Tara Abhasakun

A Thai-American dual citizen, Tara has reported news and spoken on a number of human rights and cultural news issues in Thailand. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history from The College of Wooster. She interned at Southeast Asia Globe, and has written for a number of outlets. Tara reports on a range of Thailand news issues.
  • World NewsIndonesian villager catches massive crocodile using only a rope

    Indonesian villager catches massive crocodile using only a rope

    An Indonesian villager has caught a massive crocodile using only a rope on the island of Sulawesi. A video shows the villager, 53 year old Usman, pulling the rope on each side of the crocodile’s mouth. Later, the giant croc is seen with its mouth and claws completely tied up. The beast was discovered to be 4.3 metres long. But…

  • Pattaya NewsChon Buri police step up security after car keyed over parking spot

    Chon Buri police step up security after car keyed over parking spot

    Police in Sri Racha district of Chon Buri province are stepping up security after a tourists’ car was damaged this week, likely over his parking spot on Koh Loy island. The tourist, 29 year old Chutiphong Thongmee, had parked his car there before boarding a ferry to another island. When Chutiphong returned from his day trip, he was horrified to…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya police make more promises to stop gold theft against Indian tourists

    Pattaya police make more promises to stop gold theft against Indian tourists

    Police are making more promises to end Pattaya’s problem with gold theft against Indian tourists. This news follows a string of incidents where thieves have snatched gold necklaces from Indian travellers in recent months. Suspects often flirt with the tourists and touch them, asking them to come to their hotel with them. Victims often realise they have been robbed after…

  • Pattaya NewsBike racing tourists disturb Pattaya locals

    Bike racing tourists disturb Pattaya locals

    Bike racers are getting in the way of Pattaya locals and other drivers near Second Pattaya Road. The bikers have been racing each other up and down Soi 18 at night time, often suddenly turning or stopping and not giving way to others passing by, according to Pattaya Police Chief Krirkrit Saiwana. A video shared on social media shows a…

  • World NewsMore fighting between Karen and Burmese army, villagers injured

    More fighting between Karen and Burmese army, villagers injured

    Another round of violence has broken out between Karen forces and the Burmese army. Now, 2 injured Burmese villagers are being treated at a Thai hospital in the border province of Tak. The men, 30 and 33 years old, have shrapnel wounds to their heads and legs. Sources said Karen soldiers had taken a base from Burmese troops, and a…

  • Pattaya NewsCentury old woman in Pattaya to be honoured for long life

    Century old woman in Pattaya to be honoured for long life

    A 100 year old woman in Pattaya is alive and kicking. The woman, Ladda Rattanaoran, has passed a physical exam “with flying colors”, according to Pattaya Mail. A nurse said Ladda was still energetic for her age after the checkup earlier this week. Now, Ladda is scheduled to be honoured for her long life at a ceremony on July 8.…

  • World NewsBar employees in Indonesia accused of blasphemy over new drink scheme

    Bar employees in Indonesia accused of blasphemy over new drink scheme

    Indonesia’s religious blasphemy law is growing “more dangerous” according to rights groups. Police have charged 6 bar employees in the country with blasphemy over a new drink promotion. Under the PR stunt, bar-goers get free drinks if their names are Mohammad or Maria. Mohammad is the name of the prophet of Islam, although it’s also a common men’s name in…

  • Pattaya NewsTourist in Chon Buri gets car damaged after parking in someone’s usual spot

    Tourist in Chon Buri gets car damaged after parking in someone’s usual spot

    A tourist in Chon Buri’s Sri Racha District was in for a nasty shock earlier this week when he parked his car on Koh Loy island. The tourist, 29 year old Chutiphong Thongmee, had parked his car there before boarding a ferry to another island. When Chutiphong returned from his day trip, he was horrified to discover that his car…

  • Bangkok NewsTo cushion price hikes, Bangkok PT stations will serve 25 baht curry

    To cushion price hikes, Bangkok PT stations will serve 25 baht curry

    Price hikes are no fun for anyone, but in the Bangkok area, some groups are trying to cushion the blow of the world’s economic crisis. The Thai Restaurant Association announced today that it will launch a project tomorrow (Monday) to serve curry for 25 baht at PT filling stations across Bangkok and the surrounding area. TRA president Thaniwan Kulmongkol said…

  • Bangkok NewsUPDATE: Bangkok Chinatown fire death toll jumps to 2

    UPDATE: Bangkok Chinatown fire death toll jumps to 2

    UPDATE The death toll has risen after the fire in Bangkok’s Chinatown this morning. While 1 person was reported dead at the Sampeng market earlier today, that number has now jumped to 2. The bodies of the man and woman killed by the blaze were reportedly burnt beyond recognition. The man is identified as 34 year old Phetduang, and the…

  • Economy NewsThailand plans to negotiate with Saudi Arabia over fertiliser

    Thailand plans to negotiate with Saudi Arabia over fertiliser

    Thailand is suffering a fertiliser shortage, with the country’s farmers bearing the high costs of imported fertilisers. Now, the Chamber of Commerce plans to negotiate with Saudi suppliers. Saudi Arabia recently allowed 2 of its suppliers to sell fertiliser to Thailand, according to Thai Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit. The International Trade Promotion Department is scheduled to hold a business matching…

  • Northern Thailand NewsChiang Rai police arrested for taking huge bribe from Chinese porn gang

    Chiang Rai police arrested for taking huge bribe from Chinese porn gang

    Another day, another story involving Thai police taking bribes, this time in Chiang Rai. According to deputy police commissioner Surachate Hakpan, a.k.a ‘Big Joke,’ 4 officers in the northern province took a 1 million baht bribe from a Chinese gang filming live pornography at 2 resorts. One of the officers had searched the gang’s filming spot on March 31. He…

  • World NewsFilipino transgender woman takes the crown at Pattaya pageant

    Filipino transgender woman takes the crown at Pattaya pageant

    A Filipino transgender woman claimed the crown at a world-renowned beauty pageant in Pattaya yesterday. Contestants from Columbia and France finished in the runners up places. Altogether, 23 transgender women competed for the title. The newly crowned Miss International Queen, 27 year old Fuschia Anne Ravena, dazzled the crowd in her glittery silver dress, which the bejewelled silver crown matched…

  • Crime NewsCannabis vendor in central Thailand is making bank

    Cannabis vendor in central Thailand is making bank

    One vendor in central Thailand is pretty happy about Thailand’s new cannabis laws. The vendor, 53 year old Khamphai, is bringing good vibes to local stoners in Ang Thong province, and over 1,000 baht a day to herself. Despite the announcement to decriminalise aspects of cannabis and marijuana use, specific laws and guidelines are yet to be presented to the…

  • Pattaya NewsChon Buri cactus thieves on the loose, plants reportedly worth 80,000 baht

    Chon Buri cactus thieves on the loose, plants reportedly worth 80,000 baht

    Forget underwear thieves, 2 new crooks are on the loose in Chon Buri- cactus thieves. But why would anyone steal the prickly plants? Because these are reportedly worth 80,000 baht. CCTV footage from last week shows that 2 men in masks cut through the net of a greenhouse in the Sri Racha district, and stole 200 cactuses before they dashed…

  • South Thailand NewsSouth Thailand’s Muslim leaders reject weed, liquor and same-sex partnerships

    South Thailand’s Muslim leaders reject weed, liquor and same-sex partnerships

    South Thailand’s Muslim leaders are rejecting the kingdom’s growing liberalism on 3 issues. On Thursday (June 23), Muslim representatives from Yala, Narathiwat, Songkhla, Satun and Pattani provinces, read a statement against 3 draft bills that are currently being debated or yet to be presented to the Thai parliament Those bills were the Cannabis and Hemp Bill, the Progressive Liquor Act,…

  • Pattaya NewsSewage nightmare continues for Pattaya village after years

    Sewage nightmare continues for Pattaya village after years

    A village in East Pattaya has suffered from horrendous sewage problems for more than 7 years, and things aren’t getting any better. Wastewater regularly flows into Daraphan Village 5 from the neighbouring Eakmongkol Village 8, and officials’ minimal efforts have not brought about change. In 2015, officials had agreed to install suitable pipework to carry the wastewater into Pattaya city…

  • Crime NewsThai PM bans cannabis and hemp use on military premises

    Thai PM bans cannabis and hemp use on military premises

    Thai officials are continuing to clamp down on the ‘happy plant’ in various institutions across the country. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has now ordered a ban against all uses of cannabis and hemp on military premises. So if any soldiers out there were hoping for any chance of bonding with their pals over a joint, those dreams have now been dashed.…

  • Thailand NewsThai singer eats protected lizard, faces backlash

    Thai singer eats protected lizard, faces backlash

    A famous Thai country singer has come under fire over her daring culinary tastes. The singer, Kratai Phannipha, filmed her husband cooking a spicy Thai dish containing one unusual type of meat- a monitor lizard, which is a protected species in Thailand. A photo shows the couple later chowing down on the, erm, ‘exotic’ meal. One angry tweeter who went…

  • Northern Thailand NewsStorm rips apart villages in Northeast Thailand

    Storm rips apart villages in Northeast Thailand

    Communities in Northeast Thailand are the latest to bear the brunt of the country’s monsoon season. Rain plundered 3 villages in Nakhon Ratchasima province last night, damaging 48 houses and several crops. Non Sung district officials have now warned villagers to make sure that their houses’ roofs and structures can endure rough weather. Northeast Thailand is the country’s poorest region.…

  • Phuket NewsMotorbike engulfed in flames on Patong Hill, driver left uninjured

    Motorbike engulfed in flames on Patong Hill, driver left uninjured

    A motorbike driving down Patong Hill on Phuket’s west coast was engulfed in flames last night, as shown in a photo of the incident. Not only did the driver survive, but he was left without any injuries. The man, 54 year old food seller Niphon Mengeaid, told The Phuket Express about his close call… “I was driving down Patong hill…

  • Thailand NewsPolice raid Kanchanaburi resorts for land encroachment

    Police raid Kanchanaburi resorts for land encroachment

    There’s been a new incident of Thailand’s tourism industry disturbing the country’s nature, this time in Kanchanaburi. Police in the western province have raided 4 resorts yesterday that encroached on forest land, as well as land belonging to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. The police busted resorts around a dam in the Sri Sawat district. The first resort had…

  • Economy NewsThai officials say price of bagged rice won’t jump

    Thai officials say price of bagged rice won’t jump

    In the midst of the world’s ongoing price inflation, Thailand’s Commerce Ministry says retail prices on bagged rice will not jump. The chairman of the Thai Rice Packers Association said in a meeting yesterday that the association has cooperated with the Internal Trade Department to freeze retail prices. The Commerce Ministry has noted, however, that some sellers could reduce promotional…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket officials say local Sunday market rakes in 2 million baht a week

    Phuket officials say local Sunday market rakes in 2 million baht a week

    Phuket officials say that a weekly market in the island province’s main city district has raked in at least 2 million baht a week this month. A local leader said the famous “Lard Yai” Phuket Street Sunday Market has seen a jump in tourists visiting it every week, now that Thailand is slowly winding its tourism industry up again. The…

  • Crime NewsThai police say they support new approach to drug abuse in Phuket and beyond

    Thai police say they support new approach to drug abuse in Phuket and beyond

    Thai police say they are supporting a new approach to drug abuse, following an anti-drug campaign event in Phuket yesterday. The deputy inspector general of Royal Thai Police said the campaign in Phuket’s town of Karon follows a nationwide shift in the country to get drug users treatment instead of jail time. Karon’s police chief said at the event that…

  • World NewsMalaysia set to replace India as tourist king of Thailand

    Malaysia set to replace India as tourist king of Thailand

    As Thailand Pass prepares to meet its end come July 1, it looks as if Malaysia is in line to replace the kingdom’s current tourist king, India. Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said yesterday that once Thailand Pass is no more, a larger number of Malaysian tourists than Indians is expected to make their way to the ‘Land of…

  • Phuket NewsAfter noise complaints, Phuket venues accused of breaking Covid-19 rules

    After noise complaints, Phuket venues accused of breaking Covid-19 rules

    What began as noise complaints turned into a conflict over Covid-19 restriction violations in Phuket this week. Phuket police arrested 2 night venue operators earlier this week following complaints of loud noise after the midnight closing time. Both managers allegedly violated the curfew and Covid-19 restrictions, and one allegedly also violated entertainment employment laws for entertainment venues. Their venues are…

  • Economy NewsThailand’s employment rate expected to spike following eased restrictions

    Thailand’s employment rate expected to spike following eased restrictions

  • Northern Thailand NewsNortheast Thailand teacher’s ex stabs her to death in classroom

    Northeast Thailand teacher’s ex stabs her to death in classroom

    The ex-husband of a Northeast Thailand teacher has stabbed her to death today in a classroom of the school where she taught. The ex-husband, ‘Bo’, had reportedly threatened to kill his ex-wife 3 days ago. The couple split up after she caught him cheating. Today, Bo drove up to the school in Surin province and asked a security guard where…

  • Central Thailand NewsTeen girl commits suicide after being allegedly blackmailed over naked pictures

    Teen girl commits suicide after being allegedly blackmailed over naked pictures

    A teenage girl has committed suicide after a man allegedly blackmailed her over some naked pictures. The man, in central Thailand’s province of Pathum Thani, was arrested this morning in connection with the suicide and for allegedly blackmailing other teenage girls online. The 27 year old man, Piyabutr Urai-ngam, reportedly lured the 14 year old girl into sending him naked…