Ahead of the 2026 election, "Dr. Ae" urges the government for an immediate explanation on the repeated crane collapses; one week has passed with silence. He stresses that Thai people must not die in vain and proposes a nationwide overhaul of the construction system, with stricter safety controls and focusing on addressing PM 2.5 pollution at its source.
On 22 Jan 2026 at 09:30, Mr. Suchatvee Suwansawat, prime ministerial candidate and leader of the Thai Khao Mai Party, along with the party's Bangkok MP candidates, held a press conference on the theme "Thai People Must Not Die in Vain." He addressed incidents of crane collapses, building collapses, and road subsidence. Regarding the fatal crane collapse in Sikhiu District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, which killed over 30 people, followed less than 24 hours later by another crane collapse on Rama 2 Road, and then a fire on crane remains on 20 Jan 2026. Fortunately, the fire was not near gas tanks, or it could have caused another tragedy. However, no progress or official responsible agency has come forward. He posed six questions to the government and relevant parties: 1. Who is the neutral, transparent official responsible? It must be determined whether the Ministry of Transport, the State Railway, or the Department of Highways is the accountable party. Yet trust is lacking as the middle party seems to be the project owner or agency itself, raising concerns about impartiality.
2. The Thai Khao Mai Party and the public have demanded disclosure of whether subcontracting was used to cut costs, and who the irresponsible subcontractors are that caused innocent deaths. More than a week has passed with no revelation of subcontractors’ names. This raises suspicion and may be the root cause of the tragedies at both sites.
3. All such dangerous cranes currently in use must be immediately halted. This may not be limited to just elevated highway projects. Information on manufacturers, importers, and licensing agencies must be disclosed and accountability enforced. Currently, no one knows where these types of cranes are operating. It is possible manufacturers or importers have such cranes working throughout Thailand. Failure to disclose this poses clear risks to public life and property.
4. Foreign contractors involved in major projects, such as the Office of the Auditor General building and the high-speed rail construction in Sikhiu District—do they possess proper legal permits? Are foreign engineers supervising these projects legally authorized to work in Thailand? Have they obtained licenses from the Council of Engineers, or are they working on tourist visas? One week has passed with no answers, yet Thailand bears responsibility for the losses. If they work without permits or illegally, accountability must be established.
5. These tragic incidents, embarrassing Thailand globally, further damage the country's tourism. To date, no official statements or updates have been issued by government agencies or representatives, even as the situation worsens Thailand's reputation, deterring foreign tourists. Answers are urgently needed.
6. When will the high-speed rail be completed? How many more years will delays continue? Will we wait for more tragedies? Similarly, when will Rama 2 Road be finished? How much economic loss has occurred? Residents along Rama 2 live in fear; the road is a key route to southern tourist destinations like Hua Hin. How much economic damage has the over 2,000 incidents on Rama 2 caused? Will we wait for the next disaster?
Mr. Suchatvee added that these six straightforward questions carry no bias but require government answers. If silence continues, evidence may disappear and perpetrators remain unpunished. The Thai Khao Mai Party will not allow the guilty to evade justice. How many times have cranes collapsed on Rama 2? How many lives have been lost? Even the Auditor General building collapse is a national disgrace. There is uncertainty over whether offenders will be punished. The compensation of 150,000 baht to victims’ families is insufficient—they want their loved ones’ lives back.
By global standards, there should be a clear press conference explaining how the incidents occurred, with a detailed timeline to assure the public that Thai lives will not be lost in vain. The names and expertise of the investigation committee must be disclosed, yet no answers have been given. Subcontracting often involves corruption, eroding the country's foundation. It is time to dismantle this corrupt, opaque structure that the public has never been informed about.
Asked about a timeframe for government responses, Mr. Suchatvee said that abroad, answers come within a week to restore public confidence. Within three days, progress updates should be made per international standards. One week has passed with no public demands; will there be any press conference? Silence persists as election news dominates. The recent fire on 20 Jan proved rescue efforts lacked standards, as he had warned. The six questions come directly from the public. He added a seventh question: Thai contractors with standards have been ordered to stop work, causing delays. Who is responsible? Blanket management without targeted scrutiny delays projects and causes good contractors to miss deadlines.
The prime ministerial candidate and Thai Khao Mai Party leader also addressed PM 2.5 management policies. Everyone awaits the House of Representatives’ approval of the Clean Air Management Act, which is expected to pass after the new parliament convenes. A clear issue is black smoke, caused mainly by neglected responsibilities of authorities. Heavy trucks, especially 10-wheelers and 6-wheelers, account for 80-90% of the dust problem. Bangkok authorities must shut down construction sites to enforce compliance, as these trucks frequent such sites. Owners must control contractors bringing black smoke vehicles into Bangkok. Black smoke buses also require correction, and municipal officers can act directly at garages. Industrial smoke requires modern monitoring equipment to identify pollution sources and enforce responsibility. Before the law's enactment, officials should already know which factories emit toxic dust. Factories must be shut down as they profit while our children die. Managing PM 2.5 must focus on its sources. For agricultural burning, Thai Khao Mai provides agricultural machinery on loan to improve efficiency and reduce PM 2.5. Regarding cross-border pollution from neighbors, dialogue is ineffective; a hardline approach using satellites to track hotspots is necessary. If pollution originates from a specific country, trade with that nation should be suspended.