Category: The Bangkok Post

The Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA) presented its perspectives from the cement industry at the Thailand Climate Action Conference 2025 (TCAC 2025), highlighting that clear policies, laws, funding, and mechanisms aligned with the Paris Agreement-together with ‘systematic action’ under a Public-Private-People Partnership-are vital for achieving sustainable success and tackling the global climate crisis.

Dr Chana Poomee, Chairman of TCMA, shared his insights on the upcoming COP30 negotiations during the conference held under the theme ‘Inspiring Climate Solutions for All’ at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok.

Dr Chana emphasised that, from the cement industry’s perspective, urgent action to address climate change is critical. To achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets, it is essential to ‘establish a systematic mechanism,’ ‘be part of the solutions,’ and ‘take meaningful action.’

He added that clear policies, laws, and plans are fundamental to ensuring effective implementation of national strategies. TCMA has prioritised the passage of the Climate Change Act, Thailand’s first law addressing global warming, which establishes a framework for greenhouse gas reduction, climate adaptation, and systematic participation across all sectors-supporting the country’s progression towards its Net Zero goal.

Driving climate action also requires a structured, integrated mechanism linking all sectors through a Public-Private-People Partnership (PPP). This approach fosters collaboration among government, business, and civil society to jointly pursue climate targets.

An exemplary initiative is the SARABURI SANDBOX LOW CARBON CITY, which aims to make Saraburi Province Thailand’s first low-carbon city, with a particular focus on transitioning the cement industry to Net Zero by 2050. The SARABURI SANDBOX is also the first industrial cluster in Thailand to join the World Economic Forum’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters programme, promoting economic growth, job creation, and carbon reduction through synergistic collaboration.

Dr Chana stressed that climate action cannot be achieved by one sector alone. ‘Collaboration benefits industry, communities, and the nation alike,’ he said. This principle underpins TCMA’s ‘3Cs’ framework: Collaborative Mindset to foster shared understanding and cooperation; Collaborative Action to turn commitments into tangible results; and Collaborative Value to ensure measurable social and environmental benefits.

He also noted that bilateral and multilateral international cooperation would enable access to green finance-an essential component for advancing Thailand’s green economy, reducing emissions, and strengthening competitiveness through investment in low-carbon infrastructure.

In recent years, TCMA has secured funding support from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). This collaboration allows Thailand’s cement industry to adopt advanced technologies and innovations, such as Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS), and promotes knowledge exchange with leading global organisations including the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA).

‘Saraburi Sandbox is a field-based pilot project and a model of integrated collaboration between government, industry, and civil society. At the same time, we are strengthening cooperation with international networks, both bilateral and multilateral, to ensure that Thailand’s progress is recognised globally,’ Dr Chana said.

He concluded by expressing confidence that Thailand would leverage COP30 in Brazil this November to enhance its greenhouse gas reduction commitments and accelerate climate-related legislation. ‘This is a key opportunity to build international cooperation and secure financial resources to support Thailand’s emission reduction goals. TCMA stands ready to support these efforts,’ he affirmed.

Former justice minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, leader of the Prachachart party, has always been a loyalist and strong supporter of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

He was “The One” who firmly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the doctors at the Police General Hospital and the Corrections Department, and key figures at the Corrections Department and Bangkok Remand Prison in facilitating Thaksin’s VIP stay at the 14th floor of the PGH for six months in lieu of his one-year prison term.

Pol Col Tawee’s unflinching loyalty toward Thaksin has made some critics wonder whether there is space left in his heart and mind for conscience to distinguish black from white.

But during the last few days before the departure of the Pheu Thai-led government, Pol Col Tawee did something untypical of a Thaksin loyalist. In a 12-page confidential letter dated Sept 23, stamped “top secret”, addressed to caretaker Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, he rejected Thaksin’s second petition for a royal pardon which was widely criticised as being inappropriate and not possible.

Surprisingly, in the letter, Pol Col Tawee inadvertently revealed some of the content of Thaksin’s latest petition to HM the King for a royal pardon which reads as follows: “I am very old now and suffering from health problems from old age. But I have to spend time in prison, making me suffer a lot, both physically and mentally. I don’t know I will have a chance to live a normal life outside of prison again. Now, I feel guilty of the wrongs that I did and will remember them for the rest of my life.”

Thaksin’s overly dramatic and hollow petition might have been penned by his lawyer. The petition was submitted only after he stepped into prison.

Can Thaksin be trusted this time? Does he actually feel guilty for the outcome of the 14th floor saga?

For sure, his loyal supporters and Pheu Thai die-hards will always believe him and give him unconditional support. These die-hard supporters even call him a hero for the mere fact that he was sent back to the prison by the Supreme Court after his false sickness was exposed by the Medical Council.

The question that now arises is whether Pol Col Tawee’s loyalty is still rock solid. For what it’s worth, his rejection of Thaksin’s petition for royal commutation could be interpreted as his final act in the previous government to distance himself from speculation that he might have a role behind-the-scenes in facilitating Thaksin’s VIP stay at the PGH.

As Thaksin walked into jail and those officials in the 14th floor saga started to bear the consequences, the big question mark in the minds of his doubters is: How could the bureaucrats such as the Corrections Department director-general dare to transfer Thaksin to the PGH with full knowledge that he was not seriously sick without someone higher up giving the signal to do so?

Karma is catching up with some culprits who helped arrange for Thaksin’s VIP stay at the PGH instead of the cell at Bangkok Remand Prison.

Last week, the PGH chief physician, Pol Lt-Gen Thaweesilp Wechwitarn, was transferred out of the hospital to an inactive post at the operations centre of the Royal Thai Police by the national police chief, Pol Gen Kittharath Punpetch, after his doctor’s licence was suspended for six months by the Medical Council for ethical misconduct.

It remains to be seen whether the Royal Thai Police will take disciplinary action and criminal litigation against the PGH chief doctor or not. Obviously, there are sufficient grounds to file charges of criminal malfeasance in office in accordance with Section 157 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has been investigating 12 bureaucrats, including Shakarn Petnarin, director-general of the Corrections Department, for their alleged roles in helping Thaksin escape imprisonment.

As for Thaksin, it is unlikely that his appeal for a pardon will go through the Office of the Privy Council before reaching HM the King. Former justice minister Pol Col Tawee has already rejected his appeal and his successor, Pol Lt-Gen Rutthapon Naowarat, is likely follow in his footsteps even though he has set up a panel to look at the matter which is now considered so hot that no one in their right mind wants to touch.

Legal experts have maintained Thaksin had already sought a pardon and it was granted to him, with his eight-year prison term being commuted to just one year. But the imprisonment was not enforced by the Corrections Department through as ruled by the Supreme Court on Sept 9.

In other words, it is an old case and there is no moral or legal justification for a second pardon.

Thaksin’s lawyer and probably Thaksin himself, should have realised it. Yet they went ahead with the appeal anyway, without showing any sense of guilt and shame that the first pardon was already granted, and that Thaksin himself defied the pardon by resorting to trickery to dodge the one-year term which remained.

Seen in this context, his second appeal for a pardon is likely to go nowhere. Who else would dare to submit his appeal to the Office of Privy Council whose responsibility is to screen all matters to be sent to the King?

Even a Thaksin loyalist like Tawee Sodsong has taken a step back to save his own skin.

So, Thaksin’s predicament today is all of his own making. It would appear that karma has caught up with him and of course those other officials who were involved in the 14th floor saga.

A man and a boy were wounded when they were attacked by a pet lion which escaped from its house in Kanchanaburi on Saturday night.

The injured were identified as Arthit Nueangnui, 11, who was bitten and clawed in his hip, and Sarawut Tokaeo, 43, who was clawed in his leg. They were treated at local hospitals and discharged on Saturday night.

The victims and the lion owner were residents of the same village. The lion owner was identified as Parinya Parkpoom, 32, a social media influencer who frequently shared posts about exotic pets, including the lion.

Officials were checking the ownership of the lion. The man owned one lion at his house.

Mr Parinya, the lion owner, said that he chained his female lion aged one year to a steel pole in his house but it got loose.

At about 8pm Saturday he heard people shouting that his lion was mauling people. He found it walking on a road in front of his house, so he chained it again.

The attack happened on a public road.

The Natural Resources and Environment Minister ordered the seizure of the lion from its owner and said it would be kept at a wildlife centre.

Letting a wild animal out of its cage without a proper reason is liable to a jail term of up to six months and/or a fine of up to 50,000 baht.

A viral post has sparked heated discussions among netizens after a driver shared an unpleasant encounter with a toll booth attendant, who reportedly refused to accept cash unless the customer’s hand reached directly into the booth. The incident took place at the outbound toll gate towards New City, Bang Phli district.

According to the post, the staff member allegedly displayed rude and dismissive behaviour when the driver attempted to hand over the toll fee. The story quickly gained traction online, with many users commenting that they had experienced similar treatment from the same employee.

The issue has reignited debate over customer service standards among public-facing workers. Many online users argued that employees in service roles should demonstrate greater patience and courtesy, while others pointed out that such positions are increasingly at risk of automation, given that machines could perform the task more efficiently and at a lower cost.

Channel 7 News later reported that the employer of the toll booth worker has issued a clarification. The organisation explained that the incident occurred approximately four to five months ago, and that the employee in question had already been called in for disciplinary action and formally reprimanded. The company also urged drivers to report any similar incidents in future so that further action can be taken.

Port taught Kanchanaburi Power a brutal lesson with an 8-0 rout of the Thai League 1 newcomers on Saturday night.

The hosts and their passionate supporters were in full voice after Lucas Tocantins put Port ahead in the 10th minute.

Kanchanaburi, competing in the top flight for the first time, suffered a further blow when Gerson Rodrigues was shown a red card in the 22nd minute.

The visitors held firm for much of the first half but conceded again when Suphanan Bureerat doubled Port’s lead before the interval.

After the break the floodgates opened as the extra workload and the numerical disadvantage took their toll on Kanchanaburi, who went on to concede six more goals.

Peeradol Chamrassamee (62, 66), Matheus Pato (75, 83) and Teerasak Poeiphimai (79, 86) all found the net, delighting the large home crowd.

The emphatic victory lifted Port to fifth place in the table, with 10 points from seven matches.

Also on Saturday, Rayong extended their fairytale start in the top division by claiming a 1-0 victory at former champions Chiang Rai United. The visitors’ winner came late when Ryoma Ito struck shortly before the final whistle.

Elsewhere, Uthai Thani were held 1-1 at home by Chonburi, while Ayutthaya United shared the points with Sukhothai following another 1-1 draw.

Parliament has approved a controversial amendment to the Fisheries Act, a move the Department of Fisheries insists will balance marine conservation with the livelihoods of fisherfolk.

The House of Representatives passed the bill on Sept 17, despite objections from senators in February over Article 69.

The Department of Fisheries has defended the change, stressing the article was not removed but revised with additional safeguards.

Under the current Article 69, the use of seine nets with mesh sizes smaller than 2.5 centimetres is banned for nighttime fishing beyond 12 nautical miles.

The amended version allows their use under certain conditions starting 12 nautical miles from the shore.

Environmental groups and fisherfolk have warned this change could damage marine ecosystems and undermine Thailand’s international commitments on sustainable fishing.

Bancha Sukkaew, director-general of the Department of Fisheries, on Sept 29 defended the amendment.

He said that while the law permits smaller-mesh nets, it also grants the agriculture minister authority to approve fishing gear under strict conditions, including designated zones and mandatory research reviews every two years.

Research findings and policy measures must be approved by the National Fisheries Policy Committee and undergo public hearings.

“Any approval for using such fishing gear will be based on scientific studies to ensure no harm is done to marine resources. Research is the key factor in decision-making,” Mr Bancha said.

The new Fisheries Act, which amends the 2015 Royal Ordinance, includes 71 revised sections.

It reduces penalties, expands rights for small-scale fishers, and aims to align Thailand’s laws with international sustainability standards.

The law also abolishes Article 34, which restricted offshore fishing, revises the structure of provincial fisheries committees, limits fishing licences to Thai nationals and removes overlapping labour regulations in seafood processing plants.

Mr Bancha argued these changes will ease burdens on fisherfolk and revive the industry, saying: “The new law will preserve marine resources as a sustainable food source while improving fisherfolk’s incomes.”

The Act is awaiting publication in the Royal Gazette before taking effect.

The Department of Fisheries is also drafting subordinate laws to ensure effective implementation.

Opposition, however, remains strong. Piya Tetyam, chairman of the Federation of Thai Fisherfolk Associations, denounced Article 69 as a “legal loophole” that reintroduces destructive fishing practices banned since 1983.

“Past studies by the Department of Fisheries clearly showed the severe impacts of this equipment on marine ecosystems, especially larvae.

“This law only benefits about 175 commercial trawlers, while small-scale fisherfolk who depend on mature fish will suffer the most,” he warned.

Mr Piya said his group plans to launch a campaign in Bangkok by year’s end to raise public awareness of the ecological risks, warning of a “catastrophe” if mature fish stocks continue to decline.

His Majesty the King has donated 42 million baht to repair Phanom Dong Rak Hospital, which was damaged by rockets fired from Cambodia during border clashes back in July.

The hospital in Surin sustained severe damage during the skirmishes. The royal contribution will fund the repair of two key facilities: 12 million baht for the Bhumipat Building and 30 million baht for medical staff housing.

On Monday, Privy Councillor Dr Kasem Wattanachai, acting on behalf of His Majesty, formally presented the donation at Phanom Dong Rak district.

In addition, 800 royal relief packages from Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn were distributed to affected residents and hospital personnel to boost morale and provide essential support.

Typhoon Matmo has weakened into a severe tropical storm and will cause heavy rains in the North, the Northeast and the East of Thailand on Monday and Tuesday, according to the Meteorological Department.

Sugunyanee Yavinchan, director-general of the department, said Typhoon Matmo made landfall in Guangxi, China, and weakened into a severe tropical storm at 1am on Monday.

She expected the storm to lose its power quickly due to cold air over China on Monday and Tuesday. The storm would not enter Thailand, she said.

However, the storm would strengthen the southwestern monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand and thus cause isolated heavy rains in the North, the Northeast and the East of Thailand on Monday and Tuesday.

Typhoon Matmo has intensified over the upper South China Sea and made landfall in China’s Guangdong province on Sunday, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.

While the storm will not enter Thailand, it is strengthening the southwest monsoon, bringing heavier rain and flash flood risks to northern, northeastern, eastern and southern regions through Oct 7. At 4am Thai time on Sunday, the typhoon had maximum winds near the centre of about 120 kilometres per hour and was moving west-northwest at a speed of around 25km/h.

After Matmo made landfall, it has weakened rapidly as a high-pressure system from China pushes southward between Oct 6 and 7, the department said.

However, Matmo will strengthen the southwest monsoon over Thailand’s Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, bringing more rain across the North and the Northeast, with heavy rainfall in some areas of the East and the western coast of the South until Oct 7.

Residents in at-risk areas are advised to be on alert for flash floods, runoff and overflowing rivers due to heavy and accumulated rainfall.

In the upper Andaman Sea, waves are expected to reach 1-2 metres in height and exceed 2 metres in areas with thunderstorms.

Newly crowned world champion Marc Marquez and polesitter Marco Bezzecchi crashed out at high speed after colliding in the opening lap as Spanish rookie Fermin Aldeguer won a chaotic Indonesian MotoGP yesterday.

Spanish great Marquez “suffered an injury to his right collarbone” and will fly to Madrid for medical tests, his Ducati team tweeted, with fears he may have a fracture.

Ducati-Gresini rider Aldeguer pulled away and cruised to a maiden victory after Bezzecchi ran into the back of Marquez, sending both flying off their bikes.

Aldeguer finished more than six seconds ahead of KTM’s Pedro Acosta in second and nearly eight seconds in front of teammate Alex Marquez in third.

“I don’t believe it. I am super happy. To be a rookie, we are doing incredible work. We have to continue like this,” said Aldeguer, 20, who secured his first MotoGP win.

Bezzecchi dominated in qualifying on Saturday with a lap record at the Mandalika track, but the Italian had a disastrous start yesterday in humid conditions on Lombok island.

After slipping from pole to seventh behind Marquez, he tried to overtake the seven-time world champion but slammed into the back of him.

It sent the pair sliding into the gravel. Both walked away from the collision with Marquez — who has a history of bad injuries — clutching his right shoulder.

Ducati team manager Davide Tardozzi said there was evidence of a fracture on Marquez’s right shoulder.

Marquez was crowned MotoGP champion last week at Japan’s Motegi and had already set a single-season points record for a MotoGP rider of 545 before yesterday’s race.

His points total was boosted by a sixth-place finish in the sprint because Luca Marini was hit with a post-race tyre pressure penalty.

Despite Aldeguer storming to victory there was a dramatic battle for the podium places between half a dozen riders.

Alex Rins’ Yamaha began to falter and he fell out of podium contention as Alex Marquez rose to take third and increase his grip on second place in the overall standings behind his brother.

Brad Binder finished fourth, followed by Marini, Raul Fernandez and Fabio Quartararo.

Marc Marquez’s Ducati teammate Francesco Bagnaia, who started a lowly 16th on the grid, crashed out when he was last on the track in what was a dismal weekend for the two-time world champion.

Joan Mir and Enea Bastianini also crashed out.

Only 19 riders made it to the race’s start line yesterday, with Maverick Vinales withdrawing with an ongoing shoulder injury.

Honda-LCR’s Somkiat Chantra finished in 13th place. The Thai rider, who will switch to the FIM Superbike World Championship next season, now has six points with four races remaining.