Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: Former Thai PM Thaksin Paroled and Released, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from the last week, Monday, February 12th, to Sunday, February 18th, 2024.

They are not in any particular level of importance but are listed in the order of date of publication.

Let’s get started and see what the top stories were!

  1. A British tourist has gone missing following a kayaking mishap at Rajjaprabha Dam in Surat Thani province.

A British tourist who had gone missing following a kayak accident at the Rajjaprabha Dam in the Baan Ta Khun district was tragically found dead.

Rest in Peace.

2. The Thai Cabinet has approved the addition of a special public holiday on April 12th, 2024. This decision extends the traditional Songkran holiday period to five days, running from April 12th to 16th.

The overall period of Songkran events throughout the country will span 21 days, but doesn’t mean 21 days of water fights everywhere.

3. Ms. Thantawan “Tawan” Tuatulanon, a 20-year-old student activist, and her friends were facing legal proceedings after speeding to cut a lane and honking a horn during Princess Sirindhorn’s procession on Phahonyothin Expressway.

Police believed that the action of defamation from Thantawan and her friends had an unidentified group supporting them. However, there has been no solid evidence presented as of press time.

Mr. Sutin Klungsang, the Minister of Defense, publicly stated after the council meeting regarding the protection measures of institutions following an incident where student activists obstructed the eldest Princess Sirindhorn’s procession.

The incident has led to shows of support for the Princess across Thailand like in Pattaya below.

4. The Lumpini police received a report of a murder involving a Myanmar national at an apartment located in Soi Sukhumvit 4, Khlong Toei, Bangkok. Two Cameroon suspects remained at large as the police investigation commenced.

Police revealed the progress of a case involving a Myanmar national who was allegedly murdered by two foreign suspects in an apartment room in Khlong Toei, Bangkok.

The two suspects fled and have been reportedly jumping between countries to avoid law enforcement.

5. Thailand has announced the 50-million-Baht medical funding to assist foreign tourists in case of accidents while travelling in Thailand.

The coverage is 1 million Baht per person in the event of death, a maximum of 500,000 Baht for accident injury treatment, and 300,000 Baht for permanent disability, loss of sight or permanent organ loss.

6. At 6:33 AM, on February 18th, 2024, Thai national media reported the arrival of Thai former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to the “Chan Song La” Manor in Bang Phlat, Bangkok.

Thaksin was facing a possible offense under Section 112 and a violation of the Computer Crimes Act for allegedly disseminating false information.

Thaksin is, for now, staying at his mansion on probation for six months.

That’s all for this week, be safe!

The original version of this article appeared on our sister website, The TPN National News, owned by our parent company TPN media.

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Goongnang Suksawat
Goong Nang is a News Translator who has worked professionally for multiple news organizations in Thailand for many years and has worked with The Pattaya News for five years. Specializes primarily in local news for Phuket, Pattaya, and also some national news, with emphasis on translation between Thai to English and working as an intermediary between reporters and English-speaking writers. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, but lives in Phuket and Krabi except when commuting between the three.