2023 in Thailand

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Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2023 Timeline of Thai history

Following is a list of events and scheduled events in the year 2023 in Thailand. The year 2023 is reckoned as the year 2566 in Buddhist Era, the Thai calendar.

Thai politics in 2023 has been marked by the 2023 General election in July, which saw the progressive Move Forward party, along with 7 other parties it formed a coalition with, win the election against pro-junta parties. However its leader, Pita Limjaroenrat, failed to secure enough votes from Parliament and was later suspended. ^[1] Pheu Thai currently seeks to nominate its candidate as Prime-minister.

Incumbents

• King: Vajiralongkorn
• Prime Minister:
  • Prayut Chan-o-cha (until 22 August)
  • Srettha Thavisin (since 22 August)
• Supreme Patriarch: Ariyavongsagatanana (Amborn Ambaro)

Events

January

• 7 January – Jack Ma made a visit to Bangkok following his trip to Japan in late 2022 and his disappearance from the public. ^{[2] [3]}
• 10 January – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha leaves the Palang Pracharath party and joins the United Thai Nation party. ^{[4] [5]}
• 12 January – Thailand records its lowest birth rate in 71 years. ^[6]
• 18 January – Two youth political activists began hunger strike from prison calling for the release of political prisoners, judicial reform and abolition of lèse-majesté law, which would last for 52 days. ^{[7] [8]}
• 26 January – The Sports Authority of Thailand announces that the 2025 Southeast Asian games will be held in Bangkok, Chonburi and Songkhla. ^[9]

February

• 17 February – It is revealed that Thailand's GDP in 2022 expanded 2.6 percent, which was among the slowest growth in Southeast Asia. ^[10]
• 19 February – The Prayut cabinet pass an executive order to postpone provisions in the law against torture and forced disappearances. ^[11]
• 20 February - The Maesai-Tachileik border checkpoint in Chiang Rai province between Myanmar and Thailand reopens after its closure on 24 March 2020. ^[12]

March

• 5 March – Health officials reported that over 1.3 million people in Thailand had been affected by air pollution-related diseases, mainly caused by PM2.5 dust. ^[13]
• 10 March – A radioactive Caesium-137 container was reported missing from a power plant in Prachin Buri Province. It was later found melted and the environment was contaminated with radiation.
• 15 March – Personal data of 55 million Thais, presumed to be leaked from a government agency, was posted for sale by hackers. ^[14]
• 20 March – Decree to dissolve the House of Representatives took effect.
• 21 March –
  • The Akara gold mine or Chatree gold mine was reopened after Prayut Chan-o-cha ordered its suspension in 2017 and the government was expected to lose the international arbitration case. ^[15]
  • Around three new cases of mpox are discovered in Thailand. ^[16]
• 22 March – Mass shooting occurred in Petchaburi Province, causing at least three deaths. ^[17]

May

• 14 May – The 2023 Thai general election was held. The pro-democratic, progressive Move Forward Party wins the highest number of votes and seats. Its coalition with other anti-junta parties such as Pheu Thai wins the majority of seats while pro-junta parties such as United Thai Nation and Palang Pracharat lose seats.

July

• 11 July – Two people are killed and eleven others are injured when an elevated road collapses in Bangkok. ^[18]
• 19 July – A Thai court suspends politician and winner of the 2023 Thai general election Pita Limjaroenrat's status as a lawmaker after accusing him of violating election laws for allegedly holding shares in a media company. ^[1]
• 25 July – Parliament postpones the third round of parliamentary votes to select a Prime-minister from July 27. In response, protests around Bangkok erupted against Senators. ^{[19] [20]}

August

• 11 August – Thailand witnesses its first Mpox related death. ^[21] At this point, Bangkok had 136 cases of Mpox. ^[22]
• 22 August –
  • Srettha Thavisin of the Pheu Thai party is elected by Parliament to become the 30th Prime-Minister of Thailand. ^[23] Pheu Thai-led coalition also included junta-affiliated parties: the Palang Pracharath and the United Thai Nation.
  • Thaksin Shinawatra returns to Thailand after his last return in 2008. ^[24]

September

• 1 September – King Vajiralongkorn grants Thaksin a royal pardon, reducing his jail term to a year. ^[25]
• 19 September – Si Thep Historical Park was recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. ^[26]
• 25 September – The 5-month visa waiver program to Chinese tourists went into effect. The first Chinese tourists were received a VIP welcome. ^[27]
• 26 September – Thai pro-democracy activist Arnon Nampa, who led the 2020 protests, is sentenced to four years in prison on a charge of royal insult. ^[28]
• 27 September – Police General Torsak Sukwimon, who had ties to the King, was named the national police commander amid crackdown on fellow high-ranking officer Police General Surachet Hakphan. ^[29]

October

• 3 October – Siam Paragon shooting: Two people is killed and five more injured during a mass shooting at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok. The 14-year-old suspect has been arrested. ^[30]

• 9 October – Thailand Earth Observation Satellite 2 (THEOS-2) is launched into space from French Guiana. ^[31]

December

• 3 December-Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok
• 15 December – State prosecutors in Thailand indict a member of the country’s Senate, Upakit Pachariyangkun, on six charges involving narcotics trafficking, money laundering and association with a transnational criminal organization. ^[32]
• 16 December – Fifteen suspected drug smugglers are killed and about 2 million methamphetamine tablets are seized during a shootout with soldiers at Thailand's border with Myanmar. ^[33]

Ongoing events

• COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand

Deaths

January

• 11 January -Eli Ostreicher, British-American entrepreneur (born 1983) ^[34]

February

• 5 February – Nukun Prachuapmo, politician, minister of transport (1991–1992, 1992). ^[35]

August

• 14 August - Petch Osathanugrah, businessman and singer-songwriter. ^[36]

September

• 3 September - Thalerngsak Nuchpraphan, then current Deputy Governor of Phang Nga. ^[37]

References

1. Olarn, Kocha (2023-07-19). "Thai court suspends prime minister hopeful Pita's lawmaker status after his reformist party swept elections". CNN. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
2. "Chinese billionaire Jack Ma spotted in Bangkok, Thai media report". Reuters. 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
3. "What is Jack Ma doing in Bangkok?". Lifestyle Asia Bangkok. 2023-01-06. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
4. "Thailand's Prayut Changes Party, Says Willing to Remain PM". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
5. Yonpiam, Chairith (9 January 2023). "Prayut signs up with United Thai Nation Party". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
6. "Thailand's birth rate falls to 71-year low, sparking alarm". nationthailand. 2023-01-12. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
7. "Concern rises for lives of 2 Thai activists on hunger strike". AP News. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
8. "Activists end hunger strike after 52 days". Bangkok Post. 11 March 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
9. "Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla to Host SEA Games 2025". thainews.prd.go.th. Retrieved 2023-08-18.
10. "Q4 GDP growth slows, 2023 outlook trimmed". Bangkok Post. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
11. "Speaker slams government's delay in law against torture". Bangkok Post. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
12. "Mae Sai-Tachileik border checkpoint reopens Monday". www.thaipbsworld.com. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
13. "Over 1.3 million people in Thailand suffering air pollution-related diseases". Thai PBS World. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
14. "Gov't Blocks Website That Threatens to Leak Personal Data of 55 Million Thais". Khaosod English. 1 April 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
15. Kebui, Sitthipoj (21 March 2023). "Gold mine reopens after 6 years". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
16. "Three new monkeypox cases found in Thailand". www.thaipbsworld.com. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
17. "29-YEAR-OLD MAN KILLS 3 IN PETCHABURI SHOOTING RAMPAGE". Khaosod English. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
18. "At least 2 killed as elevated road collapses in Bangkok". AP News. 2023-07-11. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
19. Kumar, Devesh (2023-07-25). "Thailand's Parliamentary vote to appoint PM postponed for third time". mint. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
20. "Thai Parliament postpones vote to select new prime minister pending court ruling | Politics". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 2023-07-25.
21. "First monkeypox fatality in Thailand". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
22. Wancharoen, Supoj (16 August 2023). "136 monkeypox cases found in Bangkok". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
23. "Property tycoon Srettha Thavisin becomes Thai Prime Minister". ABC News. 2023-08-22. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
24. "Thailand's billionaire ex-prime minister requests royal pardon after 15 years in exile". ABC News. 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
25. "Thailand's ex-PM Thaksin granted royal pardon, reducing sentence". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
26. "Si Thep historical park recognised as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site". Thai PBS World. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
27. Suen, Thomas; Setboonsarng, Chayut (25 September 2023). "Chinese tourists get VIP welcome as Thai visa waiver programme begins". Reuters. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
28. "Thai Protest Leader Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Royal Insult". TIME. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
29. "WHO IS TORSAK SUKWIMON, THE NEW NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF?". Khaosod English. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
30. "14-year-old suspect arrested after 1 killed in Bangkok mall shooting". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
31. "Thailand's second satellite 'THEOS-2' set to be launch soon". Pattaya Mail. 2023-08-18. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
32. "A Thai senator linked to a Myanmar tycoon is indicted for drug trafficking and money laundering". AP News. 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
33. "15 suspected drug smugglers killed in clash with Thai soldiers near Myanmar border, officials say". AP News. 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
34. "Entrepreneur Eli Ostreicher Killed in Motorcycle Crash in Thailand". COLlive. 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
35. "'นุกูล ประจวบเหมาะ' อดีตผู้ว่าฯแบงก์ชาติ ผู้ประกาศลดค่าเงินบาทครั้งแรกปี2527 ถึงแก่กรรรมแล้ว". Thai Post (in Thai). 6 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
36. "Rockstar Bangkok University president Petch Osathanugrah dies aged 63". The Nation . 15 August 2023. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
37. Thongtub, Eakkapop (4 September 2024). "Phang Nga Vice Governor found dead at Patong hotel".