u/Muted-Airline-8214

1. Samui Exotic Park is located on Koh Samui in Surat Thani Province. It is a small zoo or farm-style petting zoo where visitors can interact with and feed the animals. Most of the animals are exotic species that are not native to the area, such as raccoons, meerkats, iguanas, giant tortoises, and others.
2. The zoo has only been open for about one year and three months. It is owned by “Jin Jindarat,” a Thai woman, and her French-Italian husband, Kevin Dimino, from Lyon. He is a former boxer who has lived in Thailand for more than 10 years.

The Unacceptable Behavior of Some Tourists:

1. According to Jin, many Israeli tourists have behaved inappropriately. She said they have, among other things: ◾️ Refused to pay the admission fee, saying they wanted to look around first and would pay if they liked the place, or simply leave if they did not. ◾️ Refused to buy animal feed and instead took food from other visitors’ baskets, claiming it was not stealing because the zoo did not have a sign saying “Do not take.” ◾️ Teased animals, such as squeezing milk onto a pig’s nose and filming themselves laughing about it. ◾️ Allegedly abused animals, including hitting them on the head with spoons, slapping them, or kicking them to keep them from coming close. ◾️ Failed to supervise their children, disturbing other visitors and allowing children to misbehave and open cages, causing animals to escape. ◾️ Refused to wait their turn and took animals away from other visitors who were feeding them. On one occasion, someone grabbed a monkey away, causing it to become frightened and bite them. The person then demanded compensation and a refund from the zoo. ◾️ Visiting the lion area requires a separate fee. Some Israeli visitors allegedly refused to pay and instead tried to enter alongside paying visitors. ◾️ Allegedly removed their children’s shoes so that the children would step in animal feces, then demanded a ticket refund, claiming the zoo was poorly managed.
2. At first, Jin tried to be patient. Whenever Israeli tourists arrived, she would ask staff to follow them and pay particular attention to the group, which helped reduce some of the problems.

The Final Straw and the Free Palestine Flag 🇵🇸:

1. But the incident that finally caused Jin and Kevin to lose patience involved an Israeli tourist who said he did not like birds. Jin told him not to enter the bird area, but he went in anyway. When a bird flew onto his shoulder, he allegedly slapped it, causing it to fall unconscious.
2. That was the final straw. Jin and her husband decided to put up a Free Palestine 🇵🇸 flag at the zoo. Jin insisted that it was not politically motivated and was not intended to support either side, but was more like to discourage Israeli tourists from using the zoo’s services.
3. After the flag was put up, the problems decreased, but a new issue emerged. When Israeli visitors saw the flag, they became upset, allegedly organized Jewish groups to descend on the zoo’s page, and posted waves of negative reviews despite never having visited the zoo. The reviews reportedly claimed that the zoo abused animals, that the animals were starving and extremely thin, and that the staff were rude and the place was dirty. They also allegedly sent threatening messages and demanded that the Palestinian flag be removed.

Viral Video, Controversy, and Racism Allegations:

1. The controversy then reached a peak and the zoo’s story went viral worldwide when an Israeli couple told foreign media that, in mid-July 2026, they had taken their 6- and 9-year-old daughters on a trip to Koh Samui, and the children really wanted to visit the zoo.
2. The wife, Moran, said that the woman, Jin, initially welcomed her politely, but after learning that her family was from Israel, refused to let them enter. Moran said she tried to ask why, but Jin could not give her a reason.
3. Moran said Jin called a man, Kevin, over, and that he treated her family rudely, ordering them to leave and verbally abusing them. When she asked his name, she said he replied, “F**k you,” and attempted to headbutt her husband. Even after the family had left, she said he threw a piece of foam board after them. She had recorded the incident, and the video went viral around the world.
4. Moran and her husband viewed the incident as clear racial discrimination, saying that such conduct is illegal and should not be tolerated internationally.

"Tony”:

Tony is a French Jew who previously served in the French military and was a leader of the French branch of the Jewish Defence League (JDL).

Tony has since moved permanently to Israel and established himself as an influencer who campaigns against people he considers anti-Semitic. He frequently gives interviews to various media outlets about Israel and Palestine.

Social Media War, Harassment, and Incitement:

1. Tony discussed Moran’s case and Samui Exotic Park’s treatment of Israeli visitors on his platforms, and also gave interviews to Israeli and French media. This reportedly angered Jewish people in Koh Samui, Israel, and France.
2. In early August 2026, Jewish social media users whom Tony had allegedly rallied descended on the zoo’s page again, flooding it with one-star reviews and sending various threatening messages, including threats to destroy the business, physically harm the owners, and force it to shut down. The messages also allegedly included sexual harassment and derogatory comments targeting Thai women, such as threats to send Jin to work in a strip club for a few cents.
3. Jin said that on some days she and her husband received as many as 80 to 90 threatening messages. Some people reportedly invoked Israel’s aid to Thailand, saying that because the Israeli government had helped Thai people in many ways, they therefore had a right to have a say there.

You can continue with the uncensored story from this page. This has gone too far and is starting to look more like a feud between foreigners, with Thailand being used as a proxy --->

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On August 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., Phuket Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom assigned Pol. Capt. Khetrath Chansilp, Deputy Governor of Phuket who is serving as an acting security adviser at the Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, to inspect businesses in Patong, Kathu District, Phuket, following a complaint that a foreign-owned shop had refused to serve Thai customers. Officials from the Phuket Provincial Employment Office and the Kathu District administrative office joined the inspection to establish the facts and ensure that businesses were operating in accordance with the law.

The inspection was part of the government’s efforts to regulate businesses and strengthen oversight of foreign-owned businesses, particularly those that may involve the use of Thai nationals as nominees or proxy shareholders. It also aimed to ensure public safety and boost tourists’ confidence. The inspection focused on establishing the facts concerning the businesses’ operations, those with management authority, relevant documents, and business practices, in order to prevent Thai nationals from illegally holding shares or acting on behalf of foreign nationals.

Pol. Capt. Khetrath Chansilp, Deputy Governor of Phuket, said that in addition to the business that was the subject of the complaint, officials had also been instructed to inspect businesses that appeared to cater exclusively to foreign customers, including shops that prominently use Hebrew in their advertising or promotional materials. He stressed that business operators must treat both Thai and foreign customers fairly, avoid discrimination, and strictly comply with Thai law.

Phuket authorities will continue to step up inspections and regulate businesses in the province. If violations are found or there is evidence suggesting the use of Thai nationals as nominees or proxies, legal action will be taken strictly in accordance with the relevant laws, with the facts and evidence serving as the basis for enforcement. The measures are intended to ensure fairness in business operations while strengthening confidence in public safety and Phuket’s tourism image.

On August 17, Rewat Areerob, president of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO), said he had submitted a letter to the Minister of Labour asking the ministry to consider addressing the issue and introducing urgent measures concerning the impact of foreign workers in Phuket. The Phuket PAO has received complaints and heard concerns from local residents, while its monitoring of quality-of-life development and public health found that Phuket currently has a large number of foreign workers entering the workforce. This has led to overcrowding in state medical and public health services.

Rewat said the issue was particularly serious in cases where foreign workers give birth at public hospitals in the area, which directly affects local residents in terms of the convenience and speed of access to medical services, limitations on staff and hospital beds, as well as the overall burden on household living costs and public health budgets. Other ongoing problems have also been identified, including some groups of foreign workers taking jobs from Thai citizens, overcrowded communities, and concerns over the safety of local residents and their property. These problems have had a significant impact on the way of life, local identity, and public order in Phuket.

The Phuket PAO president added that, as a large local administrative organization responsible for providing public services, promoting social development and public health, and maintaining public order, the PAO is concerned about the hardships faced by local residents. However, the management of foreign workers, regulation of employment, and administration of certain welfare measures fall directly under the supervision and authority of the Ministry of Labour.

He therefore called on the Minister of Labour to implement urgent measures as follows: 1. In terms of public health welfare, he called for a review and stricter enforcement of the health insurance system for foreign workers, including withholding coverage for childbirth-related care, imposing controls on childbirth, and pushing for amendments to laws governing childbirth by foreign workers so that they would not be entitled to give birth in Thailand. He also called for measures requiring dependents and children of foreign workers to fully enroll in the health insurance system, in order to prevent local medical facilities from having to shoulder the medical costs and to reduce the impact on services provided to local residents. 2. In terms of employment controls and competition for jobs, he called for stricter inspections and enforcement against foreign workers who illegally work or engage in occupations reserved for Thai citizens,” Rewat said.

On August 18, Worasis Liangprasert, Deputy Minister of Interior (Interior Ministry No. 4), together with Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police; Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau; Pol. Lt. Gen. Nopasilp Poolsawat, Adviser to the Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police; Pol. Maj. Gen. Chotiwat Lueangwilai, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Investigation Division; Pol. Maj. Gen. Worasak Phisitbannakorn, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1; and officials from relevant agencies, mobilized more than 100 officers to raid seven locations in an operation dubbed “Clean House in the Capital.” The operation targeted Din Daeng flats over alleged corruption involving the fraudulent registration of foreign nationals in household registration records. Seven arrest warrants were issued: three for state officials, three for officials and brokers, and one for a witness who certified signatures.

The operation followed an investigation by the DOPA N.I.C.E. task force between April and June 2026. The team inspected the Din Daeng District Office and found irregularities involving large numbers of people being registered at just a few addresses. The investigation was then expanded to the Din Daeng flats, which contain 5,726 rooms. Authorities found that at least 1,366 foreign children aged 5 to 15 were listed in household registration records.

The investigation uncovered evidence linking state officials to a network of brokers. They allegedly approved the registration of large numbers of foreign children within short periods, even though the system had flagged addresses with more than 16 registered residents. Investigators also found that documents had been signed in advance and that the signatures of household heads had allegedly been forged before being used to support applications for identification cards for people without Thai nationality.

Investigators subsequently gathered evidence and asked the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases to issue arrest warrants for seven people:

Three state officials: Mr. Pitha, Mr. Suk, and Ms. Nee.

Three household heads, intermediaries and brokers: Ms. Na (household head), Ms. Si (intermediary), and Ms. Ya (broker).

One witness who certified signatures: Ms. Phae.

The operation resulted in the arrest of all seven suspects named in the warrants. They were taken into custody for legal proceedings, while authorities continued investigating to identify additional people involved.

Foreign nationals whose names were fraudulently entered into the system could receive a “Pink Card No. 7,” allowing them to live and conduct transactions in Thailand in accordance with rights provided by law, including access to basic education, healthcare and various financial transactions such as opening bank accounts. Authorities said this could potentially be linked to mule accounts, scammers or transnational criminal networks.

The operation was carried out in accordance with the policy of Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who ordered a serious crackdown on corruption involving civil registration records because it could affect national security and potentially be linked to various forms of crime.

The Royal Thai Police urged household heads and others involved in suspicious registrations of individuals at the Din Daeng flats to report to investigators at Din Daeng Police Station as soon as possible. Their cooperation would be taken into consideration in the legal proceedings. However, if evidence shows that they were involved and deliberately concealed information, authorities said they would face legal action to the fullest extent of the law.

Uncovering a 10,000 to 100,000 baht pink card scam. A closer look at why the "Pink Card No. 7" is so coveted by foreigners that some even resort to fraud.

1. The right to reside and travel in various areas like Thai citizens.
2. The right to conduct various transactions.
3. Children have the right to education.
4. The right to healthcare and the ability to purchase various health insurance plans.
5. The most desired benefit: after living in Thailand for 10 years and obtaining a bachelor's degree, the ability to apply for naturalization.

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ทลายขบวนการสวมสิทธิ์บัตรชมพู รวบ “ผู้ต้องหา-จนท.รัฐ” | Thai PBS news - YouTube

On August 15, 2026, police from Bo Phut Police Station, led by Pol. Lt. Col. Phanumat Chukue, along with officers from Surat Thani Immigration (Koh Samui), arrested Mr. Galbiber, a 45-year-old Israeli national.

He was arrested under 19 arrest warrants issued by the Koh Samui Provincial Court on charges of:

• Conspiring to provide false information to officials, causing false statements to be entered into public or official documents intended to serve as evidence, in a manner likely to cause damage to others or the public;
• Illegally operating a business reserved for Thai nationals, specifically a land-related business listed under List 1 of the Foreign Business Act; and
• Allowing or supporting Thai nationals or Thai entities to act as nominees or otherwise assist in conducting a foreign-owned business without the required authorization.

The suspect was taken into custody and handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.

[removed]

On August 15, 2026, Deputy Interior Minister Pol. Gen. Phonphir Suwannachiwat, along with Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Samran Nualma, Assistant National Police Chief and acting commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8 Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapong Thanomchit, the Surat Thani governor, officials from the Department of Business Development and DSI officers, led a force of more than 300 personnel in “Operation Crackdown on Foreign Nominee Networks, Phase 7” in Koh Samui, Surat Thani Province.

The operation is part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on foreigners operating businesses illegally or using Thai nationals as nominees to hold shares or property on their behalf. The investigation follows the “Koh Phangan Model”, under which authorities reviewed all 12,906 registered companies on Koh Samui. Of these, 8,254 had foreign shareholders, while 875 showed characteristics that could indicate nominee arrangements.

After a more detailed screening process, authorities identified 59 suspicious companies linked to 37 plots of land and buildings, covering a combined 31 rai, 2 ngan and 36.3 square wah (about 12.8 acres), with an estimated value of around 1.2 billion baht.

The investigation has so far resulted in 60 cases involving 88 suspects, including 26 Thai nationals and 62 foreigners. The Koh Samui Provincial Court issued 37 search warrants, while police arrested 14 people wanted under arrest warrants: four Chinese nationals, four British nationals, and one each from Italy, France, the Netherlands, Austria, the Philippines and the United States.

The latest raids targeted five major corporate networks:

Karn-Tree Group: A network involving 19 companies linked to Israeli nationals, allegedly using multilayered corporate structures and Thai nominees as shareholders. The businesses included an unlicensed nursery and the purchase, development, sale and rental of luxury villas to foreign customers.

Hole-Sea Group: A network involving four companies linked to German nationals, operating in real estate and luxury villa construction. Authorities suspect some villas were built on steep mountainous land in potentially unlawful locations, raising concerns over improperly obtained construction permits. The villas were allegedly sold by transferring shares in nominee companies, allowing the parties to avoid land-transfer taxes and failing to declare income for corporate tax purposes.

Kamon Group: Thai nationals were allegedly involved in setting up 27 companies for foreigners to obtain work permits or business visas, including long-term visas allowing stays of up to one year. Authorities found discrepancies between the companies’ registration records and their actual investments.

Pa Group: The group involved 16 companies initially established entirely under Thai ownership to avoid document-verification requirements. Foreign nationals were allegedly added to the shareholder structures later to obtain work permits and change their visa status to business visas, despite the companies allegedly having no genuine business operations.

I Group: This network involved two companies and originated from information provided by the French Embassy in Thailand concerning a French national accused of defrauding investors in a cannabis farm, causing more than 21 million baht in losses.

Surat Thani Immigration investigated the case and found that the allegedly defrauded funds came from French victims who had established the two companies using Thai nominees to hold shares on their behalf. The companies were allegedly used to purchase land and build a luxury hotel featuring a swimming pool and tennis court. Another company, known as Domain, was established to manage the hotel.

Authorities found that the hotel allegedly used disguised lease agreements to advertise daily accommodation online, charging 11,000-17,000 baht per night, but had no record of applying for a hotel operating license.

Pol. Gen. Samran said the operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on nominee networks in major tourist destinations. Across the first six phases, authorities investigated 238 companies and 272 plots of land, covering more than 184 rai, with the combined value of the land and buildings estimated at around 2.839 billion baht. A total of 178 arrest warrants have been issued.

Authorities said the broader operation aims to bring major tourist provinces-including Surat Thani, Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga, Chonburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan-into compliance with the law, ensuring that foreign investment and business activities are conducted legally.

The government also said it would continue cracking down on foreign capital networks that exploit Thai businesses and affect the livelihoods of Thai people, as well as taking decisive action against government officials involved in corruption. The investigation will be expanded to other areas nationwide.

Members of the public who have information about suspected illegal activities involving foreign business networks can report them to their local police station or the 1599 hotline, available 24 hours a day.

On August 12, 2026, police in Rayong arrested four Cambodian nationals - three men identified as Ko, Mike and Kuy, and one woman, Sly - in connection with a motorcycle theft ring operating across the province.

The operation was led by senior officers from Wang Chan, Pluak Daeng and Ban Kram police stations. Authorities seized 11 motorcycles, vehicle keys, electronic signal devices believed to have been used to steal motorcycles, and several other pieces of evidence.

Series of Thefts Led to Investigation

The investigation began after Wang Chan Police Station received multiple reports of stolen motorcycles in Wang Chan District.

The first theft occurred shortly after midnight on July 27, when a gray Honda Giorno with a temporary red license plate was stolen from outside a rental room. Another Honda Giorno, this time black, was stolen from the same district on August 10.

Police also linked the suspects to an attempted theft of a Honda PCX on August 1. The thieves tried to break the steering lock and wheel the motorcycle away, but fled empty-handed after the owner caught them in the act.

CCTV Traced Gang to Safe House

Investigators reviewed CCTV footage along roads leading in and out of the area before identifying the suspects as Cambodian nationals. The group had rented a house near the Wang Chan-Khao Chamao Road, using it as both a residence and a storage site for stolen motorcycles.

Police raided the property and arrested all four suspects, recovering 11 motorcycles.

Initial checks confirmed that at least two of the motorcycles had been stolen in Wang Chan, while the remaining bikes are believed to have been stolen from other districts across Rayong. Officers are verifying vehicle identification numbers and coordinating with police across the province to locate the rightful owners.

Suspects Planned to Smuggle Bikes to Cambodia

During questioning, the suspects admitted to stealing motorcycles. They said they had rented the house in mid-July and targeted motorcycles after midnight, when owners were asleep.

The gang allegedly used electronic scanners and remote devices to bypass security systems and focused on specific models, particularly the Honda Giorno and Honda PCX. Once they had collected enough motorcycles, they planned to smuggle them into Cambodia, where each bike could be sold for 10,000-15,000 baht.

Police Hunt Remaining Gang Members

Authorities believe the four suspects are only part of a larger cross-border vehicle theft network. Investigators are now searching for another key Cambodian suspect known as “Tai” and two additional fugitives believed to be involved.

Police are also investigating whether the same gang is responsible for motorcycle thefts across multiple districts in Rayong, including Pluak Daeng, Nikhom Phatthana, Huai Pong, Wang Chan, Ban Khai, Klaeng, Ban Kram and Samnak Thong.

The four suspects have been charged with joint theft committed by two or more persons and removing stolen property to evade arrest, and have been handed over to investigators for legal proceedings.

The issue has sparked widespread debate and been widely shared online after marine conservationist Sai Scott, also known as Sai Samut, posted his views on his personal X account (@psisamutt) about the use of language by foreign service workers in Bangkok.

He said that he has recently noticed a large number of foreign service workers in Bangkok. Personally, when he goes to a restaurant and a staff member speaks to him in English, he chooses to respond only in Thai. If the staff member is unable to communicate with him in Thai, he immediately asks to have someone else take his order.

Sai Scott explained that he sees this as a small thing he can do because he intends to use Thai while in Thailand. He ended his post with a strongly worded comment, saying that allowing foreign workers to come and work in Thailand while being unable to speak Thai amounts to taking advantage of Thailand.

On August 9, 2026, at approximately 5:05 p.m., Police Lieutenant Colonel Mekhin Kongsaeng, an inquiry officer at Mae Sai Police Station in Chiang Rai, was notified that a foreign national had been physically assaulted. Chiang Rai Tourist Police and patrol officers from Mae Sai Police Station had already taken her to Mae Sai Hospital for treatment. He then informed his superiors and went to the hospital to investigate.

There, officers found a 19-year-old Russian woman, later identified as Mariia Mikhailona, who was visibly frightened. She had injuries and bruising on her arms and legs, which doctors would need to examine further.

An examination of her identification documents showed that she was holding a Chinese visa. However, through an interpreter, Mariia said that she was a Russian national. She had left her home country of Russia to work in China and later moved to Myanmar, where she worked in both Yangon and Mandalay. She said her employer was Chinese and that she was paid $3,000, or about 100,000 baht, per month. However, she said she was repeatedly physically assaulted.

She later said that Myanmar soldiers took her to a village near a river. From there, she was taken up a mountain for about 15 minutes and then traveled by vehicle for another 25 to 30 minutes. A white sedan picked her up, driven by a Myanmar man believed to be around 26 years old.

She was taken to a two-story house where about eight men were staying. She was told to sleep downstairs, where people were also gambling.

On August 9, she managed to escape from the house and cross the Sai River. She then encountered a man driving a pickup truck and asked him to take her to a shopping mall in Mae Sai so she could seek help. She subsequently contacted Thai authorities, who assisted her and took her to the hospital.

Initially, the Russian woman remained frightened and was crying. She did not yet disclose what kind of work she had been doing or who she had been working for. She said only that she wanted to return home to Russia and contact her mother.

Officials therefore arranged for her to receive medical treatment first and then contacted the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Thailand to notify them and proceed according to protocol. Authorities suspect that the Russian woman may have been a victim of a transnational scam network.

Questions over a Jewish Chabad religious center in Patong, Phuket, whose tightly restricted access sparked concerns about possible extraterritorial privileges, have led to a wider investigation into its management and business structure. Authorities found that Chabad board members were former Israeli and American nationals who later obtained Thai citizenship, with the investigation expanding to a network of 361 alleged nominee companies.

The issue was highlighted in a special report by Thai News Agency on August 7. Authorities inspected the Chabad center on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road and stressed that it is not foreign territory and has no extraterritorial privileges. Deputy Interior Minister Phonphir Suwannachwee said the site is in Thailand and must comply with Thai law.

The five-story building includes religious facilities as well as a kosher restaurant. The report said the restaurant is the fourth of 10 branches operated in Thailand by The Kosher Place (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which has registered capital of 30 million baht.

The report also said Chabad's three shareholders hold Thai ID cards but were not born Thai citizens. They are rabbis or senior Jewish spiritual leaders who later acquired Thai citizenship. Two reportedly became Thai citizens on November 21, 2017.

Authorities stressed that obtaining Thai citizenship is not itself an issue, as naturalized citizens have the same legal rights as other Thais. The key question is whether Thai citizenship has been used to conceal foreign ownership or control of businesses.

The investigation has now expanded into the broader issue of nominee companies. The Interior and Commerce ministries are reportedly examining businesses in major tourist destinations including Bangkok, Phuket, Koh Samui, Phang Nga, Pai, and Chiang Mai. Investigators say they have identified 361 alleged nominee companies so far.

Authorities are particularly examining cases where foreigners may use Thai nationals as shareholders or nominees to bypass legal restrictions on business ownership and property rights. If such arrangements are found to violate the law, legal action will be taken on a case-by-case basis.

The investigation also covers businesses around Chabad, including restaurants and car rental companies, some of which reportedly use Hebrew to communicate with customers. The case has raised broader questions about foreign business networks in Thailand's major tourist destinations and potential loopholes in investment and property-ownership laws.

Officials emphasize that the investigation is not about anyone's nationality or religion, but whether legal status and corporate structures are being used lawfully. If Thai nationals are found to have been used as nominees to conceal foreign ownership, the issue could raise wider concerns about foreign capital exploiting legal loopholes to control businesses, land, and other economic resources in Thailand.

เปิดปม “ชาบัดป่าตอง” พบกรรมการบริหารอดีตอิสราเอล-อเมริกัน ได้ "สัญชาติไทย" ยกแผง โยงเครือข่ายนอมินีซ่อนรูป 361 บริษัท - เดอะพับลิกโพสต์

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glzg5e0wRRw&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ftna.mcot.net%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Ftna.mcot.net

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow sent a note, dated 7 August 2026, to Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, as follows:

“I wish to refer to the End of Mission Statement issued by Mr. Tom Andrews, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Cambodia dated 31 July 2026, following his official visit to Cambodia from 20 to 31 July 2026, and to convey the following:

“1. Thailand is aware that the Special Rapporteur's End of Mission Statement is a part of the Special Procedures' working methods. However, we are deeply disappointed about the credibility and accountability of the report, which made many allegations against Thailand, even though it should have focused on the situation of human rights in Cambodia.

“We consider that this goes beyond the mandate entrusted by the Human Rights Council. We also regret that the Special Rapporteur did not provide ample opportunity and time for Thailand to present the facts and provide perspectives prior to publishing the statement and organising the press conference, which contained much distorted information without thorough verification.

“It is also against the Code of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate-holders of the Human Rights Council, which stipulates that the mandate-holders shall exercise their functions in accordance with their mandate, through ethical behaviour, professional conduct, constructive dialogue and impartial assessment of facts based on internationally recognised human rights standards.

“In fact, Thailand has consistently provided relevant facts available to OHCHR through established channels, including correspondence with your Office, statements before the Human Rights Council, and its response to the joint communication in June 2026.

“By failing to comprehensively take into account facts and perspectives from all relevant stakeholders, the report has departed from the principles of neutrality, impartiality and objectivity as well as the mandate of the Special Procedures. It is even more concerning that the report has been sensationalised for political gains by the party involved.

“2. As you may recall in our meetings in Geneva, I have expressed that the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, and its consequences, was not initiated by Thailand. Rather, it began with Cambodia's unprovoked and indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets and hospitals in Thailand on 24 July 2025. These attacks resulted in tragic loss of life and injuries among Thai civilians. They have also forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to evacuate their homes.

“These issues were not reflected in the statement, which instead provides many distorted facts and figures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand has already issued a statement on this matter, which is enclosed herewith for your information.

“3. Since the beginning of the Thailand - Cambodia conflict, Thailand has consistently cooperated with the Special Procedures and mandate holders of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC). We expect that this gesture would be reciprocated by the Special Procedures.

“Regrettably, the working methods of this Special Procedure leave much to be desired in terms of professionalism and impartiality, failing to take due account of the relevant facts and perspectives of all concerned parties in a comprehensive and balanced manner prior to making public statements. Such actions do not accord due respect to Thailand as the country concerned and risk allowing the mandate to be exploited for political purposes.

“As a member of the Human Rights Council, Thailand remains committed to extending our cooperation with your Office and the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.”

On August 8, 2026, at Plai Bang Police Station in Nonthaburi, Pol. Col. Chokchai Khanacharoen, deputy commander of the Nonthaburi Provincial Police, Pol. Col. Phasakorn Chaiyathaweewong, superintendent of Plai Bang Police Station, and other officers held a meeting to expedite the investigation into the case involving a Grade 9 student who allegedly opened fire at Thepsirin Nonthaburi School, killing eight people and injuring 23 others.

Police invited 16 teachers, students, and witnesses who were at the scene to provide information in an effort to establish a clear motive.

Police confirmed that the ammunition used in the attack was live ammunition, not training rounds. Thirty-four rounds were reportedly recovered from the suspect's bag, out of 98 rounds that had already been used.

A male student, one of the suspect's classmates who was present during the incident, told reporters that he was at the scene and that the suspect had been looking for a teacher, identified as Teacher A, who taught Thai language. However, at that moment he did not know why the suspect was looking for the teacher.

Two of the boy's close friends later told reporters that there was some truth to earlier reports that he had failed Thai language and received a grade of 0 despite submitting all his assignments. However, they said the issue had already been resolved, as the teacher eventually changed his grade to a passing mark, and some time had passed since then.

As for whether the boy had problems with the teacher, one friend said it was simply a typical teacher-student disagreement. However, when repeatedly asked whether the boy disliked his Thai teacher, the friend confirmed that he did.

Another close friend said the boy had previously brought a BB gun to school and had invited him to go shooting at a BB gun range, although he did not go. He confirmed that the boy genuinely enjoyed playing with BB guns, but said he did not know whether the boy had ever used a real firearm or practiced shooting at a gun range.

Regarding reports that the boy had been bullied by classmates, his close friends denied this, saying there was no bullying or harassment in the classroom and that the reports circulating in the media were untrue.

Pol. Col. Chokchai said police had invited teachers and students who witnessed the incident to provide statements. About 20 witnesses are expected to be questioned, with 16 having been interviewed so far. These include around six or seven classmates and other students, while the remaining witnesses are teachers at the school.

As for the Thai-language teacher who was reportedly linked to the case, police said the teacher had not yet provided a statement. Officers are currently coordinating with the teacher to appear before investigators.

โยงชนวน! เปิดเกรดวิชาติด 0 เยาวชนก่อเหตุ เพื่อนเผยนาทีไล่ตามหาครูภาษาไทย | เดลินิวส์

On August 7, 2026, at Government House, Deputy Interior Minister Phonphir Suwannachai spoke about an inspection of a Chabad center in Patong, Kathu District, Phuket, where authorities investigated and sought to regulate foreign-owned businesses. The inspection followed a verbal confrontation with Israeli nationals on July 25.

He said the investigation had since been expanded and found that both Thai nationals acting as shareholders and Israelis who had obtained Thai citizenship were allegedly involved. He said authorities were alarmed to find that more than 100 companies may be connected to the network, with estimated revenue of more than 5 billion baht last year.

The businesses involved range from car rentals to tour-related services, which authorities suspect may be part of a so-called “zero-dollar tour” operation. The investigation will be expanded to islands, other tourist destinations and accommodation businesses in other regions.

“I have instructed the director-general and deputy director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration to coordinate with the Ministry of Justice to trace the flow of money. We already have some targets in mind and will conduct further inspections,” the deputy minister said.

“As for Thai nationals holding shares or facilitating these businesses, we will investigate where the funds used to raise the capital came from and whether they originated from foreign investors. If the investigation confirms this, it would clearly constitute the use of Thai nominees.”

He said authorities were not concerned simply because some foreigners had obtained Thai citizenship. However, if they were found to be operating illegal businesses or had obtained business registrations unlawfully, they would face legal action, with information being forwarded to the relevant agencies.

Phonphir added that, besides service businesses, authorities had also found businesses involving educational institutions. He said one such operation appeared to involve Canadian nationals acting through Thai nominees, and the investigation would continue until those involved were removed from the country.

Asked whether Thai nationals should be concerned about a repeat of cases involving Chinese nationals who obtained Thai citizenship, Phonphir said there was no need for concern because authorities would examine how the individuals obtained citizenship, including their supporting documents and backgrounds.

He said he had spoken with the director-general of the Department of Provincial Administration about reviewing the procedures and documentation required for obtaining Thai citizenship. He also suggested that some individuals may have previously operated businesses in other countries, obtained citizenship there, and then brought their capital into Thailand to invest, potentially transferring profits out of the country.

“The Ministry of Interior is trying to protect genuine Thai business owners. We do not want foreigners coming in and taking the benefits out of our country,” he said.

Asked whether Thai people could be confident that these groups would not gradually undermine Thai nationality, Phonphir said some of those involved may have already been established in Thailand for some time.

However, he said the policies of the prime minister and interior minister were clear: authorities would remove people who exploited Thai nationals and foreign operators found to be conducting illegal businesses.

He stressed that investigations would take time, saying authorities could not immediately arrest people simply because they were suspected. Investigators must first trace financial transactions, examine the origins of properties they own, investigate how shareholdings were registered and identify the Thai business partners involved.

“It may take some time, but we have already made significant progress,” he said.