Enacted bills trigger countdown to Thai elections next year
The countdown is on. Two new laws have been enacted and published in the Royal Gazette on Wednesday, sealing a long-awaited deadline for elections by May 2019. This is the first step to a general election for Thailand after military coup toppled the elected government four years ago. Here's my live cross on Channel NewsAsia to explain the details and the road ahead.
Little progress as Bangkok UN Climate Change Conference ends
The United Nations Climate Change talks in Bangkok wraps today. Over 190 nations have gathered in the Thai capital to streamline differences ahead of the December UN Climate Summit in Poland. Their aim was to firm up the terms of the 2015 Paris Agreement. But the talks made little progress.
Still far away from reducing global warming, say experts at UN Climate Change Conference
The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bangkok is nearing its end but there are still major disagreements between the delegates from over 190 nations. The issue of financial support to developing nations to combat the effects of climate change has become the biggest obstacle, with more nations coming out to openly complain about the apparent gridlock just before the last day of the conference. Meanwhile, our Channel NewsAsia Correspondent Saksith Saiyasombut, who has been following the developments at the UN in Bangkok, is also exploring another major aspect in the fight against climate change.
Disagreements over financial support biggest stumbling block at UN Climate Conference
With only two days left at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bangkok there are still major disagreements between the delegates from over 190 nations. It is being reported that financial support to developing nations to combat the effects of climate change remains the biggest stumbling block.
Thai government throws lavish 'Thank You' party for cave rescuers and volunteers
Thailand is hosting a massive party to celebrate the rescue of the Wild Boars football team and their coach. The thanksgiving feast dubbed "United as One" will be held in Bangkok's Royal Plaza. It aims to honour the hundreds of participants in the rescue mission at Tham Luang cave, last month. This afternoon, the 12 boys attended a public forum at a mall ahead of the event. They'll be the guests of honour at tonight's festivities.
Traditional weaving industry in Thailand
The art of traditional weaving is popular in Thailand. Saksith Saiyasombut finds out that despite concerns about the future of the trade, sericulture - the production of silk and rearing of silkworms - is alive and well in parts of the rural heartland.
Challenges ahead of UN climate change talks in Bangkok
A top UN official says that the effects of climate change will "only get worse" and that countries to "adapt" as new climate talks are being held this week in Bangkok. This week’s UN Climate Change Conference will serve as a precursor to the big climate summit later this year in the Polish city of Katowice. Meanwhile, climate and rights groups urge delegates to do more for developing countries that are most affected by climate change.
Thai police investigate Koh Tao rape case
Thai police and forensic officials are to visit the Koh Tao today to investigate an allegation by a British tourist that she was drugged, robbed and raped during her stay on the island in late June this year. Koh Tao island in the gulf of Thailand is a popular tourist destination, especially among young backpackers. But series of tourist deaths in the past few years has raised concerns about the security there. Here's my report.
Phuket grapples with monkey overpopulation
Phuket in southern Thailand is known for its sunny beaches and crystal blue water. But there’s also a wilder side to the island. Its population of macaque monkeys is getting out of hand, and authorities are looking at ways to keep it in check. Here's our report.
Transforming the SME: Thailand’s rice producers look to diversify income
Rice is one of Thailand’s top agricultural exports in the international trade. But how does a business dealing with agricultural goods future-proof itself? Here's my report.
Thai cave rescue highlights plight of stateless people
My latest dispatch for Channel NewsAsia and (hopefully) the last one from Chiang Rai for now: 4 members of the Wild Boars football club hat have been rescued out of the Tham Luang Cave in Nothern Thailand are stateless and thus have very little basic rights compared to their teammates. There's some hope that their rescue would bring this issue to a bigger attention.
TRANSCRIPT
On the most northern point of Thailand is the small town of Mae Sai, bordering neighboring Myanmar.
It is from there that many people seek a better life on this side of the border, both legally or illegally.
Over generations, different ethnic tribes from Southern China, Myanmar and Laos have criss-crossed through the open borders on the hills into Northern Thailand.
According to official statistics, nearly 500,000 are registered as stateless – but the actual number is estimated to be much higher. many of them are living in the northern border regions.
Four members of the "Wild Boars" football club are among them, including their coach Ekapol Chanthawong. The 25-year old is from the ethnic Shan tribe. He came to Thailand as a young boy after his parents’ death and grew up in a Buddhist temple.
Many stateless children can get a basic education at any school in Thailand. It is here when they are first documented.
TANAWAN CHANDANG; Teacher:
"We coordinate with the local Municipality office. We do this every year. We all have the kids' documents and we pass them to the responsible offices which in turn contact those kids so they can get their IDs. We've done this for many kids."
But growing up stateless in Thailand has many hurdles.
SAKSITH SAIYSOMBUT, Chiang Rai province:
"Stateless people face many more restrictions: they can’t leave the province without a permit, they can’t open a bank account, they can’t get married or own land. There’s a process for them to obtain citizenship, but it is a long and bureaucratic one."
Khamaun Namwong’s mother came to Thailand after fleeing from armed conflict in neighboring Myanmar. But because her birth was undocumented, her application process has hit a roadblock.
While the 24 year old has lived a relatively normal life within the legal limits so far, a Thai citizenship would be the final step to complete her life.
KHAMAUN NAMWONG; Stateless person:
"What I need is a Thai citizenship. It would expand my opportunities Because now without it, the circle of limitations is only about that big. But with a citizenship, it would broaden it wide open."
The hope for the stateless members of the Wild Boars is that their survival story may speed up their citizenship process.
It would be another major victory for the boys.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Chiang Rai Province
Thai cave survivors attend merit making ceremony as they return to normal life
With the #ThamLuangCave survivors discharged from hospital, they have spend their first day in a Buddhist temple - and will spend a little bit more time in there very soon. I'll explain.
Thai cave rescue: Wild Boars' first public appearance
The 12 Thai boys and their football coach made their first public appearance after being rescued from Tham Luang cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai, Thailand.
#ThamLuang: Authorities want to turn cave into tourist attraction
Our last Channel NewsAsia dispatch from the #ThamLuangCave saga: The spectacular rescue of 12 boys and their football coach out of a cave in Chiang Rai province has just concluded and as the survivors are recovering, there are already plans for the Tham Luang Cave to make it a big tourist destination. But what about the other caves in the region? We went spelunking to find out.
MASSIVE, MASSIVE THANKS to my team for the last crazy ten days covering this story: Producer Kittiphum Srinamuang and camermamen Siddhar Tungaparhara and Theerapong Puengsook.
#ThamLuang: School ready to welcome rescued children back to a normal life
On the morning after the 12 boys and their football coach were finally rescued out of the #ThamLuangCave, we went to Mae Sai Prasitsart School where some of kids go there to see how they will be welcomed back.
TRANSCRIPT
It’s another morning at the Mae Sai Prasitsart School in Chiang Rai province, in northern Thailand.
The children arrive for their daily morning ritual: the national anthem and prayers to start off the day - but a special announcement breaks the routine.
There is good news to be shared:
"The wild boars are out of the cave!"
Six of the 12 boys rescued from the nearby Tham Luang cave, after being stuck in there for more than two weeks, are attending this school.
And while everybody awaits their return, the school is also making plans to ensure they don’t fall behind their classroom peers.
KANET PHONGSUWAN; Principal Mae Sai Prasitsart School:
"We have a study for those children, they will have additional classes. When they return to school, the first thing we will do is to ease them back into school and everybody is willing to support and encourage them, whether it’s their fellow students, the teaching staff and the administration in order for the children to become their old self."
Their fellow students are also looking forward to see them back again.
WORANUT WAEWSORN; Student at Mae Sai Prasitsart School:
"I hope that they can return to a normal life when they get back here and hope that they can take their survival lessons into their lives."
SAKSITH SAIYASOMBUT; Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province:
"It will still take a while until the boys and their coach can go home after their ordeal - they need to stay at least for a week in the hospital until they’re discharged. But after 17 days in the Tham Luang Cave, they have the chance to live a normal live again."
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province
#BREAKING: All 13 'Wild Boars' rescued out of Thai cave
After more than 2 weeks of rescue operations, all 12 boys and their football coach have been saved from Thailand's Tham Luang cave complex. Channel NewsAsia's Saksith Saiyasombut with the report.
#ThamLuang: 4 more boys evacuated out of cave
My wrap-up of the second day of the rescue operation. 8 out, 5 more to go.
#ThamLuang: Day 2 of rescue extraction expected to begin
After four boys have been brought out of the #ThamLuang cave on Sunday evening has it expected to resume today. I'll explain the challenges of the rescue operations.
#ThamLuang: Airpipe laid to boys stuck in cave to provide fresh oxygen
The commander of the rescue operation of the 12 boys and their football coach stuck in a Chiang Rai cave revealed that oxygen levels were a concern until they limited the number of people tending to them and after laying a pipe pumping in fresh air.
#ThamLuang: Thai ex-Navy SEAL diver dies during ongoing rescue operation
My latest report at Channel NewsAsia: A ex-Navy SEAL diver passed away last night during the ongoing rescue operation. Still, authorities are working tirelessesly against time and the elements, as a monsoon delugue has been forecast for the weekend. Here's my latest dispatch on #PrimeTimeAsia with Glenda Chong and Steve Lai CNA.