Experts demand revision of environmental assessments on land bridge project

13 Sept 12:07 Key points summarised by AI

**Environmental Assessments Ordered Revised**: Experts from the Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning (ONEP) mandated a complete revision of the Environmental and Health Impact Assessments (EHIAs) for the two deep-sea ports central to the government's 1 trillion baht land bridge project.
**Specific Issues Identified for Ports**: The expert panel cited 21 issues requiring revision for the Laem Riew deep-sea port in Chumphon and 25 issues for the Ao Ang deep-sea port in Ranong, following on-site inspections and expert meetings.
**Local Communities Voice Strong Opposition**: Residents in Ranong and Chumphon expressed significant concerns, fearing the project would devastate their livelihoods, which depend on farming, fishing, and tourism, and cause irreparable environmental damage to coastal ecosystems.
**Government Steadfast Despite Pushback**: Despite local objections and the opposition's attempt to establish a House panel for further study, the government remains committed to pushing forward with the controversial land bridge initiative.

Nationwide crackdown launched on illegal nominee shareholders and land holdings

Today 15:20 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul initiated a nationwide crackdown on illegal Thai nominee shareholders in foreign-run businesses and land holdings to safeguard national interests.
The government will integrate efforts across all relevant agencies to target illicit foreign operations, forced sales of illegally acquired property, and high-risk land ownership schemes.
Key strategies include auditing suspect land and building holdings, establishing a long-term monitoring system, and cross-referencing data from various authorities to trace ultimate beneficial owners.
Prime Minister Anutin emphasized that no influential figures or corrupt officials are above the law, promising straightforward prosecution, asset seizures, and protection for enforcing officers.
Beyond land ownership, the integrated crackdown will also extend to tackle transnational crimes, including drug and human trafficking.