Asia (Page 26)

Puntham second wants to stop the crime.

The Thai government has stated that it is prepared to engage in peace negotiations to end the strong South’s growing rebellion.

Phumtham Wechayachai, the defense minister, condoled the continued violence in the southern provinces on Tuesday, expressing his condolences to the victims of both the Muslim and Buddhist lands.

Mr. Phumtham criticized the attacks on civilians, including those against priests, babies, and the elder as being particularly cruel, and he also emphasized the government’s willingness to engage in peace talks.

He cited a peace-related partnership that was reached between Malaysian Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and former prime minister Anwar Ibrahim during the latter’s formal visit to the neighbouring country last year.

Mr. Phumtham, who is also a lieutenant premier, claimed he finally did it.

He added, however, that Thailand would not negotiate with any organization that is still using force and that it may see evidence that the assault may be stopped before negotiations begin.

Mr. Phumtham resisted the notion of a distinct Pattani position and emphasized that the negotiations may fall within the Thai constitution under the monarchy.

He added that Thailand is also ready to impose strategic rules on local authorities, officers, and the military.

He made it clear that “proactive operations” do not entail murder but greater security, quicker response times, and presence in high-risk areas to protect citizens.

Additionally, Mr. Phumtham emphasized the value of cooperation and multiculturalism, noting that both religious groups have previously coexisted peacefully.

He applauded debate about local self-government, as long as it is done within Thailand’s legal framework.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Phumtham reaffirmed the necessity of stopping crime as a prerequisite for development and urged all events to be open and realistic about addressing the conflict’s source.

Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch, also claimed that the Barisan Revolusi Nasional Melayu-Patani ( BRN ) was behind the most recent wave of violence.

Mr. Sunai claimed in a letter to X that the BRN had cited international humanitarian law to blame the Thai government for failing to engage in peace negotiations, leading to a rise of issue.

This demonstrates that the BRN is pressuring the Thai authorities against its will, as the problems appear arbitrarily,” Mr. Sunai said.

The BRN denied participation in attacks on civilians in Pattani and the surrounding areas in a statement.

Our goal is to preserve Pattani’s dignity and independence. It stated that” we don’t have a plan to attack regular citizens.”

Prime Minister Paetongtarn stated that she has given instructions to a number of organizations to put tight handle controls on all forms of violence.

According to PM, “revisions” are necessary because of taxes.

According to Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the influence of US President Donald Trump’s tax policies on the world economy will need some adjustments as the government’s premier money handout scheme moves forward.

” We must take into account the changing global economic situation, as we must at this point, [the parties involved ] are still being circulated,” she said after Tuesday’s weekly cabinet meeting.

The prime minister continued,” The state may listen to the National Economic and Social Development Council and the Bank of Thailand, for instance.”

The government had previously moved forward with this job in order to stimulate the economy, but now that adjacent factors have been involved, it must first reevaluate the intended result, she said.

Even though the government has the authority to deal with it, the PM said,” In the end, whether this project will get delayed or no today depends also on the ideas of relevant companies.”

She emphasized that no adjustments have been made to this one.

According to Ms. Paetongtarn, the government may gather agency comments on the need for more monetary stimulus and how the remaining 150 billion baht could be used to bring the country’s highest benefit, adding that this is the government’s top priority.

When pressed to verify whether the government actually intends to carry out the project, she once again stated that the thoughts of some organizations may be sought out first.

She said the cabinet’s recommendation to move forward with the second step, which was scheduled to be presented and approved on Tuesday, has been postponed until a later time.

The government still has 157 billion baht to fund the third and final phase of the program, a local economic stimulus program, in which around 2.7 million Thais between the ages of 16 and 20 may receive 10, 000 baht each in online currency to help stimulate the economy.

If the government decides to continue, about 27 billion ringgit of the remaining money will be spent, the source said.

The cabinet’s judgement on Tuesday came despite assurances from Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat last week that it would not.

According to a source quoted by Isra News Agency, one of the reasons the government is considering phasing out stage three is because the past two stages hardly produced any considerable results.

The remaining 150 billion baht may then probably be diverted to another stimulus initiatives that would be more effective at reducing Mr. Trump’s tariff policies, according to the source.

The president’s investment in improving the water management system would probably receive 100 billion ringgit, the supply added, and the remaining 100 billion may come toward assisting those who lost their jobs as a result of the tariff press.

The Pheu Thai Party-led alliance has provided 185 billion baht to support the structure, which gave 14.5 million people 10 000 ringgit in cash.

Government spending may be thoroughly monitored while the effects of the tax laws is being assessed, according to fund permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit.

Officials charged with coercing prospects

Former individuals claim pretenders have been posing as officials it and forcing them to admit guilt, while Justice Minister Tawee Sodsong has confirmed that DSI officers were just in Amnat Charoen state to investigate Senate vote cooperation.

The minister made the comment after provincial government Narong Thepsena wrote a letter to the inside agency’s permanent director on Monday, alleging that three males posing as DSI officers pressed two female candidates to confess cooperation. Phaiwan Kaewphuang, 57, and Bunlom Wannaphat, 65, are the original prospects.

On May 4, the males claiming to get DSI officers allegedly visited Ms. Phaiwan’s home without any condition identification and not in formal attire. They allegedly coerced her into confessing to vote-rigging in the Senate vote by disconnecting her CCTV cameras program. The men failed to respond when she constantly inquired what company they were from, she said, leading to her refusing to cooperate.

Ms. Bunlom, who claimed the three gentlemen had contacted her for information about the election, had a similar experience.

Authorities were dispatched to Amnat Charoen, according to Pol Col Tawee, where they interrogated more than 10 testimony.

He claimed that the DSI was even made aware of the incident. He confirmed that the three gentlemen were DSI soldiers.

Administrators are being asked to engage in specific cases, which would violate Section 22 of the Special Case Investigation Act, which places them in the position of receiving legal punishments, including prison sentences ranging from one to ten years.

Pol Col Tawee remarked that he had never heard from the government about hear intimidation and that he should file a report of any such incidents to him.

He claimed that the DSI traveled to Amnat Charoen at the testimony ‘ orders because they feared local influence would be used against them and that they lacked the resources to travel to Bangkok.

In terms of the ongoing vote-rigging investigation, DSI authorities and the Election Commission (EC ) have interrogated more than 30 witnesses, looked at connections between various groups, and analyzed suspicious financial trades of at least 500 million baht at the neighborhood, provincial, and national levels, as well as voting patterns and unusual vote counts.

The EC has received evidence that may revoke any senators found guilty of participating in a crime.

Cases will be submitted to the Criminal Division of the Supreme Court for Political Office-Holders if allegations of wrongdoing are confirmed.

The DSI is also looking into allegations of money laundering and other criminal activity.

Following the collapse of the recently constructed State Audit Office ( SAO ), the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration ( BMA ) has reported that the search and recovery efforts for the last 13 missing persons have progressed.

The BMA’s Hazard Protection and Mitigation Department’s Director, Suriyachai Rawiwan, announced on Monday that rescue teams have now been granted access to the entire 40×40 meter basement.

Over 200 pieces of mortal remains had been sent to the Police General Hospital’s Institute of Forensic Medicine for DNA analysis as of Monday, according to Mr. Suriyachai.

He noted that Zone B, where dust equivalent to a three-storey construction is still being removed, is primarily where the remaining particles is located.

According to Mr. Suriyachai, this area, which was connected to the car park and contained damaged material pillars, requires careful maintenance to avoid further decline. In B2 and B3, destruction is continued, with the goal of clearing the entire page in two to three days.

Thaiwut Khankaew, the director of BMA’s City Planning and Development, claimed that the majority of bodies were discovered close to the fire escape, which was thought to be the city’s last haven during the decline.

He added that all regions are being searched, and that the procedure is anticipated to last another four to five days.

He claims that the 30-storey creating structure’s richness and his lack of prior knowledge in handling a collapse of this magnitude, which resulted in nearly 100 deaths, are two of the challenges.

” We have been working with great precaution to try to help any victims and take them out, while also being careful with the body of the bereaved that are trapped, which makes the procedure hard,” Mr. Thaiwut said.

He said that although the procedure has encountered many challenges, more than 70 cranes and miners have been deployed, and cooperation meetings are held thrice daily.

On Tuesday, out of the full of 109 affected, 87 people were confirmed dead, nine were injured, and 13 are also missing.

The Police General Hospital’s forensic analysis will determine the final recognition to ensure that the facts are consistent with official documents.

Officials have launched a search and rescue operation after a whale shark was discovered Sunday entangled in hunting gear dust near Richelieu Rock in the Surin Islands marine park.

When divers and the Deep Andaman Queen dive vessel’s crew were scuba-diving close to the site, according to Atthapol Charoenchansa, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation ( DNP ).

The shark shark’s tail was wrapped in old wire or fishing net debris, which is thought to be intelligent and between six and seven meters long.

After that, a dive team searched the area, but the procedure was hampered by poor presence caused by dark water. The Deep Andaman Queen team reported two observations on Sunday despite not having seen the dog.

Mr. Atthapol stated that all leaping vessels close to Richelieu Rock have been informed of the presence of the dog and are asking divers to stay safe distance from the whale sharks for both their own safety and for the fish’s protection if they come across it.

The Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre, the DNP, Chulabhorn Research Institute, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources have all been assigned to a recovery program.

Three teams make up the recovery function: one to remove the dirt, another to guide the dog, and the second to ensure the security of everyone involved.

Authorities believe the connection could endanger the animal’s success, so calls to Hotline 1362 should be made right away.