Top National Thailand Stories From the Past Week: New Visa Issuance Measures, and More

Here is a look at the top NATIONAL Thailand stories, chosen by our Pattaya News/TPN National team, from last week, Monday, May 27th, to Sunday, June 2nd, 2024.

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

1. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin emphasized the importance of social diversity regardless of age, sex, religion, nationality, or social status.

Bangkok Pride posted on X, inviting the public to the Bangkok Pride Parade festival on June 1st, 2024, along Rama I Road in Pathumwan.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin presided over the Bangkok Pride Festival 2024, organized by Bangkok Pride and the Bangkok Government.

Happy Pride Month!

2. Thai Government spokesperson Chai Watcharong announced new visa issuance measures and guidelines to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy following a cabinet meeting.

Many specific details of the visas and possibly extra requirements and potential regulations have yet to be clarified or released as of press time and are still awaiting the release of this information, set to be in early June.

3. Thai national media reported that a lawyer representing former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra visited the Office of the Attorney General to request a postponement of a hearing scheduled for 9 AM on May 29th, in a case involving charges of political crimes under Section 112, also known as Lese Majeste.

According to the lawyer, Thaksin has reportedly contracted COVID-19, and physicians have advised him to rest and remain under observation until June 3rd, 2024.

4. Chiang Mai local media reported that a red kangaroo escaped from Chiang Mai Zoo and was spotted by a driver on the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park road, Chiang Mai.

There is no further information on how the kangaroo escaped from the zoo, unfortunately, however, the kangaroo was later found dead at the bottom of a waterfall and is believed to have possibly fallen by accident.

5. A prominent escaped prisoner in Nakhon Si Thammarat who made a daring escape last year and later engaged in a gun battle with police, escaping again, was reportedly arrested in Indonesia on Thursday (May 30^th).

He was “on vacation” in Bali when he argued with an Indonesian woman that eventually led to police being summoned and led to the arrest. The Indonesian government is preparing to send him on a special heavily guarded flight back to Thailand, where he is set to to be held in Bangkok and not more remote prisons from his area where he may have sympathisers.

Thank you and see you next week!

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