THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Friday 20 June 2025

[webfact]

Phuket to Introduce Cannabis Zones Amid Growing Concerns

 

Stock image of a cannabis shop in Thailand courtesy of Smoking Skunk

 

Amid escalating concerns from both locals and tourists, Phuket officials are taking decisive steps to regulate the island’s flourishing cannabis industry. Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced a strategic plan to implement designated “green zones” intended to control where cannabis can be sold and consumed.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364158-phuket-to-introduce-cannabis-zones-amid-growing-concerns/

 

[webfact]

Thai Opposition Demands House Dissolution Amid Coup Concerns

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In a significant escalation of Thailand's political crisis, opposition leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut has called on Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to dissolve the House of Representatives. 

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364159-thai-opposition-demands-house-dissolution-amid-coup-concerns/

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Decline of Chinese Tourists in Pattaya Raises Concerns

 

Photo courtesy of South China Morning Post

 

Pattaya, once a favourite destination for Chinese tourists, is experiencing a significant drop in visitors from China, with Japan now emerging as their preferred choice. This shift poses a challenge to Thailand’s tourism industry, which heavily relies on Chinese travellers.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364167-decline-of-chinese-tourists-in-pattaya-raises-concerns/

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Activists Accuse Thai PM  Paetongtarn of Crimes Punishable by Death

 

Picture courtesy of MGR online

 

In a dramatic turn of events, two activists in northeastern Thailand have put the country's political scene on edge by accusing Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra of serious charges that could even warrant the death penalty.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364207-activists-accuse-thai-pm-paetongtarn-of-crimes-punishable-by-death/

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Man Dies After Clinic Allegedly Denies Care in Bangkok

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon

 

A man's death sparks uproar as a Bangkok clinic allegedly denies care, prompting health officials to investigate the incident.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364209-man-dies-after-clinic-allegedly-denies-care-in-bangkok/

 

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Chuwit Kamolvisit Announces Political Comeback Amid Thai PM’s Leaked Call Scandal

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Thai politician Chuwit Kamolvisit has announced his return to politics amid a controversy involving a leaked audio clip of a conversation between Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Cambodian ex-PM Hun Sen.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364210-chuwit-kamolvisit-announces-political-comeback-amid-thai-pm’s-leaked-call-scandal/

 

[Georgealbert]

Desperate Son Attempts Bank Robbery to Pay for Mother’s Kidney Treatment
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 38-year-old man has been arrested after attempting to rob a bank in Buriram province with a kitchen knife, claiming he was driven to the act out of desperation to pay for his mother’s life-saving kidney treatment.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364211-desperate-son-attempts-bank-robbery-to-pay-for-mother’s-kidney-treatment/

 

[Georgealbert]

Kanchanaburi Monastery Head Arrested in Illegal Migrant Smuggling Operation
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Police in Kanchanaburi have arrested the abbot of a local Buddhist monastery retreat in connection with a human smuggling operation, uncovering a group of 33 illegal migrants who had been hiding within temple grounds.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364212-kanchanaburi-monastery-head-arrested-in-illegal-migrant-smuggling-operation/

 

[webfact]

Leaked Call Fuels Fears of Economic Collapse, Thai Business Leaders Warn

 

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, centre, leaves after talking to reporters at Government house in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, June 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

 

A leaked audio clip of a call from Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra to Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has set off alarms across Thailand. Mr. Poj Aramwattananon, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, expressed concerns that this incident could lead to the collapse of the Thai economy.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364214-leaked-call-fuels-fears-of-economic-collapse-thai-business-leaders-warn/

 

[Georgealbert]

Death of Teen Motorcyclist After High-Speed Crash Into Barrier in Chachoengsao
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A 17-year-old boy was killed instantly in a motorcycle accident late night on 18 June, after losing control of his bike and crashing into a concrete barrier in Bang Pakong district, Chachoengsao province.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364213-death-of-teen-motorcyclist-after-high-speed-crash-into-barrier-in-chachoengsao/

 

[Georgealbert]

Son Discovers Mother’s Body After Fall From Apartment Balcony

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The scene unfolded in the early hours of the morning of 19 June, when a 19-year-old son discovered the lifeless body of his mother after she apparently fell from the fifth floor of their apartment building in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364215-son-discovers-mother’s-body-after-fall-from-apartment-balcony/

 

[Georgealbert]

Finance Chief Arrested in Her Office for Embezzling ฿9 Million in Local Government Funds
 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

A senior finance officer at a local administrative office in Yasothon province has been arrested at her workplace for embezzling more than 9 million baht in public funds. The suspect allegedly siphoned the money into personal and family bank accounts under the guise of legitimate budget disbursements.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364217-finance-chief-arrested-in-her-office-for-embezzling-฿9-million-in-local-government-funds/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Slashes Monk’s Assistant in the Neck in Front of Child Giving Alms
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

In a horrifying act of violence, a 42-year-old man in Buriram province launched a brutal knife attack on a monk’s lay helper in broad daylight, slashing him repeatedly in the neck in front of a terrified 12-year-old girl giving alms to monks.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364218-man-slashes-monk’s-assistant-in-the-neck-in-front-of-child-giving-alms/

 

[webfact]

UPDATE:

 

Army's Call for Unity Amidst Coup Concerns

 

Army spokesman Major General Winthai Suvaree

 

Thailand's army chief reiterates democracy commitment amid coup chatter.

 

In a climate of political unease, the Thai military has made a call for national solidarity as fears of a possible coup arise.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364159-thai-opposition-demands-house-dissolution-amid-coup-concerns/#findComment-19884579

 

[Georgealbert]

Sa Kaeo Holds Tabletop Evacuation Exercise to Prepare for Emergency Scenario
 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

Authorities in Sa Kaeo province have launched a large-scale Tabletop Exercise (TTX) to rehearse emergency evacuation procedures along the Thai-Cambodian border. The exercise, held annually, aims to ensure preparedness among military and civilian agencies in the event of a crisis requiring the swift relocation of residents.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364219-sa-kaeo-holds-tabletop-evacuation-exercise-to-prepare-for-emergency-scenario/

 

[Georgealbert]

Suspected Thief Electrocuted While Attempting to Steal Wiring from Construction Camp
 

Picture courtesy of Workpoint.

 

A man believed to be attempting to steal electrical wiring from a construction site in Nonthaburi met a fatal end when he was electrocuted during the act.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364220-suspected-thief-electrocuted-while-attempting-to-steal-wiring-from-construction-camp/

 

[Georgealbert]

Tank Shell Discovered Beside Railway Tracks in Central Hat Yai
 

Picture courtesy of Amarin.

 

Residents in the heart of Hat Yai city were left bewildered on the morning of 19 June, after discovering an unexploded tank shell abandoned beside railway tracks near Hat Yai Station 2. Authorities swiftly sealed off the area and safely removed the shell before transporting it to a secure location for disposal.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364221-tank-shell-discovered-beside-railway-tracks-in-central-hat-yai/

 

[Georgealbert]

Violent Loan Shark Abducts Debtor at Gunpoint, Forces Withdrawal of Funds Before Releasing
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Police have arrested a notorious loan shark known as “M Em Om Yai” for his alleged role in a violent abduction involving firearms, assault and forced withdrawal of funds from a debtor’s account in Nakhon Pathom province.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364222-violent-loan-shark-abducts-debtor-at-gunpoint-forces-withdrawal-of-funds-before-releasing/

 

[Georgealbert]

Samut Sakhon Immigration Busts Myanmar Drug and Arms Syndicate Boss
 

Picture courtesy of Naewna.

 

A notorious Myanmar national, known among migrant workers by the alias “Ao Union,” has been arrested in Samut Sakhon for allegedly trafficking drugs and illegal firearms, while exerting mafia-style influence over local migrant communities.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364223-samut-sakhon-immigration-busts-myanmar-drug-and-arms-syndicate-boss/

 

[Georgealbert]

Fisherman Couple Attacked While Rescuing Drowning Man
 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

An unsettling incident unfolded on the Mekong River, when a kind-hearted local couple attempting to rescue a drowning man were unexpectedly attacked by the very person they sought to save. The man later vanished beneath the water, leaving rescue teams scrambling to locate his body.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364224-fisherman-couple-attacked-while-rescuing-drowning-man/

 

[Georgealbert]

DSI Charges Seven Traffic Police Officers Over Assault on Former Officer’s Son

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

Seven traffic police officers have been formally charged under the recent anti-torture and enforced disappearance law for their role in the severe assault of a man wrongly suspected of evading a checkpoint. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Office of the Attorney General announced the decision following a high-level case review.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364225-dsi-charges-seven-traffic-police-officers-over-assault-on-former-officer’s-son/

 

[Georgealbert]

Malaysian Tourists Overtake Chinese Visitors in Songkhla

 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

The number of Malaysian tourists entering Thailand has now surpassed that of Chinese tourists, according to data shared by Dr. Sitthipong Sitthiphatprapa, President of the Hatyai Songkhla Hotel Association. The figures, covering the period from 1 January to 8 June 2025, show that 2,041,002 Malaysian nationals visited, compared to 2,029,481 Chinese tourists, a shift that signals a notable decline in Chinese arrivals.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364226-malaysian-tourists-overtake-chinese-visitors-in-songkhla/

 

[Georgealbert]

Drug Suspect Caught After Neighbours Raise Concerns Over Lavish Lifestyle

 

Picture courtesy of Khoasod.

 

A 31-year-old man has been arrested in Prachuap Khiri Khan province after police raided his rented home and discovered over 700 methamphetamine pills, drug paraphernalia and multiple vehicles. The arrest followed complaints from concerned neighbours who questioned how the suspect, known only as “Ball,” could afford expensive motorcycles despite appearing unemployed.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364227-drug-suspect-caught-after-neighbours-raise-concerns-over-lavish-lifestyle/

 

[Georgealbert]

Villagers Demand Justice After THB 8 Million Disappears from Local Welfare Fund in Surin

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Dozens of residents from Nong Khwao subdistrict, Sikhoraphum district in Surin province, have submitted a formal complaint after discovering that more than 8 million baht contributed to a long-running community welfare fund has vanished, with local leaders claiming the fund has been “dissolved.”

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364228-villagers-demand-justice-after-thb-8-million-disappears-from-local-welfare-fund-in-surin/

 

[Georgealbert]

Drunken Husband Stabs Wife to Death After Being Refused Money for Alcohol

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A domestic incident has left a woman dead in Khon Kaen province after her husband, reportedly enraged at being refused money to buy alcohol, stabbed her in a fit of rage.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364229-drunken-husband-stabs-wife-to-death-after-being-refused-money-for-alcohol/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Killed After Lorry Slams into Rocket Festival Float in Uthai Thani

 

Picture courtesy of Matichon.

 

An incident occurred in Uthai Thani province on the afternoon of 19 June, when a 10-wheel lorry ploughed into the rear of a decorative float preparing for a local rocket festival, killing a 70-year-old man at the scene and injuring three others.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364230-man-killed-after-lorry-slams-into-rocket-festival-float-in-uthai-thani/

 

[Georgealbert]

Man Kills Dog at Hat Yai Temple, History of Animal Abuse, Mother Claims Mental Illness
 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A disturbing act of animal cruelty at a temple in Hat Yai has sparked outrage among local residents and animal lovers after a man was caught on video brutally stomping a dog to death. The incident has since gone viral on social media, revealing the suspect has a history of similar behaviour.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364231-man-kills-dog-at-hat-yai-temple-history-of-animal-abuse-mother-claims-mental-illness/

 

[Georgealbert]

Thai-German Teen Drowns in Pattaya Reservoir

 

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

 

Tragedy struck in Pattaya as a 15-year-old boy of Thai-German descent drowned in a reservoir near Nong Prue’s small airfield, near Horseshoe Point, in Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1364232-thai-german-teen-drowns-in-pattaya-reservoir/

 

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Australian-Thai Couple Arrested in Udon Thani for Illegal Weapons Purchase

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

An Australian man and his Thai partner have been arrested by cyber police in Udon Thani for allegedly purchasing illegal firearms accessories, including gun silencers and military ordnance, via an online marketplace.

 

Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1363990-aussie-arrested-in-udon-thani-for-allegedly-buying-gun-silencers-online/#findComment-19884703

 

[Georgealbert]

CCTV Captures Moment Driver Runs Over Drunk Swedish Tourist’s Head Outside Pattaya Bar
 

Picture courtesy of พัทยา จุดเกิดเหตุ 

 

In the early hours of 20 June, an incident occurred outside a nightlife venue in Pattaya, Chonburi province, when a Swedish tourist, reportedly intoxicated and lying on the ground, was accidentally run over by a ride-hailing driver.

 

Full story:https://aseannow.com/topic/1364234-cctv-captures-moment-driver-runs-over-drunk-swedish-tourist’s-head-outside-pattaya-bar/