VERY LATEST NEWS FROM THAILAND in English (28 July 2023) from Fabulous 103fm Pattaya
– HM King of Thailand celebrates 71st birthday today
Today, Friday, is the 71st birthday of HM the king of Thailand. A national holiday and the beginning of a 6 day national break for locals.
– Prayuth suggests stalling parliamentary vote until next year
Current caretaker PM Prayut has told the press that a strategy discussed by many in politics is not a fair one. Seems the hold that the senate HAS over the choice for PM in Thailand EXPIRES next may. Their inclusion in a parliamentary vote saw K Pita fail to gain the majority needed to take the top job but DID see him secure the majority of elected MP votes. As the power of the senate reduces in under a year Gen Prayut described the idea of stalling as inappropriate for the country. An alternative, which hasn’t been discussed, would be an earlier reduction in their parliamentary powers which many see as having flummoxed the electorate’s view of parliamentary procedure and left the country without a new PM.
– Will Thaksin keep his word this time and return to Thailand?
Rumours fueled by his family have once again, for the Ninth time beset Thai media, as ousted former PM Thaksin’s latest promise, is that he will fly back to Thailand in under 2 weeks time. With outstanding warrants here for his arrest, and some of his cases knocked off the list due to their expiry, Thaksin has long been living abroad, as is his sister, also an ex-PM. But Thailand has in many ways seen its political superstar eroded over time, as the last election showed when the party he is seen as propelling in many ways, only made second place. Were he to arrive here, and based on previous undertakings that’s NOT necessarily likely, he would be taken into custody on arrival BUT may just have something up his sleeve to see him freed after that.
– Australia-bound narcotics found cleverly hidden in sculpture crates
The police Crime Suppression Division has told the press of a drug discovery with a difference. Seems over 800 bags of heroin were discovered in packing cases headed for Australia. Each case contained sculptures BUT before you imagine the drugs were stashed inside them, it appears the drug dealers got clever.. they hollowed out the wooden poles used to hold the art safely in the cases.. and hid heroin in the carved out holes. Either way.. they won’t reach Oz and 3 men in Nakhon Pathom face life jail sentences, and are said to be making full and detailed statements to police.
– Move Forward Party MP quits over criminal record
Meanwhile at home and in Rayong, the locally elected Move Forward MP is no more, he resigned following the discovery that he has a criminal record, something banned for MPs under Thai regulations. He had been jailed as a youth , that was discovered by someone and reported to the election commission who may otherwise have disqualified him, had he not preempted their decision. Seems that 24 years ago he was convicted of stealing a watch at a party, serving 18 months in jail. The politician claims he was effectively fitted up by those around him but accepted his fate.. with dignity.
- – Juvenile bikers vandalize local park in Pattaya
The new Chak Nok Lake area, recently beautified out near Huay Yai, has become the latest home for youths on motorbikes, driving locals mad with the noise and spewing graffiti all over rocks and decorations around the lake. Many locals have called us here at Fab 103 to ask for advice, the only advice we can give is to contact the police and local city hall. The graffiti will be costly to remove and the local city hall has done a great job to date of turning a sad dirty lakeside into a place where regular people can enjoy a walk, rest and relaxation.
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