Saksith Saiyasombut Profile picture
🇹🇭 Thailand Correspondent @ChannelNewsAsia. As seen on TV. Coffeeless journalist. Nordisch by Nature.
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Aug 16 8 tweets 3 min read
Good morning, it’s D-Day in Thailand…again!

Parliament will vote on a new Prime Minister with the ruling coalition putting forward ruling @PheuThaiParty leader @ingshin as their sole candidate today.

🧵 Here’s everything you need to know about today. Image 1) So how did we get here? On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court dismissed PM @Thavisin for unethical conduct in his nomination of ineligible cabinet minister, ending a premiership not even a year old.
Jun 12, 2023 11 tweets 7 min read
THREAD: There’s been some developments in the controversy of @Pita_MFP’s shares in a dormant media company, the subject of numerous complaints seeking his disqualification as MP and preventing him to became PM. These revelations could turn things in his favor. #หุ้นitv 1) Back to the start first: No candidate running for office must own shares in a media company (Const. Sec 98.3). Several petitioners (incl. a MP of the ruling PPRP) point to Pita’s possession of 42,000 shares in iTV Plc a violation of exactly that. #หุ้นitv
Jun 10, 2023 5 tweets 4 min read
Last night, @EctThailand rejected petitions seeking to ban @MFPThailand’s @Pita_MFP for once holding illegal shares in a defunct media company. But EC will probe him if he knowingly ran for office despite potentially being not eligible b/c of these shares. bangkokpost.com/thailand/polit… Snap analysis 1: The political motivations of these various petitions to stop @Pita_MFP despite a clear election win and his @MFPThailand from forming the next govt is thinly veiled and @EctThailand only rejected them on a technicality (it’s too late for the relevant time frame).
Jan 8, 2023 4 tweets 3 min read
In light of #China’s reopening today, #Thailand now requires *ALL* foreign arrivals to show proof of at least two vaccine doses against #COVID19. This comes after Public Health Minister Anutin said "all nations will be treated equally". Here's the list from the CAAT. (1/4) Airlines are required to check the passengers for their vaccine certification *before* they board the flight to #Thailand. Exempt are Thai nationals, travelers under 18 and those with a proof of recovery from #COVID19 no older than 6 months. (2/4)
Oct 8, 2022 4 tweets 4 min read
UPDATE: According to several Thai media outlets (and colleagues privately messaging me, thanks for that btw), there was *no permission* given to anyone, let alone @CNN to center the crime scene at the Nong Bua Lamphu daycare center. (See next tweets) #กราดยิงหนองบัวลําภู “Even (…) crime scene investigators needed the local cops to open the place for them. Thai media can’t get in either, same like the families that wanted to retrieve the personal items for the funeral,” writes @ittipat_tv. #กราดยิงหนองบัวลําภู
Oct 8, 2022 5 tweets 4 min read
So…@CNN aired a story on the aftermath of the Nong Bua Lamphu daycare shooting - and somehow “was allowed inside the scene of the crime.” There’s no freaking way they were allowed as it was closed off! What the hell have they done to get inside?! #กราดยิงหนองบัวลําภู Thanks a colleague at the scene we see the @CNN crew climbing over the fence into the daycare center after they were (in their own words) “allowed” to film inside. I see no guards or officials accompanying them in this shot. #กราดยิงหนองบัวลําภู
Dec 22, 2021 16 tweets 9 min read
(THREAD) There's lots of confusion about the new travel rules to #Thailand b/c of #Omicron. There's bigger confusion for those scheduled to arrive here and what they're facing, leading a lot of frantic queries (RIP my inbox).

Here's a breakdown of the contradictory statements. 1) First, about #Omicron: The #COVID19 variant is wreaking havoc across the world, leading many countries to re-introduce restrictions. #Thailand has at least 63 confirmed #Omicron cases with dozens of more suspected cases being analyzed, as a domestic transmission is feared.
Dec 21, 2021 4 tweets 3 min read
(THREAD)

What we know about the new travel restrictions (5.45pm):

1) #Thailand to suspend new applications for (nearly) quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated travelers form 63 countries and territories due to #Omicron variant from Dec 22 onwards to (at least) Jan 4, ’22. 2) All approved #ThailandPass holders can still enter Thailand as scheduled, but will have to undergo a 2nd PCR test at a “govt-assigned facility” on the 7th day at no extra cost. All those that are still waiting for their confirmation are advised to wait until it.
Sep 10, 2021 16 tweets 6 min read
THREAD: Today, a joint-session of the Thai parliament will attempt to vote on const. amendments - again. It’s the bare minimum of reforms the elected MPs could agree on, but the senators appointed by the prev. military govt could fail it - again. Here’s what we’re dealing with. 1) First a small history lesson: Following the 2014 military coup, the junta at that time (led by then army chief @prayutofficial) commissioned a new constitution that aims to prevent what they and their like-minded proponents called “parliamentary dictatorship”.
Sep 9, 2021 8 tweets 5 min read
A major shake-up in the @prayutofficial govt. Thamanat is/was a coalition enforcer who rose through the ranks of the (@pprpthailand despite his Australian drug trafficking conviction) who commands dozens of MPs. @DrNarumonP is also a senior party member. Looks like a faction war Outgoing Dep-Agric. Min Thamanat tells reporters at parliament he’s resigning out of his own and has been thinking about it “for a few months already”. He was rumored to have led a failed attempt to topple PM @prayutofficial at last week’s no-confidence vote.
Jun 16, 2021 10 tweets 3 min read
LIVE-THREAD: Thai PM @prayutofficial is scheduled to hold a televised address this evening at 6pm BK following the national anthem.

Follow along for live updates of the speech. PM @prayutofficial: “With the rapid progress of the vaccination program, I would like to update on the roadmap ahead of our recovery from #COVID19.”
May 28, 2021 11 tweets 6 min read
THREAD: Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA) will procure Sinopharm #COVID19 vaccines as a supplementary option to the govt’s vaccine rollout, which is more and more criticized for being chaotic. But even more chaotic was the news of a company claiming to supply to them… 1) Background: CRA consists of medical research centers and is chaired by Princess Chulabhorn. Royal Gazette announced this week that it can procure #COIVD19 vaccines. It’s seen as a slight against the govt’s increasingly messy mass vaccine policy, set to start Jun 7.
May 5, 2021 12 tweets 11 min read
THREAD: So here’s where the rumor came from that @pfizer’s #COVID19 vaccine is already in #Thailand even though @fdathai has not received any paperwork for approval yet and just rebuked this.

Let’s go down the rabbit hole… 1) It all started with self-exiled fmr Thai PM @ThaksinLive claiming in a live stream on Tuesday night that a small amount of @pfizer’s #COVID19 vaccine is already in #Thailand and given to a “probably a small group”.
Dec 22, 2020 10 tweets 6 min read
THREAD: Thai PM will hold a televised address at 6pm local on the recent surge of #COVID19 cases, as over 1,000 cases have been linked to a seafood market in Samut Sakorn and migrant workers there.

Follow next tweets for details. PM @prayutofficial: Recent outbreak in Samut Sakon was dealt "with urgent and strong measures", serves as an "important reminder how serious of a threat #COVID19 still is for the nation."
Dec 21, 2020 4 tweets 3 min read
#COVID19TH a UPDATE (21 Dec 2020)

- 382* new confirmed #COVID19 cases (5,289 total)
- 17 discharged (4,053)
- 1,176 in hospital
- no new deaths (60)

*360 new cases found in migrant worker dorm in Samut Sakon (over 90% asymptomatic). “More confirmed cases there are expected.” On top of the 360 migrant workers tested positive for #COVID19, 12 out of 14 local transmissions have been traced back to the Same Sakon seafood market where the current cluster is.
Dec 19, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read
#BREAKING: @pr_moph says 516 (!) more are tested positive in Samut Sakon province, following a positive case involving a shrimp wholesaler there, bringing the total of this cluster 548. Most of the new cases are migrant workers and asymptomatic. This is the biggest jump in months Officials are announcing a practical locking in Samut Sakon province, with many activities and localities being ordered to cancel and to shut down until Jan 3. People are also asked to cease non-essential travel. #COVID19
Jun 10, 2020 6 tweets 3 min read
THREAD: #Thailand is mulling plans for "phase 4" of relaxations of #COVID19 restrictions and re-openings of businesses and activities aimed for June 15.

These places were deemed "high-risk", hence they why come last. Details in the next tweets. Draft plan of relaxations of #COVID19 restrictions in "phase 4" (potentially on June 15)

- International schools can reopen already
- Restaurants, food courts, hotel can serve alcohol
- Pubs, bars, karaoke venues are still NOT allowed to serve alcohol

(cont.)
Apr 28, 2020 4 tweets 1 min read
THREAD: The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has proposed 8 types of places re-open again - but stops short of giving out an actual date, because that's pending a discussion with the @ddc_riskcom tomorrow.

See next tweets for list and detailed notes. The 8 places the BMA is proposing to reopen:

1. restaurants & bars
2. non-food markets
3. barber shops, salons
4. clinics
5. golf courses
6. some sports venues where distancing is possible
7. vets, pet salons
8. public parks

(see next tweet for additional notes)
Mar 21, 2020 4 tweets 2 min read
#BREAKING: Now it’s official, Bangkok Metropolitan Authority announces the closure of more venues, such as shopping malls. from Mar 22 to Apr 12 to contain the spread of #COVID19. Supermarkets and restaurants (no dine-in) will remain open.

See following tweets for full details. Full list of closures in Bangkok from Mar 22 to Apr 12 (1/3):
- restaurants (no dine-in, takeaway and delivery online)
- shopping malls (except supermarkets)
- non-food markets
- spas, beauty salons, barber shops
- pet salons
- skate parks, bowling centers, arcades

(cont.)
Mar 17, 2020 5 tweets 2 min read
In another televised address, Thai PM @prayutofficial reiterates the measures to combat #COVID19 his government has decided, but says that "we have not shut (or lock down) our country", but travelers arriving here have to be subjected to the measures here (cont.) (cont.) such as self-isolation or even quarantine if someone comes from a high-risk area (e.g. S Korea, Iran, Italy, China), download an app to be traceable. He also asks Thais not to make any unessential travels abroad.
Mar 17, 2020 6 tweets 3 min read
#BREAKING: Thai PM @prayutofficial announces the closure of universities, schools, sports venues, bars and other entertainment venues in Bangkok and the wider area from 18-31 March in effort to contain the #COVID19 pandemic. Restaurants will continue to be open, but are required to take health safety measures. Songkran on April 13-15 will be postponed. People will be still allowed to enter and leave Bangkok. All large assemblies, incl religious events, should also be stopped. #COVID19