Mass verdicts at human trafficking trial a first step
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on July 19, 2017
Thailand’s biggest human trafficking trial in numbers: 103 defendants, 62 guilty of 13 different charges, jail time from 4 to 94 years. Among the highest-profile convicted are a former army general (27 years), a former mayor of Padang Besar (78 years), a former official in the Satun provincial official (75 years) and a notorious man who ran a slave camp in the jungle (94 years). And, lest we forget, the court has also ordered the defendants to pay over 4,4m Baht ($131k) in compensation to the #Rohingya victims.
Here's my Channel NewsAsia appearance talking briefly about the significance about the trial as the verdict was still read out - all 500 pages of them.
Thais work around the clock to build final monument to their late King
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on July 19, 2017
The royal cremation will take place on Oct 26 on a massive pyre being built next to the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Rights groups call for justice ahead of major Thailand trafficking verdict
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on July 18, 2017
Thailand should ensure those involved in trafficking migrants are brought to justice, rights groups said on Tuesday (Jul 18). A Thai court is expected to deliver its verdict on Wednesday (Jul 19) in a major trafficking trial involving 103 defendants that has been beset by allegations of intimidation.
Cuddly or cruel? Wild animal cafes draw in visitors, critics.
Originally published Channel NewsAsia on July
Forget cat cafes. There are some places now in Bangkok where you can cuddle a lynx, fennec or meerkat along with your cup of coffee. The owners insist that these are all taken care of well, but critics don't see much purpose in these.
TRANSCRIPT
In a shophouse in Bangkok’s bustling commercial district, there’s a cafe where cats and dogs are living together quite literally - and numerous more exotic cohorts.
This wild animal cafe belongs to Miss Wachiraporn Arampibulphol, who opened this downtown branch last year after the popularity of another one in the outskirts of Bangkok.
"I’ve been looking after these exotic animals since I was in high school and there were more and more of them. So I decided to show others how to take care of them etc," says Wachiraporn, while she was cuddling with a herd of chihuahua dogs. "After I opened this place, I realized that this can be turned into a pet cafe, because so many people are interested and some only want to see and play with one of them."
Pet cafes are nothing new in Asia, or anywhere else for that matter. However in Bangkok in the past few years we’ve seen more cafes where you can interact with wild animals. Animal advocates however are raising concerns and criticism.
There are at least 20 different species here on display like fennecs, silver foxes, meerkats and chinchilla mice - but the owners insist that none are there around clock, none of them are endangered and all are properly licensed.
And while most of the animals are used to human contact, critics say that having them roaming around in a cafe is not the right place.
"They basically say that these are not wild animals, they say that they are pets. They don’t see the difference between a [inaudible] and a dog or a house cat or rabbit. For them it’s the same thing," says Edwin Wiek, the founder and director Wildlife Friends Foundations Thailand. "They also reason that by interacting with these animals, they will understand and get to know these endangered animals much more - which of course isn’t true, because what do you learn from interacting with an wild animal inside a living room? There’s no natural behaviour whatsoever. So the educational value is definitely not there."
But that doesn’t seem to deter the visitors, both tourists and locals alike.
"Yeah, it seems like it - I mean they give the foxes a little break in between people going in to make sure they’re not overwhelmed, and the food is also really good," says Kimmya, an American tourist. Her friend Lauren agrees: "Yeah, I mean, it seems like they’re really taking good care of their animals and facilities are really clean, good temperatured air condition, yeah…"
"Yes, I think I can see that the staff love the animals very much, 'cause they’re caring the animals and cuddling them," says Lyn from Singapore.
Whether these wild animals cafes are educational or purely for entertainment, it is evident that these little creatures will continue to draw attention from all places.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
From stocks to sandwiches: Thais remember Asian Financial Crisis 20 years on
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on July 3, 2017
Mr Sirivat Voravetvuthikun would not have thought that he would be selling sandwiches on the streets of Bangkok at 68 years old. In 1997, he was a multi-millionaire stock broker and had expanded into property development, but then the Asian Financial Crisis hit.
Thai Govt Optimistic About Economy At Investment Forum
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on June 22, 2017
Summarizing today's investment forum by the Thai Government and the Stock Exchange of Thailand for Channel NewsAsia.
Thai Govt and SET conference to woo in investors
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on June 22, 2017
My newest short Channel NewsAsia report from "Thailand's Big Strategic Move", a conference by the Thai Govt and the Stock Exchange of Thailand to woo in more investors. Here's my little preview.
Thai Govt Asks Citizens to Answer PM's "4 Leading Questions"
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on June 12, 2017
No Immediate Plans to Ban Facebook, Say Thai Officials
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on May 12, 2017
So it wasn't as bad as feared since the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has clarified that of course it didn't want to block Facebook and of course it can't do that without a court order. Here's my recap on Channel NewsAsia.
Thai Authorities Pressure Facebook to Remove Anti-Monarchy Contents
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on May 16, 2017
My quick report on Channel NewsAsia about the Thai authorities threat to Facebook to remove 131 pages deemed offensive to the monarchy - or else face legal charges. The 10am deadline has already passed and nothing happened yet. If something does, there might be chance you won't be seeing it here.
Bangkok to Ban World-Renowned Street Food
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on April 18, 2017
In their crusade against chaos and for 'order', Thai officials want to 'clean up' the streets of Bangkok by banning all street vendors and food stalls by the end of the year.
TRANSCRIPT
The smell. The sizzle. The sights.
Food is plentiful in Thailand and there are few places in the world that are more food-obsessed than here.
If you come to Bangkok, chances are that you will run into a street food stall on the sidewalk, offering lots and lots of delicacies. There’s no doubt that these places add to the charm and flavour of this city.
After all, Thai street food is often named 'the best in the world'. But soon, these places may have to serve their last order.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is evicting streetside shops from several locations, citing health and hygiene concerns and - in their own words - 'to reclaim seized pavement space' from street vendors that are blocking the paths of pedestrians.
Authorities say internationally well-known areas such as Yaowarat, which is Bangkok's Chinatown, and Khao San Road are next on their list.
City Hall has also announced that it wants to enforce the ban across the whole of Bangkok by the end of the year.
Vendors, locals and visitors are now wondering what to do next if these stalls really do vanish.
"Of course this will have an impact," says a vendor that has been selling wontons, sausages and meatbealls for five years. "If we stop selling, I don’t know what to do next. I don’t know how to sell ((if banned)). May be I’ll stop and work somewhere else - may be as a security guard, who knows?"
These stalls are an inexpensive and quick meal option and for many, they are the only affordable places to dine for no more than 1 or 2 US dollars a meal.
"If they don’t sell, the costs of living would surely rise by half. Because we would have to go eat at malls and food courts," explains a pedestrian, who often dines at street food stalls. "And reasonably priced food courts are becoming less and less and malls are getting more expensive. So for a just a little bit more [money], I might as well eat at a proper restaurant then."
Authorities are mulling plans for alternative locations for street food vendors, similar to hawkers centres in Singapore.
But many are wondering if the Thai government’s quest to clean up the streets of Bangkok could also sweep away parts of its soul and culture.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
UPDATE: Main Suspect Arrested in Japan Tour Scam
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on April 12, 2017
My Channel NewsAsia update to the massive Japan tour scam that left over reportedly almost 2,000 people stranded at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Tuesday night. The main suspect behind this scheme is now arrested.
Thousands of Scammed Passengers Left Stranded at Bangkok Airport
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on April 12, 2017
My short report for Channel NewsAsia on what appears to be a massive scam that has been pulled on over 1,000 passengers (reportedly now 2,000), in which a 'food supplement' company has offered a tour package to Japan for as low as 2,700 Baht (about $80) - that turned out to be a pyramid scheme as no one from the company was there and the airlines were clueless.
Thai Govt Betting Big on Eastern Economic Corridor
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on April 10, 2017
My latest report for Channel NewsAsia focuses on the Thai government's big bet on the Eastern Economic Corridor that looks to transform the provinces of Chachoengsao, Chonburi and Rayong into a high-tech, high-earning and hyper-connected industrial zone.
TRANSCRIPT
It’s all quiet on Thailand’s Eastern seaboard, somewhere between Pattaya and Rayong. But this area could soon see some major changes and many Thais are pinning their hopes on it becoming an economic powerhouse.
Thailand’s economy grew by only 3% last year. That is not good enough in the eyes of the military government and that’s why they’re spending billions of Baht on big infrastructure projects. One of these projects is the Eastern Economic Corridor.
The Eastern Economic Corridor - or EEC - includes huge upgrades of existing facilities such as the deep sea ports in Laem Chabang (1) and Map Ta Phut, an expansion of the U-Tapao Airport to offset rising passenger numbers at both airports in Bangkok. All of that will be linked up by new roads and railways to create infrastructure for a number of new industrial zones.
“During the past 3-4 years, Thai investors actually expanded production OUTSIDE of Thailand: CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam), this region. The main productions are labor-intensive industries, outdated industries in particular," says Amonthep Chawla, Senior Vice President & Head of Research Office at CIMB Thai Bank.
"But locally, we tend to have this kind of potential to relax our labor shortages, to come with the high-tech industries, with the higher-value added industries. Going forward, this EEC is the main hope for Thailand and the Thai investors are going to come back to invest in this region.”
The government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is betting heavily on this project, as public investment in infrastructure projects is seen as a key driver of economic growth.
The EEC aims to attract big investors and Thai officials are targeting a joint public and private investment 43 billion dollars in the first 5 years. International corporations such as Toyota, Bridgestone and Google have already shown an interest in the EEC.
But it’s not just enough to build roads, tracks and factories and hope that business will flourish all by itself.
"What we have lacking along the way - and that is also proven everywhere in Thailand - is that we’re lacking in inter-connectivity. We didn’t build the infrastructure that supports the train station. If we want this project to succeed, then we probably have to have some kind of land development project along with the train development as well," says Sumet Ongkittikul, Research Director for Transportation and Logistics Policy at the Thailand Development Research Institute.
Nevertheless, the Thai government is optimistic that all these infrastructure projects will pay off in the long run and also stimulate the economy of entire region.
“We would like to emphasize that is not just for Thailand - actually. Of course, it is for Thailand, but it is - we have designed it so the EEC could serve the neighboring countries as well, in particular the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam) and also ASEAN as a whole,” says Uttama Savanayana, Thailand's Minister of Industry.
But the EEC has just been launched and it will still be some time before these quiet parts in East Thailand are transformed into a busy industrial zone.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Sattahip, Chonburi Province
Southern Attacks Shortly After New Constitution Becomes Law
Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on April 7, 2017
My new report at Channel NewsAsia is dealing with a lot of different developments: just hours after King Rama X has signed Thailand's 20th constitution into law, dozens of incidents were reported across the deep south. However, there is no clear link between these two stories - nevertheless, here's my update and analysis of both.
Harley Davidson Revving Up Asia Expansion
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on April 7, 2017
My Channel NewsAsia story from earlier this week is something for the petrolheads: I talked to Harley-Davidson Asia about their expansion plans in Asia and Thailand.
TRANSCRIPT
A grand entrance for one of the most iconic brands in the world, synonymous with roaring engines, big bikes and all that’s 'Made in the USA'.
For over a hundred years, Harley Davidson has captivated the hearts and minds of motorcycle fans around the world. One region in particular has seen an increased interest and that's here in Asia, where the company is revving up into this new emerging market.
Facing slower demand at home, the motorcycle maker from the state of Wisconsin is focusing on foreign markets, which made up 38 percent of total sales last year.
Harley-Davidson has increased the number of dealerships in Southeast Asia as it sets its sights on the growing Asian middle class with increasing disposable income.
"In line with our international growth strategy to grow our international brand presence, we’re continuing that here in Asia and in Thailand for example we recently opened our sixth authentic Harley-Davidson dealership," says Peter Mackenzie, Harley-Davidson's Managing Director for Asia & Emerging Markets. "Part of that strategy is to be more accessible to more customers. So our increased dealer footprint presence enables us to interact with more customers at a regional level."
But a different market also necessitates a different approach. While Harley-Davidson is famous for its iconic, big choppers - called 'hogs' by their fans - they don't fit on some of the heavily congested roads in this region, roads that are mostly dominated by smaller commuter bikes.
"In order to be more accessible and more relevant, we’ve - you know - whether riding a small commuter bike or merging into a larger-scale bike, that relevance is there to acceptance of motorcycling. Models such as our Street 750 and our Street Rod, tend to be a more nimble and more urban bike for perhaps that heavily congested city environment," Mr. Mackenzie.
Despite high import taxes in countries such as India and Indonesia, Harley-Davidson is determined to head out on the highways of Asia.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
Amicable ties emphasised as Philippines President Wraps Up Southeast Asia Trip
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on March 21, 2017
Here's my short Channel NewsAsia report on the visit by Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte at Bangkok's Government House today.
TRANSCRIPT
Thailand is the final destination of Philipines president Rodrigo Duterte's tour of Southeast Asia, as he arrived at Government House in Bangkok and is able finally make good on his promise to meet every leader in the region ever since he took office 8 months ago.
He was greeted by Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha with military honors, before a delegation of both countries signed three MOUs to cooperate on a broad range of issues including science, technology, tourism and agriculture.
Both Mr. Prayuth and Mr. Duterte have emphasised the bilateral ties between the two countries and the pledge to continue with that going ahead.
[Rodrigo Duterte, President of the Philippines]
"With formal diplomatic relations for 67 years, we have [a] proven record of collaboration. We can and should rightfully strive to achieve more. As countries facing similar challenges, and as brothers in ASEAN, we have a joint stake in keeping our relations always vibrant"
[Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, Prime Minister of Thailand]
"And finally, as Thai-Philipino relations are entering the seventh decade, me and the president have ensured close cooperations to move forward our progress and prosperity of both our countries, its people, ASEAN and the region as a whole. Thank you."
Mr. Duterte will wrap up his Southeast Asia Tour on Wednesday as he is meeting with Thai business and with members of the local Philipino community, of which an estimated 16,000 people are living in Thailand.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok
"Safety Zones" To Be Established In Insurgent Deep South
Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on March 17, 2017
Here's my short Channel NewsAsia report on the Thai government's deal with insurgent groups to estbalish 'safety zones' in the Deep South
Cobra Gold 2017: Are US-Thai Relations Improving?
My latest Channel NewsAsia report on the opening ceremony of Exercise Cobra Gold 2017 and the state of US-Thai military relations at the very beginning of Donald Trump's US presidency.
TRANSCRIPT
Around Valentine's Day for nearly four decades, the armed forces of Thailand and the United States come together for war games which actually demonstrate a healthy relationship between the two.
But that hasn't always been the case in recent years.
The relations between the United States and Thailand have been somewhat frosty since the military coup in 2014. The US has suspended millions of dollars in military aid and reduced its commitment to Exercise Cobra Gold. But this year, with the attendance of the highest-ranking US military officer in years, and the growing geo-strategic challenges in the Asia Pacific, the US may be slowly warming up to one of its longest-standing allies in the region.
This year's guest of honor, Admiral Harry B. Harris from the US Pacific Command, stressed the importance of a strong Thailand and the importance of restoring democracy in the country.
"The US alliance with Thailand is a deep and enduring commitment. We look forward to Thailand's reemergence as a flourishing democracy because we need Thailand as a strong and stable ally. We need Thailand to get back to be the regional and global leader that it always has been. We (missing word?) Thailand's leadership in Asia," he said during the opening ceremony.
Thailand, which was criticized by the previous US administration for the numerous delays in holding democratic elections, also opted for a conciliatory tone.
"The political issues remain political issues and The US have their (differing) opinion, but we have been training together for years and that's nothing special," said Gen. Surapong Suwana-Adth, the Chief of the Thai Defense Forces.
The affirmation of ties comes amid uncertainty about the role of the US in Asia with Mr Donald Trump as president.
But if the mood at this year's Cobra Gold is anything to go by, then at least military leaders from the US and Thailand are getting along fine.
The drills are the largest US-led military exercises in Asia.
This year, some 8,300 troops from nearly 30 countries are taking part in various combat exercises and humanitarian operations.
This includes personnel from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.
Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Sattahip, Chonburi province
Starting a new chapter
After a short hiatus, I’m happy to finally announce that today I’m beginning my new job as Channel NewsAsia’s new IndoChina Correspondent based at their Bangkok Bureau. I’m excited to be back in the city and being back on the air reporting on country has changed a lot since my last stint, to say the least. There’ll be surely no shortage of stories to cover and developments to analyze. And last but not least, I’m looking forward to working my new and old colleagues!
There’ll be one or two small changes on my social media front: I will still have my own personal accounts (facebook.com/saksith.saiyasombut and @Saksith), but in addition I will also post all the stuff our Indochina Bureau produces on my ”work” accounts (facebook.com/Saiyasombut and @SaksithCNA), including our reports, when we go on air next, exclusive looks behind the scenes, Facebook live streams and other stuff down the line.
I’m super-stoked for this opportunity and I wanna thank those that have made it possible, you know who you are! Here’s to the new chapter - starting now!
Cheers,
Saksith Saiyasombut Channel NewsAsia IndoChina Correspondent