Category: The Bangkok Post

Tourist police on Koh Phangan have arrested nine people after raiding a hostel allegedly operated illegally by foreign nationals. The operation followed complaints that the venue was disturbing local residents and catering exclusively to Spanish tourists.

Officers from Koh Phangan Tourist Police, local administration and immigration officials inspected The 10 Club Hostel located in Moo 1 on the tourist island in Surat Thani province on Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities said they had received reports of foreigners working without permits and running a business under a nominee structure. The hostel was accused of creating a public nuisance, allowing drunken behaviour and serving a single nationality.

Authorities detained nine suspects: one Thai, three Spaniards and five Myanmar nationals. They were charged with working beyond their legal rights and handed over to Koh Phangan police for prosecution.

Officials said the crackdown is part of a wider policy to eliminate illegal foreign-run businesses, nominee arrangements and inappropriate behaviour by foreigners living in Thailand. Authorities warned that such activities damage the country’s image and may involve transnational crime.

The local Tourist Police commander has ordered stations in key destinations to intensify efforts against foreign offenders, pledging strict legal action regardless of nationality to maintain safety and confidence among visitors.

Sluggish economic growth has prompted energy authorities to halt the operations of four power plants and delay the opening of a fifth to avoid a financial burden for electricity producers and buyers, says Energy Minister Auttapol Rerkpiboon.

The suspension is meant to prevent a glut of electricity in the country when power demand is weak during a period of decreased economic activity, he said.

The decision was made recently by the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC).

The four power plants are operated by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). Three of them — North Bangkok, South Bangkok and Nam Phong — are gas-fired power plants, while the other is Mae Moh units 8 and 9, a coal-fired power generation facility.

These power plants were scheduled to supply electricity from 2025 to 2030, but now they will be halted, resuming operations after 2029.

The Burapa power plant was set to commence commercial operations in 2027, with that opening now postponed until 2029. The power plant is jointly owned by power companies, including Gulf Development Plc.

“The postponements will help Egat and the companies save a combined 3.5 billion baht,” said Mr Auttapol, who is also a member of the NEPC.

He attributed the stagnant economy partially to the pandemic, which hit Thailand in early 2020. The outbreak subdued the economy as the government implemented lockdown measures, including a nighttime curfew, to contain the spread of the highly contagious virus.

Though the pandemic passed, the economy has yet to fully recover and Thailand struggles with slow GDP growth.

Mr Auttapol said a plan to build new power plants, which was included in a previous version of the power development plan (PDP), will be reconsidered to better match electricity demand amid changes in economic circumstances.

These considerations include the development of gas-fired power plants in Surat Thani province and the northeastern region.

The Energy Ministry is setting up a new committee to draft a novel PDP, expected to outline the country’s power supply management over the long term, he said.

Police busted a major online operation selling illegal vaping products on Wednesday, arresting two suspects and seizing 30,000 illegal items worth about 15 million baht.

The shop, named ‘VST ?????????’, had been selling e-cigarettes and related devices via the Line app and advertised with shipping services for customers nationwide, Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner, said.

A male suspect, identified as Somchai Jenwajeeporn, 64, was arrested in front of a branch of J and T Home delivery service in soi Sukhumvit 101 in Bangkok’s Phra Khanong district.

He was caught arriving there at the wheel of a black Mitsubishi Space Wagon. A search of the vehicle discovered 400 parcels containing vapes intended for shipment, police said.

Mr Somchai said he picked up the goods at a storehouse in soi King Kaew in Bang Phli district in Samut Prakan. This information led to the arrest of Chanisa Kunpakawa, 40, who admitted being the owner of the premises.

Police seized about 30,000 vaping items stored there, including disposable, refillable and replaceable pod-type e-cigarettes and accessories. Their estimated value was 15 million baht.

Others items impounded as evidence were a bank book, debit cards and 1.6 million baht in cash.

Both suspects allegedly admitted to charges of owning and selling illegal goods. The case was transferred to the Consumer Protection Police Division for further proceedings, Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said.

Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to begin a three-phase withdrawal of heavy weaponry along their border, with the first phase scheduled to begin at midnight on Nov 1. The entire operation is scheduled to take until the end of January.

The decision was made by military commanders attending a meeting of the Regional Border Committee (RBC) on Wednesday at the Chong Chom permanent border checkpoint in Surin province, according to a border source.

The meeting was held to follow up on resolutions from a special session of the General Border Committee (GBC), chaired by the two countries’ defence ministers and held in Kuala Lumpur. It called for a coordinated action plan to reduce military tensions and reposition heavy weapons along the border.

The prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia were also in the Malaysian capital on the weekend to sign a declaration expressing their agreement to work toward normalising relations that remain strained after July’s armed clashes. (Story continues below)

Under the agreement reached on Wednesday by the RBC, the withdrawal will be carried out in three phases:

Phase 1 (Type A weapons) will begin at midnight on Nov 1 and involve the repositioning of multiple rocket launchers.

Phase 2 (Type B weapons) will start at midnight on Nov 22 and last three weeks. It covers all types of artillery, including both towed and self-propelled guns of 155mm calibre and below.

Phase 3 (Type C weapons) is scheduled to begin at midnight on Dec 13. It includes the repositioning of armoured vehicles and tanks and will last for six weeks.

The meeting on Wednesday was co-chaired by Maj Gen Kampanart Wapansu, chief-of-staff of the Second Army and secretary of the Thai RBC, and Brig Gen Nith Narong, deputy chief-of-staff of Cambodia’s Military Region 4 and secretary of the Cambodian RBC.

The commanders of the Thai Second Army and Cambodian Military Region 4 will sign the minutes of the meeting at a ceremony at the Chong Chom border crossing at 2pm on Friday.

A follow-up meeting scheduled for Nov 15 will assess the implementation of Phase 1, address any operational challenges and prepare for Phases 2 and 3.

Jake Peacock is promising to ‘break the will’ of Suakim when they meet in Tokyo – and send the Thai veteran home early.

The English-Canadian striker faces the biggest test of his career at ONE 173 on November 16, as he looks to climb into world title contention in the bantamweight Muay Thai ranks.

‘It’s gonna be a big test, against a great opponent,’ Peacock told the Bangkok Post from Koh Samui, where he is putting the finishing touches on his camp at the Superpro gym.

‘I’ve got a lot of respect for Suakim and his team and what he’s done. Nothing but respect – which means I’ll be training harder than ever before and more focused than ever before. I’ll bring my A-game – I have to. Expect nothing but a violent show.’

That violence, he hopes, will come swiftly. ‘It’s a recipe for disaster,’ he said with a grin. ‘I’m gonna do my best to end the fight early so everyone back home can go to bed. Keep it short for them.’

For Peacock, the son of former Premier League footballer Gavin Peacock, Tokyo represents both a step up in class and a homecoming of sorts. He fought there at 18 in Kyokushin karate – losing to the eventual tournament champion – and now returns nearly a decade later on one of the biggest cards in ONE Championship history.

‘Technically my toughest test, physically he’s definitely up there,’ Peacock said. ‘He’s got the most experience by far, he’s very tough, got a lot of heart and he’s well-rounded. Probably one of the toughest if not the toughest.’

The 32-year-old watched Suakim’s bloody war with Zafer Sayik earlier this summer and came away both impressed and motivated.

‘I watched that fight – it just shows you how tough he is,’ he said. ‘He broke his orbital early and kept coming forward. The more he gets hurt the more he comes forward, so you’ve got to put him away. Expect a finish, because otherwise he’s gonna keep coming.’

That Kyokushin mentality – ‘break the will, not the bones,’ as he calls it – underpins Peacock’s approach.

‘Kyokushin really conditions your body,’ he said. ‘You can adapt to different styles of kicks and bring it into Muay Thai, but the biggest thing is the heart and conditioning it instills in you. The whole concept is to break the will of your opponent. I’m not out here to break bones, I’m out here to break wills – I’m gonna be the last man standing, no matter what.’

That inner toughness runs deeper than most realise. Born with one arm ending just below the elbow, Peacock has never looked for sympathy – only opportunity. His fluid, one-handed guard and explosive kicking game have become symbols of his adaptability, not limitation.

While the stakes are high, the setting has been far from austere.

Peacock has based himself in Koh Samui with his wife and children, training twice a day while juggling family chaos at the villa.

‘We flew into Bangkok from Canada for six days, showed the wife and kids the city, then flew to Koh Samui,’ he said. ‘It’s been wicked, it’s a dream – like we’re on a movie set. They’re running around, I love it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.’

Even his son Charlie has joined the action, following him to strength and conditioning sessions and padwork. ‘He loves it,’ Peacock said proudly. ‘They’ve never come on a trip this far with me.’

The mix of family and focus, he admits, has added something new to this camp. ‘It’s a good setup – a nice house with a pool, beach seven minutes away, gym five minutes away,’ he said. ‘I’m right up there. I’m ready for him.’

And when the bell rings at Ariake Arena, Peacock says fans can expect nothing less than fire. ‘Neither of us are gonna back down,’ he said. ‘We’re both gonna bring the heat and it’ll be a banger.’

Dear Doctors: I started helping at a food bank for a kind of selfish reason — it made me feel good. But it turns out I made some good friends, which is not easy as you get older. (I’m 66.) Now I’m seeing on the news that volunteering can be good for cognitive health. I would like to know more about that.

Dear Reader: First, congratulations on giving your time to a worthy cause. According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is a real and growing problem in the United States. The work you are doing provides food for adults and children who otherwise might go hungry. One of the side benefits, as you’ve found, is that volunteer work can enrich your life as well.

The emotional satisfaction of volunteering may be obvious. But people who give their time to their communities say they find additional benefits beyond personal satisfaction. One of the unexpected rewards is more social connection with others. Volunteers also often find that donating time and effort improves their mood, builds skills, bolsters confidence and lowers stress. They also create stronger ties with their communities and even improve their physical health.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and the University of Texas at Austin identified a possible connection between volunteering and improved cognition. Their findings were recently published in the journal Social Science and Medicine. The National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health funded the research along with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

The study analysed more than two decades of health data from 30,000 adults aged 51 and older. People who reported spending two to four hours a week helping others had benefits that others didn’t. The study found as much as a 15% to 20% decrease in cognitive decline for people who reported regular volunteering compared with people who didn’t practise the same behaviour.

The help ranged from formal volunteering in the community to assisting friends, family and neighbours. This help could involve shopping, cooking, cleaning, child care, and transportation for or help with medical appointments. It also included offering personal or professional skills, such as home maintenance, yard work, pet care or even tax preparation.

Another study analysing the results of previous research found that people who engaged in regular volunteer work had better episodic and working memory. They also maintained verbal fluency longer than those who did not volunteer. Similar research in Japan found that people who help others report lower rates of depression, anxiety and loneliness.

All this research points to multiple reasons for the benefits of volunteering. Increased mental, physical and emotional engagement, and the sense of purpose in helping others are all key. As you have found, and as ongoing research confirms, the act of helping others benefits not only those who receive, but also those who give. Universal Features Syndicate

The Thai sporting community was rocked after national badminton ace Pornpawee Chochuwong, currently ranked world No.6 and Thailand’s top women’s singles player, announced her withdrawal from the upcoming 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The 33rd edition of the biennial SEA Games will be hosted by Thailand from Dec 9-20.

Pornpawee, a four-time SEA Games gold medallist, personally submitted a resignation letter to the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), stating that she had lost motivation due to what she described as unfair treatment from certain officials within the Badminton Association of Thailand’s development division.

She emphasised that her decision was not related to financial allowances, but rather to systemic problems that she hopes will be addressed for the sake of younger athletes. “I have endured these problems for years, but I don’t want the next generation to face the same difficulties,” Pornpawee said.

The 27-year-old shuttler revealed that she had made significant sacrifices in preparation for the SEA Games, including withdrawing from the Australian Open and professional league competitions in China.

She also covered most of her own training and travel expenses, citing insufficient support from the association.

Pornpawee further explained that her disappointment stemmed from the lack of prior notice about mandatory SEA Games fitness tests.

“If I had been told, I would have complied with the rules,” she said, stressing again that her dispute was not with the SAT or about daily allowances.

Her resignation comes amid ongoing controversy over the deduction of allowances for national team players.

Earlier this year, fellow stars Kunlavut Vitidsarn and Ratchanok Intanon saw their allowances reduced to 6,000 baht after missing scheduled fitness tests due to international competitions.

Meanwhile, preparations for the 33rd SEA Games, scheduled to take place in Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Songkhla, will continue.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Atthakorn Sirilatthayakorn has confirmed that the Games will proceed as planned, though the opening and closing ceremonies will be simplified in light of the recent passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother.

SAT Governor Dr Gongsak Yodmani added that the organising committee will focus on ensuring appropriate ceremonies, security, and smooth operations across all venues.

Six drug smugglers were killed in a brief clash with soldiers patrolling in Fang district on Monday, and 1.2 million methamphetamine pills with Labubu stamps were seized.

Soldiers from the Pha Muang Task Force, acting on information, encountered a group of eight or nine people walking through a border forest near Ban Muang Chum in tambon Mon Pin at 6.49am, Col Meechai Nilasart, deputy commander of the force, said.

The soldiers called on them to stop for a search. They responded with gunfire directed at the soldiers. The ensuing gunfight lasted about five minutes.

After clearing the area, the troops found six dead men. The others escaped. Eight backpacks were found at the scene containing 1.2 million meth pills in packages, together with a long-barrelled firearm, a pistol and three mobile phones.

Col Meechai said the seized drug packages were stamped with the popular cartoon figure Labubu, a growing trend in the illegal market.

Since Oct 1, the task force has been involved in 37 cases of drug trafficking, arresting 44 suspects. There had been five armed clashes, resulting in the deaths of seven smugglers, Pha Muang commander Maj Gen Sathit Waiyanon said.

Thailand expects Israeli tourists to be better behaved in future following a meeting between Thai police and a top Israeli security official, amid growing discontent with visitors from the jewish state.

Pol Maj Gen Suwat Suksri said that at Monday’s meeting Avi Bitton, a high-level adviser to the Israeli Security Council, had strongly supported the need for Thailand to take swift and stern action, without hesitation, against Israeli offenders, including those running illegal businesses.

“We hope the discussion, to some extent, will reslove the problem of Israeli tourists engaging in inappropriate behaviour,” Pol Maj Gen Suwat, who is the Surat Thani police chief, said after the talks in Phuket.

Pol Maj Gen Suwat was one of the top police officers in southern provinces who attended the talk with Mr Bitton, who led a delegation to Phuket. The meeting was held to address the problems involving Israeli visitors and expats in Thailand.

The meeting came amid rising public sentiment against Israeli citizens in Thailand – from Pai and Phuket, Koh Phangnga and Koh Samui – fuelled by their offensive behaviour and running of illegal businesses.

The four destinations are popular with Israelis and sanctuaries have been opened exclusively for their use, including reservists recovering from the pressures of the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. They have built these Chabads, exclusive communities, in Pai and other places.

Israel has six Chabad in Thailand. They are in Pai district in Mae Hong Son, and on three islands – Phuket, Koh Samui and Phangan, according to the meeting on Monday. Security for the Israelis was a focus during the talk.

Mr Bitton explained the need to deploy maximum security at those places where Israelis stay, with no outsiders allowed inside, for the safety of their citizens because of the war in Gaza, Pol Maj Gen Suwat said.

The Israeli security adviser had promised to allow Thai authorities to inspect the areas, he added.

Israeli media outlets earlier this year identified Mr Bitton as the central police commander.

About 300,000 Israeli tourists visited Thailand from January to September this year, a 57% leap on the same period last year, Tourism and Sports Ministry figures showed.

“The rise in Israeli travellers this year can be seen as a knock-on effect of Israel’s grueling war in Gaza, with many young Israelis choosing Thailand after completing military service or reserve duty,” The Times of Israel said in March.

The influx of tourists from Israel has led to dissatisfaction among Thais as many show little respect for Thai law. Recently, on Oct 14, four of them were arrested on Koh Samui for holding a party with drugs to celebrate peace.

One of the more infamous incidents was in May when an Israeli woman refused to take off her shoes before entering a Thai restaurant on Koh Phangan, saying “My money built your country”.

Authorities and local business operators have repeatedly raised concerns about Israeli visitors’ behaviour and the rise of illegal foreign-run businesses on the resort island.

The Israeli embassy posted a message on its Facebook post on Saturday, advising its citizens in Thailand how to behave during the mourning period for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, who passed away on Friday.

“Avoid loud music, parties or demonstrations of public joy, dress modestly and solid tones, and respect the general atmosphere of mourning for the next 30 days,” the embassy said. “Showing respect and consideration in this sensitive time will be greatly appreciated by the Thai public,” it added.

Sukhothai delivered one of the biggest upsets of the Thai League 1 season on Saturday night, stunning big-spending BG Pathum United 3-1 in front of their home crowd.

The Rabbits, boasting a squad full of internationals, were expected to control proceedings but were undone by the Fire Bats’ energy and resilience.

Brazilian striker Elias Souza struck inside two minutes to give Sukhothai a dream start, only for Tomoyuki Doi to level for BG in the 13th minute.

The visitors pressed for long spells but could not break down the hosts, who defended stoutly and looked dangerous on the counter.

With 13 minutes left, Ratchanat Arunyapairot restored Sukhothai’s lead, and Elias sealed the points with his second goal deep into stoppage time.

The victory lifted Sukhothai clear of the relegation zone, while BG Pathum were left to reflect on another damaging setback in their title chase.

At Chang Arena, champions Buriram United stayed on top with a 2-1 win over Rayong in a match that carried special milestones as Guilherme Bissoli scored his 50th Thai League 1 goal, while captain Theerathon Bunmathan marked his 300th league appearance.

Goran Causic opened the scoring for Buriram in the eighth minute, but Rayong equalised through Saharat Sonthisawat just before half-time. Early in the second half, Theerathon’s precise cross was headed home by Bissoli, who reached his half-century in just 52 matches.

It was also a winning home debut for new English coach Mark Jackson, who praised his players’ determination.

Elsewhere, Bangkok United edged Lamphun Warriors 4-3 in a thriller, while Ratchaburi defeated Uthai Thani 3-2 away.