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Daniel Thaiger’s New Burgers Run Lean, but No Less Mean

The new Daniel Thaiger BBQ Burger.

BANGKOK — After its success helped inspire dozens of burger-alike food trucks, Daniel Thaiger has a new concept.

“Everyone is doing the thick-cut burger thing now, Bangkok doesn’t need another one,”owner Mark Falcioni said. “What Bangkok needs is a ‘no BS’ burger right about now.”

Daniel Thaiger’s original chunky, spiced, meaty patties slathered with special sauce and inventive toppings like nduja created a legion of loyal fans in the days before avarice destroyed Soi Sukhumvit 38s buzzing street food scene. There were consistent 30-minute lines at Falcioni’s truck there in the early days.

In just over two years, they’ve expanded to a permanent location at Game Over and Craft on Soi Sukhumvit 23 in addition to routinely setting up at locations such as Sathorn Square. Falcioni’s burger formula allowed him to build a small empire in Bangkok.

 

New Formula

 

Falcioni has partnered with Chris Foo, the man behind Seenspace’s Brew Beers & Cider to offer a fresh take. “It’s basically a McDonalds burger with really, really good ingredients,” Falcioni said.

The burger recalls classic 1950s American diner-style burgers: thin patties, pickles, and loads of gooey american cheese. It’s what fast food burgers started out as before they turned into mass-produced garbage.

While the traditional Daniel Thaiger burger is massive and might slow you down, the new burgers are designed to be eaten en masse. The patty doesn’t need a lot of time on the grill; it cooks quickly and the burgers are smaller. As Foo says, “They go down easy.”

And it’s the perfect kind of burger to eat with a nice cold one, which is why they’ll debut at Foo’s beer-crazy Seenspace location in a few short weeks. Pricing is yet to be determined, but we do know that they come standard as a double: two patties stacked on top of each other with American cheese both on top and in between the patties, or diners can opt for a triple or quadruple.

There are two varieties, a standard and a BBQ version that adds bacon and Thaiger’s own zesty BBQ Sauce.

The mixture of the patty remains a secret, but it’s juicy, greasy, and Falcioni describes the meat thusly: “expensive.” The bun stays true to early American form as well; local breadmaker Conkey’s has created a special bun that uses potato flour. The bread is much different than the standard brioche on Thaiger burgers. It’s sweeter and has a little more “fluff.” In the United States, they’re called “enriched” buns.

Falcioni said the bread is important, as it allows these burgers to be wrapped up in wax paper and last for hours without the grease saturating the bun.

“You can wrap this up and eat this burger two hours after it’s cooked,” he said.

 

 

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Judge in Parking Rage Video Mentally Ill, Court Spokesman Says

The viral video posted on Wednesday showed the minute when Chidchanok Paensuwan made a public outburst at the Department of Land Transport.

BANGKOK — A court spokesman on Thursday said a judge seen behaving erratically in a viral video suffers from an unspecified mental illness.

Courts of Justice spokesman Suebpong Sripongkul said the woman in the clip reacting furiously to a traffic ticket was Chidchanok Paensuwan, 45, a judge of more than 10 years who was moved to an inactive post two years ago after a similar outburst. Chidchanok no longer presides over trials, Suebpong said.

The clip posted to Facebook on Wednesday showed Chidchanok losing her temper, yelling and throwing a plastic water container toward people at the Department of Land Transport office in Bangkok. She later runs to her car parked in front of the building and calls over the person who took the video to show her ID card.

“Bear in mind that I am your fucking boss!” she shouts through the car’s open window. “No need to film my face!”

The Facebook user who posted the clip, Piyawat Suwanwong, wrote that the judge had visited the Department of Land Transport to complain that someone has duplicated her license plate. The judge threw a tantrum after returning to her car parked in front of the building’s entrance and finding a traffic ticket.

 

 

Suebpong admitted Chidchanok has been involved in similar incidents before. In 2012 she was charged with obstructing traffic in front of the Criminal Court and subsequently fined 1,000 baht.

The former judge was later charged in 2013 for insulting a law enforcement officer after she threw a box containing rice and an omelet at the car of Lt. Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, the chief of Metropolitan Police at that time.

For the 2013 altercation, Chidchanok was fined 2,000 baht and sentenced to two months in prison, but her jail term was suspended because she plead guilty. The 45-year-old judge was then transferred to work with documents rather than arbitration – but she still kept her formal position as a judge.

Spokesman Suebpong also said Chidchanok was diagnosed with an unspecified mental illness two years ago, and said that Chidchanok had failed to take her medication prior to the incident at the Department of Land Transport.

Chidchanok will be investigated for that latest incident, and if the inquiry concludes she is no longer capable to work as a judge, she would have to leave her position, Suebpong told reporters.

Suebpong admitted there are some other judges who are not in fit condition to work due to both physical and mental health issues. If they commit errors, they would be punished differently, depending on each case, he said.

 

 

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Three More Activists Arrested Over Army Corruption Protest

Police show Chonticha Jaeng-rew her arrest warrant today in front of Thonburi Railway Police Station.

BANGKOK — Police arrested three more activists wanted by the military court for organizing a December protest against alleged corruption in the Royal Thai Army’s construction project.

The trio were arrested hours after another activist, Sirawith Seritiwat, was detained by a group of masked soldiers and transferred to police custody for the same charge.

The three activists are Chonticha Jaeng-rew, 22; Chanoknan Ruamsap, 22, and Korakoch Saengyenpan, 23. Police showed them the arrest warrants and took them into custody shortly after they showed up at Thonburi Railway Police Station to express support for Sirawith, who is being held at the police station.

Watch a video of the arrests here

The four are now being interrogated at the station. A police officer said they will be sent to military court later in the afternoon.

The Defiant Six

The four are among six pro-democracy activists wanted by the authorities for staging a protest in December against what they believe to be massive corruption in Rajabhakti Park, which was built by the army between 2014 and 2015.

To bring attention to the scandal, on Dec. 7 Sirawith and other activists attempted to board a train from Thonburi Railway Station bound for the park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, but police stopped the train and arrested all protesters. Eleven were charged afterwards with violating the junta’s ban on political assemblies.

Activist Sirawith Seritiwat speaks to reporters on Dec. 7 during the failed excursion to Rajabhakti Park.
Activist Sirawith Seritiwat speaks to reporters on Dec. 7 during the failed excursion to Rajabhakti Park.

Five suspects later reported to police for the charge, while the other six:  Sirawith, Chonticha, Chanoknan, Korakoch, Abhisit Sapnaphapan and Thanet Anantawong, refused to comply with the summons. For their defiance, the martial court on Jan. 13 issued arrest warrants on the six activists.

Thanet, 25, fled the country soon after the warrant was announced. Abhisit, 29, remains at large; he posted on his Facebook this morning that he will continue to fight “all forms of dictatorship.”

Before they were taken into custody at Thonburi Railway Police Station, Chonticha, Chanoknan and Korakoch told reporters briefly that they did not report to police earlier because they considered the legal action against them “illegitimate.”

They also pledged not to ask the military court for a bail release.

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South Korea Faces Blood Shortage

Packets of blood in an undated file picture. Photo: Friso Gentsch / DPA

SEOUL — A drive to increase low blood reserves in South Korea expanded Thursday as the country's biggest firm said it was launching a blood donation drive to help boost supplies, a news report said.

Electronics giant Samsung said its donation campaign would run until the end of February at the group's major facilities. It had also given mobile blood donation units to the South Korean Red Cross, Yonhap News Agency reported.

South Korea is facing a severe shortage of blood, with its national reserves at 2.1 days, less than half the recommended 5 days that hospitals would be able to survive on average if they received no more donations.

Earlier this month, the government temporarily allowed blood donations from malaria-prone areas of the country in order to increase reserves.

Supplies often drop during the winter, but this season has been particularly bad because of the MERS virus which struck last year.

The virus outbreak, which has now ended, shut down major hospitals and delayed surgeries until later in the year, causing a late spike in demand for blood, Yonhap and the Korea Joongang Daily reported.

Red blood cells can only be stored conventionally for about 5 or 6 weeks, requiring that supplies – especially of rare blood types – be constantly renewed.

Story: DPA 

 

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Hanoi Party Congress Opens

HANOI — Security was tight in the Vietnamese capital Thursday as the ruling Communist Party opened its 12th national congress.

During the eight-day event, held every five years, more than 1,500 delegates of the Communist Party of Vietnam will outline the next socio-economic plan and elect a new Central Committee.

The Committee will in turn select the top four officials in the single-party state.

Those appointments, consisting of the party secretary general, the president, the prime minister and the national assembly chairperson, will be announced on the final day of the congress, set for Jan.28.

A total of 5,200 soldiers were deployed along with helicopters and tanks to ensure public order during the event, according to the subcommittee in charge of security.

Outside the meeting hall, armed riot police were standing guard. Many streets were closed off and reserved for delegates' transport.

Streets were decorated with flowers and posters, while large representations of the communist hammer-and-sickle symbol had been erected on several roundabouts, and red banners lined the streets proclaiming "Long Live the Glorious Communist Party of Vietnam!"

Despite the pomp and propaganda, some Vietnamese said they were not expecting dramatic outcomes from the congress.

"There will be no breakthrough in this party congress because the party still keeps the old (election) system that has been the same for dozens of years," said Nguyen Minh Thuyet, a party member and former vice chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Culture, Education, Youth and Children.

"There is no election debate like in foreign countries where candidates have to introduce an action program during election," said Thuyet, who has read the draft political reports to be presented at the party congress.

 

 

To reach us about this article or another matter, please contact us by e-mail at: [email protected].

Follow Khaosod English on Facebook and Twitter for news, politics and more from Thailand.

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Hanoi Party Congress Opens

An undated file picture of Hanoi. Photo: Luong Thai Linh / EPA

HANOI — Security was tight in the Vietnamese capital Thursday as the ruling Communist Party opened its 12th national congress.

During the eight-day event, held every five years, more than 1,500 delegates of the Communist Party of Vietnam will outline the next socio-economic plan and elect a new Central Committee.

The Committee will in turn select the top four officials in the single-party state.

Those appointments, consisting of the party secretary general, the president, the prime minister and the national assembly chairperson, will be announced on the final day of the congress, set for Jan.28.

A total of 5,200 soldiers were deployed along with helicopters and tanks to ensure public order during the event, according to the subcommittee in charge of security.

Outside the meeting hall, armed riot police were standing guard. Many streets were closed off and reserved for delegates' transport.

Streets were decorated with flowers and posters, while large representations of the communist hammer-and-sickle symbol had been erected on several roundabouts, and red banners lined the streets proclaiming "Long Live the Glorious Communist Party of Vietnam!"

Despite the pomp and propaganda, some Vietnamese said they were not expecting dramatic outcomes from the congress.

"There will be no breakthrough in this party congress because the party still keeps the old (election) system that has been the same for dozens of years," said Nguyen Minh Thuyet, a party member and former vice chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Culture, Education, Youth and Children.

"There is no election debate like in foreign countries where candidates have to introduce an action program during election," said Thuyet, who has read the draft political reports to be presented at the party congress.

Story: DPA

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Parking Shooter Surrenders to Police

Triple-homicide suspect Thossaporn Pitakwattanon, handcuffed at center, is escorted by police to a ‘reenactment’ of his alleged crime Wednesday in Bangkok.

BANGKOK — A man accused of shooting three people dead over a parking dispute turned himself in to police Tuesday night.

Thossaporn Pitakwattanon, 34, told police he had fought with his next door neighbor, 46-year-old Siriluck Saehor, for two years because she often blocked the entrance to his home by parking her five cars. The pharmacy school graduate said he did not intend to kill his neighbors Monday, and he turned himself in to the Pak Kret police station after 24 hours on the run.

Police said Thossaporn confessed to gunning down his neighbors in rage on Monday night because Siriluck talked to him disrespectfully in an argument and also threw a glass bottle at his wife. That’s when he said he pulled a gun and shot her.

After the first bullet hit, Thossaporn said he couldn’t control himself. He then shot her Cambodian employee and another neighbor, Mulloh Bin-umut, 45, who had attempted to intervene in the conflict.

Thossaporn fled the scene with his wife and said he disposed of the gun in the Don Mueang district.

After questioning Thossaporn, police took him to the scene in Soi Suan Siam 15 in the Khan Na Yao district for a “reenactment” Wednesday afternoon. That turned chaotic as an angry mob gathered and attempted to physically assault the shooting suspect.

Thossaporn was charged with murder and illegal possession of a weapon. Police said they did not file any charges against his wife.

 

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A scuffle ensues Wednesday as an angry crowd tries to assault triple-homicide suspect Thossaporn Pitakwattanon in Bangkok.

 

 

Related stories:

Alleged Parking Shooter Remains at Large

 

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Activist ‘Ja New’ Alleges Abuse by Abductors

Sirawith Serithiwat seated next to his mother at Nimitmai Police Station, early Thursday morning after soldiers transferred him to police custody.

By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

BANGKOK — A student activist leader said he was slapped in the head and back, and verbally abused after being blindfolded and taken away in an abduction-like operation late last night.

Sirawith “Ja New” Seritiwat, a fourth-year political science student at Thammasat University and a leader of the New Democracy Movement, said the abuse came at the hands of unidentified, uniformed men who forced him into a vehicle at 10:37pm Wednesday night in front of Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus.

He was eventually dropped off at Nimitmai Police Station, where he told his story to friends who visited him early this morning and recorded his comments on video then posted to Facebook.

“When I was taken into the vehicle, my face was covered, and on top of that, a rubber band was placed over my eyes, so I couldn’t see anything,” Sirawith, 23, said in the video. He said the vehicle drove him around for a long time, with about 20 turns taken before he was taken out to a place he reckoned was a field.


Student Activist Leader 'Abducted' from University


“They dragged me into a grassy jungle … and forced me to squat, but I refused.”

At that point, he said, the men kicked him down onto the ground.

“Then they walked to me and began verbally reprimanding me: ‘You want to become famous? Why are you talking with journalists? Are you conspiring with journalists? You have no religion or faith? Do you know your duty? What have you done for the country?’” he said.

Asked by an unidentified fellow activist in the video whether he was physically assaulted, Sirawith said he was struck and kicked.

“They slapped my head once. Hit my back once and kicked once. That’s three,” he said. “Then they used something to stick at my body,” adding he was unsure whether it was a wooden stick or a gun barrel.

A police memo of the arrest, which was posted on Facebook by the New Democracy Movement, identified the abductors as soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 2nd Infantry Regiment.

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A soldier barred Sirawith Serithiwat's lawyer (in white) and mother (left) from seeing him while he was being interrogated at Nimitmai Police Station early Thursday morning.

When Prachatai news agency asked a junta representative last night about the abduction, he said he was not aware of the incident. “I don’t even know if this is true. I can’t check it right now. We are checking whether it’s true or not,” the representative, Col. Burin Thongprapai, was quoted as saying.

But junta spokesman Winthai Suvaree this morning admitted that the military was behind the arrest. Nevertheless, he claimed that the soldiers acted in accordance with the law, and in a dignified, non-violent manner.

“The soldiers treated him with respect. There was no violence as alleged by someone who tried to distort the facts,” said Col. Winthai, adding that the soldiers have the authority to make the arrest because Sirawith had an outstanding warrant issued by the military court. 

Winthai also told reporters that Sirawith has been “increasing his provocative behavior” in recent days.

“I believe those in the society that have been following the news are conscious of this,” Winthai said. “However, in order to avoid creating a negative image or feeling towards security officers, especially now that those with ill intentions are attempting to exploit the issue, security officers are proceeding with everything with caution.” 

The pro-democracy activist, who incensed authorities last month by trying to lead a group of activists to the scandal-plagued Rajabhakti Park in Hua Hin, said he was eventually taken to the police station.

Sirawith was wanted under a warrant approved by a military tribunal for violating the junta’s ban on political assembly of five or more persons by boarding a train Dec. 7 in the failed attempt to visit the controversial park located in Prachuap Khiri Khan province to call attention to alleged corruption in the construction of the billion-baht park, which was managed by the military.

After an interrogation session at Nimitmai Police Station, Sirawith was transferred to Railway Police command in western Bangkok, where he remains in custody.

 

Additional reporting Teeranai Charuvastra 
 

Related stories:

Activist Deprived of Freedom, Fresh Air for Five Days in Small Room

Activist’s Mother Catapulted into Political Fame and Fray 

Rajabhakti Scandal: Military Closes Park 'For Maintenance,' Detains Dozens of Activists

Activists to Visit Rajabhakti Park Despite Likely Detention of Student Leader

Junta Weighs Charges Against Coup Anniversary Marchers

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Student Activist Leader 'Abducted' from University

An image posted after 11pm on Wednesday night by the New Democracy Movement said to be of a truck student activist leader Sirawith Seritiwat was abducted in by a number of men dressed in military uniforms. Photo: New Democracy Movement / Facebook

BANGKOK — A pro-democracy activist group said one of its leading members was abducted tonight by a group of men in military uniforms near Thammasat University in northern Bangkok.

Uniformed soldiers took Sirawith "Ja New" Seritiwat into a pick-up truck at 10:37pm on Wednesday night, according to a statement and video said to be of the incident posted to Facebook by the New Democracy Movement.


Democracy Activists Commit to Fight Over Flight


Sirawith is currently wanted by a military court for organizing an anti-corruption protest in December, but has refused to turn himself in along with several others.

The group also posted a photo allegedly showing the pick-up truck that took Sirawith away. Its license plates appeared to have been covered.

Rangsiman Rome, another member of the activist group, said the apparent abduction unnerved other activists wanted for the same offense. 

"Some of us are little nervous now," he said by telephone late Wednesday night. "But this kind of action is expected."
 

Related stories:

Activist Deprived of Freedom, Fresh Air for Five Days in Small Room

Activist’s Mother Catapulted into Political Fame and Fray 

Rajabhakti Scandal: Military Closes Park 'For Maintenance,' Detains Dozens of Activists

Activists to Visit Rajabhakti Park Despite Likely Detention of Student Leader

Junta Weighs Charges Against Coup Anniversary Marchers

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Facebooker Sentenced to 6 Years for Defaming Monarchy

By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

BANGKOK — The Criminal Court today sentenced a man to nine years in prison for defaming the monarchy in messages posted to Facebook, a sentence commuted to six years by the court.

The court ruled that Piya Chunkittiphan, aka Pongsathorn Banthorn, violated the lese majeste law and the Computer Crime Act for posting defamatory photos deemed offensive to the monarchy between July 27, 2013, and Nov. 28, 2013. In a statement accompanying its verdict, the court said Piya aimed to sabotage public’s respect and reverence towards the monarchy, adding that the images were shared widely on the internet.

Piya, who was never granted bail while facing trial, insisted on his innocence.

Piya’s defense team claimed the prosecution’s only evidence came from one or more smartphone images taken of a Facebook page, according to a summary by legal advocacy group iLaw, which said Piya has been behind bars since his arrest Dec. 11, 2014.

The Facebook account with the offending images belonged to “Pongsathorn Banthorn” and used a profile photo of Piya Chunkittiphan.

However, the court in its verdict said the charges were supported by computer records. The court said he was found to have changed his name and taken another identity in an attempt to evade prosecution.

Although Pongsathorn reportedly claimed to have asked Google to remove the images from Google search, the court said his request came more than a year after the images were posted.

Pongsathorn has yet to decide whether to file an appeal.

 

To reach us about this article or another matter, please contact us by e-mail at: [email protected].

Follow Khaosod English on and Twitter for news, politics and more from Thailand.

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