BANGKOK — Bangkok City Hall today admitted its CCTV pole may have been responsible for the death of a man on Saturday.

Although Thaweesak Lertpraphan, Director of Bangkok’s Traffic and Transportation Department, said on Sunday there was no electrical leakage from the camera pole next to where the dead man was found, he said today that electrical leakage had been detected in the area.

But he stopped short of confirming that the man died from a fatal electrocution from the CCTV pole, saying more investigation is needed.

The unnamed man, whom police describe as a homeless man is his late 30s, was found dead early Saturday morning next to a security camera pole operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration at the entrance of Soi Phahonyothin 47.

The Director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine said on Sunday that a preliminary autopsy indicates that the man’s heart stopped beating abruptly due to electrocution. Police also found burn marks on his hand, another sign of electrocution, said the director, Police Maj. Gen Pornchai Suteerakun.

But Thaweesak insisted yesterday that there was no leakage from the cable as alleged by the police. Although some local residents told the media they felt the electric current whenever they touched the pole, Thaweesak said they were merely victims of static electricity.

Thaweesak changed his stance in a news conference held at the City Hall today afternoon. He told reporters BMA tested the electrical current in the area with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and found leakage in the same vicinity. 

However, Thaweesak said it is too early to pinpoint the source of the leakage. Further investigation is being conducted, he said.

According to BMA officials at the news conference, the pole was installed in 2014. It was inspected in April 2015 and again in Sep. 2015 after officials received reports of electrical leakage, officials said today.

Bangkok Governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, said he has now ordered the Traffic and Transportation Department to check their 50,000 security cameras and 10,000 of its poles across the city. He also said City Hall is willing to offer help to the victim’s family.

But police have yet to identify the victim’s next-of-kin.

“We cannot identify him yet since none of his relatives has contacted us,” said Police Maj. Gen Pornchai, director of the police forensic medicine department.

Pornchai added that another extensive post-mortem examination would be conducted within the next two days to determine the exact cause of death of the unnamed man.

City dangers

Vichien Chankeaw, 63, a local motorcycle taxi driver, said some passers-by have been electrocuted, but not fatally, by electricity leaking from the pole since June 2015. He claimed the issue was already reported to the Chatuchak District Office, but it was never clear whether the district office or the Metropolitan Electricity Authority should take responsibility.

In the wake of the man’s death on Saturday, Chatuchak District Director Chaowarit Songnawarat, said yesterday that he has now ordered officers to inspect all the camera poles in the area.

BMA has often come under fire for shoddy infrastructure maintenance in the capital.

In December, a man fell through an uncovered manhole near Chankasem University, leaving him with a large wound that needed more than 100 stitches. To much outcry on social media, the BMA refused to pay the victim’s medical bills, saying there is currently no regulation to support such compensation.

A taxi driver also died after falling into an uncovered manhole at a construction site in 2014. Police said BMA staff at the site neglected to cover the manhole, leading to the man’s death.

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

BANGKOK — Bangkok City Hall today admitted its CCTV pole may have been responsible for the death of a man on Saturday.

Although Thaweesak Lertpraphan, Director of Bangkok’s Traffic and Transportation Department, said on Sunday there was no electrical leakage from the camera pole next to where the dead man was found, he said today that electrical leakage had been detected in the area.

But he stopped short of confirming that the man died from a fatal electrocution from the CCTV pole, saying more investigation is needed.

The unnamed man, whom police describe as a homeless man is his late 30s, was found dead early Saturday morning next to a security camera pole operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration at the entrance of Soi Phahonyothin 47.

The Director of the Institute of Forensic Medicine said on Sunday that a preliminary autopsy indicates that the man’s heart stopped beating abruptly due to electrocution. Police also found burn marks on his hand, another sign of electrocution, said the director, Police Maj. Gen Pornchai Suteerakun.

But Thaweesak insisted yesterday that there was no leakage from the cable as alleged by the police. Although some local residents told the media they felt the electric current whenever they touched the pole, Thaweesak said they were merely victims of static electricity.

Thaweesak changed his stance in a news conference held at the City Hall today afternoon. He told reporters BMA tested the electrical current in the area with the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and found leakage in the same vicinity. 

However, Thaweesak said it is too early to pinpoint the source of the leakage. Further investigation is being conducted, he said.

According to BMA officials at the news conference, the pole was installed in 2014. It was inspected in April 2015 and again in Sep. 2015 after officials received reports of electrical leakage, officials said today.

Bangkok Governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, said he has now ordered the Traffic and Transportation Department to check their 50,000 security cameras and 10,000 of its poles across the city. He also said City Hall is willing to offer help to the victim’s family.

But police have yet to identify the victim’s next-of-kin.

“We cannot identify him yet since none of his relatives has contacted us,” said Police Maj. Gen Pornchai, director of the police forensic medicine department.

Pornchai added that another extensive post-mortem examination would be conducted within the next two days to determine the exact cause of death of the unnamed man.

City dangers

Vichien Chankeaw, 63, a local motorcycle taxi driver, said some passers-by have been electrocuted, but not fatally, by electricity leaking from the pole since June 2015. He claimed the issue was already reported to the Chatuchak District Office, but it was never clear whether the district office or the Metropolitan Electricity Authority should take responsibility.

In the wake of the man’s death on Saturday, Chatuchak District Director Chaowarit Songnawarat, said yesterday that he has now ordered officers to inspect all the camera poles in the area.

BMA has often come under fire for shoddy infrastructure maintenance in the capital.

In December, a man fell through an uncovered manhole near Chankasem University, leaving him with a large wound that needed more than 100 stitches. To much outcry on social media, the BMA refused to pay the victim’s medical bills, saying there is currently no regulation to support such compensation.

A taxi driver also died after falling into an uncovered manhole at a construction site in 2014. Police said BMA staff at the site neglected to cover the manhole, leading to the man’s death.

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

PHUKET — A Chinese tourist who was bitten by a giant python at a snake show in Phuket on Saturday has received compensation from the company that organized the show.

Jin Jing, 29, was bitten by a 2.5-meter long python at a medicinal herb shop  on Saturday morning in Muang district of Phuket which ran a free snake show. The woman reportedly bent down towards the snake as if she was trying to kiss the non-venomous creature and was bitten on the nose.

The incident was recorded in a video which has later went viral online.

The show was organized by a company called Phuket Biotechnology.

The snake caretaker Sarawuth Toompho, said no tourist has been bitten before at the performance which has been opened for nearly 2 years. Usually, tourists are not allowed to kiss snakes, Sarawuth said.

Kritiporn Phumkunchorn, the general manager of Phuket Biotechnology said the company sent the injured tourist to hospital and she is now in back to China. The company has paid for her medical costs, including treatment received in China, and given 120,000 baht compensation, Kritiporn said.

Kritiporn added that the Chinese tourist accepted that the accident was her fault since she was trying to kiss the snake without asking for permission from the snake handler.

Santi Pawhai, the director of Phuket Tourism and Sports, said the safety measure will be discussed on Jan. 14 in an attempt to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

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

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By Pravit Rojanaphruk
Senior Staff Writer

BANGKOK — If you thought 2015 was a bad year for human rights in Thailand, brace yourself for some bad news.

In 2016 violations of human rights could get worse as more people are expected to challenge the military regime of General Prayuth Chan-ocha, according to predictions from human rights activists and critics of the military junta.

 “Personally speaking I am not sure if things will improve. I think there will be increasing retaliation from ordinary citizens,” said National Human Rights Commissioner Angkhana Neelapaijit, explaining that more people are likely to try to exercise their political rights as the military regime continues to stay in power.

 Rangsiman Rome, an anti-coup activist who is a key member of the New Democracy Movement (NDM), was detained and briefly imprisoned along with 13 other members last June for violating the junta’s ban on political assembly. He thinks Thailand’s human rights situation can sink even further this year.

 “We haven’t reached the lowest point yet. Things could turn even worse than they already are,” Rangsiman told Khaosod English. 

He added that suspicious deaths under military detention of two high-profile prisoners and the loosely-interpreted use of the draconian lese majeste law bode ill for the next 12 months under the National Council for Peace and Order, the formal name of the military regime.

 “I expect more human rights violations in 2016. The junta will feel less secure and those who used to support the NCPO will increasingly become uncertain,” he said, in reference to economic stagnation and corruption allegations against some of the key junta members.

 “The NCPO will likely insist that the country will disintegrate without them, however,” said Rangsiman, who vowed that the NDM will continue to try to oust the junta and act as de facto opposition.

  For human rights lawyer Yaowalak Anuphan, head of Thai Lawyers for Human Rights, her outlook for 2016 is also bleak.

 “We didn’t expect to see that many arrests last year along with the use of laws beyond their stated intentions,” she explained. “I don’t see any positive signs for 2016. The situation will be the same if not worse.”

On the other hand, Mahidol University conflict-resolution expert Gothom Arya thinks it’s difficult to predict the situation in the next 12 months due to many uncertain factors. Nevertheless, Gothom said  the economy in 2016 will affect the situation, adding that the prospects are rather gloomy.

 What’s more, said Gothom, as the junta enters its second full calendar year in power since it staged the coup in May 2014, the chance of the NCPO abusing its power is greater because absolute power tends to corrupts absolutely.

 “The prospect is that more will be forced to do what the junta wants. The temptation to abuse such power is there.”

Wishlist for 2016

Interviewees highlighted freedom of political expression as a top cause for concern in 2016 as the military regime continues its crackdown on dissent.

“Voicing [certain] truths is not possible,” explained Angkhana.

“We’re living in a surreal situation where there’s no standard in the application of laws,” Rangsiman said. 

He also notes that lese majeste law has been so broadly interpreted that it was used last December to prosecute a man for making alleged sarcastic remarksagainst Khun Thongdaeng, a royal dog of His Majesty the King. 

Rangsiman said he will not make any proposals or requests to the junta, since NDM regards the military regime as illegitimate.

 As for Yaowalak, she’s concerned not just about freedom of expression with the growing use of the lese majeste law but also about the use of military detention and military court against civilians. She urged the junta to do away with both immediately, as well as to stop using absolute power under Article 44 of the junta’s provisional charter.

 Gothom meanwhile said besides the issue of freedom of expression, he’s most concerned with rural villagers’ rights, particularly communities facing forced eviction from contested forest areas.

 “Many poor people are being affected”, said Gothom.

 Gothom also said he expects to see more propaganda by the military junta fed through various media in 2016.

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

BANGKOK — Judging by the number of hipsters and regular folk attending the latest two-day ‘Made By Legacy’ Flea Market which ends today, there’s a seemingly insatiable desire by some to dress-up for their vision of a perfect-world.

For men this includes wearing the ubiquitous vintage Rolex Submariners on NATO or vegetable-tanned leather watch straps, putting on old military or vintage work clothes and slipping into Shell Cordovan loafers from venerable American shoemaker Alden.

Women who flock to the temporary market, taking place in a state railway garden, have more choices as any boho vintage or retro dress seems to be socially acceptable.

The camera of choice here is not digital, but old SLR cameras or a pre-digital Leica.

Not all visitors are as pedantic or eccentric with their fashion, however. This is no black tie-only event and the only thing required by the organizer is that visitors pay a 120 baht entrance fee. However a good number of customers, including throngs of hipsters, just wanted to blend in with the surroundings: dilapidated low-rise industrial buildings.

Also, judging from the goods available at arguably the temporary flea market in Bangkok with the best-reputation, it’s always nice to look the part.

Traders and Their Wares

Rows of dealers selling vintage clothes can be perused in this open air-area. The purveyors comes from various places in Bangkok such as Siam Gypsie Market, Ekamai and Thonglor. As a bonus, there are about a dozen or so stalls staffed by Japanese expats selling knickknacks and even food like ramen, mochi (rice cake) and more.

Hand-stitched leather wallets and other items can be found at the booth by ‘Sew & Needle’. Their individually-made craftsmanship competes for attention with another stall offering bespoke denim service run by a Canadian man.

Some vintage industrial furniture is also for sale, although the selection is rather limited.

Music by DJs and bands in the evening add to the vibe, while food ranges from home-made Ham & Cheese Salad Sandwiches by Maison Jean Phillipe from Thonglor (220 baht a pop) to 390 baht for a mini Truffles Pizza. As basic drinking water is 20 baht per bottle and craft beer costing 240 baht a pint, the market is definitely not catered to the hoi polloi.

Old habits die hard and many people simply left their trash on the old oil drums that served as impromptu dinner tables. This was despite the fact that there were trash bins by the tables.

It’s not clear if such a highbrow flea market is a desperate reaction to Bangkok mall-shopping, a yearning for an imagined hip-outdoor-shopping community or both.

Call it the pretension of the upper-middle class in wanting an imagined and sanitized Brooklyn or Portobello market, or just another place to get good booze and engage in people watching. Made By Legacy, which is usually held two or three times a year, is undeniably a reminder that there’s more to Bangkok than the posh air-conditioned mega mall shopping experience, however.

Note: Made By Legacy’s last day at the current location is from early afternoon today till midnight. A free shuttle bus, bearing an elephant logo, is provided by the organizer and available from Hua Lamphong Train station to the site. The entrance fee to the market is 120 baht.