailand without a visa and enjoy a visa-free arrival, along with 68 other countries. Thailand will continue to steer a middle course in foreign affairs, between the US and China. A four hour dash in traffic and rain for a heart donor transplant in Bangkok, security officer at Suvarnabhumi gets attention for making announcements in FIVE languages, and a call for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra to be returned to jail from his current lodgings at a police hospital in Bangkok. Tim Newton Today is a daily take on Thai and regional news and issues of interest to expats and foreign tourists.

Thai men caught for 10 million baht motorway CCTV system shutdown theft by Atima Homtientong Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post. Two men were nabbed by the police in Chon Buri for stealing power cables from the Pattaya–Rayong motorway, an act that led to the complete shutdown of the CCTV system along the inter-provincial highway last month. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306574-thai-men-caught-for-10-million-baht-motorway-cctv-system-shutdown-theft/

New Defence Minister Suthin Klangsaen Faces Challenges on Day One in Office Defence Minister Suthin Klangsaen began his first day in charge of the ministry. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306571-new-defence-minister-suthin-klangsaen-faces-challenges-on-day-one-in-office/

Defence Minister Suthin Klangsaen began his first day in charge of the ministry. Suthin is the sixth civilian to hold the position and the first to do so without concurrently serving as the prime minister. Despite this being his inaugural day in office, he is already under pressure due to the government's commitments to replace mandatory military conscription with a voluntary system, reduce the army's size, especially the number of generals, and lower spending on weapons. Regarding mandatory military conscription, the government said they would initiate the reduction of the number of conscripts, starting with the next round of conscription, until the process is fully replaced with a voluntary system. However, no specific timeline was provided, and the army was already planning to decrease the number of conscripts from 100,000 per year to 90,000 per year before the new government came to power. Regarding the reduction of the army's size, the army is also already planning to reduce the number to 600 by 2027. Another plan is to decrease the number of military personnel by 4,000 by 2027. Between 2017 and 2021, 8,000 personnel were already cut, resulting in savings of approximately 1.5 billion baht in the budget. Concerning the reduction in spending on weapons, Suthin surprised many people when he stated that the navy no longer desired the 13.5 billion baht Chinese-made submarine, and they would consider switching it for fertilizer. However, PM Srettha Thavisin is still planning to meet with German government officials at the UN summit to negotiate for the installation of a German engine in the submarine. -- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM -Thursday 14 September 2023 Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306567-national-news-from-surf-1025-fm-thursday-14-september-2023/

The Constitutional Court threw out a petition seeking the dissolution of three parties, the Move Forward, Pracha-chart and the Fair Party’ for allegedly proposing autonomy for the predominantly-Muslim provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala, in bid to restore peace in the turbulent region. The court ruled their views toward turmoil in the south were by no means relevant to any alleged intent to undermine democratic rule with the monarch as head of state. A group of reform campaigners and students have asked Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to restore public trust in the rule of law by ensuring former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra serves more time in prison. He is currently in the more comfortable police general hospital. The minister for agriculture has ordered that 4,300 tonnes of smuggled pork to be buried in a landfill. Authorities confiscated the carcasses from a cold storage facility with 161 shipping containers at Laem Chabang port in July. The disposal and burial of the pork will follow WHO guidelines. The government has ordered an amnesty for 30-days to gun owners to hand in weapons that are not properly registered, before facing a renewed crackdown. Plans are underway to expand chiang mai airport with a new terminal, to enable the airport to handle over 16 million arrivals a year up from the current 8 million, The new terminal could be operational in 2029. The airport will present its draft plans to the prime minister during his visit this weekend. Around The Region: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged to reform the country's economy and governance, adding it "will take time", as he blames systemic corruption and the public cynicism towards political leaders on previous administrations for enriching themselves and living "exorbitant lifestyles". The family of a late American pipeline billionaire George Lindemann has agreed to return 33 looted artifacts to Cambodia probably by the end of the year, The decision was described as "momentous" by Phnom Phen. The haul includes statues and artifacts from the 10th and 12th centuries from the ancient capital of the Khmer kingdom, and from the famous Angkor Wat temple. The weather: Cloud and thunderstorms in central and northern thailand Clearer in the south. Chiang Mai and the north: thunderstorms 29C Bangkok:, thundershowers, 30C Pattaya, thundershowers 30C Phuket and the south:bright, partly cloudy, DRY: 30C Hua Hin: Bright, partly cloudy, isolated showers: 32C. Credits: Bangkok Post, The Nation, Asean Now, Khaosod English, Hua Hin Today, Royal Coast Review, Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, Thainewsroom.com, The Pattaya News, Phuket News, Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times. The Irrawaddy. Windy.com. Wunderground.com -- SURF 102.5 FM 2023-09-14 Listen Live: Surf 102.5 Facebook: Surf 102.5 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Anutin Appoints "Traisulee Traisanakul" as Secretary-General and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior Picture: Siam Rath On September 13, 2023, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's Minister of Interior, selected Ms. Traisulee Traisanakul to serve as the Secretary-General and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306566-anutin-appoints-traisulee-traisanakul-as-secretary-general-and-spokesperson-of-the-ministry-of-interior/

On September 13, 2023, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Thailand's Minister of Interior, selected Ms. Traisulee Traisanakul to serve as the Secretary-General and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior. Fondly known as "Gwang," Ms. Traisulee is the daughter of Mr. Vichit Traisanakul, a former Governor of Sisaket Province and a local politician. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Thammasat University. Ms. Traisulee has been making a significant impact in the political arena. She gained the endorsement of the Bhumjaithai Party and received her father's support during her campaign for a seat in the Thai House of Representatives in 2019, reported Siam Rath. She assumed the role of Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office in Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha's government, representing the Bhumjaithai Party. In her new capacity, Ms. Traisulee will act as the public face of the Ministry of Interior in her dual role as Secretary-General and Spokesperson. Picture: Siam Rath -- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get your business in front of millions of customers who read ASEAN NOW with an interest in Thailand every month - email [email protected] for more information Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Local corruption linked to the police under the spotlight after officer’s murder in Nakhon Pathom by James Morris and Son Nguyen Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate Hakparn (centre) briefed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Sunday on the probe into the murder of a senior police officer believed to have been directed by Nakhon Pathom Kamnan Praween Chankhlai (left) on Wednesday, 6th September which was followed the next day by the suspected suicide of his superior, Police Colonel Vachira Yaothaisong on Monday afternoon (right). Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306564-local-corruption-linked-to-the-police-under-the-spotlight-after-officer’s-murder-in-nakhon-pathom/

Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate Hakparn (centre) briefed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Sunday on the probe into the murder of a senior police officer believed to have been directed by Nakhon Pathom Kamnan Praween Chankhlai (left) on Wednesday, 6th September which was followed the next day by the suspected suicide of his superior, Police Colonel Vachira Yaothaisong on Monday afternoon (right). Events on the night of September 6th last and developments since have brought home the scale and extent of the corruption problem in Thailand with both the Royal Thai Police and local provincial authorities now being brought under the microscope. An attempt by a powerful kamnan or local boss in Nakhon Pathom on Wednesday, September 6th to coerce an honest police officer into preferring a relative for promotion within the Royal Thai Police set in motion the murder of 32-year-old Police Lieutenant Colonel Siwakorn Saibua and the wounding of a colleague, Police Lieutenant Colonel Wasin Panpee. The gunman who fired the shots Thananchai Manmak or Non Thapha died two days later in a gunfight with Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers while, on Monday, the body of the dead policeman’s commanding officer, Police Colonel Vachira Yaothaisong, was found at his home. He was suspected of committing suicide. The case has now given rise to a massive criminal probe directed by Deputy National Police Chief General Surachate Hakparn, the Inspectorate of the Royal Thai Police and inquiries into corruption linked with local officials ordered by the Ministry of the Interior. An outrageous incident at a celebratory event at the local headquarters of Mr Praween Chankhlai or Kamnan Nok in Ta Kong, Nakhon Pathom on Wednesday last, the 6th of September, during which a senior police officer was murdered and an associate seriously injured, has sparked a firestorm within the ranks of the Royal Thai Police, which has already led to two further deaths as a result. by James Morris and Son Nguyen Full story: https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2023/09/14/local-corruption-linked-to-the-police-probed-senior-officer-suicide-murder/ -- Thai Examiner 2023-09-14 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Government’s plans to court China ignores economic realities; puts Thailand at geopolitical risk by Arun Saronchai In economics and diplomacy, decisions can’t be made lightly—especially when they have far-reaching implications for a country’s economic and geopolitical stability. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1306563-government’s-plans-to-court-china-ignores-economic-realities-puts-thailand-at-geopolitical-risk/