People and government
UN 'appalled' by Thailand's record jail terms for royal defamation
The United Nations on 11 August denounced “shockingly” long prison terms imposed by Thailand for insulting the monarchy and urged authorities to amend the law and release those convicted. Thai military courts on 7 August jailed two people for insulting the monarchy, one for 30 years and the ...
Thai trips expected to rise as visa-free deal with Myanmar comes into effect
Visa-free travel to Thailand for Myanmar passport-holders has come into effect, sparking a spike in visitor numbers, travel agents say. Following an agreement reached last month, Myanmar passport holders can now visit Bangkok or Phuket for a two-week trip without queuing for a visa at the Thai ...
Singapore programme helps Thai flood victims overcome trauma
Over the past three years, an international collaboration facilitated by the Singapore Institute of Mental Health has improved the capacity of mental health workers in China, Indonesia and Thailand to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One PTSD sufferer was 60-year old Nucharee, a farmer and ...
Thai justice minister suggests Cambodia and Vietnam join “safe Mekong” anti-drug operation
Thai Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya says Thailand and Laos are considering inviting Cambodia and Vietnam to join the “Safe Mekong” anti-drug operation. Gen Paiboon was speaking after attending the 15th bilateral meeting between Thai and Lao delegates on the joint effort to prevent and combat drug ...
Southeast Asia’s biggest-ever drug warehouse raided by Vietnamese, Laotian detectives
After months of tracing and identifying the baron of a drug smuggling ring, forces from Vietnam and Laos raided the organization last month, seizing 5.5 metric tons of drugs – the biggest smuggling case ever uncovered in Southeast Asia. Noticeably, the swoop on the huge drug ...
Myanmar Government trumpets pledges from China
Amid accusations that it caved in to Chinese pressure, the government has been at pains to show that its release in a presidential amnesty last week of 153 Chinese illegal loggers was accompanied by a number of pledges it has managed to extract from Beijing. The ...
Thailand wants to buy submarines from China, US wary of growing relationship between military junta and Beijing
The Royal Thai Navy claims it urgently needs more submarines to compete with other Asian countries. The assistant commander made the claim aimed at persuading a skeptical public that the nation should invest in its military in a white paper sent to reporters, the Bangkok Post ...
Authorities charge Chinese man with illegally transporting Cambodians
Cambodian human trafficking authorities have charged a Chinese national with attempting to illegally transport 18 men to work in China in what one government official said was the first such case of trafficking Cambodian men to the country. Anti-human trafficking police, who are part of the ...
Cambodia nearing lower-middle income
Cambodia is expected to reach a GDP per capita of $1,220 this year, putting it on course to being a lower-middle income economy, said Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol. Based on a Ministry of Economy and Finance projection, the figure will be a jump from the 2014 ...
Anti-dredging activists refuse to meet with government
Activists have continued their campaign to drive out sand dredging companies from Koh Kong province’s Botum Sakor district, refusing a meeting with local authorities and instead holding a 100-strong protest outside the district hall. Keep reading ...
