Category: The Bangkok Post

A rights group has called on a House committee to support bail for detained political activist Ekachai Hongkangwan, citing serious health concerns and fears his case could mirror past controversial deaths in custody linked to inadequate medical treatment.

The People’s Amnesty Network (PAN) submitted a petition yesterday to Rangsiman Rome, a party-list MP from the opposition People’s Party and chairman of the House Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights.

Ekachai has been in custody since the Court of Appeal on Sept 5 last year overturned a Criminal Court acquittal and sentenced him to 21 years in prison on charges of attempting to endanger the liberty of Her Majesty the Queen.

Nattathida Meewangpla, representing PAN, said activists have visited Ekachai weekly since his detention and that repeated requests for temporary release had been denied.

Ekachai, 50, first sought permission for a medical examination at the Corrections Hospital on Sept 28 last year but was not transferred there until late March.

Multiple strokes

Subsequent examinations found he was suffering from an enlarged prostate, enlarged liver and spleen, while he also reportedly suffered multiple strokes in April.

PAN questioned why treatment had not continued following the diagnosis and called for his transfer to Rajavithi Hospital or Thammasat University Hospital, arguing the Corrections Hospital lacks the specialist facilities needed for his care.

The group also raised concerns Ekachai’s case could resemble that of Ampon Tangnoppakul, known as ‘Akong’, who died in prison in 2012 while serving a sentence for lese-majeste and computer crime offences.

In May 2024, activist Netiporn ‘Bung’ Sanesangkhom, 28, died while on a hunger strike behind bars to protest against the denial of bail for dozens of people charged with political offences.

The PAN activists said their campaign was aimed not only at helping Ekachai but also at ensuring access to healthcare for all inmates.

Noraset Nanongtoom, an adviser to the committee chairman, said prisoners are entitled to healthcare under Section 55 of the Corrections Act.

The Department of Corrections has the authority to transfer inmates to outside hospitals when specialised treatment is required or prison-based care is insufficient.

Mr Rangsiman said access to healthcare for prisoners should be guaranteed as a matter of principle, adding all inmates deserve adequate treatment regardless of their background.

Motorcade incident

Ekachai is one of five people who had their acquittals overturned on appeal in September 2025 and were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 16 to 21 years for obstructing a royal motorcade during a pro-democracy protest in October 2020.

They have appealed to the Supreme Court, which denied their request for bail, citing the seriousness of the charges, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

The charges were laid under the rarely used Section 110 of the Criminal Code – endangering the safety of the Queen – that allows for the death sentence in the most egregious cases.

The Court of First Instance, in its acquittal ruling in 2023, cited witness testimony indicating that everyone – police and protesters included – appeared to have been caught off-guard by the sudden appearance of the motorcade approaching Phitsanulok Road near Government House.

In the resulting confusion, as police tried to gain control of the situation, demonstrators directed their anger against the police, not the royal procession, witnesses said.

Eighteen people were arrested on Thursday while attempting to steal underground copper cables belonging to National Telecom in Muang district, posing as telecommunications employees wearing custom-made uniforms.

The arrests took place at around 1am on Sawanvitee Road in front of the Fairyland department store in tambon Pak Nampho, after police were alerted to suspicious activity, said Pol Col Phumrapee Phalaphum, superintendent of the Muang Nakhon Sawan station.

Authorities also seized five vehicles used in the operation and a large quantity of cable-cutting equipment from the suspects, both men and women.

The seized vehicles included pickup trucks, sedans and a truck for transporting the stolen cables. One had been fitted with a rescue foundation logo sticker to appear legitimate and avoid scrutiny from both the public and authorities.

Investigators found that the group was a large, professional gang from eastern Thailand and had been operating across several provinces in the central region, Pol Col Phumraphee said.

Police said the culprits had even invested in custom-made uniforms bearing the name of a private telecom company, allowing them to open manholes and cut copper cables without attracting suspicion.

Further investigation revealed that the company did not actually exist.

An investigative source said the suspects had rented rooms at a resort in the district since June 15 and began stealing telephone cables to extract and sell the copper, which has high market value.

The gang had reportedly completed one successful theft previously, earning more than 300,000 baht, before returning to commit a second.

When police surrounded the area, some of the cables had already been cut, but had not yet been pulled from the conduit. The operation prevented damage estimated at more than 10 million baht, Pol Col Phumrephee said.

An employee of National Telecom said that all of the telephone cables inside the underground conduits had already been decommissioned and were in the process of being gradually removed and returned to the state enterprise.

NT later discovered irregularities when sections of underground cable were found missing from several locations. They alerted police and closely monitored the situation.

Police believed the 18 suspects were part of a larger cable-theft network, which may operate in separate teams across different provinces. Investigators suspect there are higher-level organisers who direct the operation.

The investigation is expanding to link the case to similar incidents in other locations, police said.

Thailand must urgently strengthen its “communication sovereignty” to protect national interests in an increasingly borderless digital environment dominated by global technology platforms and emerging low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks, according to AM Thanapant Raicharoen, commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).

“Threats to national security have evolved far beyond conventional military confrontations,” he said, adding that cybercrime, call centre scams, and online fraud continue to inflict substantial economic damage.

“Thailand now faces a more subtle but potentially far-reaching challenge: the erosion of communication sovereignty.”

Communication sovereignty refers to the ability of a nation and its citizens to control, govern and protect their communication systems, information flows and digital infrastructure from external influence or domination.

AM Thanapant said that in the digital era, communication sovereignty has become as strategically important as territorial sovereignty was in previous generations.

As over-the-top (OTT) platforms, artificial intelligence (AI) and LEO satellite networks continue to transform the communications landscape, communication sovereignty is rapidly emerging as one of the defining telecom and national security challenges confronting Thailand in the coming decade, he said.

DIGITAL BORDERS

According to AM Thanapant, communication sovereignty encompasses four critical dimensions.

The first is infrastructure sovereignty, which concerns a country’s ability to oversee and maintain control over strategic telecommunications assets, including submarine cables, mobile networks, satellite systems, cloud infrastructure and domestic data centres.

As global technology companies increasingly expand beyond online platforms into connectivity services, this issue is becoming more pressing.

Particular attention is being paid to the rapid development of direct-to-consumer broadband services delivered through LEO satellite constellations.

Unlike traditional telecommunications models, these networks can provide internet access directly to end users without relying extensively on local terrestrial infrastructure or domestic service providers.

“If global operators are able to provide end-to-end communications services directly to consumers, countries may gradually lose influence over key layers of their digital ecosystem,” AM Thanapant noted.

The second dimension is data sovereignty.

Data has emerged as a strategic national asset comparable to energy resources in previous industrial eras. Massive volumes of personal, behavioural and economic data generated by Thai users are increasingly stored and processed on infrastructure controlled by multinational tech corporations.

Without appropriate safeguards, Thailand risks losing control over how such data is collected, utilised and monetised, AM Thanapant said.

The third dimension is regulatory sovereignty.

He said governments must retain the ability to enforce national laws and regulations in the digital environment, including measures addressing illegal content, misinformation, cybercrime and platform accountability.

Regulators worldwide are struggling to overcome jurisdictional limitations when dealing with global OTT platforms whose operations often extend beyond national legal frameworks.

The challenge for policymakers is to establish effective regulatory mechanisms that preserve public interests while maintaining an open and competitive digital economy.

The fourth dimension concerns content and cultural sovereignty.

As AI increasingly powers recommendation systems and content-distribution algorithms, global digital platforms are exerting unprecedented influence over how information is consumed, interpreted and shared.

Such influence extends beyond commerce and entertainment, potentially affecting public opinion, cultural values and political discourse.

“Today’s algorithms do not merely determine what people watch. They increasingly shape what people know, what they believe and, ultimately, how they think,” AM Thanapant said.

He said Thailand remains heavily dependent on foreign technology ecosystems, ranging from social media and streaming platforms to cloud services and emerging satellite communications networks.

The country’s reliance on foreign-controlled platforms, infrastructure and digital services could expose it to external influence, data leakage and diminished regulatory authority, he added.

STRATEGIC RESPONSE

AM Thanapant said there are three priorities Thailand should adopt, with the first accelerating the development of domestic digital capabilities in order to reduce excessive dependence on foreign providers.

Secondly, regulators should adopt proactive and appropriate governance frameworks for OTT platforms and emerging digital services.

Finally, Thailand should deepen regional cooperation to enhance collective bargaining power when engaging with global technology companies and transnational digital service providers, said AM Thanapant.

“The communication sovereignty should not be interpreted as digital isolationism, but rather as ensuring Thailand maintains sufficient strategic autonomy to protect national interests in a highly interconnected world,” he said.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has expressed concern about the economic impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), and called for accelerated efforts to increase water reserves in the eastern region.

According to government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek, water demand in the EEC region – Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao provinces – is projected to nearly double from current levels next year.

The EEC is already home to a number of data centres, most of them modest in scale, but a handful of major projects are in the pipeline, which is pushing up demand for uninterrupted, industrial-grade water for cooling systems.

Climate variability and recurring weather patterns like El Niño can strain water supplies, with reservoir capacity in the region sometimes falling below 50%.

Ms Rachada said forecasts indicate the El Nino phenomenon will lead to less rainfall than usual, affecting water availability in many areas, especially key economic zones such as the EEC.

‘Mr Anutin emphasised the need for proactive water management, including the use of forecasting data to plan water allocation in advance rather than waiting until shortages occur before taking action,’ she said.

In the EEC, residential communities, agriculture, industry and tourism all rely on shared water resources, not to mention the need to ensure that natural ecosystems are not compromised.

The government has assigned the Office of National Water Resources to coordinate with relevant agencies and develop area-specific water management plans.

Reservoirs only 44% full

According to Ms Rachada, the EEC has 16 large and medium-sized reservoirs holding a combined 534 million cubic metres of water, representing 44% of their total storage capacity of 1.46 billion cu m.

During the 2026 rainy season (May 1 to Oct 31), authorities plan to allocate 1.06 billion cubic metres of water, including 526 million for agriculture, 217 million for industry, 169 million for domestic consumption and tourism, as well as water reserved for ecosystem preservation and system losses.

‘Mr Anutin stressed that water management must prioritise the needs of the public,’ she said. ‘Planning must ensure that agriculture, industry and other key economic sectors can continue operating without conflicts over water use or negative impacts on people’s quality of life.’

The Meteorological Department’s six-month rainfall forecasts are being used to assess water inflows into reservoirs and prepare to utilise the Eastern Water Grid for water pumping and diversion.

These measures are intended to meet water demand in 2027, when water consumption in the EEC is projected to reach 2.9 billion cubic metres.

In addition, the government is accelerating work on 39 water resource development projects in the EEC.

Once completed, these projects are expected to increase water reserves by 909 million cubic metres. Of the 39 projects, 23 have already received budget allocations.

Nineteen projects have been completed, adding 258 million cubic metres of water storage capacity, while four projects under construction are expected to add another 109 million.

The administration is calling on all sectors to use water more efficiently. Industrial operators are encouraged to transition towards smart factories to reduce water consumption, while the agricultural sector is urged to follow planting schedules and water allocation plans to minimise risks to crop yields and farmers’ incomes.

Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine and environmental scientist, recently predicted a super El Niño event could occur this year, with the most severe impacts beginning in the fourth quarter and continuing into the first quarter of next year.

The phenomenon is expected to bring drier conditions, reduced rainfall and more intense heat, while also disrupting ecosystems by raising sea temperatures and causing widespread coral bleaching.

The body of a red-haired young woman with extensive tattoos on her back was discovered in a rubbish bin in Klaeng district of Rayong on Thursday morning after a refuse bag burst open inside a garbage truck’s compactor.

Police, forensic officers, a doctor and rescue workers were dispatched to a road at Village Moo 8 in tambon Kasae Bon after being alerted at about 6am, said Pol Capt Chaithawat Rodma, deputy investigation chief at the Klaeng police station.

A garbage truck belonging to the Krasae Bon tambon administration organisation was found parked by the roadside when police arrived at the scene. Boonsueb Kaeokla, the kamnan (subdistrict headman), assisted authorities at the site.

In the pile of refuse, officers discovered the body of a woman believed to be about 20 years old. She had long red hair, fair skin and a slim build, with extensive tattoos covering her back, said police.

Forensic officers who examined the tattoos said they had not yet been fully coloured, and it was still unclear what the design depicted.

The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, with maggots and flies covering the remains and a strong foul odour. Authorities estimated that she had been dead for at least four to five days.

Sanya Ruamket, 52, a sanitation worker, told police that he and driver Phuwanat Phongsai had begun their routine collection round at about 5am.

While collecting waste, they came across a rubbish bin emitting an unusually putrid smell. The bin was surrounded by flies and contained large numbers of maggots. The workers emptied its contents into the truck for compaction.

As the compactor was operating, one of the refuse bags burst open, revealing what appeared to be a human body. Upon closer inspection, the workers realised it was the corpse of a woman and immediately alerted police.

Initial examinations found no identification documents or evidence revealing the victim’s identity. Due to the advanced decomposition, identification has proved difficult, and authorities have yet to determine whether the deceased was Thai or a foreign migrant worker.

Police have not ruled out any possibilities, including natural causes, an accident or homicide followed by the disposal of the body to conceal a crime.

A team of investigators has been ordered to review CCTV footage from routes leading into and out of the area and check missing persons reports and records of migrant workers in the vicinity.

The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death and confirm the victim’s identity as investigators continue efforts to unravel the mystery.

Eight people were arrested Thursday in Chiang Rai on suspicion of running a scheme that illegally issued Thai identity cards to foreigners, including Chinese and Myanmar nationals, allegedly enabling scammers, drug traffickers and money-launderers, police said.

Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma said police, administrative officials and representatives from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) made the arrests during raids at six locations in Wiang Chiang Rung, Mueang, Doi Luang and Wiang Kaen districts.

Three of the arrested suspects were Thai government officials, including former Wiang Kaen assistant chief Achira Jaisuya and territorial defence volunteers Siwarak Chailangkan and Pumin Kanthawee.

The other five are foreigners who illegally held ID cards. One is a Chinese woman identified as Kalaya Sae Fung, who holds shares in a technology company with a 1-billion-baht registered capital. Another is a Myanmar man who holds shares in four companies, including oil companies in Myanmar and Singapore. Three of the five foreigners were identified only as Bualai, Tawanchai and Chan.

According to Pol Gen Samran, corrupt officials in Wiang Kaen issued homeless student ID cards to Chinese, Myanmar, Lao and Vietnamese nationals in 2024 and 2025. The gang charged each alien about 100,000 baht. Police suspect some card holders included scammers and drug traffickers.

Aliens holding ID cards registered to people without home registration could travel, open bank accounts, conduct transactions and later apply for Thai citizenship. Such ID cards could also be used to launder money.

Police suspected the ID-card gang issued documents for about 200 aliens. Fourteen other suspects remained at large.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has assumed direct oversight of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), replacing his deputy Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn.

The move follows cabinet acknowledgement of two orders removing Mr Phiphat, who also serves as the transport minister, from supervision of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) and from the chairmanship of the EEC Policy Committee. Media reports say the decision stemmed from discussions between Mr Anutin and Mr Phiphat last week.

Under the new arrangement, the prime minister will personally oversee all EEC-related matters and position himself as the lead promoter of Thailand’s investment opportunities, using the EEC as a pilot project to attract foreign investors through a new strategic vision. Mr Anutin aims to develop the EEC into both a global food security hub and a regional data centre investment hub, the reports said.

Given the need for coordination across multiple agencies, the prime minister considered it necessary to bring the project under his direct supervision. The government sees potential in promoting the EEC as a centre for food security, citing the region’s strengths in livestock, fisheries, agriculture, fruit production and horticulture. These sectors, the reports said, could become key attractions for international investment.

At the same time, the government believes the EEC can no longer rely primarily on traditional heavy industries because of constraints relating to electricity and water supplies, both of which entail high development costs. While data centres consume substantial amounts of electricity, the government has introduced a revised electricity tariff for Category 9 users, with rates higher than those applied to other categories.

The reports said Mr Phiphat himself had raised concerns about longstanding friction between the EECO and the Board of Investment (BOI), adding he preferred not to work amid such disputes and so proposed the prime minister assume direct responsibility. The reports also denied any link between the decision and Mr Phiphat’s reported opposition to amendments to the contract for the high-speed rail project linking three airports — Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi and U-Tapao.

Mr Anutin, who is in Russia for the Asean-Russia summit running from June 16-19, confirmed on Wednesday he will personally oversee the EEC, saying the move does not reflect conflict or a reduction in Mr Phiphat’s role. He said the EEC’s transport and infrastructure systems are already well-prepared. The next stage, he said, is to market the project internationally to attract foreign investment in industrial estates, universities, and new business cities. He was better positioned to lead this phase due to his experience meeting world leaders, private sector executives, and global investors.

“This is about creating opportunities for business partnerships and using my international missions to present Thailand and the EEC as much as possible,” he said. He said that the reassignment is not intended to diminish Mr Phiphat’s responsibilities.

Speaking to reporters at Government House, Mr Phiphat said he had not been informed in advance of the orders and learned of them when they were read out during the cabinet meeting. Asked whether he had been unable to manage the EEC portfolio, he replied such questions should be directed to the prime minister.

Mr Phiphat also rejected speculation the decision reflected internal divisions in the ruling Bhumjaithai Party or was linked to disagreements over the three-airport rail project. “There are no cracks within Bhumjaithai,” he said. “We can work together on all matters. Everyone has their own role, and I can perform any duty assigned to me.”

Drug abuse among children and young people has reached a worrying level, with more than half of all new juvenile criminal cases linked to narcotics, prompting calls for stronger prevention measures and community-based solutions.

The warning was issued at a policy forum in Chiang Mai recently organised by the Substance Abuse Academic Centre Foundation (SAAF) and the Northern Substance Abuse Academic Centre at Chiang Mai University, with support from the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).

Kittichai Lueakuakul, a foundation committee member, cited 2026 data from the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection showing that 7,041 of 13,741 new juvenile cases involved drug offences, accounting for 51.24% of all cases. He described the figures as evidence of a growing crisis among young people.

The problem has been compounded by falling methamphetamine prices, now selling for as little as 30-50 baht per tablet, making them cheaper than many meals and increasingly accessible to children and teenagers, he said.

Participants at the forum stressed that prevention should become the foundation of national anti-drug efforts.

Watcharapong Phumchuen, manager of the foundation, said drug abuse was closely linked to complex social structures, economic pressures and community environments.

He said long-term solutions could not rely solely on arrests and law enforcement, but required stronger community participation, greater public awareness and measures to reduce opportunities for young people to access drugs.

Building resilience among children and teenagers before they become involved with narcotics was equally important, he added.

The forum presented five case studies as possible policy options. They included research into e-cigarette access among minors in Chiang Mai.

The Sakon Nakhon Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO) has ordered the immediate transfer of the director of a tambon-level (sub-district) health promotion hospital following allegations that he drank beer while drawing blood from an elderly patient.

Images circulating on social media showed the as yet unidentified director of a tambon health promotion hospital in Waritchaphum district of Sakon Nakhon imbibing beer as he attempted to draw blood from an 83-year-old female patient.

A granddaughter of the patient posted the images to her Nong Nan Ap’y Facebook account on June 15. She wrote that the accused hospital head appeared heavily intoxicated and continued drinking in front of her grandmother, who suffers from multiple illnesses.

The blood draw was unsuccessful, causing swelling in the patient’s hand. When an elder sister of the Facebook user questioned his conduct, the official became agitated and claimed he normally earned 1,000 baht per hour for providing such services, telling her that if she was dissatisfied, she should take the patient to seek treatment at a larger hospital instead.

The incident sparked widespread criticism online, with many questioning the appropriateness of the official’s behaviour.

Kitthana Tharakittirat, permanent secretary of the Sakon Nakhon PAO, said on Wednesday that the organisation’s executives had been informed of the matter and ordered a fact-finding investigation since Tuesday to ensure fairness for all parties involved.

As an initial measure, senior health officials were assigned to investigate the allegations. The director has also been temporarily reassigned to another office to prevent any impact on public services, said Mr Kitthana.

He added that the alleged behaviour was highly inappropriate for a public health official entrusted with caring for the public. A disciplinary inquiry committee would be established to determine further action in accordance with civil service regulations.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has expressed concern about the economic impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, especially in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), and called for accelerated efforts to increase water reserves in the eastern region.

According to government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek, water demand in the EEC region – Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao provinces – is projected to nearly double from current levels next year.

The EEC is already home to a number of data centres, most of them modest in scale, but a handful of major projects are in the pipeline, which is pushing up demand for uninterrupted, industrial-grade water for cooling systems.

Climate variability and recurring weather patterns like El Niño can strain water supplies, with reservoir capacity in the region sometimes falling below 50%.

Ms Rachada said forecasts indicate the El Nino phenomenon will lead to less rainfall than usual, affecting water availability in many areas, especially key economic zones such as the EEC.

‘Mr Anutin emphasised the need for proactive water management, including the use of forecasting data to plan water allocation in advance rather than waiting until shortages occur before taking action,’ she said.

In the EEC, residential communities, agriculture, industry and tourism all rely on shared water resources, not to mention the need to ensure that natural ecosystems are not compromised.

The government has assigned the Office of National Water Resources to coordinate with relevant agencies and develop area-specific water management plans.

Reservoirs only 44% full

According to Ms Rachada, the EEC has 16 large and medium-sized reservoirs holding a combined 534 million cubic metres of water, representing 44% of their total storage capacity of 1.46 billion cu m.

During the 2026 rainy season (May 1 to Oct 31), authorities plan to allocate 1.06 billion cubic metres of water, including 526 million for agriculture, 217 million for industry, 169 million for domestic consumption and tourism, as well as water reserved for ecosystem preservation and system losses.

‘Mr Anutin stressed that water management must prioritise the needs of the public,’ she said. ‘Planning must ensure that agriculture, industry and other key economic sectors can continue operating without conflicts over water use or negative impacts on people’s quality of life.’

The Meteorological Department’s six-month rainfall forecasts are being used to assess water inflows into reservoirs and prepare to utilise the Eastern Water Grid for water pumping and diversion.

These measures are intended to meet water demand in 2027, when water consumption in the EEC is projected to reach 2.9 billion cubic metres.

In addition, the government is accelerating work on 39 water resource development projects in the EEC.

Once completed, these projects are expected to increase water reserves by 909 million cubic metres. Of the 39 projects, 23 have already received budget allocations.

Nineteen projects have been completed, adding 258 million cubic metres of water storage capacity, while four projects under construction are expected to add another 109 million.

The administration is calling on all sectors to use water more efficiently. Industrial operators are encouraged to transition towards smart factories to reduce water consumption, while the agricultural sector is urged to follow planting schedules and water allocation plans to minimise risks to crop yields and farmers’ incomes.

Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a marine and environmental scientist, recently predicted a super El Niño event could occur this year, with the most severe impacts beginning in the fourth quarter and continuing into the first quarter of next year.

The phenomenon is expected to bring drier conditions, reduced rainfall and more intense heat, while also disrupting ecosystems by raising sea temperatures and causing widespread coral bleaching.