#WhatsHappeningInThailand – a weekly news roundup of the latest Thailand news. Hosted by independent journalist Matt Hunt.

Thai Migrant Workers Return to Israel 

100 Thai agriculture workers returned to Israel as part of a quota deal to send 10,000 of them back to work in the conflict-stricken region. Thailand has long since had one of the largest populations of migrant workers in Israel due to bilateral agreements established decades ago to address Israel’s agricultural labor shortages. These agreements, initiated in the early 1990s, allow for temporary employment of foreign workers, including Thais, to fill essential roles in Israel’s farming industry. 

Thai migrant workers, mainly from Isan, Thailand’s economically poor farming region, are attracted by the higher wages in Israel. At the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, approximately 30,000 Thais working in Israel’s agricultural sector became stranded there. Since over 7,000 have been repatriated to Thailand, 39 were killed in the conflict, and eight are still being held hostage by Hamas.

Law proposed to increase foreign condominium ownership 

The Pheu Thai Party-led government proposed a significant legislative change permitting foreigners to purchase up to 75% of condominium units per project, up from the current 49% quota. The proposal also intends to allow extended land leases of up to 99 years.

These measures intend to stimulate foreign investment in Thailand’s real estate market, particularly in the condominium sector, which has been increasingly popular among international buyers. However, the proposal has sparked debates regarding its potential impact on local property prices, cultural preservation, and the long-term implications for Thailand’s real estate market dynamics.

French Cult Leader Arrested in Thailand

In Koh Phang Nga, tourist police arrested Evariste Doabu Kudukuho, a French national and self-proclaimed spiritual leader. After tips to the police that he was luring international tourists to join him in performing rituals at a mosque near his residence, police checked up on him to find that he had overstayed his tourist visa. 

The incident is notable as concerns about the presence and activities of cults within Thailand have been a lingering issue for decades. Cults in Thailand vary widely in their beliefs and practices, often blending elements of Buddhism, traditional Thai spirituality, and alternative spiritual movements. While some operate openly and peacefully, others have been accused of exploiting followers, engaging in illegal activities, or promoting beliefs deemed harmful by authorities. 

Thailand Parliament Passes Marriage Equality Bill

Thailand’s Parliament passed the same-sex marriage equality bill, making it the first Southeast Asian country to do so and third in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal. This legislation marks a significant step forward for LGBTQ rights in the region, allowing same-sex couples to legally marry and enjoy the same rights and protections as heterosexual couples, including equal opportunity to financing and healthcare decision-making. The bill underwent a series of revisions and debates before its passage. Still, it was met with little resistance by legislators during the vote in Parliament, reflecting changing societal attitudes and advocacy efforts by LGBTQ+ activists over decades. 

Per Thai government procedure, the law will take effect 120 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. For queer people, the passage of this legislation not only signifies Thailand’s commitment to equality and human rights but also sets a hopeful precedent for other nations in Southeast Asia to advance human rights for all marginalized people.

The bill has not yet been published in the Royal Gazette at the time of writing. Optimistically, gay weddings could begin in November 2024.

Thailand Digital Wallet Stimulus Halted

The digital wallet stimulus scheme in Thailand–a key campaign promise of the Pheu Thai government–has encountered another setback as The House Budget Scrutiny Committee has put its implementation on hold, citing a lack of details about the project as necessary grounds for a pause. Opposition members of Parliament pointed out that the only detail given was the cost, 152.7 billion baht, leading to concern about who will manage it and how it will be implemented.

The 10,000 baht (USD 300) cash handout scheme aims to distribute cash to Thai citizens via digital wallets to stimulate the economy and alleviate the lingering financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, opposition parties and some lawmakers have raised concerns over its budget allocation and effectiveness, leading to delays in its approval. Its future remains uncertain as the government seeks to address parliamentary objections, revise the budget proposal, and devise a way to pay for it without causing further economic hardship in Thailand.

Thai Royal Police Committee vote to dismiss “Big Joke”

Police General Surachate Hakparn, widely known as “Big Joke,” faced unanimous dismissal from his post by a 12-person police committee chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. This decision stemmed from a litany of corruption charges against him, including alleged involvement in money laundering and connections to illegal gambling activities. He has been accused of amassing wealth beyond his known income through illicit means, allegedly linked to underground gambling networks. 

He maintains his innocence and has asserted that he will fight the charges to keep his job, which he will maintain during this process. In the meantime, Surachate has threatened to file a malfeasance complaint against the Prime Minister for the improper removal from his post, saying that the original dismissal order was illegitimate.

This ongoing saga at the top of the Royal Thai Police‘s chain of command underscores a significant blow to his once-high-profile career and further diminishes public trust in all Thai police organizations.