Category: The Bangkok Post

A Senate committee has pledged support for improving transport links, tourism infrastructure and public information in Ubon Ratchathani, to raise the profile of Pha Taem National Park and strengthen Ubon Ratchathani Geopark’s bid for Unesco Global Geopark status.

The committee inspected tourist sites in Ubon Ratchathani this past week and was briefed on tourism promotion, challenges and development opportunities, Senator Phisut Ratanawong, chairman of the Senate committee on tourism and sports, said on Sunday.

During its visit to Pha Taem National Park in Khong Chiam district the committee was brought up to date on the area’s tourism potential and development needs.

Rhe park’s main attractions include Pha Taem viewpoint, one of the first places in Thailand to greet the sunrise each day. Visitors can also access a three-kilometre nature trail leading to a cliff face featuring 180 metres of prehistoric rock paintings dating back 3,500-4,000 years.

– Geopark bid gains momentum-

The committee later travelled to Sam Phan Bok, part of Ubon Ratchathani Geopark, to review preparations for the area’s proposed inscription as a Unesco Global Geopark, a key objective in promoting both provincial and national tourism.

The visit comes after the cabinet last month approved Thailand’s plan to nominate Ubon Ratchathani Geopark for Unesco recognition. If successful, it would become the country’s third Unesco Global Geopark, following Satun and Korat, while Khon Kaen Geopark remains under review.

Local tourism officials noted that Sam Phan Bok, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Thailand”, is open to visitors only during the dry season, typically from November to June. During the rainy season, rising Mekong River levels submerge much of the site, precluding normal tourism activities.

Mr Phisut said clearer communication was needed to ensure visitors understand the site’s seasonal nature and can plan their trips accordingly.

– Transport challenges –

Officials also highlighted accessibility issues affecting tourism growth. Travellers arriving at Ubon Ratchathani airport or the provincial bus terminal still face an additional one and a half to two-hour journey to reach major attractions. For solo visitors, car rental and taxi costs can be relatively expensive, potentially discouraging travel.

The area nevertheless boasts a range of natural and community-based attractions, including Pak Bong, the narrowest section of the Mekong River between Thailand and Laos at just 56 metres wide, a century-old rain tree, and community-run tourism services that provide transport, boat tours, local guides and traditional woven products, generating income for local residents.

Local agencies urged the government to accelerate the development of public transport links between Ubon Ratchathani city and tourist sites, improve directional signage and provide more accurate tourism information, particularly regarding seasonal attractions such as Sam Phan Bok.

According to Mr Phisut, stronger transport infrastructure, accurate public information and community-based tourism development alongside environmental conservation are crucial to securing Unesco recognition for Ubon Ratchathani Geopark.

Committee members said the initiative could help position Ubon Ratchathani as an internationally recognised destination for nature and geological tourism while creating income, spreading economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for local communities in a sustainable manner.

Authorities on Friday repatriated 36 Thai nationals from Cambodia and returned 67 Cambodian nationals through the Klong Luek border checkpoint.

The exchange was carried out under bilateral legal and humanitarian cooperation by the Burapha Task Force, immigration, customs, border patrol and other agencies at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge.

The 67 Cambodians comprised 43 men, 21 women and three boys. All had completed legal proceedings and served their sentences in Thailand before being returned.

The 36 Thais had also completed legal proceedings in Cambodia. On arrival, they underwent background checks to determine whether they had links to transnational crime. If evidence links any returnees to criminal networks, they will face prosecution, authorities said.

Google has announced three new artificial intelligence models – Gemini 3.6 Flash, Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite and Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber – aimed at improving coding, AI agent performance and security analysis while reducing token consumption and accelerating processing speeds.

The flagship Gemini 3.6 Flash builds on the capabilities of Gemini 3.5 Flash, offering improved coding performance, stronger research capabilities and faster multi-step reasoning. Google said the model reduces token usage by 17%, helping developers lower operating costs while maintaining high performance.

The model is priced at US$1.50 per one million input tokens and US$7.50 per one million output tokens (1 token = US$0.00012067). Google said benchmark tests show Gemini 3.6 Flash outperforms Gemini 3.5 Flash in several areas, including coding, AI agent tasks, computer control and knowledge-based research, providing a better balance of speed, accuracy and efficiency for complex workloads.

Google also introduced Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite, a lightweight model designed for maximum processing speed and efficient token usage. The model is intended for search, large-scale data processing and AI agent applications. (continues below)

Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite can generate up to 350 output tokens per second and is priced at US$0.30 per one million input tokens and US$2.50 per one million output tokens. According to Google, it delivers better overall performance than Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite while maintaining its focus on low-cost, high-speed inference.

The third model, Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber, is designed specifically for cybersecurity tasks, including identifying software security vulnerabilities. Built on an optimised version of the Gemini 3.5 Flash architecture, the model is designed to perform security analysis faster while reducing token usage for each request.

Initially, Gemini 3.5 Flash Cyber will be available exclusively through CodeMender, with access limited to government agencies and trusted organisations.

Google added that an update regarding its flagship Gemini 3.5 Pro model will be announced in the near future.

Seven Aranyaprathet police have been indicted for allegedly forcing a suspect to confess to the murder of Buaphan Tansu in 2024.

The Office of the Public Prosecutor for Corruption Suppression Region 2 filed charges at the Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases Region 2 in Rayong, including misconduct in office, coercion, unlawful detention and violations of the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act.

The case involves allegations that officers used a black plastic bag, cold air conditioning and pressure tactics against Panya Khongsankham, known as Lung Piaek, during questioning.

Buaphan, Mr Panya’s mentally unstable wife, was later found to have been beaten to death by a group of teenagers, including the child of a cop.

The DSI initially probed eight officers, but prosecutors later dropped charges against the station chief.

The court granted temporary release to the seven defendants and scheduled their plea hearing for Aug 17.

Politicians identified by iLaw in its Senate election collusion investigation should respond publicly first rather than resorting immediately to legal action, says Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.

He argued that public figures should be open to scrutiny and that lawsuits intended to intimidate critics are inappropriate.

He was commenting on legal action brought against Yingcheep Atchanont, director of the Internet Law Reform Dialogue (iLaw), after he disclosed the names of nine individuals allegedly linked to the Senate election collusion case.

Mr Abhisit said nobody wished to face criminal proceedings, but said the information was consistent with charges already notified by the Election Commission (EC).

Moreover, those familiar with the investigations conducted by the EC and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) were already aware of those implicated, he said.

Public figures, he said, should therefore clarify their positions rather than rush to file lawsuits.

He added that public concern over the matter had intensified after the creation of a special subcommittee, alongside reports suggesting that no one would ultimately be found culpable.

Such reports conflicted with evidence that had entered the public domain, including financial transaction records, hotel accommodation records and photographs allegedly showing the use of voting lists, he said.

He said that if the allegations were eventually proven to be defamatory, those affected could still pursue legal remedies.

However, he believed those making the disclosures had not acted frivolously but had relied on information obtained through investigations by relevant authorities.

He said prosecutors had already returned the case to the DSI, identifying seven groups of individuals allegedly involved, including politicians and political parties accused of interfering in the Senate election process.

Asked whether complaints lodged by members of governing parties amounted to harassment or strategic lawsuits against public participation, Mr Abhisit said legal action was a legitimate right. However, he said public figures should remain subject to scrutiny, and that lawsuits intended to intimidate or discourage public oversight were improper.

A drunk Myanmar driver hit several motorcycles, killed two people and injured two others on the road to a waterfall in Thalang district, police said on Sunday.

The fatal accident occurred on the entry road to Ton Sai waterfall in tambon Thepkasattri about 7.30pm on Saturday.

The driver was identified as Aung Min Oo, 42. His black Suzuki pickup truck hit four Honda motorcycles ridden by three men and a woman aged from 24-60 years.

Police said the pickup was leaving the waterfall when it first collided with the motorcycle of Thanawit Inkaeo, 24, who was riding towards the waterfall.

The pickup driver allegedly fled the scene, speeding off towards the centre of Thalang district. His escape dash lasted just 100 metres, during which he hit three more motorcycles that were stopped in front of a shop, and injured three more people, according to police.

Police photos showed the Suzuki had a reinforced front bumper.

Police called to the scene arrested the pickup driver, who appeared under the influence. A blood test showed an alcohol level of 239mcg/100ml. The legal maximum for driving is under 50.

Thanawit and a woman motorcyclist, Mariem, 45, succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at Thalang Hospital at 9.40pm. Two other motorcyclists, men aged 36 and 60, were injured. They were identified by police only as Niran and Khanit.

A family is seeking help after their daughter was arrested in Japan on suspicion of drug smuggling after crystal methamphetamine was allegedly discovered hidden inside coffee sachets contained in a parcel she was paid to carry there.

The case builds on recent concerns about the risks faced by “carry-for-hire” couriers who transport packages overseas on behalf of strangers or online customers.

Juthathip Thongnoi, 28, travelled to Japan on July 11 with her boyfriend, identified only as Sarawut, and another friend. The group operated a parcel-carrying service for Thais living in Japan, accepting items from customers in Thailand for delivery abroad.

According to her family, Ms Juthathip was detained by Japanese authorities at Fukuoka Airport on July 12 after crystal meth, known as ya ice, was allegedly found concealed in coffee sachets inside her luggage.

Her parents, Thanasak Thongnoi, 53, and Kanyawee Fuangpian, 45, said they believed their daughter had unknowingly carried the drug and urged Thai authorities to investigate and identify the individual who arranged the shipment.

– Mystery customer disappeared –

Mr Sarawut said a customer using the Line name “ing ing” contacted the couple on July 10 and hired them to take a heavilly taped brown box weighing about 12 kilogrammes to Japan.

He said the same customer had previously used their service in May, which was why the shipment did not initially raise suspicion.

Upon arriving in Japan, all members of the group were questioned by airport authorities. Mr Sarawut and their friend were released after several hours of interrogation, while Ms Juthathip remained in custody.

The following day, he contacted the Thai consulate-general in Fukuoka for information about her case. Japanese authorities were still investigating at the time, he said.

On July 22, the family received a notification through the Thai consulate stating that crystal meth had been found hidden inside coffee sachets.

Of the nine parcels delivered on the trip, all recipients collected their packages except the customer using the name “ing ing”, who cut off all contact.

The same customer had transferred 3,600 baht as a delivery fee using an account under the name “HO THI MAI”, according to Mr Sarawut.

– Family seeks investigation –

Ms Kanyawee said the family was shocked by the arrest and immediately filed a police report in Nonthaburi province. They have since submitted CCTV recordings to police to help identify the sender of the parcel and determine whether the suspect is linked to other international drug-smuggling networks.

While acknowledging that her daughter should have inspected the package more carefully, Ms Kanyawee insisted she had never been involved with drugs.

“My daughter has never been involved with drugs,” she said, appealing to police to thoroughly investigate the case and find those responsible.

Nearly 1,500 children are suspected of receiving fake birth registrations through a network linked to eight private hospitals to obtain fraudulent Thai citizenship, said deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma.

He said on Saturday four more accomplices have been arrested, including two Thais, Mong and Wor, who acted as Thai fathers in the scheme, and two Chinese nationals: Si, the mother, and Mr Hu, the biological father.

Prior to the arrests, police interviewed witnesses, checked medical records and birth notification documents, and examined the DNA of the fathers, mothers and children.

They found a Chinese woman and her husband wanted both their children to have Thai nationality. Mong and Wor were hired despite having no prior relationship with them. Both Thai men agreed to use personal documents to declare fatherhood in exchange for payment.

Pol Gen Samran said they were charged with jointly making false statements to officials, using forged official documents, and fraudulently registering citizens to illegally obtain Thai citizenship.

The registrar has revoked the registration entries and Thai citizenship of all children acquired fraudulently. The Immigration Bureau is being contacted to consider legal action against any foreign nationals involved, he said.

The operation to dismantle the network, conducted from July 9-24, resulted in the identification of 22 suspected children and the arrest of 37 perpetrators: 16 Thai fake fathers, 13 Chinese mothers, six Chinese fathers, one government official and one hospital staff member, according to police.

In total, 1,483 children are suspected to be linked to eight hospitals. Sixty-two suspected children were found in one hospital alone; 19 were confirmed as part of the network, while 43 other cases are being investigated.

On Thursday, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is cooperating with the Department of Provincial Administration and the Royal Thai Police to probe illegal Thai citizenship registrations. One BMA staff member has been dismissed so far.

The probe is focusing on cases where the father is Thai and the mother is a foreigner, or where the same father has children with multiple foreign women, he said. He also said each district runs the birth certification process differently. Some districts have only one official as a liaison with the hospital, which may increase the risk of corruption.

The government will begin dissolving and merging state agencies with overlapping or obsolete functions from September, as part of a broader effort to streamline Thailand’s public sector and improve competitiveness, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt said on Sunday.

Mr Pakorn, who oversees legal affairs, said the reform drive reflects the need for government agencies to adapt to a rapidly changing global environment marked by energy challenges, rising fiscal pressures and increasingly complex trade and investment patterns.

The move follows Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s directive to overhaul the state bureaucracy and reduce institutional duplication.

The first agency slated for dissolution is the Land Bank Administration Institute (Public Organisation), whose mandate has been repeatedly extended over the years. The government plans to merge its functions with the Office of the National Land Policy Board, which already oversees land management operations.

The government will then review other agencies with potentially overlapping responsibilities, including the Strategic Transformation Office (STO). The STO was established by the coup leader’s order in 2018, supposedly to drive national reform, strategy and reconciliation.

Four or five other public organisations that have repeatedly failed performance evaluations are also expected to face scrutiny.

The latest announcement comes as the government pursues wider civil service reforms, including a proposed early-retirement scheme and a plan to reduce the public workforce from about three million to two million employees in the coming years.

– Two options for staff –

Mr Pakorn said agencies would be assessed by the Office of the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission, while the Finance Ministry would evaluate state enterprises. The key criterion would be whether an agency’s responsibilities duplicate those of another organisation.

To minimise disruption, affected personnel will be offered a choice – voluntary early retirement or transfer to another agency. Employees who are transferred will move to the pay and benefits structure of their new organisation.

Mr Pakorn stressed that the process would be gradual to avoid severe impact on staff.

Responding to concerns about possible protests from affected workers, he said reform must be driven by reason and the country’s long-term interests.

“If Thailand continues to maintain the same bureaucratic structure, the country will struggle to move forward and keep pace with others,” he said, urging all parties to prioritise national interests over personal interests.

Bangkok will establish environmental inspectors to strengthen law enforcement, reduce pollution risks and improve public health across the city.

Deputy governor Pornphrom Vikitsreth said the initiative will bring environmental, health, law enforcement and digital agencies under a unified framework. It will use common operating procedures, performance indicators and a shared reporting platform across all 50 districts.

Speaking after a project meeting, he said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is developing the system to ensure agencies work to efficiently curb pollution.

The Environment and Health departments will draft standard operating procedures. The City Law Enforcement Department will run field operations, while the Strategy and Evaluation Department will set key performance indicators. The Digital Department will develop a central platform linking inspection and enforcement data. Other agencies, including the Public Works and Drainage and Sewerage departments, may join later.

Inspectors will initially focus on smoke-emitting vehicles, construction sites and open burning.

District offices, working with the Environment Department, will inspect vehicles by preparing black-smoke testing equipment, training officers and carrying out inspections in high-risk areas, Mr Pornphrom said. Results will be uploaded to a central system to help curb emissions, a major source of PM2.5 pollution.

Construction sites, including projects requiring environmental impact assessments, will face stricter inspections. Officers will use standardised checklists to verify dust-control measures. Developers breaching regulations will be ordered to rectify problems or face action under building control laws.

The system will monitor open burning, rubbish burning and agricultural fires using hotspot data, air quality information, Traffy Fondue complaints and AirBKK data to identify priority locations before dispatching teams.

The meeting also discussed improving restaurant cleanliness through stronger cooperation between district, environmental and health offices, including better food waste management and sanitation to reduce the risk of rat-borne diseases.

The BMA expects the inspectors to become a key mechanism for proactive law enforcement, using integrated digital data to improve monitoring and raise public health standards across Bangkok, he said.