Top Thai court accepts case seeking to disband opposition Move Forward Party
Thailand’s opposition Move Forward Party is under threat, following a decision by the Constitutional Court to accept a case seeking its dissolution. Earlier this year, judges had ruled that the reformist party’s campaign promise to amend the royal insult law was equivalent to treason. Move Forward had won the most seats in last year's election, but were blocked from forming a government coalition, with their stance on the lèse majesté law being one of the factors held against them.
Thailand parliament passes landmark Marriage Equality Bill
The Lower House of Thailand's parliament has passed a historic same-sex marriage Bill, paving the way for the kingdom to become the first Southeast Asian nation and the third territory in Asia to legalise same-sex unions.
Thailand’s Election Commission asks Constitutional Court to consider dissolving Move Forward Party
Thailand’s opposition Move Forward Party is under threat of dissolution following a decision by the country’s Election Commission to petition the Constitutional Court to decide on their fate. This comes as the judges ruled earlier this year that the reformist-progressive party’s campaign promise to amend the royal insult law is equivalent to treason. CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut explains the background behind the decision and the potential impact on Thailand’s political landscape.
Thailand's top court acquits former PM Yingluck in last pending case
Thailand's Supreme Court has cleared self-exiled former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and five other officials of negligence. They were acquitted of a decade-old case involving a roadshow to promote Thailand. They had been accused of not carrying out a proper bidding process for the $6.7-million project. This was the last pending case against Yingluck and it has fuelled speculations about her potential return to the country after years of self-exile.
Former Thai PM Thaksin returns home after parole release
Thailand's convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was released on parole on Sunday morning. He left a hospital where he spent the entirety of his imprisonment and immedaitely drove to his home. Thaksin was originally sentenced to 8 years upon his return to Thauland after 15 years in self-exile, but it was later commuted to just one.
Why former Thai PM Thaksin is still a formidable force in Thai politics
For more than 20 decades - most of it in self-exile - former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra has heavily influenced Thailand's politics for better or worse. As he's set to be released on parole, he's expected to still continue to play a role in the political landscape. CNA's Saksith Saiyasombut explains why the 74-old-year old has so much staying power.
Jailed former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra granted parole
Jailed former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra could be released on bail as early as next week. Current Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters on Feb 13 that the 74-year-old has been granted parole, in accordance with prison regulations. The former leader has been held since his return from self-exile last August, but has spent nearly the entirety of his incarceration in a hospital.
CNA Correspondent: Thai Migrant Workers in Israel - Caught in a Foreign Crossfire
Few people saw the events of October 7, 2023, coming. Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel, unleashing a war that continues today. Caught unwittingly in the fighting are a group of Thais, outsiders with little to do with that protracted Middle East conflict that’s lasted for generations. CNA Correspondent meets the Thai workers who were taken captive that day and lived to tell the tale, and a man on a mission to secure their release.
Thai court rules Move Forward Party's bid to amend royal insult law "unlawful"
Thailand's Constitutional Court has ordered the Move Forward Party to cease its campaign to reform the royal insult law, describing it as an "unconstitutional" act. The verdict could set a precedent for any future review of one of the world's strictest lese majeste laws. Saksith Saiyasombut explains the significance of the ruling for the opposition party.
CNA Correspondent Podcast: Thai hostage held by Hamas shares his gripping story
Thais made up the largest number of foreign nationals abducted by Hamas when the militants attacked Israel on Oct 7, 2023. Nearly two dozen Thais have since been released and returned home. Thai correspondent Saksith Saiyasombut explains to Teresa Tang why he took time to interview the hostages on this episode of the CNA Correspondent podcast.
Thailand’s Constitutional Court set to rule on Move Forward Party
Thailand’s Constitutional Court is scheduled to rule on the opposition Move Forward Party, just a week after it cleared its ex-leader Pita Limjaroenrat. This time it is about whether the party’s campaign promise to amend the country’s strict royal insult law is unconstitutional. Saksith Saiyasombut breaks down the case and the controversial law at the centre of attention.
Thai court clears former PM hopeful Pita of violating election law, reinstates him as lawmaker
Thailand's constitutional court has cleared opposition figure Pita Limjaroenrat of violating an election law and reinstated the once-prime ministerial hopeful as a lawmaker. The ruling marks a win for the Move Forward Party, which has been facing fierce resistance over its plans to radically reform the country's strict royal insult laws, military and business monopolies. However, this doesn't mean Mr Pita is off the hook yet. Next week, the constitutional court will decide in another case against him and the entire Move Forward Party.
Thai opposition figure Pita Limjaroenrat awaits court decision on his political future
Thai opposition figure Pita Limjaroenrat is awaiting a decision that could determine his future in politics. The constitutional court will hand down its ruling tomorrow over his alleged illegal possession of media company shares. The case was brought against Mr Pita by the Election Commission shortly after his opposition Move Forward Party surprisingly won the most seats and when he was in the middle of forming a government coalition.
Thai PM urges central bank to consider easing interest rates amid negative inflation
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has slammed the country's central bank, demanding it cut interest rates because inflation has turned negative. He said keeping rates elevated could cause trouble for low-income earners and businesses. This marks another disagreement between the government and the central bank on monetary policy. The Bank of Thailand has left its policy rate unchanged at 2.5% since September as a means to curb inflation.
Israel-Hamas war: Thai national recounts experience as a hostage in Gaza
23 Thai nationals held hostage in Gaza were released during the temporary cessation of fighting between Israel and Hamas last week. One former hostage, who is now back home with his family in Udon Thani, shared his experience of how he was kidnapped and kept in an underground tunnel for almost two months. The reunion is bittersweet for other families to witness, given the uncertainty surrounding the return of their loved ones who are still missing in the war zone.
Israel-Hamas war: First group of Thai hostages freed from Gaza returns home
Seventeen Thai nationals held hostage in Gaza have arrived back in Thailand. They touched down on Nov 30 afternoon at Bangkok after flying for around 10 hours from Israel.
Thai Prime Minister Lays Out Details of Controversial Digital Cash Handout
Thailand’s government is going ahead with its ambitious digital cash handout scheme. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has laid out the details of the so-called Digital Wallet, which was the Pheu Thai Party's major campaign promise.
CNA Correspondent Podcast: The plight of Thai citizens trapped in Israel-Hamas war
Thai citizens are among the highest number of foreign fatalities in the ongoing Israel-Hamas War with 23 currently held hostage in Gaza. Thai correspondent Saksith Saiyasombut speaks to Steve Lai about the nation’s efforts to rescue them and repatriate its 30,000 citizens.
(Note: This was recorded when the number of Thai nationals killed and abducted was 32 and 23, respectively. As of publication, it's now 34 killed and 24 abducted.)
Israel-Hamas war: Thailand scales down repatriation efforts; hostage negotiations ongoing
Thailand has flown back almost 8,000 citizens out of Israel, as they scale down their repatriation efforts. This comes as Thai negotiators are still in talks to release 22 Thai nationals held hostage by Hamas.
Number of Thais being held hostage by Hamas rises from 19 to 22
Thailand's foreign ministry has raised its count of nationals taken hostage in Israel by Hamas from 19 to 22. That's one of the highest number of foreign victims being held since conflict broke out in Gaza on Oct 7. At least 32 Thais have been killed in Israel. Close to 6,000 have been repatriated, with another 800 returning today. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has renewed calls for Thai migrant workers who are still in Israel to come home "as long as they still can", as the escalating situation could make it more difficult to send repatriation flights.