Politics News
Thailand politics news, government updates, policy changes, and election coverage—stay informed on key political events, leaders, and decisions shaping the nation. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted source for political news in Thailand.
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Sweden denies stopping fighter jet deal with Thailand
A major international defence deal is under threat after claims surfaced that Sweden may freeze a fighter jet sale to Thailand. Thailand Deputy Defence Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit has firmly dismissed reports that Sweden plans to halt a fighter jet agreement with Thailand due to concerns about the jets being used in recent air strikes against Cambodia. This came after allegations…
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Phuket’s Srisoonthorn Road upgrade gains massive public backing
A major road upgrade is on the horizon in Phuket, and locals couldn’t be more excited. With a 420 million baht budget, the plan to revamp Srisoonthorn Road is gaining traction, promising smoother, safer travel for everyone. Srisoonthorn Road, one of Phuket’s most important routes, is set to undergo a much-anticipated upgrade, following strong public support at a recent hearing.…
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Chiang Rai MP booted over budget scandal
In a major political shake-up, the first deputy House speaker and MP for Chiang Rai, was disqualified by the Constitutional Court. Found guilty of misusing public funds to influence budget decisions for personal gain, Pichet Chuamuangphan is now barred from holding office for 10 years and faces a by-election. Yesterday, August 1, the Constitutional Court delivered a bombshell ruling, disqualifying…
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Cambodia conflict sparks tourism collapse in Thai border provinces
Thailand’s tourism hotspots are in crisis as growing border tensions with Cambodia drive tourists away in droves, leaving hotels empty and holiday islands deserted. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Governor Thapanee Kiatphaiboon confirmed the devastating impact of ongoing hostilities, which have steadily escalated since early May. Travellers, fearing for their safety, have cancelled thousands of bookings, delivering a crippling blow…
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Thailand snubs Hun Manet’s plea to release troops
Thailand has flatly refused to send home 18 captured Cambodian soldiers, defying a direct appeal from Cambodia’s prime minister. The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has rejected Hun Manet’s public request to immediately repatriate Cambodian troops detained after a deadly border clash, insisting all 18 soldiers must face legal proceedings first. “All detainees are being treated in line with international standards,”…
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600-million-baht Phuket projects face scrutiny
Six high-stakes government projects worth over 600 million baht are under the microscope—but progress remains a mystery. The Phuket Provincial Governance Committee has launched a round of field inspections aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and public benefit from major infrastructure and development projects slated for 2025. Led by Ruenwadee Suwanmongkol, Chief Inspector General of the Prime Minister’s Office for Inspection…
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Jungle ordeal ends in rescue for 19 Thai rangers (video)
The Royal Thai Army (RTA) has confirmed the successful rescue of 19 army rangers stranded for nearly six days in dense jungle during the recent Thai-Cambodian border conflict. The soldiers had embarked on a high-stakes reconnaissance mission on July 23, tasked with verifying the location of a Cambodian BM-21 artillery position. But the very next day, border skirmishes erupted between…
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MP blasted for ‘disrespecting’ Thai military during border clash
Prominent political activist Srisuwan Janya has filed a petition with the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), demanding an investigation into what he calls “serious ethical misconduct” by a Chon Buri member of Parliament. The complaint targets Sahassawat Kumkong, an MP with the People’s Party (PP), whose now-deleted Facebook post criticised the Thai military amid the tense border conflict with Cambodia. The…
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Thailand grounds all drones as border tensions flare
The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has imposed a nationwide drone ban from July 30 (yesterday) to August 15—or until further notice—as tensions rise along the Thai–Cambodian border. The drastic move is part of heightened national security measures. The ban applies to all unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Offenders risk up to one year in prison, a fine of 40,000…
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Cambodia ‘catches’ Thai spy pigeon, Thais in stitches
Cambodia has become the butt of online jokes after claiming it caught a Thai “spy pigeon” fitted with GPS tracking. The bizarre claim emerged when the Facebook page Battambang Post posted a photo of the captured bird. The pigeon was found wearing ankle bands marked with the word “THAILAND”, sparking wild claims it was part of a Thai military surveillance…
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Thaksin hospital scandal: Supreme Court sets verdict date
The Supreme Court has set September 9 as the day it will deliver its verdict in a highly watched case probing whether former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was unlawfully spared prison time by bunking down in the Police General Hospital (PGH) instead of a jail cell. The court concluded its seventh and final hearing in the self-initiated inquiry this week,…
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Next US ambassador to Thailand says border clashes do nothing to strengthen alliance
Thai netizens criticised the next US ambassador to Thailand, Sean Kotaro O’Neill, after he commented on the recent clashes at the Thai-Cambodian border. O’Neill, the former US Consul General in Chiang Mai, was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next ambassador to Thailand. Following his nomination, O’Neill was asked to share his views on the ongoing…
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100 million baht in compensation offered to provinces affected in border clashes
Thailand’s Ministry of Finance approved 100 million baht in compensation for residents in each province affected by the ongoing border clashes. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Phichai Chunhavajira, reported that approximately 160,000 residents in the border provinces had to evacuate to emergency shelters and were forced to stop working due to the continued violence in the area. Locals…
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Pattaya fights back with bold new city health charter
Pattaya is rewriting the rules as it prepares to launch a bold new health charter aimed at cleaning up the city’s image and improving the quality of life for its residents. At the heart of the plan is the use of constitutional authority to drive sweeping reforms across three key sectors: tattoo safety, nighttime worker welfare, and protecting children from…
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Activist urges dissolution of 7 Thai parties over Thaksin influence
A complaint was filed with the Election Commission (EC) by a political activist yesterday, July 29, seeking the dissolution of seven political parties. The activist alleged that these parties permitted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to interfere in their internal operations, potentially breaching the organic law on political parties. Nopparuj Vorachitwutthikun, previously involved with the Phirap Khao (White Dove) 2006…
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Thai-Cambodian clashes claim lives of 15 civilians and 15 soldiers
Thai officials revealed that 15 civilians and 15 soldiers lost their lives in the ongoing border clashes, with 20 hospitals in the affected area disrupted by the violence. The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand reported today, July 29, that 15 civilians were killed during the military clashes at multiple locations along the Thai-Cambodian border. Twelve people were seriously injured, and…
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Border blitz: Thai forces smash enemy assaults in fierce clashes
Thai troops are holding the line in a brutal border battle, smashing enemy forces in a series of explosive clashes near key temples and hill positions along the Thai-Cambodian frontier. According to the 2nd Army Area’s Operations Centre, clashes intensified in multiple zones today, July 26, with enemy forces launching coordinated infantry and artillery attacks across Surin, Sisaket, Ubon Ratchathani,…
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Flights scrambled as Thai travellers flee Cambodia chaos
Thai authorities are urging travellers to brace for flight chaos as escalating border tensions with Cambodia spark a rush home. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has advised all passengers flying between Thailand and Cambodia to keep a close eye on updates, warning that schedules may change without notice due to the deteriorating situation. Amid reports of increasing demand…
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Cambodia urges ceasefire in Thailand border standoff
Cambodia has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire with Thailand, as tensions have escalated with deadly exchanges for a second day. The dispute, which has involved jets, artillery, tanks, and ground troops, prompted an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting. Phnom Penh’s UN ambassador Chhea Keo emphasised the need for a peaceful resolution following a closed council meeting attended…
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Thailand evacuates 100,000 amid Cambodia border clashes
Over 100,000 civilians have been evacuated from the northeastern provinces of Ubon Ratchathani, Sisaket, Surin, and Buriram due to escalating border clashes with Cambodia. Permanent Secretary Unsit Sampuntharat stated that evacuees are now housed in safety at 295 designated sites away from the conflict zones near the border. The evacuations were organised by local leaders, aided by village defence and…
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PM’s secretary clashes with Thai actor over Cambodia conflict
A secretary to the prime minister (PM) of Thailand clashed with a Thai actor during a televised interview regarding the government’s next steps in addressing the escalating conflict between Thailand and Cambodia. The prominent Thai politician, Jakrapob Penkair, was appointed secretary to the PM yesterday, July 24. Jakrapob has held several roles in previous Thai administrations and was a key…
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Phuket unshaken by border conflict fears
As artillery fire shakes the Thai–Cambodian border, Phuket officials have stepped forward to squash growing fears that the island’s world-famous tourism is at risk. In a rare bilingual statement issued yesterday, July 24, Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat reassured tourists and locals that the island remains “safe, calm, and completely unaffected” by the ongoing military conflict hundreds of miles away. “Phuket…
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Thai-Cambodian clash kills 16, sparks mass evacuation
Explosions echoed across the Thai–Cambodian border for a second day today, as the fiercest fighting in over a decade left at least 16 people dead and forced more than 120,000 to flee their homes. Thai authorities confirmed that 15 people—14 civilians and one soldier—were killed in Thailand, while Cambodia reported one death and five injuries following retaliatory fire from Thai…
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5 more bodies recovered after deadly gas station strike
Amid flying shrapnel and live explosives, Thai bomb squads and rescue teams recovered five more bodies from the ruins of a PTT gas station in Sisaket province, after Cambodian shells obliterated a convenience store inside the complex. This brings the death toll to 11. The deadly strike occurred in Ban Phue, Mueang subdistrict of Kantharalak district, as part of escalating…
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Paetongtarn blasts Cambodia for ‘illegal’ border attacks
Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has launched a blistering attack on Cambodia, accusing it of igniting violence along the Thai border and violating international law by firing into Thai territory. In a strongly worded statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) at 2.25pm yesterday, July 24, Paetongtarn condemned the neighbouring country for its alleged aggression. “I condemn Cambodia for the use…
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Thailand ramps up flights as border unrest worsens
Thailand’s government is scrambling to evacuate its citizens from Cambodia as tensions escalate along the border, triggering fears of potential conflict. On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit ordered the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to work urgently with seven Thai airlines to boost seating capacity for Thai nationals wishing to…
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Flashing zebra crossing turns heads in Pattaya
Pattaya has rolled out a new traffic safety innovation that’s turning heads and slowing traffic. On Wednesday, July 23, the city launched a high-tech pedestrian crossing system on Second Road near Soi 6 in North Pattaya, designed to make road crossings significantly safer. The crossing features a push-button system that activates flashing lights, alerting oncoming vehicles to slow down or…
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Still standing: Brave Thai soldier loses leg, not pride
A Thai soldier who lost his right leg in a landmine explosion during a border patrol is now in stable condition. He stated that he has no regrets and remains proud to serve the kingdom. Sergeant Major First Class Pichitchai Boonchula stepped on the landmine while patrolling with four other soldiers in the Chong Anma area of Nam Yuen district,…
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Thailand blasts Cambodia for deadly border shelling
Thailand issued a scathing rebuke of Cambodia, calling on the international community to condemn what it describes as a “war-thirsty” and “inhumane” act of aggression following a series of deadly artillery strikes near the Thai-Cambodian border. At a press conference held at Government House at 12.30pm today, July 24, Government Spokesperson Jirayu Huangsap confirmed that Cambodia had fired first, using…
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Thailand to sell water monitor lizards for breeding at 500 baht each
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation (DNP) in Thailand plans to sell water monitor lizards as breeding stock, highlighting their attractive skin patterns. Business interest has surged, particularly from international markets, positioning these creatures as a new economic asset for locals to breed and sell. During a meeting on July 2, the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Committee…
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