#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.

#ThamLuang: Race against time and elements for rescuers to get out football team out

It's all about the water in the cave that needs to be pumped in time before the water from above in form of a monsoon is going to make the extraction of the youth football team out of the #ThamLuang cave much, much more difficult.

Infographic: Rescue options for the 12 boys and their coach

Here are the obstacles facing rescuers trying to extract the 12 boys and their football coach from Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai. Channel NewsAsia's Glenda Chong looks at their options.

#ThamLuang: A walk around the tent city next to the rescue operations

Let's take a walk around the muddy fields where the media and the volunteers are waiting for the 12 boys and their football coach to be taken out of the cave.

#ThamLuang: Navy SEALs video shows boys in good spirit as options are being weighed

We're on the ground in front of the #ThamLuang cave as the options on how to get the 13 boys of out there are still being weighed. Meanwhile, the boys themselves are seemingly in good spirits and are being looked after.

#ThamLuang: 13 missing found alive in cave given food, medicine

The Chiang Rai govenor did not confirm whether the 13 boys found alive in a cave last night will be extracted today, but they are given food and medicine as rescue workers are assessing the next steps. Here's my update on #AsiaBusinessFirst on Channel NewsAsia.

#ThamLuang: Multinational operation crucial in discovery of 13 missing in Chiang Rai cave

Thais are waking finally up to some good news that the 13 missing in the #ThamLuang cave in Chiang Rai provice have been found alive and well. This has been the result of a huge multi-national rescue operation involing about 1,000 workers, inclduing specialists from Myanmar, Laos, China, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Here's my update on #FirstLookAsia on Channel NewsAsia.

#ThamLuang: Relatives relived after 13 missing in Chiang Rai cave found alive

"Today is the best day," says one of the mothers who has been waiting almost 10 days for her son and 12 others to be found alive in the #ThamLuang cave in Chiang Rai province. Here's another update by me Channel NewsAsia.

#ThamLuang: Video shows dramatic rescue of 13 missing found in Chiang Rai cave

The Thai Navy SEALs have published a video showing the rescue of 13 missing in the #ThamLuang cave in Chaing Rai province. But there's still a lot to be done to get the boys out the cave, as I explain on Channel NewsAsia.

AS IT HAPPENED: All 13 missing in #ThamLuang cave found alive and well

#BREAKING: After 10 days missing the #ThamLuang cave in Chiang Rai province, 12 children and their football coach have been found alive, according to the Chiang Rai governor.

Thai PM visits Chiang Rai cave rescue operations to give moral support

Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on June 29, 2018

Here's my latest update on Channel NewsAsia on the ongoing rescue operations at #ถ้ำหลวง cave in Chiang Rai province as we are now on day 7 since 13 person have gone missing in there.

Foreign experts arrive to assist rescue operations of 13 missing in Chiang Rai cave

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 28, 2018

All kinds of help is welcomed now in the search and rescue operation of 13 missing people in the #ถ้ำหลวง cave. Here's my latest update on #PrimeTimeAsia with Dawn Karen Tan and Steve Lai CNA.

Rescue efforts for 13 missing in Chiang Rai cave forced to suspend operations due to heavy rain

Originally published on Channel NewsAsia on June 28, 2018

It's day 6 in the rescue efforts for the 13 missing in the #ถ้ำหลวง cave in Chaing Rai province and even more heavy rain last night has forced rescue workers to suspend their operations as too much water has gone into the caves. Here's my latest update.

Rescuers fight against high water in search for children missing in Chiang Rai cave

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 27, 2018

It's a race against time and the elements, as more pumps are being brought in to prevent more water flooding the #ถ้ำหลง caves in Chiang Rai where 12 children and their football coach are missing since Saturday. Here's the latest update on #PrimeTimeAsia with Glenda Chong and Steve Lai CNA.

Heavy rain hampers rescue operations for 13 missing in Chiang Rai cave

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 27, 2018

The latest updates at Channel NewsAsia on the ongoing rescue operation for 13 missing persons trapped in the #ถ้ำหลวง cave in Chiang Rai.

Thai authorities ramp up rescue efforts to find children trapped in Chiang Rai cave

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 26, 2018

Rescue efforts are being ramped up in the search for 12 children and their football coach trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai province. A small hole in the ceiling offers a small glimmer of hope. Here's me on #PrimeTimeAsia with Glenda Chong and Steve Lai CNA with the latest details.

Rescue operations continue for missing children in flooded Chiang Rai cave

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 26, 2018

The search for 13 children and their football coach that are trapped in a flooded cave in Chiang Rai province enters the forth day as rescue operations have been hampered by rainfall. Here's my live cross with the latest updates

Thai military government hints yet another election delay at meeting with political parties

Originally aired at Channel NewsAsia on June 25, 2018

Democratic elections are possibly going to be delayed yet again, as the military government discusses with political party the way forward.

TRANSCRIPT

It is somewhat an ironic choice of location here at the Army Club in Bangkok, the very same place where Thailand’s military launched the coup of 2014 and practically suspended electoral democracy ever since.

Four years later, the very same military government has invited all political parties that have been sidelined since the coup to this place in order to discuss about the future of democracy in Thailand.

And there’s a lot to discuss, the political parties have a long list of complaints to the military government about the restrictions they are under: there’s the ban of public assemblies of more than 5, there’s the fact that they can’t campaign and openly talk about their policies

73 parties have attended the meeting, but notably absent are the Pheu Thai Party, whose government have been toppled at this very venue here.

The hope by the parties is that the government will say at least when these restrictions will be relaxed to what extend. However, there’s no indication that there’ll be a complete lift of these bans:

WISSANU KRUEA-NGAM; Thai Deputy Prime Ministe:
“Only a few things that we can’t comply with like public assemblies of more than 5. What we can is [to allow political parties] to hold general assemblies - for which they don’t need a permission - in order to 1) draft their rules and policies, 2) gather members, 3) give feedback to the Election Commission’s drawing of the election districts and 4) prepare for the primaries.”

Those bans are expected to be lifted for September to December this year. 

Now, what happens with the election date that has been tentative set for February next year? 

Well, because of many steps that need to taken and the many legal technicalities the military government said the exact election date is expect to be held Feb 24 and May 5, which could indicate yet another delay of elections, which wouldn’t be the first time under this Thai military government.

Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok

Thai PM on Charm Offensive in Euro Trip

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 20, 2018

Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha is on his way for his first state visits to Europe, where he's scheduled to meet British Prime Minister Theresa May and later this week French President Emmanuel Macron. While economic issues will be high on the agenda, the trip also has political implications. 

TRANSCRIPT

These are the first high-level bilateral talks for the Thai Prime Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and his counterparts in Europe, beginning with British Prime Minister Theresa May in London and later this week in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron.

This comes after the change in approach by the European Union, relaxing its stance against the military government late last year, compared to the cold shoulder the EU has given to Thailand in the aftermath of the 2014 military coup.

The main objective for the Thai government on this Eurotrip is of economical nature: they are trying to lure in as many big foreign investors to Thailand as they can, especially to its industrial pet project: the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Furthermore, Thailand hopes that it can resume talks about a Free Trade Agreement with the EU, which has suspended these talks after the coup.

Of course, the European countries also have some vested interest to re-engage with Thailand and the region as a whole.

The European Union as a whole is the third largest trading partner to Thailand, with bilateral trade worth almost 40 million US Dollars - and the UK itself is looking for new trading partners for the time after they have left the European Union.

Pavin Chachavalpongpun; Associate Professor, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University:
"So if you look at regional interests, of course the EU would always want to come back to this part of the world anyways. The EU has always been seen as a distant region and this time the competition [from other regions] is so high. There’s a lot of uncertainties within the European Union itself. So, in coming back to Southeast Asia, this is a part of them trying to reassure their position and also once again maintain their interest."

But this trip also has a political dimension. 

Over the course of the past four years since the military coup, we have seen the slow transformation of General Prayuth, the coup leader, to Mister Prayuth, the politician, who is seemingly being recognized internationally by world leaders. And that is fueling speculations that he might be looking for ways to stay on as prime minister even in a post-election scenario.

Nevertheless, it is expected that both Prime Minister May and President Macron will remind Gen. Prayuth about the democratic elections his military government has repeatedly delayed. 

They are now scheduled for February 2019. However, shortly before he left for Europe, Prayuth said that these elections will take place "after the royal coronation of King Rama X" - which doesn’t have a date yet and has raised questions if elections will still actually take place in February 2019?

Saksith Saiyasombut, Channel NewsAsia, Bangkok

Thailand Carries Out First Execution in 9 Years

Originally aired on Channel NewsAsia on June 19, 2018

Thailand has carried out its first execution in 9 years, giving a 26-year old convicted murderer a lethal injection. It's a surprising move given several public statements pointing towards abolishment in recent years. Here's my live cross explaining the details and the context.