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Police Arrest Suspected Anti-Royal Broadcaster

BANGKOK — Police say they have arrested the man behind a famous internet alias who regularly published audio clips that criticized the Thai Royal Family, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The suspect, identified as Hasadin Uraipraiwan, 64, was arrested at a motel in downtown Bangkok at around 8 pm last night, police say.

Hasadin is responsible for publishing a series of anti-royal audio clips on the internet under the pseudonym "Banpodj," said police spokesperson Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri.

According to the spokesperson, police and military officers raided Hasadin's house in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area and confiscated significant evidence that links him to Banpodj.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut also told reporters that Hasadin did not work alone. 

"Banpodj is like a large production house that produced and sold anti-monarchy CDs. It receives an income of around 100,000 baht per month," the spokesperson said. "They work like a network. We will coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to trace their financial trail, freeze their assets, and prosecute other people who are involved or lend their support to the Banpodj network."

Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut did not say how security forces tracked down Hasadin, but added that the suspect has been sent to an army camp in northern Bangkok for interrogation.

Two other alleged members of the Banpodj network were arrested on 7 February. All of the suspects have been charged with defaming the monarchy, a law known as lese majeste that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

According to Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut, Hasadin is also a Redshirt activist, but did not comment any further. 

Banpodj is well known among radical Redshirts for rants that fiercely criticize the Thai monarchy. He is also notorious for espousing dizzying conspiracy theories involving the Thai Royal Family. 

Although Thailand’s lese majeste law only specifically criminalizes defamation of His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, the Heir Apparent, and the Regent, the law is interpreted to cover any negative discussion about the monarchy in general. 

The arrest of Hasadin comes during Thai authorities’ heightened crackdown on perceived "anti-monarchists." Although discussion of the monarchy remains largely taboo in public, internet forums and social media sites have opened up new spaces for dialogue in recent years. 

After seizing power in a coup d’etat on 22 May 2014, Thailand’s military junta has stepped up efforts to monitor internet users and enforce the draconian lese majeste law, granting martial courts jurisdiction over lese majeste cases and other crimes related to "national security." Appeals are not permitted under the military tribunals.

"We will use legal measures, social-psychological measures, and telecommunications and information technology to deal with those who are not mindful of their words, are arrogant at heart, or harbour ill intentions to undermine the important Institution of the nation," junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told parliament last September. 

Another Redshirt activist, Krit Bootdeecheen, was arrested on 4 February on suspicion of circulating a fake royal statement on social media on the night of 2 February. He was held without access to lawyer at the 11th Infantry Regiment camp for five days before being handed over to police.

The Redshirt movement is regularly accused of harboring anti-monarchy elements in its ranks. Redshirt leaders have repeatedly denied the allegations, though a number of radical Redshirt activists are known for their criticism of the monarchy. 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
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Police Arrest Suspected Anti-Royal Broadcaster

Hasadin Uraipraiwan, 64, was arrested at a motel in downtown Bangkok on 9 Feb 2015.

BANGKOK — Police say they have arrested the man behind a famous internet alias who regularly published audio clips that criticized the Thai Royal Family, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

The suspect, identified as Hasadin Uraipraiwan, 64, was arrested at a hotel in downtown Bangkok at around 8 pm last night, police say.

Hasadin is responsible for publishing a series of anti-royal audio clips on the internet under the pseudonym "Banpodj," said police spokesperson Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut Thawornsiri.

According to the spokesperson, police and military officers raided Hasadin's house in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area and confiscated significant evidence that links him to Banpodj.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut also told reporters that Hasadin did not work alone. 

"Banpodj is like a large production house that produced and sold anti-monarchy CDs. It receives an income of around 100,000 baht per month," the spokesperson said. "They work like a network. We will coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Office to trace their financial trail, freeze their assets, and prosecute other people who are involved or lend their support to the Banpodj network."

Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut did not say how security forces tracked down Hasadin, but added that the suspect has been sent to an army camp in northern Bangkok for interrogation.

Two other alleged members of the Banpodj network were arrested on 7 February. All of the suspects have been charged with defaming the monarchy, a law known as lese majeste that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

According to Pol.Lt.Gen. Prawut, Hasadin is also a Redshirt activist, but did not comment any further. 

Banpodj is well known among radical Redshirts for rants that fiercely criticize the Thai monarchy. He is also notorious for espousing dizzying conspiracy theories involving the Thai Royal Family. 

Although Thailand’s lese majeste law only specifically criminalizes defamation of His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen, the Heir Apparent, and the Regent, the law is interpreted to cover any negative discussion about the monarchy in general. 

The arrest of Hasadin comes during Thai authorities’ heightened crackdown on perceived "anti-monarchists." Although discussion of the monarchy remains largely taboo in public, internet forums and social media sites have opened up new spaces for dialogue in recent years. 

After seizing power in a coup d’etat on 22 May 2014, Thailand’s military junta has stepped up efforts to monitor internet users and enforce the draconian lese majeste law, granting martial courts jurisdiction over lese majeste cases and other crimes related to "national security." Appeals are not permitted under the military tribunals.

"We will use legal measures, social-psychological measures, and telecommunications and information technology to deal with those who are not mindful of their words, are arrogant at heart, or harbour ill intentions to undermine the important Institution of the nation," junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told parliament last September. 

Another Redshirt activist, Krit Bootdeecheen, was arrested on 4 February on suspicion of circulating a fake royal statement on social media on the night of 2 February. He was held without access to lawyer at the 11th Infantry Regiment camp for five days before being handed over to police.

The Redshirt movement is regularly accused of harboring anti-monarchy elements in its ranks. Redshirt leaders have repeatedly denied the allegations, though a number of radical Redshirt activists are known for their criticism of the monarchy. 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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Thai Officials Clash Over Condom Vending Machines in Schools

Representatives from Plan International's branch in Thailand teach students at a school in Bangkok about condom uses, 13 July 2013

BANGKOK — The top director of Thailand's Department of Disease Control has defended a plan to install condom vending machines in public schools following opposition from the Office of Basic Education Commission.

CDC Director Sophon Mekthon said the plan is a part of a five-year strategy to reduce the rate of HIV-AIDS infections and other venereal diseases among young people in Thailand. According to the plan, slated to run from 2015-2019, condoms will be available in schools that teach students age 13 and up.

"We want to help youth have access to preventing equipment," Sophon said today. "This policy is not forcing all schools to have vending machines. If any school is ready for them, we will proceed with the plan. If any school disagrees with the method and has a better method, they can proceed on their own, too."

His comment came several hours after Kamol Rodklai, sec-gen of the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), told reporters he would "never sign an approval" for the plan.

"Vending machines should be in public restrooms and nightclubs," Kamol said. "If they are installed in schools, they will encourage the kids to be interested in having sex before their appropriate age. I do not think it's right to proceed with the plan."

Despite Thailand’s reputation as a top destination for sex tourism, premarital sex is largely frowned upon in the country's socially-conservative culture.

However, Taweesap Siraprapasiri, director of the National AIDS Management Center (NAMC), says that increasing the availability of condoms is an important step in fighting the rate of sexual diseases and teen pregnancies in Thailand – two problems that he says are increasingly common among young people.

"New [STD] patients are growing by 10,000 people per year," Taweesap told Khaosod. "In this number, 40 percent of them are young people who are in their school years."

According to Taweesap, between 25 and 50 percent of high school students already have sex, and there are an estimated 200,000 teen pregnancies per year.

"It is projected to keep rising, unless we tackle the problem," he said. "So I think it's necessary to install condom vending machines at these schools." 

 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
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http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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Royal Forgery: Army Gives Redshirt Suspect to Police

Soldiers escort Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, to the Royal Thai Police headquarters on 9 Feb 2015.

BANGKOK – The Thai military has transferred a Redshirt activist accused of circulating a fake royal document over to police after holding him in an army camp for five days of interrogation.

Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, was escorted by a group of masked, armed soldiers to the Royal Thai Police headquarters at around 10:30 am today to hear his charges of lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) and violating the Computer Crimes Act, which criminalizes publishing false information on a computer system. 

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Soldiers escort Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, to the Royal Thai Police headquarters on 9 Feb 2015.

Authorities say Krit, a local Redshirt activist in Phetchabun province, was “one of the first” people to post a forged document on social media that purported to be issued by His Majesty the King on the night of 2 February. The statement falsely claimed that King Bhumibol, who is currently residing at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, had decided to appoint a Regent to act on his behalf. Within an hour the Thai government declared the statement to be fake.

Defaming the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Thailand's lese majeste law. Krit is now facing trial in military court, where appeals are not permitted. 

The military has been holding Krit for interrogation at 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters in Bangkok since he was arrested on 4 February. Soldiers barred a lawyer from visiting Krit at the camp on 5 Febuary, citing the powers granted to the military under martial law. 

A martial court has also issued an arrest warrant for the online editor of ASTV Manager, a Thai newspaper that posted the false statement on its website. The document was removed after it was determined to be fake and replaced with an apology on the same night. 

Since seizing power last May, the Thai military junta has used martial law to ban all political activities, censor the press, detain more than 300 individuals in military camps without charges, and try dissidents in military courts, where appeals are not possible. The junta has also granted military courts jurisdiction over lese majeste lawsuits and other cases that concern "national security."

 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact:[email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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Junta Spokesperson Dismisses Anti-Coup Protest in Japan

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha meeting with the Crown of Prince of Japan in Tokyo on 9 Feb 2015.

BANGKOK — A spokesperson for Thailand's military government has asked the public to focus on what junta chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha is doing for the nation, and not the protests that reportedly greeted his arrival in Japan.

Photos of protesters holding banners in Thai, Japanese, and English that call for the repeal of martial law were posted on the Facebook page of the anti-coup group "Seri Thai" (Free Thai) today. The demonstration was reportedly organized by Thai residents living in Japan, though the exact time and location of the event was not specified.

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A photo of anti-coup protesters in Japan posted on the Facebook page of anti-coup group "Seri Thai."

Responding to the photos today, government spokesperson Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the public should instead pay attention to Gen. Prayuth, who is "working for the country" during his state visit to Japan.

"The protesters have the right to protest. In a country that is ruled under a democratic regime, all these things can be done. We should not be worried about it, or make it such a big issue," Maj.Gen. Sansern said. "The big issue for us is Gen. Prayuth's works. They protest, that's their business. Don't make it our big issue. What should be the issue is our duty to do things for the nation."

The photos also show activists holding banners that denounce the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in 2010 that left over 90 people dead, mostly civilians.  Some protesters are seen  holding portraits of Muramoto Hiroyuki, the Japanese reporter who was shot dead while he was covering the clashes between Redshirt protesters and security forces during the crackdown.  

\
Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha meeting with the Crown of Prince of Japan in Tokyo on 9 Feb 2015.

Although the Japanese government expressed concern about the suspension of democracy in Thailand following the military takeover led by Gen. Prayuth last May, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries remain normal. 

Last week, Human Rights Watch urged Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to use his bilateral meeting with Gen. Prayuth today to advocate for the return of democratic rule.

“Thailand is in the choking grip of military rulers, a nationwide enforcement of martial law, and an unrelenting crackdown on freedom of expression, association, and assembly,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement on 6 February. “Pressure from a key business partner like Japan is crucial to bringing a speedy return to democratic rule in Thailand.”

Gen. Prayuth's three-day visit to Japan comes at a time when Thailand's diplomatic relations with other Western countries, such as the United States, have started to cool over concerns about the junta's leadership. This morning, the US charge d'affaires in Bangkok described the relationship between the two countries as going through a "challenging" time.

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact:[email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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Royal Forgery: Army Gives Redshirt Suspect to Police

Soldiers escort Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, to the Royal Thai Police headquarters on 9 Feb 2015.

BANGKOK – The Thai military has transferred a Redshirt activist accused of circulating a fake royal document over to police after holding him in an army camp for five days of interrogation.

Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, was escorted by a group of masked, armed soldiers to the Royal Thai Police headquarters at around 10:30 am today to hear his charges of lese majeste (insulting the monarchy) and violating the Computer Crimes Act, which criminalizes publishing false information on a computer system. 

\
Soldiers escort Krit Bootdeecheen, 25, to the Royal Thai Police headquarters on 9 Feb 2015.

Authorities say Krit, a local Redshirt activist in Phetchabun province, was “one of the first” people to post a forged document on social media that purported to be issued by His Majesty the King on the night of 2 February. The statement falsely claimed that King Bhumibol, who is currently residing at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok, had decided to appoint a Regent to act on his behalf. Within an hour the Thai government declared the statement to be fake.

Defaming the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Thailand's lese majeste law. Krit is now facing trial in military court, where appeals are not permitted. 

The military has been holding Krit for interrogation at 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters in Bangkok since he was arrested on 4 February. Soldiers barred a lawyer from visiting Krit at the camp on 5 Febuary, citing the powers granted to the military under martial law. 

A martial court has also issued an arrest warrant for the online editor of ASTV Manager, a Thai newspaper that posted the false statement on its website. The document was removed after it was determined to be fake and replaced with an apology on the same night. 

Since seizing power last May, the Thai military junta has used martial law to ban all political activities, censor the press, detain more than 300 individuals in military camps without charges, and try dissidents in military courts, where appeals are not possible. The junta has also granted military courts jurisdiction over lese majeste lawsuits and other cases that concern "national security."

 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact:[email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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US Scales Down Participation in Annual Asia-Pacific War Games

US Marines drink cobra blood during the joint military exercise Cobra Gold 2014 at a military base in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, 15 Febuary 2014. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

BANGKOK (DPA) — Annual joint military exercises started Monday in Thailand with a reduced US contingent, an official said, amid Washington's reservations over the Thai junta that seized power in May.

Around 3,600 US troops were sent to this year's Cobra Gold exercises, down from 4,500 in 2014, according to a US embassy statement.

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US Marines drink cobra blood during the joint military exercise Cobra Gold 2014 at a military base in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, 15 Febuary 2014. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

The drill would also be scaled down and its directive shifted to focus more on humanitarian aid and non-lethal drills, it said.

"We can't deny that this period is a challenging one for us all, and has necessitated a modified Cobra Gold Exercise," said W Patrick Murphy, charge d'affaires at the US embassy, at an opening ceremony in Nakhon Nayok, 100 kilometres north-east of Bangkok.

Murphy also called on Thailand to "return to democracy as soon as possible so we can restore our bilateral relationship to its full potential."

US-Thai relations have been strained by the regime change in Bangkok and the imposition of military rule, with suppression of dissidents.

Washington cut military aid to Thailand after the coup.

Murphy was summoned last week by the junta, which said a visiting US diplomat's call for the country to end martial law was "interfering in local affairs."

Some reports had said the US was planning to move this year's Cobra Gold drills out of Thailand altogether.

The manoeuvres involve 13,000 participants including 4,000 troops from Thailand in addition to the US military, and contingents from 22 others including South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan.

 

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US Scales Down Participation in Annual Asia-Pacific War Games

U.S. marines take part in an amphibious assault joint military exercise as part of Cobra Gold 2014 at a military base in Chonburi province on Feb. 14, 2014. Photo: Narong Sangnak / EPA

BANGKOK (DPA) — Annual joint military exercises started Monday in Thailand with a reduced US contingent, an official said, amid Washington's reservations over the Thai junta that seized power in May.

Around 3,600 US troops were sent to this year's Cobra Gold exercises, down from 4,500 in 2014, according to a US embassy statement.

\
US Marines drink cobra blood during the joint military exercise Cobra Gold 2014 at a military base in Chanthaburi province, Thailand, 15 Febuary 2014. EPA/NARONG SANGNAK

The drill would also be scaled down and its directive shifted to focus more on humanitarian aid and non-lethal drills, it said.

"We can't deny that this period is a challenging one for us all, and has necessitated a modified Cobra Gold Exercise," said W Patrick Murphy, charge d'affaires at the US embassy, at an opening ceremony in Nakhon Nayok, 100 kilometres north-east of Bangkok.

Murphy also called on Thailand to "return to democracy as soon as possible so we can restore our bilateral relationship to its full potential."

US-Thai relations have been strained by the regime change in Bangkok and the imposition of military rule, with suppression of dissidents.

Washington cut military aid to Thailand after the coup.

Murphy was summoned last week by the junta, which said a visiting US diplomat's call for the country to end martial law was "interfering in local affairs."

Some reports had said the US was planning to move this year's Cobra Gold drills out of Thailand altogether.

The manoeuvres involve 13,000 participants including 4,000 troops from Thailand in addition to the US military, and contingents from 22 others including South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Japan.

 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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Junta Spokesperson Dismisses Anti-Coup Protest in Japan

Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha meeting with the Crown of Prince of Japan in Tokyo on 9 Feb 2015.

BANGKOK — A spokesperson for Thailand's military government has asked the public to focus on what junta chairman and Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha is doing for the nation, and not the protests that reportedly greeted his arrival in Japan.

Photos of protesters holding banners in Thai, Japanese, and English that call for the repeal of martial law were posted on the Facebook page of the anti-coup group "Seri Thai" (Free Thai) today. The demonstration was reportedly organized by Thai residents living in Japan, though the exact time and location of the event was not specified.

\
A photo of anti-coup protesters in Japan posted on the Facebook page of anti-coup group "Seri Thai."

Responding to the photos today, government spokesperson Maj.Gen. Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the public should instead pay attention to Gen. Prayuth, who is "working for the country" during his state visit to Japan.

"The protesters have the right to protest. In a country that is ruled under a democratic regime, all these things can be done. We should not be worried about it, or make it such a big issue," Maj.Gen. Sansern said. "The big issue for us is Gen. Prayuth's works. They protest, that's their business. Don't make it our big issue. What should be the issue is our duty to do things for the nation."

The photos also show activists holding banners that denounce the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in 2010 that left over 90 people dead, mostly civilians.  Some protesters are seen  holding portraits of Muramoto Hiroyuki, the Japanese reporter who was shot dead while he was covering the clashes between Redshirt protesters and security forces during the crackdown.  

\
Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha meeting with the Crown of Prince of Japan in Tokyo on 9 Feb 2015.

Although the Japanese government expressed concern about the suspension of democracy in Thailand following the military takeover led by Gen. Prayuth last May, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries remain normal. 

Last week, Human Rights Watch urged Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to use his bilateral meeting with Gen. Prayuth today to advocate for the return of democratic rule.

“Thailand is in the choking grip of military rulers, a nationwide enforcement of martial law, and an unrelenting crackdown on freedom of expression, association, and assembly,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, in a statement on 6 February. “Pressure from a key business partner like Japan is crucial to bringing a speedy return to democratic rule in Thailand.”

Gen. Prayuth's three-day visit to Japan comes at a time when Thailand's diplomatic relations with other Western countries, such as the United States, have started to cool over concerns about the junta's leadership. This morning, the US charge d'affaires in Bangkok described the relationship between the two countries as going through a "challenging" time.

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact:[email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

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'Foreigner' Robs 200,000 Baht From Pattaya Currency Exchange

A screenshot of CCTV footage of a man who stole more than 200,000 baht from a currency exchange office in the beach town of Pattaya on 8 Feb 2015.

CHONBURI — Police say they are looking for a foreigner who stole more than 200,000 baht from a currency exchange office in the beach town of Pattaya last night.

According to police, the man entered Rachata Money Exchange off of Pattaya’s Sai Sam Road at around 9 pm yesterday, held the staff at gunpoint while he rummaged through the shop's money locker, and fled with at least 200,000 baht. 

Police describe the suspect as a large, well-built man who was wearing a motorcycle helmet and black clothes at the time of the robbery. He reportedly fled on a Yamaha Nouvo motorcycle. The suspect also had two small bandages on his ankles, police say.

Pol.Col. Sukthat Pumpanmuang, superintendent of Mueang Pattaya Police, told reporters that police believe the suspect is a foreigner because he was "large" and spoke English during the theft. 

He added that police are inquiring car dealerships, clinics, and hospitals in the area to find any clues about the suspect. 

 

 

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
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