Category: The Bangkok Post

Community leaders in four districts of Sa Kaeo province bordering Cambodia carried out evacuation drills on Sunday, while the army said mine clearance in a border village was part of a plan to remove Cambodian settlers encroaching on Thai territory.

Community leaders who took part in the evacuation drills were from Ta Phraya, Khok Sung, Aranyaprathet and Khlong Hat districts. During the exercises, they learned where to guide their villagers to safety in the event of a border emergency.

Sa Kaeo governor Parinya Phothisat said leaders of sub-districts and villages of the four districts were prepared for real evacuations in case of necessity.

The governor said that the evacuation drill was an internal affair and had nothing to do with efforts to evict Cambodians from their encroachment areas in Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo villages of Khok Sung district.

Meanwhile, Maj Gen Benchapol Dechatiwong na Ayutthaya, commander of the Burapa Task Force who also supervised the evacuation drills, said the army was clearing landmines from the encroached areas for public safety and for their future use by Thai people.

The commander acknowledged the use of loudspeakers in border areas under the task force’s supervision, saying he was unconcerned about Cambodia’s complaint regarding the noise.

Maj Gen Benchapol said the measure was intended to keep Thai soldiers alert while on duty within Thai territory and should not be an issue for Cambodia.

He was apparently referring to the border areas of Ban Nong Chan and Ban Nong Ya Kaeo villages, where some Cambodians have continued to live since taking refuge there to escape the civil war more than four decades ago.

The First Army Region said on Sunday that Thai officials used loudspeakers to inform Cambodians of their escape from the Cambodian Civil War and refuge in Sa Kaeo’s villages they tried to claim.

Thai authorities through the loudspeakers also warned Cambodian encroachers that they illegally occupied Thai forest areas and thus were liable to a jail term of up to 15 years and a fine of up to 100,000 baht in accordance with the Forests Act of Thailand.

The military defended its operations along the border on Sunday, following Cambodia’s complaint to the interim observer team (IOT) over the use of so-called ‘ghostly sounds’, insisting that all activities took place strictly within Thai territory.

Maj Gen Benjapol Dechatiwong Na Ayutthaya, commander of the Burapa Task Force, brushed off the protest, saying, ‘They can complain all they want. Everything we did was on Thai soil. My men were on duty through the night and needed to stay alert. I simply helped them stay awake. It’s our land. They can file whatever they like, I don’t care.’

He added that troop morale remained high and Thai soldiers are ready to act “whenever and wherever” they are needed.

Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, army spokesman, echoed the sentiment, noting recent incursions by Cambodian officials and civilians.

“Cambodian authorities had mobilised civilians alongside officials to provoke and obstruct Thai residents. Some Thai groups responded using loudspeakers to express their discontent – non-violently – against the encroachment and distortions by the Cambodian side,” he said.

Maj Gen Winthai said the actions taken by the military had been carefully considered to avoid escalation, in contrast to Cambodian actions, which involved aggressive actions and improvised weapons against Thai personnel.

“All actions are guided by human rights principles, ensuring law enforcement is applied in ways that minimise potential harm while addressing the border dispute responsibly,” he said.

On Saturday night, Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, in coordination with the IOT, inspected border areas in Banteay Meanchey province, reported the Khmer Times.

The visit was carried out to verify reports about Thai operatives broadcasting eerie sounds along the border, which affected many Cambodian citizens, especially the sick, elderly, children and persons with disabilities, during the night, said the report.

The dispute erupted after the military allowed activist Guntouch “Gun Jompalang” Pongpaiboonwet to bring loudspeakers to Nong Chan and Nong Ya Kaeo villages in Sa Kaeo, where he has played recordings of helicopter and jet engine noises, along with ‘ghostly sounds’, to intimidate Cambodian villagers who are encroaching on Thai territory since the night of Oct 10.

The ghost sounds play to Cambodians’ supposed superstitions and are intended to intimidate.

Phnom Penh later lodged a complaint with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), accusing Thailand of psychological intimidation.

The Cambodian Human Rights Committee (CHRC) also submitted an urgent appeal to the OHCHR, condemning what it described as the use of ‘disturbing sounds’ by the Thai armed forces as a form of psychological intimidation and harassment against Cambodian civilians along the border, said another report by the Khmer Times.

Mr Guntouch responded defiantly on social media, saying Cambodian authorities had ‘betrayed Thai generosity’ and his campaign was meant to remind them of the aid given by Thailand over the years.

‘We helped them when they fled hardship and even the Queen Mother extended kindness. Yet now they try to seize our land and defame us,’ he wrote.

He also hit back at human rights advocates, including Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit, who on Sunday questioned the government’s handling of the incident.

‘These rights advocates are only brave when it comes to Thais,’ he said. ‘Why not speak up about Cambodians bringing pregnant women and children to the frontline? Sometimes being too idealistic doesn’t work. For 40-50 years we’ve tried diplomacy, sent letters, but nothing changes.’

‘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.

Thailand and Australia aim to deepen trade and investment relations as Thailand seeks to promote Thai cuisine in Australia through the Thai Select programme, while Australia looks ahead to its 2040 Southeast Asia Investment Strategy.

Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun met the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Friday at the Commerce Ministry to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation and fostering closer ties between the private sectors of both countries.

Ms Suphajee said both sides exchanged views on trade and investment strategies and shared priorities in education, healthcare, tourism, culture, and sustainable development.

ACT aims to become a leader in green technology and innovation, while Thailand is promoting agricultural technology, precision farming, and the application of new technologies to address climate change challenges.

She added that Australia is advancing its Southeast Asia Investment Strategy towards 2040 to drive regional economic growth.

At the same time, Australia is seeking foreign investment in integrated housing projects — a national priority — and supporting innovation and start-ups through networks and business incubator centres in Canberra.

Ms Suphajee also highlighted opportunities to expand the Thai Select programme — a government certification recognising authentic and high-quality Thai restaurants — given the strong popularity of Thai cuisine in Australia.

Australia, in turn, commended Thailand’s success as a leading tourist destination and expressed interest in learning from Thailand’s experience in managing its hospitality industry.

She said the meeting underscored a partnership focused on sustainable economic growth.

The Safari World zoo in Bangkok will reopen its Predator Zone (Tiger Zone) on Monday after the zone was closed when lions mauled a veteran keeper to death early last month.

Safari World Plc said on Sunday that the Predator Zone would reopen on Monday as approved by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

‘Safari World Public Company Limited is pleased to inform all visitors that starting from Monday, 13 October 2025, the Predator Zone (Tiger Zone) inside Safari Park will be reopened as approved by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation,’ the company said.

‘The popular activity Safari Feeding (tiger and hippo feeding) will also resume normal operations,’ it said.

The department earlier ordered the temporary closure of the drive-in Predator Zone at the four-decade-old zoo in Khlong Sam Wa district, northern Bangkok, on Sept 10 after lions mauled a keeper to death in front of horrified visitors. At that time, the chief of the department said the zone would remain closed until the operator could demonstrate effective safety measures.

The victim was 58 years old and had worked in the Predator Zone for about two decades.

The keeper was attacked from behind and mauled by a lion in the drive-through zone after he got out of his vehicle.

The lions mauled the man for about 15 minutes before another keeper could reach him and pull him to safety. He was rushed to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

According to official records, the zoo had licences to possess 45 lions, 13 of which had died.

India has expressed its readiness to collaborate with Thailand on archaeological conservation projects, says the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

During a familiarisation visit to India organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, ASI officials outlined the organisation’s mission to conserve and restore archaeological sites both domestically and internationally.

The programme, attended by a delegation of Southeast Asian journalists, aimed to showcase India’s advancements in research, technology, and innovation while fostering stronger partnerships with Southeast Asian nations across various sectors.

Janhwij Sharma, ASI’s Additional Director-General for Conservation and World Heritage, affirmed India’s enthusiasm to work with Thailand in preserving the country’s archaeological sites, noting the agency was awaiting a formal proposal from the relevant Thai authorities.

Mr Sharma praised Thailand’s rich archaeological heritage and reiterated India’s readiness to assist, adding the ASI is already engaged in several heritage conservation projects across Southeast Asia.

Currently, the organisation is active in eight countries — five of which are in the region: Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

Among its projects are the conservation of Ta Prohm and Preah Vihear temples in Cambodia, Vat Phou in Laos, My Son Sanctuary in Vietnam, and Ananda Temple along with other damaged pagodas in Myanmar.

A new conservation effort is also set to begin soon at Prambanan Temple in Indonesia.

Mr Sharma encouraged Thailand to submit a proposal through Project Mausam, a cultural initiative supporting joint research, knowledge exchange, and collaborative preservation projects.

Launched in 2014 during the 38th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Doha, Project Mausam seeks to strengthen historical and cultural linkages among Indian ocean nations, observers say.

One of the unsung heroes of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue, Suratin Chaichomphu, known affectionately as ‘Khwan the Driller’, has been bedridden for months following a motorcycle accident that left him paralysed.

Mr Suratin, 59, led the groundwater drilling team that helped drain floodwater from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai during the daring mission that saved 12 young footballers and their coach. The veteran groundwater engineer, once hailed for his crucial behind-the-scenes role, is now under the close care of his wife and family at their home in Mae On district, Chiang Mai.

According to his wife, Piyamas Pratharnchai, 48, Mr Suratin suffered a broken neck and severed nerves in the cervical spine in a crash in Tak province on May 24, leaving him unable to move. The family business – groundwater drilling and underground water management business – has since lost about 70% of its income.

The family has sold three 10-wheel trucks to cover medical expenses and is now seeking help for a hospital bed and electric wheelchair to facilitate his care and monthly visits to a hospital.

‘Every month, we have to take Mr Suratin to the hospital, and using an ambulance service has costs. Lifting him into a vehicle is impossible as there are only women and children in the house,’ Ms Piyamas said.

Mr Suratin, with over 30 years’ experience in groundwater engineering and former president of the Thai Groundwater Association, played a key role in reducing water levels inside the cave by drilling over 100 metres deep to redirect floodwater underground – a vital step that allowed an international team of rescuers to reach the trapped boys.

Despite his condition, Mr Suratin remains in good spirits and has started speaking again after months of silence in hospital. He sent a message of encouragement to Vernon Unsworth, 70, the British cave explorer and fellow Tham Luang rescuer now battling a lung infection, wishing him a speedy recovery.

‘If I get better, I want to visit him myself,’ Mr Suratin said, adding that he also hopes to meet Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, the British cave divers who once rescued him and his son from inside the cave during the operation.

‘I’m deeply grateful to both gentlemen. We were trapped in Chamber 3 during the rescue operation; if they had not come to help, we would not have survived to this day,’ Mr Suratin said.

After losing the family’s breadwinner, on June 9 this year Ms Piyamas petitioned the Royal Household Bureau to receive her husband as a patient under royal patronage and is awaiting approval.

‘Everyone in the family still hopes his condition will improve,’ Ms Piyamas said. ‘But if not, I just want him to pass away with dignity.’

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has expressed confidence that peace talks in the southern border provinces will gain real momentum following the appointment of Gen Somsak Rungsita as head of the government’s southern peace dialogue panel.

He made the remarks during his first visit on Saturday to the deep South since assuming the premiership, emphasising his determination to restore stability and security to the long-troubled region.

While passing through Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, Mr Anutin chaired a high-level meeting with the military, police and administrative officials to outline the 2026 operational plan for peace and security in the region.

He also called for more proactive intelligence gathering, equal enforcement of the law and collaboration across all sectors.

“Intelligence work must always be one step ahead of those who plan to harm society,” Mr Anutin said. “All agencies must share information seamlessly to prevent and stop incidents before they occur.”

He said the law must be enforced fairly and firmly, protecting innocent citizens while ensuring perpetrators of violence face justice without exception.

Mr Anutin also called for unity among the military, police, civil authorities and local communities, saying all must act as one to close gaps that allow violence and lawlessness to persist.

The visit came amid a resurgence of violent incidents in the deep South. Recent attacks include an Oct 5 gold shop robbery in Sungai Kolok, Narathiwat, where more than 20 armed men stole gold worth over 35 million baht, as well as a string of bombings in Yala and Pattani.

In Yala, eight coordinated explosions rocked the city in one night, while in Pattani, a bomb was detonated near the ATM at Fatoni University. Another group torched a van inside a Narathiwat temple during Buddhist Lent, sparking public outrage.

Though no casualties were reported, the incidents highlighted the continued capacity of insurgent groups to plan coordinated strikes.

When asked whether the recent violence was linked to the ongoing leadership transition — with new appointments including the 4th Army Region commander, the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) secretary-general, several provincial governors, and himself as prime minister — Mr Anutin dismissed the notion.

“There is no trial period for this job,” he said. “Whoever steps in must perform immediately. If someone breaks the law, we must bring them to justice swiftly and decisively.”

He also acknowledged the cross-border challenge posed by the region’s terrain, which allows suspects to flee into neighbouring countries quickly, saying natural exit routes must be sealed off through more patrols and close cooperation among all security agencies.

When asked whether Thailand might consider constructing a physical border barrier, the PM said such measures would only be used if national security was seriously threatened.

“No one wants to reach that point, but if there is a threat to sovereignty or public safety, the military will take all necessary actions,” he said.

The visit also marked the first joint field mission by Mr Anutin as prime minister and Gen Somsak as leader of the government’s peace talk team, a position left vacant for more than a year.

The appointment was formally announced last week by National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad, with Gen Somsak saying he was assembling a team to resume talks with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) using Malaysia as the facilitator.

“We aim to build trust and maintain continuity,” he said.

During his trip, Mr Anutin was also accompanied by senior Bhumjaithai Party MPs.

The delegation landed at Wing 56 Air Base in Songkhla before travelling by helicopter to Sirindhorn Camp in Pattani for the security meeting.

At the conclusion of his visit, the prime minister and his delegation paid a visit to wounded soldiers and police officers recovering at Songklanagarind Hospital in Hat Yai district of Songkhla to offer moral support.

An American man aged 72 fell to death at a condominium building early Sunday morning and police found a note indicating money issues.

Pattaya police were informed of the death at a condominium building in tambon Nong Prue at 2.10am.

The body was found lying face down in a pool of blood wearing a checkered shirt and shorts in a car park. Many organs were broken.

Police said the man stayed alone in a fifth-floor room at the condominium building. There were no traces of fight in the room but there was a handwritten note with a message saying farewell due to lack of money.

CCTV footage showed the man took an elevator to the 11th floor where he climbed on a chair, crossed a window and jumped.

Police would inform the United States embassy of the incident and would have the body examined at Police General Hospital.

Flooding in Ayutthaya province has worsened, spreading to 12 districts and affecting almost 50,000 households after the Chao Phraya dam in upstream Chai Nat continued discharging water at a rate of 2,300 cubic metres per second.

Local communities in Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai district are the latest to be hit by flooding, bringing the total of flood-affected districts to 12 out of the province’s 16.

A total of 49,239 households had been affected by the flooding, as of Saturday.

In low-lying areas of Bang Ban, where flooding occurs annually, water levels have reached 2-3m, forcing residents to move their belongings onto makeshift scaffolding.

Locals said flooding in the area began in late May, with the severity depending on the amount of rain and water discharged each year.

They urged authorities to implement long-term flood prevention measures as the area has been repeatedly submerged year after year.

Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised, who visited the flooded communities and key historical sites in Ayutthaya, has instructed officials from the Fine Arts Department to coordinate with local agencies to protect historical sites from floods.

Meanwhile, in Phichit province, local health officials thanked Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul for approving a 7-million-baht budget to build a flood barrier and install an automatic water-pumping system for Tapan Hin Crown Prince Hospital.

Provincial authorities say floodwaters in Muang, Taphan Hin and Bang Mun Nak districts have been gradually receding, easing the situation in key urban areas, much to the relief of locals affected by the problem.

Outside the main economic zones, low-lying areas along the Nan River remain flooded, while runoff from Sukhothai and the Bang Rakam model area in Phitsanulok continues to flow into the province.

Five districts of Sam Ngam, Wachira Banrami, Pho Prathap Chang, Bung Na Rang and Pho Thale are still under water.

Authorities from the provincial disaster prevention office reported flooding in 12 districts, affecting nearly 14,000 households, damaging more than 34,000 rai of farmland, 37 fish ponds and 29 roads.

The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rain for the central region, Bangkok and surrounding provinces from Oct 11-13.

Rainfall is expected to decrease in the North and Northeast before increasing again between Oct 14 and 17.

Residents in the lower part of the Northeast region and the Central, Eastern and Southern regions are urged to brace themselves for heavy rain.

Fishermen in the Gulf and the Andaman are advised to avoid sailing in areas with thunderstorms throughout the period.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow will travel to Malaysia on Sunday for a mediated ministerial-level discussion about reducing tensions with Cambodia, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says.

Mr Anutin said that while Thailand welcomes Malaysia’s effort to promote peace, the government’s position remains unchanged in adhering strictly to its four-point stance before agreeing to any permanent deals with Phnom Penh.

The four points are: the removal of heavy weapons from the border, cooperation on mine clearance, assistance with the suppression of cross-border crimes and help with the management of sensitive border zones to avoid further conflicts.

Regarding the government’s decision on two Memorandums of Understanding with Cambodia about land and maritime border demarcation (MoU 2000 and MoU 2001), Mr Anutin said the government will wait for the results of a parliamentary study first.

He was responding to questions about why the government is planning to host a public referendum to decide whether to revoke the MoUs instead of using existing parliamentary mechanisms.

Mr Sihasak had told parliament on Thursday the government would review the procedures for a possible referendum.

Meanwhile, Deputy Defence Minister Adul Bunthamcharoen on Saturday said there is no cause for concern regarding the border situation in Sa Kaeo, following his visit to the province, which borders Cambodia, on Friday.

Lt Gen Adul insisted that the visit was merely to review operational plans and the readiness of military equipment, and not because the security situation had escalated.

He also said the Ministry of Transport is planning to build roads for easier access while the Ministry of Energy plans to install solar panels for medical support.

On the postponed meeting of the Regional Border Committee, he said the decision is due to Cambodia’s refusal to accept Thailand’s conditions.