Category: The Bangkok Post

The pickup truck used in a deadly attack in Rangae district was found torched in another district of this southern province on Wednesday night, as the regional army commander ordered a hunt for the 10 armed men who killed five soldiers and injured six civilians.

Security officials found the pickup in Ban Aijia village in tambon Sakor of Sri Sakhon district, 21 kilometres from the attack site in tambon Tanyong Mat of Rangae district, the Region 4 forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) said on Thursday morning.

A burnt licence plate from Songkhla province was found at the fire scene. Forensic officials collected evidence from the pickup debris to identify suspects. The site of the fire was in an area where Rangae, Chanae and Sri Sakhon districts adjoin.

The Isoc forward command reported that about 10 attackers who wore black clothing and black hats on the pickup truck and a motorcycle arrived at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint in Tanyong Mat municipal area at 6.45pm on Wednesday.

The armed men fired guns and threw pipe bombs at the soldiers who were on duty at the checkpoint. The attackers also stole three AK-47 assault rifles, three bullet-proof vests and three mobile phones from the soldiers.

The public relations department of Narathiwat province said no group had claimed responsibility and no arrests have been made.

Members of the 45th Ranger Regiment Task Force killed in the attack were SM1 Theerayoot Somakerd and four volunteer rangers: Sakeereeya Jehna, Wimol Dapthong, Nathasit Kaeosena and Solahuding Pi.

The six injured civilians were identified as Habib Hina, 10; Muhammad Ali Abru, 67; Lanha Abru, 67; Muhammadhafit Hina, 15; Awatil Bueraheng, 3; and Masaifu Da-oh, 21.

Five of the injured people have been discharged from hospital. The 10-year-old boy was still being treated for a leg wound but his condition was stable, the provincial public relations department reported.

Lt Norathip Phoynok, the commander of the Fourth Army Area, inspected the attack scene at the Bukeh Sami checkpoint on Thursday morning. He ordered a quick hunt for the suspects, maximum security operations and assistance for the families of the dead soldiers.

The People’s Party (PP) has criticised the government’s revised state welfare card criteria, saying the changes reflect poor policy coordination and could exclude vulnerable people from assistance.

Veerayooth Kanchoochat, a party-list MP and chairman of the House committee on economic development, said confusion over eligibility was not solely the responsibility of the Finance Ministry or Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas, but of the cabinet as a whole.

He said the revised criteria were approved by the cabinet on July 14 and so represented a collective decision. He questioned why ministers responsible for transport, social development and other sectors had failed to scrutinise issues such as vehicle ownership and disability classifications before the policy was endorsed.

“This is the second revision and problems remain,” he said, referring to an earlier controversy in June when some people lost eligibility because their names had been used by their children in tax deduction claims.

Mr Veerayooth also raised concerns about criteria affecting farmers. Under current rules, applicants may be disqualified if they own more than 10 rai of land or have agricultural debt exceeding 100,000 baht.

He said the thresholds did not reflect conditions in rural areas. According to agricultural data, the average farmer owns about 17 rai, while many carry debts above the current limit. Using land ownership alone as an indicator of wealth could unfairly exclude low-income farmers whose earnings depend on crop yields and fluctuating market conditions, he said.

He urged the government to adopt a more comprehensive assessment system using data from multiple ministries instead of relying on individual indicators such as vehicle ownership, landholdings or debt levels.

The Bank of Thailand is seeking public feedback on proposed ?cash payment limits for physical gold ?bar trades gold shops to improve transparency and oversight of transactions that could affect exchange rates.

Cash payments for gold bar transactions ?between ?gold shops and retail customers would be capped at a daily 1 million to 10 million baht per customer, per shop, the central bank said in a statement on the ?proposed rules, which are open for public consultation until Aug 20.

Cash payments for transactions between gold shops would be capped at a daily ?10 million to 80 million baht per customer, per shop.

Earlier this year, ?the bank introduced rules to curb online gold trades, including a daily ?limit ?of 50 million baht per person per platform.

Customers would ?be required to personally receive or deliver gold bars under the proposal.

The rules would not limit the ?value of gold trades, but would ?require traceable payment channels for larger transactions to help prevent the use of funds of unclear origin, it said.

The central bank has been taking a closer look at large cash transactions as part of a series of tighter measures to curb the grey economy and illicit financial activities.

Starting from Oct 1, it said recently, customers depositing more than 5 million baht in cash will be required to disclose the source of the funds.

A car bomb explosion in Narathiwat has prompted a security investigation, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledging continued peace talks and stronger measures to prevent further attacks.

The explosion occurred on Tuesday about 7.20pm outside the former Tanyong police station building in tambon Kaluwo Nuea of Muang district.

Unidentified individuals used a Toyota Soluna loaded with an improvised explosive device, pushing the vehicle towards the police station before it detonated.

The blast damaged nearby property and caused panic among local residents.

Firefighters quickly contained the blaze caused by the explosion, while police, soldiers, EOD officers and forensic experts secured the scene, collected evidence and began a hunt for those responsible.

In response, Mr Anutin on Wednesday said all agencies have been instructed to perform their duties to the fullest, with the highest priority being the protection of residents.

Regarding peace dialogue efforts, he said the efforts would continue under national intelligence chief Thanat Suwannanon, adding that discussions had also been held with Malaysian counterparts.

Mr Anutin said improving intelligence gathering and preventive measures are essential to counter those intent on carrying out such attacks.

According to media sources, deputy Narathiwat governor Wichan Chaisetsampan inspected checkpoints and security posts in the province’s economic safety zone on Monday night.

Meanwhile, the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command condemned the bombing, describing it as a brutal and immoral attack that endangered civilians and security personnel and sought to undermine peace in the area.

The agency said authorities would work together to identify and prosecute those responsible, while urging the public to report suspicious activity through the Isoc Region 4 Forward hotline 1341 or local security units.

There are contingency evacuation plans in place for Thai citizens living in the Middle East amid a new round of the US-led war against Iran, said Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow.

Mr Sihasak was speaking from the Philippines where he attended the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila.

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) held a meeting to monitor and assess the tense situation in the Middle East following the end of the ceasefire and the renewed fighting there.

During during previous clashes, Thais were evacuated from Iran safely.

“The MFA has to prepare to handle all scenarios and assess our readiness, especially if another evacuation of Thai citizens is necessary. I can confirm that we are prepared for any eventuality,” he said.

Eksiri Pintaruchi, the ministry’s permanent secretary, on Tuesday chaired the meeting to monitor the situation in the Middle East, which was attended by representatives of all Thai embassies and consulates in the Middle East region via teleconference.

Attendants exchanged information and followed the progress in caring for and providing assistance to Thai people in each country. They also reviewed the readiness of plans to assist and evacuate Thai nationals if the situation changes according to the context of each area, the ministry said.

Embassies and consulates general in the turbulent region have informed Thai nationals there to closely follow news dispensed by them and to also strictly follow the announcements and warnings of their host country.

Currently, there are no reports of Thai nationals in the Middle East region being severely affected by the conflict, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, Mr Sihasak said the Asean ministers’ meeting has discussed the central role Asean plays in fostering global peace and security.

The situation in Myanmar remains concerning, he said, adding Thailand’s policy emphasises dialogue and interaction, without abandoning Asean’s five-point consensus.

However, Thailand has to acknowledged its interests in border security, he said.

This encompasses numerous issues including border trade, transnational organised crime, drug trafficking, and pollution, which requires dialogue with the Myanmar government.

Thailand has urged the new Myanmar government to continue the dialogue process towards peace and reconciliation, and expressed Thailand’s readiness to facilitate talks, involving both ethnic minorities and the Myanmar government.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered a tougher nationwide crackdown on crime, adding public safety is essential to economic growth.

Speaking at a security policy meeting in Chon Buri on Wednesday, Mr Anutin said the government would support officials enforcing the law and urged provincial administrations to make crime suppression a top priority.

He said the eastern region, one of Thailand’s key tourism and economic hubs, faced increasingly complex threats, including drug trafficking, cybercrime, online scams, illegal gambling and organised crime.

Such offences undermine public safety, damage the economy and erode confidence in the rule of law, he said.

He cited recent operations against online scam syndicates and illegal gambling networks as evidence of the government’s determination to tackle organised crime, adding that officials should not fear interference while carrying out their duties, as the government had their back.

“No one who breaks the law should believe they are beyond the reach of justice,” he said, adding authorities must not allow criminals to operate freely in areas under their responsibility.

Describing Chon Buri as a province with a strong economy and thriving tourism sector, Mr Anutin said authorities must prevent criminal activity from harming livelihoods or jeopardising future opportunities.

The government would stand behind law enforcement officers who acted honestly and decisively, adding that those who took legal action against criminal groups would receive support for doing so rather than face repercussions.

Mr Anutin outlined three priorities for provincial administrations.

The first is prevention through closer cooperation among provincial authorities, police, the military and local communities to tackle drugs, cybercrime and organised crime before problems escalate.

The second is firm and consistent law enforcement based strictly on the rule of law, without yielding to political or criminal influence.

The third is improving public services by strengthening complaint centres, enhancing police response capabilities and ensuring faster assistance for the public.

He also called for closer cooperation between governors and provincial police commanders, with the model to be expanded nationwide to district level.

The initiative forms part of the government’s 90-day anti-drug campaign, which Mr Anutin said could reduce narcotics problems through coordinated local action.

Pattaya City was partially flooded after more than an hour of heavy rain early Thursday morning.

Flooding was reported on a road parallel to a railway from Soi Khao Talo to Soi Khao Noi at 5am. It became impassable for motorcycles and passenger cars as water was between 10 and 70 centimetres deep. Many vehicles broke down there.

Local officials placed steel barricades to close the road.

Flooding was also reported on sections of major roads in Chon Buri, including Sukhumvit Road and the Bueng Bypass, disrupting travel towards Pattaya and Rayong.

There are flood-prone areas in Pattaya as many parts of the city are low-lying. However, flood drainage normally finishes quickly.

Pattaya Mayor Poramese Ngampichet wrote in a recent social media post that work is continuing to replace many old drainage pipes that are only 60cm in diameter.

Work has already been completed at more than half of the 20 chronic flooding spots that officials have identified, he said.

Occupants of tall buildings on this southern tourist island reportedly felt tremors from a 5.1-magnitude earthquake that took place in Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, late Wednesday morning.

The quake posed no tsunami threat, according to Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom.

The quake was detected at 11.18am at a depth of 9 kilometres and centred 36km northeast of Gayo Lues, a regency of the Aceh Special Region on the Indonesian island.

The epicentre was 328km from Muang district of Satun province and 432km from Phuket, according to the Earthquake Observation Division of the Thai Meteorological Department,.

‘People in high buildings could feel the tremors, but there was no damage reported. Our office will monitor closely until we are assured of safety,’ said Warat Surawadee, head of the local Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office.

With a total of 19 tsunami warning towers in the province, their assessment confirmed there was no risk of a dangerous wave, said Mr Chotnarin.

According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, the strongest shaking was felt in Gayo Lues, shattering glassware and causing large objects to sway.

By 11.30, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency had recorded one 3.8-magnitude foreshock and two aftershocks, the largest measuring magnitude 4.3, Antara reported.

Despite no new office completions in the second quarter of 2026, Bangkok’s office market remained highly competitive as landlords of new buildings increasingly offered barter deals and matched incentives provided by owners of older properties.

Aukit Pronpattanapairoj, head of office leasing at property consultancy Cushman and Wakefield Thailand, said competition in Bangkok’s office market has remained intense as landlords focus on filling vacant space.

“Competition has shifted beyond traditional pricing incentives, such as deeper discounts and rent-free periods, partnerships and business barter arrangements,” he said.

For example, some office landlords have attracted insurance companies by purchasing insurance policies from them, while others have invited computer brands to bid for office fit-out and IT supply contracts, he said.

To accelerate occupancy, some landlords of new office buildings completed in recent years have matched the incentives offered by those of renovated older properties, including fully or partially fitted office space.

“Newly completed office buildings are generally better positioned to attract large tenants, as companies requiring several floors typically prefer contiguous floor plates,” said Mr Aukit.

Late last month, property consultancy JLL Thailand reported that the online travel booking service Agoda leased a 26,000-square-metre office spanning seven contiguous floors at One Bangkok Tower 5, underscoring major occupiers’ preference for large, connected office space.

According to Cushman and Wakefield Thailand’s office market research, Bangkok’s total office supply remained unchanged at roughly 9.15 million square metres in the second quarter from the previous quarter.

Of the total, around 5.03 million sq m was located in the central business district (CBD), followed by 2.41 million sq m in city fringe areas and 1.71 million sq m in outer-city locations.

Grade A offices accounted for 38% of total supply, while Grade B and Grade C buildings represented roughly 58% and 4%, respectively.

“Grade B buildings account for the largest share of Bangkok’s office stock, with more than half of them more than 10 years old,” said Mr Aukit. “In contrast, Grade A buildings represented 78% of new office supply completed over the past decade.”

Bangkok’s office market is gradually moving towards a more balanced position as new supply slows, easing competition among landlords for tenants, he said.

Competition through aggressive rental pricing and tenant incentives has also moderated, as most office buildings completed during the past 1-2 years have achieved high occupancy, with some nearing full occupancy.

Older Grade A and Grade B office buildings are increasingly losing tenants because of ageing facilities and rents that have risen steadily over many years.

In response, many landlords have upgraded their buildings or renovated parts of their properties to improve competitiveness and retain existing tenants.

Around 616,130 sq m of office space is scheduled for completion between the second half of 2026 and 2031, with additional projects or redevelopment schemes likely to be announced.

“More office developments are under construction in outer-city locations such as eastern Sukhumvit, Bang Na-Trat Road and Phahon Yothin than in the past,” Mr Aukit said.

“Although these areas still trail the CBD in new supply, they now have more office developments than city fringe locations, partly because land prices in middle-city areas have become less suitable for office projects.”

The CBD continues to record the largest pipeline despite high land prices, as many developments are built on long-term leasehold land or form part of large mixed-use projects.

The vacancy rate for Grade A offices in the CBD declined to 21.9% in the second quarter from 23.3% in the first quarter, the lowest level since the first quarter of 2023.

The improvement reflected slower additions of new Grade A supply, alongside sustained demand from tenants relocating to newer buildings or expanding into larger office premises.

Average Grade A office rents remained unchanged at 943 baht per square metre per month in the second quarter.

Rather than cutting headline rents, landlords increasingly relied on leasing incentives to attract occupiers.

These included rent-free periods, fit-out allowances and more flexible lease terms, helping reduce tenants’ overall occupancy costs while allowing landlords to maintain rental levels.

“Leasing activity continues to be driven by the flight-to-quality trend, with occupiers relocating from older, less competitive buildings to newer offices offering better facilities, building systems and more attractive leasing packages,” Mr Aukit said.

“For the remainder of 2026, the market is expected to remain tenant-led as vacancy rates stay elevated, forcing landlords to compete through various leasing strategies and giving occupiers greater bargaining power.”

Tanyong police station in Muang district of Narathiwat was hit by a moving car bomb Tuesday night in an attack authorities said was similar to two prior incidents in the region last year.

The Region 4 forward command of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) said on Wednesday that the latest attack happened at an older building of Tanyong police station in tambon Kaluwo Nuea at 7.20pm on Tuesday.

The impact slightly injured Pol Sgt Maj Apisit Anuchart and caused damage to the station and the personal pickup truck of another policeman.

According to the Isoc forward command, a used Toyota Soluna was employed for the attack.

Driven towards the police station, a driver was seen jumping out of the car near a U-turn before it barrelled towards the building and exploded. The instigator fled the scene with another motorcyclist riding behind the vehicle.

Authorities said the attack resembled to two previous attacks in the far South last year, one that took place in Sungai Kolok district of Narathiwat on March 8, 2025, and the other in Khok Pho district of Pattani on Aug 20, 2025.

‘Attackers used vehicles that carried explosives and were driven towards targets. They escaped while the vehicles moved on to reach the targets and exploded, causing damage to state buildings, frightening officials and people and undermining peace restoration,’ the forward command said.