Category: The Bangkok Post

Rescue workers are searching for the woman driver of a Mercedes-Benz car who jumped into the sea from a bridge linking the island province and the mainland on Tuesday night.

The search followed the fall of a woman from the Thao Thep Krasattri Bridge at 6.40pm on Tuesday. The 650-metre-long bridge connects Thalang district of Phuket and Takua Thung district of Phangnga province on the southern mainland.

Eyewitnesses saw the woman park the black C350e Mercedes-Benz with licence plates number 2 Khor Yor 9494 registered in Bangkok just before getting out of the vehicle and jumping off the bridge.

After the jump, local people headed their boats offshore to reach the woman but she drowned in the strong current under the bridge.

Panupan Jindapol, head of Ban Tha Chatchai village in tambon Mai Khao of Thalang district, said there were a pair of slippers beside the car, which was parked with its idling engine about five metres from the jump location.

Inside the car there was a personal document of a Ms Kanthaporn, a 33-year-old native of Pathum Thani province.

As the political storm over the Senate election collusion case intensifies, Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw) has come under renewed scrutiny after naming several senior politicians in connection with the controversy, prompting threats of legal action.

Supporters have praised iLaw director Yingcheep Atchanont for confronting powerful interests while critics have accused him of advancing the agenda of a rival political camp.

In an interview with Bangkok Post, Mr Yingcheep rejected the image of himself as either a fearless crusader or a political operative. Whether the issue is the Senate election, constitutional reform or other public policy matters, he said he and his team study the issues, speak to people and follow developments before turning the findings into articles published by iLaw.

When the understanding deepens, iLaw becomes more confident, he said.

“When it is time for us to campaign, we do our role. We don’t see ourselves as a suicide squad or people looking for publicity even if we get sued,” he said.

Mr Yingcheep said public advocacy should be grounded in thorough research and accompanied by concrete proposals that can be implemented. Whether the Land Bridge project or the Senate election, iLaw gathers evidence to support its proposals.

He said this is in contrast to the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) calling for “reform before elections” which, he said, lacked clear proposals or a practical roadmap for implementation.

Mr Yingcheep said iLaw’s core principle is to ensure its information is accurate and well-substantiated, and to say less than it knows.

He said its information comes from several sources including fieldwork by staff, official databases and its own database. It also looks into historical records and contexts and examines approaches adopted in other countries facing similar issues.

Asked how the current political climate compares with the years under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Mr Yingcheep said the military government had more powers and tools to deal with dissent, citing NCPO orders that authorities could use to restrict or cancel public events.

He said Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, a former prime minister, had stronger support from people willing to defend him or criticise his opponents. The government under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul does not seem to have as strong public support, he said.

“And the current administration has only ordinary laws, such as defamation, rather than special powers. I’m not deterred,” he said.

Despite his growing public profile, Mr Yingcheep said he has no ambition to enter politics. He said he expects to work with iLaw for at least another decade, citing public donations and unsecured loans he received to purchase the office building.

“I feel a responsibility to work here. I’ll repay those lenders and it’s likely to take about 10 years if the financial plan stays on track,” he said.

Funding has long been one of the main criticisms directed at iLaw.

Mr Yingcheep said the group purchased its office building in 2023 for 17.5 million baht, financed through 2 million baht in public donations, 2 million baht from iLaw’s savings and 13.5 million baht in loans from seven individuals.

He insisted these lenders are not linked to political figures, saying they are private individuals who are interested in supporting iLaw’s work. All loan contracts are signed without collateral and about 3 million baht has already been repaid.

Mr Yingcheep also defended iLaw’s operational funding, saying it receives grants from international foundations that support democracy and human rights and all donors are publicly disclosed on both its website and the funders’ own websites.

When asked about conditions for grants, Mr Yingcheep said iLaw never seeks or receives financial support from political parties or politically affiliated groups.

He said international foundations operate through a professional grant process in which iLaw develops its own projects and submits proposals for funding. Donors do not dictate the agenda or require it to pursue particular issues in exchange for financial support.

The garment industry should prioritise R and D and target the premium market to remain competitive amid global trade pressures, says an industry veteran.

Yotsaton Kijkuson, adviser to the Thai Garment Manufacturers Association, told the Bangkok Post the key to the industry’s survival lies in moving away from price competition and focusing instead on higher-value, premium garments.

Roughly 90% of Thai garment exports are produced under original equipment manufacturer contracts, which yield slim profit margins of only 5-7%.

He suggested Thai garment producers follow the Italian model by pivoting towards the premium segment, which prioritises craftmanship over low prices.

“This shift is necessary as Thailand’s labour costs are no longer competitive compared with neighbouring countries,” said Mr Yotsaton.

To support this transition, he said Thailand must increase investment in R and D, enhancing competitiveness by developing functional textiles and fibres with specialised properties.

Mr Yotsaton also urged the government to address the labour shortage in the industry, which employs about 400,000 workers but requires 40,000 more.

He said no new Thai workers have entered the industry in recent years.

To maintain the industry’s competitiveness, Mr Yotsaton suggested the government improve the efficiency of recruiting migrant labour through memoranda of understanding with neighbouring countries, including Myanmar and Laos.

Regarding the US’s new tariffs for goods produced using forced labour, he insisted none of the association’s more than 200 members employ forced labour.

Thailand has more than 800 garment factories, according to data from the Industry Ministry.

EXPORT MARKETS

The US is Thailand’s largest export market for garment goods, accounting for nearly 40% of exports, while Japan is another major market.

In 2025, Thailand exported US$2.02 billion worth of garments, up 5.61% year-on-year, according to the Office of Industrial Economics.

Mr Yotsaton said Thailand should expand export markets through free trade agreements (FTAs).

The industry is monitoring the FTA negotiations between Thailand and the European Union.

“We hope there will be a provision that allows the use of raw materials from Asean countries, or other FTA partners with the EU,” he said.

“This provision would ensure Thai garment exporters are not disadvan- taged compared with competitors such as Vietnam.”

In Asean, the EU has FTAs with Vietnam and Singapore, and it finalised FTA negotiations with Indonesia in September 2025 and is negotiating FTAs with Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia.

The bloc aims to conclude a deal with the Philippines later this year and Malaysia next year.

Thailand expects to finalise its trade deal with the EU by the end of this year.

A Thai soldier lost his foot when he stepped on a landmine during a clearance mission in Ban Nong Chan village of Khok Sung district in Sa Kaeo province late Wednesday morning.

The First Army Area identified the injured soldier as Sgt Maj Udomsak Nuekman, a 44-year-old technical surveyor with the Thailand Mine Action Center. He lost his left foot and also suffered shrapnel wounds in his left arm.

The soldier was admitted to Aranyaprathet Hospital in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo. He remained conscious, the army said.

Sgt Maj Udomsak is the 13th Thai soldier to have lost a limb in a landmine explosion since the border conflict with Cambodia erupted last year.

The incident happened at 11am in Ban Nong Chan, one of the most heavily contested areas during last year’s hostilities.

Thai soldiers have found 489 landmines and explosives in the 80,800-square-metre area, where 62,000 sq m has been cleared so far. The items found include 447 PMN anti-personnel mines, 39 MN-79 anti-personnel mines, two POMZ-2 anti-personnel mines and one unexploded mine.

Last year the Thai military reclaimed Bang Nong Chan, where Cambodian people had settled for four decades after fleeing the Khmer Rouge conflict and genocide in the late 1970s.

Thailand’s education system may be rapidly embracing artificial intelligence, with millions of students already using AI-assisted learning and almost all teachers under the Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) trained to integrate the technology into classrooms.

But education officials say AI adoption alone will not determine the country’s future competitiveness.

While schools are making steady progress in preparing students for an AI-driven world and future international assessments, Thailand still faces a bigger challenge: producing enough industry-ready workers to meet the demands of a changing economy.

The contrast highlights the two sides of Thailand’s human capital agenda — transforming how students learn while ensuring graduates possess the practical skills employers need.

AI washes over classrooms

Among Thailand’s 6.5 million students, AI-adaptive learning has reached 3,326,065 learners through 160,507 trained teachers, while more than 93,000 students have developed skills to build AI ecosystems suited to local needs.

“The technical baseline for Thai students heavily relies on teacher competency in AI adoption,” said Eakasit Piyasangtong, director of the Bureau of Academic Affairs and Educational Standards, noting that about 94% of Obec teachers have completed AI training.

Teachers are encouraged to help students develop their own ideas before using AI, rather than relying on it for answers. Officials warn that misuse of AI can weaken critical thinking and leave students unable to assess the accuracy of AI-generated content.

Mr Eakasit said AI literacy has become increasingly important as misinformation and AI-generated content proliferate online. New AI tools for educators therefore encourage students to question, analyse and synthesise information instead of accepting machine-generated responses at face value.

Education authorities measure AI competency across five areas: analysing and verifying information, writing effective prompts, selecting appropriate AI tools, applying theory in practice, and taking responsibility for outcomes.

Thailand is also aligning AI literacy with the OECD’s emerging innovation domains ahead of the revised Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) in 2029.

According to Mr Eakasit, future Pisa assessments will place greater emphasis on media and AI literacy, focusing on real-world analysis rather than purely academic performance because AI-generated information is increasingly shaped by online “bubble chambers” and personal bias.

Officials believe the reforms could strengthen human capital and contribute to producing an estimated 1.2 million STEM graduates for high-skilled jobs. They also stress the need to prepare students for AI-driven workplaces while addressing concerns over excessive digital consumption and children’s psychological and social well-being.

Vocational education weak

Despite progress in basic education, vocational education continues to lag behind the country’s workforce ambitions.

Under the Ministry of Education’s 2026-2030 “All for Education” framework, Thailand aims to upskill nearly 1 million workers to meet Industry 4.0 standards. Yet only about 150,000 of the country’s 1 million vocational students are considered industry-ready.

Officials cite several structural barriers. Poverty and high dropout rates prevent many students from pursuing higher qualifications, with many entering the workforce at around 18 to support their families.

Curricula have also struggled to keep pace with advances in ICT and automotive technology, leaving nearly half of graduates from public and private vocational institutions inadequately prepared for industry, particularly outside Bangkok and the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Employers also report persistent gaps in English proficiency, digital literacy and complex problem-solving.

Workforce for the future

To close the gap, the Office of the Vocational Education Commission is replacing traditional rote learning with competency-based, standards-driven education.

Reforms begin this year with the China-Thailand “210 Majors” Vocational Project, while partnerships with Japan, Germany and Finland will continue supporting curriculum development in ICT, automation and hospitality.

A new “School-in-Factory” model will combine classroom learning with extended paid apprenticeships. Private-sector support and investment in data centres are expected to expand access to advanced laboratories, AI technologies and big data facilities.

The reforms also aim to raise the attractiveness of vocational education by highlighting strong employment prospects and higher earnings for post-secondary diploma graduates. Disadvantaged students will continue receiving support through the Equitable Education Fund’s High Vocational Innovation Scholarship for careers in automation and STEM fields.

The programme will continue through 2030, including governance reforms in 2027, teacher training reforms in 2028, nationwide classroom AI deployment and preparation for Pisa 2029 before the planned nationwide expansion of Thailand’s high-skilled workforce by 2030.

Officials say Thailand’s education reforms will be judged by whether schools and vocational institutions can produce graduates with the AI literacy, practical skills and adaptability to compete in a rapidly evolving economy.

Police surrounded a house in Bang Lamung district on Wednesday in an attempt to arrest two men believed to be connected to the disappearance of two Russian siblings from Pattaya, but the suspects had already fled.

More than 200 personnel joined local officials, rescue workers and residents in a large-scale search operation in an old cemetery at Thung Luang, near the Chak Taeng intersection in tambon Huay Yai.

The search focused on the area where the black-and-grey Honda ADV150 motorcycle belonging to the young Russians was discovered dismantled and buried underground (earlier report here).

Investigators found that the motorcycle had been taken apart and buried in two separate locations. At the first site, police recovered the front and rear shock absorbers, front and rear wheels, engine and fairings. About 100 metres away, officers uncovered the frame, seat, handlebars and other body components.

Roman Nazimova, 17, and his sister Diana Nazimova, 22, left their house at the Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at 4am on Sunday and have not been seen since.

Forensic officers collected evidence from both sites to determine whether the parts were linked to the disappearance investigation.

Niphon Chatsri, assistant village headman of Village Moo 9, said residents had identified a suspect known as ‘Pong’, the same man previously seen in security video released during the investigation.

Pong had been released from prison about two months ago and was feared by local residents because he was known to carry weapons. They believed he could be connected to the case, according to Mr Niphon.

Residents also told police that another man, identified only as ‘Thong’, a friend of Pong, had been seen digging in the area where the motorcycle parts were later found. He was reportedly at the site from about 5pm until 11pm on Tuesday.

The following morning, local residents said they saw both men in the area before they fled in opposite directions upon spotting authorities.

A 24-year-old local resident, identified only as Lek, told reporters he had heard multiple gunshots over the past one or two nights from an area about 500 metres from where the motorcycle was buried. However, he said he could not confirm whether the gunfire was related to the case.

At 4pm on Wednesday, Huai Yai police, tourist police and Bang Lamung district officials surrounded a house in Moo 11 of Huay Yai after receiving information that Pong and Thong were hiding there.

However, a search failed to locate either suspect.

The homeowner told police the two men had returned to the house at about 10am on Sunday, the same day the Russian siblings disappeared. Both men were covered in mud and stayed for about an hour before leaving.

Authorities continued searching for the missing siblings on Wednesday while investigators gathered further evidence and stepped up efforts to locate the two suspects for questioning as they worked to solve the case.

A father and son on holiday got an unpleasant surprise after finding their room did not come close to matching what they had booked, but a prompt response ensured their stay was not spoiled.

Representatives from the Nan office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and tourist police met the pair after learning about their problem.

The visitor identified as Mr Ko said he had planned a three-day, two-night trip to Nan – the first night in tambon Sa Pan in Bo Kluea district, the second in the town centre.

Upon arrival at their accommodation in Sa Pan, the father and son were shocked to discover a run-down room and bathroom in a state of disarray.

Anan Seedaeng, director of the local TAT office, and Pol Lt Col Nathip Kaewpradit of the tourist police met the pair on Tuesday to address the discrepancy.

Mr Anan apologised for the inconvenience and said the meeting helped clear up the misunderstanding.

As a gesture of goodwill, the TAT gave Mr Ko souvenirs and arranged a gift voucher, donated by Sa Pun Klang Na resort, for a future stay with his son. Mr Ko said he was moved by the gesture and confirmed he would return to Nan.

Mr Anan said that the incident underlined the importance of close cooperation with local operators to prevent similar mishaps and improve tourism management going forward.

Police are searching for two Russian siblings, aged 17 and 22, who have been missing from their home since Sunday.

Zarina Nazimova, 40, told police at Huay Yai station in Bang Lamung district on Tuesday that her son Roman Nazimova, 17, and daughter Diana Nazimova, 22, rode a motorcycle from their house in Bristol Park Pattaya housing estate in tambon Huay Yai at 4am on Sunday and never returned.

According to the mother, her children wore casual clothing and carried their mobile phones. She thought the children were riding the motorcycle to a convenience store.

Ms Zarina has lived in the housing estate since 2018 and her children arrived to live with her in 2021. The young Russian siblings speak Russian and English and cannot speak Thai.

Detectives found from CCTV footage that the Russian siblings left their housing estate on a black ADV160 Honda motorcycle with 4 Kor Sor 6379 licence plates registered in Chon Buri. They greeted security guards of the housing estate while passing their booth.

They rode towards the toll plaza of the Map Ta Phut-Na Jomtien motorway at 4.21am and made a U-turn. On a frontage road, they parked near another motorcyclist and had a talk.

At 4.31am on Sunday both motorcycles rode on the frontage road near Wat Bang Yai. At 4.33am the siblings’ motorcycle reached a traffic light under the Ban Sak Ngaeo motorway bridge before disappearing.

A shortage of tap water has led to rationing on Koh Samui, where a prolonged dry spell has reduced clean water production capacity to about 40% of normal levels, according to the Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA).

Dry weather exacerbated by the El Niño pattern has depleted the island’s reservoirs, while piped water supply from the Surat Thani mainland is insufficient for the tourist island, the PWA said.

The underwater pipeline from the mainland supplies about 16,000 cubic metres of water per day but average demand is about 34,000 cubic metres.

The PWA said on Wednesday that tap water supply is being rotated across different zones of the island. Local residents and businesses are urged to use water sparingly, store it when it is running, and prepare for temporary interruptions.

Many hotels and larger businesses have been forced to buy supplemental water trucked in from off-island sources. Piped water availability for properties at higher elevations has also been affected, according to local reports.

The Interior Ministry on Wednesday ordered urgent measures to ease the tap water shortage, which has affected the island since Monday.

Deputy Interior Minister Jeseth Thaiseth said the PWA is hoping to increase the volume of water sent through the undersea pipeline by about 4,000 cubic metres per day. As well, it is working to repair a damaged reverse osmosis treatment system and is closely managing available raw water resources to maximise production.

The Interior Ministry is also coordinating with the Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation to carry out artificial rain operations when conditions become favourable.

Mr Jeseth said he had instructed the PWA to provide daily progress reports, prepare contingency plans should the shortage continue and keep residents regularly informed about water supply schedules so they can better plan their water usage.

Beyond the immediate response, he has asked the PWA to draw up a long-term water security plan covering expanded raw water sources, upgraded production facilities, improved transmission systems and stronger water infrastructure to support the island’s future growth.

AI-driven identity fraud is emerging as a growing cyberthreat as attackers increasingly exploit synthetic identities, deepfakes and autonomous artificial intelligence agents to target digital systems, according to Ping Identity.

Jasie Fon, regional vice-president for Asia at Ping Identity, an identity management provider, told the Bangkok Post that Thailand is not immune, as the rapid digitisation of financial services, e-commerce and public platforms makes identity a primary attack surface.

“Across Southeast Asia, attackers are using AI to create synthetic identities, deepfake personas and automated agents capable of interacting with digital systems at scale,” she said.

Citing an analysis by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Ms Fon said organised crime groups are already using AI for voice cloning, deepfakes and identity fraud.

Synthetic identity fraud has increased globally by as much as 300% in recent times, as attackers combine genuine and fabricated information to bypass identity verification systems.

Deepfake impersonation is among the most concerning threats. Fraudsters can use AI-generated video or voice to imitate executives, authorise fraudulent transactions or persuade employees to disclose sensitive information.

Such attacks exploit organisations’ growing reliance on remote and digital workflows, making verification more difficult and increasing the risk of costly errors.

AI-powered phishing and scams are also becoming more sophisticated.

“Automated bots can generate highly personalised messages in Thai and other regional languages at a scale that traditional anti-phishing systems struggle to detect,” she said.

Attackers are also combining stolen data with AI-generated personas to create identities capable of opening bank accounts, e-wallets and digital service accounts. These accounts can then be used to launder money, bypass know-your-customer controls or conduct other fraudulent activities.

Another emerging threat is AI-enabled mule account creation, in which automated bots bypass verification processes to establish accounts for moving illicit funds.

Ms Fon said these attacks are becoming increasingly scalable, adaptive and automated, creating significant challenges for enterprises as digital adoption accelerates.

Fragmented systems create additional blind spots as AI expands the attack surface. She said 69% of Southeast Asian organisations reported that AI had contributed to recent cybersecurity incidents.

A shortage of expertise in managing non-human identities and autonomous systems adds to the risk, leaving many security teams unprepared to govern AI agents or respond to related incidents.

AI can help defenders detect anomalies, reduce manual workloads and automate threat containment. However, attackers use the same capabilities to launch targeted attacks at scale and adapt rapidly.

This is creating an “AI speed gap”, contributing to longer recovery times and higher breach costs across Southeast Asia.

To address the risks, Ping Identity advocates treating every AI agent as a first-class identity. Under its “Identity for AI” framework, organisations can discover, govern and monitor AI agents through a unified control system, reducing the risk of unapproved “shadow agents”.

The framework applies authentication, authorisation and least-privilege access by default.

AI agents can be managed alongside human and machine identities, with access decisions made in real time based on context rather than static permissions.

Sensitive actions can also be monitored, reviewed and linked to accountable owners, improving transparency across autonomous workflows.

Ms Fon said organisations should assign every AI agent a clearly defined identity, owner and lifecycle, while enforcing least-privilege access and continuous authorisation.

She said regulators and enterprises across Southeast Asia are increasingly strengthening electronic know-your-customer and identity assurance frameworks, reflecting wider recognition that identity security is fundamental to the safe deployment of AI.

Cyber-enabled fraud in Southeast Asia has reached billions of dollars annually, while some studies suggest breaches involving AI-related attacks can cost more than twice as much because of their complexity and scale.

Organisations also face reputational damage and declining trust in digital services, particularly in finance and e-commerce.