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Winner of Asia’s Next Top Model Throw Celebration Party at Bangkok Marriott Hotel the Surawongse (Sponsored)

Asia’s Next Top Model has returned for its cycle 6 which was entirely filmed in Thailand throughout the cycle. As an official partner of the international renowned reality show, Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse has been featured as the set for many highlight episodes including the opening scene at Yào Rooftop Bar and the finale show at The Surawongse Ballroom. The hotel also presents “Wednesday Models Night” at its Yào Rooftop Bar where the special fashion drinks are offered along with a live broadcast from Fox Thailand channel throughout the 10 weeks of airing.

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 Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse in cooperation with Fox Networks Group Asia have hosted an exclusive party on the evening that the final episode was aired to honor the winner of Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 6, Ms. Dana Slosar at Praya Lounge on 22nd October 2018. Set in a convivial atmosphere, the party saw the huge turnout of well-wishers, fans and friends of the winner, including Pim Bubear, Rubini Sambanthan, Jachin Manere, and Jesslyn Lim. Mr. George Varughese, General Manager of Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, attended the party to present a bouquet and offer his congratulations to the winner.

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Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse’s official partnership with Fox Networks Group Asia and Asia’s Next Top Model, has been a great success thanks to the warm reception from all concerned parties. For updates on other activities of Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, call 02-088-5666 or visit  www.bangkokmarriottsurawongse.com .

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Enjoy Festive Feast With Family-Friendly Activities at Bangkok Marriott Hotel the Surawongse (Sponsored)

The festive season is just around the corner and there is no better way to gather with friends and family for a Christmas and New Year feast at Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse. Come and join a jolly Christmas celebration at Praya Kitchen with a series of gastronomic delights and fun family activities, exclusively crafted for the special occasion.

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Indulge in enjoyable recollection of the treasured childhood memories, the team of experienced chefs is please to present rare-to-find dishes in which the recipes are reinvented from chefs’ childhood memories. A variety of authentic Thai dishes, prepared with quality local ingredients, is sure to delight every palate during the festive season. The highlight includes Chicken Volcano and crab meat curry with betel leaves.

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The festive lunch and dinner is offered throughout the week of festive joy, spanning from 20th December 2018 – 1st January 2019. The buffet starts from 12.00 hrs – 15.00 hrs while the buffet dinner is offered from 18.00 hrs – 10.30 hrs.

The festive buffet lunch is offered at THB 788++ on 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 and 31 December; at THB 1,388++ on 22 and 23 December; at THB 1,588++ on 30 December and at THB 888++ on 29 December.

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For the festive buffet dinner, the price is THB 988++ for 20, 26 and 27 December; THB 1,888++ for 21, 22, 23 December; THB 1,588++ for 30 December and THB 1,388++ for 28, 29 and 30 December.

On Christmas Eve (24 December), start a Christmas spirit with buffet lunch which is available at THB 1,388++ or join the buffet dinner at THB 2,288++. Apart from a wide range of buffet items, the dinner will be even more special with fun activities including live music, Kids Corner as well as a visit from Santa Claus.

For Christmas Day (25 December), guests are invited to experience an authentic Thai flavors with buffet lunch as well as buffet dinner. The buffet lunch is offered at THB 1,588++ while the buffet dinner is offered at THB 1,888++.

Making the last evening of 2018 memorable with the New Year’s Eve (31 December) buffet dinner. Offering at THB 2,288++, the price include an exclusive access to Surawongse terrace for an epic countdown party with a coupon for one glass of sparkling wine.

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It’s only natural to require some hearty breakfast to face the first day of the year. Enjoy Super Breakfast on New Year’s Day (1 Jauary) at THB 650++ with an extended hour from 06.00 hrs – 15.00 hrs. Buffet dinner is also offered at THB 1,888++.

The special discount is offered for both lunch and dinner at Praya Kitchen. The 50% discount is applied for children aged 6-12 years old and the full rate is applied for children aged over 12 years old while children aged under 6 years old are welcome for free of charge.

Come and join us for a memorable Christmas memory at Bangkok Marriott hotel The Surawongse with a delicately crafted selection of dining experience. For more information and reservation, please contact 02 088 5666 or visit http://bit.ly/2qn1LLt

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Group Says It Will Ask Political Parties to Endorse Welfare State

Welfare card holders wait in line Dec. 9 to withdraw 500-baht holiday stipends in Yala province.
Welfare card holders wait in line Dec. 9 to withdraw 500-baht holiday stipends in Yala province.

BANGKOK — A group of activists said Monday it will try to persuade political parties to turn Thailand into a welfare state.

Calling themselves “We Fair,” the group held a meeting to discuss their goal of introducing progressive income, land and inheritance tax and cutting the defense budget by 70 percent among others to ensure basic welfare for everyone.

The proposed welfare scheme would include 3,000 baht of monthly support for every child from birth to the age of 18, child care centers for all children from birth to the age of three and 3,000 baht of monthly support for undergraduate student among others.

Jaetsada Taesamak, a member of the group, said Thai society does not need patronizing cards such as those given to people on low income by the current military regime.

“We don’t want to be patronized… Welfare is a basic right,” Jaetsada said.

Other aspects of the proposal include 180 days of maternity leave for both parents, a 3,000-baht monthly pension for elderly people and a 3,000-baht monthly stipend for people with disabilities.

The group said it plans to petition political parties from Tuesday and will wait for their responses before updating the public.

Democrat Party, Chart Pattana party, Bhumjai Thai party, Commoner party and Future Forward party are among those that will be approached.

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First Since 2013, Rare Turtle Lays Eggs on Thai Beach: Expert (Video)

A still image from a video posted online Monday shows a leatherback sea turtle on a Phang Nga beach. Image: Thon Thamrongnawasawat / Facebook
A still image from a video posted online Monday shows a leatherback sea turtle on a Phang Nga beach. Image: Thon Thamrongnawasawat / Facebook

PHANG NGA — A prominent marine life expert on Monday said a rare sea turtle had laid almost 100 eggs on a Thai beach for the first time in five years.

In an online post, Kasetsart University’s professor Thon Thamrongnawasawat posted footage and pictures of the leatherback sea turtle, considered the largest of all living turtles, crawling back to the sea today from a beach in Phang Nga province after laying eggs overnight.

He wrote that the turtle laid at least 93 eggs, the first time since 2013. The species is still waiting to be registered among Thailand’s protected animals, he said, adding that numbers worldwide are rapidly decreasing.

“It was a long wait for Thai sea lovers, that one day they will come back to our beaches to lay eggs,” the post read, “And the wait is finally over.”

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources said it has instructed staff and experts to closely monitor the eggs. It said the turtle was about 125 centimeters long.

Thon said two leatherback sea turtles were found dead in Thailand over the past five years. He said many died from eating plastic waste, especially plastic bags mistaken as jellyfish, the turtle’s natural prey.

โพสต์โดย Thon Thamrongnawasawat เมื่อ วันอาทิตย์ที่ 16 ธันวาคม 2018

เพื่อนธรณ์ครับ ในที่สุด ฝันที่รอคอยก็เป็นจริง คลิปและภาพนี้เป็นหลักฐานที่ดียิ่งว่า #เต่ามะเฟือง…

โพสต์โดย Thon Thamrongnawasawat เมื่อ วันอาทิตย์ที่ 16 ธันวาคม 2018

 

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King Taksin Palace Open to Public For 2 Weeks

A photo of Fort Wichaiprasit, which locates inside the ground of the Old Palace.

BANGKOK — The palace that served as the center of power for King Taksin’s brief reign is open to the public for free through Dec. 28.

The facility, which Bangkokians call “the Old Palace,” contains a museum illustrating the history of the Thonburi Kingdom that lasted from 1767 to 1782, when the capital city was located on the western side of what is now Bangkok.

The palace opened to the public Saturday. It usually does so once yearly on Dec. 28 – the day King Taksin proclaimed his kingdom – but this year the navy extended the time to nearly two weeks.

Inside the palace, which now doubles as the headquarters of the Royal Navy, visitors will find artifact related to the Thonburi era, including centuries-old muskets and old maps of Bangkok.

Foreign visitors must be accompanied by a Thai national, according to an official stationed at the palace, citing navy regulations.

Another highlight is the white-stoned Wichai Prasit Fort, a French-designed fortress built during the Ayutthaya era to guard the entrance of Chao Phraya River.

The Kingdom of Thonburi came to an end in 1782, when a nobleman from Ratchaburi seized power, executed King Taksin and crowned himself as King Ramathibodi – or Rama I – of the Chakri dynasty. The capital city was moved to the eastern bank, and a new seat of government relocated to what is now the Grand Palace.

The Old Palace opens 9am through 3:30pm daily until Dec. 28. It’s next door to Wat Arun, accessible via ferry from Tha Tien pier. 

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Rejoice the New Year at Park Hyatt (Sponsored)

BANGKOK — Embrace the final moments of 2018 and welcome the new year with memorable dining experiences at Embassy Room and Penthouse Bar + Grill, including the most high-flying countdown party in town.

Book through EVENT POP before November 30th to receive 10% discount.

EMBASSY ROOM   Monday, December 31st, 2018

Ring out the old and in with the new over Embassy Room’s distinctive 4- or 6-course set dinner. Indulge in the likes Hokkaido scallop carpaccio| sea urchin/Bloody Mary; Turbot/winter black truffle risotto/beurre blanc; 250 days dry-aged beef/pomme puree/tomato salsa/smoked paprika; and Italian meringue/peach and raspberry/white chocolate & champagne sorbet, on your way to cap it all at countdown on the roof.  6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / 9:00p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

THB 3,300++ per person        4-course dinner                                                                THB 4,500++ per person         4-course dinner with wine pairing                                      THB 4,500++ per person        6-course dinner                                                                THB 6,500++ per person        6-course dinner with wine pairing

PENTHOUSE GRILL Monday, December 31st, 2018

Embrace the spirit of the grand transition over Chef de Cuisine Andrew Dickie and team’s 5-course set dinner or 7-courses Chef’s Table surprise menu for up to 8 diners.  6:00p.m. – 8:30 p.m. / 9:30p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

THB 7,500++++ per person        5-course dinner                                                            THB 10,000++ per person         5-course dinner with wine pairing                                    THB 20,000++ per person        7-course dinner at the Chef’s Table (minimum spend THB 50,000++)

COUNTDOWN CELEBRATION

Greet the New Year with a bang above it all at Penthouse Bars. Surrender to a magical evening of exciting activities sky high throughout the Penthouse bars from 9:00p.m. – 1:00a.m.

ROOFTOP

Party with unlimited premium Champagne and party drinks to DJ Mr. Jim’s Reggae, Dancehall, Old School, Hip Hop, Soul, Funk and Disco, as enchanting MC Unda presides.

THB 10,000++ per person. Additional THB 10,000++ for an exclusive table

COCKTAIL BAR & WHISKY ROOM    

Party on down all night with live music and DJ. Enjoy unlimited premium Champagne and party drinks.

THB 7,500++ per person. Additional THB 5,000++ for an exclusive table. Table service at Whisky Room only.

MEZZANINE     

Party hearty into 2019 with an all-in package served to table at THB 10,000++ per person.

LIVING ROOM (level 9)        

Dine on a la carte menus or settle for a free-flow Champagne package with live music from 9:00p.m.-midnight. 6:00p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

THE BAR (level 10)  

Explore specially crafted celebratory beverages all evening. Reserve one of the outdoor terrace tables early at [email protected]. 3:30p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

NEW YEAR’S DAY January 1st, 2019

The Living Room offers a recovery delight from a full night of celebrations over chef’s signature Hangover Afternoon Tea accompanied with soothing live music for a truly swinging start to the New Year.

THB 999 per person with coffee/tea and soft drinks                                                          THB 1,998 per person with free-flow Bloody Mary, coffee/tea and soft drinks                      THB 999 per person for free-flow Bloody Mary

2:00p.m. – 5:00 a.m. For reservations at Penthouse Bar + Grill, call +66 2 011 7480 or email [email protected]

For reservations at the Embassy Room, Living Room and The Bar, call +66 2 011 7430 or email [email protected]

*All prices are subject to 7% government tax and 10% service charge

About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt hotels provide discerning, affluent business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodations. Guests of Park Hyatt hotels receive highly attentive personalized service in an intimate environment. Located in several of the world’s premier destinations, each Park Hyatt hotel is custom designed to combine sophistication with a distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt hotels feature well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event spaces for groups, critically acclaimed art, food and beverage programs, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 41 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Busan, Canberra, Changbaishan, Carlsbad, Chennai, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Guangzhou, Hamburg, Hangzhou, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Mallorca, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, New York, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, Sanya, Seoul, Shanghai, Siem Reap, St. Kitts, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto (under renovation), Vienna, Washington, D.C., Zanzibar, Zurich. For more information, please visit parkhyatt.com. Follow @ParkHyatt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #LuxuryIsPersonal.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 14 premier brands. As of June 30, 2018, the Company’s portfolio included more than 750 properties in more than 55 countries across six continents. The Company’s purpose to care for people so they can be their best informs its business decisions and growth strategy and is intended to attract and retain top colleagues, build relationships with guests and create value for shareholders. The Company’s subsidiaries develop, own, operate, manage, franchise, license or provide services to hotels, resorts, branded residences, vacation ownership properties, and fitness and spa locations, including under the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Hyatt Residence Club® and exhale® brand names. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

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A Gin-Laced Night at “Tanqueray Garden” With Live Jazz and Cocktails By Renowned Bartenders (Sponsored)

Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd., an importer and distributor of Tanqueray, party-lovers’ gin that are always on a look out for tasteful and new experiences, is offering an ultimate chillax experience amid lush, green garden and live jazz, “Tanqueray Garden”, for the first time in Thailand. The night will be fueled with signature gin cocktails concocted by three Diageo World Class bartenders: Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn, Jane Kaewyod and Natakorn “Thumb” Changrew, at the St Regis Bar & Terrance on Friday December 7, 2018.

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Tanqueray is a dry gin, which was created in Bloomsbury, London, 180 years ago by Charles Tanqueray who experimented with various ingredients and more than 300 recipes to come up with best concoction forTanqueray London Dry Gin. Created with the belief that people with similar mindset, and those that love the challenges, the fun and new experiences will be drawn together, and that’s where Tanqueray is always presented. The London dry gin in iconic green bottle is also the stellar base for countless cocktails, as bartenders’ gin of choice, that fuel the nights of party lovers.

Mr. Alexander Carroll, Reserve Channel Director of Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand), enthuses that, “Tanqueray is dry gin that is quickly becoming popular around the world. Social consumers and party lovers often look to order the specials, such as T&T or Tanqueray Tonic, to fuel their special night. Tanqueray Garden is an activity under the campaign Tanqueray Terrace that has been carefully put together in various formats and receives phenomenal feedback from fans around the world. This time for Thailand, we bring the campaign to Thai consumers in the relaxing, casual atmosphere of a garden to appeal to the Thai lifestyle.”

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Tanqueray Garden, a cocktail party with live jazz performance, welcomes guests in “stylish garden” dress code in the ambience in green hue, signature color of the brand and the iconic bottle of Tanqueray. The night is fueled by 6 signature Tanqueray cocktails that include The Classic with Tanqueray London Dry Gin and lemon, The Fresh with fresh strawberries and sliced lemon, The Herb with Tanqueray London Dry Gin and lemon and rosemary and The Tangy that highlights citrus note in Tanqueray with orange zest and lemon. The fifth signature recipe, The Orient, cools down with pepper mint and peppercorn while the last recipe, The Green, offers the ultimate freshness with mint leaf and sliced cucumber.

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Tanqueray fans will get the chance to savor signature cocktails made by three renowned Diageo World Class Bartenders, namely Ronnaporn “Neung” Kanivichaporn, Jane Yodkaew and Natakorn “Thumb” Changrew from 5pm until 10pm.

Come to the garden and enjoy signature cocktails at Tanqueray Garden, accompanied by live jazz performance, at The St. Regis Bar & Terrace on Friday December 7, 2018 from 5-10pm.

About Diageo Moët Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd. (DMHT)

Diageo Moët Hennessy (Thailand) Ltd (DMHT) is the leading importer and distributor of premium wines and spirits in Thailand. Responsible corporate citizenship is a key element of DMHT’s business philosophy.  DMHT strives to ensure its business and products appropriately balance the company’s commitment to act responsibly and the right to trade freely.  This commitment is reflected in its corporate ethics and governance, relations with employees, customers, consumers, suppliers and communities, as well as health and safety policies and environmental policies. DMHT is committed to good corporate citizenship and responsible alcohol consumption. DMHT’s global corporate citizenship report and Asia Pacific citizenship report can be found and downloaded atwww.diageo.com.

Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand) is the leading importer and distributor of world-leading premium alcohol products. You can visit www.DIAGEO.com for more info. Being part of good corporate governance, DMHT takes responsible drinking seriously. To find out more about responsible drinking, please visit www.DRINKiQ.com.

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Atelier de Joël Robuchon Bangkok Ranked 3rd Best Rated Restaurant in Thailand (Sponsored)

The Bangkok branch of Atelier de Joël Robuchon ranks third among the best-rated restaurants in Thailand.

Since 2015, La Liste, a list of the 1,000 best restaurants in the world sanctioned by France’s Foreign Ministry and tourism board, has been making a stir and driving the momentum in the global restaurant industry and circuit of culinary talents with its world’s top 1000 restaurants list compiled not by critics but compilation of hundreds of guidebooks and millions of online reviews with smart algorithm.  

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The latest entry for the year 2019 reveals L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Bangkok making its second entry in history and  the second “L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon “ restaurant in the world to be featured in the prestigious list. The inclusion also ranks L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Bangkok as the third highest score among the five inducted restaurant in Thailand.

The 2019 list was compiled by 628 guides, 350,000 trusted reviews of discerning food critics and experts in 179 countries all over the world.

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Manning the kitchen at L’Atelier Bangkok is Executive Chef Olivier Limousin. Before joining L’Atelier Bangkok, the award-winning chef began his cooking career as a commis at Le Bellecour at the age of 18. Three years later, the Frenchman moved to Amphycles, a 2-Michelin star restaurant where he was initially appointed a commis and eventually promoted to sous-chef de cuisine within 5 years.

“We’re very honored and delighted that L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Bangkok is featured in the list,” Executive Chef Olivier Limousin said. “I am more than happy to follow the legacy of Mr. Robuchon and I will do my best to maintain the highest quality and standard here at that L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Bangkok.”

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A self-styled philanthropic chef, Limousin never stops reminding his fellow co-workers of his personal wisdom: “The core of successful business is to offer pleasure to all the guests”.

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L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Bangkok is a unique dining approach where chefs experiment, create and work on new ideas in front of cus­tomers who are seated around a high bar facing the open kitchen.  Chef Robuchon’s intention is to create a high level of interaction between chefs and diners, encouraging the chefs to better their craft.

The atmosphere of conviviality lets diners relax while witnessing chefs experimenting, creating and working in front of them. Likewise, the service demonstrates an attentive sense of care and warmth to make this French fine dining experience a relaxed experience.

For the full entry of La Liste 2019, visit https://www.laliste.com/en/laliste/world

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Cambodia’s Biggest Hydropower Dam Now Producing Electricity

In this March 22, 2016 photo, a Cambodian fisherman anchors their wooden boats on Mekong River bank near Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Photo: Heng Sinith / Associated Press

PHNOM PENH — Cambodia’s largest hydropower project officially began producing electricity Monday as the country tries to increase its energy capacity to reduce energy imports and help jump-start industrial expansion.

Prime Minister Hun Sen inaugurated the 400-megawatt Lower Sesan II hydropower dam in the northeastern province of Stung Treng. The project, constructed on a build-operate-transfer basis, will boost the country’s production of electricity by 20 percent, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

It was built over four years at a cost of nearly USD$800 million and is a joint venture of China’s Hydrolancang International Energy with a 51 percent stake, Cambodia’s Royal Group with 39 percent and Vietnam’s EVN International with 10 percent.

The dam is expected to bring in almost $30 million in tax revenue yearly. Ownership will be handed over to the government after 40 years.

Opponents say the dam will damage the biodiversity of two tributaries of the Mekong River and devastate the livelihoods and homes of thousands of people. As many as as 100,000 people could lose the ability to catch fish.

The dam is the seventh commercial-scale hydropower dam in Cambodia, bringing hydropower production to 1,328 megawatts.

Hydropower supplies 45 percent of national electricity consumption, followed by 35 percent from coal-fired power plants and about five percent from petroleum and alternative energy.

About 15 percent of electricity must still be purchased from neighboring countries. High utility prices, caused by the shortfall in local supply, are a major obstacle to Cambodia attracting foreign investment.

A government report last year estimated that Cambodia could generate as much as 10,000 megawatts from hydropower, and development of additional projects is underway.

China is Cambodia’s largest investor in developing hydroelectric dams and other infrastructure projects.

Story: Sopheng Cheang

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2014 Protest Bombing Suspect Denied Bail

A screencap of a security camera footage that shows the grenade attack on Jan. 19, 2018.

BANGKOK — Police said Monday a man responsible for a fatal grenade attack on anti-government protesters in 2014 had his bail request denied by the court over the weekend.

Krissada Chaikae, 47, was charged with multiple serious offenses – including premeditated murder – for the attack which killed one person and wounded more than 20 others. An officer said the investigation into his background is ongoing but declined to reveal more details.

“It’s a confidential matter,” Phaya Thai Police Station chief Nitiwat Saensing said by phone. “We cannot give any answers.”

Krissada was accused of throwing a hand grenade in January 2014 into a crowd of protesters at Victory Monument, at the height of a movement to oust then-prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The blast killed a vendor and injured 27 others, including a reporter. Witnesses at the scene said the protest guards chased after the bomber, but had to abandon the pursuit when the attacker shot at them with a handgun before vanishing.

Police said Krissada had been hiding in Laos until he surrendered to Thai authorities on Friday. Although police did not mention the name of the group Krissada was affiliated to, they said the suspect implied he was a member of the Redshirt movement, which supports the Shinawatra clan.

“I always joined the rally. Phan Fa, Ratchaprasong, I was always there,” Krissada said at a police news conference held Friday, referring to the two landmarks where Redshirts staged protests in 2010.

He went on to tell reporters that he staged the attack because the anti-Shinawatra protesters seemed to be above the law.

“I felt, at the time, that our side was always bullied,” Krissada said. “It’s like there was no law in the country. Well, the law existed, but no one could enforce it. Someone should teach them a lesson, that they can’t do whatever they please. So I took up the role of law enforcer.”

Asked why he decided to turn himself in, the suspect said he no longer wanted to be on the run.

“National security offenses have no statute of limitation. If I continued to flee, I would have to keep fleeing all my life,” Krissada said.

At least 27 people died in the violence that stalked the months-long street protests, which sought to replace Yingluck with a royally-appointed government and postpone elections until series of “national reforms” were implemented.

Suthep Thaugsuban, who led the protests at the time, thanked police for the arrest, while Sakda Noppasit, a deputy secretary-general of pro-Shinawatra Puea Chart Party, questioned if the arrest was staged to discredit anyone.

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