A Thai MP Was Removed From Parliament

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MYANMAR'S GENERAL MIN AUNG HLAING JUST RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL WELCOME AT THAILAND'S PARLIAMENT. A PEOPLE'S PARTY MP WAS PHYSICALLY REMOVED FOR CALLING FOR PEACE.

Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a 2021 coup, arrived in Bangkok this week for Thailand's ASEAN summit, the first bilateral summit between ASEAN and Myanmar's military government in eight years. Senate President Mongkol Surasajja hosted an official reception at Parliament. Outside the building, protesters gathered at the United Nations office in Bangkok on August 6, with migrant worker networks, the Bright Future group and Thai citizens demonstrating against the government's decision to receive the junta leader. Inside Parliament, a People's Party MP was escorted out of the reception area after repeatedly calling for peace and humanity as Min Aung Hlaing arrived.

The optics were stark. A military leader accused by the UN of overseeing atrocities against his own population received a formal welcome at Thailand's Parliament while a Thai elected official was removed for asking for peace. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow framed the engagement as "calibrated re-engagement" in step with ASEAN consensus, arguing that isolating Myanmar entirely has not produced results and that dialogue, however uncomfortable, is the path to stability. The counter-argument, made loudly by protesters outside and the ejected MP inside, is that receiving Min Aung Hlaing with ceremony legitimizes a regime that has killed thousands of its own citizens. Bangkok is hosting a conversation that has no comfortable position, only consequential ones.

Bottom line: Thailand chose engagement over isolation. Whether that produces better outcomes for the people of Myanmar or simply gives legitimacy to the people who bombed them remains to be seen. The MP who was removed for calling for peace may have been the only person in the building saying what everyone outside it was thinking.

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BANGKOK'S BIGGEST WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT IS ON THE TABLE. THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO MOVE BANGKOK PORT TO LAEM CHABANG, UNLOCKING 2,353 RAI OF PRIME RIVERSIDE LAND.

Ministers are pushing to relocate Bangkok Port from its current location on the Chao Phraya River to Laem Chabang in Chon Buri province, freeing up 2,353 rai of waterfront land for redevelopment. To put that in perspective, 2,353 rai is roughly 930 acres, or about six and a half times the size of Lumpini Park. It would be the largest single urban redevelopment project Bangkok has ever attempted, sitting on prime riverside land in an area where property values have been climbing steadily for years.

The port currently occupies a massive stretch of the Chao Phraya riverfront in Khlong Toei, surrounded by residential communities, commercial developments and some of the city's most expensive real estate. Moving it to Laem Chabang, where deep-water port infrastructure already exists and is being expanded, would eliminate the container trucks that clog Khlong Toei roads, reduce pollution from port operations, and open up a waterfront corridor that could be developed into anything from parks and public spaces to mixed-use commercial projects and housing. The unions representing port workers have raised concerns about job displacement. Urban planners have questioned whether the government will prioritize public access or sell the land to developers. Both concerns are legitimate and will define the debate.

Bottom line: 2,353 rai of Bangkok waterfront. That number alone will attract every developer, architect and investor in Southeast Asia. Whether the space becomes a public waterfront park, a luxury condo corridor, or something in between depends entirely on what the government prioritizes during the planning phase. If you live in Khlong Toei, Rama IV or anywhere near the port, this could reshape your neighborhood within a decade.

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⚡ QUICK HITS

A car crashed into a childcare centre in Kanchanaburi yesterday, injuring 15 children. All of the injured children were taken to hospital and are reported to be safe. The Rattanavudh Foundation reported that the vehicle struck Ban Nong Song Ton Child Development Centre in Mueang district, prompting rescue workers, emergency medical teams and police to respond. The driver's condition and the circumstances of the crash are under investigation. Fifteen children injured at a daycare centre is the kind of headline that does not need commentary. It needs answers.

A tiger killed a wildlife ranger at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary on Tuesday morning. The 48-year-old ranger, Sakarin, was found at approximately 6:45AM. DNP Director-General Atthaphon Charoenchansa said officials believe the young tiger mistook the ranger for prey rather than exhibiting man-eating behaviour. Search teams are tracking the animal. Huai Kha Khaeng is one of Thailand's most important UNESCO-listed wildlife sanctuaries and is home to one of the largest remaining populations of wild tigers in the country.

Former Thai boyband member Thaman "Tae" Taypun of Dragon5 is missing. The 46-year-old singer left his Nonthaburi home on a bicycle in the early hours of August 6 and has not been seen since. His girlfriend reported him missing at Bang Kruai Police Station. Police are searching the area. Dragon5 were one of the most popular Thai pop groups of the late 1990s.

Police arrested two foreigners and two Thais for illegally operating international schools in Phuket through nominee arrangements. The arrests followed a wider crackdown by Phuket Provincial Police on foreign-owned businesses in the Chalong and Rawai areas. The nominee enforcement wave continues to reach new sectors.

🥞 SPOT OF THE DAY

LAZY DAISY BRUNCH AND BAR

Lazy Daisy sits on Soi Sukhumvit 16 and opens at 6AM, which for a brunch restaurant is either extremely confident or slightly unhinged. It turns out to be the former. The 4.8-star rating across 1,152 Google reviews puts it among the highest-rated brunch spots in Bangkok at meaningful volume, and the reviews circle around the same themes: fresh ingredients, generous portions and the kind of consistency that turns a first visit into a routine. The Lazy Big Breakfast covers the full morning spread. The Avo and Poach is the clean-eating option. The Shakshuka and the Eggs Benedict handle the weekend crowd. The stir-fried pork basil fried rice is for anyone who wants Thai flavors at a brunch table.

"Very attentive waiter and really delicious food. Their truffle pasta and soup was out of this world," one reviewer wrote. Another called it "a hidden gem" and recommended avoiding the 9-11AM rush. The outdoor seating, live music and cocktail menu mean Lazy Daisy works just as well in the evening as it does in the morning, which is rare for a brunch spot. If you want somewhere that makes 6AM feel intentional rather than accidental, Lazy Daisy earns the early alarm.

→ See menu and find them here ←

Insider tip: go before 9AM or after 11AM to skip the rush. The Thai coffee Es-Yen and the Avo and Poach are the Saturday morning pairing. Reserve via LINE for weekend evenings.

📍 51 Soi Sukhumvit 16, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110
📞 094 466 4254
🕐 Opens 6AM Saturday, closes midnight
⭐ 4.8 stars (1,152 Google reviews) | ฿400-600
🌐 linktr.ee/lazydaisy.house

Always check opening times before heading out.

📅 WHAT'S ON

See you tomorrow morning.

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