Category: The Bangkok Post

The Digital Economy and Society (DES) Ministry is committed to driving Thailand’s gaming industry onto the global stage and establishing the country as a gaming hub in Southeast Asia.

The ministry is pursuing the passage of the Gaming Industry Promotion Act, which would be the first law of its kind in Southeast Asia. The bill already passed a public hearing.

DES Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said the local gaming industry is valued at more than 35 billion baht and continues to grow.

He said this proves games are no longer just about the act of playing — they are ready to transcend mere entertainment and transform into learning opportunities, fostering creativity and providing future careers.

Thailand has one of the largest populations of gamers in Southeast Asia, along with the Philippines and Indonesia, and ranks third globally in terms of the number of gamers, said Mr Chaichanok.

He said the government must accelerate development of the gaming industry for stable and sustainable growth.

Mr Chaichanok spoke at Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2025, which opened yesterday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and ends tomorrow. The event combines Gamescom Asia with Thailand Game Show.

“We believe in Thailand’s potential, in the country’s gaming industry, and in the power of public-private partnerships,” he said.

Mr Chaichanok said the Gaming Industry Promotion Act not only provides a regulatory framework, but is also a tool to create opportunities and enhance the potential of the country’s gaming industry, fostering sustainable growth and global competitiveness.

“What you love today can truly become a stable career tomorrow,” he said.

“In addition to providing entertainment, games can create future careers, helping everyone to grow together.”

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said during the event’s opening Thailand is a key player in the region’s gaming industry.

The local gaming market has expanded rapidly at a rate of 10% a year, said Mr Ekniti.

Thailand has more than 32 million gamers, indicating it has a large and highly resilient consumer base, he said.

This large consumer market means the potential for Thai intellectual property revenue generation is enormous, said Mr Ekniti.

“Enhancing our gaming industry will enable us to compete and tap into the global gaming market, which was estimated to be worth US$300 billion last year, reaching more than $600 billion by 2030,” he said.

Mr Ekniti said the government’s “Quick Big Win” policy wants to turn industry challenges into opportunities.

The gaming and digital content industries could become pillars of investment in the future, or new S-curve areas for the country, he said.

The government is investing in people and technology, training Thai workers in digital skills such as game creation and artificial intelligence.

Mr Ekniti said he plans to urge the prime minister to push the development of stakeholders in the gaming sector through government policies that enhance their capabilities.

The People’s Party (PP), a progressive party in Thai politics, secured a small victory in parliament this week, with its charter rewriting draft becoming the primary legislation for constitutional amendment.

Despite this, the struggle continues.

The PP and the two other main parties, Bhumjaithai (BJT) and Pheu Thai, all have their own bill, with the main focus on revising Section 256 in the current junta-sponsored charter.

The change to this section is necessary to pave the way for establishing a Charter Drafting Assembly (CDA), which will serve as charter rewriters. Needless to say, each party wants to have a say in the new CDA so as to set a fresh political direction.

During the two-day deliberations, we hardly saw coordinated efforts toward a better charter or reconciliation. Instead, we witnessed a new twist in political polarisation, this time with Pheu Thai and the PP doing a kiss-and-make-up, while the BJT was isolated on the other side.

Initially, BJT joined hands with the Senate, shooting down Pheu Thai’s bill. This prompted Pheu Thai to make a U-turn and give full support to the PP’s draft, helping this draft garner 300 votes in support, while BJT’s draft received 287 votes.

In theory, the BJT should have collaborated with PP, given the latter’s support for its leader Anutin Charnvirakul’s premiership bid while leaving Pheu Thai in the cold.

But in practice, such alignments are short-term, and the two parties have engaged in fierce competition when it comes to charter rewriting that may reset the country’s politics. This confirms what I said previously in this column: BJT, which massively benefits from the current charter that allows its networks to thrive in independent agencies, is reluctant, or not willing, to have a new charter.

Yet, BJT must align with PP because the MOA it signed with the progressive party obliges the Auntin government to support the charter amendment. So keep an eye on the subsequent political manoeuvring.

BJT has remained confident and has kept its cool, nevertheless. After all, the Upper House will determine the direction and destiny of this charter amendment. It is believed that the so-called senators in the blue camp will make or break the bill in the final stage. Constitutional amendments require support from an absolute majority of the joint parliament plus at least one-third of the senators. It is believed and widely reported that the so-called blue-camp senators make up almost 75% of the 200-seat Senate.

The question is: What benefits can voters and citizens expect from the CDA?

In its draft, the BJT proposed that the CDA selection would follow a similar format to the 2007 charter — the parliament would select the CDA, comprising provincial representatives and experts from various fields. This draft is believed to play into the hands of the BJP, given its strong alignment with the Senate and independent agencies.

The PP’s draft, similar to Pheu Thai’s version, proposes a CDA comprising 35 members selected by parliament from 70 public-elected candidates and a 100-member advisory council chosen directly from constituencies across all provinces. In short, it advocates direct election. If their version is adopted, voters will select experts to help write the constitution, the supreme law governing the country’s legal basis.

Another crucial matter is that BJT’s draft will prohibit the amendment of Sections 1 and 2 of the charter, which outline the country’s sovereignty as an undivided kingdom and its royal prerogatives. The PP’s version, meanwhile, leaves this matter open, without mentioning whether they would be amending the two crucial sections or not.

The next move will be tense, with regard to the composition of the 43-member House panel tasked with charter rewriting, which, at 24:19, sees little difference in their force. BJT and the senators have fewer votes than a grouping of PP and Pheu Thai, which also includes minor parties in its camp. The panel will have to wrap up its work around mid-December to accord with political timelines.

Watch for a few political machinations that will unravel in the weeks to come.

As sure as the sun rises, the BJT will utilise all its might and resources to ensure that Section 256 is fixed in a way that the CDA is formed in its favour, thereby ensuring maximal dominance of its alliance and networks.

If not, the senators in the blue camp, as earlier mentioned, may exercise their power and sink the bill in the third reading; or they may request the charter court to step in and rule against the move, citing the court ruling that prohibits direct CDA election or against the PP’s option to leave open the change to lese majeste law.

And in case the party fails, it will have to campaign against the charter amendment so that it is crossed out in the referendum, set to take place on March 29. Lastly, Mr Anutin, if necessary, may seek to dissolve the House while the bill is being vetted. In doing so, the whole process will be further delayed. And it will depend on the next government whether it will pick it up. It has two months to make a decision on this.

The last option is highly likely. This scenario predicts Pheu Thai will seek a no-confidence motion in December in its attempt to shore up its popularity, which has gone downhill. Indeed, political news reporters have started filing stories about the party planning to launch a no-confidence vote.

If that is the case, Mr Anutin will not be able to afford to face such a motion, and House dissolution is his only option. According to the law, if Mr Anutin chooses this option, he must do it before Pheu Thai submits the motion.

In that case, it would be unfortunate. All law scrutiny, including the current charter rewriting, will automatically stop, which is not good for the public as a whole. After all, this country needs a better charter that provides better rules so that it can get out of its current political conundrum.

The civic sector and the public at large must keep a close watch on the process to prevent any foul play that may derail the charter rewriting effort.

A 79-year-old woman has died of serious injuries caused by a roadside bomb that exploded in Yi-Ngo district in the southern province of Narathiwat on Thursday.

Her death prompted some local residents to rally on Saturday to protest against the sectarian violence that has plagued the Muslim-majority southernmost provinces for more than 20 years.

The explosion occurred at about 9am on Thursday in front of a tea shop on Ram Komut Road. Investigators said the improvised device was contained in a 10kg cooking gas tank placed in a bin. The device was detonated remotely when police from the Yi-Ngo station on a routine patrol stopped at the location.

The blast injured a total of 14 people, including police officers and civilians.

One of the victims was a 79-year-old, identified as Grandma Ror Meo, who had been receiving treatment at Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital, where she was pronounced dead early Saturday.

‘Grandma saved money her whole life from selling seaweed to go on Hajj this year, with the deposit already paid of over 100,000 baht,’ said Mrs Surarak, a relative of the deceased. ‘She was so happy.’

Despite doctors’ efforts to save the woman, her survival was impossible due to the severity of her injuries and her advanced age.

Her passing sparked a response from local residents. They united in a public rally on Saturday to reject all forms of violence and demand condemnation of the brutality that has been part of daily life for too long.

Since the insurgency re-emerged in 2024, a total of 7,764 people – about 65% of them civilians – have been killed in violent incidents in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala, according to Deep South Watch.

Re: “Beneath Tak Bai’s calm, scars remain”, (Opinion, Oct 15). The Bangkok Post deserves praise for having columnist Kong Rithdee remind the nation of the scars and injustices experienced in the South during the Thaksin regime under Gen Pisal Wattanawongkrit, the Fourth Army regional commander in 2004. He also wrote about notorious cases of impunity and the rise of southern youth in joining secessionist groups.

My ancestors from my mother’s side served as “Phra Ya” of Pattani during King Rama VI’s reign, and I consider being a southerner part of my heritage. So allow me to speak my stories as a southerner. My visits to Yala and Pattani in 2005 and 2012 allowed me to interview locals, providing a firsthand understanding of the violence in the South and the so-called secessionist movement.

These Muslim villagers spoke to me because they believed that I might not be a Thai citizen, as I couldn’t pronounce some Thai words correctly. What they told me made me worried about the future of the deep South.

The majority of the southerners follow Islam as their religion. Most of them are taught in Islamic schools (madrassas) by radical Islamic clerics (mullahs), where instead of teaching science and maths, kids are taught to hate other religions.

The locals highlighted key issues to me when I asked about their major grievances against the Thai army and government agencies.

First of all, they seemed upset and questioned why the army deployed soldiers from Isan or the northeastern region. For them, these soldiers often drank alcohol and got drunk. They were often seen with women wearing short dresses in public. They wish to have soldiers deployed to the deep South who are southerners or at least speak a local dialect.

Secondly, they wonder why the Thai government tends to disrespect their own Buddhist religion and culture by consuming alcohol, which is also prohibited (haram) by Islamic law.

Third is that they felt some Thai officials showed disrespect to the Islamic religion.

Fourth is that soldiers posted in Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat have zero knowledge of Islamic traditions and culture. Without cultural sensitivity, soldiers make some local Muslims feel insulted by searching and warning mosque goers who travel together in large groups during curfew time. The deep South has been governed by an executive decree that bans people from assembling or travelling in groups of more than five. Yet, this security rule is impractical with young women who are afraid to travel alone and must go in large groups.

Regarding the Tak Bai issue, Khun Kong duly compares the massacre that occurred on Oct 25, 2004, to that of Oct 6, 1976, when army soldiers and police in Bangkok killed university students and protesters.

No one has ever been successfully prosecuted or convicted for the deaths or human rights abuses in the Tak Bai incident, and many questions remain.

Can the Thai authorities not really track Gen Pisal overseas?

Or is he hiding inside Thailand with the help of the powers-that-be?

Is Gen Pisal’s vanishing just another repetition of Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya’s hit-and-run saga? In that case, Vorayuth is believed to have been assisted by officials to evade trial, while the Thai authorities have been slow to search for him and bring him to stand trial at home.

Although the Tak Bai incident was two decades ago, its ramifications are still felt. In the deep South, young Muslims have been lured to join fanatical groups and have been indoctrinated to take revenge for the killings of their dead fathers or brothers.

We still have time for reconciliation. It would be a case of better late than never. However, we can still sincerely apologise to the families of victims, provide them with adequate compensation, and offer them job opportunities. We must make them feel we Buddhists respect their culture and religion, and be their friend. Better late than never. Otherwise, the lava inside the volcano will continue to boil silently and eventually erupt. Then it would be too late.

Selective morals

Re: “Gaza-bound aid flotilla says several boats intercepted”, (World, Oct 9).

As a member of Amnesty International, I’d like to share an observation. When US President George Bush wanted to go to war with Iraq, he kept quoting Amnesty International, which had documented Saddam Hussein’s dreadful human rights record. But a spokesman for Amnesty International asked why Mr Bush did not quote Amnesty when they document Israel’s deplorable human rights record.

I have had similar experiences with animal rights. If I write a letter condemning elephant abuse, readers agree with me. But if I write about how many factory-farmed chickens are boiled alive in scalding water, the reaction is: How dare you impose your vegan diet on us? Most people only care about injustice when it’s convenient to do so. The rest of the time, they don’t give a damn.

Any move to terminate the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) Thailand signed with Cambodia over overlapping land and maritime boundaries in 2000 and 2001 — known as MoU 43 and MoU 44 — requires careful handling, and the government is preparing for every possible outcome of the planned referendum.

Speaking after a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Borwornsak Uwanno to discuss possible approaches to the MoUs yesterday, Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob said the government is studying how to manage each scenario once the results are known, so the country is better prepared for all situations.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit, Deputy Defence Minister Lt Gen Adul Bunthamcharoen, Mr Chaichanok in his capacity as chair of the special House committee on the two MoUs, and representatives from security agencies.

Mr Chaichanok said Mr Borwornsak had instructed security officials and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study all possible developments, including the possibility of the issue being brought before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), even though Thailand has no intention of doing so.

When asked whether revising the MoUs would be included as an option in the planned referendum, he said there were several possible approaches, and the details would be studied by relevant agencies before being presented for consideration.

He stressed that MoUs 43 and 44 are being reviewed separately, not as a single package, with all advantages and concerns taken fully into account.

When asked about the procedures, should the MoUs be cancelled, he said the meeting discussed setting up a committee to conduct a detailed study.

Thai authorities have launched a probe into a transnational scam network linked to Chen Zhi, the British-Cambodian businessman behind Prince Holding Group (Prince Group).

The investigation follows asset seizures by both the United States and the United Kingdom, after Mr Chen was charged with fraud and running international scams.

Mr Chen, 38, was indicted on Oct 8 in a Brooklyn federal court on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, according to court papers made public on Tuesday.

Authorities have seized 127,271 bitcoin – worth about $14.2 billion – in what prosecutors described as the largest forfeiture in US history.

Pol Lt Gen Surapol Prembutr, commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), said Thai authorities will engage with their US counterparts to discuss the asset forfeiture process, including whether the legal proceedings have concluded.

If finalised, Thai investigators will assess whether any of the seized assets are connected to criminal activities within Thailand. Should such links be established, steps will be taken to request the repatriation and seizure of those assets through diplomatic channels, in compliance with international legal frameworks.

Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said that measures to combat scammers fall under the scope of the Connect the Dots task force, which aims to integrate and strengthen Thailand’s financial security systems.

When asked whether Thailand would need to revise its asset declaration rules to close existing loopholes, Mr Ekniti confirmed that this issue is being considered as part of the broader work undertaken by the Connect the Dots team.

Permanent secretary for finance Lavaron Sangsnit has already established the Connect the Dots task force. The working group includes key regulatory and enforcement bodies such as the Bank of Thailand, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office.

Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said the ministry is prepared to pursue legal action on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, following allegations that the Prince Group – under Mr Chen’s direction – established fraudulent operations involving forced labour. These activities are believed to form part of a major scam network based in Cambodia.

Investigations by the media uncovered a website using the same logo and name as Chen’s Prince Group, which claims to have made significant property investments in various locations across Thailand.

Following media reports alleging that Prince Holding Group had invested in Sansiri’s businesses and that there were alleged links between Chen, Prince Group, and the company, Sansiri Plc said that, following an internal review, it found no record of any transactions involving the named individual or entity.

Thailand and Laos are set to inaugurate the Fifth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in December, marking a new milestone in regional transport and economic cooperation.

The countries are also moving forward with building a new Mekong railway bridge linking Thailand’s Nong Khai high-speed link to the Laos-China Railway.

The new friendship bridge, connecting Bueng Kan province in Thailand with Bolikhamxay province in Laos, is expected to significantly cut travel time and costs, enhance logistics efficiency, and stimulate trade and tourism.

The progress was announced following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s official visit to Vientiane on Thursday, Government House said yesterday.

During talks with Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and President Thongloun Sisoulith, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in economic, energy, and transport development.

President Thongloun confirmed his readiness to co-preside over the bridge’s opening ceremony, where His Majesty the King will represent Thailand.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said connectivity projects form the backbone of regional growth.

“These are more than infrastructure projects — they are bridges of friendship and opportunity for communities on both sides of the Mekong,” he said.

Key initiatives include upgrading the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge (Nong Khai-Vientiane) to handle heavier U20 axle loads for improved freight capacity. Meanwhile, a new Mekong railway bridge will be built beside the existing one, with construction expected between 2027 and 2030.

The two governments are also studying a 10-kilometre Vientiane Capital rail link to connect Thailand’s metre-gauge line with the Laos-China standard-gauge network.

Transport Ministry permanent secretary Chayatham Phromsorn said the joint projects aim to make logistics faster, safer, and more cost-effective, establishing Thailand and Laos as a logistics hub in the Greater Mekong subregion.

Thirteen potential scam centre victims, mostly hill tribe members, have been rescued by Thai police in Chanthaburi province as they waited to be transported into Cambodia.

The operation took place at a resort on Friday following reports that Thai minors and adults, predominantly from hill tribes, had been deceived into working as website administrators in the neighbouring country, Chanthaburi police said on Saturday.

All 13 victims, aged between 16 and 33, were about to board a Toyota Fortuner and an Isuzu Mu-X with two Thai men waiting to pick them up. The drivers were detained for questioning.

Five of the unwitting recruits were 16 years old, two were 17, one was 18 and another 19. They told investigators they were promised online administrative jobs with a monthly salary of 30,000 baht.

However, police said people who believed the offer were fated to be put to work as call centre scammers, with potential to be exploited for other illegal activities in Cambodia.

The authorities called in the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to screen all of those rescued.

Friday’s operation was the second of its kind this week. On Monday, Thai soldiers intervened to prevent 11 Thais from being taken across the border from Sa Kaeo province.

Senator and human rights defender Angkhana Neelapaijit has claimed she received death threats targeting herself and her family, prompting the national police to offer protection if requested.

The senator shared evidence of the threats on her Facebook page, questioning how cruel one must be to send death threats to her father, who is over 100 years old. She also posted screenshots of the threats directed at her personally.

Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, on Thursday expressed concern over reports of death threats and online attacks against Ms Angkhana, saying that “defending truth and justice is not a crime” and that the senator should be protected.

The threats are widely believed to be linked to Ms Angkhana’s comments on the Thai-Cambodian border tensions, particularly her criticism of the use of loud or “ghostly” noises that have disturbed residents along the border.

National police chief Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch said yesterday that he was aware of the threats against Ms Angkhana and her family through media reports, and urged the senator to file a formal complaint or request police protection if needed.

He said differing opinions are normal in a democracy, but violence or intimidation is unacceptable. He also urged the public to avoid using heated language or resorting to violence when expressing their views.

Fuadi Pitsuwan, a lecturer and former foreign affairs adviser to the now-dissolved Move Forward Party, agreed with Ms Angkhana that the use of sound as a weapon constitutes a human rights violation because it affects civilians indiscriminately.

He warned that such acts, carried out by “non-state actors”, not only breach international human rights principles but could also backfire and harm Thailand’s national interests if reported by international media outlets.

On Thursday, army spokesman Maj Gen Winthai Suvari said some of Ms Angkhana’s comments had been selectively used by Cambodian media to distort Thailand’s image internationally.

He urged Thais to remain united.

Thailand strengthens Confucian scholarships through global partnershipsConfucian studies in Thailand are gaining renewed momentum through research collaborations, youth-focused initiatives, and international partnerships, as highlighted during the 7th meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Confucian Association (ICA), held recently in Xiamen, China.

In his remarks at the meeting, former Deputy Prime Minister Phinij Jarusombat praised the ICA’s growing influence in advancing Confucian research and fostering intercultural dialogue.

He cited the successful ‘Harmonious Civilization Seminar 2025’, held in Bangkok in June, as a prime example of Thailand’s active role in promoting Confucian thought across Southeast Asia.

‘This meeting allows us to reflect on the past, assess the present, and plan for the future,’ Mr Phinij said. ‘The Bangkok seminar vividly demonstrated how Confucian wisdom can engage with global challenges through the exchange of ideas across cultures.’

The 2025 seminar, themed ‘Confucian Philosophy and Global Civilizational Dialogue’, attracted hundreds of participants from political, academic, and business sectors across Asia and beyond. Attended by high-level representatives, including ICA President Sun Chunlan and senior Thai officials, the event established a platform for in-depth exchanges on Confucian values such as benevolence, sincerity, and harmony.

Discussions explored how these principles could inform responses to pressing global issues, including climate change, social fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions.

Delegates also examined Confucian perspectives on education, youth responsibility, and corporate ethics, with the seminar fostering new networks of cross-cultural understanding.

Mr Phinij emphasised that the seminar underscored the vitality of Confucianism in contemporary society. Rather than dwelling on the past, the discussions focused on how Confucian moral wisdom can guide areas such as business ethics, family education, and community governance – even extending to frontier fields like artificial intelligence and digital ethics.

Core Confucian tenets such as ‘Do not do to others what you do not wish for yourself’ and ‘Harmony without uniformity’ were presented as valuable frameworks for global governance and international relations in today’s fragmented world.