Thailand-
The following is our weekly feature in which we take a look at the top developing stories and things to follow over the past week. We are focusing on what is happening for the first week of April, ending April 3rd this week.
As we publish dozens of stories a week, this allows our readers to get a quick glimpse of the most important stories taking place and to monitor and follow for the week ahead, as chosen by our editorial team.
They are in no particular order of importance.
1. Protesters being dispersed from Government House pledge to hold more demonstrations
Yesterday’s dispersal of protesters who had been camped out at Government House peacefully for weeks asking for numerous protest leaders charged with sedition and Lese Majeste charges and the Prime Minister to resign, among other items, caused expected anger with many protesters who have pledged to return. A rumor that the dispersal was made to an official photoshoot taking place on Tuesday, March 30th, 2021 (which the government has denied) has directly led to another protest being called at this time. This will be a situation to keep an eye on.
Total of 99 pro-democracy demonstrators detained in two separate police dispersals yesterday
2. Myanmar situation continues to escalate, causing many concerns in Thailand
After a weekend that according to multiple credible media reports saw a large amount of violence and continuing unrest in Myanmar, many officials in Thailand (and around the world) continue to express concern about the situation which seems to escalate on a daily basis. This in turn appears to be causing many Myanmar nationals to wish to seek refuge in Thailand, with Thai officials coming up with a plan to house as many as 40,000 potential people fleeing the ruling military that came to power in a coup in early February. This comes as armed ethnic minority groups that hold power in small portions of the country consider potentially challenging the military and their actions towards protesters in the country, which could de-escalate the situation further. It will be a situation to carefully watch over the next week.
3. Will more clarity come regarding nations requiring quarantine and shortened quarantine stays to Thailand?
One can only hope. With many mixed messages around 10-day quarantine and 7-day quarantine, including with many readers reporting their own embassies stating it will still be fourteen-days or quarantine hotels canceling stays less than 14-days, the plan to lower quarantine seems to be having a few hiccups, especially as it rolls out in some form as of April 1st. Multiple African countries were already officially announced as being off the list last week.
 4. More clarity and concrete decisions on the Phuket re-opening?
This is another area with a lot of murkiness and the proposal (it is still a proposal and not set in stone) to re-open Phuket to vaccinated tourists as early as July could see a lot more clarity this week.
5. Pattaya to hold the second part of water sports festival this weekend, continue to walk and eat festival in Naklua, Food Festival in Central Pattaya
In lighter news, Pattaya continues running weekly events with the following this set for this upcoming weekend:
Pattaya Charity Music Festival is THIS upcoming weekend in Pattaya
Pattaya Central Beach Food Festival 2021 officially begins at Central Festival
That is all for this week, have a great week ahead!
