South-East Asia (Page 792)

In an effort to increase regional economic activity, the Transport Ministry has directed the Marine Department to launch its projects to improve sea communication across the Andaman Sea regions.

The 740 million-baht job is a significant component of a new initiative by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to enhance the state’s transportation network and raise tourism, according to Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri and Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri.

In addition to upgrades to Manoh Pier and Chong Lard Pier in Phangnga’s Koh Yao city, the project will also include the construction of two new bridges, Ao Po Ferry Pier in Phuket and Tha Len Pier in Krabi.

When completed, Ms Manaporn explained, the jetties will allow for a smooth coastal relationship between Phuket, Phangnga, and Krabi– also known as the Andaman Triangle.

Ms. Manaporn claimed that the area lacks a significant port, which would mean it could both support current maritime traffic nor future transportation-oriented developments, despite the region’s reputation for its high economic and tourism potential.

The deputy secretary claimed that the bridges may reduce the time by land from three and a half days to two days between Phuket and Krabi.

A fresh ferry route will help to regional income, in line with the president’s policy, said Ms Manaporn.

Kritpetch Chaichuay, chairman of the Marine Department, said 360 million ringgit in leftover money from the governmental times 2024-2026 have been allocated for the Phangnga tasks: 175 million ringgit for Manoh Pier and 185 million for Chong Lard Pier.

According to Mr Kritpetch, both piers may be improved to have better facilities, including a new connector for cargo and passenger ships, a distinct landing place for rate boats and long-tail boats, and a driving bit for cars. Additionally, the piers will have a visitor center and use local architectural styles and identity as well as higher security standards.

The Marine Department is today looking for companies, and design on the two bridges in Phangna’s Koh Yao area is scheduled to begin this season.

The money for two different projects– the 280-million-baht Ao Po Pier in Phuket and 100-million-baht Tha Len Pier in Krabi– will be included in next week’s budget, Mr Kripetch said, adding that the piers are expected to be completed in 2027.

In an effort to improve economic activity in the region, the Transport Ministry has directed the Marine Department to move quickly on its projects to improve sea communication across the Andaman Sea regions.

The 740 million-baht job is a significant component of a new initiative spearheaded by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to enhance the state’s transportation network and raise tourism, according to Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri and Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri.

In addition to upgrades to Manoh Pier and Chong Lard Pier in Phangnga’s Koh Yao city, the project will also include the construction of two new bridges, Ao Po Ferry Pier in Phuket and Tha Len Pier in Krabi.

When completed, Ms Manaporn explained, the jetties will allow for a smooth coastal relationship between Phuket, Phangnga, and Krabi– also known as the Andaman Triangle.

Ms. Manaporn claimed that the area lacks a significant port, which would mean it could both support existing maritime traffic nor upcoming transportation-oriented developments, despite its high economic and tourism potential.

The deputy secretary claimed that the bridges may reduce the time by land from three and a half days to two days between Phuket and Krabi.

A novel ferry route will lead to regional income, in line with the president’s policy, said Ms Manaporn.

Kritpetch Chaichuay, chairman of the Marine Department, said 360 million ringgit in leftover money from the governmental times 2024-2026 have been allocated for the Phangnga tasks: 175 million ringgit for Manoh Pier and 185 million for Chong Lard Pier.

According to Mr Kritpetch, both piers may be improved to have better facilities, including a new connector for cargo and passenger ships, a distinct landing place for rate boats and long-tail boats, and a driving bit for cars. Additionally, the piers will have a visitor center and use local architectural styles and identity as well as higher security standards.

The Marine Department is currently looking for companies, and design on the two piers in Phangna’s Koh Yao area is scheduled to begin this year.

The money for two different projects– the 280-million-baht Ao Po Pier in Phuket and 100-million-baht Tha Len Pier in Krabi– will be included in next week’s budget, Mr Kripetch said, adding that the piers are expected to be completed in 2027.

Some regions were completely submerged for more than two decades.

Local Sukhothai people are requesting that the government intervene in order to stop the area’s floods, which have been occurring for more than two weeks.

Local residents have been requesting assistance as more rainfall is expected to fall across the North as a result of Typhoon Yagi, and storms have been reported for many days in tambon Pak Phra in Muang city and tambon Kong in Kong Krailat area.

Wongduan Si-phongsai, 60, who lives on Koh Kong in the middle of the Yom River, said exposure to her town has been affected by the rising water. She feared that until the rain stopped after the November Loy Kratong event, the community would be flooded.

Another citizen, who requested anonymity, claimed that as a result of Typhoon Yagi’s weekend-making land in Vietnam, the transfer rate at Yang Sai drawbridge in Muang district has increased over the past few days.

Seven gates were set up on Monday to let the Yom River’s extra water to flow inland, affecting Kong Krailat in Sukhothai and Bang Rakham region in Phitsanulok.

Local authorities estimated that the Yom River in the northern part of Sukhothai was about 78.5 % full, but the Yom River’s water levels were n’t at a critical level.

Despite attempts to distract the extra water to the Nan River, it is claimed that the valley in Phitsanulok is now becoming more and more dangerous. As of Monday, the water levels at the Y64 water depot in Bang Rakham area stood at 7.8 feet, 1.4 feet higher than the river slope.

As a result, some areas in the state were flooded on Monday.

At least 58 % of the places designated as waters engagement areas by the Bang Rakham design, or about 153, 390 ray, were flooded by more than 264 million square meters of water, according to Phitsanulok government Phusit Somjit on Monday.

Mr Phusit and Phimpitcha Supphakitcharoen, a Pheu Thai MP for Phitsanulok, on Monday inspected the place and handed over support packages to the citizens affected by the floods in tambon Chum Saeng Songkhram.

Rice farmers in Ang Thong’s Sapphaya area were forced to harvest their newly planted rice too early to reduce the flood damage.

The Chao Phraya barrage dam’s water discharge rate on Monday, according to the Royal Irrigation Department ( RID), was 1, 434 m3 per second at the Chao Phraya barrage dam in Chai Nat.

To protect river areas from flood, the price will be set at 1,500 m3 per second for the next seven days.

Despite the flood reported in six regions, RID said that only 47 % of water in the world’s rivers, 27.125 billion m³ in overall, is accessible at the moment.

claims of Thaksin’s repeated effect

A new petition was submitted to the Election Commission (EC ) on Monday asking for the dissolution of the ruling Pheu Thai Party and five coalition partners, alleging they knowingly allowed themselves to be influenced by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The five other parties named in the complaint filed by Nopparut Worachitwutthikul, a former leader of the 2006 White Pigeon group, were Bhumjaithai, United Thai Nation ( UTN), Chartthaipattana, Prachachat and Palang Prachrarath ( PPRP ).

Following the ruling of the Constitutional Court, the Constitutional Court upheld Mr. Nopparut’s claim that the August 14 gathering of important figures from these six parties took place at Thaksin’s home.

According to reports in the media, Thaksin requested a meeting with key partnership parties to let them know about the group’s choice to select Chaikasem Nitisiri as premier. Apparently, Thaksin claimed to be the parents of Ms. Paetongtarn, who was traveling abroad at the time.

In accordance with the complaint, Thaksin’s behavior may fall under Sections 28 and 29 of the Political Party Act for intervention by an outsider in governing social events.

Additionally, the plea cited Section 21 of the Political Party Act, which mandates that group behavior been approved by the party executives and subscribe to the values of integrity, great leadership, and public attention.

According to the law, the EC is authorized to take such matters before the Constitutional Court for thought, and it claimed that the crime could lead to the disintegration of a political group.

The majority of the government also assumed that Thaksin was the party’s owner, and his activities gave the impression that he was pulling the strings. As Ms Paetongtarn’s parents, Thaksin was even believed to have influence over her.

Thaksin frequently discussed the plans of the Pheu Thai Party before the organization itself, as if his thoughts were going to turn into group resolutions. The Aug 14 meeting may be perceived as a shift to form the government,” said Mr Nopparut.

He even called on the Department of Probation to understand the Aug 14 gathering at Thaksin’s mansion as Thaksin, at that time a prisoner on parole, was never allowed to engage in elections.

The six parties ‘ petition was filed as Ms. Paetongtarn is getting ready to make a policy speech to parliament this week before the company officially begins operations.

Following Tuesday, when the government holds its primary official conference, the so-called anti-Thaksin program groups plan to obtain outside Government House.

The anticipated meeting was made public over the weekend by the Thai Citizens Protecting the Monarchy, the Dhamma Army, and the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand. They vowed to continue to examine the Pheu Thai-led government’s contentious policies, including those involving the casino entertainment advanced and modern budget handout schemes.

Pichit Chaimongkol, head of the Network of Students and People Reforming Thailand, said on Monday the anticipated meeting was not a protest against the new state.

He promised to file a complaint asking for an investigation into the Corrections Department’s alleged treatment of Thaksin.

He insisted the party is an edible meeting, not funded by any parties with political attention. Because the party’s goal was to examine the work of the state, he did never rule out the possibility of holding a rally if there was no improvement.

Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister and internal minister, reaffirmed the right of the government’s critics to stage a rally on Monday and urged them to uphold the law.

He even called on them to denounce the state policies based on facts, not debate, so the government could use them to strengthen.

Anti-drug officials have made 1, 607 arrests this year in six northern regions, and they have pledged to intensify efforts to prosecute more people in the 2025 fiscal year beginning next month.

The six northeastern provinces are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Phayao, Nan and Tak.

According to estimates, there are thousands of kilos of crystal meth kept close to the Thai border in the northeast and waiting to be distributed to users in Malaysia, central and southern, as well as tens of millions of heroin pills.

The results of the crackdowns carried out in the northern regions ‘ borderland areas over the past ten months were revealed at a press conference held by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board ( ONCB) secretary-general Pol Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon and Pol Gen Narit Thawornwong, the unit’s commander, on Tuesday.

A meeting was held to discuss the efforts of various military and police organizations to combat the drug problem and prepare for the efforts for the following year.

In a charge to fulfill the president’s commitment to minimize the effects of medicines on Thai culture, it was also revealed that the government will intensify efforts to combat drugs in the 2025 fiscal year.

According to Pol Gen Narit, there are believed to be at least 80 million cocaine medications and 1, 000 kg of glass meth being stored in warehouses just over the nation’s northern border.

These opioids are owned by two distinct Thai substance systems, he claims. The second includes Malaysia and the southern area of the nation. The others are those who transport them between the eastern and central parts.

The commander added that most people in Thailand are interested in purchasing cocaine pills, whereas foreign drug users are more likely to find them.

Pol Gen Narit also said that Taskforce 35 was involved in 44 anti-drug activities, arresting 1, 607 offenders. It also seized 256 million cocaine medications, 2.68 tonnes of crystal meth, 375 kg of cocaine, 206 kg of raw opium and 21 kg of morphine in 18 regions in the six northeastern regions between Dec 1 last year and Sep 8.

He added that 31 offenders, who were mostly based in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai and Fang regions and Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai and Mae Fa Luang towns, were killed by soldiers.