South-East Asia (Page 1,553)

NARATHIWAT: Authorities cordoned off the area around a car bomb explosion near a police base in Sungai Kolok district of this deep South province after an explosion on Saturday night. No casualties were reported.

The blast occurred at Orakan intersection near a railway track and the 9313 ad hoc police base at about 8pm.

The bomb was placed in a car that was parked in the rain at the intersection. The driver of the car hurriedly got out of the vehicle, jumped onto a motorcycle that was waiting beside the car and left the scene a few minutes before the blast.

After the explosion, authorities found debris of the car scattered around a radius of about 100 metres, including the vehicle’s licence plates.

Authorities closed off the area pending examination by a bomb squad and forensic police.

NARATHIWAT: Authorities closed a vicinity of a car bomb explosion near a police base in Sungai Kolok district pending examination after an explosion on Saturday night. No casualties were reported.

The explosion happened at Orakan intersection near a railway track and the 9313 ad hoc police base at about 8pm.

The bomb was placed in a car that was parked in the rain at the intersection. The driver of the car hurriedly got off the vehicle, rode a motorcycle that was waiting beside the car and left the scene a few minutes before the blast.

After the explosion, authorities found debris of the car in a radius of about 100 metres. Licence plates were among the debris.

Authorities closed the area pending a bomb squad and forensic police’s examination.

Fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday he was postponing his return from self-exile because he needs a medical checkup first.

Thaksin, a former telecoms tycoon, posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that he needs a medical check up and would delay his return, originally planned for Aug 10, by a couple of weeks.

“I want to postpone the return date to Thailand from [Aug 10] until not more than two weeks. I will inform the date and time again. A doctor called me to undergo health check-ups.”

Shortly after learning of Thaksin’s postponed return to Thailand for health reasons, political activist and former politician Chuvit Kamolvisit yesterday posted on his Facebook page, urging Thaksin to find a better excuse for the pushing back his return.

Mr Chuvit said in his opinion Thaksin announcement was more likely related to the likelihood of a more sympathetic Pheu Thai-led coalition government having assumed power by then.

The Pheu Thai Party came second in the May election after the Move Forward Party (MFP). However, after failing to secure enough support from senators to see leader Pita Limjaroenrat take the premiership, Pheu Thai took the lead in trying to form a government without the MFP.

Pheu Thai was expected to nominate candidate Srettha Thavisin in the second vote to select the new premier on Friday, but the vote was postponed, pending a Constitutional Court decision on Aug 16 on whether Mr Pita’s renomination in the second parliamentary vote was constitutional. The party subsequently postponed an announcement about the formation of a new government.

Meanwhile, Sen Seree Suwanpanont said the uncertainty of the political situation may have influenced Thaksin’s decision not to return to the country just yet.

On Mr Srettha, Sen Seree said the senators will check his eligibility and question his stance on controversial topics including the lese majeste law and allegations against him of tax dodging.

On Thaksin’s 74th birthday on July 26, his daughter Paetongtarn “Ung Ing” Shinawatra, also a prime ministerial candidate of Pheu Thai, announced on Instagram that her father, who is widely believed to be Pheu Thai’s de facto leader, was set to arrive at Don Mueang airport on Aug 10. The fugitive former PM has been living in self-imposed exile since being overthrown by a military coup on Sept 19, 2006.

Climate change presents a big challenge for protecting and preserving tigers in the wild, says the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment permanent secretary Jatuporn Buruspat.

He shared strong concerns over the fires that are destroying the habitat of the forest’s top hunter.

Speaking yesterday at the event “Move Forward to Sustainable Tiger Conservation” to mark Global Tiger Day on July 29, in Nakhon Sawan province, Mr Jatuporn said the country has done a good job of protecting and preserving its wild tiger populations.

Under the St Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation made in Russia at the International Tiger Forum 2010, a global commitment was made among 13 countries, including Thailand, to preserve and double the tiger population by 2022.

He said efforts by forest officials and other stakeholders had been a success, as the wild tiger population in Thailand has increased.

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) found the population of tigers increased from 130-160 in 2020 to 148-189 in 2022.

Thung Yai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary is the country’s largest habitat with 103-131 tigers, followed by Tab Lan National Park in Prachin Buri province with 15-23 tigers, and the Western Forest Complex including Mae Wong, Khlong Lan, and Khlong Wang Chao national parks and the Ung Phang Wildlife Sanctuary which has 16-21 tigers.

Forest officials counted tiger populations through trap cameras in 1,200 locations across 28 conservation forests. Unfortunately, this conservation effort is being threatened by climate change, which is causing longer droughts in the forest and limited food, said Mr Jatuporn.

“Climate change has become a huge challenge for our conservation work. Less rain, longer dry seasons and man-made forest fires are all threats to tiger habitats,” he said.

It is important to protect and preserve the forest. As long as the forest is fertile, the tiger population should grow sustainably.

The DNP is now rolling out its national action plan for tiger preservation from 2022-2034 and aims to increase the tiger population in the Western Forest Complex, the Dong Phayayen-Khaoyai Forest Complex, Kaeng Krachan Forest, Phu Khieo-Nam Nao Forest and Khlong Saeng-Khao Sok Forest.

Hunt starts for investors in new southern border moneymaker

The government’s Halal Economic Corridor (HEC) would help improve Thai livelihoods in the deep South, says a senior state official who is responsible for the project in the area.

Rear Adm Somkiat Ponprayoon, secretary-general of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), said the project is helping turn Thailand into a world hub for halal goods. The government is also hoping it will help revive the economy and improve locals’ livelihoods.

Rear Adm Somkiat was speaking to a group of ambassadors and envoys from 11 Islamic countries during a recent trip to the far South of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat and his office in Yala to learn about security, Thai culture and development work in the area. The trip was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Economic corridor opens

He also told the Bangkok Post that the government is fashioning the four southern border provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and Satun and four districts of Songkhla — Na Thawi, Saba Yoi, Chana and Thepa — into the HEC.

Products and services from these areas will have to conform to the principles of Islam. That’s why the government chose these southern border provinces to be the hub.

“They are considered the most suitable products with which to promote a new corridor as this place has long been historically connected to the Arab World through trade and it was a transit point for Chinese traders.

“More importantly, 80% of the population are Thai-Muslim, so they know how to practise Halal by nature,” he said.

Rear Adm Somkiat said there are some 1.6 billion Muslims in the 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and that population number is expected to reach 2 billion in the future.

“So promoting these areas as a halal economic corridor to connect the world will help develop the local economy and improve the lot of local people,” he said.

The southern border provinces have long been a stronghold for manufacturing processed seafood. Everything has already been halal-certified and exported to Europe and the Middle East.

He said his office is encouraging locals to produce halal meat (beef, chicken and goat) to be exported to the Islamic world. Currently, there are about 10,000 farmers across the five provinces who have joined the campaign.

Partners include the Livestock Department, National Farmer Councils and various cow breeding associations.

Halal-friendly tourism and wellness

Apart from the promotion of halal meat production in the region, the SBPAC encourages locals to practise halal tourism and wellness to prepare for tourists from Muslim countries.

Many hospitals and hotels starting to practise halal, including Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus, which has been researching how to make halal spas to serve Muslim tourists.

The SBPAC also has been working with local universities that are keen on halal and Islamic knowledge such as the Prince of Songkla University Halal Institute, Fatoni University in Pattani and Rajabhat University Yala, along with other universities outside the southern border region such as the Halal Institute of Chulalongkorn University to educate people about halal knowledge.

He said these institutions have played a crucial role in educating people and giving confidence to Muslim investors that halal products made from these entrepreneurs are safe to eat according to their religious principles.

He said that these investors do not come to invest simply because these places have halal symbols, but they will come and look at the process — from farm gate to delivery — to ensure safety under Islamic principles.

“So, entrepreneurs must be knowledgeable in halal to ensure consumer safety. A halal economic corridor must have many components such as knowledge and certificates in the production process to ensure everything is right,” Rear Adm Somkiat added.

Halal certification

He said halal food and service entrepreneurs could obtain halal certification through two agencies. They are the Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) and Provincial Islamic Council (PIC) in these five southern border provinces.

It was also important to bridge the corridor with foreigners from various places. He has held discussions with halal investors from Asean and the Middle East especially Saudi Arabia who are interested in investing in the project.

Workers focus on four coastal areas in national park

PHUKET: Local authorities and residents were working to remove oil slicks and tar balls from four beaches in Sirinat National Park in Thalang district.

National park chief Sorasak Rananan said he was alerted by the station chief of Layan Beach on Friday about the presence of oil slicks and tar balls along Nai Yang, Mai Khao, Nai Thon and Layan beaches on the northwest of the island.

He said hotel staff from Angsana Laguna Hotel spotted a sea turtle hatchling covered in crude oil on Bang Tao Beach. Officials from the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre were sent to help the turtle, he said.

He said the removal of the oil slicks continued until yesterday, with the help of park officials, lifeguards and residents. The national park has warned tourists against coming to the four beaches, he said.

Capt Krit Kluebmat, deputy director of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC) in Phuket, said the oil slicks — which may be diesel fuel — were also spotted around Khok Kloi in Phangnga, north of Phuket.

He said he has instructed the Phuket Marine Office to inspect maritime route data between Phangnga and Phuket over the past seven days to identify who dumped the oil.

A complaint will also be filed with Sakhu Police to track down the wrongdoers, he said.

Capt Pichet Songtan, director of Thai-MECC Region 3’s Public Affairs Division, said units were deployed to the four beaches to remove the oil slicks and collect samples for a lab test to determine the type of oil.

The results are expected within seven days, he said.

He urged tourists to be aware of the oil slicks spotted on the beaches, stretching many kilometres from tambon Khuekkhak in Takua Pa district of Phangnga to Patong Beach in Phuket.

The Royal Thai Navy sent a helicopter to find signs of oil on the water’s surface but there wasn’t any, he said.

Adul Raluekmun, a boat inspector with the Phuket Marine Office, said a lab test will help identify the type of boat travelling on the route.

Those found guilty of violating Section 119 of the law on boat navigation in Thai waters by polluting the environment and obstructing boat navigation face a sentence of up to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to 10,000 baht.

Pheu Thai ‘trying its best’ to overcome political hurdles

The Pheu Thai Party, now leading the formation of a new coalition government, has admitted the mission represents a major political crisis which the party is trying its best to overcome.

The crisis stems from the time limit of the government’s formation, legal limits associated with the constitution, the country’s problematic governing structure and persistent conflicts among different groups, said Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday.

“The situation makes government formation no easy job and we, as the leading party, need to be firm on our stance and leadership, otherwise we will never be able to deal efficiently with the differences among coalition partners and lead the country out of this crisis,” he said.

Thailand, its people and political landscape have changed dramatically over the past eight to nine years, as a result of various internal and external factors, he said.

Under the circumstances, Pheu Thai is now committed to implementing those policies promised to voters in the May 14 election for the betterment of the country while leading the new government, he said.

“We’re not making our problems the country’s problems or protecting our own interests over public interests,” he said.

And as Pheu Thai is working on a rather realistic yet gentle approach to defusing the political crisis, it calls for more cooperation from all sides concerned and hopes for the best, he said.

Even before the second prime ministerial vote, initially set for Friday, was adjourned, Pheu Thai was confident it had mustered enough support for its prime ministerial candidate, said party secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong.

The postponement of the vote now means the party will have more time to ensure the new coalition government it is forming will have greater stability, he said.

Asked if former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s postponement of his announced return, originally planned for next Wednesday, to Thailand would complicate Pheu Thai’s bid to form the new government, Mr Prasert said Thaksin returning or not has nothing to do with the party’s affairs. Thaksin said his doctors have called him in for a medical check-up.

According to a source, Pheu Thai, after breaking away from the Move Forward Party (MFP) with whom it hoped to form a governing coalition, is now in a real dilemma as to how to avoid losing support from voters if it sides instead with those parties currently in the caretaker government, seen by some as the conservative camp.

If Pheu Thai decides not to include the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and United Thai Nation Party (UTN) in its coalition to avoid being perceived by some sides as switching from the pro-democracy camp to the conservative one, it will likely secure at most only 263 out of the 500 House seats, said the source.

However, if Pheu Thai opts to include the PPRP and the UTN in its coalition, the total number of MPs in the new coalition will come to 310, meaning it will only require 66 votes from senators in the next PM vote, said the source.

A Pheu Thai source said the party is still negotiating with senators whose votes are needed and could help the party win the PM vote without having to side with the PPRP and UTN, regarded by some as military parties in disguise and a potentially undesirable coalition partner.

The final decision thus depends on how many senator votes Pheu Thai has in hand before the next vote, said the source, adding the party listens to public opinion as to who should and should not be in the new coalition.

The owners of a fireworks warehouse in Narathiwat that exploded last weekend and killed 12 people turned themselves in to police yesterday, according to a local source.

The couple, identified as Sompong Napol, 42, and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, 42, crossed the border from Malaysia via the Sadao checkpoint after police issued warrants for their arrest in connection with the July 29 explosion in tambon Muno in Sungai Kolok district.

The explosion killed 12 people, injured 121 and damaged 292 houses.

According to the source, the couple, whose business was allegedly backed by local politicians, were escorted to Muno police station for questioning after their detention was recorded at Sadao station.

They will face charges including negligence causing death, and importing and selling fireworks without a licence, which is a violation of the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Fireworks Act.