Royal Decree Dissolving the House of Representatives B.E. 2568 Issued in December 2025 Image Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 12/12/2025 - 06:51 Body In the early morning of 12 December 2025, the Royal Gazette published the Royal Decree Dissolving the House of Representatives B.E. 2568, stating that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua has graciously commanded the proclamation following the Prime Minister’s submission that it is appropriate to dissolve the House of Representatives to hold a new general election. Details are as follows: Royal Decree Dissolving the House of Representatives B.E. 2568 His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua Given on 11 December B.E. 2568, the 10th year of the current reign. The Prime Minister has humbly submitted that since the government assumed office in September B.E. 2568 as a minority government formed by several political parties, without holding a majority in the House of Representatives, the nation has had to face multiple challenges due to various uncertainties—economic, social, political, international relations, global geopolitics, as well as unrest along the Thai–Cambodian border. The government has urgently undertaken all necessary measures to administer the country and resolve pressing national issues, focusing on restoring stability, order, and peace for the nation. These efforts aim to advance the country’s political governance for the benefit of the people, such as pushing forward constitutional amendments, addressing the impacts of trade wars, driving economic policies to increase income and reduce inequality, providing relief to disaster-affected citizens, and combating illegal gambling, online gambling, transnational crime, cyber threats, and various forms of fraud. Additional urgent actions include resolving the Thailand–Cambodia dispute through appropriate diplomatic negotiations while strengthening national defense and establishing measures to mitigate potential impacts on the public. However, effective state administration requires stability. Since the government is a minority government and the political environment remains troubled, it has been unable to govern with consistency, efficiency, and stability. If the situation continues, political instability may worsen, affecting international confidence and causing significant economic consequences, ultimately eroding public trust in the parliamentary system and democratic governance. Therefore, the appropriate solution is to dissolve the House of Representatives and hold a new general election, returning political decision-making power to the people without delay. To ensure the continuity of democratic governance under a constitutional monarchy and to obtain a stable, majority-supported government with a legitimate mandate from the people, enabling smooth and orderly administration, By virtue of Sections 103 and 175 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand, His Majesty has graciously ordered the enactment of the following Royal Decree: Section 1: This Royal Decree is called the “Royal Decree Dissolving the House of Representatives B.E. 2568.” Section 2: This Royal Decree shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Royal Gazette. Section 3: The House of Representatives is dissolved to hold a new general election. Section 4: A general election of Members of the House of Representatives shall be held on a date announced by the Election Commission, which must be not less than forty-five days and not more than sixty days from the date this Royal Decree comes into force. Section 5: The Chairperson of the Election Commission shall be responsible for the execution of this Royal Decree. Countersigned: Anutin Charnvirakul Prime Minister Source: https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/98688.pdf  Tags * Royal Decree * House Dissolution * Thailand Politics * General Election * Constitutional Monarchy * Government Stability

Historic Turning Point: “Prime Minister Anutin” From Judicial Upheaval to Constitutional Deadlock Image Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 12/12/2025 - 00:22 Body In December 2025, Thai politics resembled an unpredictable roller coaster. The sudden removal of Paetongtarn Shinawatra from the premiership triggered a political vacuum that swiftly paved the way for Anutin Charnvirakul to rise to the country’s highest executive position. Expectations and pressure mounted from all sides—political rivals, coalition tensions, and natural disasters. A Shift of Power: Pheu Thai Stumbles, Bhumjaithai Steps In The political turning point emerged when the Constitutional Court unanimously ordered Paetongtarn Shinawatra to stop performing her duties, followed by a ruling deeming her guilty of serious disciplinary violations, immediately terminating her ministerial status. As attention turned to potential prime ministerial candidates within the ruling coalition, the main opposition—People’s Party—declared it would support any party committed to advancing constitutional reform. Bhumjaithai, under Anutin Charnvirakul, responded affirmatively, promising to push for constitutional amendments. Anutin subsequently received overwhelming parliamentary support and became Thailand’s 32nd prime minister. Triple Crises: Economy, Security, and Natural Disaster The Anutin Administration’s first cabinet never had a honeymoon period. Instead, it faced three simultaneous crises: * Economic Relief – “Khon La Khrueng Plus”: To restore public confidence and boost grassroots spending, the government launched its flagship stimulus scheme. While the public initially welcomed it, concerns grew over the long-term fiscal burden. * Thai–Cambodian Border Crisis: Sporadic armed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces created panic in border communities, challenging the government’s diplomatic and military strategy. * Massive Flooding: Severe floods hit central Thailand, with Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, and Suphan Buri heavily affected. Hat Yai suffered the worst devastation, its economic zone submerged above ground-floor level. The government faced harsh criticism over water management and compensation efforts. The Breaking Point: The Constitution and a Night of Political Rupture As parliament approached the final stage of debating a new constitutional amendment, border tensions with Cambodia intensified. The core dispute centered on the Senate’s power to approve constitutional amendments, which currently required one-third of senators’ support. Reformist blocs sought to eliminate this requirement, but signals from the Senate and power elites hinted at rejection—threatening to sink the reform effort. The People’s Party and Pheu Thai prepared to counter by submitting a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Anutin, citing failures in flood management, border security, and unfulfilled constitutional promises. Political Maneuvering: Dissolution Before a No-Confidence Showdown Reading the political climate, Anutin acted swiftly. On the evening of 11 December 2025, before the opposition could submit its motion, he invoked his constitutional authority to request a royal decree dissolving the House. This strategic move reset the political landscape and halted the looming confrontation in parliament. Conclusion: Toward the 8 February 2026 Election The dissolution ended a short-lived but crisis-ridden administration. Thailand now moves toward another election cycle, with the Election Commission indicating that the latest possible polling date would be Sunday, 8 February 2026. Tags * Thai Politics * Anutin Charnvirakul * Constitutional Crisis * Government Dissolution * Border Conflict * Major Flooding

Parliament Approves Sending Questions to Cabinet for a National Referendum on Drafting a New Constitution Thai.fyi by Poakpong Thu, 12/11/2025 - 23:40 Body On 11 December 2025 at 11:30 PM, during the second joint parliamentary session (extraordinary session) on the agenda of the Draft Amendment to the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand (B.E. …), chaired by Mr. Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, President of the Parliament, the meeting proceeded to consider urgent motions. After members of parliament submitted five urgent motions requesting the Parliament to approve and instruct the Cabinet to conduct a national referendum to ask the public’s opinion on the drafting of a new constitution in a similar manner, Mr. Chada Thaiset, MP for Uthai Thani from the Bhumjaithai Party, rose to say that he wished the matter to be concluded before midnight; otherwise, there could be implications concerning legal provisions. Mr. Wan Muhamad Noor then stated to the assembly that it was appropriate to send the questions to the Cabinet for consideration and further arrangement of the referendum. With no objections, he exercised authority under Rule 61 to ask the meeting whether anyone held a different view. In the end, the Parliament voted: 494 in favor, 1 opposed, 9 abstentions, and 1 not voting. Tags * Parliament Referendum * Thai Constitution Draft * Cabinet Approval * Legislative Session * Political Decision * Public Consultation

Anutin Announces Return of Power to the People Following Reported House Dissolution Image Thai.fyi by Poakpong Thu, 12/11/2025 - 22:20 Body On 11 December 2025 at around 10:00 p.m., the Facebook page “Anutin Charnvirakul” posted the message: “I return the power back to the people.” This came after earlier reports stated that a royal decree to dissolve the House of Representatives had already been submitted earlier this evening. Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DKk1WpXyP/  Tags * Anutin Charnvirakul * House Dissolution * Thai Politics * Royal Decree * Political Announcement

Urgent: PM Anutin Submits Royal Decree to Dissolve the House of Representatives Image Thai.fyi by Poakpong Thu, 12/11/2025 - 22:09 Body This evening (11 December 2025), Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has submitted a request for His Majesty’s approval of a Royal Decree to dissolve the House of Representatives, paving the way for a new general election. Reporters stated that the submission of the Royal Decree followed a majority vote in Parliament requiring that the amendment to Section 256/28 of the Constitution must receive approval from no less than one-third of all senators. Nattapong Ruangpanyawut, leader of the People’s Party and opposition leader—whose party supported Anutin as prime minister—called on Anutin to dissolve the House after members of the Bhumjaithai Party voted in favor of the majority decision. According to news sources, Pharadorn Prisananantakul, MP for Ang Thong from the Bhumjaithai Party, explained to representatives of the People’s Party that if they voted to remove the Senate’s power as demanded in the third reading, senators would reject the entire constitutional amendment. This would cause the entire reform process—long in progress—to collapse. Thus, he argued that the Senate’s authority should be maintained for now so the process can move forward. However, the representatives of the People’s Party refused and stated that if they lost the vote on Section 256/28, they would immediately file a motion of no-confidence against the entire cabinet. This forced Anutin to decide to dissolve the House, as his government is a minority administration supported by the People’s Party. Without that support, the government would effectively lose its mandate. “We have tried our best to negotiate with the senators, but we cannot order them to remove their own powers. We also informed the People’s Party that if the Senate’s authority is removed, the senators will not approve the third reading, and the constitutional drafting process cannot proceed. To take responsibility for not being able to fulfill what the People’s Party demands, the House must be dissolved, as outlined in the coalition agreement. Today, Anutin has carried out that mission,” said a Bhumjaithai Party executive. By law, once the House is dissolved, a general election must be held within 45 to 60 days. If the Royal Decree becomes effective tonight, the latest possible election date would be Sunday, 8 February 2026. Tags * House Dissolution * Anutin Charnvirakul * Constitutional Amendment * Thai Politics * General Election * Senate Power

Thailand’s Complete Guide to the 2025 SEA Games (9–20 December 2025) Thai.fyi by Poakpong Sat, 11/29/2025 - 23:50 Body The 2025 SEA Games will be hosted by Thailand from 9–20 December 2025, marking the country’s return as host after 18 years and the seventh time in history (previously in 1959, 1967, 1975, 1985, 1995, and 2007). This year, the Opening Ceremony will take place on 9 December and the Closing Ceremony on 20 December, both at Rajamangala National Stadium. Although Sanam Luang was originally designated as the main venue, it has been changed for athletes’ safety. However, Sanam Luang will still be used for the official torch-lighting ceremony. Number of Sports and Medals A total of 54 sports are included: 50 medal sports, with 574 gold medals at stake 3 demonstration sports (Air sports, Flying disc, Tug of war) 1 value-added sport (MMA – Mixed Martial Arts) This makes the 2025 edition the second largest SEA Games in history in terms of number of sports, behind the Philippines 2019 (56 sports), and 17 more sports than Cambodia 2023. Competition Venues Over 2 billion baht has been invested to upgrade and standardize facilities across 10 key provinces: Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Nakhon Pathom, Chonburi, Rayong, Songkhla, Chiang Mai, and Ratchaburi. Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla were originally the three major hubs. However, due to the severe flooding in Songkhla, all 10 sports scheduled there—totaling 109 gold medals (Boxing, Chess, Kabaddi, Wushu, Pencak Silat, Judo, Petanque, Karate, Wrestling, Billiards & Snooker)—have been moved to Bangkok and Chonburi. Bangkok & Metropolitan Area — 40 Sports Includes Swimming, Diving, Water Polo, Artistic Swimming, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bowling, Boxing, Cricket, Cycling (Road/Track/BMX), Equestrian Polo, Esports, Extreme Sports, Fencing, Floorball, Football, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Ice Skating, Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, Netball, Petanque, Rugby, Sepak Takraw, Shooting, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Volleyball, Combat Sports, Chess, Kabaddi, Wushu, Pencak Silat, Judo, Karate, Billiards/Snooker. Chonburi — 16 Sports Includes Marathon Swimming, Billiards/Snooker, Canoeing/Kayaking/Dragon Boat, Mountain Biking, Equestrian, Jet Ski, Football, Handball, Hockey, Modern Pentathlon, Practical Shooting, Teqball, Triathlon, Weightlifting, Woodball, Wrestling. Broadcast Information The 33rd SEA Games will broadcast 31 sports, the highest number ever televised. These include Athletics, Swimming, Badminton, Basketball, Football, Futsal, Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Beach Volleyball, Weightlifting, Indoor Hockey, Track Cycling, Extreme Sports, Fencing, Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Pencak Silat, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Sepak Takraw, Sailing, Floorball, Karate, Kickboxing, Billiards/Snooker, Teqball, Esports, and Rugby Football. Sports starting before the opening ceremony: Football (men/women), Polo, Baseball, Badminton, Hockey, and Handball. The first live event will be Thailand vs. Timor-Leste (Men’s Football) on 3 December at 19:00. Where to watch: * NBT (main broadcaster) * T-SPORTS 7 * One31 * Thairath TV 32 * PPTV HD 36 TrueVisions NOW – exclusive OTT rights holder in Thailand How to Book Tickets Tickets can be booked easily via LINE @SEAGAMES. Steps to book: 1. Add LINE @SEAGAMES and register. 2. Choose the sport, date, and venue. 3. Select seat zones from the stadium map. 4. Fill in personal information (name and contact number). 5. Confirm reservation and receive a QR Code for entry. Important Conditions: Maximum 2 seats per registration; each seat requires a unique ID number (ID card or passport). On event day, spectators must show the original ID that matches the registration. For youths or seniors without IDs, a guardian may reserve 1 additional seat (max 2 seats total) and must show proof of relationship at entry. Where to Check the Full Schedule Fans can view detailed schedules at: Official Website: www.seagames2025.org Official Facebook Page: 33rdSeagamesthailand2025 Tags * SEA Games 2025 Thailand * Sports Schedule * Host Venues * Live Broadcast * Ticket Booking * Bangkok * Chonburi

PM Anutin Visits Flood-Hit Hat Yai to Oversee Relief Measures and Strengthen Emergency Response Thai.fyi by Poakpong Sat, 11/29/2025 - 23:30 Body On 29 November 2025, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul provided an update on the flooding situation and assistance for affected residents in the southern region, particularly Hat Yai District in Songkhla Province. He stated that tomorrow afternoon (30 November) he would travel to the area again, accompanied by a large working team including the Minister of Finance, the Director-General of the Treasury Department, the Secretary-General of the Office of Insurance Commission, executives from the Thai Bankers’ Association, and state financial institutions. The purpose of the visit is to observe the situation firsthand and directly assess the operational needs, enabling full preparation and implementation of financial assistance measures and rapid loan support for flood victims, ensuring clear communication and effective action. The Prime Minister spoke about his visit to Zone 8 in Hat Yai District yesterday (28 November), noting that the situation was abnormal and severe. Floodwaters had destroyed most houses, leaving only the shells of buildings. The conditions in the area made it impossible for residents to stay in their homes. Therefore, the same principle used for State Quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic was applied—provincial authorities would arrange hotel accommodation for those unable to return home for at least 3–5 days. This measure also supports the local economy. Volunteers and officials have been mobilized to carry out extensive “house cleaning” across the city and affected households. Regarding rumors of violence and firearms being used in Zone 8, the Prime Minister affirmed that he had not encountered such incidents personally. There were only minor emotional confrontations, and he has ordered the Provincial Police Region 9 Commander to ensure strict oversight. As for reports of looting, he has instructed authorities to enforce the law fully and deployed 4,000 Interior Ministry volunteers to support area control and cleaning operations. When asked about the causes, problems, and obstacles that led to Hat Yai’s crisis, the Prime Minister stressed the need to look forward. However, he acknowledged that the government had shortcomings regardless of the cause. “When there are deaths, losses, injuries, and people cannot stay in their homes, it all falls on the Prime Minister. It is all the Prime Minister’s responsibility. This is why I must be on the ground consistently, applying every resource, knowledge, and experience I have to tackle the issue at its core and accelerate recovery as quickly as possible.” Anutin added that the government will enhance the warning system so that “when the alert sounds, people must leave immediately,” which may require legal amendments to facilitate evacuation drills. He has instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Department of Local Administration to implement these measures. He also stated that further technical and engineering reviews are needed regarding Hat Yai’s geographical structure as a “basin” where water naturally accumulates. Authorities will examine whether roads obstruct water drainage and explore ways for road infrastructure to assist water discharge, as well as prevent seawater — which can rise to high levels — from flowing back into the city when water is drained toward Songkhla Lake. Tags * Songkhla * Hat Yai Flooding * Government Relief Efforts * Anutin Charnvirakul * Emergency Response * Southern Thailand Disaster * Evacuation Measures

NACC Conducts On-Site Inspection of Bangkok Remand Prison Over Alleged VVIP Privileges for Chinese Inmate Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:46 Body On 28 November 2025, Pattanapong Janpetchpoon, Assistant Secretary-General of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), together with NACC officials, conducted an inspection at the Bangkok Remand Prison regarding allegations that a “Chinese Grey VVIP” inmate had received special privileges. The team also held a meeting to prepare the investigative report. After more than an hour of meetings and on-site inspection, Pattanapong stated that he visited the prison to verify information and determine whether any state officials or Department of Corrections personnel had misused their authority, neglected their duties, or acted wrongfully. This inspection aimed to review CCTV footage from November 16, the day the tactical unit conducted its operation, as well as to hear explanations from the Department of Corrections. The team examined the locations involved from the beginning of the operation, the entry of external individuals into the prison, their movements, and what appeared on the CCTV footage. They also inspected the rooms alleged to have been used by the Chinese inmate and others who violated prison regulations. Pattanapong said that the NACC currently has very limited information but will work more proactively. This time, instead of waiting for investigators’ reports, the NACC conducted a field inspection to understand what happened on-site. The findings will be submitted to the NACC Commission for consideration, in parallel with the investigations conducted by the police and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). He emphasized that this action was not taken under political instruction but as part of a more proactive approach to expedite the process. The NACC, he noted, has authority to investigate cases involving officials up to the level of the Prime Minister. Regarding the so-called “secret room,” Pattanapong explained that it was merely an executive reception room with a clear view of the entrance and exit. As for whether subordinates who passed by the room and witnessed wrongdoing would also be held accountable, he stated that this would require further investigation. The NACC will conduct inquiries and is authorized to examine financial and asset records for unusual wealth, even though the case has not yet been designated a special case. The DSI must submit its investigation report to the NACC within 30 days for consideration of whether the NACC will take over the case. On whether former prison directors and related officials will be summoned for questioning, Pattanapong said this currently falls under the authority of the DSI, which is responsible for gathering evidence and witnesses. Regarding the former prison director’s petition to the NACC Chairman requesting an investigation into the asset declarations of senior executives within the Ministry of Justice—including the Permanent Secretary and the Director-General of the Department of Corrections—due to suspected unusual wealth, Pattanapong said the details must first be reviewed, as he has not yet seen the letter. If additional information is required, further examination will follow. Tags * Prison Inspection * NACC Investigation * VVIP Inmate * Corruption Allegations * CCTV Review * DSI Inquiry

Government Officials Apologize and Address Southern Flood Response Efforts Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/28/2025 - 17:40 Body On 28 November 2025 at 3:10 p.m. at the Phakdi Bodin Building, Government House, Phradorn Prisanananthakul, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister’s Office and Director of the Emergency Flood Operations Center (EFOC), together with Siripong Angkasakulkiat, Government Spokesperson, and Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the EFOC, held a daily briefing on the flood situation in the southern region. Phradorn stated that he would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the public for abruptly standing up and declining to answer media questions during yesterday’s press briefing. As the director of the center, he apologized and clarified that he had no intention of avoiding or refusing any questions. After assessing the situation, he felt that the most important matter the public needed to know was the measures and substantive actions currently being undertaken by the operations team. Regarding political issues at this time, he explained that he did not want these matters to be amplified or turned into unnecessary controversies. He wanted the main issues—information essential to the public—to remain at the forefront of news reporting. Therefore, he chose not to answer political questions. Phradorn further apologized to all members of the media, noting that many have known him for a long time and understand well that he is not the kind of person who evades or avoids questions. His priority was to communicate crucial information to the public. He therefore offered his apology once again. As for the criticism calling for the government to resign, Siripong added that ultimately the government cannot deny responsibility. They are working under various constraints, which may inevitably lead to mistakes, and the government is saddened by the events that have occurred. He added that the flood situation involves multiple issues that need to be handled, including assistance, rehabilitation, and relief. There will naturally be both satisfied and dissatisfied parties. From this point forward, it will be a period that demonstrates the government’s work, as the Prime Minister has emphasized, with further action to be taken in the near future. Phradorn also addressed the coconut-broom donation drive, explaining that agencies informed him that once floodwaters recede, a major cleaning effort will be required. This will involve mobilizing state agencies and volunteers. The DGA has opened registration channels, and nearly 1,000 people have already signed up through the government application. Besides coconut brooms, other essential items for the cleaning effort include cleaning solutions, rubber gloves, and antifungal foot medicine. The Ministry of Public Health and private sector partners have been coordinated with to send these supplies on today’s flights. For members of the public who wish to support or participate, he stated that everyday necessities remain essential for affected residents. Authorities will announce what items are needed at the frontline. Transport assistance is being provided by state agencies as well as private partners including AirAsia, DHL, and Nok Air. Regarding scammers soliciting donations, Siripong, spokesperson for the EFOC, stated that Songkhla Province is currently under an Emergency Decree. Any actions that risk violating the law, especially those by ill-intentioned individuals, will be strictly prosecuted if detected or reported. Tags * Songkhla * Flood Response * Government Apology * Southern Thailand * Emergency Operations * Public Assistance * Donation Fraud

SEA Games 33: Severe Flooding Forces All Songkhla Events to Be Moved to Bangkok Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/28/2025 - 14:41 Body Due to the severe flooding in southern Thailand—particularly in Songkhla, one of the three host provinces of the 33rd SEA Games scheduled for 9–20 December 2025—it has now been confirmed that all events originally planned to be held in Songkhla will be proposed for relocation to Bangkok. Chalitrat Chantarubeksa, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, revealed that he received confirmation from Colonel Chaipak Siriwat, Vice President of the Olympic Committee and Executive Chairman of the SEA Games Council, that the SEA Games Council, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, has reached a firm resolution to move all sports competitions from Songkhla to Bangkok. This relocation covers 10 sports, with a total of 109 gold medals, including: Boxing, Pencak Silat, Men's Football, Chess, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Wrestling, Pétanque, and Wushu. In addition, representatives from various countries at the SEA Games Council meeting expressed serious concerns regarding several issues: uncertainty over whether the floodwaters will recede in time for competition, the possibility of severe field damage requiring extensive repairs, and health risks related to floodwater and mosquitoes, which could impact athletes' safety. These concerns led the meeting to unanimously agree that relocating all events would be the safest option. The next step will be to submit the proposal for official approval on 27–28 November. Beyond the venue relocation, a major challenge remains: expenses already paid by participating nations for arrangements in Songkhla, including airfare, hotel bookings, and local transportation. Tags * SEA Games * Songkhla Flooding * Bangkok Host * Athlete Safety * Sports Event Management * Southeast Asia Games * Songkhla

Severe Flood Crisis Continues in Songkhla on 28 November Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/28/2025 - 14:36 Body On 28 November 2025 - Songkhla Province continues to face severe flooding caused by the monsoon trough and the northeast monsoon, which have brought continuous heavy rainfall since 20 November. As of 11:30 p.m. on 27 November 2025, the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command Center reported that the floods have affected 16 districts, 129 subdistricts, 982 villages, and 258 communities, totaling 403,053 households and 1,111,715 people. A total of 37,654 people have been evacuated, and 55 deaths from drowning have been reported. Hat Yai District is the hardest-hit area, covering 15 subdistricts, 57 villages, and 162 communities, with more than 243,778 residents affected by flooding and 16,101 evacuees. The province has opened 16 shelters in universities, schools, temples, local administration offices, and social development centers. Several shelters are now near full capacity, such as Prince of Songkla University, which can accommodate 9,000 people and currently hosts over 6,500 evacuees, and Hat Yai Rat Prachasanti School, which can hold 3,500 people and currently shelters 2,800. For relief operations, Songkhla Province has mobilized multiple agencies, including the Royal Thai Army (Region 42 Military Circle), the Royal Thai Navy, the Frontline Disaster Response Unit, rescue teams, and local administrative organizations. Over 100 high-clearance vehicles, more than 100 water pumps, flat-bottom boats, inflatable boats, and 18 helicopters have been deployed to evacuate residents, deliver food, and distribute emergency supplies to affected areas. Additionally, more than 60,100 survival kits, over 101,000 meal boxes, and over 120,000 packs of drinking water have been distributed. Royal kitchen units, military field kitchens, and private-sector kitchens are producing tens of thousands of meals daily. Regarding infrastructure damage, widespread destruction has occurred: 228 roads, 12 bridges, 41 schools, and 38 temples have been affected. Two houses were completely destroyed, while more than 1,074 houses sustained partial damage. Agricultural areas totaling over 26,000 rai have been impacted, particularly field crops, rice paddies, fruit orchards, and fish farms across multiple districts. Situation Outlook: Rainfall has begun to decrease since 26 November, and Tropical Storm Kaito is no longer expected to impact southern Thailand. Water levels in many areas, especially in Hat Yai Municipality, have started to recede. However, relevant agencies continue to accelerate water drainage from Khlong U-Taphao and low-lying areas into Songkhla Lake, while monitoring conditions around the clock to prevent further incidents and restore normal conditions as soon as possible. Tags * Songkhla * Songkhla Flood Crisis * Disaster Response * Hat Yai Flooding * Evacuation Efforts * Southern Thailand Monsoon * Infrastructure Damage

Flooded Road Conditions in Na Thawi and Khuan Mi Districts on 27 November Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/28/2025 - 13:22 Body Today (27 November) at 10:30 a.m., Na Thawi Provincial Police Station, Songkhla Province, inspected water conditions on major roads after flood levels in Hat Yai District began to recede earlier this morning. 1. Na Thawi–Khlong Ngae Road: Flooding of about 50–80 cm over a distance of roughly 500 meters, from Big C Ban Phli to Sombunsat School. Small vehicles cannot pass; six-wheel trucks can pass. 2. Na Thawi–Ban Lam Phlai Road: Flooding from Isuzu Na Thawi to the Ban Wang Buap 7-Eleven, about 40–70 cm deep over approximately 200 meters. Small vehicles cannot pass; large six-wheel trucks can pass. 3. Na Thawi–Sathon Road: Flooding from the Na Thawi Subdistrict Municipality Office to Ban Thung Nam Khao, with water levels 40–80 cm deep over about 500 meters. Small vehicles cannot pass; six-wheel trucks can pass. 4. Na Thawi–Khlong Ngae Road (duplicate report): Flooding 50–80 cm deep over around 500 meters from Big C Ban Phli to Sombunsat School. Small vehicles cannot pass; six-wheel trucks can pass. Meanwhile, Khuan Mi Police Station, Songkhla Province, reported the latest road conditions in its jurisdiction as of 7:00 a.m. today: 1. Asia Highway 43: From Khuan Mi checkpoint to the Chana border and from Khuan Mi checkpoint to the Na Mom border, no flooding on the road surface; all vehicles can pass normally. 2. Highway 408 (Songkhla–Chana): In front of the PTT Ban Trap gas station, water levels are around 80 cm. Ten-wheel trucks can pass; small vehicles are advised not to pass due to danger. Tags * Songkhla * Flood Situation * Na Thawi District * Road Conditions * Songkhla Flooding * Traffic Advisory * Southern Thailand

Hourly Water Level Update for Khlong U-Taphao on 27 November 2025 Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/28/2025 - 13:18 Body Today (27 November) at 7:00 a.m., the Southern Region Hydrology and Irrigation Center, Royal Irrigation Department, released hourly comparative water-level data for Khlong U-Taphao for 20–28 November 2025. At station X.44, Ban Hat Yai Nai, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, the 7:00 a.m. reading shows that the water level has decreased to 9.09 meters (MSL), which is 0.21 meters above the riverbank, with a flow rate of 207.65 cubic meters per second. If no additional rainfall occurs in the area, the water level is expected to drop below the riverbank between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on 27 November 2025. Tags * Water Level Update * Khlong U Taphao * Hat Yai Flooding * Hydrology Report * Southern Thailand * Irrigation Department

Unclear Death Toll Emerges as Hat Yai Flood Situation Slowly Improves Thai.fyi by Poakpong Thu, 11/27/2025 - 22:01 Body On 27 November 2025, although the flooding situation in Hat Yai has begun to ease in some areas, a troubling issue is gradually surfacing: the number of deaths, and the inconsistency between the figures reported by government authorities and rescue teams. Starting from this morning, Siripong Angkasakulkiet, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said on the program “Kammakorn Khao Khui Nok Jo” that the death toll was likely around 6–7 people. He clarified that these numbers represented patients who died at Hat Yai Hospital and were not directly caused by the flooding. However, frontline workers such as actor–rescue volunteer Ple Nakorn and Dr. Supat Hasuwannakit, Director of Saba Yoi Hospital in Songkhla Province, believed that the true number of deaths was unlikely to be lower than the hundreds. Later in the afternoon, the Emergency Flood Response Operations Center (EOC) issued a statement that Hat Yai Hospital recorded a total of 85 deaths during the flood period—55 flood-related and 30 unrelated to the flooding. The EOC said that this number had been verified by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and asked the public to rely on this data to avoid confusion, while acknowledging that there might still be uncounted cases. Beyond the recovery efforts, another pressing concern is the management of the deceased. The government has approved funeral assistance of 2 million baht per body and is preparing facilities for storing the bodies going forward. Tags * Songkhla * Hat Yai Flood * Death Toll Discrepancy * Emergency Response * Public Health Ministry * Disaster Management * Funeral Assistance

Emergency Use of Starlink to Restore Communications in Flood-Hit Songkhla Thai.fyi by Poakpong Wed, 11/26/2025 - 10:58 Body On 26 November 2025, Chaichanok Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society, stated that after the Cabinet approved the declaration of a state of emergency and assigned Air Chief Marshal Ukrit Boontanon, the Supreme Commander, as the director of the Forward Emergency Flood Response Operations Center, the ministry needed to establish new communication channels that do not rely on terrestrial infrastructure, which has been severely damaged by flooding. Therefore, discussions were held with SpaceX to bring in Starlink satellite internet as a backup network in high-risk zones. Following consultations with the NBTC, it was concluded that SpaceX is ready to provide equipment for emergency use, while the NBTC will expedite special import permits with usage limited to officially declared emergency areas. Chaichanok explained that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed authorities to restore communications as quickly as possible so government agencies and rescue teams can coordinate effectively and evacuate affected residents. People in Hat Yai District still require assistance, but communication outages remain a problem. Government agencies therefore contacted SpaceX and worked with the NBTC to deploy Starlink exclusively for emergency operations in Songkhla Province under the Emergency Decree. Installation points will be designated by the Forward Emergency Flood Response Operations Center. Tags * Songkhla * Emergency Communication * Starlink Deployment * SpaceX Support * Thailand Flooding * Songkhla Crisis * Government Response

“Lingering Rainfall” of 800 mm Identified as Main Cause of the Hat Yai Flood Crisis Thai.fyi by Poakpong Wed, 11/26/2025 - 09:13 Body 25 November 2025 – Key Causes of This Year’s Severe Flooding in Hat Yai “Lingering Rainfall” Phenomenon: The primary cause of the severe flooding in Hat Yai this year is the phenomenon known as “lingering rainfall”—intense rain that remains stationary over the same area for an extended period. Unlike previous years, heavy rainfall persisted continuously from 22–24 November. Critical Rainfall Volume: Accumulated rainfall in Hat Yai exceeded 700–800 millimeters, while Songkhla Province—especially Thepha District—recorded up to 800 millimeters of accumulated rain. Daily Rainfall Intensity: Although the total seasonal rainfall may not be significantly higher than in previous years, the severity stems from exceptionally high daily accumulations, surpassing 300 millimeters per day, overwhelming the drainage capacity. Additional Contributing Factors Water Flow and Geography: Runoff from surrounding areas converged into Hat Yai, causing major canals that drain into Songkhla Lake and its tributaries to overflow to critical levels. Urban expansion has also reduced natural water-absorption zones. Mountain Runoff: In addition to rainfall within the city, large volumes of water flowed down from surrounding mountains, intensifying the situation. Outlook and Response Forecast: If rainfall decreases from 25 November onward, water levels are expected to stabilize and recede to normal within 5–7 days. Natural Warning Signs: Although lingering rainfall is uncommon, climate change has increased the likelihood of such extreme weather events. Residents should remain cautious even if such flooding has not occurred for 20–30 years. Management Measures: Authorities must strengthen coordination between central and local agencies to plan evacuations for vulnerable groups and deploy personnel efficiently to high-risk zones. Tags * Songkhla * Hat Yai Flooding * Lingering Rainfall * Extreme Weather * Songkhla Rainfall * Climate Change * Flood Management

Justice Minister Updates on VIP Prison Cell Investigation; Two Officials Removed Pending Inquiry Thai.fyi by Poakpong Wed, 11/26/2025 - 08:40 Body On 25 November 2025, at Government House, Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthaphon Naowarat, Minister of Justice, provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the alleged VIP prison facilities. He stated that two officials—the Commander of Bangkok Remand Prison and the Commander’s secretary—have been temporarily removed from their positions. Details of the case have been forwarded to the investigative committee and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI). On Thursday afternoon (27 November 2025), he expects to receive an updated report identifying all individuals involved, which he believes will match the initial list. He emphasized that the investigation will rely on available evidence. Regarding whether higher-ranking officials are implicated, Pol. Lt. Gen. Rutthaphon confirmed that no one above these positions is involved. He noted that the details of the construction of the special rooms—such as when they were built and completed—are already known and are part of the DSI and committee’s investigation. Once finalized, the findings will be shared with the media. When asked whether new individuals, including those outside the prison system, might be revealed on Friday (28 November 2025), he said he had no information yet and would wait for updates from the committee and DSI. In response to calls for the disclosure of financial transaction trails, he stated that such information has already been examined and substantial data has been collected. As for whether the specially renovated rooms were built long before the current government took office, he said those details will be included in the final summary, which will be provided later. Tags * VIP Prison Case * Justice Ministry * DSI Investigation * Prison Officials * Financial Probe * Special Cell Construction

Opposition Leader Calls for Unified Disaster Command as Southern Flood Crisis Deepens Thai.fyi by Poakpong Wed, 11/26/2025 - 08:31 Body Yesterday (25 November), Natthaphong Rueangpanyawut, Leader of the People’s Party and Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives, together with party MPs, visited flood-affected areas in the South to monitor the situation and gather information on hardships faced by affected residents. They met evacuees at the shelters located at Prince of Songkla University and the Disaster Relief Center of the 4th Army Area at Sena Narong Camp in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Natthaphong stated that the latest situation remains worrisome, as many people are still stranded in flooded areas. Over the past two days, a large number of affected individuals have been posting and commenting across various social media platforms to ask for help. However, many can no longer be contacted due to drained phone batteries or disrupted internet signals. Because so many people are still awaiting rescue, teams of volunteers and developers worked throughout the night gathering data from different social media platforms. AI tools were used to classify urgent cases such as patients and high-risk individuals, identify reachable phone numbers, and extract coordinates of those requesting help. Volunteers then verified and filtered the data before passing it into the jitasa.care system so that field teams could proceed with rescue operations. Last night alone, more than 20,000 messages from multiple platforms were processed and forwarded. Natthaphong emphasized that the most critical need is a centralized information hub for coordinating rescue efforts so all sectors—government agencies, volunteers, and civic groups working on the ground—can access consistent information, avoid duplication of work, prioritize effectively, and deliver aid where it is needed most. However, he noted that volunteer efforts are still falling short of full effectiveness due to unclear and inconsistent information. Although the government has set up an official crisis response center, it remains unclear who is actually in command—whether it is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces or Thammanat Prompao, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. When urgent decisions must be made, both state agencies and volunteer groups are unsure whose directives should take precedence. Based on feedback from residents, officials, and volunteers in the affected areas, Natthaphong said the current situation reflects a lack of clear, systematic disaster management. Confusion persists in the deployment of rescue teams, with each group working independently without unified coordination. For this reason, he reiterated his proposal that the government’s crisis center must consolidate all information under a single coordinated system. Orders must be streamlined and consistent to maximize efficiency, enabling officials and volunteers to carry out their work effectively. He also expressed concern about the government’s overall perspective on disaster management. Recent statements by Thammanat, claiming that the government had already warned residents but that they refused to evacuate, were not true. Before the flooding, state agencies issued vague and inconsistent messages, especially regarding whether evacuation was necessary. Clear evacuation orders came only after the flooding had already begun, making it impossible for many residents to leave. Worse still, some agencies had previously insisted the situation was “under control,” telling the public not to worry. Even more troubling, he said, is that the government has failed to acknowledge its own mistakes in issuing unclear, inconsistent warnings, and has instead implied that residents were to blame. Rather than shifting responsibility, the government should focus on offering reassurance and moral support to affected people. Natthaphong stressed that the urgent priorities now are: * providing immediate assistance to flood victims, especially vulnerable groups such as bedridden patients, the elderly, and young children; * identifying households still stranded and unable to evacuate; * delivering medical aid and food supplies; * assessing whether existing shelters are sufficient and preparing additional spaces in case more areas become affected. He concluded by saying that every passing second increases the risk to people’s lives. He extended his support to affected residents and affirmed that efforts to assist them are ongoing at full capacity. Tags * Songkhla * Southern Flood Crisis * Disaster Management * Opposition Leader * Rescue Coordination * Government Response * Emergency Relief

Kasikorn Research Center Estimates Over 25 Billion Baht Economic Loss from Severe Flooding in Songkhla and Southern Provinces Thai.fyi by Poakpong Wed, 11/26/2025 - 08:25 Body Kasikorn Research Center has assessed the economic impact of the flooding in Songkhla and several southern provinces, estimating losses of no less than 25 billion baht within a one-month period. Additional complex asset damages are expected beyond those affecting households, including impacts on the government, financial institutions, and business partners. Kewalin Wangpichayasuk, Deputy Managing Director of Kasikorn Research Center (KResearch), stated that the severe flooding in Songkhla—which has persisted since November 21—and in other southern provinces has affected around 800,000 households and covered more than 400,000 rai of land. The situation has yet to improve, and going forward, there remains a risk of continued heavy rainfall and runoff. KResearch evaluates the impact in two parts as follows: 1. Immediate impact from the disruption of economic activity: The initial economic loss is estimated to be no less than 25 billion baht within one month, or about 0.13% of Thailand’s nominal GDP. This estimate assumes severe conditions during the first 10–15 days, followed by gradual easing in the next 10–15 days. Songkhla, which experienced widespread flooding, accounts for the largest share of the estimated impact. The disruption primarily affects economic activities in the service sector—such as accommodation, restaurants, retail, and transportation—as well as industrial production, including agriculture and food processing, which account for 56% and 18% of Songkhla’s economy respectively. Basic utilities such as electricity and water supply were also interrupted (around 3%). The flooding occurred during the year-end period, when economic activity typically increases due to seasonal tourism. Moreover, Thailand is set to host the SEA Games from December 9–20, 2025, with Songkhla being one of the venues for several sports competitions. Additional impacts are expected in agriculture across Songkhla and other provinces, particularly rubber and oil palm plantations, as well as aquaculture and fisheries. 2. Asset damage: This impact is more complex, as losses may be recognized gradually across multiple sectors beyond households, including the government, financial institutions, and business partners. Once the flooding subsides, affected individuals will face further consequences related to the repair or replacement of damaged assets, such as houses, vehicles, and personal belongings. The timeline and severity of this impact will depend on various factors, including household savings and earning capacity, economic conditions, support from creditors and business partners—including financial institutions—and government measures. Tags * Songkhla * Flood Impact * Southern Thailand Economy * Songkhla Floods * KResearch Assessment * Economic Losses * Asset Damage

Emergency Decree Declared Across Songkhla Province; Armed Forces Chief Takes Command Amid Record Rainfall in Hat Yai Thai.fyi by Poakpong Tue, 11/25/2025 - 14:44 Body On 25 November 2025, the Cabinet approved the declaration of an Emergency Decree for the entire province of Songkhla, assigning the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces to oversee the situation. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Minister of Industry, stated that the Cabinet had approved the enforcement of the Emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situations across Songkhla Province. The Prime Minister is expected to sign the declaration today. The powers granted under this decree are similar to those used during the COVID-19 period under former Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha. The implementation of the Emergency Decree is intended to accelerate assistance to the public. Air Chief Marshal Ukrit Boontanon, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will serve as the area commander, with other ministers joining as co-commanders. Additional orders will follow. Secretary-General of ONWR urges close monitoring in Hat Yai amid heaviest rainfall in 300 years Danucha Pichayanan, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), explained the flooding situation in Hat Yai District, Songkhla, noting how it differs from flooding in the Central and Northern regions. He said the water management system in Songkhla relies on drainage canals, and the situation is more severe this time due to heavy accumulated rainfall in Sadao District. Canal R.1, with a capacity of 1,200 cubic meters, cannot handle the extremely high rainfall reaching 880 millimeters per hour. Continuous rain in surrounding areas has caused the canal system to exceed capacity. Danucha acknowledged that this is the heaviest rainfall the area has experienced in 300 years. He recommended future measures, including deepening Canal R.1 and expanding the U-Tapao Canal to prepare for rare but extreme events. He added that the Prime Minister has ordered urgent efforts to save lives and mobilize all available resources to assist affected communities. Authorities remain on high alert as the Meteorological Department continues to warn of heavy rainfall in Hat Yai. As of the latest assessment, water levels along the banks between 11:00–13:00 today have risen by an additional 2 meters and 20 centimeters due to last night’s rainfall, indicating that residents must continue to stay vigilant. Tags * Emergency Decree * Songkhla * Songkhla Flooding * Hat Yai Rainfall * Water Management * National Security Response * Extreme Weather

PDPC Orders Suspension of Iris-Scanning Crypto Project and Deletion of 1.2 Million User Records Thai.fyi by Poakpong Tue, 11/25/2025 - 09:26 Body On 24 November 2025, the Office of the Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC) issued an order for the business conducting “iris scans in exchange for crypto tokens” (unnamed, but widely understood to be Worldcoin) to suspend its services and delete all data belonging to 1.2 million users. The PDPC’s Expert Committee No. 2 reviewed the business and found that it had collected “biometric data,” which is a sensitive category of personal information. The consent obtained from data subjects did not meet legal standards because it was incentivized with cryptocurrency rewards, making the consent not freely given as required by law. Another issue concerns the stated purpose of consent at the time of data collection. Users were informed that their iris data would be used “to verify humanness,” yet individuals who had already scanned their irises could not rescan. The committee viewed this as “identity verification,” which exceeds the original scope for which consent was obtained. Pol. Col. Surapong Plengkham, Secretary-General of the PDPC, stated that the Expert Committee issued the following administrative orders: 1. The service provider and all persons involved in collecting iris data must immediately suspend or cease collecting personal data through iris scanning in exchange for cryptocurrency. They must report compliance to the PDPC within 7 days. 2. The service provider and involved parties must delete and destroy all iris data and related personal data of 1.2 million individuals to prevent the unlawful transfer of such personal data abroad. Tags * PDPC Enforcement * Biometric Data * Worldcoin Thailand * Data Privacy * Consent Violation * Crypto Incentives

End of the Shin Corp Case — Thaksin Ordered to Repay ฿17.6 Billion in Taxes to the State Thai.fyi by Poakpong Thu, 11/20/2025 - 17:29 Body 19 November 2025 — A 15-year saga has come to a close since the court ordered the seizure of assets belonging to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The original judgment dated 26 February 2010 followed the sale of all shares of Shin Corporation Public Company Limited to Singapore’s Temasek Holdings on 23 January 2006 — a disposal of 1,487,740,120 shares (49.6%) at ฿49.25 per share, producing a total transaction value of ฿73,271 million. Although Thai tax law exempts capital gains on sales of shares on the stock market by individuals, the wholesale sale raised significant public suspicion because ownership of the shares had been transferred among members of the Shinawatra family prior to the Temasek purchase. Price difference between market price and actual price paid Major sellers included Pinthongta Shinawatra (604 million shares, valued at ฿29,776.55 million), Bannapong Damapong (404.43 million shares, ฿19,918.19 million), Panthongtae Shinawatra (458.55 million shares, ฿22,584 million), Yingluck Shinawatra (20 million shares, ฿985 million), and Bussaba Damapong (159,600 shares, ฿7.86 million). In short, shares were transferred via nominees to Pinthongta and Panthongtae (Thaksin’s children). They acquired Shin Corp shares from Ample Rich Investment Co., Ltd. at only ฿1 per share, a price far below market value. The resulting disparity between market price and the actual price paid meant that funds transferred from Ample Rich constituted income subject to tax under Section 39 of the Revenue Code. Timeline of the Shin Corp tax case On 28 March 2017, the Revenue Department issued a tax assessment requiring Thaksin to pay personal income tax plus penalties and surcharges totaling ฿17,600 million. Thaksin’s legal team appealed to the Central Tax Court and the Court of Appeal for Specialized Cases. Those lower courts later annulled the Revenue Department’s assessment, reasoning that the summons procedure was legally defective — specifically that the Revenue Department had not issued a tax summons to Thaksin as the principal taxpayer within the required timeframe — and thus Thaksin won at the trial and appellate levels. However, on 17 November 2025 the Supreme Court (Court of Final Instance) overturned the earlier decisions by the tax courts. The Supreme Court found that the Revenue Department’s tax assessment was lawful. The ruling established important precedents by examining the intent and the substance of the transactions, concluding: * Real beneficiary of the income: Although the shares were sold by children or nominee companies, the evidence shows Thaksin was the true recipient of the income. * Concealment of transactions: The use of nominees and foreign companies served to evade rules limiting shareholding by political officeholders and to “avoid income tax.” * Tax morality principle: The Court found the transactions lacked tax morality and were illegal in substance; therefore they were not eligible for the ordinary tax exemption that applies to public market share sales. As a result, the Revenue Department now has full authority to enforce the judgment and collect the assessed tax, penalties, and surcharges totaling ฿17,600 million (฿17.6 billion). It is expected the department may issue enforcement orders within a short period (the original report estimated 1–2 months to issue enforcement notices). According to Forbes, in 2024 Thaksin Shinawatra remained listed among the world’s top 10 billionaires in the finance and investment category, with a net worth of US$2.1 billion (approximately ฿77 billion). If the tax of ฿17.6 billion must be paid, that would equal about 24% of that reported wealth, and analysts have assessed that Thaksin would likely still be able to marshal funds to settle the tax debt. Currently, the former prime minister remains detained at Klong Prem Central Prison. There is also an outstanding lèse-majesté (Section 112) case pending; on 17 November 2025 the Attorney-General filed an appeal asking the Court of Appeal to take up that matter, which may affect prospects for parole. Tags * Thaksin Shinawatra * Shin Corporation * Tax Ruling * Supreme Court Verdict * Asset Recovery * Thai Politics

19 Key Points of the Shin Corp Share Tax Case — Why the Supreme Court Ordered Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra to Pay ฿17,629 Million Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:20 Body The following is the content of Yutthana Srisavat (Ajarn Mik) from https://www.facebook.com/yutthana.srisavat/posts/pfbid0Cx4XMZYDgZ8XoEXGCdteKV8zBtgYdeiJkMFbM5wKTJeoBxPy8cCuJDRdbMPY7phbl A summary of 19 points in the Shin Corp share tax case that dragged on for 19 years — what happened, and why the Supreme Court today ordered former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to pay a total of THB 17,629 million. 1. Shin Corporation was the company that Mr. Thaksin and Khunying Potjaman built together from 1983 (B.E. 2526). It used to be the parent company of AIS and was the largest telecommunications group in the country at that time. The company underwent several reorganizations and was recently merged with GULF on 1 April 2025 (B.E. 2568). 2. Before Thaksin ran in the 2001 election (B.E. 2544), everyone knew the basic principle that politicians must not hold businesses that could create conflicts of interest with the state — especially businesses that hold state concessions such as telecommunications. In 1999 (B.E. 2542) Thaksin established a company called Ample Rich Investments Ltd. in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), a tax haven that keeps shareholders’ structures confidential. Thaksin’s name was the sole shareholder on paper. He then sold his Shin shares — about 33 million shares — to Ample Rich at par value, THB 10 per share. Because Thaksin realized no gain on that sale, he had no tax to pay; Ample Rich recorded the cost as nearly 33 million shares at THB 10 each. 3. In 2000 (B.E. 2543) Ample Rich’s internal structure changed so the shares were put in the name of his son (Khun Oak), who was of legal age. On paper it looked as if Thaksin no longer directly held Shin shares. As a result, when submitting his asset declarations his name did not show Ample Rich shares. In 2001 (B.E. 2544) Shin Corp performed a share split from THB 10 par to THB 1 par, so Ample Rich’s holdings rose from 33 million to about 330 million shares, with a book cost of THB 1 per share. By mid-2005 (B.E. 2548) Ample Rich’s shareholding was adjusted again so that the eldest daughter (Khun Aim) also held shares. The ownership then was Khun Oak 80% and Khun Aim 20%, and both served as Ample Rich directors. 4. In early 2006 (B.E. 2549), while Thaksin was still in government, the second Telecommunications Business Act was announced on 20 January 2006 to relax rules and allow foreign investors to hold up to 49% (up from 25%). That law took effect 21 January 2006. Two days after the law took effect — on 23 January 2006 — Thaksin’s family sold about 49% of Shin Corporation on the Stock Exchange of Thailand to the Temasek-linked group from Singapore, valued at THB 73,000 million. The sale price that day was THB 49.25 per share. This was likely the first deal to immediately take advantage of the new law. 5. That share sale was tax-exempt for capital gains because the law exempted individuals selling shares through the stock exchange. So everyone who sold as individuals via the stock exchange got the full THB 73,000 million tax exemption. 6. But there was a problematic block of shares — nearly 330 million shares sold by Khun Oak and Khun Aim — because those shares had originally been held by Ample Rich since 1999. If Ample Rich had sold them, even through the stock exchange it would be taxable because Ample Rich is a company, not an individual. If the company had sold those shares, it would have been subject to withholding on the gain nearly in full: market price THB 49.25 vs. cost THB 1 per share. 7. To avoid that tax, an interposed step was used. On 23 January 2006 (the same day as the market sale), Ample Rich’s directors (Khun Oak and Khun Aim) directed the company to sell the shares to Khun Oak and Khun Aim in equal halves (50/50) at cost — THB 1 per share — in an off-market transfer. Then, as individuals who had just acquired those shares, they sold them on the stock exchange that same day and claimed the tax-exempt status for individuals selling through the exchange. In short, the company sold the shares at THB 1, the individuals bought and immediately sold them at THB 49.25 on the same day. This is exactly the transaction the Supreme Court later examined: did these steps have genuine economic rationale, or were they set up solely to avoid tax? 8. From Ample Rich’s original purpose on paper — investing for profit — questions arise: how could the company sell shares at THB 49.25 by selling them at THB 1 to individuals on the same day? Why would the company effectively hand over that value for nothing? Because no convincing investment rationale could be shown, the Revenue Department assessed that the discount — acquiring Shin shares at THB 1 when market value was THB 49.25 — was a benefit that should be valued as taxable income. The Revenue Department therefore calculated the difference (THB 48.25 per share), which amounted to a taxable income of about THB 15,883.9 million. The Revenue Department issued tax assessment notices to the individuals to settle tax for the income year 2006 (tax year 2549). 9. Khun Oak and Khun Aim contested the assessments starting at the Appeal Consideration Committee (the first administrative stage before tax court). They lost there and then went to the Central Tax Court. While the Central Tax Court case was being heard, in 2010 (B.E. 2553) there was a separate criminal case in the Supreme Court’s panel for political office holders: the court found that the Shin shares once held by Ample Rich and then ending up with Khun Oak and Khun Aim and sold on the stock exchange were in fact owned by Thaksin himself — that Ample Rich and Khun Oak and Khun Aim were nominees for Thaksin and he was the true controlling owner. 10. In the same year, Khun Oak and Khun Aim used that Supreme Court criminal judgment to bolster their tax case: the Supreme Court had already stated the shares truly belonged to Thaksin, not to them — they were only nominees. The tax court therefore agreed that the income should be treated as Thaksin’s income, not Oak’s or Aim’s. The tax court annulled the assessments and the appeal rulings, so Oak and Aim were relieved of tax responsibility for that matter. The Revenue Department did not appeal further and did not issue a tax notice to Thaksin at that time. 11. After the 2010 judgment that the real owner was Thaksin, the Revenue Department could have issued an assessment to Thaksin immediately because the facts were known. But they did not. (A note: the 2010 period was the Abhisit government, and 2011 the Yingluck government.) Time passed until 2017 (B.E. 2560), when the Prayut government advised the Revenue Department to assess Thaksin: “Hey, the fact is Thaksin was the true owner and you knew it since 2010 — so issue a retrospective personal income tax assessment for tax year 2006 from the Ample Rich–Shin share matter.” 12. Thaksin’s defense was that retroactive tax assessment is possible only within the statute of limitations, which in tax cases is at most five years. For tax year 2006 (tax returns filed in early 2007), the limitation would expire around 30 March 2012 (B.E. 2555). Thaksin said: the Revenue Department had known since 2010 that he was the true owner because his children were litigating in tax court, but they did not issue a notice to me within the limitation period. I and my children are different persons; you could have issued me a notice earlier. To suddenly assess me now after limitation expiry — that procedure was improper. Both the Central Tax Court and the Revenue Court of Appeal agreed that the Revenue Department made a procedural mistake at the outset: because of the flawed first step (not issuing the proper notice to the true taxpayer in time), the subsequent action was invalid. Thaksin therefore won in both lower tax courts on that ground. 13. The Revenue Department appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. In 2025 (B.E. 2568) the Supreme Court reversed the lower courts’ rulings and ruled against Thaksin, ordering him to pay THB 17,629 million. So what happened to the earlier rulings that Thaksin won regarding the procedural misstep (no notice in time)? How did the Supreme Court reason? 14. The Supreme Court held that the nominees (Oak and Aim) were mere puppets for Thaksin, and Thaksin was the principal. Therefore, when the initial notices were sent to the nominees, those notices also “bound” Thaksin as the principal — there was no need to send a separate notice in Thaksin’s name. The Court reasoned that because the notice was properly sent to Thaksin’s agents (the nominees), it effectively reached and bound Thaksin the principal. 15. The Supreme Court added (in a didactic tone) that establishing a BVI company, parking shares there, controlling shares via son and daughter, selling shares from the company to son/daughter at THB 1 and then selling on the stock exchange to obtain tax exemption — such transactions lacked any genuine “economic reason” other than to get a benefit and avoid tax. That is a serious moral failing in tax conduct. If such schemes were permitted, they could become a societal model used to claim tax advantages for private gain and would be unfair to ordinary citizens who honestly pay their taxes. In short, the Court accepted the Revenue Department’s assessment. Thaksin lost at the Supreme Court level and must pay tax, penalties and interest totaling THB 17,629 million. The judgment is final. 16. Where did the THB 17,629 million come from? It is built from three components: (1) Tax: computed on the gain base of THB 15,883.9 million. The top personal income tax rate in 2006 was 37% (not 35% as it is today), so tax is roughly THB 5,877 million. (2) Penalty: imposed for underpayment — a penalty equal to 1× the tax due (i.e., the penalty equals the tax owing), so about THB 5,877 million. (3) Surtax/interest for late payment: like interest on late tax payment, normally set at 1.5% per month; because many years passed the amounts compound up to a statutory cap which equals the tax due — another about THB 5,877 million. The three parts together — tax + penalty + late interest — sum to THB 17,629 million. So the realized gain was THB 15,883.9 million, but the tax bill became THB 17,629 million — the taxes and charges exceeded the profit. 17. Where will Thaksin get the THB 17,629 million to pay? Of course this is a huge sum. If you built government office buildings with it, you could construct eight new SAI (or State Audit) towers and still have change left. The enforcement and collection of this tax is again the Revenue Department’s responsibility. Typically Thaksin must pay the assessed amount; he may negotiate a reduction in penalties with the Revenue Department and may request installments for payment. The schedule and installment amounts are handled by internal Revenue Department procedures. If Thaksin refuses to pay, the process goes to seizure and attachment of assets to satisfy the tax debt. If assets are overseas, Thai authorities may seek cooperation to seize offshore assets. 18. This Supreme Court judgment establishes a new foundation: tax planning is permitted so long as there are defensible economic reasons to support it. But where there is no other apparent intention than tax avoidance, the Court will look through the transactions to their substance. This principle is academically called the General Anti-Avoidance Rule (GAAR). GAAR is used in many countries — Canada, Australia, China, Germany, India, among others. Academically, it’s interesting to consider whether this Supreme Court decision marks Thailand’s acceptance of GAAR in tax adjudication. If so, aggressive tax planning by the wealthy may become much riskier and require rethinking. 19. What do Thais get from this? At least one comforting thing: the Court still recognizes the right to do tax planning. No law requires us to pay more tax than necessary. The boundary is that planning must remain on the “white” side — not gray. From now on, if planning is gray and lacks other purposes besides tax avoidance, it will likely be difficult to survive in court. We will continue to debate what “tax planning without losing tax morality” should look like and whether the standard should apply equally to all people and families. I also think of Dr. Suwan Walaesetthien (father of Dew Weerawat Walaesetthien), who was the tax planner for the Shin Corp deal for Thaksin. If he were still alive, we would be able to hear his perspective on whether that tax planning had tax morality and whether the Court’s decision was appropriate. This case is one of the most important tax judgments in Thai history and will likely be a precedent shaping anti-tax-avoidance cases for many decades. Source: https://www.facebook.com/yutthana.srisavat/posts/pfbid0Cx4XMZYDgZ8XoEXGCdteKV8zBtgYdeiJkMFbM5wKTJeoBxPy8cCuJDRdbMPY7phbl Tags * Thaksin Shinawatra * Tax Avoidance * General Anti-Avoidance Rule * Shin Corporation * Thai Supreme Court

Royal Palace Announces the Passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, at Age 93 Thai.fyi by Poakpong Sat, 10/25/2025 - 22:26 Body On October 25, 2025, the Royal Household Bureau issued an official statement announcing that Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, passed away on October 24, 2025, at 9:21 p.m. at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, due to a bloodstream infection. The statement detailed that Her Majesty had been under continuous medical care at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital since September 7, 2019, where a team of royal physicians had been monitoring various health conditions. Throughout her stay, Her Majesty faced several health complications, prompting ongoing medical treatment. Since October 17, 2025, Her Majesty had suffered from a bloodstream infection. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, her condition gradually deteriorated. On Friday, October 24, 2025, at 9:21 p.m., Her Majesty peacefully passed away at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital at the age of 93. His Majesty the King has graciously commanded the Royal Household Bureau to arrange the royal funeral with the highest honors according to royal tradition. The royal remains will be enshrined at Dusit Maha Prasat Throne Hall in the Grand Palace. His Majesty has also decreed that members of the royal family and officials of the Royal Court shall observe a mourning period of one year, starting from the date of Her Majesty’s passing. Royal Household Bureau October 24, 2025 Tags * Queen Sirikit * Royal Palace * Passing * Thailand * Royal Funeral * Mourning Period

Suchatvee Suwansawat Resigns from Democrat Party to Establish New Political Movement Focused on Education Reform Thai.fyi by Poakpong Fri, 07/04/2025 - 23:50 Body Today (July 4, 2025), Mr. Suchatvee Suwansawat, former deputy leader of the Democrat Party, officially announced his resignation from the party membership. He revealed his intention to form a new political party with a core ideology centered on resolving Thailand’s crises through educational reform. Mr. Suchatvee explained that this decision did not stem from internal party conflicts but from his personal conviction to drive genuine change in Thailand, which he views as being in a state of crisis that can no longer wait. He emphasized that the starting point for solving problems is to develop people through education, stating that if education does not improve, Thailand will be unable to produce talent to compete economically. He further clarified that the Democrat Party’s decision to remain in the coalition government was not the reason behind his resignation. He stressed that he would now focus primarily on national politics, believing that addressing the country’s problems is of utmost importance. Regarding speculation about establishing a new party called “Thai Progressive Party,” Prof. Dr. Suchatvee said he is currently in discussions with like-minded individuals. He believes many people share his vision of genuinely improving Thailand, observing that no real change has happened in the past. He plans to travel and meet everyone who shares this ideal, loves the country, and wishes to transform Thailand. On rumors about co-founding a party with Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, former Deputy Minister of Education and former Democrat Party deputy leader, Prof. Dr. Suchatvee stated that Khunying Kalaya is a respected figure in education, science, and technology. He noted that many knowledgeable, especially younger, individuals are eager to see Thailand change. While he invites everyone to join this political endeavor, he cannot confirm whether Khunying Kalaya will participate, as discussions are still ongoing. As for the official launch date of the new party, he said it remains undecided and will take more time. When asked about the political situation in which Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra has stepped down from her duties as Prime Minister but continues as Minister of Culture, Prof. Dr. Suchatvee expressed his support. He hopes the new Cabinet will chart a clear direction for Thailand; otherwise, both Thai people and the international community will lose confidence in the country. Regarding whether the current Deputy Minister of Education can be relied upon, he said they should be given a chance since they have only just started. Finally, when asked about some people wanting him to run again for Bangkok Governor, Prof. Dr. Suchatvee expressed gratitude for their continued support. He acknowledged that Bangkok is an important issue and a role he loves. However, given the current national situation, everyone must come together. He reaffirmed his commitment to broader national issues, emphasizing that without educational reform, Thailand cannot expect to have a future. Tags * Education Reform * Thai Politics * New Political Party * Suchatvee Suwansawat * Democrat Party Resignation * Political Leadership