Author

Jonathan Miller

Former BBC World Service correspondent and Southeast Asia bureau chief for The Guardian (2012-2023). Peabody Award recipient for his documentary series on democratic movements in Thailand. Author of "The Bangkok Dispatches" and regular contributor to Foreign Policy magazine.

341 articles

Sep 26, 2023

Thailand's Balanced Foreign Policy: A New Approach

As the global political landscape continues to shift, Thailand's government faces the challenge of maintaining a balanced foreign policy between the United States and China. With Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin making his first international trip to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA78) in New York, he has engaged in discussions with national leaders, executives from global companies, and key figures at both bilateral and multilateral levels. This move is seen as an attempt to strike a balance between Thailand's relations with both China and the US, a crucial aspect of the country's foreign policy.

Sep 26, 2023

Ko Samui Municipality Honors Retiring Municipal Clerk

On September 25, 2023, a special event took place at the Phetch Samui meeting room within the Ko Samui Municipality Office. This gathering brought together teachers, municipal officials, and members of the Education Office to honor Mr. Panom Wilairat, the municipal clerk, as he prepared for his retirement from civil service.

Sep 26, 2023

Health Insurance Fund Committee Meeting of Koh Samui Municipality

The Health Insurance Fund Committee of Koh Samui Municipality held its 10th meeting on September 25, 2013. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Mayor Miss Supinya Sritongkun, took place at the Muksamui meeting room of the Koh Samui Municipality Office. A range of stakeholders, including municipal staff, community representatives, and representatives from Koh Samui Hospital, attended the meeting.

Sep 23, 2023

Surge in Chinese Tourism Expected Following Visa Exemptions

A visa exemption policy for Chinese and Kazakh nationals is anticipated to bring a surge of Chinese tourists to Thailand. The policy, which was announced in the Royal Gazette on September 19, allows citizens of China and Kazakhstan to stay visafree for 30 days. The scheme will be in effect until February 29 next year.

Sep 21, 2023

Six Dismissed Police Officers in Kamnan Nok Case Transferred to Bangkok Remand Prison

### Transferred Under Tight Security ### Transferred Under Tight Security

Sep 20, 2023

Koh Samui Municipality Holds Ordinary Council Session

On September 19, 2023, the Koh Samui Municipal Council held its Ordinary Session No. 3 at the Phet Samui Meeting Room in the Koh Samui Municipality Office. Mr. Thanakom Reunpan, President of the Municipal Council, presided over the session. A range of important topics were discussed, and the council reached several unanimous resolutions.

Sep 20, 2023

New Building Inauguration for Koh Samui Tourist Police Station

The Koh Samui Municipality participated in the opening ceremony of the new building for the Koh Samui Tourist Police Station on September 19, 2023. The event took place at 9:00 am at the Tourist Police Station 5, Division 2, Tourist Police Command 3, located in the Bo Phut Subdistrict, Koh Samui District. Mr. Sutham Samthong, the Deputy Mayor of Koh Samui, attended on behalf of the Mayor of Koh Samui.

Sep 20, 2023

Preparing for Visa-Free Visitors: Suvarnabhumi Airport Increases Staff

Starting next week, Suvarnabhumi International Airport is expecting a significant increase in tourist arrivals from China and Kazakhstan due to the implementation of a new visafree policy. The policy, approved on September 13 and announced in the Royal Gazette on September 17, will ease entry for nationals of both countries. Effective from Monday, the visafree entry will last until February 29 next year.

Sep 18, 2023

Charges for 14 Policemen in Dinner Party Murder Incident

Fourteen policemen are set to face dereliction of duty charges in connection with the murder of a highway police officer that occurred at a dinner party in Nakhon Pathom province. Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn announced that the accused policemen failed to provide aid to the two officers who were shot during the party on September 6th.

Sep 18, 2023

Second Chiang Mai Airport Receives Thai Government Support

The Thai Government, led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, has expressed support for the Airports of Thailand (AOT)'s plan to construct a second airport in Chiang Mai. The project aims to accommodate the growing number of visitors to the northern tourist province.

Sep 18, 2023

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's Visit to China

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand is scheduled to visit China from October 810, aiming to discuss ten key topics with the Chinese government to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance ThaiChinese tourism cooperation. The upcoming expiration of the ThaiChinese memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the loaning of Chinese ambassador pandas to Thailand has prompted this discussion.

Sep 16, 2023

Koh Samui Municipality Introduces LINE Messaging for News and Information Access

Koh Samui Municipality has recently expanded its communication channels by incorporating the popular LINE messaging app. This move allows citizens to conveniently access important news, information, and updates, as well as various municipality services. ## LINE App: A New Way to Connect with the Municipality

Sep 14, 2023

Koh Samui Municipality Hosts Study Group from Pa Raksar Subdistrict Municipality

On September 14, 2023, at 09:00 am, the Koh Samui Municipality Office hosted a study group from Pa Raksar Subdistrict Municipality in the Phet Samui meeting room. The Deputy Mayor of Koh Samui, Miss Supinya Sritongkul, presided over the welcoming ceremony, accompanied by local government officials from both municipalities. The visiting delegation, led by Mrs. Aranya Suwanbutr, Mayor of Pa Raksar Subdistrict Municipality, comprised 130 people, including the President of the Municipal Council, members of the Municipal Council, Deputy Secretary of the Municipality, heads of government agencies, and officials from Koh Samui Municipality.

Sep 13, 2023

Police Suspects Face Fresh Charges Over Dinner Party Murder

### Additional Criminal Charges for Police Officers ### Additional Criminal Charges for Police Officers

Sep 13, 2023

Police Officer's Suicide Linked to Subordinate's Murder

A senior police officer, Pol Col Vachira Yaothaisong, age 44, has been found dead from an apparent selfinflicted gunshot wound at his home in Pathum Thani. Pol Col Vachira was the immediate superior of Pol Maj Siwakorn Saibua, who was murdered at a dinner party last Wednesday. Both officers were part of the Highway Police subdivision 2.

Sep 12, 2023

Transfer of Senior Police Officers Amidst Dinner Party Murder Investigation

Two highranking police officers present at a dinner party during which a highway policeman was killed and another injured by a gunman in Nakhon Pathom last Wednesday have been transferred to inactive posts. The order, signed by Pol Lt Gen Thanayut Wuthicharasdamrong, the Provincial Police Region 7 commissioner, effectively moved Pol Maj Gen Jakkrit Kruasunthornwanich, the Nakhon Pathom provincial police chief, and Pol Col Phuphon Thapcharoen, the Muang station chief, to work at Provincial Police Region 7 headquarters starting Monday, September 11.

Sep 12, 2023

Investigation of Police Murder Suspect's Business and Crime Scene

A tragic incident occurred last week at the house of Praween Chankhlai, chief (kamnan) of tambon Takong subdistrict in Nakhon Pathom's Muang district. A highway police officer, Pol Maj Siwakorn Saibua, was shot dead during a dinner party, attended by nearly 30 police officers. The event has shaken the community and raised questions about Praween Chankhlai's business and the involvement of other officers.

Sep 12, 2023

Police Officer's Tragic Suicide Amidst Investigation

On Monday, Pol Col Vachira Yaothaisong, the commander of Highway Police Subdivision 2, was found dead in his house in Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani province. The 44yearold officer reportedly committed suicide, though the immediate reasons for this act remain unknown.

Sep 11, 2023

Visa-Free Policy for Chinese Visitors: Tourism Boost and Challenges for Authorities

The proposed visafree policy for Chinese visitors is expected to be discussed in the first cabinet meeting this week, emphasizing the government's commitment to boosting tourism, one of the country's major foreign exchange earners. With the new policy set to launch on October 1, major tourism provinces are preparing for a significant increase in Chinese visitors, who make up a large portion of international tourists.

Sep 8, 2023

Suspect in Highway Police Killing Dies in Gunfight

Thananchai Manmak, a suspect in the fatal shooting of a highway police officer and injuring another at a party in Nakhon Pathom, was killed in a gunfight with police in Tha Rua district, Kanchanaburi province, on Friday morning. Thananchai was wanted under a court warrant for the crime. Police from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and Provincial Police Region 9 conducted a manhunt that led to the fatal encounter.