India hunts militants in Kashmir as tensions with Pakistan soar
The nuclear-armed countries have unleashed a slew of measures andnbsp against one another, including Pakistan, India, which has abeyed the crucial Indus Waters Treaty, and Pakistan, which has closed its airspace to Indian carriers. The Indus River and its tributaries were divided between the two nations and their water revealingContinue Reading
Cash handout faces legal hurdle
B35 billion fund transfer is improper, according to the pair.
The government is facing a fresh legal challenge after a complaint was sent to the NACC to request that it look into a 35-billion-baht total used to pay for its 10, 000-baht cash handout.
The latest government officials, former Srettha Thavisin administration officials, as well as the legislators and MPs who supported the budget costs for the 2025 fiscal year are among those who are implicated in the case.
The petition was signed by Jade Donavanik, a previous democratic writing commission director, Somchai Swangkarn, a former legislator, and Charnchai Issarasenarak, a former Democrat MP.
They charged these government officials, Members, and senators with breaking both Part 144 of the law and Area 88 of the Anti-Corruption Act, which is the network’s fundamental laws.
Mr. Charnchai and Mr. Jade have requested that the NACC conduct an investigation into the situation, and if the investigation finds sufficient grounds, it may refer the situation to the Constitutional Court for decision-making.
The House approved the 3.75-trillion-baht resources costs for the 2025 fiscal year, according to Mr. Charnchai, in its first reading of the bill on June 21, next year.
A 35 billion baht resources will be used to pay debts to state-run banks under Part 28 of the Financial and Fiscal Discipline Act, according to the government led by the then-prime secretary, Mr. Srettha, before the next studying. To finance the 10,000-baht cash handout scheme, it was diverted to a central fund.
Despite the constitution forbidding such actions, the House committee that was looking at the budget consented.
The decision, according to the former MP, had an impact on several state-run banks, including the Government Savings Bank ( 2.68 billion baht ), Government Housing Bank ( 592 million baht ), and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives ( 2.68 billion baht ).
These budgetary adjustments were originally intended to make up for the loss of revenue generated by the implementation of government initiatives like a farmer’s debt suspension program and a crop price guarantee project.
Under Section 28 of the Financial and Fiscal Discipline Act, Section 144 of the Constitution prohibits the slashing of budget allocations used to fulfill legal obligations, particularly those set aside for bank debt payments.
Additionally, Mr. Charnchai reported that an additional 1.25 billion baht was diverted from the central fund to a fund for former parliamentarians, which was in violation of Section 144 ( 2 ) of the constitution, which forbids MPs or senators from devoting budget allocations for personal benefits.
In its second and third readings, he claimed that the bill received a total of 309 MPs, 175 senators, and 72 committee members who were watching the 2025 budget bill closely. Therefore, Mr. Charnchai said, each of them is connected to the allegation.
According to Mr. Jade, the NACC’s investigation is anticipated to last no longer than two months. The NACC can submit the case to the Constitutional Court if it finds enough evidence in the evidence to support its case, which is expected to take 15 days to consider the case before rendering a decision.
According to observers, the Paetongtarn administration could be involved in the case because the Srettha government’s 10-millibaht cash handout is still being implemented.
The government approved a third phase of the digital wallet program in March, which will give 10, 000 baht to 2.7 million people between the ages of 16 and 20 as part of its economic stimulus package.
As the system designed to make this happen, Ms. Paetongtarn previously stated that digital wallets would be used to distribute and spend this portion of the 10,000-baht giveaway.
Welfare cardholders, those with disabilities, and those over the age of 60 were covered by the first two phases of the program, which included payments made using PromptPay.
Thai troops to join major military exercise
The largest martial exercise always conducted in Australia, Exercise Talisman Sabre, is scheduled for mid-July. Thailand will take part in it.
The discovery was made at a memorial Anzac Day ceremony held on Friday at Hellfire Pass in Kanchanaburi territory, where the embassies of Australia and New Zealand in Thailand celebrated the 110th celebration of the landings in Gallipoli.
Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought and died in all war were honored in the solemn dawn services, especially those who perished as war prisoners while building the Thai-Burma Railway under Chinese control at Hellfire Pass.
Admiral David Johnston, the commander of the American Defence Force, spoke at the ceremony and reaffirmed Australia’s robust defense ties with Thailand. He emphasized the significance of the Anzac history.
Thailand will be one of 19 nations participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, which will take place in Australia in July and may require more than 30 000 military officers, according to Adm. Johnston.
Adm Johnston said,” Thailand’s membership demonstrates our shared responsibility to regional stability and our growing defense assistance.” It’s important to foster believe, portability, and people-to-people connections, not just about developing warfighting abilities.
The largest mixed education exercise between the Australian Defence Force and the US government is Talisman Sabre, which is currently in its 11th generation, and it serves as a significant show of their strategic empire.
Multi-domain operations, such as marine landings, flying insertions, power demonstrations, and shared combat instruction across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains will be the focus of the 2025 edition.
Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Tonga, and the United Kingdom are also represented by the participating nations. Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei will all be present as spectators.
Adm. Johnston emphasized that the exercise strengthens combined skills in places like humanitarian aid and crisis comfort, skills that have become extremely important in light of recent natural disasters, including the recent earthquake in Thailand.
Joint exercises like these allow us to work seamlessly together, under shared goals, and with mutual trust, he noted.
Adm. Johnston cited historical ties that date back to the end of World War II, when Thai forces assisted Australia in recovering and rapatriating the remains of Australian soldiers from Hellfire Pass.
Thailand, Australia target global crime
Thai and Asian authorities have launched a joint operation to demolish transnational criminal systems in a significant step toward preventing international murder. The collaboration aims to address complex crimes that transcend borders, from cocaine to child abuse and cryptocurrency-based money fraud.
Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police’s Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ), led a delegation to Australia earlier this month for discussions with its law enforcement counterpart, the Australian Federal Police ( AFP).
According to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop,” the nature of international crime nowadays demands real-time cleverness, cross-border cooperation, and scientific integration.” ” We are no longer focusing on isolated businesses. Our goal is to create a co-operative system that is flawless.
Both sides came to terms with the necessity of creating shared task forces and information-sharing procedures during the visit. Thailand’s officers displayed their skills in industry operations and local knowledge, especially in the Greater Mekong Subregion, while the AFP introduced tools and systems developed for international crime surveillance.
He claimed that the Australians liked how quickly we operated. Our officers are trained to manage challenging terrain and access challenging locations, which are frequently the hub of these legal networks.
Digital Trails, Drug Routes
One of the main points of discussion was drug smuggling. Thailand, a long-standing transport nation, is a key player in the transition from Myanmar’s Shan State’s manufacturing hubs to Australia’s high-value markets.
” Crystal meth, or “ya glacier,” continues to be the main drug coming into Australia from Southeast Asia,” remarked Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop. It’s inexpensive to produce, high-quality, and low, which makes it very beneficial for organized crime organizations.
Another medications, such as cocaine and MDMA, are still popular among those who are younger and in the heart of entertainment. Despite the knowledge shared by the AFP, medications are frequently kept hidden inside reasonable shipping pots filled with gadgets, household items, or car parts, a tactic used to obstruct border inspections.
Thailand and Australia are looking into preventing actions in response, including sharing information on known traffickers and trafficking routes and improved goods screening. The possible development of a joint databases that both countries can use to track supplies and suspects in real-time is a key growth.
The conflict goes way beyond traditional contraband, though. Today’s criminal organizations are becoming more tech-savvy, frequently laundering profits using electronic money and online wallets. He claimed that” criptocurrency is the new frontier for criminals.” They” industry anonymously, move money immediately, and escape conventional financial oversight,” they claim.
Thailand also faces legitimate and structural restrictions, despite the AFP’s advanced crypto-tracking technology. Digital property lack a clear position as admissible evidence in Thai law, putting a strain on efforts to freeze or acquire funds.
” Despite the difficulties, we are moving forward,” he said. To tighten controls on illicit money flows, we are working with partners like Interpol ( International Criminal Police Organization ), Aseanapol ( Association of Southeast Asian Nations Chiefs of Police ), and financial intelligence organizations like Amlo ( Anti-Money Laundering Office ) and Austrac ( Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre ).
Both nations are investing in the future of law enforcement through engineering, management training, and inter-agency cooperation, in addition to their functional work. Data management is a promising area of cooperation. The AFP, which has developed related methods for predicted surveillance and case integration, is of particular attention to the CIB’s Big Data Centre.
We had in-depth debate about Thailand’s Big Data Center and how it could work with the AFP’s Investigation Management System, according to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop. There are many things that we can understand from one another, particularly in terms of system infrastructure and software in real-world situations.
The American Criminal Intelligence Commission, which manages the nation’s potent database that connects crime data from across Australia, received similar industrial synergies during discussions with them.
” We think this is a concept that is for replicating,” said Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop. ” Centralizing crime data prevents effort duplication because it allows companies to answer more quickly, identify patterns sooner, and prevent duplication.”
Leadership growth was also high on the plan. To discuss leadership training programs, Thai officials met with the Australian Institute of Police Management ( AIPM). Programs are being made to take Thai officers to AIPM for superior training, and to invite American trainers to Thailand to share their experience. He claimed that “effective policing depends on good leadership.” It’s about creating institutions that can adapt, innovate, and lead in a fast-changing world, not just about catching criminals.
The Joint Policing Cybercrime Coordination Centre ( JPC3 ), an Australian multi-agency hub that brings together police, cybercrime experts, banks, and tech companies in one location with shared databases and real-time coordination, is a standout example of innovation.
He claimed that it provides the kind of integrated approach we require. We want to use this model in Thailand to combat cybercrime and financial crime more effectively.
Security Partnership
Thailand and Australia’s shared commitment to public safety is emerging as a cornerstone of regional stability as transnational criminal threats become more sophisticated.
Both of our countries are clearly facing common threats, according to Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop. By uniting through joint operations, intelligence sharing, and institutional development, we convey to criminal networks that we are prepared, connected, and resolute.
Both parties are optimistic about the plans to formalize this cooperation through more structured frameworks and regular exchanges. As crime continues to become more global, so must the response. ” This is only the beginning,” Pol Lt. Gen. Jirabhop declared. A partnership for peace, safety, and justice across our nations is something we’re building that will endure.
Jerky lands duo in doghouse
PUBLISHED: 26 Apr 2025 at 03: 30
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
An animal rights organization claims that two people have been detained in the Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province for allegedly killing a neighbor’s dog and using its meats to make slow.
After receiving a complaint from the dog’s owner, Thawatchai Thavornsilp, the Watchdog Thailand Foundation ( WDT ) posted details about the incident on social media yesterday.
Their neighbor’s house opened fire at their neighbor’s residence on the day of the event, but according to Mr. Thawatchai, his wife did not believe something was wrong because their neighbors frequently shot dogs for their meat.
He and his wife after discovered that one of their four dogs had vanished, but he went to his neighbors ‘ homes and inquired about seeing his dog. They simply stated that they had to leave and run some errands, not that they did not respond to his query.
Mr. Thawatchai claimed to have witnessed puppy meat being heated to make slow while staying at the house. He recognized a dog whose cover matched that of his dog when he noticed one of the others who had been killed by his neighbors.
Two suspects were discovered in the home after Mr. Thawatchai lodged a grievance: Sawaeng Ngamboonchuay, 68, and Prasit Huntayung, 56.
They asserted that the dog that was killed was theirs and that the WDT was carefully monitoring the situation at Aranyaprathet Provincial Police Station.
Complaints target ‘zero dollar’ steel factory
Content inspection by the House Committee in Rayong
PUBLISHED: 26 Apr 2025 at 03: 30
In response to allegations of illegal operations and concerns about economic compliance, the House committee on national protection and border affairs will check a Rayong steel factory in early next month.
A task force headed by Industry Minister Akanat Promphan will join the committee chair and main opposition People’s Party ( PP ) MP for Rayong, Chutipong Pipobpinyo, who is also the chairman of the committee and the main opposition People’s Party ( PP ) MP for Rayong.
He stated that the organized visit is to investigate information that the Xin Ke Yuan Steel Company’s Pluak Daeng district’s following factory had been constructed despite a suspension order.
Since the State Audit Office ( SAO ) building in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district collapsed in the March 28 earthquake, Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co has been subject to investigation.
ITD-CREC, a cooperative venture between China Railway No. 216 and SET-listed Italian-Thai Development Plc, was constructing the building. For the SAO building job, 10 Thailand Co. and Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co. sourced the material.
The Chinese company even attracted attention in December of last year when its Rayong stock was shut down as a result of an accident involving a fuel tank leak.
Mr. Akanat met with the council on Thursday to explain efforts to end Thailand’s “zero-dollar business,” a term used to describe job that generates no money and worth for the country.
According to the business minister, foreign companies may be granted investment privileges if they are found to have broken the laws, the PP MP said, adding that the procedure to withdraw them may be suggested by a government involved.
The Industry Ministry will, for instance, propose to the Board of Investment ( BoI ) that the Board of Investment ( BoI ) be given the right to terminate investment privileges in the event of non-compliance with industrial standards.
Mr. Chutipong claimed that BoI representatives informed the screen that the organization conducts inspections of foreign companies with investment privileges, but they did not specify how often these inspections are carried out.
The large number of Chinese technicians employed by these companies as part of the purchase privilege scheme, which may not be in line with the goals of a policy that was intended to promote employment opportunities for Thais, was also noted by the PP MP.
He claimed that Xin Ke Yuan Steel Co employs 9.4 % of its labor, with the remainder being migrant workers.
What benefit does Rayong Province receive from granting these businesses purchase protections? What benefit does it have if Thai citizens aren’t employed? he inquired.
Mr. Chutipong stated that the council would follow up on the issue of Thai personnel being employed by businesses that have BoI privileges.
Claw machines in crosshairs
PUBLISHED : 26 Apr 2025 at 03:30
The government said it is willing to look into problems related to claw machines following recent police crackdowns amid concerns over youth gambling.
PM’s Office Minister Jiraporn Sindhuprai said yesterday the government welcomes public complaints lodged with the Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) if claw machines are found to be negatively affecting consumers.
She said the authorities are also monitoring social media for issues that may have repercussions on consumers, and appropriate measures will be put in place if risks are found.
This comes after a police crackdown on claw machines in several parts of Thailand. On Thursday, security officials in Nonthaburi’s Bang Yai district inspected the machines installed in public spaces such as malls and convenience stores.
District chief Surachai Kotbutdee said authorities discovered four claw machines accepting coins or banknotes ranging from 10 to 100 baht near Bang Yai City Market.
None of the machines had identifiable owners, and the authorities were unable to determine who was responsible for them. As a result, the machines were seized and handed over to Bang Yai police for further investigation and legal proceedings.
Mr Surachai cited the Gambling Act 1935, which classifies claw machines as gambling devices that can entice the general public.
Critics say the machines encourage negative behaviour, especially among youth, potentially leading to addiction, gambling, and irresponsible financial habits.
Mr Surachai said more machines will be seized and prosecutions made.
On Wednesday, Nakhon Nayok police reportedly seized 77 claw machines in the province. None were found to have the proper licences.
Lawyer Ronnarong Kaewpetch, chair of the social justice campaign network, said their legal status depends on how they function.
Machines where players must pay for a chance to win — without a guaranteed prize — are considered gambling. Conversely, machines that dispense a prize every time, regardless of its value, are not considered gambling and thus not subject to prosecution.
The lawyer pointed out that in 2020, the Interior Ministry issued an instruction to provincial governors, reiterating that claw machines cannot be legally licensed because of the country’s anti-gambling policy.
Some operators said they have obtained permission from local authorities, the lawyer claimed, but the Interior Ministry’s policy prohibits such licensing.
Operators who wish to fight their case and clear themselves of gambling-related charges must clearly declare how their machines operate, said Mr Ronnarong.
More investigations need to be conducted on how these machines are being imported into Thailand, he said.
Dept administers mpox vaccines to high-risk personnel
PUBLISHED: 26 Apr 2025 at 03: 30
NEWSPAPER SECTION: News
The Department of Disease Control ( DDC ) has begun distributing monkeypox ( MPox ) shots to medical personnel.
The office has received 2, 220 vials of Denmark’s JYNNEOS Mpox vaccine, which offers 80-85 % safety, according to Dr. Panumas Yanawetsakul, DDC Director-General. High-risk medical personnel and close contacts with confirmed cases are the targets of the original implementation.
He claimed that the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi started the treatments on Thursday.
Mpox was first discovered in Thailand in July of 2022. 781 Thai immigrants, 98 immigrants, and four cases of unknown ethnicity have already been reported. The majority ( 852 ) were male, with the most affected age group being 30-39 years ( 42.76 % ). Thirteen incidents have occurred.
Only 11 new circumstances have been recorded in 2025, he said. However, efforts to prevent and monitor are still being made.
” Vaccination is already prioritized for two groups. The second group includes contact tracers, laboratory staff, disease control officers, and high-risk care workers. The following party, he said, is intended for people who have closely followed confirmed cases within four weeks.
24 medical services have received 524 doses at this point.
Thailand news | Latest & Breaking News, Live, Video and Analysis
RECOMMENDED
ABOUT POLITICS: Taking a more local perspective
The father of the Bhumjaithai Party has demonstrated his skills and vision in building strong regional operational powerhouses from the ground away– in the process allowing a glimpse into the party’s plan to harness sustained social strength from them.
Newin Chidchob, co-founder of and a renowned figure in Bhumjaithai, recently addressed a forum with a suggestion on how provincial administrative organizations ( PAOs ) can be simplified and better serve local residents ‘ needs.
The forum’s keynote speaker was Mr. Newin, who gave a presentation on how to forge close relationships with provincial governors and PAO seats using Buri Ram, Bhumjaithai’s homeland, as a unit. Most individuals were statewide governors and PAO leaders from around the country.
Bhumjaithai has discovered that PAOs are a treasure trove of operational capabilities that provide the group with what it needs to stay in the forefront of its political activity as well as garner support for upcoming general elections.
The largest partnership mate has performed well in local elections. Even though the group did not officially run in the Feb 1 PAO chair elections in 47 out of 77 regions, its allies won 14 out of 47 chairs up for grabs.
Anutin Charnvirakul, the party’s chief, is credited with avoiding fielding candidates because Bhumjaithai’s candidate protection system, which regulates local government and community organizations nationwide. He and the whole group would have been in hot water if there had been a conflict of interest.
A political scientist said Bhumjaithai is out to report political points on several fronts, it has eased itself into the traditional station with its mantra to firmly uphold the nation, religion and monarchy, and it has been identified as the “blue” party asserting dominance over most senators elected in inter-professional, multi-tier polls next year.
It is considered to be one of the largest right-wing parties. Traditional conservative voters generally reject Pheu Thai, according to the analyst, despite the ruling party’s reluctant embrace of the label of a “neo-conservative” party.
The voters think former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, seen as the de facto head of Pheu Thai, does not and will never fit the mould of a right-leaning leader.
While Pheu Thai’s predecessor, the Thai Rak Thai Party, was in charge of a government, he was also charged with computer crime and lese majeste offences as a result of an interview he conducted in South Korea in 2015.
In contrast, Bhumjaithai’s supporters on the right have much less suspicion for him. Some academics have predicted Bhumjaithai will emerge from the next election, two years from now, in a better position with more than 100 MPs. Bhumjaithai currently has 70.
If the prediction is accurate, Bhumjaithai’s expansion will have snatched up some of the support bases of the United Thai Nation Party and Palang Pracharath Party’s existing ultra-conservative coalition. Both parties command 55 MPs between them.
In the event that either or both parties lose in the upcoming election, it is likely that some traditional voters will support Bhumjaithai. Bhumjaithai would be the only conservative “titan” standing up to Pheu Thai and the liberal People’s Party ( PP ), the analyst said.
The analyst added that conservative voters might be tempted to support Bhumjaithai in the general election as their last line of defence against the PP.
Bhumjaithai has also been sparked by its strong ties to the majority of senators whose terms are up until the following general election. Only a few senators in the so-called “blue-affiliated” faction, a reference to Bhumjaithai, may be affected despite an ongoing investigation by the Election Commission into collusion among groups of candidates in last year’s senatorial polls.
Bhumjaithai-Senate ties will then continue on a strong footing, which would provide the party with immense political leverage over other parties in deciding the fate of key legislation.
According to the analyst, Bhumjaithai may have attempted to consolidate its position by capturing as many PAO chief elections as possible. In addition to providing local administrative organizations with budgetary management, the PAOs are well known for having close ties with residents, which can be advantageous for the parties that run the PAOs in general elections.
Although Bhumjaithai has done fairly well so far in PAO races, there remains plenty of room for internal improvement of the organisations, according to Mr Newin.
He claimed to have spent 15 years transforming Buri Ram from a sleepy “pass-through” lower northeastern province into a bustling destination and home of Buriram United Football Club, of which Mr. Newin is chairman.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great showed goodwill and grace to the people of Buri Ram during his visits, he claimed.
Mr Newin pointed to a major downside of having appointed governors direct provincial affairs. He noted that governors frequently stay in a province for long enough to see projects through while they come and go.
In reshuffles ordered by the Interior Ministry, the governors move to other provinces.
The lack of continuity in implementing local policies could be offset by elected PAO chiefs installed by the people, who stand a chance of being re-elected if they impress voters.
Mr. Newin argued that local administrative organizations only become stronger and more prosperous if elected leaders of these organizations are given a choice and there is no cap on the number of terms they can serve.
” I have told Bhumjaithai members that it is time to introduce a law change that will let citizens choose how their income tax should be distributed.
” People should have the final say on whether the tax they pay should be diverted to local organisations of their choice, instead of having the money automatically channelled to the central government where the fund is held up]before being distributed], “he said.
Having a few ace to play
At least until the Budget Bill for the 2026 fiscal year passes its first reading, which is scheduled for late next month, is when the Pheu Thai Party will bite its tongue and continue to operate what is widely thought to be a fragile alliance with its partner Bhumjaithai.
Anutin: Adopting a softer tone
According to observers, Bhumjaithai is believed to have a number of cards in hand with ruling party leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
One is its close ties to the 200-member Senate, which is reportedly associated with the party and called the “blue faction” ( more than half of which is reportedly referred to as the “blue faction” )
Although Ms Paetongtarn sailed through a recent no-confidence motion, she still faces ethics questions over two contentious issues raised by the opposition People’s Party ( PP ) during the debate.
The first case involves her using promissory notes in her attempt to purchase shares worth 4.43 billion baht from her family, which should have been subject to 218.7 million baht in gift tax, if the promissory notes had not been used in place of the customary method of payment.
The opposition has questioned the true purpose of Ms. Paetongtarn’s use of the notes, which some claim were fabricated to defraud her of the gift tax that was required for her to acquire the shares.
The other case involves the legitimacy of a land plot in Nakhon Ratchasima where her family-owned luxury hotel”, Thames Valley Khao Yai”, is located. The location of the opulent hotel’s plot is reportedly designated as a “watershed area” where land registration is not possible.
Questions have been raised as to how the business came to own the plot, of which Ms. Paetongtarn served as an executive and shareholder.
With such ethics questions hanging over Ms Paetongtarn, Pheu Thai reportedly fears it will face the wrath of Bhumjaithai’s founder and patriarch, Newin Chidchob, if it opts for a breakup and pushes Bhumjaithai from the government.
It is well known that Mr. Newin has influence outside of his party, and he may seek revenge by launching formal investigations against the prime minister through the Senate.
Bhumjaithai has adopted a two-faced strategy that has become more apparent in the wake of Pheu Thai’s attempt to push the highly contented casino-entertainment scheme, according to Phichai Ratnatilaka Na Bhuket, a political science lecturer at the National Institute of Development Administration ( Nida ).
He pointed to Bhumjaithai secretary-general, Chaichanok Chidchob, denouncing the casino-entertainment project in parliament, while party leader and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul adopted a soft tone and distanced the party from Mr Chaichanok’s remark.
Pheu Thai heavyweights have been questioned about the loyalty of their coalition partner due to Mr. Chaichanok’s strong opposition, which came despite the delay in the House’s casino-entertainment complex bill’s deliberation until the following parliamentary session, which is scheduled to begin on July 2.
However, the analyst noted that a strategy like this does not appeal to Bhumjaithai because it is known to be trying to win over some middle-class conservative voters. He pointed out that Bhumjaithai’s popularity peaked late last year, but its approval rating dipped to below 8 % in March this year– a sign that voters do not approve of its strategy to woo support.
Pheu Thai believes that Mr. Chaichanok’s decision has blindsided it, but it cannot risk detaining Bhumjaithai from the coalition out of concern that Mr. Newin may use his ties to the Senate to launch inquiries into Ms. Paetongtarn over the use of promissory notes and the Khao Yai land, in the opinion of Mr. Phichai.
It worries Pheu Thai that these flaws will be exploited as soon as Bhumjaithai is expelled from the coalition because the prime minister has failed to respond to these claims clearly. ]It can’t take a risk, ] no matter how badly it wants the interior ministerial post,” said Mr Phichai.
The analyst claims that Mr. Newin and Mr. Anutin are not in agreement on what the party should do with the casino-extertainment complex bill, but they do know they must stick together.
” No one in Bhumjaithai doubts that Mr. Newin will continue to be the party’s pillar.” He is the master of political tactics, and he knows he does not need to bow to anyone, not even Thaksin Shinawatra,” said Mr Phichai.