Barkar Nash (Page 9)

Whether Thailand buys more weaponry from the United States depends on the results of future trade deals with US officers, according to Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai.

A Thai group led by Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira is scheduled to discuss with US authorities on Wednesday over the 36 % mutual tariffs on Thai imports, although most jobs have been paused until July.

Mr Phumtham dismissed as doubtful that the US price measures may affect the atmosphere agency’s jet fighter procurement plan, after some suggested that Thailand may consider buying military technologies and weaponry from Washington.

Some have speculated that Thailand might change from Swedish-made Gripen to US-made F-16 fighter jet.

According to Mr Phumtham, one of the problems of buying F-16 jet is to get loans from the US to fund the program, which would be a somewhat innovative thing to do.

He said the state also has economic issues to consider and noted that the air agency’s planned sourcing of the Gripen jet has yet to be approved by the government.

Recently, former defence secretary Sutin Klungsang said the US proposed a 12-year 4. 5 % interest rate for the government to collect up to 16 warrior planes.

Mr Phumtham even declined to say when asked if other types of flights, such as transport plane, would be on the table, as the C-130 plane is ageing. He added that the military’s plan to secure Stryker armoured cars from the US is not yet finalised.

The Transport Ministry has ordered the operator of the ill-fated vehicle which crashed into two vehicles killing seven people and injuring 53 people in Prachin Buri on Monday to issue a common answer and warned it may encounter legal effects, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote.

He said the Department of Land Transport ( DLT) has launched a fact-finding probe which will also calculate compensation for victims and their families.

The DLT said it has has supplied regional police with information about the vehicle and is monitoring the situation carefully.

The business which operates the vehicle has been ordered to give speech to the DLT.

” If it broke the property transfer regulation, it will be subject to legal consequence,” he said.

Seven persons were confirmed killed and 53 injured early Monday night when their vehicle crashed into two vehicles in an incident blamed on broken pedals.

Pol Lt Col Siwaphas Phuripaschaiboonchu, investigator at Wang Khondaeng authorities place, said the vehicle was travelling from Rayong to Nong Khai. It rear-ended the two cars on roadway 304 in Na Di area around 2am.

He said seven persons were confirmed dead at the scene, including the bus drivers and his pleasure vehicle, while the 53 people who suffered wounds were rushed to regional hospitals.

Na Di district chief Somjai Phutthasena said the death toll could climb further.

A preliminary investigation found the accident could have been due to malfunctioning brakes on the interprovincial bus, Pol Lt Col Siwaphas said.

The bus was operated by 407 Pattana Co, which has a poor safety record.

Trucker Lamsant Phuangphu said he was following behind the bus as it descended a hill at an unusually high speed before hitting the two lorries in front of it. Mr Lamsant said he and other motorists stopped to help passengers escape the bus, which caught fire after the crash.

On Feb 26, an accident on the same stretch of road claimed the lives of 17 local government employees from Phon Charoen district in Bung Kan, and injured 40 others. They were on a study trip to Rayong when the bus overturned.

The road is notorious for the many S-shaped bends along it, which make it difficult for vehicles to negotiate.

His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana may give a state visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan from April 25 to 28, the Royal Household Bureau has announced.

The statement said the imperial attend follows an offer from His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan.

Their Majesties ‘ visit will further enhance friendship and cooperation between the two kingdoms, which have close relationships founded upon shared nations, belief in Buddhism and historic relationships between the aristocratic families and individuals.

Upon arrival at Paro International Airport, Their Majesties will be received by people of the Bhutanese royal family and then exit for Thimphu in the evening.

Their Majesties may be publicly welcomed by His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Third Prince of Bhutan and Her Majesty the Queen of Bhutan in a meeting at Tashichho Dzong, which includes an assessment of a guard of honour.

Their Majesties may remain to Tendrelthang, where they will see a parade and historical performance. Bhutanese citizens will also accumulate to give their value and provide a comfortable welcome. A state dinner may be hosted by the King and the Queen of Bhutan at Dechencholing Palace in the evening.

On the next day of the explore, Their Majesties may attend a religious service at Buddha Dordenma, where 74 Thai and 74 Bhutanese priests will conduct Buddhist chants to give gifts to the imperial couple. Following this, the fourth King of Bhutan will meet Their Majesties.

In the afternoon, Their Majesties will visit prominent development projects and exhibitions, including a collaboration between the Royal Projects of Thailand and Bhutan, as well as the One Gewog, One Product ( Ogop ) initiative. In the evening, Their Majesties will grant an audience to the Bhutanese prime minister and spouse.

On the third day of the visit, Their Majesties will visit Lingkana Palace to experience Bhutanese culture, such as displays of woven textiles and garments. The royal couple will also visit the Thimphu central market to view an exhibition on a volunteer programme.

On the final day, Their Majesties will travel to Dungkar Dzong in Paro to pay homage to Shakyamuni Buddha and observe activities of the Royal Institute, including an exhibition on the Gelephu Smart City Project.

Their Majesties will depart from the air force base in Don Mueang at 7am on April 25 and return on April 28 at 7. 30pm.

The visit to Bhutan is the first official overseas state visit of His Majesty the King’s reign.

Ahead of the royal visit, the Tourism Authority of Thailand ( TAT ) organised the” Amazing Thailand Festival in Bhutan 2025″ campaign to stimulate travel interest and promote exchanges of cultural ties and goodwill.

About 13. 2 million meth tablets have been seized in two distinct activities against drug traffickers in the North, the Justice Ministry and Narcotics Suppression Bureau announced in a press event yesterday.

The press conference was led by Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong and deputy federal police captain Pol Gen Prachuap Wongsuk.

On April 7, officials in Chiang Dao region in Chiang Mai received a tip-off about a drug trafficking effort through the city. A day later, they spotted a cautious vehicle heading towards a remote area that is mainly inhabited by indigenous tribes.

Officials stopped the vehicle at a station in Kaeng Pan Tao in tambon Mae Na, where they found about 12 million meth tablets hidden among vegetables in the rear.

In a split function on April 10, officials in Chiang Rai confiscated 1. 2 million meth tablets hidden in a vehicle parked at a department shop in the state’s Mae Sai area.

The vehicle, according to Pol Col Tawee, began its journey in Ha Mi town near the border with Myanmar.

According to Pol Col Tawee, the bulk of the seized drugs were meant for the north of Thailand. Most of the medications featured the brand” Y1″, he noted.

Siranudh” Psi” Scott, a marine conservationist, has been removed from his position as an adviser at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ) for his alleged inappropriate behaviour.

Mr Siranudh, 26, last year said he was stepping down as assistant to DNP director-general Athapol Charoenshunsa over what he said was a dispute about the control of restoration work in the country.

But, Mr Athapol yesterday said that the division decided to remove Mr Siranudh from his article according to his continued “inappropriate behavior despite multiple instructions”.

Mr Siranudh, who obtained a diploma in video from the California Institute of the Arts, returned to Thailand to focus on marine protection. He has gained reputation for his dedication in protection programs.

Nevertheless, he was recently involved in a contentious video that went viral. On it, he was seen confronting a foreign tourists who sarcastically used the Taiwanese greeting na hao in southern Thailand.

Mr Athapol acknowledged Mr Siranudh’s” great motives” but noted that, on several occasions, his website content affected the relationship between the garden power and local societies. At one point, a libel lawsuit was filed by a local company operator over Mr Siranudh’s online information, Mr Athapol said.  

Pheu Thai lawmakers have been instructed to encourage the casino-entertainment advanced and social asylum bills in their constituencies during the political recess time, in a bid to ensure the bills can go without a hitch.

According to Pheu Thai official and MP, Danuporn Punnakanta, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has instructed the group’s MPs to assess their constituencies ‘ view on a number of people problems, including the government’s push to legalise playing in casinos, which has caused tensions within the government coalition.  

Cabinet officials from the group have also been urged to visit Pheu Thai MPs on the ground, so they can function up and arrange a complete solution to address the government’s concerns, he said.

With regards to the asylum bill, Mr Danuporn stressed the importance of defining the president’s opportunity to ensure the bill does not cause problems in the future.  

” We don’t want these costs to spark large protests that may affect the structural integrity of the state,” he said.

Discussion on the casino-entertainment difficult bill, which was supposed to be discussed in the current political period, have been postponed to the next program, which will start on July 2.

Observers say the legislature is unlikely to pass the bill, given the criticism from within the Bhumjaithai Party — the next largest political party in the government coalition.

Its secretary-general, Chaichanok Chidchob, is known to be opposed to the act, but Bhumjaithai head Anutin Charnvirakul said Mr Chaichanok’s notes reflected his personal values, not the group’s stance on the matter.

Mr Anutin reaffirmed that the party remains committed to supporting the prime minister ’s policy.

Meanwhile, chief government whip Wisut Chainarun said public opinion regarding the casino-entertainment complex bill has markedly improved.

He noted that once “people have more understanding [of the bill], it will move ahead”.

Most Thais aren’t opposed to the bill, Mr Wisut claimed, saying they merely wanted to learn more about the push, particularly its benefits for the economy.  

Whether the bill proceeds in the next session will depend on how well these public discussions go, he added.

KANCHANABURI- A Myanmar aircraft was seen dropping on 10 weapons on a Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA ) center on Monday as the struggling moved closer to the frontier with Thailand.

Villagers at Ban Phu Nam Ron border go in Muang area saw a Y-12 plane of the Myanmar authorities fly over Tiki village in Taninthary Region and heard about 10 explosions soon after.

They even saw three MI17 aircraft landing about 60 federal soldiers in the area, which is a base of the KNLA.

There were no reports of suicide or injury.

Myanmar government forces and KNLA soldiers are locked in a battle near the border opposite Kanchanaburi state. Thailand’s 9th Infantry Division has stopped up stability in the border region.

The battle is expected to intensify. Myanmar has been warned against allowing the fighting to flow over into Thailand and not to lose explosives near the border.

A Thai safety supply said on Sunday the KNLA had driven Myanmar men out of a foundation in Tita, about 12 miles from Ban Phu Nam Ron, on Saturday.

Some Burmese people have opted to leave their homes and proceed to tents along the borders.