Category: The Bangkok Post

The Senate Committee on Military and National Security has raised alarm over the surge in violent incidents across the southern border provinces, allegedly orchestrated by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) militant group.

Committee spokesman Chaiyong Maneerungsakul on Sunday highlighted the latest string of attacks across Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, which he said suggested an escalation of violence across the nation’s southernmost provinces.

He cited a bombing at Ban Palas strategic checkpoint in Pattani’s Mayo district, which damaged guard posts at the checkpoint and 17 homes nearby, along with several motorcycles, as an example.

Separately, insurgents killed a ranger in Cho Airong district in Narathiwat, attacked the operation base of a police tactical unit in tambon Dusongyo in Narathiwat’s Chanae district, and set fire to a construction company vehicle in tambon Juab in Cho Airong.

There were also assaults on a security checkpoint at Ban Nam Dam in Pattani’s Thung Yang Daeng district and widespread destruction of CCTV cameras across Narathiwat and Pattani.

Senator Chaiyong called on Lt Gen Narathip Phoi-nok, commander of the Fourth Army and director of the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 Forward Command, to urgently reassess the security situation and come up with measures to curb the violence.

He said the latest intelligence suggested the BRN is planning to carry out daily attacks from October until December, which would be carried out by new recruits.

“The BRN leadership has ordered its forces to target government personnel travelling alone, local civilian informants assisting the government, and drug users accused of harming local communities — operations which are aimed at winning popular support,” he said.

He said young women are being used as informants, told to monitor the movements of state officials and collect monthly membership fees in place of young men, who are increasingly pursued by authorities, he said.

Sen Chaiyong said Lt Gen Narathip’s first month in command has not produced new approaches.

He questioned recent reshuffles that promoted allies over experienced specialists.

The opposition People’s Party (PP) has officially kicked off its early election campaign with the slogan “With Us, No Gray”, signalling its anti-corruption stance.

Sirikanya Tansakul, PP deputy leader and party-list MP, says the country is inching towards a possible House dissolution under the memorandum of agreement (MoA) signed with the current government, and elections may happen in March.

The MoA was signed between the PP and Bhumjaithai Party in return for the former’s vote to elect Anutin Charnvirakul, BJT leader, as prime minister, after the removal of the previous administration, which was led by the Pheu Thai Party.

Under the agreement, Mr Anutin must dissolve the house within four months of taking office. Mr Anutin, who assumed office in early September, said he would dissolve the House around the end of January, with an election expected in March.

The PP’s “With Us, No Gray” slogan will be a part of its election campaign, Ms Sirikanya says, adding it is just one of the party’s early campaign messages among others.

“The ‘No Gray’ slogan resonates well because it reflects the people’s concern about corruption, money laundering and grey capital from all sources and nationalities,” she said.

On the selection of the PP’s MP candidates, Ms Sirikanya said the process for constituency candidates is nearly complete, while the party-list selection is still ongoing.

Ms Sirikanya also thanked voters in the Northeast for their support in the latest Nida Poll, where the PP ranked first in party preference and third in PM candidate preference.

The poll, titled “Political Trends in Isan”, was carried out from Oct 27-30 among 2,000 eligible voters across all provinces of the Northeast. It aimed to gauge the current political mood in the region.

When asked which PM candidate they would vote for if an election was held today, 32.4% of respondents said they had not yet found anyone suitable. However, 19.7% backed Mr Anutin, followed by 18.5% for Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut, the PP leader.

In fourth place was Chaikasem Nitisiri, a PM candidate of the Pheu Thai, with 8.8%, followed by Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party (6.1%) and Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan of the Thai Sang Thai Party (4.8%).

When asked which political party they would currently support, the PP led with 26%, followed by “no suitable party” (24.6%), Pheu Thai (16.8%) and BJT (15.7%).

2C2P (Thailand) Co Ltd, a leading Southeast Asian payment platform and subsidiary of Antom under Ant International, plans to invest more than 1.5 billion baht over three years to position Thailand as a regional fintech hub.

Backed by Antom, the investment is expected to expand 2C2P’s fintech ecosystem across technology, infrastructure and innovation, with a strong focus on empowering Thai small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its “Qwik by 2C2P” advanced digital payment platform.

The platform is scheduled to be available for self-registration from Nov 20, 2025.

This initiative is part of the company’s “2C2P NEXT” strategic direction, aiming to enhance enterprise payment solutions by upgrading core systems for large corporates and developing tailored solutions for four industries: e-commerce, insurance, aviation and online travel agencies (OTAs).

Qwik by 2C2P offers SMEs secure, scalable and easy-to-use digital payment tools, according to the company.

Worachat Luxkanalode, chief executive of 2C2P (Thailand), said the investment reinforces its commitment to building an inclusive regional financial ecosystem and reflects its rebranding as “2C2P by Antom”.

The company has a mission to drive digital financial innovation across Southeast Asia and be a trusted fintech partner delivering sustainable impact, he said.

Mr Worachat said the company expects its payment transaction value in Thailand to reach 450 billion baht this year, up 35% year-on-year. The expansion will be driven by the tourism recovery and robust domestic consumption, which is forecast to increase by 25% next year, he said.

Over three years, 2C2P plans to invest more than 1.5 billion baht to upgrade its digital financial infrastructure, including cloud technology, modernised architecture, automation, and business intelligence systems, said Mr Worachat.

“These enhancements will enable the company to efficiently manage high transaction volumes while maintaining world-class security and reliability,” he said.

“Our goal is to provide Thai merchants with a fast, secure and seamless payment experience that meets the highest international standards.”

To strengthen Thailand’s digital financial system, the company continues to enhance its platform using global-standard technologies provided by Ant International, said Mr Worachat.

2C2P offers a comprehensive suite of services covering more than 400 payment channels worldwide, including Click to Pay, card tokenisation, and artificial intelligence-based fraud detection.

“These innovations help Thai businesses operate more efficiently and securely in an increasingly digital economy,” he said.

TOP PERFORMERS

According to company data, Thailand’s top-performing digital payment segments are OTAs, which expanded 92% year-on-year, followed by insurance (42%), e-commerce (34%), and aviation (20%), reflecting the strong rebound in travel and service sector spending.

Sean Deng, executive director of global business development at 2C2P (Thailand), said one focus is supporting SMEs through Qwik by 2C2P, allowing them to accept online and offline payments conveniently without a complicated set-up process.

Merchants can receive payments instantly via PromptPay, e-wallets, and other channels via a digital onboarding system.

The platform also integrates with point of sale systems, mobile devices, tablets and kiosks, and connects to partners such as restaurants, hotels, retailers, logistics firms, and electric vehicle charging stations, helping entrepreneurs expand their market reach both domestically and internationally.

“Qwik by 2C2P is designed to make payments seamless, trusted and stable, with reliable fraud protection supported by certifications,” Mr Deng said.

“The platform empowers SMEs to expand their opportunities, particularly in sectors where we have strong expertise, such as hotels, airlines, insurance and OTAs.”

Mr Worachat said 2C2P is strengthening its capabilities by leveraging Antom’s global fintech expertise to deliver greater value to its partners in Thailand and across Asia.

He said 2C2P is committed to advancing financial inclusion by collaborating with government agencies and financial institutions to expand access to digital financial services, supporting Thailand’s ambition of becoming the “Fintech Hub of Asia”.

Thailand’s tourism recovery continues to drive digital payment growth. Spending by foreign tourists through Alipay and Alipay+ increased by 25% during the first nine months of 2025, with an average transaction value of 5,500 baht.

More than 14,000 merchants in the tourism sector have already joined 2C2P’s network.

Spending by Chinese tourists rose by 40%, with an average value of 27,000 baht per shopping and OTA transaction.

Meanwhile, Thai consumers are increasingly shifting to cashless payments via PromptPay, QR code, and e-wallets for travel, dining and entertainment.

2C2P forecasts by the end of this year, PromptPay and e-wallets will become Thailand’s dominant payment channels.

By 2028, digital payments are expected to account for more than 85% of all transactions nationwide.

Instalment payment (buy now, pay later) options are also becoming part of Thai lifestyles, growing by 12% this year with the average value of spending in this category 22,000 baht per transaction.

Four key agencies are preparing to sign an agreement to boost the government’s effort to combat online scams and money laundering, said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Speaking after a meeting with senior executives from the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) on Monday, Mr Anutin, who also serves as interior minister, said that Amlo, the Ministry of Interior, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will work together under the agreement to ramp up the crackdown on cybercrime and financial fraud.

Mr Anutin said the meeting was called to identify what additional support the agency needs from the government, especially since combating cybercrime and scammers has been designated a national priority.

‘The government will give its full backing,’ he said.

Mr Anutin said that if Thailand fails to effectively crack down on criminals who are using the country as a base for their operations, international trust in Thailand will decline, causing serious damage to the country’s reputation.

‘Amlo must work at full capacity to ensure that ‘black and grey’ money doesn’t enter the country’s financial system,’ he said.

When asked about calls from the opposition for the government to take tougher action against scam networks, Mr Anutin said the issue is already being handled by the responsible agencies, including Amlo, police and the DSI.

Mr Anutin said that several agencies have been actively working to stamp out scams, noting that Amlo has already seized more than 20 billion baht in assets linked to online fraud and money laundering, with more cases under investigation.

‘Some details cannot be disclosed publicly as the investigations are still ongoing,” he said.

Asked about reports which claim an increasing number of scam syndicates are using Thailand as a base, Mr Anutin said authorities are aware of the issue and the government will take decisive actions to combat cross-border financial crime.

Amlo board chairman Chatchai Promlert said the agency has suspended more than 800,000 proxy bank accounts used by scammers. More than 160 criminal cases are being processed, and assets worth 29 billion baht have been seized over the past year.

However, Mr Chatchai said Amlo faces technology challenges in keeping up with increasingly sophisticated financial crimes and stressed the need to have in place advanced data tools such as AI to improve the agency’s ability to monitor transactions and detect suspicious activity.

In response, the premier said the proposal should be formally submitted for consideration as it is a pressing matter and concerns national security.

‘If Amlo has a proposal which needs funding from the central budget, the government will see to it,’ he said.

Mr Anutin told the meeting that if the government fails to act decisively against scam syndicates operating along its border, the administration will not only be seen as ineffective but will also face other consequences.

‘These include sanctions, restrictions and further international pressure,’ he added.

Badminton stars Kunlavut Vitidsarn, Ratchanok Intanon and Pornpawee Chochuwong received compensation for their previously deducted training allowances from the president of the Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT), Air Chief Marshal Monthon Satchukorn, on Sunday.

Drama erupted when it was reported that Kunlavut and Ratchanok, who will participate in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in December, had their training allowances reduced from 60,000 baht to 6,000 baht after they missed the mandatory fitness tests due to international competitions.

Pornpawee then dropped the bombshell when she withdrew from the SEA Games team last week, citing management issues and the suspension of her allowance.

However Pornpawee, the women’s world No.6 and Thailand’s No.1 player, reversed her decision after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Capt Thamanat Prompow.

Air Chief Marshal Monthon on Sunday clarified that it was not up to the BAT to deduct the athletes’ allowances.

“National athletes receive their allowances from the Sports Authority of Thailand and it is the SAT who sets the rules. The claim that the association deducts money from athletes is therefore untrue,” he said.

“What’s troubling me as the president of the Badminton Association of Thailand is that this news has affected the athletes, who will compete in the upcoming SEA Games. Even worse, some people have accused the association of taking money from athletes, which is a complete lie and has damaged the credibility of the association.”

TikTok is helping app marketers move beyond simple download metrics to achieve real business outcomes, turning user acquisition into measurable transactions and long-term growth.

App marketers refers to professionals who promote mobile apps to attract, engage and retain users throughout the app’s lifecycle.

The platform’s strategy emphasises the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven tools to improve performance and efficiency.

Successful marketing strategies should leverage TikTok’s strengths in discovery, advanced measurement, and automation to deliver scalable and sustainable results, according to the company.

“TikTok reaches more than 460 million monthly users in Southeast Asia, including 50 million in Thailand. This scale creates significant growth opportunities for developers, app publishers and businesses, and reflects our vision for Southeast Asia as a key driver of the region’s digital economy,” said Nikhil Rolla, head of strategic accounts in Southeast Asia at TikTok, at the recent TikTok SEA App Summit 2025 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Mr Rolla said app marketers face three challenges, with the first fragmented user attention — people use more than 10 apps per session, making it hard for any single app to stand out.

Second, acquiring and retaining users is tougher than ever, amid rising costs and declining loyalty. The third challenge is downloads alone do not guarantee success.

“Marketers must focus on how installs convert to transactions and long-term growth to truly measure return on ad spend,” he said.

TikTok offers a solution for app marketers, reaching 1 billion users worldwide with daily time spent on the platform per user roughly 90 minutes, said Mr Rolla.

Up to 40% of TikTok’s users are exclusive, not found on other platforms, while 63% of users are younger and one-third have a high income, offering strong purchasing power, he said.

TikTok’s interest-based discovery engine, creator-driven content, and live-streaming enhance visibility and engagement, said Mr Rolla.

Some 98% of live-streaming viewers are new, helping marketers attract and convert fresh customers.

In addition, TikTok’s return on ad spend for apps has nearly doubled over the past couple of years.

The app industry is shifting towards smarter automation and data-driven strategies. At the heart of TikTok’s AI tools is Symphony, which turns ideas into videos in minutes, complete with scripts, assets, dubbing and AI avatars.

AI-powered tools such as Smart+ automate targeting, bidding and creative selection to optimise effectively without a manual process, he said.

Mr Rolla said TikTok offers a full-funnel ad solution that combines brand awareness with the measurable results of performance marketing, helping marketers reach audiences from discovery to conversion and loyalty.

“We want every app to reach its audience, connect deeply and scale results,” he said.

“Through the integration of creativity, technology and insight, we’re helping brands and developers thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.”

Marcus Yong, vice-president for global marketing at Klook, said the company is focusing on AI and social commerce to stay ahead of industry trends.

While AI innovation continues, testing showed real creators outperform AI avatars, prompting Klook to double down on social commerce in 2026.

Creating a seamless loop on platforms from user discovery to engagement, conversion and sharing enhances the customer journey, he said.

Klook leverages TikTok to reach Millennial and Gen Z audiences, and its global campaigns help Klook move from demand capture to demand generation, said Mr Yong.

Thunyavut Vongsoonthorn, general manager at TikTok for business in Thailand, said the growth of Thai TikTok customers who are app marketers is similar to other markets in Southeast Asia, especially in the retail, travel, game and finance sectors.

Amid a challenging economy, TikTok enables marketers to optimise and measure marketing results by providing insights to pinpoint where target users are on their buying journey, he said.

Behavioural data helps brands understand what motivates serious buyers — from first hearing of the brand to taking action.

Moreover, TikTok provides automation tools such as AI to help brands or small and medium-size enterprises create their own content or connect with the right creators and optimise ad spending, said Mr Thunyavut.

“Technology enables marketers to automate their works and gain insights, but success still requires creativity,” he said.

APP ECONOMY

David Law, regional sales director of SensorTower, a market research firm, said Southeast Asia’s app economy continues to grow rapidly, with 9.4 billion new app downloads and US$2.6 billion in revenue in the first half of 2025.

Users are spending roughly $10,000 per minute on in-app purchases, and for the first time non-gaming apps have overtaken traditional gaming apps in revenue.

The key growth drivers include TikTok, which sees users online for 90-100 minutes per day, and effectively converts engagement into spending, he said.

Another driver is finance apps, particularly mobile-first banking, which empowers underserved users, with engagement highest among those aged 25-34, but rapidly growing among people 18-24. The final push comes from mobile gaming, where Southeast Asia ranks second globally in downloads, supported by community-focused titles and hybrid monetisation models, said Mr Law.

“Colours Of The Full Moon” is the theme of Bangkok River Festival 2025 which kicks off today and runs until Wednesday.

Organised by Thai Beverage in collaboration with many public organisations, this 11th edition is another chance for Thai and foreign visitors to celebrate Loy Krathong, the national cultural heritage that has been nominated for Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, at nine landmarks along the curve of the Chao Phraya River.

A range of traditional activities have been prepared at five historic waterfronts at Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Prayurawongsawat, Wat Kalayanamitr and Wat Rakhang; and four contemporary piers — Tha Maharaj, Asiatique the Riverfront, Sooksiam@Iconsiam and Khlong Prem Prachakon.

Besides paying respect to Buddha statues at the five royal temples at night, visitors are invited to float their environmentally-friendly krathong to show gratitude to the water goddess Phra Mae Khongkha and to pay homage to the late HM Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother.

There will be rarely-seen cultural performances, traditional Thai music featuring compositions by the late maestro Luang Pradit Phairoh in honour of the late Queen Mother, as well as community markets offering local products and delicious food.

Free shuttle boats are available at all nine piers from 3pm to 9pm today and tomorrow and 3pm to midnight on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to a four-point peace framework amid concerns over delays in landmine clearance along the Cambodian border.

Speaking on Monday, Mr Anutin acknowledged that operations ‘may not proceed smoothly’ but insisted the objectives remain unchanged. He urged restraint following reports that Cambodian authorities had obstructed Asean observers from monitoring clearance work at Chong Sai Taku in Buri Ram.

‘I wouldn’t call it obstruction – both sides have been in constant discussions,’ he said, adding that he had spoken with Gen Ukrit Boontanont, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, who confirmed that operations were ongoing.

The four peace conditions are disarmament, landmine clearance, suppression of cross-border scam operations, and resolution of overlapping territorial claims. Mr Anutin warned that any breach of the agreement would prompt Thailand to respond as deemed appropriate.

He dismissed reports of Cambodia redeploying heavy weapons, stating that both sides had pulled back. ‘If they reintroduce weapons, that would violate the agreement and render it void,’ he said, adding that Thai forces remain ready to defend national interests.

Asked whether he would visit the border, Mr Anutin said he was open to doing so if it would help operations proceed according to the peace accords.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree confirmed that the Thai Mine Action Center (TMAC) continues clearance operations despite the Cambodian side awaiting orders from higher command. TMAC has completed 7.62% of the 355,026-square-metre target area, covering 13 high-risk zones.

On Thursday, Thai demining teams encountered Cambodian troops near operational lines and held talks to clarify boundaries. Cambodia requested that Thailand operate strictly within its side of the border and avoid terrain-altering activities such as installing barbed wire. Thai teams have since proceeded without incident.

Parallel operations by the Burapha Task Force are underway in Sa Kaeo to restore farmland, with one POMZ-2 antipersonnel mine found and safely removed. Defensive bunkers and civilian shelters are also under construction, with over 40% completed under an emergency plan.

The government reiterated that mine clearance is part of a bilateral agreement endorsed by Asean leaders. Thailand is progressing on all 13 designated sites, while Cambodia has yet to begin work on its side.

‘Thailand remains fully prepared in every dimension to defend sovereignty and maintain safety for border communities,’ the army said.

Tawanchai PK Saenchai says he is putting his Muay Thai reign on pause in ONE Championship to chase redemption in kickboxing – with his sights set squarely on Masaaki Noiri.

The 26-year-old Thai superstar will face China’s Liu Mengyang on December 19 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, headlining the ONE Friday Fights 137 ‘tentpole’ card in his first appearance since March.

But the real motivation, Tawanchai admits, lies beyond this bout.

‘It’s totally my decision [to fight Liu] because I really want a rematch with Masaaki Noiri,’ Tawanchai told the Bangkok Post.

Noiri handed Tawanchai a third-round TKO loss at ONE 172 in Saitama earlier this year, claiming the interim featherweight kickboxing world title in the process. The Japanese striker now faces Superbon in a unification bout at ONE 173 in Tokyo on November 16.

‘I actually don’t care who wins that fight – I’m focusing on Noiri. I really want to face him again. Yes, Noiri first, 100 per cent,’ Tawanchai added.

While many expect him to return to Muay Thai – where he still holds the featherweight title – Tawanchai insists his priority is now kickboxing.

Superbon remains keen on a third crack at his belt, while Shadow Singha Mawynn looks to solidify No 1 contender status when he faces Younes Rabah in a rematch at ONE Fight Night 38 on December 6.

‘I think it’s better to face Superbon in kickboxing,’ Tawanchai said with a smile. ‘Muay Thai we already faced twice, so it’s a bit boring. I’ll just cross over to kickboxing to see him.

‘Yes, Muay Thai I’m ready any time to face anyone – whether it’s Shadow or not – but I want to focus on kickboxing. If there’s time to do Muay Thai, I’m ready.’

His upcoming opponent, Liu, is no warm-up. The 22-year-old Chinese fighter shocked fans by defeating Noiri in late 2024 and also stunned Shadow in September.

‘I’m preparing myself very well for this fight because Liu is someone who’s always been fighting in kickboxing,’ Tawanchai said. ‘He’s not someone to be underestimated. I have to be wary of everything – he’s physically big and likes to fight at close range, so I’ll have to watch his punches especially.’

Tawanchai withdrew from the originally scheduled matchup in September due to injury, with Shadow stepping in, but is now fully fit – and seemingly in a happier, more settled place outside the ring.

Just last week, the Bangkok native revealed he had quietly married long-time partner Sawita Yingchuan and that the couple had welcomed a baby son, Kirin. The news shocked fans and fighters alike, with ONE Championship and teammates posting messages of congratulations.

Now back at PK Saenchai Gym, fatherhood has given Tawanchai renewed focus as he eyes a second belt.

‘I will be the best version of Tawanchai,’ he said. ‘I won’t be doing other people’s style – I will be Tawanchai who can do kickboxing.’

Customs officials have seized thousands of cylinders of undeclared nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas and often used illegally as a party drug, found among a consignment of goods imported from China.

Director-general Phanthong Loykulnan told reporters on Monday the seizure was made on Oct 29 at Bangkok Port in Khlong Toey district.

He said 2,600 cylinders of laughing gas were found inside boxes among other goods imported from China. The gas was not declared on the cargo manifest.

Each tank weighed five kilogrammes, enough to inflate 160 balloons. A balloon of laughing gas sold for 100 baht on the illegal market, Mr Phanthong said. The estimated total value was 44 million baht.

Nitrous oxide is used as a sedative in healthcare, helping patients relax during medical procedures such as dentistry.

It is frequently abused, used illegally for recreational purposes by customers at nightspots. It makes people giggly and changes the pitch of their voice, often to the point of hilarity.