SA KAEO — A small-scale territory dispute broke out along the Thai-Cambodian border today over a plot of land that currently belongs to a Thai farmer.

The 61-year-old rice farmer, Subin Thiangsan, said Cambodian soldiers arrived on her fields in Sa Kaeo province today and claimed the land is Cambodian territory.

A group of Thai officials and Border Patrol Police later arrived and negotiated with the Cambodian troops. Both sides were unarmed. 

Pol.Col. Rerk Panitcharoen, a local commander of the Thai Border Patrol Police, said he instructed Subin to stop working on her plot of land for one week while the two sides negotiate a solution. 

Suhari Channok, a local administrator, told reporters that Cambodian authorities have been installing new border markings in recent months, and have been encroaching deeper into Khok Soong district, which borders Cambodia.

He said a barbed wire fence had been placed near the border by Thai authorities many years ago, but does mark the exact border, and was only constructed to prevent illegal border crossings.

"So, as days go by, the Cambodians have claimed that the area beyond the barbed wire is their own territory," Suhari said, adding that some Cambodians had entered Subin's farmland and tried to plant rice in her fields.

Subin Thiangsan with local Thai officials on her farmland in Sa Kaeo province, 11 June 2015.

Subin told reporters she had documents to prove her ownership of the land, and pays taxes to the Thai government every year.

Thailand and Cambodia have several long-running territory disputes along their border. The most prominent case involves the ruins of a stone temple, called Preah Vihear, located on a promontory near Si Saket province. 

Both Thai and Cambodian authorities have claimed ownership of the temple, but in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 1962 that Preah Vihear and its surrounding area belongs to Cambodia. However, Thai authorities have disputed the ruling and continue to post troops in the vicinity of the temple. Skirmishes occasionally break out between Thai and Cambodian troops, with latest gunfight taking place in 2011. 

In November 2013, the ICJ affirmed its 1962 ruling and ordered Thai authorities to withdraw from the area. No fighting between the two sides has been reported in recent years. 

BANGKOK — The former chamberlain of the Thai Crown Prince's third ex-wife was handed over to police today for prosecution on charges of defaming the monarchy.

Montri Sotangkul, a former senior assistant to ex-Princess Srirasmi Suwadee, was given to police by Royal Household Bureau officials at an undisclosed location last night, said Pol.Col. Akradetch Pimonsri, commander of the Crime Suppression Division.

He said Montri was detained at the headquarters of the Crime Suppression Division overnight, and then transferred to the Royal Thai Police this morning. 

The 53-year-old official has been charged with violating Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, which outlaws defaming the monarchy. Police say Montri exploited his post as a chamberlain and claimed close ties to Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn to secure his position as an executive board member of several state agencies, including the petroleum enterprise PTT.

Montri also abused his royal position to secure the rights to sell and buy land in Bangkok, according to police. 

Pol.Lt.Gen. Sriwarah Rangsiphramanakul, commander of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, said today that apart from insulting the monarchy – which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison – Montri is facing three additional charges of bribing state officials, coercing others to bribe state officials, and abuse of power. 

"We have transferred the suspect to doctors for physical examination, and to establish that he is in good health," Pol.Lt.Gen Sriwarah said. "And then, we will hand him over to investigative officers at the Metropolitan Police Bureau for interrogation. We expect that it will take all day, because he has four arrest warrants on him." 

The officer continued, "Whether he will confess to the charges is up to the suspect. If he does, there will be crime re-enactments. I expect that tomorrow we will bring him to be remanded at a prison." 

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) may also be involved in the prosecution because Montri is was a state official, Pol.Lt.Gen. Sriwarah said. 

Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpangmuang, commander of the national police, said police will request the court deny Montri release on bail. 

"We won't let him have bail," Pol.Gen. Somyot said. "Otherwise, he may flee, mess with the witnesses, or intimidate them." 

Yesterday, Pol.Gen. Somyot told reporters that former Princess Srirasmi personally appointed Montri to her entourage, and that the Crown Prince was not involved in her decision. 

"What Mr. Montri has done, he has done on his own, and it is something related to the the former Royal Consort," Pol.Gen. Somyot said, referring to Srirasmi.  "It is not related to, and it is not something Mr. Montri has done for Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Let me insist again: His Royal Highness is not involved or aware or related to what Mr. Montri has done."

Former Princess Srirasmi has not been seen in public since she resigned from the royal family in December 2015 amidst a string of lese majeste charges against members of her family, including her brothers, sister, parents, and uncle. All of them are now serving time in prison.

SURAT THANI — Authorities on the southern island of Koh Tao have promised to enforce safety regulations after a British tourist was severely injured by a boat’s propellers while she was diving off the coast of the island two days ago.

The boat’s rotor almost severed the 20-year-old woman’s leg, but rescue workers swiftly brought her to hospital on Koh Samui island, where she is now recovering.

The incident has spurred local police to inspect boat companies and diving instructors on the island to ensure that they are meeting safety standards and possess proper licenses, said Pol.Lt.Col. Thanakorn Pattananankaew, an officer of Tourism Police on the nearby Koh Samui island, which also oversees jurisdiction of Koh Tao. 

He also advised tourists to only dive with companies that are properly licensed, such as Scuba Shark, the outfit that the British tourist was with at the time. 

"That way, if unexpected incidents happen, the instructors can rescue you and solve the problems in time," said Pol.Lt.Col. Thanakorn.

The officer said he visited the tourist at the hospital today and was told she is in a safe and stable condition.

"They spent many hours operating on the bones in her leg," Pol.Lt.Col. Thanakorn told reporters.

Meanwhile, Pol.Lt.Col. Napha Senathip, an officer at Koh Tao Police Station, said Boonrord Klubnak, the 60-year-old driver of the boat who fled the scene after hitting the tourist, is now under arrest and being interrogated by police.

He said police are waiting to speak to the tourist and receive medical records about her injuries before formally charging Boonrord with a crime.

"Nevertheless, the driver confessed to the crime, and he is willing to compensate the victim because his boat has accident insurance," Pol.Lt.Col. Napha said.

Koh Tao is a popular diving spot for foreign tourists in the Gulf of Thailand. However, the idyllic resort island has made national news several times in the past year because of unusual deaths of foreigners.

In September 2014, two British tourists were found murdered on Sairee beach. Two Burmese migrant workers were arrested after a controversial police investigation, and are awaiting trial in prison on charges of rape and murder.

A Norwegian tourist was also killed near Koh Tao island in December 2014 after a boat turbine struck his head while he was diving in the sea. 

Speaking to reporters today, the island’s mayor said he does not think the latest incident will affect tourism, but vowed to tighten safety measures. 

"The boat owner has already taken his responsibility for what happened," said Chaiyan Thurasakul. "As for measures to guarantee safety for divers and tourists, we will hold a meeting to find ways to take care of their lives and properties. Once we have conclusions, we will impose them on all diving instructors, in order to prevent this kind of incident from happening to tourists ever again."

BANGKOK (DPA) — The numbers of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh trying to reach other South-East Asian countries by boat has reduced significantly since the beginning of a regional crisis last month, a monitoring group said Wednesday.

Some 5,600 migrants have either landed in the destination countries of Indonesia and Malaysia or returned to Myanmar, according to Chris Lewa of the Arakan Project, which campaigns on behalf of the Rohingya ethnic group in Myanmar.

Most of the boat migrants are ethnic Rohingya, who say they suffer persecution in Myanmar, or Bangladeshis who are often considered to be economic migrants.

"It is difficult to estimate how many migrants are still at sea," she said, "but the numbers are not large."

"There's been no new departures in the last several weeks since the crisis started," Lewa added.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which was the first major body to put a figure on the number of migrants at sea last month, saying it was more than 8,000, refused to speculate on how many people might still be on boats.

The numbers are "difficult" to gauge, spokesman Joe Lowry said.

A recent mission by the United States to search for remaining boats has not found any refugees.

Official numbers from Malaysia and Indonesia indicate that less than 3,000 have landed since early May, with the majority – 1,700 people – having arrived in the Indonesian province of Aceh.

Since May 20, when the governments of both countries agreed to let some 7,000 people come ashore, no new boats have been spotted, officials said.

The Myanmar navy brought over 700 boat migrants back to shore a week ago, but did not specify whether these were Bangladdeshis or Rohingya.

Meanwhile the Thai navy clarified earlier statements that its humanitarian mission in the Andaman sea was due to end later Wednesday.

The amphibious assault vessel HTMS Ang-Thong, currently serving as a command and control ship in the Andaman sea, would continue its mission to provide humanitarian assistance to any refugees it finds until ordered otherwise.

Navy spokesman Captain Benjamaporn Wongnakornsawang said that a decision on continuing the mission would be made in the coming days by relevant government officials.

"Until then we will continue serving the mission," he said.

(Reporting by Cod Satrusayang)

BANGKOK — Police have charged a Royal Household Bureau official with defaming the monarchy by allegedly claiming his close ties to the royal family for personal gain.

The 53-year-old official, Montri Sotangkul, has been charged with violating Section 112 of the Thai Criminal Code, a law known as lese majeste, which criminalizes insulting the Thai King, Queen, Heir Apparent, or Regent. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

Montri is also a former executive board member of the state-owned petroleum giant PTT, said Pol.Gen. Somyot Pumpangmuang, commander of the Royal Thai Police. 

According to Pol.Gen. Somyot, Montri claimed close relations with "the higher institution" – a euphemism for the monarchy – in order to become a board member of two state enterprises, including PTT, and secure the rights to buy and sell land in Bangkok.

"I have sent a letter to Royal Household Bureau requesting them to hand over Montri to police for legal prosecution," Pol.Gen. Somyot said. 

The Royal Household Bureau manages affairs related to the Thai monarchy. 

A photo of Royal Household Bureau official Montri Sotangkul (C) and former Princess Srirasmi (L) provided by the Royal Thai Police.

Pol.Gen. Somyot added that Montri is a part of the royal entourage of former princess Srirasmi, an ex-wife of Thailand's Crown Prince who announced her resignation from the Royal Family in December 2014. She stepped down amidst a scandalous string of lese majeste charges against members of her family, including her brothers, sister, parents, and uncle. 

All of them are now serving time in prison.

"What Mr. Montri has done, he has done on his own, and it is something related to the the former Royal Consort," Pol.Gen. Somyot said today, referring to ex-Princess Srirasmi.  "It is not related to, and it is not something Mr. Montri has done for Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. Let me insist again: His Royal Highness is not involved or aware or related to what Mr. Montri has done."

Pol.Gen. Somyot also told reporters that Srirasmi personally appointed Montri to her entourage, and that the Crown Prince was not involved in her decision. 

The palace scandal exploded in November 2014 when Sriasmi's uncle, former Central Investigative Bureau chief Pol.Lt.Gen. Pongpat Chayaphan, was charged with running a massive crime syndicate and using the Crown Prince's name to further his riches.

In response, Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn stripped Srirasmi's family of the royally-bestowed surname Akharaphongpreecha, forcing them to revert back to their "commoner" surname, Suwadee, on 30 November. 

Less than two weeks later, on 12 December, the Royal Household Bureau announced that Srirasmi had resigned from her status as a member of the Thai Royal Family. She moved out of the Crown Prince's palace in Bangkok to live with in her parents’ home in Ratchaburi province. She has not been seen in public since 13 December. 

Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn and Srirasmi were married in 2001. They have one 10-year-old son. 

Speaking at the press conference today, Pol.Gen. Somyot said a preliminary investigation suggests Montri is also related to the alleged criminal ring run by Pol.Lt.Gen. Pongpat, but more investigation is needed to confirm the link.