PHAYAO – A Redshirt leader in the northern province of Phayao said he has canceled an annual Thai New Year celebration for local Redshirt activists in order to comply with the junta's ban on political activities.

According to Siriwat Chupamadtha, coordinator of the Redshirt movement in the province, activists traditionally gather during Songkran, the Thai New Year, to perform rod nam dum hua, a ceremony in which younger people pour water on the hands of seniors to show their respect. 

But this year's gathering was cancelled due to the "inconvenient" political climate, said Siriwat, who is a leader of Phayao's chapter of the Redshirts' umbrella organization, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

"The government is concerned about peace in the country," Siriwat said. "So I have asked for cooperation from all activist groups to avoid causing unrest, and join the national reform effort to set up rules for our society. We have cancelled all forms of Songkran activities that involve group attendance. We want Redshirts to stay with their families, make merit, and join traditional activities in their respective areas." 

The Redshirts are supporters of the elected government that was toppled by then-army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha in a military coup on 22 May 2014. Since the military takeover, Gen. Prayuth has banned all political activities and protests. Some violators of the ban have been sent to stand trial in the martial court, where military officers serve as judges. 

Last week the junta also forced UDD leaders to cancel the annual Buddhist merit-making ceremony dedicated to victims of the military crackdown on Redshirts on 10 April 2010, which killed at least 20 civilians and five soldiers. The ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on the fifth anniversary of the deadly crackdown at Wat Plub Pla Chai Temple, but UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan eventually called off the event in compliance with the junta's orders. The junta also forbid relatives of the victims from gathering together at the same temple, instructing them to hold private ceremonies at their homes instead. 

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

BANGKOK – The Thai government is looking forward to cooperation with the newly-nominated American ambassador, a spokesperson says.

United States President Barack Obama nominated Glyn Davies, the former US special representative for North Korea, as the new ambassador to Thailand over the weekend. His formal appointment is pending an approval by the US Congress. 

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense told reporters yesterday that Thailand will be willing to work with the new ambassador, if he is formally appointed, "for the sake of peace in the country and stability in the region."

"I insist that our government is willing to cooperate with every nation. We do not have bias against anyone," said Maj.Gen. Kongcheep Tantrawanich. "Thailand is currently going through an important transition. The Ministry of Defense is working under the policy of the government and upholding interest of the nation."

Thailand and the United States have had a strong alliance for decades, although the US government scaled back diplomatic ties following the military coup d'etat in Thailand on 22 May 2014. The coup was led by then-army chief Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is now chairman of the ruling military junta and Prime Minister.

A US State Department official said in February that the US will not fully reactivate its military alliance with Thailand until Gen. Prayuth returns the country to democratic rule. The junta says elections will be held in early 2016 after a new constitution has been approved, and if the political climate is deemed stable. 

The latest diplomatic row between Thailand and the US occurred in January, when a senior US official called upon the junta to repeal martial law and restore civil rights in a speech at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Thailand's military government called the speech a "disappointing" interference in Thailand’s domestic affairs, and summoned the American charge d'affaires in protest.

While relations with Washington have cooled, Thailand's ties with China and Russia appear to be on the rise. Some analysts have speculated that Thailand is seeking to build a "counter-alliance" against the US government, although the junta has consistently dismissed the allegation.

"We want to build trust and cooperation with every country, in order to help us ready to tackle new forms of threats to national security, which need cooperation from every country," Maj.Gen. Kongcheep said yesterday. "We are not anyone's enemy, and we have no enemies. Our defense relationships with every nation have been going well."

He added, "We have a continuous relationship with international superpowers. We have relationship with America for more than 180 years, Russia 118 years, and China 40 years." 

Related coverage:
Thailand Not Building Alliances to Counter US, Junta Says

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

BANGKOK – Three cleaning works were injured yesterday by homemade bombs that were hidden inside a garbage bag in a suburb of Bangkok.

According to police, the three workers were collecting bags of trash on Soi Sukhumvit 101/1 in Bang Na district when they noticed a plastic bag filled with four round-shaped objects wrapped in black duct tape.

One of the workers reportedly unwrapped the bag and the objects immediately exploded in his hands.

The three wounded victims are employees of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s city cleaning department. Police identified them as Amphon Saebe, 47; Goon Chiangchai, 44; and Surat Sitthipanya, 21.

Police officers soon cordoned off the area and found two more homemade bombs in the bags. Police identified the explosives as “ping pong bombs,” which are commonly used by teenage gangs in Thailand. 

Phanit Ngamthaweewiwan, a resident who lives close to where the explosives were found, said there was a brawl between two gangs in her neighborhood on the evening of 13 April. 

“I don’t know if it’s related to the bombs,” Phanit said.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Nipon Charoenphol, deputy commander of Bangkok police, told reporters it is highly likely that members of a local gang dumped the bombs in the garbage bag following a gang fight to get rid of the evidence. 

“We are checking CCTV footage in the area and collecting witnesses’ testimonies to identify the perpetrators,” Pol.Maj.Gen. Nipon said, adding that the bombs appeared to be made from rocks and gunpowder bounded together by a duct tape. 

Pol.Col. Kamthorn Uicharoen, an officer of the police EOD team, said the bombs are not related to other recent bomb attacks in Bangkok, such as the twin bombing of Siam Paragon shopping mall on 1 February 2015, which police believe were politically motivated. 

“These bombs are found among polytechnic students. It’s not related to attempts to cause unrest, because in those cases the perpetrators used explosives that are more damaging,” Po.Col. Kamthorn said. 

Police say security officers searched a house in Soi Sukhumvit 101/1 that was identified by locals as a place where gang members often meet up. The search turned up one homemade handgun, seven swords, and one wooden stick, though there is no evidence that linked the home owner to the blasts, police said. 

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

JAKARTA (DPA) – Indonesia's national rights commission said Tuesday it was investigating allegations that hundreds of people, mostly from Myanmar, are forced to work on fishing boats with little or no pay.

Police said the labourers from Myanmar and Thailand were promised jobs in Thailand but were instead taken to Benjina on Indonesia's Aru Islets where they were forced to work for Thai fishing boat captains.

More than 300 of them were freed and returned to Thailand and Myanmar this month after the practice was exposed.

"Our team is currently interviewing all people involved in the business," said Siti Noor Laila, a member of the National Commission on Human Rights.

The head of the police's human trafficking division, Arie Darmanto, said officers from Mynamar were to arrive Wednesday to join the criminal investigation, the Kompas daily reported.

Arie said the workers were denied payment and mistreated.

"When they asked for their wages, they were locked up in cells," Arie was quoted as saying.

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