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- Powerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with tremors reaching BangkokPowerful earthquake hits Myanmar, with tremors reaching Bangkokeng editor 1
An 8.2 magnitude earthquake at a depth of 10 Km has struck central Myanmar. The tremors were felt as far as Thailand, causing an under-construction building in Bangkok to collapse. Over 100 workers have now been reported missing, while 3 have been reported dead.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck northwest of Sagaing, near the city of Mandalay, at around 13.00. The earthquake was linked to the Sagaing Fault, a fault line running 1,200 KM from Kyitkyina city in northern Myanmar through several significant cities in the centre of the country, including Tounggyi, Naypyidaw, Bago, and Yangon, and stretching to the Andaman Sea.
At 13.20, it was reported that the centre of the earthquake was 326 Km away from Pang Mapha District in Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Province. Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Centre reported that a 7.1 magnitude aftershock was followed on 13.32. At 16.00, the Meteorological Center concluded that nine aftershocks have followed.
In Bangkok, tremors were felt across the city, causing panic among residents and cracks in several skyscrapers. The under-construction Office of the Auditor General building in Bangkok’s Jatujak district collapsed. 112 workers have now been reported missing. 3 people have been reported dead, while 8 were injured.
The 30-storey building was to be the Office of the Auditor General’s new headquarters. It has a construction value of over two billion baht. The project began in 2020 and was undertaken by the ITD-CREC joint venture, a partnership between Italian-Thai Development and China Railway No. 10 (Thailand). The construction supervision was carried out by the PKW Joint Venture, consisting of P.N. Synchronize, W. and Associates Consultants and KP Consultants and Management, with a contract value of 74 million baht.
The earthquake also caused a crane to collapse, and its debris fell near the outbound exit of the Din Daeng Expressway. Several roads in Bangkok also closed, causing traffic jam across the city. Meanwhile, the BTS Skytrain and MRT underground train have announced that operation will be suspended at least until tomorrow morning.
It was previously reported that Rama II Road was damaged in the quake. However, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said that no damage was found and the road is open as usual.
Several hospitals have been evacuated, including Rajavithi, Ramathibodi, and Siriraj.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said she immediately instructed the Interior Ministry to declare Bangkok an “emergency zone,” warning that more tremors could occur within the next 24 hours. She urged the public to avoid high-rise buildings, use stairs only, and remain calm. She also instructed schools to send students home.
Lumpini, Benchasiri, Benjakitti, and Chatuchak Parks will stay open throughout tonight, says the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, for people waiting for the traffic jam to clear or could not go home. Toilet trucks and drinking water will be provided.
28 March 28 202511361 at http://prachataienglish.com - Government blamed for influx of grey businessesGovernment blamed for influx of grey businesseseng editor 3
The government has been blamed for turning the country into a hub for grey business through an uncontrolled free visa policy, making it difficult for Thai local businesses to survive.
During the no-confidence debate on Tuesday (25 March), MP Sitthiphol Viboonthanakul of the opposition People’s Party stated that the government under PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra is destroying the country by allowing grey businesses to establish themselves without any control measures and compete with their local counterparts.
He mentioned Eastern Economic Corridor areas in Rayong, Chonburi, and Chachoengsao provinces, which are facing an influx of Chinese nationals in Chinese-owned factories. The MP said that according to local sources, most workers are Chinese. In addition, these factories intentionally refuse to hire local people and import workers from China instead.
The Ministry of Labour revealed that around 9,000 Chinese are currently working in these provinces. However, Sitthiphol said he was not convinced by the number and consultations with the Provincial Chamber of Commerce and local people in the area led to the conclusion that the actual number of Chinese workers must be more than this.
According to his survey, he found that in Rayong and Chonburi provinces approximately 15,000-16,000 Chinese workers are occupying jobs such as construction workers, drivers, or street vendors, that are legally reserved for Thai citizens.
Sitthiphol pointed out that the government's free visa policy is a major concern. A report from the media exposed how Chinese workers exploited a loophole in the system through what is called ‘visa cycling’, where they leave Thailand after their visas expire, only to re-enter shortly after. Each ‘visa run’ costs around 3,000 baht per person. According to a government report, an estimated 20,000–30,000 Chinese nationals have been involved in this practice.
The MP reiterated that the attempt to attract tourists to the country is inherently not an issue, but the government should implement strict enforcement. Currently, many foreigners exploit free visas to work in Thailand illegally, taking jobs from Thai citizens.
Apart from the impact on Thai people, local businesses are also hit by grey foreign businesses, which monopolise the supply chain. He said an obvious example is the real estate businesses. When foreign entrepreneurs enter the market, they neither use local materials nor hire local workers. Instead, they import all materials and workers from their countries of origin. The MP observed that the government must be aware of this, as it is making headlines everywhere.
The MP added that in 2024, the number of Chinese restaurants increased by over 8,000, with half of them owned by Chinese entrepreneurs.
In Rayong, Sitthiphol remarked that Thai SMEs could barely survive after Chinese entrepreneurs started businesses, such as fresh product stores, grocery stores, or karaoke bars. On top of that, products in those Chinese-owned stores are imported illegally.
He asserted that this phenomenon occurred in the government under Paetongtarn. He pointed out that if no restrictions are implemented, Thailand will attract only grey investors willing to pay to break the rules.
Sitthiphol also noted that these grey businesses could not survive in Thailand without a grey Thai bureaucracy to make it possible.
28 March 28 202511360 at http://prachataienglish.com - Censure Debate: PM’s Incompetence Intensifies Deep South CrisisCensure Debate: PM’s Incompetence Intensifies Deep South Crisiseng editor 1
In the no-confidence debate, a People's Party MP has blamed the Prime Minister’s incompetence and lack of political will for the escalation of violence in the Southern Border Provinces.
In Romadon Panjor’s presentation of Deep South Watch data, the number of insurgency events has been steadily rising. Despite an earlier decline to 334 incidents in 2020, attributed to peace negotiations and a shift to a political approach. There were 481 incidents in 2021, 488 in 2022, and 481 in 2023, before rising to 632 in 2024 under this government's watch. For 2025, there were 84 incidents between January and February.
Despite 560 billion baht spent over the last two decades, three special laws governing the area, and a 50,000-strong force from the Internal Security Operations Command, the government is no closer to resolving the conflict. Instead, old patterns of insurgency are resurfacing, as demonstrated by the bombing at a convenience store in Bannang Sata last month, which left 11 injured and 1 dead.
“Did you know that the National Strategy states that, in 2027, the next 2-3 years, the violence will drop to zero? But I asked as many officials from nearly all agencies at the level of committee meetings as I could meet and talk to, and not a single one is confident that we will achieve this goal by 2027,” said Romadon.
Instead of appointing new delegates to continue the peace dialogue after former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s removal last year, Paetongtarn Shinawatra did nothing for six months, despite nudges from civil society, the Malaysian facilitators, and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), a key party to the conflict.
When Paetongtarn visited Malaysia for the first time in December last year, she did not introduce a key figure for the negotiations. In fact, she failed to address the importance of continuing the peace process during the press conference, despite it being mentioned in the joint statement, leaving Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the facilitator, to emphasize the issue.
“This is one of a number of very shocking and regrettable issues. Instead of our Prime Minister giving a clear commitment to our important partners, giving an assurance to the public that our peace process will continue, it was the Prime Minister of another country who stood firm on this problem of ours. This is a very problematic role played by our Prime Minister.”
By jeopardizing the peace process, the Prime Minister is undermining the initiative pioneered by former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in 2013, which was later revealed to have been facilitated by Thaksin Shinawatra to support his sister. The process took more than a decade to flesh out, later developed through the 2019 Berlin Initiative and the General Principles of the Peace Dialogue in 2022.
The Prime Minister's lack of political will has put people at risk during Ramadan. With no negotiating team appointed, the government has been communicating through the National Security Council, requesting a ceasefire during Ramadan to allow for the appointment of a negotiating team and the lifting of the emergency decree. The other side has neither accepted nor denied the request. Just one week into Ramadan, violence has erupted at several points in the southern border region.
This request was made during the Yingluck Shinawatra government in 2013 but failed. However, in 2022, a 40-day ceasefire was successfully initiated. All parties, including the BRN and civil society, actively participated, with a clear process for communication in case of incidents. The goal was not only a ceasefire but also to emphasize the importance of the peace process, with strong political will being key to its success—something Romadon argues is lacking in the current government.
To resolve the conflict, the government must also deliver justice to the victims. However, Paetongtarn failed to bring the officers responsible for the Tak Bai incident, which occurred during Thaksin’s premiership, to court before the statute of limitations expired. This includes Gen Pisarn Wattanawongkiri, a Pheu Thai party-list MP who was allowed to flee abroad to escape prosecution and then resigned.
By allowing impunity to persist, the government risks escalating violence. Romadon cited Maroso Chantrawadee, a victim of the military's atrocities during the Tak Bai incident who later took up arms and was killed in a clash with the military in 2013, as a reminder of the importance of de-escalation through justice before grievances turn into violence.
The People's Party MP argued that Paetongtarn’s incompetence has led her to seek her father’s help. Not only was Thaksin appointed as an ASEAN advisor, which led to discussions with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, but he also presided over talks with officers involved in the southern border provinces for the first time in 20 years in February, assuring the locals that peace would prevail next year.
However, this raises the issue of accountability, as the Prime Minister, who is responsible for the issue, took no action and instead allowed a consultant with no authority to take the lead. Romadon quoted as an example Thaksin’s statement during his visit to the Deep South regarding the Tak Bai Massacre:
“The work may have its mistakes at times. If I have made any errors which were not satisfactory, I apologize, so that we can return to helping to solve the problem together. I don’t want the small unresolved suspicions to linger. But Muslim brothers and sisters have been taught first, to love peace, and second, to learn to forgive. Therefore, when I say I apologize for anything I have done that was unsatisfactory or wrong, I apologize as well.”
Pichet Chuamuangphan, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives acting on behalf of Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, then requested that Romadon wrap up quickly as it was late at night and he was repeating himself. Romadon gave this response to Thaksin's statement: "Sir, excuse me. Who are you to tell Muslims that they must forgive?"
27 March 27 202511359 at http://prachataienglish.com - PM survives no-confidence motionPM survives no-confidence motioneng editor 1
After two days of debate, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra will remain in office as parliament voted 319 to 162 against the no-confidence motion.
Of the 322 MPs from 11 parties in the government coalition, 312 voted against the motion. 4 of the Democrat Party’s 25 MPs abstained from voting: Jurin Laksanawisit, Chuan Leekpai, Banyat Bantadtan, and Sanphet Boonyamanee. 3 other MPs did not present themselves for voting.
House Speaker Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and Deputy Speakers Pichet Chuamuangphan and Paradorn Prissananantakul also abstained from voting, as per usual parliamentary practice.
Meanwhile, 7 opposition MPs joined the government coalition in voting against the motion: Phalang Pracharat MP Kanchana Changwa; Thai Sang Thai’s Rampoon Tantiwanitchanon, Tanthasit, Supaporn Salapsri, Rang Thurapol, and Adisak Kaewmongkolsap; and Chaiyamparwaan Manpianjit, who joined the Thai Progress Party after the Move Forward Party expelled him in 2023 over allegations of sexual harassment against his own assistants.
Chaiyamparwaan is also facing criminal charges after he was accused of sexually assaulting a Taiwanese tourist in Chiang Mai in January 2025. He told Matichon Online, however, that he voted against the motion because the Prime Minister helped save children from his constituency from being forced to work for call center scams. He insisted that he made his decision on his own and that he is not leveraging his vote to negotiate for interference in the sexual assault case against him.
Thai Sang Thai Party leader Sudarat Keyuraphan, on the other hand, wrote that the five MPs who voted to keep Paetongtarn in office has betrayed the party and were acting unethically for their own benefit, and they will be punished for a breach of ethics.
- Censure Debate: PM’s Incompetence Intensifies Deep South Crisis
- Deputy Commerce Minister faces heated censure debate over alleged human trafficking
- Paetongtarn administration slammed for stalling on promised political overhaul
- Shinawatra’s Ties to Energy Conglomerates Blamed for High Energy Bills
- People’s Party MP accuses PM of tax fraud
- PM grilled over alleged incompetence in dealing with PM 2.5
- PM faces no-confidence debate over lack of leadership, outside influence
141 out of 143 MPs from the People’s Party voted in favour of the no-confidence motion. The remaining two MPs were not present for the vote: Wanvipa Maison and Sirin Sangaunsin, both of whom have posted on their social media accounts that they were unable to attend the voting session because they were hospitalized.
20 Phalang Pracharat MPs and 1 Fair Party MP are also voted in favour of the motion.
The vote came after two days of debate, during which the opposition grilled Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra over her lack of leadership, her administration’s failure to improve the economy and implement reform, ongoing prosecution of pro-democracy activists, and the influence of Paetongtarn’s father, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, over her and her administration.
26 March 26 202511358 at http://prachataienglish.com - Deputy Commerce Minister faces heated censure debate over alleged human traffickingDeputy Commerce Minister faces heated censure debate over alleged human traffickingeng editor 3
Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin has come under fire during the censure debate due to concerns over his qualifications and alleged links to a human trafficking case involving Thai berry pickers in Finland and Sweden during his tenure as Labour Minister.
During the debate, Suchart was targeted by MP Sahassawat Kumkong from the People’s Party, who questioned his qualifications in light of the human trafficking allegations, involving the exploitation of Thai workers picking berries in Finland and Sweden. At the time, Suchart was the Labour Minister.
The allegations of human trafficking are currently being examined by the Department of Special Investigations (DSI). Even though a verdict in the case has yet to be reached, and Suchart’s innocent can still be presumed, Sahassawat argued that PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra must have been aware of the ongoing investigation when she decided to include Suchart in her cabinet and appointed him Deputy Commerce Minister.
He therefore reiterated that in the event Suchart is found guilty, Paetongtarn must be held accountable.
In a heavy-handed response, Suchart denied the allegations against him and said that the case had nothing to do with the PM since she was not in office at the time. He added that the quota for Thai workers sent to pick berries was issued by the Finnish embassy, noting that the Labour Ministry merely acted as an intermediary to ensure that Thai workers did not return with debt.
According to the Deputy Minister, of 3,900 Thai berry pickers, only 30 people encountered problems, reportedly because they were new to the job and had no idea where wild berries were located. He asserted that the Labour Ministry tried its best to help workers with problems.
During his rebuttal, Suchart repeatedly uttered swear words, prompting repeated objections from opposition MPs.
Each year, Thai workers travel to Finland and Sweden to pick berries. Many have ended up in debt to berry companies. Some have returned empty-handed. Others have reportedly had their passport confiscated and been forced to endure harsh living conditions without proper support from their employers. Over the past decade, numerous complaints have been filed by Thai berry pickers. Despite this, over a thousand Thai workers are sent to these countries each year.
In 2022, the case sparked controversy in both Thailand and the two Nordic countries. Investigations, begun when Suchart was the Labour Minister, found that he encouraged Thai labourers to work as berry pickers, despite the ongoing controversy over human trafficking.
Referred to court testimony from Finland, Sahassawat claimed that high-ranking Thai officials were involved in a bribery scheme with agents, who recruited Thai workers to be berry pickers. One official allegedly requested a bribe of 3,000 baht per Thai worker.
During the debate, Sahassawat presented images of chat conversations and the alleged bribery box, evidence which was later forwarded to the Thai National Anti-Corruption Commission.
26 March 26 202511357 at http://prachataienglish.com - Paetongtarn administration slammed for stalling on promised political overhaulPaetongtarn administration slammed for stalling on promised political overhauleng editor 3
An MP from the opposition People’s Party has accused Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and her administration of being insincere in their promised political reform and Constitutional amendments.
Parit Wacharasindhu alleged that the PM played a key role in the failures in political reform and democratisation, despite the pledges in her policy statement before parliament. He emphasized that the government must be accountable for its promises.
In her policy statement, she stated that her administration would “urgently draft a people’s Constitution to make it more democratic as soon as possible.”
The MP accused the Paetongtarn administration of prioritising the interests of the capitalist groups which have close ties with her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, while neglecting policies that benefit the public.
Parit pointed to the entertainment complex plan as an example, highlighting how the government actively pushed for its passage despite the lack of credible studies, while dragging its feet on political reforms, particularly Constitutional amendments.
He reiterated that the 2017 Constitution is the root cause of the ongoing Thai political crisis and must be immediately amended. The current Constitution weakens anti-corruption mechanisms. It also creates an imbalance of power in parliament due to the selection of the Senate, which is disconnected from the public. In addition, numerous politicians and political parties were unfairly disqualified and dissolved under the current Constitution.
He criticised the government’s lack of urgency in amending the Constitutional, noting that when the opposition party proposed a two-referendum process to expedite the process, the government dragged its feet and failed to rally coalition support to pass the amendment, leading to a lack of quorum.
Parit also stated that the ruling Pheu Thai Party previously announced its plans to increase the local budget allocation from 29% to 35% within two fiscal years. However, two years have passed, and the budget remains the same.
The draft law on decentralising power to local authorities has also made no progress. Parit said not only was the People's Party’s draft rejected, but the government has never proposed an alternative draft either.
In response, PM’s Office Minister Chousak Sirinil defended that the government by acknowledging that political reform requires constitutional amendments, but the number of referendums required remains controversial due to the Constitutional Court’s ruling. At the same time, the House Speaker’s refusal to include the issue in the parliamentary agenda suggested that Parliament considered three referendums necessary.
Currently, a petition regarding the required number of referendums is filed with the Court. Chousak believed that the issue would be clear once the verdict is reached. He still hoped that Constitutional amendments could move forward along with the amendment of the Referendum Act.
He also reassured the public of the government’s commitment to enacting a new Constitution.
26 March 26 202511356 at http://prachataienglish.com - Shinawatra’s Ties to Energy Conglomerates Blamed for High Energy BillsShinawatra’s Ties to Energy Conglomerates Blamed for High Energy Billseng editor 1
Two MPs from the People’s Party blamed Thailand's soaring electricity bills on the government’s overpayment for energy from companies linked to the Shinawatra family.
In a no-confidence debate on Monday, 24 March, Woraphop Viriyaroj, a party-list MP from the People’s Party, stated that while global events, such as the war in Ukraine, have increased energy prices, a significant portion of the blame lies with the government.
Thailand has 13 large private power plants, 7 of which never operate but still receive 2.5 billion baht per month in availability payments. This results in a 55 billion baht annual loss, costing households 730 baht each per year or 61 baht extra per month on electricity bills.
In April 2023, one month before the general election, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha launched a plan to purchase 5,200 megawatts of renewable energy. Continuing this policy, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who oversees the phase 2 purchase of 3,600 megawatts, has:
1. not gone through an open bidding system, instead setting a predetermined price for 25 years—despite the fact that renewable energy costs are decreasing annually due to technological advances.
2. announced the purchase despite an overlap with a direct power purchase agreement for 2,200 megawatts, benefiting energy conglomerates.
3. locked in a 3,600-megawatt quota for private firms that submitted proposals two years ago, effectively blocking new entrants.
4. failed to announce clear technical scoring criteria, leaving room for discretion in selecting energy firms with close ties to the Prime Minister.
“The government rushed to sign power purchase agreements with energy conglomerates closely linked to the Prime Minister's family. It was also found that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the Prime Minister’s father, has played golf multiple times with these energy investors,” Woraphop said. “Having tycoons as friends or golfing buddies is not inherently wrong—unless the government and the Prime Minister push forward policies that benefit them.”
Acting in this way, the government is continuing the military junta’s policy, benefiting conglomerates in exchange for Thaksin’s return to Thailand. Although the process has been halted, the misconduct has already occurred. Woraphop also expressed concern that the deals could resume once public attention fades. Despite Paetongtarn's criticism of the policy during the election campaign, she has continued to follow the same approach as the previous government.
Supachot Chaiyasat, a People’s Party MP, continued the debate by highlighting the costly 35-year contracts to purchase energy from dams owned by certain energy conglomerates, despite cheaper alternatives. He also addressed the Power Development Plan, which overestimates energy demand by relying on inflated GDP growth projections.
"There is also a new policy-level corruption plan to benefit energy conglomerates, by letting agencies inflate future electricity demand projections, which are excessive and do not align with reality, by citing economic growth estimates so that more power plants can be constructed by energy conglomerates, totalling over 4,400 megawatts”, said Supachot. “If that happens, it will lead to the creation of 16 more large power plants, which means that the Prime Minister is making energy capitalists well-off."
In response, Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister, stated that the issue of purchasing renewable energy had been addressed earlier when a letter was sent to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). However, the ERC declared that it lacked the authority, leaving no other options. Prime Minister Paetongtarn then called for a meeting of the Energy Policy Administration Committee (EPAC), demonstrating that the Prime Minister is not indifferent to the matter.
He also said that the PDP is delayed because he, like the People’s Party MPs, disagrees with the projections of the energy demand.
"I disagree. How can we project that we'll need 800,000 megawatts by 2580 [2037]? But these days this is not done by the government. It is done by bureaucracy. But since we must be responsible, we must take care of it. … It is still not finished because the government disagrees, not because the government is opening doors for the capitalists," said Pirapan.
He also pointed out that under this administration, "there have still not been any auctions at all," adding that the purchase of 2,100 megawatts of electricity was completed under the previous government.
Meanwhile, Paetongtarn said that the policies on electricty were not implemented by her administration. She also said that the current government has not approved any energy purchase, and that contracts regarding the purchase of energy in neighbouring countries were already in place before she became Prime Minister.
The debate on energy prices coincided with Thailand's hot season, particularly from March to May, when energy demand is high and electricity bills rise. Due to climate change, Thailand's climate is becoming more unstable. According to Thai PBS, a lowering of just 1°C in setting air conditioning temperatures could lead to a 3% increase in electricity bills.
Before the censure debate, Thaksin Shinawatra stated that the government should focus on reducing electricity prices to 2.5 baht per unit to attract foreign investment in data centres. Earlier in January, he had suggested 3.7 baht per unit. Academics argued that several measures could be employed, but 3.80 baht per unit is the most feasible option.
25 March 25 202511355 at http://prachataienglish.com - Three activists found guilty of royal defamation for June 2021 protest speechesThree activists found guilty of royal defamation for June 2021 protest speecheseng editor 1
Three activists have been found guilty of royal defamation and given suspended sentences over speeches given at a protest on 24 June 2021, after a judge ruled that defaming deceased kings also constituted an offence under the royal defamation law.
Wanwalee Thammasattaya, Benja Apan, and Kiattichai Tangpornpun were charged with royal defamation, violation of the Sound Amplifier Act and the Emergency Decree for organising the protest, which took place at the Pathumwan Skywalk to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the 24 June 1932 Siamese Revolution.
Thai Lawyers for Human Rights (TLHR) reports that the South Bangkok Criminal Court yesterday (24 March) found Wanwalee and Benja guilty of all charges and Kiattichai guilty of royal defamation and violation of the Sound Amplifier Act. All three were given prison sentences of 3 years for royal defamation and fines of 200 baht for violating the Sound Amplifier Act. Wanwalee and Benja were also sentenced to 1 year in prison and fined 20,000 baht for violating the Emergency Decree.
Their prison sentences were subsequently suspended for 5 years. They were placed on 2 years of probation and ordered to meet with a probation officer 4 times per year. The judge suspended their sentences on the grounds that they should be given a chance to improve themselves as they committed their crimes while still in university and may have been lacking in knowledge and experience.
The Court found them guilty of royal defamation on the grounds that their speeches contained defamatory references to both the current and former kings. According to the ruling, defaming deceased kings is as much of an offence under the royal defamation law as defaming the reigning king, as it also affects the standing of the reigning monarch.
Kiattichai did not appear in court. An arrest warrant was issued for him on 27 August 2024. The Court decided to try him in absentia.
25 March 25 202511353 at http://prachataienglish.com - People’s Party MP accuses PM of tax fraudPeople’s Party MP accuses PM of tax fraudeng editor 1
During the no-confidence debate yesterday (24 March), People’s Party MP Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn accused Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatrea of tax fraud, alleging that she did not pay taxes when receiving shares from members of her family.
Wiroj alleged that Paetongtarn has a history of avoiding taxes when receiving shares from family members, noting that her asset account shows that she owes 4,434.5 million baht to her brother, sister, uncle, aunt-in-law, and mother for the cost of shares in several companies she bought from them and that a condition was set in the promissory notes that she would pay them for the shares when asked. The notes did not set an interest rate and did not say when she needs to pay them.
Wiroj accused Paetongtarn of trying to avoid paying taxes by using the promissory notes to disguise gifts as purchases, since she would need to pay taxes if she was given the shares as gifts but would not be taxed if she bought them. Using promissory notes also mean that her family members would not have to pay income taxes since they did not receive money for the shares.
According to an amendment to the Revenue Code, which came into effect in February 2016, a gift given by a parent to a child is exempt from taxes, provided its value is less that 20 million baht. A gift from siblings or relatives who are not parents, children, or spouses is exempted up to 10 million baht.
Wiroj noted that the promissory notes were issued after the amendment came into effect. Although such notes are commonly used between trusted business partners to lend money without requiring a guarantee, Wiroj said that the Revenue Department usually investigated any company that issued too many to see whether they were trying to avoid taxes by hiding profits. The Supreme Court also ruled that when the practice is done for purposes of tax avoidance, it takes advantage of the rest of the society.
Wiroj argued that if the use of promissory notes in this manner was normalized, it could facilitate bribery or money laundering. He questioned whether Paetongtarn was adhering to the ethical standards cabinet ministers are subjected to, and said that a complaint against the Prime Minister would be filed with the National Anti-Corruption Commission. He added that MPs who voted in favour of keeping her in office would also be in violation of ethical standards.
In her own defense, Paetongtarn told parliament that she had submitted her asset accounts to the NACC and that it is in the process of being vetted, and she was willing to disclose any information the NACC might request. She also said that her family’s finances had been vigorously investigated since the 2006 military coup and that they had always been transparent.
She claimed that the 2016 share transfer was part of company restructuring, and that she used the promissory notes because she did not know the amount of money required. She also said that her family debts had been declared to the NACC.
Paetongtarn added that using promissory notes for restructuring a company is normal, and that it required a lot of imagination to think that promissory notes could be used for bribe or drug trafficking as such documents were issued legally and could be investigated. She claimed that she used promissory notes because she could not pay in cash at the time and had come to an agreement with her family that she would pay them by next year. Tax evasion was not possible, she said, since evidence of all share purchases was already included in the asset account she submitted to the NACC.
25 March 25 202511354 at http://prachataienglish.com - PM grilled over alleged incompetence in dealing with PM 2.5PM grilled over alleged incompetence in dealing with PM 2.5eng editor 3
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been accused during the censure debate of incompetence and insincerity in addressing PM 2.5, while overlooking viable approaches to mitigate air pollution.
Thailand has struggled with toxic air pollution in recent years, which seems to get worse year by year, although different administrations have attempted to launch policies to address it. Sources of pollution include industrial factories and agricultural burning, particularly sugarcane.
Prior to taking office, PM Paetongtarn herself assured voters that she was well-prepared for this critical issue.
During the first day of the no-confidence debate, MP Phattarapong Leelaphat of the opposition People’s Party stated that the government previously pledged to tackle the root causes of PM 2.5 by reducing agricultural burning. However, he pointed out that burning in sugarcane fields in 2024 increased from the earlier year by 8 million rai, according to a report from the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board.
The MP also said that air pollution in the first two months of this year rose by 6% nationwide compared with last year, contradicting the PM’s claim of a 16% reduction.
Phattarapong remarked that the PM failed to prepare proactive measures in advance, despite realising that severe pollution would recur annually in the last quarter. It was not until October 2024 that Paetongtarn issued three regulations, which he argued lacked careful consideration.
The regulations included strict monitoring of pollution emitted from vehicles, not accepting burnt agricultural products from both domestic and foreign sources, and imposing strict regulations on industrial factories.
The MP noted that the orders were repeated in December, which showed no progress from her previous orders. “The PM issued orders, but ministers paid no heed and government officials were not interested. If this occurred in a single agency, it could be seen as that agency’s fault, but this was all agencies. Paetongtarn must go back and look at herself in the way she worked and why, when she’s ordered something, no one does it,” noted Phattarapong.
An obvious example, he said, was when she instructed the army to prevent wildfires, one cause of PM 2.5. Instead, the army conducted artillery practice in wildfire-prone areas.
Air pollution in the country is also exacerbated by burning practices in corn fields in neighbouring countries where Thai capital groups have invested in corn production and imported the produce into the country, causing an ongoing pollution issue in Thailand. Despite this, the government has not imposed any regulation to ban imported corn from burnt fields.
In December 2024, the PM reiterated the October regulations without introducing significant new measures. Additionally, the policy allowing the import of corn for animal feed remained unchanged from the previous year, with no conditions for environmental impacts, which could help ease PM 2.5
The MP concluded that in 2024, the government under PM Paetongtarn did not implement any viable solutions to control air pollution.
In response, Deputy Agriculture Minister Itthi Sirilatthayakorn merely mentioned the collaboration between the Ministry and the Department of the Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, who have been working on artificial rain aimed at reducing pollution in the capital and surrounding areas.
He asserted that the PM has always placed importance on dealing with the issue by approving central budget disbursements to support the initiative.
Meanwhile, Industry Minister Akanat Promphan defended the government’s actions, stating that when compared to previous years, the amount of burnt sugarcane in 2024 was significantly reduced, thanks to cooperation with sugarcane farmers. The Minister reiterated that strict measures were imposed against two sugar factories that accepted excessive amounts of burnt sugarcane, including the unprecedented measure of temporarily closing the two factories.
Apart from burning sugarcane, farmers also find it hard to deal with sugarcane leaves, resulting in many deciding to burn them. The Ministry, Akanat said, is taking steps to address the challenges posed by sugarcane leaves, where the burning often contributes to pollution.
Meanwhile, PM Paetongtarn herself did not respond to or counter the statements made by the main opposition party.
Meanwhile, PM Paetongtarn stated that this is a national crisis, and assured that no additional orders were necessary, as she believed that officials across the country are willing to collaborate with the government to address toxic air pollution.
She highlighted that the Interior Ministry enforced a ban on agricultural burning. In three months, resulting in over 100 violators facing legal action within three months. The Natural Resources Ministry also approved funding to combat wildfires, doubling the number of fire monitoring officers compared to last year.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry issued a warning about toxic air pollution and provided people with helpful information. Free dust rooms capable of accommodating two million people were also established. Additionally, over 100,000 vehicles emitting black smoke were banned from the roads.
The PM underscored a tangible outcome - a reduction of hotspots across the country- and she also reiterated that the government is on the right track.
25 March 25 202511352 at http://prachataienglish.com