Bangkok
Bangkok’s future is green, forest park project set to finish next year

Bangkok’s future is green. The “Benjakitti Park” in the city’s Asoke area is expanding and becoming a “forest park.” The new addition will feature a 1.5 kilometre elevated walkway surrounded by tropical trees and a bicycle track that will connect to Lumpini Park. Along with a variety of plants, the park will also have canals and ponds.
Phases 2 and 3 of the project will cost 652 million baht and is set to be completed by next year. ASEAN Skyline posted renderings of the project on their Facebook page.
The project will be named Suan Pa Benjakitti, or Benjakitti Forest Park. The park, constructed on land previously owned by the Tobacco Authority of Thailand, honours late-queen Sirikit Kitiyakara.
SOURCE: Thai Visa
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Bangkok
Royal Thai Police accused of “ticket” promotion system to buy senior positions

The Royal Thai Police are being accused of using so-called “elephant tickets” to buy their way into promotions and pay their way up the police force’s chain of command. The corruption among the police force and the buying of positions without meeting the requirements for a promotion has been a longtime problem, according to the Bangkok Post.
The “elephant ticket” issue was recently brought to light by an opposition MP at a censure debate who said it fast tracked the promotion system and allowed some people who were unqualified and undeserving to raise their rank. Some Thais have protested the “elephant ticket.” Many gathered in front of the Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok last week, including one person who dressed up as an elephant.
At the censure debate on February 19, Move Forward Party MP Rangsiman Rome called out PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, who chairs the Police Commission overseeing the Royal Thai Police, and said the prime minister allowed the “elephant ticket” promotions. Prayut later said there were problems within the police force and that he would handle it.
Police who want a promotion need a ticket, which is basically just a reference or a stamp of approval from a senior officer or even a politician or business person. To get an “elephant ticket,” some can pay for the ticket. A source told the Post that positions for police superintendents cost between 5 to 10 million baht.
Others can get a ticket by doing favours for their superior or even just serving their superior for a long time, sources told the Bangkok Post. The higher the position a senior officer has, the more tickets they have to give out.
To read the full special report by the Bangkok Post, click HERE.
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Crime
Woman talks about the life of a Thai “pretty” after model’s death

Following the news of a model who died after working as a hostess at a Bangkok party, Thai media spoke with a woman, known in Thailand as a “pretty,” about what it’s like to work in the lucrative, yet shady Thai model entertainment industry where many work as hostesses at parties and events that often involve alcohol, drugs and sex work.
“Miss Cake” told the Thai news outlet Daily News that pretties are sent to parties by “modelling agencies.” The parties are even categorized depending on if drugs or sex are involved. Apparently the parties are either “En-Up,” “En-V” or just “En” for entertainment. En-Up means drugs are involved, while En-V means the pretties will offer sexual services. Other pretties work at promotional events like auto shows. Since nightclubs and other entertainment venues in Bangkok have been closed due to the pandemic, many of the parties are now held at private homes.
If a pretty is working at an En-Up party, Miss Cake says that means there will be ecstasy, known as “khanom,” the Thai word for a dessert or snack. She says good “khanom” shipped from overseas costs around 900 to 1,000 baht while the poor quality, Thai-made drugs cost 500 baht. Just about every pretty takes drugs, she says. If mixed with ketamine, Miss Cake says it can be dangerous.
Daily News spoke with Miss Cake following the death of a 33 year old Witchayaporn “Wawa” Wisetsombat who worked died in a hospital after working as a hostess at a party in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district. She had been hired by a modelling agency to serve drinks at a private party. Her younger sister told the Bangkok Post that Wawa was a product presenter and never sold sex or used narcotics. Doctors told the Post Wawa died from respiratory and blood system failure. They are still waiting for the results for a toxicology test.
The death of another model back in 2019 shed light on the abuse and danger many pretties face in the industry. 25 year old Thitima “Lunlabelle” Noraphanpiphat died from “extreme alcohol intoxication,” according to an autopsy report. Her dead body was found in the lobby of a Bangkok condominium. 6 people were found guilty for involvement in Lunlabelle’s death.
Abuse is common in the industry and many women working as pretties are often pressured into drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. The work of pretties is looked down upon in Thai society. Due to the stigma, many due not file complaints when they are abused.
SOURCE: Thai Visa
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Crime
Bangkok police raid house where model died after playing hostess

Bangkok police are investigating a model’s death after raiding a Chatuchak district house where the model died after being hired as a hostess. The model, Whitchayaporn ‘Wa’ Visessombut, was hired along with other women to serve drinks and entertain guests at a private residence last Monday. Then, the next day, she died of respiratory failure after being brought unconscious to Paolo Hospital Kaset.
Investigators say they obtained a text chat history between the 33 year old model and her agent the day she was hired for the job. The chats revealed a receipt for a 30,000 baht money transfer to 4 hostesses, including Whitchayaporn, for their work. 6 other hostesses from a different agency were also hired to work the party.
Police say between 5 and 7 men were at the party along with 10 women with the use of drugs allegedly being involved.
Police say they are still are waiting for the autopsy results of the dead woman. Her relatives have already begun seeking assistance as they are afraid her case could turn out to be as complicated as that of model Thitima ‘Lunlabelle’ Noraphanpiphat, who was found dead in a similar situation back in 2019.
SOURCE: The Phuket News
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James Pate
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 5:01 pm
“Late” Queen Sirikit? Excuse me, but she’s still alive. Not the correct term. She is now the Queen Mother.
Toby Andrews
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 5:24 pm
Thais will be selling parts of it as building plots to ferangs in 18 months.
gosport
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 6:27 pm
This I agree. Also, this will be available in 2030. All completed in 2040. With all scenery compatible with the renderings in 2060.
James Pate
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 7:43 pm
The report says Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara. That’s the Queen Mother. She’s still living.
Ray
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 5:40 pm
Long overdue for the concrete jungle which is BKK.
John
Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 7:20 pm
Queen Sirikit died…this is news to me. Did they mean another former queen?
Mel Burn
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 2:39 am
Great news as there are no large parks to speak of in Bangkok. Though how can you spend time outdoor exercising in such smog?
Albert Zweistein
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 5:26 am
Bangkok’s future is grey, smog grey to be exactly.
James
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 3:24 pm
Yep!
Paul
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 8:09 am
Nice to see extra trees being grown in this urban area but will hardly make up for the removal of existing established trees and wetland habitats being destroyed for unsustainable building here in the suburbs.
Marc Vandelaer
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 11:21 am
A drop in the (polluted) ocean, but better than nothing.
James Weston Piper
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 3:23 pm
Clean up the pm2.5! Who will visit a park with polluted air?
BC
Friday, February 5, 2021 at 7:35 pm
An elevated walkway? Concrete paths with fences separating people from the park? How hard is it to screw up a park? It is fantastic to have the much-needed green space but please just make it a simple place that humans can enjoy. Please don’t mess this incredible chance up.