Social development
Thailand apologises to Laos over football final drama
A group of Thai supporters arrested in Laos for causing disturbance during Thailand’s football match against Vietnam were released on 5 September after spending a night in detention. The Thai Embassy in the Lao capital issued an official statement to apologise for their act, which threatened to affect ...
Thai football fans arrested after clashes in Laos
A group of Thai football fans were arrested after violent clashes with Lao officials during a youth match in Vientiane. Keep reading ...
Laos frees Thai football hooligans
Lao police on 5 September released 25 Thais who stirred up violence during a football match in Vientiane on 4 September, the Thai embassy said. The embassy said Lao authorities contacted Thai diplomats in Vientiane to arrange for the hooligans to be sent home and they ...
Media bill 'should exclude newspapers'
Newspapers should be exempt from possible media curbs under the media reform bill drafted by the National Reform Council and submitted to the cabinet on 1 September, a forum was told on 2 September. Keep reading ...
Koh Kong crackdown
Seventeen human rights monitors, journalists and protesters were arrested in Koh Kong province on 2 September when police and alleged “instigators” cracked down on a peaceful demonstration calling for the release of three imprisoned environmental activists. The group was held at the provincial police station for about ...
School fee limits set for new academic year
In the wake of complaints by students’ parents about the annual increases in tuition fees, the Vientiane Education and Sports Department has set a cap on fee increases. The department has set a limit for both state and private schools in Vientiane, from kindergarten to secondary ...
Australian and Thai journalists found not guilty of defaming Thai navy
An Australian editor and his Thai reporter colleague were found not guilty on 1 September of criminal defamation for reporting on the alleged involvement of Thai naval officers in the trafficking of Burmese Rohingya refugees. “We’re delighted. It’s such a wonderful day for media freedom and Thai ...
Election commission rejects Muslim candidates en masse
Nineteen election candidates in northern Rakhine State have been barred from running by the district sub-election commission, which called into question their residency status and the citizenship of their parents. Applications were submitted by 378 potential candidates representing a range of political parties across five districts ...
Journalists face jail over Thai trafficking report
Two journalists, including an Australian editor, face jail 1 September as a Thai court is to decide whether they are guilty of defamation over a report implicating the kingdom’s navy in human trafficking. The trial has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups and the UN. It comes ...
Food shortages still plague flood victims
Four weeks after President U Thein Sein declared a national state of emergency, the disaster relief effort is still struggling to feed all the flood victims. Community leaders say gaps in the coordination of aid are to blame. More than 451,000 disaster-affected people in states and regions ...
