BANGKOK — Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources will dispatch officials to investigate what locals in Uttradit province claim is a fossil of the mythical Naga dragon.

The two kilogram "fossil," currently on display at Wat Tha Mai Nuea temple in Uttaradit's Pichai district,  has attracted scores of believers and fortune seekers in the region who believe the bone will bring them good luck.

Kamol Jadrueng, a temple administrator, insists that the bone belongs to the Naga, a sacred snake-dragon featured in Buddhist cosmology. According to Kamol, the fossil was donated by a temple-goer who purchased  it from an antique vendor in Vientiane for 200,000 baht.

The vendor said he found the fossil in a cave near the Mekong River in Laos' Savannakhet province.

"[The donor] believed that the Naga [fossil] would bring fame to the temple," Kamol said. 

Often described as the Thai equivalent to Scotland's Loch Ness Monster, the tale of the Naga is widely celebrated in northeastern Thailand. Every November, thousands of Thais gather on the banks of the Mekong river in Nong Khai province to watch the Naga shoot mysterious "fireballs" into the sky. The event also brings annual heated debates over the source of the fireballs, which skeptics says are incendiary bullets fired from rifles on the other side of the river.

According to Supot Jermsawasdipong, director of the Department of Mineral Resources, the Naga "fossil" is likely an elephant molar. 

"The department will dispatch officials to determine what kind of animal it is. We will compare it to an elephant's tooth," said Supot, whose department is responsible for cataloguing fossils in Thailand.

TAK — A fire that destroyed a house in Tak province and caused more than 2 million baht in damages miraculously spared a portrait of His Majesty the King, firefighters and police officers say.

The teak wood house in Pob Phra district caught on fire at around 4 am this morning. Five trucks of firefighters arrived at the scene and took approximately 30 minutes to contain the blaze. 

Pol.Col. Pansak Samantarat, superintendent of Pob Phra Police Station, said most of the furniture was lost in the fire, which he estimated cost 2 million baht in damages. 

However, the fire inexplicably spared a portion of a portrait of King Bhumibol (above) that was hung on a wall, according to firefighters who inspected the scene after the fire was put out. The firefighters told reporters they were "stunned" at the discovery. 

King Bhumibol, 87, has been on the throne since 1946 and is currently the world’s longest-reigning monarch. He is widely revered by Thais as a demi-god who can grant spiritual blessings to his subjects. 

His prestige is reinforced by Thailand’s lese majeste law, which criminalizes criticizing the Royal Family with a penalty of 15 years in prison. 

Pol.Col. Pansak said police are investigating the cause of the fire, but added that the residents said they heard an "explosion" from the breaker panel inside the house shortly before the fire started. None of the residents were injured by the fire because they escaped the house in time, the officer said. 

BANGKOK — The four activists who handed out free T-shirts near Bangkok's Victory Monument yesterday have been fined 100 baht each for causing a "public nuisance."

The activists, who identified themselves as members of group called "Free People of Thailand 58," were detained by security officers yesterday while they were speaking to reporters about the junta’s reform process and distributing T-shirts with an image of a bird with a tied beak and feet. 

The four activists were taken to Phayathai Police Station, where they underwent four hours of "attitude adjustment." 

Police said they fined the activists 100 baht each on charges of "causing a public nuisance." 

Pawinee Chumsri, a member of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center who is representing the four activists, told Khaosod that the group was not charged with violating the junta's ban on political protests. 

"The officials spoke to them and adjusted their attitude. They did not proceed with any charges of detention based on martial law," Pawinee said. 

The ruling junta banned all political activities and protests after seizing power from an elected government on May 22, 2014. Those who violate the ban can face trial martial court, where appeals are not permitted, and up to two years in prison.  

After he was released yesterday, the group’s leader, Akkrit Noonchan, repeated to reporters that he wants the junta to organize regular public forums as part of its ongoing reform process.

The activist added that he was not aware that he could also submit his opinion without having to stage a protest. 

"I misunderstood, I didn't know that the government has a forum for expressing opinions at the Government House," Akkrit said. "The officers have adjusted my attitude and understanding about that. From now on, I will cooperate with the government in developing the country as a citizen."

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BANGKOK — Two theater activists were sentenced to two years and six months in prison today for putting on a play about a fictional kingdom that judges said "insulted" the Thai monarchy.

Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Porntip Mankong, 26, were arrested last August on charges of lese majeste for their role in "The Wolf Bride," a play performed at Thammasat University nearly a year earlier. The play was put on to commemorate the anniversaries of pro-democracy rallies in Thailand in October 1973 and 1976.

Patiwat Saraiyaem, 23, and Porntip Mankong, 26, at court on 23 Feb 2015.

Patiwat, a fifth year student at Khon Kaen University, acted in the play, while Pornthip helped coordinate the production and played a small role. The play was organized by the now-defunct Prakai Fai Karn Lakorn activist group.

"Although the defendants have never committed previous crimes, their action – performing the play in an auditorium at Thammasat University – was an act of defamation and insult in front of numerous people," said a judge at Ratchada Criminal Court in Bangkok. "Moreover, it was disseminated on many websites, causing damage to the monarchy, which is revered by all Thais. Such action is a grave crime that warrants no suspension of the punishment."

After the verdict was read family members of the two defendants cried and embraced the two activists. Patiwat and Porntip looked calm throughout the session. 

Pawinee Chumsri, a member of the Thai Lawyers for Human Rights Center, said she believes the two defendants will not appeal the verdict. 

"I have talked to the two defendants and their parents about their strategy to fight the case all along, and how pleading guilty would benefit their situation," Pawinee said. "The two defendants agreed, so they pleaded guilty in order to make the case end quickly." 

Under Thailand’s lese majeste law – the harshest in the world – insulting the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Although the letter of the law only specifically covers the King, Queen, Heir-Apparent, and Regent, in practice the legislation is used to punish criticism of any aspect of the monarchy. 

The law has prevented media from publishing further details of the play, as quoting lese majeste content is considered grounds for prosecution.

After seizing power last May, Thailand’s military junta has stepped up prosecution of lese majeste offenders, drawing criticism from human rights groups who say the law infringes on free speech and is used to silence political dissent.  

“The imprisonment of the two “Wolf Bride” play activists is yet another serious blow to freedom of expression in Thailand and another dark mark on Thailand’s already battered international reputation," said Human Rights Watch's Asia Director Brad Adams on Monday. 

According to judges, Patiwat and Porntip's sentence was reduced from 5 years because they plead guilty to the charges. As is common with lese majeste supsects, the pair was repeatedly denied bail in the six months between their arrest and the court ruling on Monday. 

Around a dozen people showed up at the court today to show support for the pair. The group sang "Starlight of Faith," a popular song among left-wing Thai activists, and flashed the forbidden anti-coup three-finger salute as security officers drove Patiwat and Porntip back to prison. 

Police are reportedly searching for at least six other people involved in the play, several of whom have already fled the country.

BANGKOK — The Thai government has launched a mobile phone application that will allow passengers to rate their experiences with taxi drivers in Bangkok.

The app, produced by Department of Land Transport (DLT), will allow users to log their location, the license number of the taxi they are riding in, and evaluate various aspects of the service.

“The app will first be applied for taxis in Bangkok prior to expanding to other provinces,” said Deputy Minister of Transport Arkom Termpittayapaisith. “It is meant to improve efficiency and quality of service. I have instructed the DLT to publish the taxi evaluations on a daily basis, so that taxi users will know about that data too.”

The app, called “DLTCheckin,” is part of an effort to improve the behavior cab drivers in Bangkok, who are notorious for rejecting customers and refusing to use meters.

Arkom said the reviews submitted through the app will also help the Department decide whether to increase taxi fares by 5 percent in June, as was requested by taxi drivers earlier this year.  

The DLT also recently teamed with the inter-provincial bus company Nakhonchai Air to create a line of luxury taxis equipped with a series of high-tech features aimed at improving passenger safety. The cars will have GPS systems that can be monitored by the DLT, a ‘black box’ to record the driver’s behavior, and an emergency warning button for passengers. 

The driver will also have to pass breathalyzer test and verify his or her identity through a scanning system.  The service, called All Thai Taxi, will cost 20 baht extra and is set to launch in May.