Anti-regime militias have captured Myawaddy – a strategically important border city and home to about 200,000 people – from Myanmar’s ruling junta. The Karen National Union (KNU) is now in control of most of Karen state and is urging direct talks with the Thais across the frontier. The KNU is one of about 20 ethnic … Read more
Ethnic Karen rebels and their allies claim to have captured an important trade hub on the Thai border in southeastern Myanmar, despite a last-ditch effort by the Myanmar military to prevent the town’s fall. In a statement today, the Karen National Union (KNU) announced that its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), and … Read more
Thailand is prepared to accept up to 100,000 people from the conflict-torn Karen State in neighboring Myanmar, its foreign minister said yesterday, as ethnic Karen rebels closed in on the town of Myawaddy on the Thai border. Late last week, the Karen National Union (KNU) announced that it and allied anti-regime militias had overrun a … Read more
Thailand yesterday confirmed that it had granted permission for Myanmar’s military junta to land three flights in the border town of Mae Sot to evacuate military personnel and civil servants fleeing resistance attacks in Karen State. In a statement released yesterday, the Ministry said that it had received a request from the Myanmar embassy “to … Read more
Much like the rest of Asia, political dynasties have long been a fixture in Thai politics. Just look at the current cabinet lineup. The tourism and sports minister is the daughter of former deputy commerce minister. The natural resources and environment minister is the brother of Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan, leader of Palang Pracharath Party. The … Read more
The Royal Thai Police announced yesterday that they will form a committee to investigate the deputy national police chief, who was arrested the day before on accusations of money laundering linked to an online gambling network. Gen. Kitrat Panphet, the acting national police chief, said that he would not immediately suspend Gen. Surachate Hakparn, who … Read more
Thailand’s Constitutional Court yesterday accepted a petition seeking the disbanding of the opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), in connection with the party’s pledge to amend the country’s severe lese-majeste law. The court said that it agreed to take on a complaint filed by the Election Commission on March 12. The complaint requested that it disband … Read more
Thailand is currently bidding for the third time for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), with the election for a three-year term for 2025-2027 being held at the U.N. headquarters in New York in October. Like many countries with poor records on human rights, Thailand’s bid will come with a high … Read more
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met in Thailand this month to discuss ways to strengthen Thailand-United States commercial relations, highlighting potential collaboration on semiconductors, clean energy, and sustainability, including cooperation on civil nuclear energy and electric vehicles. Earlier in March, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and … Read more
Thailand is set to become the first Southeast Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage after the country’s House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a marriage equality bill yesterday. The legislation was passed by 400 of the 415 lawmakers present, with only 10 voting against it, according to Reuters. The decade-long Thai campaign for same-sex marriage has … Read more