CHIANG MAI — Army officers stopped and searched cars traveling in former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's convoy through the northern province of Chiang Mai today.

Yingluck and her aides were headed to Chiang Mai for a religious service when their convoy was stopped at a security checkpoint.

The soldiers identified themselves as officers from the Third Region Army and asked to search all of the vehicles —  except for Yingluck’s —  for "security reasons."

Yingluck complied, and her motorcade was allowed to proceed shortly afterwards. 

According to Lt.Gen. Sathit Pittarat, commander of the Third Region Army, the search was a part of his unit’s routine efforts to stem the narcotic trade and "any movements that may incite chaos."

The general insisted that soldiers at the checkpoint stop every vehicle that passes through, and did not target Yingluck specifically. He also explained that the military officers spared Yingluck's vehicle from the search because they "respected her dignity."

"We didn't touch the former Prime Minister's car at all," Lt.Gen. Sathit said. "I would like to also deny the reports that I sent soldiers to trail her. It's merely for maintaining security. When VIPs enter the area, we have to be responsible for their safety."

This week, the ruling junta denied Yingluck's request to leave the country, citing the criminal lawsuit she is currently facing for allegedly failing to stop corruption in her administration’s rice-pledging scheme.

The rejection of Yingluck’s travel request suggests fear among junta leaders that Yingluck may follow in her brother’s footsteps and flee the country to evade the lawsuit.

Yingluck’s brother, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was ousted in a military coup in 2006 and has lived in self-imposed exile since 2008 to avoid serving time for corruption convictions.

Last month, Yingluck was retroactively impeached for the same offense by an interim parliament appointed by the junta. The verdict, which Yingluck’s supporters say was an effort to cripple her political faction, came with an automatic five-year ban from political office.

The Office of Attorney-General announced that it would press criminal charges against Yingluck on the same day of the impeachment vote.

Yingluck was initially ousted from the premiership last May by the Constitutional Court, which found her guilty of unlawfully transferring a government official in 2011.

Two weeks later, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who was serving as army chief at the time, dissolved what was left of her government in a coup d’etat. He was later appointed Prime Minister by a rubber stamp parliament in August.  

BANGKOK — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) says it is investigating a complaint that a prominent nightclub in Bangkok barred a transgender woman from entering its venue.

Nijshanaaj Sudlarphaar, a transgender fashion model, submitted the complaint to the NHRC yesterday. She was accompanied by representatives from the Thai Transgender Alliance, an NGO that advocates rights for LGBT rights in Thailand.

According to the complaint, Nijshanaaj visited Onyx nightclub in the popular nightlife district of RCA at around 11.45 pm on 1 January with four foreign friends. The club bouncers reportedly allowed the four foreigners to enter the venue, but refused entry to Nijshanaaj after they checked her ID card.

Nijshanaaj said the staff told her it was the club's "door policy" to bar transgenders from the venue.

"That answer makes me sad and embarrassed. It's like they disrespect my dignity as a human being," Nijshanaaj said. "My foreign friends also told me they were saddened by the incident. They wondered why I wasn't allowed to use a nightclub in Thailand even though I am Thai."

Ranaphoom Samakkhikarom, director of the Thai Transgender Alliance, told reporters that such a policy violates Section 4 of Thailand's interim charter, which protects the equality of all Thai people.

According to Ranaphoom, many other establishments in Thailand also discriminate against transgenders, who they fear will commit crimes such as theft and prostitution on their premises. Ranaphoom said that a hotel in Chonburi province had a sign that listed three banned objects: durian, dogs, and transgenders.

"They shouldn't generalize about all transgender individuals," Ranaphoom said. 

Although Thailand is known for being relatively accepting of LGBTs, especially compared to many other Southeast Asian nations, conservative facets of society occasionally express prejudice against the community. Transgenders, known by locals as ladyboys, are routinely mocked in slapstick comedies, and gay marriage remains unrecognized by Thai laws. 

Accepting the complaint from Nijshanaaj, NHRC member Tairjing Siripanich said he will investigate the incident and summon the owners of Onyx nightclub to provide testimony. 

"Discrimination is unacceptable," Tairjing said. "In the past we have received many complaints about [transgenders] being refused service at hotel conference centers and nightclubs. Their identity is also often used for comedy and ridiculed, even though such actions are unacceptable."

According to Tairjing, refusal of service or entry to transgenders sometimes stems from misunderstanding between the venue owners and low-ranking staff. However, in some instances staff are following orders from business owners, who later deny that they set the policy, he said.

Tairjing said he would also like to remind all business owners that the new constitution, which is currently being drafted by a junta-appointed committe, will specifically ban discrimination based on gender. 

"If the draft is approved and enforced, the situation of fairness and equality for these people will improve," the NHRC official told reporters. 

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BANGKOK — As a part of an annual campaign to keep young people in line on Valentine's Day, the Royal Thai Police have warned parents to inform their children of the "dangers" associated with the occasion.

Parents, guardians, and teachers should instruct children to be extra careful on Valentine's Day this Saturday, Pol.Maj.Gen. Patipat Suban na Aytthaya said in a press conference yesterday.

“They should tell the children to be careful and take care of themselves. They should also ask for cooperation from children to avoid risky behavior on that day,"Pol.Maj.Gen. Patipat said.

Valentine’s Day has become a widely-celebrated in Thailand in recent decades. According to a report compiled by Kasikorn Bank, spending around the holiday last year amounted to 1.5 billion baht.

However, authorities in Thailand – a socially conservative country despite its freewheeling sex industry – frown upon the holiday, as it is perceived to encourage premarital sex. Every year, police and state agencies launch a campaign to ensure that Thai youths refrain from "inappropriate activities."

Yesterday the Ministry of Interior Affairs issued an order to all provincial authorities to ensure that nightclubs and hotels strictly follow the laws on Valentine's Day and bar underage customers from their venues.

The national police force has issued a similar order, placing all police units in the country on alert from 11-15 February to "increase vigilance in risky areas in which sexual harassment and crimes can take place,” said Pol.Maj.Gen. Patipat.

He also urged all entertainment venues and nightclubs to report any incidents of "children being lured" or "behaving in an inappropriate way" to local police units by dialing 191 or 1599.

BANGKOK — As a part of an annual campaign to keep young people in line on Valentine's Day, the Royal Thai Police have warned parents to inform their children of the "dangers" associated with the occasion.

Parents, guardians, and teachers should instruct children to be extra careful on Valentine's Day this Saturday, Pol.Maj.Gen. Patipat Suban na Aytthaya said in a press conference yesterday.

“They should tell the children to be careful and take care of themselves. They should also ask for cooperation from children to avoid risky behavior on that day,"Pol.Maj.Gen. Patipat said.

Valentine’s Day has become a widely-celebrated in Thailand in recent decades. According to the Thai Chamber of Commerce, spending in the days leading up to the holiday in 2013 amounted to 3.2 billion baht.

However, authorities in Thailand – a socially conservative country despite its freewheeling sex industry – frown upon the holiday, as it is perceived to encourage premarital sex. Every year, police and state agencies launch a campaign to ensure that Thai youths refrain from "inappropriate activities."

Yesterday the Ministry of Interior Affairs issued an order to all provincial authorities to ensure that nightclubs and hotels strictly follow the laws on Valentine's Day and bar underage customers from their venues.

The national police force has issued a similar order, placing all police units in the country on alert from 11-15 February to "increase vigilance in risky areas in which sexual harassment and crimes can take place,” said Pol.Maj.Gen. Patipat.

He also urged all entertainment venues and nightclubs to report any incidents of "children being lured" or "behaving in an inappropriate way" to local police units by dialing 191 or 1599.