Category: The Bangkok Post

As parliament prepares to debate three constitutional amendment bills today and tomorrow, senators remain divided over the timing, necessity and potential impact on political stability.

Pol Gen Sawat Tasana questioned whether constitutional amendments would genuinely benefit the public.

“Before deciding whether the timing is right, we should ask: which parts of the constitution harm the people or cause hardship? If amendments directly improve citizens’ lives, then perhaps people would support them,” he told the Bangkok Post.

He argued the government should prioritise urgent national concerns over constitutional revision.

“We face border issues with neighbouring countries, including Cambodia and the southern provinces, as well as challenges in the West. These demand immediate attention more than constitutional debates,” he added.

Pol Gen Sawat said while many politicians claim amendments would serve the public, in practice, changes often protect political interests.

“Let’s be honest — most amendments in the past have been about easing ethics regulations, simplifying referenda or introducing amnesty provisions. Do these help the public or politicians?” he asked.

Another senator, Alongkot Worakee, said he was unable to take a position on the proposals until he saw their full content.

“The House of Representatives is proposing party, while the Senate can only vote for or against — not amend the text,” he said.

“It’s like being presented with a meal; senators can’t change the ingredients, only decide whether to eat it.”

However, Mr Alongkot likewise raised doubt about the necessity of constitutional change.

“This is not a public demand but a political promise. If we make it too easy to amend the constitution, it will lose stability. Look abroad — do other countries revise their constitutions so often?” he asked.

The real problem lies not in the 2017 constitution itself, but in the excessive concentration of financial power within government.

“Soft Power funds and special agency budgets total more than three trillion baht. Reforming budget management would be more beneficial than rewriting the constitution,” he said.

Mr Alongkot also dismissed claims of “blue faction” influence within the Senate. The so-called “blue faction” refers to a group of senators perceived to be closely aligned with the Bhumjaithai Party, which uses blue as its identifying colour.

“When over 170 senators vote for a bill, are they all blue? It’s more about individual judgement than colour,” he said, predicting that the joint session today might devolve into political point-scoring rather than substantive discussion.

Pol Col Kob Atjanakitti echoed concerns over the timing, saying political and security issues should take precedence.

“The problem isn’t the constitution — it’s people who don’t follow it. Some just want to bend the rules for personal convenience,” the senator said.

He argued constitutional change would only deepen political divisions.

“There are many urgent problems that deserve the government’s full attention. Amending the constitution now will only heighten conflict,” he warned.

He also dismissed allegations of Senate factionalism. “There are no colours in the Senate — the only colour that matters is the colour of the nation,” he said.

However, not all senators shared the same reservations.

Pisit Apiwattanapong, spokesman for the Senate Whip Committee, took a more open stance, saying all three drafts had both strengths and weaknesses.

“None of the drafts is perfect, but each has merits worth considering. I personally support accepting all three in principle for the first reading.

“Once in the second reading, we can deliberate on which sections to merge or revise. That’s how legislation should proceed.”

He said that only one-third of Senate votes — about 67 members — are needed for the bills to pass the first reading.

“Given that threshold, I believe the first reading is likely to pass,” he added.

A man who was rushed to hospital after mistakenly drinking toilet cleaner from a soft drink bottle died only a few hours after he was cursorily treated and then sent home.

His family is now questioning the hospital’s handling of the case.

The tragic incident occurred in Satuek district on Monday. The 44-year-old man drank from a bottle he thought contained a soft drink, unaware it had been refilled with green toilet cleaner.

After taking several sips, he realised something was wrong and was rushed to hospital by relatives.

His sister said he had told her he was thirsty after a night of heavy drinking. He picked up a one-litre soft drink bottle containing a green liquid and drank about a quarter of it before asking, ‘What is this?’

Upon discovering it was toilet cleaner, the family hurried him to hospital.

At the hospital, relatives said, they presented the bottle to the medical staff and explained what he had consumed. Doctors examined the man, prescribed medication and allowed him to return home.

About five hours later, the man collapsed at home and lost consciousness. Emergency services were called, but were unable to revive him and he died.

His family expressed both sorrow and confusion, saying they had expected him to be kept in the hospital for observation and treatment.

A doctor who examined the body at the house was asked why the patient had not been admitted to the hospital, and instead sent home.The doctor reportedly explained that such cases were discharged if the patient showed no immediate severe symptoms.

The owner of the cleaning agent said he had transferred it from a large container into used soft drink bottles for distribution to relatives. He was present during the incident, he said, and the victim had asked what the liquid was only after drinking it.

He asked why the hospital had not performed a gastric lavage despite being shown the sample bottle.

The Buriram Provincial Health Office later said that using a stomach pump was not always appropriate in cases involving acidic substances such as toilet cleaner, which can corrode metal.

Dr Pichet Phutkhuntod said that inserting a tube into the stomach could cause the acid to flow back into the oesophagus, potentially leading to perforation or infection in the lungs.

He said the patient had vomited after drinking the cleaner. This, together with his state of intoxication, suggested that some of the substance had already been expelled. As his condition appeared to have stabilised, doctors allowed him to go home with instructions for close monitoring and to return if the symptoms worsened.

Health officials extended their condolences to the family and said support measures would be provided.

They also reminded people that hazardous household chemicals need to be stored safely and be clearly labelled, and to avoid transferring them into drink bottles or similar containers. Local health volunteers have been instructed to ensure people are aware of this, to prevent similar tragedies occurring.

Trat’s tourism industry is facing a 700-million-baht loss as a United Kingdom travel warning has prompted widespread cancellations from European visitors, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

TAT’s Trat office said a surge of cancellations followed the UK Foreign Office’s advisory against non-essential travel to the province, including Koh Chang.

The advisory, stricter than those from other European nations, has led insurers to refuse coverage, disrupting travel plans.

One British traveller contacted TAT London and the Thai embassy, explaining his insurer declined to cover his trip to Koh Chang despite existing bookings. He requested official confirmation that the island remains safe, hoping it would reverse the insurer’s decision.

The TAT said that Trat is not a conflict zone and remains peaceful. Koh Chang, Koh Kut, and Koh Mak continue to welcome tourists daily.

However, the martial law designation across the entire province – active since 2012 – has raised concerns among European travellers and insurers.

The TAT said local tourism operators are urging security authorities to reconsider the status, especially in non-border areas, to restore confidence during peak season.

The war of words between controversial activist Guntouch “Gun Jompalang” Pongpaiboonwet and Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit reflects the flaws in the army’s handling of the simmering border conflict with Cambodia.

Mr Guntouch launched into a tirade against Ms Angkhana after the senator reprimanded the activist for playing “ghostly sounds” along the border with the intention of scaring Cambodian civilians in the area. The activist has been playing eerie sounds, as well as recordings of helicopter and jet engine noises, through speakers he took to Ban Nong Chan and Nong Ya Kaeo in Sa Kaeo since Friday.

The senator’s protest followed Phnom Penh’s decision to lodge a complaint with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) over the use of loudspeakers along the border, which it claims have affected many Cambodians living nearby, especially the sick, the elderly, children and people with disabilities. The complaint went as far as accusing Thailand of violating human rights principles by engaging in psychological torture.

To back up the complaint, the Cambodian government took Asean’s Interim Observer Team to several border communities in Banteay Meanchey province — right across the border from Sa Kaeo.

Mr Guntouch hit back at the senator, asking her why she, as well as other human rights activists, chose to remain silent when Cambodia sent pregnant women and children to the frontlines at the peak of the conflict.

“When we send a letter, they ignore it. But when we play sounds for two days, they panic. Sometimes, you have to shake things up,” he said.

Ban Nong Chan has been under martial law since Aug 28, as it was one of the flash points in the border dispute with Cambodia. The decision to impose martial law in the area was taken in response to reports which claimed Cambodia was mobilising its citizens to cause disturbances along the border in Sa Kaeo. As such, the government has full authority to restrict access to the area and ensure that all activities taking place in the village align with national security and peacekeeping goals.

Make no mistake, Mr Guntouch has a reason to get angry and question the sincerity of our neighbour. When the conflict erupted in July, Thais witnessed schools and hospitals along the border being hit by Cambodian artillery. Thai soldiers have been maimed by landmines, which are believed to have been planted by Cambodian soldiers.

That said, the army must ensure any campaigns in the area align with the country’s national security policies. Mr Guntouch’s campaign — no matter how patriotic it is — could cause a diplomatic backlash and spur hatred among civilians living along the border.

We must remember the ongoing conflict is between the two governments — not the people of the two countries.

The question now is, why did the army allow the activist to launch such a campaign in a conflict zone?

The army’s response was deeply worrying.

Army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree said Thai civilians are simply voicing their discontent — non-violently — against the encroachment by Cambodia.

One must now ask, does this eye-for-an-eye approach align with Thailand’s pro-peace, diplomatic strategy?

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul must urgently look into this complaint and ensure our armed forces use the martial law declaration to foster peace, not raise tensions, in conflict areas.

River City Bangkok invites everyone to discover how music can be a driving force of creation during “Life As A Playlist”, which is running at RCB Galleria 4, 2nd floor, until Nov 2.

The exhibition is inspired by the favourite playlists of two artists — Pang Torsuwan and Ping Hatta — who weave together songs that have carried profound meaning in different chapters of their lives.

These playlists become stories — tracing a path that is anything but linear, yet filled with joy, vitality, courage, sensitivity and the fragile beauty found within struggle and growth. Their narratives unfold through diverse forms of art — expressive canvases, distinctive cubist-inspired paintings, delicate embroidery and sketches that reveal the raw spontaneity of their creative process.

This exhibition creates an “in-between space” — between sound and image, past and present. It not only tells the stories of the artists’ lives, but also invites each viewer to reflect on their own “inner playlist”, through a journey of emotions and memories.

In doing so, it reminds us that music is not only a mirror of who we once were, but also a revelation of who we are today — and a glimpse of who we may yet become.

Pang is a self-taught artist inspired by Cubism, which she interprets in her own distinct voice. Her compositions of fractured and overlapping geometric forms go beyond formal experimentation, serving as a metaphor for the intricate emotions and hidden narratives within the human condition.

Ping, meanwhile, often explores the intersection of strength and softness within femininity. Whether through paintings, fibre art, printmaking or digital illustrations, her pieces weave together bold colour palettes, intricate symbolism and a sense of warmth, inviting viewers to pause, reflect and find familiarity in the stories she tells.

The government’s 44-billion-baht “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme comes just in time to lift the restaurant sector amid the country’s economic slowdown, says the Restaurant Association.

Slated to run from Oct 29 to Dec 31, the scheme offers a 2,400-baht subsidy for individuals registered in the tax system, while those outside the system receive 2,000 baht each, with a daily spending cap of 200 baht.

“The scheme arrives at the right time as the economy is sluggish, with consumers more cautious with their spending,” said Chanon Koetcharoen, president of the Restaurant Association.

While mom-and-pop stores and other small businesses such as massage parlours and nail salons are also eligible to participate, Mr Chanon said based on past stimulus packages, the measure could increase restaurant sales by around 30% compared with non-stimulus periods.

He said the scheme could influence consumer habits, encouraging people to order more per visit or dine out more often.

Some groups dining together might split their bills to maximise their subsidies, reducing the cost per person, said Mr Chanon.

Local media reported some restaurant owners are hesitant to join the scheme due to fears of potential audits for retroactive taxes.

He said there are some concerns over this issue, but added he expects most small restaurants to participate as the scheme is likely to increase their income.

For the fourth-quarter outlook, Mr Chanon said there was a mix of positive and negative factors.

On the positive side, the start of fiscal 2026 is expected to facilitate budget disbursements that could further stimulate economic growth. Moreover, the tourism sector has entered its high season, which typically supports the restaurant industry.

From Jan 1 to Oct 5 Thailand recorded 24.5 million foreign visitors, a 7.5% year-on-year decline. The top five source markets were Malaysia, China, India, Russia and South Korea, according to the Economics Tourism and Sports Division of the Tourism and Sports Ministry.

Mr Chanon urged the government to act quickly to address Thailand’s negative tourism image.

He said the restaurant industry continues to face high raw material costs, especially for pork.

Furthermore, the sector is struggling with a labour shortage. Many restaurants already pay above the minimum wage. With the Vegetarian Festival in late October and year-end celebrations, the demand for workers will rise, leading to further increases in wages that pressure labour costs, said Mr Chanon.

With developing countries facing intense financial pressure and developed countries slashing foreign aid, it can be tempting to dream of stumbling across a pot of gold. Dream no longer: The International Monetary Fund is currently sitting on 90.5 million ounces of the metal.

A relic of the gold standard, these holdings could be quickly turned into tangible funds. After hovering around US$2,000 (65,200 baht) per ounce for most of the last half-decade, the price of gold has now topped $4,000 per ounce. Even in real terms, this is a record high. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at the IMF’s balance sheet, which values its gold at just $50 per ounce, a price last seen in the 1970s.

In reality, the IMF’s gold reserves are worth over $350 billion — more than Chile’s GDP. Selling just 10% of these holdings would generate enough funds to offset this year’s foreign-aid cuts.

Such a move is not without precedent. The IMF has sold gold several times, most recently in 2009-10. The Fund used the proceeds from that sale to create an endowment account that complements IMF revenue and subsidises the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, its concessional lending arm for low-income countries.

The case for selling a small share of the IMF’s gold is even stronger today. The funds could help support cash-strapped developing countries, without requiring any donor contributions. And by placing them in an endowment account, the IMF could create a long-term, sustainable source of concessional financing for these countries. Perhaps most importantly, the Fund might never get a greater bang for the bullion.

The proceeds from a gold sale could be channelled into multiple existing trusts within the IMF. Perhaps the most promising candidate is the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT), which covers repayments by vulnerable low-income countries of debt owed to the IMF in the aftermath of public health or natural disasters. Right now, just as these countries face large IMF repayments, the CCRT funds are nearly depleted, totalling around $115 million — barely enough to support one country in the wake of a crisis, let alone the dozens that could use it. With slight amendments to the CCRT’s eligibility criteria, the negative effects of aid cuts and trade adjustments on public-health financing could qualify as shocks meriting relief. This, coupled with a replenishment, would enable the CCRT to fulfil its potential.

Alternatively, these funds could be used to increase the concessionality of the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust, scaling up support for low-income countries.

But regardless of which trust is selected, placing the proceeds from a gold sale in an endowment account would maximise their impact by continuously generating returns to be distributed to the trust. As an added benefit to the United States, the endowment fund could include investments in US Treasury bills, boosting demand for them.

This use of gold is entirely consistent with the IMF’s mandate. The aid cuts to some developing countries amount to several percentage points of GDP. The consequent need to increase domestic spending on public health, education, and related sectors will further strain governments that were already grappling with high debt-servicing costs. Moreover, reductions in aid and shifts in global trade have balance-of-payments implications, particularly in sectors that rely on imported goods, such as HIV/Aids medications.

Selling some of the IMF’s gold also aligns with the stated desires of the US and other developed countries. Now confronted with high debt levels, challenging economic conditions, and the need to increase defence spending, these countries have stressed that the responsibility for funding global public goods must be more widely distributed, and that international institutions — including the IMF — should use their resources more efficiently. What is more inefficient than sitting on an idle pile of gold?

The unintended consequences that many fear, such as a slide in the price of gold, are unlikely to emerge. To avert this outcome in 2009-10, the IMF sold gold gradually, initially making off-market deals with central banks and coordinating with gold producers on market sales.

Nor would selling gold jeopardise the IMF’s financial stability. The Fund does not borrow on the market, so it does not need gold reserves to demonstrate its creditworthiness. Moreover, it has exceeded its precautionary balances target of around $35 billion, a figure that does not count its gold reserves. Lastly, the vast majority of the IMF’s gold would remain untouched. If anything, these sales would strengthen the Fund’s financial stability by improving developing countries’ ability to repay their debts.

It is hard to imagine a more cost-effective solution to widespread foreign-aid cuts than the IMF selling a small share of its gold at no risk to its financial health and at no cost to its donors. That would be true even if the price of gold had not reached new heights. The fact that it has means that finance ministers and central bankers should act with a sense of urgency when they gather at the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank this month. There might never be a better time to dip into the Fund’s pot of gold. ©2025 Project Syndicate

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed that cracking down on online scam operations along the Thai-Cambodian border is one of Thailand’s key conditions in its ongoing dialogue with Phnom Penh.

The affirmation comes amid mounting international pressure – including a recent warning from South Korea that it could take military action against cross-border scammers.

As well, the United States has made a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia a condition of ongoing trade negotiations, according to reports from Washington.

President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to visit the Asean summit on Oct 26 and he is determined to preside over a signing ceremony between the two uneasy neighbours. Mr Anutin said Thailand had made it clear to Cambodia that decisive action against scam syndicates is essential for restoring mutual trust.

‘The suppression of scammers is one of the conditions Thailand has put forward,’ he said on Tuesday, adding that the issue is now central to bilateral negotiations.

The prime minister noted that several countries, including South Korea and China, have pressed Cambodia to dismantle scam compounds operating inside its territory, which have reportedly made victims of thousands of foreign nationals.

When asked about Seoul’s threat to deploy its military to combat scammers in the region, Mr Anutin said Thailand would continue to assert its sovereignty.

‘We have our own jurisdiction. If the four key points that the foreign minister will raise in the upcoming meeting are resolved, the threats to our national security will be greatly reduced,’ he said.

Army has ‘full authority’

Mr Anutin also reiterated his view that the First Army Region was empowered under martial law to dismantle illegal Cambodian structures that encroach upon Thai soil in contested villages in Sa Kaeo province.

‘The army has full authority to act within the area of concern,’ he said, adding that the government fully supported military decisions taken to safeguard Thai territory.

He was responding to Cambodian criticism that Thailand’s recent use of ‘ghostly sounds’ – loud noise broadcasts along the border – violated human rights. The broadcasts have been staged and bankrolled by the flamboyant online crusader Guntouch ‘Gun Jompalang’ Pongpaiboonwet, with the army’s blessing.

Mr Anutin countered that cross-border rocket fire and drone incursions from Cambodia also constituted serious violations. ‘These are acts that endanger Thai citizens and infringe upon our sovereignty,’ he said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, meanwhile, is preparing to hold a second round of talks with his Cambodian counterpart in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.

He said Thailand would stick to four key principles in the negotiations, including commitments to border demarcation, demilitarisation, anti-crime cooperation and demining.

Mr Sihasak added that Bangkok was focused on maintaining calm along the frontier and promoting bilateral dialogue. ‘Anything that helps create a positive atmosphere for talks is what we should aim for,’ he said.

He said Thailand recently met with Malaysia, the US and Cambodia and emphasised the importance of adhering to the ceasefire pact and addressing cross-border criminal activities through mutual cooperation.

Flooding remains in 15 provinces on Tuesday, mostly on the Central Plain, with water levels being either stable or lower.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported flooding in eight provinces on the Central Plain:

Uthai Thani in Muang district with lower floodwater

Chai Nat in Sapphaya district with stable flood levels

Sing Buri in In Buri, Phrom Buri and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Ang Thong in Pa Mok, Wiset Chai Chan, Chai Yo and Muang districts with stable flood levels

Suphan Buri in Muang, Bang Pla Ma, Song Phi Nong, Don Chedi, Doembang Nangbuat, U Thong, Nong Yasai, Sam Chuk and Dan Chang districts with stable flood levels

Ayutthaya in Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya, Mara Rat, Bang Pahan, Ban Phraek, Tha Rua, Nakhon Luang and Ban Sa-ai with stable flood levels

Pathum Thani in Sam Khok and Muang districts with lower floodwater

Nakhon Pathom in Bang Len, Sam Phran and Nakhon Chaisri districts with stable flood levels.

Ayutthaya had the most affected households, 50,026, of any of the 15 inundated provinces nationwide.

In the North, flooding was in four provinces:

Phitsanulok in Wang Thong, Bang Rakam and Noen Maprang districts with lower floodwater

Sukhothai in Muang, Sri Samrong and Sawankhalok districts with lower flood levels

Phichit in Sam Ngam, Pho Thale, Pho Prathap Chang, Bung Narang, Bang Mun Nak, Thap Khlo, Muang, Dong Charoen, Sak Lek, Wan Sai Phun, Taphan Hin and Wachira Barami districts with lower floodwater

Nakhon Sawan in Chumsaeng, Muang, Phaisali, Phayuha Khiri, Krok Phra and Tha Tako districts with stable flood levels

In the Northeast, flooding was reported in:

Ubon Ratchathani in Muang, Warin Chamrap, Phibun Mangsahan, Sawang Wirawong, Trakan Phuetphon and Don Mot Daeng with stable flood levels

Udon Thani in Muang, Phibun Rak, Sang Khom, Nong Han, Ban Dung, Phen, Kut Chap, Nong Wua So, Kumphawapi and Na Yoong districts with stable flood levels

In the East, only Chachoengsao was flooded, in Bang Nam Prieo district, and the water level was falling.

The cabinet on Tuesday reshuffled 45 high-level officials at the Interior Ministry – chiefs of provincial and local administration and land departments, as well as provincial governors.

Many of them were returned to positions they held before being moved out by the past government.

Government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said the promotions and transfers filled positions left open by retirement and corrected injustices to some officials who were unfairly treated in three previous reshuffles in only one month.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who is also the interior minister, denied the latest reshuffle reflected the fight between his Bhumjaithai Party and the Pheu Thai Party, which led the past government and until recently controlled the Interior Ministry.

He said the reshuffle was proposed by the interior permanent secretary. He only put it on the cabinet’s agenda. The permanent secretary did not seek his advice on the matter, the prime minister said.

Late last month, Mr Anutin told the parliament that Pheu Thai needed the Interior Ministry because a general election was near.

Tuesday’s changes focused on the provincial governors of Nong Bua Lam Phu, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya, Si Sa Ket, Chiang Rai, Chachoengsao, Surat Thani, Uttaradit, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Phanom, Phetchaburi, Phuket, Khon Kaen, Sing Buri, Uthai Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Sawan, Samut Prakan and Rayong.

The cabinet resolution also affected the position of the chief of the Land Department. Pornpoth Penpas returns as director-general of the Land Department after being made a deputy interior permanent secretary last August. The Land Department is at the heart of the controversy over ownership of a large area of land near Khao Kradong in Buri Ram province, which is the political stronghold of Mr Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party.

To make way for Mr Pornpoth’s return as land department chief, Kachornkiat Rakpanichmanee becomes the governor of Khon Kaen province.

Tuesday’s cabinet resolution also made Narucha Khosasivilai, currently interior inspector-general, the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration. In his earlier posting he was the governor of Buri Ram province.

Surat Thani governor Theerayut Supawibulpol becomes the director-general of the Department of Local Administration.