Thailand

At the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur on 26 October, Malaysia wants to secure a lasting ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. But the border dispute is also fuelled by the issue of online scam centres. Bangkok blames Phnom Penh for tolerating illegal activities and demands scam centres be dismantled as a condition for peace. Meanwhile, Thai Prime Minister Anutin is stoking nationalism for domestic consumption ahead of upcoming elections.

After more than 40 years in camps, thousands of refugees see the prospect of long-awaited change. Karen refugee: ‘I have never seen my homeland’ and ‘if Thailand allowed us to work legally, everything would change’. A workforce that could also help fill the gap left by Cambodians following clashes on the border. New air raids by the junta in Shan State.

Thailand’s National Security Council laid down the principles to manage the border crisis with Cambodia. Concerns remain over Chinese military support for Phnom Penh, even though Beijing downplays the issue. The murderer of Lim Kimya, a former Cambodian lawmaker who opposed Hun Sen, has been sentenced to life in prison. The reasons for the act are still unknown.

Bangkok's currency continues to rise against the dollar: its value has risen by 8% since the beginning of the year, despite economic fundamentals that do not justify such a trend. With a political crisis effectively postponed until the early elections in 2026, there is a risk that speculative manoeuvres will further undermine exports (already struggling with Trump's tariffs) and tourism.

More than 50 bishops and Church leaders from the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences met in Samphran from 22 to 26 September. The focus was on the Synod's final document and the Bangkok Document. Discussions included the role of local Churches and communion with the poor and neighbouring faiths. The 12th Plenary Assembly will be held in Bali in 2026.

To mark the 50th anniversary of his fashion house, the great Italian designer, who died on 4 September, wanted to create Casa Mariù, a solidarity initiative for educational facilities in some of the poorest areas of the world. Among the eight projects supported are a centre for the disabled in Phrae and two schools in Suihari and Taytay promoted by PIME missionaries and Caritas.

Despite the 10 September agreement in Koh Kong to reduce tensions, the situation on the Thai-Cambodian border remains unsettled. Bangkok is considering applying economic pressure, while mutual accusations continue over online scam centres favoured by Cambodia, which seeks to minimise the consequences of the armed conflict that broke out on 24 July. A recent media investigation found that at least 50 Cambodian soldiers were killed in the fighting.

The People's Party has conditioned its support on the rewriting of the rules that led to the judicial liquidation of the election winners. But the Constitutional Court has already intervened, arguing that a referendum is first needed in which the popular vote gives a mandate to begin discussing changes. The assumption is that it will be held together with the general elections promised within four months.

The Thai parliament's green light for the new prime minister after the judicial intervention on Paetongtarn Shinawatra replicated a pattern seen many times in Bangkok: the alliance between parties that are apparently irreconcilable in their programmes and leaders to oust their opponent. But the People's Party wants new elections within four months and the amendment of the Constitution used to undermine its electoral success in 2023.

The canonisation of the young man who lived between 1991 and 2006 and used the internet to spread the faith will take place tomorrow in St Peter's, together with Piergiorgio Frassati. Some of his relics are also travelling to Asian countries, where his peers are getting to know him. A ‘great message of hope’ for young Koreans preparing for the next World Youth Day. In Bangkok, young people say: ‘He is one of us.’ A new seminary named after him in Laos.

Tomorrow, the conservatives of Bhumjaithai will attempt to elect a minority government with the conditional and temporary support of the reformists, who won the 2023 elections but were then excluded from the unprecedented alliance between populists and pro-military forces, which was swept away by the conflict with Cambodia. Even the Shinawatra family, after yet another judicial ouster, are now courting the heirs of Move Forward. The army: ‘We will support any government, but we will guarantee stability.’

Today's news: North Korea's economy is experiencing record growth thanks to Russian military contracts. The United States revokes visas for Mahmoud Abbas and 80 Palestinian officials to prevent them from attending the UN General Assembly. China released a list of "authorised sources" for news on digital platforms. In Japan, a government-sponsored video simulation shows the effects of a possible volcanic eruption of Mount Fuji.