Category: The Bangkok Post

Army troops have joined the hunt for robbers who shot a soldier while stealing gold jewellery worth about 24 million baht from a shop in a Big C mall in Sungai Kolok district, Narathiwat, on Sunday night.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said on Monday that 27-year-old Sgt Burit Radachai was shot and wounded. He was shopping at the mall at the same time the gang was robbing the gold shop.

The injured soldier was hit by several bullets, one of which grazed his neck and others hit him in the chest and leg. He was alive and was being treated in hospital.

Maj Gen Winthai said the robbery was well planned. The robbers had earlier stolen the two pickup trucks they used in committing the crime and making their escape.

They had scattered tyre spikes and explosives on the road along their escape route to prevent pursuit.

The robbery happened at the Big C store about 6.29pm on Sunday. About 10 armed men in black, their faces covered, had briefly taken a security guard at the mall hostage, held gold shop staff at gun point and made off with about 400-baht weight of gold worth about 24 million baht.

The 30-year-old security guard was later treated for extreme shock.

Investigators looking into the heist found two pick-up trucks which they believe were used by the suspects on Monday. The vehicles were abandoned at a palm plantation in Waeng district of Narathiwat, about a kilometre from the Thai-Malaysian border.

Officials believe the heist was not only intended to create panic but also to generate funds for rebel activities. Similar cases in the past include coordinated ATM robberies in August and a major gold shop raid in Songkhla in 2019.

On an otherwise unremarkable Wednesday evening, your phone buzzes with the news: your table at Saeng Tha Thien has been confirmed. After three months of refreshing booking systems and nudging contacts, you’re in. Relief quickly gives way to planning: the Instagram post. You picture the shot – strawberry and shrimp paste salad, a discreet glimpse of the few-table dining room, and Wat Arun glowing across the river. You might tag the restaurant in the corner of your story; you might not. Either way, the message is the same: you made it.

For the uninitiated, Saeng Tha Thien is a riverside restaurant near the Thai Grand Palace that reinterprets Thai recipes with contemporary flair. With just a handful of tables, it has become as renowned for its scarcity as for its cooking. It is not alone. Mahasan, a beef specialist in Sathorn, and Canteen19, a Charoenkrung darling serving playful ‘Thaitalian’ plates, are equally difficult to access. Their waitlists stretch weeks, sometimes months, and the race for a table has become part of their allure.

Cross BKK has taken the concept to the extreme: its one-year waitlist turns dinner into something closer to a concert ticket than a meal. Internationally, the phenomenon is familiar. In New York, Carbone’s red-sauce swagger has diners refreshing Resy daily. In Tokyo, Den’s seasonal menus are booked out long before the leaves turn. Bangkok has simply adopted the same playbook – and, characteristically, put its own theatrical spin on it.

What unites these restaurants is the idea that access itself is the commodity. A location tag on Instagram has become a badge of entry into a rarified club. A friend who finally secured Mahasan after weeks of trying admitted, half-sheepishly: ‘The beef was extraordinary. But honestly, it was telling people I got in that felt just as satisfying.’ In a city where social media is stitched into daily life, the dining table doubles as a stage, and the Instagram Stories that vanish in 24 hours often matter as much as the meal itself.

There is, of course, a paradox here. Months of anticipation collapse into a two-hour dinner, and the digital proof disappears by morning. The scarcity fuels desire, yet the payoff is fleeting. The prestige is not in the flavour that lingers, but in the fact that others know you tasted it at all.

For Bangkok, this shift says something larger. Dining has always been a social activity, but in the era of the waitlist, it has become an explicitly performative one. Restaurants are no longer just places to eat; they are cultural events, rationed to heighten demand. That leaves us with a question: when access, rather than appetite, becomes the measure of value, what does that mean for the future of dining?

The food may still be excellent – in many cases, superb. But as the reservation list grows longer, so too does the distance between dining as pleasure and dining as proof. In Bangkok today, the reservation is the main course, and the good life is defined by whether your name is on it.

Heavy rainfall across northern Thailand has driven water levels at Bhumibol Dam in Tak province to near capacity, prompting close monitoring and reduced discharge to prevent flooding in downstream areas.

Only 10% of reservoir space remains, about 5 metres in depth, before the dam reservoir reaches its maximum design level.

On Oct 6, senior officials of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) gathered at the dam to assess the situation, review inflow data and prepare potential emergency measures.

The dam reservoir has received a surge of 92.14 million cubic metres of water over the past 24 hours, largely due to heavy rainfall in Chiang Mai province, officials said. This had significantly boosted the reservoir level, with the volume of stored water now at 12.048 billion cubic metres, or 89.5% of total capacity.

Of this, 8.248 billion cubic metres was deemed usable water, up 2.848 billion cubic metres year-on-year. The current water level was measured at 255.37 metres above mean sea level, just shy of the dam’s full threshold of 260 metres.

Egat confirmed that structural inspections had found no signs of damage or irregularities. The dam remained stable and secure, with its infrastructure deemed capable of safely handling the current water volume. The discharge rate has been reduced to 5 million cubic metres per day, following guidelines from the Royal Irrigation Department, to ease pressure on the Chao Phraya River basin.

In Uttaradit province, Sirikit Dam is also approaching capacity. It currently holds 9.164 billion cubic metres of water, or 96.36% of its design volume. Officials plan to release 35 million cubic metres daily into the Nan River to manage inflow and prevent overflow.

Both dams are under continuous observation as Thailand braces for more rain in the coming days. Communities downstream from the dams are advised to remain alert and follow updates from local disaster prevention agencies.

The military during a recent visit by the Interim Observer Team (IOT) Thailand reported the discovery of over 200 landmines that had been planted along the border with Cambodia in Ubon Ratchathani province between June and September.

IOT Thailand, which comprises Asean military attaches, visited the Second Army Region on Saturday and Sunday.

Led by a Malaysian military attache, the group visited the Chong Bok area of Ubon Ratchathani’s Nam Yuen district, where illegal landmine activities were previously reported.

According to Thai military officials, more than 200 PMN-2 anti-personnel mines were planted in 36 incidents between June and September.

Three Thai soldiers were injured in the incidents, one of whom suffered the amputation of his leg, officials said.

Following the visit, the delegation commended Thailand’s transparency and cooperation in addressing the issue.

The delegation also emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and restoring stable relations between Thailand and Cambodia, both of which are Asean member states.

Meanwhile, Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen has expressed outrage over a viral video showing his image being used as a target for shooting practice, describing such behaviour as shameful.

In an online post on Monday, Hun Sen urged Cambodians not to retaliate in kind, stressing that maintaining moral dignity was essential.

Instead, he called for a boycott of Thai products and the Thai baht, saying the move would reduce economic dependence and strengthen Cambodia’s financial sovereignty.

He also appealed to Cambodians not to do harm to Thai companies or citizens living in Cambodia, noting that most Thais are not the enemies of the Cambodian people.

The Cambodian strongman also dismissed claims that Cambodia’s economy was suffering from the closure of the Thai land border, saying Cambodia spends over $5 billion annually on Thai imports.

He noted that redirecting said spending to local products would ultimately strengthen domestic industries.

However, while addressing border communities, Hun Sen urged residents to exchange Thai baht for Cambodian riel or US dollars and warned that the baht could become a tool of pressure similar to electricity, internet or fuel.

Meanwhile, goods vendors in Trat province’s Klong Yai district, located near the Cambodian border, have been forced to adjust their livelihoods following the prolonged closure of the border.

One Thai vendor said that she also sells drinks in front of her grocery store to supplement her family’s income, noting that the number of visitors dropped sharply after the border closure.

Her customers are mainly locals and troops deployed in the area, she said.

The Game Industry Act is expected to be passed into law by the House of Representatives during the new government’s tenure.

Three Asian countries have a game industry law: Japan, South Korea and China.

Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, president and chief executive of Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), said the agency is hopeful the government can pass the law as new Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaichanok Chidchob has been eager to promote the e-sport sector.

The bill passed a public hearing and was approved by a revolving fund committee of the Comptroller-General’s Department.

The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission also earmarked a budget to support industry development under the law.

Mr Nuttapon said depa made an informal presentation on updated information related to the bill to the DES minister.

The DES Ministry assigned depa to draft the bill, which covers all dimensions of digital game businesses and services.

Some public and non-profit organisations are concerned that online games may promote gambling. They are calling for definitions and supervision of the game industry, with clear regulations and a registration system that balance monitoring and promoting the gaming ecosystem.

Gaming rules are not limited to internet cafes, also covering online and mobile platforms.

The bill aims to deal with the sophisticated development of the game sector, which is valued at 30-40 billion baht per year.

The law also seeks to promote Thailand as a regional gaming hub.

The bill regulates the registration of all types of games, particularly those with gambling features, such as lucky draw games, or games with points-based reward systems.

Government agencies have been unable to effectively supervise these games due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

Once the law comes into force, cyber police can immediately block unregistered games and verify which games meet international standards and which pose a potential risk of fraud.

“The law is not a barrier, but rather a mechanism to regulate the gaming market to ensure fairness and facilitate free and responsible market competition,” said Mr Nuttapon.

He said the law should also promote the Thai gaming industry to be more competitive globally.

THREE NEW COMMITTEES

The act comprises five elements: improving game definitions, establishing related committees, game registration, supervision, and an industry promotion fund.

Mr Nuttapon said three committees will be established after the law comes into force, for registration, supervision headed by cyber and provincial police, and industry promotion.

He said each committee will have distinct roles to prevent overlapping duties.

In related news, Thailand is preparing to host the Gamescom Asia event for the first time.

The event is scheduled for Oct 16-19 in Bangkok, organised by depa and several partners.

The previous four editions of the event were held in Singapore.

Mr Nuttapon said Gamescom is a global forum for the gaming business and an important opportunity to demonstrate Thailand’s position as a leader in the gaming industry in Asia.

He said if the game industry law is enacted soon, it will build confidence among investors worldwide and enhance the image of the Thai gaming industry on the international stage.

Betagro Public Company Limited (BTG), a leading integrated food company in Thailand, hosted the second edition of the ‘Betagro Saijai Cooking Academy’ at The Food School Bangkok. The event aimed to share modern Thai cooking techniques with members of the media, led by guest chef Piyapanee ‘Chef Tang’ Chomngam. The highlight was ‘S-Pure Saijai’, a special dish featuring tender and juicy S-Pure chicken breast infused with bold Southern spices and aromatic herbs.

‘Attention to detail begins with ingredient selection,’ said the organisers. ‘S-Pure chicken breast, produced under Betagro’s 100% natural farming practices, contains no antibiotics from day one.’ The S-Pure brand meets Japan’s strict 3S Quality Standards-Safe, Strong, and Superior Taste-ensuring exceptional quality and safety.

The menu also incorporated regional produce such as turmeric from Surat Thani, purple-tip rice from Trang, and coffee beans from Chumphon, celebrating Thailand’s rich agricultural diversity. These ingredients not only enhance authentic flavours but also support local farmers and promote sustainable sourcing. Betagro remains committed to eco-conscious practices, from reducing paper use to aligning its culinary initiatives with Thailand’s soft power strategy to elevate Thai cuisine globally.

Mr Chayadhorn Taepaisitphongse, President of Animal Nutrition and New Ventures and Acting Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Betagro, said: ‘Thai cuisine embodies creativity and attention to detail-values showcased through the ‘Betagro Saijai Cooking Academy.’ The programme reflects our dedication to culinary excellence and sustainability.’

Chef Tang added: ‘The ‘S-Pure Saijai’ menu reimagines local ingredients in a contemporary way while preserving authentic Thai taste and quality-perfect for cooking with family and loved ones.’

A tragic shooting unfolded in Ayutthaya province when a man armed with a gun broke into his ex-wife’s home, hoping to reconcile. The confrontation escalated into a gunfight with his former father-in-law, ending in the older man’s death.

Security camera footage captured the violent clash. The former son-in-law fired a single shot before his gun jammed, prompting the father-in-law to return fire. The assailant then rushed forward, grabbed a pair of scissors, and stabbed the older man in the neck, killing him instantly.

The suspect staggered out of the house before collapsing on the street, where bystanders helped restrain him until police arrived. He was taken to hospital under police custody.

Police found the injured suspect, around 30 years old, with gunshot wounds to the chin and body. Inside the house, officers discovered the body of the ex-wife’s father lying face-down in a pool of blood, with gunshot and stab wounds to his chest and neck. A pair of scissors and a 9mm pistol were found near the body, while another gun – believed to belong to the suspect – was recovered from his bag, showing signs of a jam after one shot.

According to the victim’s daughter, she was at home with her father and child when her ex-husband arrived, shouting from outside. She refused to open the gate, fearing him due to a history of domestic violence. The man then climbed over the fence, forced his way inside, and the deadly confrontation ensued.

She added that she had previously fled to Roi Et province to escape the abuse, but her ex-husband tracked her down, forcing her to return to her father’s home. Despite filing police reports in the past, she said he continued to threaten her.

He now faces three serious charges: premeditated murder, breaking and entering, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

Police said the suspect is the son of a deputy mayor of a local municipality in Ayutthaya, but stressed that this will not affect the investigation.

The long-standing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has resurfaced in public debate following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s announcement that his government plans to hold a national referendum, likely alongside the next election, to ask voters whether Thailand should revoke or retain two key bilateral agreements — MoU 43 (on land boundaries) and MOU 44 (on overlapping maritime zones).

The move revives one of the most sensitive issues in Thai national security policy — how to manage complex, overlapping territorial claims with Cambodia that have periodically triggered military clashes and fueled nationalist tensions for more than two decades.

What is MOU 43?

MoU 43 — officially the Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and Cambodia on the Survey and Demarcation of [the] Land Boundary — was signed on June 14, 2000, during the government of then-prime minister Chuan Leekpai.

Its purpose was not to redefine borders but to establish a framework and mechanism for jointly surveying and demarcating the land boundary, which stretches nearly 800 kilometres — a process which remains unfinished to this day.

Background

After Cambodia’s internal conflict ended in the mid-1990s, Bangkok and Phnom Penh resumed talks to clarify poorly defined border segments rooted in colonial-era treaties between Siam and France, which then ruled Indochina. The treaties of 1904 and 1907, along with their associated maps, left ambiguous demarcations — particularly around the Preah Vihear Temple and adjoining highlands — creating “overlapping areas”.

Why it was needed

Before MoU 43, the two countries faced recurring disputes over several unresolved issues. Chief among them was the interpretation of Franco-Siamese treaties and maps, particularly the Dangrek map, which Thailand never formally endorsed and claims was inaccurately drawn, placing Preah Vihear on the Cambodian side.

Tensions were also rooted in the 1962 International Court of Justice ruling, which awarded the temple itself to Cambodia but left the surrounding land undefined, creating a 4.6-square-kilometre overlapping zone. In addition, large sections of the 800-kilometre border remained undemarcated after the Cold War, while villagers, loggers, and military patrols frequently clashed along disputed stretches, sometimes escalating into armed skirmishes.

Key provisions of MOU 43

Under MoU 43, both sides agreed not to unilaterally alter the border landscape, such as by constructing buildings or digging trenches. The agreement also established a Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) to conduct surveys, install boundary markers, and resolve disputes through dialogue.

What is MOU 44?

MoU 44 — the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia Concerning the Area of Their Overlapping Maritime Claims to the Continental Shelf — was signed on June 18, 2001, under the government of Thaksin Shinawatra.

It addresses the Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand, covering about 26,000 square kilometres, where both countries have laid claim to the continental shelf since the 1970s.

Why it was signed

Both nations declared their respective continental shelves in 1972-1973, but the boundaries overlapped significantly. The area was later found to contain abundant petroleum and natural gas reserves, making cooperation not only economically desirable but also politically sensitive.

Core principles

MoU 44 established two main frameworks. First, both countries agreed to negotiate an arrangement for joint petroleum exploration and production within a designated Joint Development Area (JDA), with the aim of sharing economic benefits from natural resources. Second, the two sides committed to continuing talks to establish a permanent maritime boundary. The Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) in the Gulf of Thailand, jointly claimed by Thailand and Cambodia, spans approximately 26,000 square kilometres.

Most crucially, Article 5 of the MoU stipulates that until delimitation is completed, neither party’s signature affects its legal claim — meaning no sovereignty was surrendered by either side. In essence, MoU 44 created a framework for future negotiation, rather than a binding concession of territory or rights.

Calls to cancel MOU 43-44

The movement to revoke both MoUs resurged after deadly clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border on July 24, 2025, which left soldiers and civilians dead on both sides, particularly near Ta Muen Thom Temple and Chong Arn Ma Pass. Although a ceasefire was reached on July 28, the political fallout remains intense.

Conservative factions — including senators, members of the Palang Pracharath Party and the Bhumjaithai Party (then in opposition) — together with nationalist groups led by Sondhi Limthongkul, accused the previous Pheu Thai government under Paetongtarn Shinawatra of jeopardising national interests.

They alleged that Thaksin Shinawatra’s close ties with former Cambodian leader Hun Sen had influenced bilateral talks, prioritising personal or business interests over national sovereignty, particularly in relation to the maritime energy resources covered under MoU 44. Opponents further claim the Thaksin and Hun Sen families could benefit from joint petroleum ventures in the overlapping maritime zone, potentially at Thailand’s expense.

Critics also argue that MoU 43 has failed to prevent repeated incursions by Cambodian troops and civilians, despite hundreds of alleged violations, including the construction of structures, trench-digging, and land-use changes in disputed areas.

According to the Royal Thai Armed Forces, there have been 400-500 similar instances of illegal crossings by both the military and civilians from the other nation since 2000.

Meanwhile Cambodian authorities have countered with accusations of more than 695 similar Thai breaches in the opposite direction– underscoring the deep mutual distrust.

The map controversy

A technical but crucial issue lies in the choice of maps used for border demarcation. Cambodia favours the 1:200,000 scale French colonial map (1905-1908), arguing that it carries historical legitimacy. Thailand, however, insists on the 1:50,000 scale map, which more accurately reflects natural watershed lines and provides greater topographical precision. Thai experts argue that reliance on the French map would reduce Thai territory, particularly around the Dangrek Mountains and the Preah Vihear area.

The current situation

While nationalist rhetoric is on the rise, many experts caution against any unilateral withdrawal from MoUs 43 and 44. Scholars and diplomats warn that revoking either agreement without Cambodia’s consent and without an alternative legal framework could leave Thailand without a dispute-management mechanism, heightening the risk of renewed clashes.

Such a move could also be viewed internationally as a treaty violation, undermining Thailand’s credibility, and might even expose the country to another case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), with Cambodia potentially reviving unresolved complaints — much like the 1962 Preah Vihear ruling, in which Thailand lost.

Parliament and Senate have established special committees to examine the advantages and drawbacks of termination, though their findings are still pending.

The referendum debate

Mr Anutin’s proposed referendum has sparked sharply divided opinions.

Supporters view it as a democratic solution that gives citizens a direct voice on sovereignty issues. Opponents counter that border and maritime treaties are highly technical matters requiring expert negotiation and legal precision, not populist voting.

Critics have also accused the ruling Bhumjaithai Party of using the referendum as a nationalist campaign tool ahead of the next election — a strategy to project patriotism and consolidate its political base among conservative voters.

What lies ahead?

If the referendum proceeds, it could reshape both Thailand’s regional diplomacy and its domestic politics. Revoking the agreements could reignite tensions with Cambodia and complicate Asean cooperation, while retaining them might anger nationalist voters but preserve stability and international credibility.

Either way, the fate of MoUs 43 and 44 highlights Thailand’s enduring dilemma: how to balance national pride, regional peace, and pragmatic diplomacy in one of Southeast Asia’s most sensitive border disputes.

The US government shutdown caused a delay in Boeing’s delivery of an aircraft to Vietjet Thailand, prompting the airline to cancel its new direct flights to Tokyo and Osaka initially scheduled for December, while the airline already clarified the situation to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT).

Vietjet Thailand informed passengers who booked tickets for the new direct flights set to operate between Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi) and Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka on Oct 3 that those services had been cancelled due to operational reasons.

The airline issued a statement on Monday stating that the derailed plans were actually attributed to the delay in the delivery of a Boeing 737-8 originally scheduled to take place at the end of October.

The delivery has been disrupted by the US government shutdown.

The affected flights included the direct routes to Osaka starting from Dec 2, 2025 through Jan 13, 2026, and those to Tokyo from Dec 15, 2025 through Jan 15, 2026.

Sarun Benjanirat, deputy director-general of the CAAT, said the authority acknowledged the situation and already received a formal explanation from Vietjet Thailand yesterday.

According to a news report, the delivery of the initital Boeing aircraft has been pushed back to November, while the airline had to postpone the inaugural flights of the two routes to mid-January 2026 instead.

The CAAT urged the airline to reaffirm the timeline of the aircraft deliveries and the carrier’s sales and marketing plans regarding the new routes, which should not impact travellers.

Mr Sarun said the airline ensured that its new aircraft will be delivered according to the revised schedule, enabling it to proceed with ticket sales for those routes from mid-January next year.

He said the airline reported that it already contacted 80% of affected customers and is attempting to reach the rest who booked via online travel agents.

Passengers must be protected with the right to receive a full refund on airfares or be offered alternative flights to mitigate the impact on their planned trips.

Mr Sarun said the CAAT has been following Vietjet Thailand’s Boeing aircraft deliveries since last year, which were included in its initial schedule.

The airline would have most likely been able to eventually secure its first Boeing aircraft this month, but the plan was unexpectedly disrupted by the US government shutdown.

He said if the airline were able to take the first aircraft delivery in November, it would normally take two months for the registration process in Thailand to be completed, which would be required before putting the aircraft into service.

Therefore, the airline could start serving routes with the new aircraft in January at the earliest.

In August, Thai Vietjet held a press conference in Thailand, noting its fleet expansion plan involved nine new Boeing 737-8s.

The airline aims to totally replace its existing Airbus fleet with 50 Boeing aircraft within five years.

Starting from this year, it would import nine Boeing 737-8 aircraft, including one in October, and four each in November and December.

In the latest statement, the airline announced it would provide a full refund, a change of flight or retain the relevant airfares as a credit shell for other Vietjet Thailand flights for passengers affected by the upheaval.

Essential soil safety tests at the Samsen Road sinkhole site in Dusit district are delaying its filling-in, as the demolition of adjacent Samsen police station continues, Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt said at the site on Monday morning.

As of Monday morning, about 4,000 cubic metres of sand had been dumped into the giant hole on Samsen Road. Its depth had decreased from about 20 metres to about 15 metres. (continues below)

Officials were boring six holes in the dumped sand and taking core samples to ensure safety before proceeding with the filling-in and beginning the repair of Samsen Road.

Mr Chadchart said that safety procedures were necessary and would lead to effective repairs that would prevent further excavation at the site after Samsen Road reopens and construction of the underground Purple Line electric railway extension resumes there.

The demolition of the relatively new four-storey Samsen police station continues. The damaged structure teeters on the edge of the 30-metre-long hole, which sucked soil and some support pillars from beneath the police building. The building had many large cracks, some collapsed outer walls and tilted floors on Monday morning.

The steel roofing was removed on Sunday night. Engineers reported that the soil under the police station remained stable on Monday.

The Bangkok governor said the adjacent Samsen police flats and Vajira Hospital remained secure.

He also said that building repairs were the responsibility of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority and its contractors handling the extension of the Purple Line under Samsen Road.

It was still not clear when Samsen Road could be reopened to traffic, Mr Chadchart said.

The subsidence occurred suddenly in the morning of Sept 24 above an underground station under construction for the Purple Line extension route. The state-run MRTA blamed it on the soft soil in the area.