Barkar Nash (Page 3)

The Thai Canal Association for Study and Development wants a national committee to study the feasibility of connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea via the proposed 9A Canal Route. The project, if approved, could create up to a million new jobs, its advocates say.

Led by its president, Gen Pongthep Thetprateep, the association submitted a petition to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during the government’s mobile meeting at the Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area in Khuan Khanun district, Phatthalung, on Feb 17.

Narong Soomthong, chairman of the 9A Canal Route Feasibility Study Committee, said the national study committee was proposed to the House after the canal’s feasibility study passed the Senate. However, due to an insufficient House quorum, discussions on forming the 49-member committee were postponed.

“The Thai Canal Association decided to submit the petition because of its confidence in the government’s ability to manage the project,” Mr Narong said. The petition calls for the creation of a national committee to further study the feasibility of the 9A Canal Route.

Experts from various fields, including environmental and biodiversity specialists, as well as cultural impact analysts, will be included. The 9A Canal Route, also known as the Thai Canal project, would be 300–400 metres wide and 15–18 metres deep.

The 135-kilometre canal would extend from Ao Luk Port in Krabi’s Ao Luk district on the Andaman Sea, passing through Trang, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and ending in Songkhla’s Ranot district at Ban Tha Bon on the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Narong said the canal would help Thailand navigate economic challenges, particularly for the financially vulnerable, by ensuring the broad distribution of its benefits.

If completed, the canal could handle at least 300 billion tonnes of logistics vessels annually and create between 500,000 and one million new jobs, he said.

“It will also provide lifelong compensation to locals in the five provinces affected by its construction,” Mr Narong added.

The Thai Canal Association for Study and Development wants a national committee to study the feasibility of connecting the Gulf of Thailand with the Andaman Sea via the proposed 9A Canal Route. The project, if approved, could create up to a million new jobs, its advocates say.

Led by its president, Gen Pongthep Thetprateep, the association submitted a petition to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra during the government’s mobile meeting at the Thale Noi Non-Hunting Area in Khuan Khanun district, Phatthalung, on Feb 17.

Narong Soomthong, chairman of the 9A Canal Route Feasibility Study Committee, said the national study committee was proposed to the House after the canal’s feasibility study passed the Senate. However, due to an insufficient House quorum, discussions on forming the 49-member committee were postponed.

“The Thai Canal Association decided to submit the petition because of its confidence in the government’s ability to manage the project,” Mr Narong said. The petition calls for the creation of a national committee to further study the feasibility of the 9A Canal Route.

Experts from various fields, including environmental and biodiversity specialists, as well as cultural impact analysts, will be included. The 9A Canal Route, also known as the Thai Canal project, would be 300–400 metres wide and 15–18 metres deep.

The 135-kilometre canal would extend from Ao Luk Port in Krabi’s Ao Luk district on the Andaman Sea, passing through Trang, Phatthalung, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and ending in Songkhla’s Ranot district at Ban Tha Bon on the Gulf of Thailand.

Mr Narong said the canal would help Thailand navigate economic challenges, particularly for the financially vulnerable, by ensuring the broad distribution of its benefits.

If completed, the canal could handle at least 300 billion tonnes of logistics vessels annually and create between 500,000 and one million new jobs, he said.

“It will also provide lifelong compensation to locals in the five provinces affected by its construction,” Mr Narong added.

Nakhon Si Thammarat: Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Saturday urged supporters to be patient, assuring them the Pheu Thai-led government under his daughter, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, is working to solve economic problems.

Speaking after a merit-making ceremony in Sichon district, the hometown of Ms Paetongtarn’s adviser Nattawut Saikua, Thaksin expressed confidence the country would recover from years of economic downturn.

Comparing the economy to a house, Thaksin said that during the Tom Yum Kung crisis, the problem was like a damaged roof — something relatively easy to repair.

However, the current economic situation is far more severe, involving damage to the foundation and structural pillars.

“These issues are more difficult to fix, but they can be repaired. It just takes time,” he said.

Thaksin said government policies have yet to yield results because large amounts of state funds have not yet been disbursed.

Once released, these funds will help stimulate the economy without requiring the government to borrow.

He added Ms Paetongtarn would ensure these funds are distributed as quickly as possible to accelerate economic recovery.

Accompanied by senior Pheu Thai MPs, party members, and Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, Thaksin also thanked supporters for their warm welcome, saying the merit-making ceremony marked a fresh start.

Officials accompanying group cast trip in positive light

The 40 Uyghurs repatriated to China after a decade-long detention in Thailand are safe and sound, with some already reunited with their families, said the government on Saturday.

It cited updates received from the Thai delegation travelling to China together with the illegal migrants.

The delegates include Chatchai Bangchuad, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), Pol Gen Kraiboon Suadsong, a deputy national police chief, and Thai officials at the Thai embassy in Beijing, said government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub.

The officials travelled to Xinjiang with the 40 Uyghurs to ensure they return home safely and are reunited with their families, said the spokesman, citing reports received by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the Thai delegation in China.

Officials would revisit these Uyghurs in the next 15 days to a month as previously agreed by Thailand and China as part of the repatriation programme codenamed “11-Year Mission Possible”, he said.

The latest report from the delegation said the group arrived in Kashi city in Kashgar Prefecture, a city in southern Xinjiang which is closest to the hometowns of some of the migrants referred to as the “first group”.

Their hometowns are within a 140km-radius of Kashi’s city centre, while the hometowns of a second group are also in Xinjiang yet in a range of more than 1,000km from Kashi’s city centre, said the report.

In a previous update received at 2pm on Friday, Mr Chatchai said he and the other delegates arrived in Qiasa Subdistrict, about 140km from Kashi’s city centre, where a number of the 40 Uyghurs had reunited with their families.

Some of them who spoke Thai expressed gratitude for the Thai government’s efforts on their behalf over the past 10 years, Mr Chatchai said in the report received.

Later, at 3pm the same day, the delegation visited Qiasa Subdistrict hospital to meet some of the Uyghurs in the care of a medical team there, said Mr Chatchai.

These Uyghurs asked delegates to relay their regards to the Sheikhul Islam Office’s representatives and their gratitude towards the Muslim representatives’ visits and arrangements for religious rites and feasts for them while they were being detained at the Immigration Bureau’s (IB) facilities, said Mr Chatchai.

This agreement was reached during the PM’s visit to China on the occasion of the Thailand-China 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, said Mr Chatchai.

China’s recognition of the Uyghur ethnic minority was also demonstrated in celebrations of Chinese New Year at Yaowarat when a performance which featured Uyghur’s identity and culture was conducted by the Chinese government, he said.

Before their release, video clips filmed by their families in their hometowns were shown to them to give them an idea of how vastly improved their hometowns have become since they left, he said.

Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the repatriation of the Uyghurs appears to be the best of three options that were available.

The repatriation effort might sound cruel to some, especially those who do not trust China, he said.

However, before Thailand decided to send the Uyghurs back to China, the Chinese government had submitted a formal letter guaranteeing their safety, which is a legally binding agreement.

To continue detaining these Uyghurs in Thailand until they die would be even more inhumane, while sending them to a third country as refugees where their refugee status is formally recognised was never an option, he said.

No other countries or parties have formally agreed to take these Uyghurs, even the US and the UNHCR which are pointing their finger at Thailand for repatriating these Uyghurs back to China, he said.

Earlier, critics attacked the Thai government over claims the 40 Uyghur detainees had asked to go back to China after being detained in the country for more than a decade. They say the government is trying to spin the repatriations in a positive light.

Fair Party MP Kannavee Suebsang on Friday released two letters written by the detainees, calling for help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the international community to ensure they are not handed over to China due to concerns over safety.

Another letter was written to Ms Paetongtarn seeking her help to send them to reunite with their families in Turkey. The Fair Party lawmaker, who once worked for the UN refugee agency, said the three letters with different dates were written while the Uyghur men were detained at the Suan Phlu immigration detention centre in Bangkok.

Officials accompanying group cast trip in positive light

The 40 Uyghurs repatriated to China after a decade-long detention in Thailand are safe and sound, with some already reunited with their families, said the government on Saturday.

It cited updates received from the Thai delegation travelling to China together with the illegal migrants.

The delegates include Chatchai Bangchuad, secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), Pol Gen Kraiboon Suadsong, a deputy national police chief, and Thai officials at the Thai embassy in Beijing, said government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub.

The officials travelled to Xinjiang with the 40 Uyghurs to ensure they return home safely and are reunited with their families, said the spokesman, citing reports received by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the Thai delegation in China.

Officials would revisit these Uyghurs in the next 15 days to a month as previously agreed by Thailand and China as part of the repatriation programme codenamed “11-Year Mission Possible”, he said.

The latest report from the delegation said the group arrived in Kashi city in Kashgar Prefecture, a city in southern Xinjiang which is closest to the hometowns of some of the migrants referred to as the “first group”.

Their hometowns are within a 140km-radius of Kashi’s city centre, while the hometowns of a second group are also in Xinjiang yet in a range of more than 1,000km from Kashi’s city centre, said the report.

In a previous update received at 2pm on Friday, Mr Chatchai said he and the other delegates arrived in Qiasa Subdistrict, about 140km from Kashi’s city centre, where a number of the 40 Uyghurs had reunited with their families.

Some of them who spoke Thai expressed gratitude for the Thai government’s efforts on their behalf over the past 10 years, Mr Chatchai said in the report received.

Later, at 3pm the same day, the delegation visited Qiasa Subdistrict hospital to meet some of the Uyghurs in the care of a medical team there, said Mr Chatchai.

These Uyghurs asked delegates to relay their regards to the Sheikhul Islam Office’s representatives and their gratitude towards the Muslim representatives’ visits and arrangements for religious rites and feasts for them while they were being detained at the Immigration Bureau’s (IB) facilities, said Mr Chatchai.

This agreement was reached during the PM’s visit to China on the occasion of the Thailand-China 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, said Mr Chatchai.

China’s recognition of the Uyghur ethnic minority was also demonstrated in celebrations of Chinese New Year at Yaowarat when a performance which featured Uyghur’s identity and culture was conducted by the Chinese government, he said.

Before their release, video clips filmed by their families in their hometowns were shown to them to give them an idea of how vastly improved their hometowns have become since they left, he said.

Russ Jalichandra, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the repatriation of the Uyghurs appears to be the best of three options that were available.

The repatriation effort might sound cruel to some, especially those who do not trust China, he said.

However, before Thailand decided to send the Uyghurs back to China, the Chinese government had submitted a formal letter guaranteeing their safety, which is a legally binding agreement.

To continue detaining these Uyghurs in Thailand until they die would be even more inhumane, while sending them to a third country as refugees where their refugee status is formally recognised was never an option, he said.

No other countries or parties have formally agreed to take these Uyghurs, even the US and the UNHCR which are pointing their finger at Thailand for repatriating these Uyghurs back to China, he said.

Earlier, critics attacked the Thai government over claims the 40 Uyghur detainees had asked to go back to China after being detained in the country for more than a decade. They say the government is trying to spin the repatriations in a positive light.

Fair Party MP Kannavee Suebsang on Friday released two letters written by the detainees, calling for help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the international community to ensure they are not handed over to China due to concerns over safety.

Another letter was written to Ms Paetongtarn seeking her help to send them to reunite with their families in Turkey. The Fair Party lawmaker, who once worked for the UN refugee agency, said the three letters with different dates were written while the Uyghur men were detained at the Suan Phlu immigration detention centre in Bangkok.

Thais admit they were attracted by high wages in Poipet and were not being held against their will

A total of 119 Thais were among 230 foreigners reported freed from a scam call centre in Poipet, Cambodia, as authorities continue their crackdown on cybercrimes.

Cambodia’s immigration department said on Saturday that it had deported the 119 Thais — 61 men and 58 women — who had “snuck in to work and stayed illegally” in the kingdom.

The Thais were deported via the Poipet border checkpoint on Saturday. Thai police were waiting in the border town of Aranyaprathet to receive them and interview them about their experiences.

The Cambodian National Police General Directorate announced the arrests in a statement after conducting raids on Feb 22 and 23 at two locations in Poipet city in Banteay Meanchey province, according to a Khmer Times article published on Saturday.

Of the 230 individuals found, 123 claimed they were Thai nationals, but only 119 were confirmed to be from Thailand. The others included citizens of Myanmar and Laos.

The Thais admitted to entering Cambodia illegally to engage in online crimes, attracted by high wages, the statement said. They said they were not deceived into joining the organisation and were not being held against their will.

None of those arrested have sought assistance from the Thai or Cambodian governments, the statement added.

The raid followed a three-month investigation into Chinese-operated call centres in Cambodia.

Saturday’s handover comes a day after Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited Sa Kaeo province across the border from Poipet, and reiterated her determination to “eliminate call centre gangs”.

Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai confirmed in a post on X that the 119 Thais had been returned from Cambodia.

The repatriations come as Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia have ramped up efforts to curb a cyberscam industry worth billions of dollars a year, with the UN estimating as many as 120,000 people may be working in Myanmar scam centres.

Cambodian police detain 230 foreigners on Feb 22 and 23, 2025, during a raid on a scam call centre in Poipet city, Banteay Meanchey province. (Photo: Cambodia Police Facebook)

KANCHANABURI – A special task force on Friday detained 49 people for illegal entry in Sangkhla Buri district near the Thai-Myanmar border, local officials said on Saturday.

The group was travelling on foot when they were discovered by the unit, which was looking into a tip-off about possible movements of illegal migrants from Myanmar. None of those arrested had proper identification documents.

Speaking through an interpreter, the group said they had crossed the border via Ban Bo Yipoon and were heading to a designated pickup point for transfer to Samut Sakhon where they would have work.

They said they were to be taken by boat to avoid road checkpoints, and at their destination they were to pay brokers 15,000 baht each for fees.

All 49 individuals were charged with illegal entry and handed over to local police for legal action.