RANONG — Residents of Tha Chang village in southern Thailand have been terrorized by a group of monkeys that escaped from their enclosure last month.

The monkeys started their rampage several weeks ago, running inside residents' homes, trashing their property, and damaging crops in nearby orchards, locals say. 

Surapong Inkabchan, 57, said the monkeys belong to a coconut farmer who trained the animals to pick coconuts from trees in the district. The monkeys appeared to have broken out of their cage last month and have been causing trouble in the village ever since, Surapong said.

"I keep four ducks. The monkeys stole all of the ducks' food. They eat everything," Surapong said. "When they ran out of food, they entered my kitchen, searched for rice, and threw the rice cookers around. I have to keep dishes and food in cupboards these days."

Seven families in the village say they have been affected by the monkeys' rampage.

Police at Ratchakrud Police Station say they are coordinating with officials from Department of Forestry to locate and capture all of the monkeys. 

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CHONBURI — Police in Chonburi province have arrested an Indian national who was convicted in India for a bombing that killed a top politician and seventeen others in 1995.

The suspect was arrested during a police raid of a house in Banglamung district at around 7.30 pm yesterday, said deputy commander of the Chonburi police Pol.Maj.Gen. Nitipong Niamnoi.

Thai police say the suspect possessed a Pakistani passport with the name "Gurmeet Singh," but according to a report in the India-based Hindustan Times, the passport is fake and the suspect's real name is Jagtar Singh.

Singh and two others were found guilty by an Indian court of masterminding a bombing in Punjab province in 1995 that killed Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh and seventeen others. In 2004, Singh and several other inmates escaped from a high security prison by digging a tunnel.

"The Indian authorities eventually discovered that the suspect was hiding in that house [in Chonburi province], so we made the arrest," Pol.Maj.Gen. Nitipong told reporters yesterday. "We will contact officials at the Embassy of India so that they can pick up the suspect and prosecute him."

According to the Hindustan Times, Punjab police discovered that Singh was living in Thailand under a fake identity last June. Punjab authorities sent a police team to Thailand to hunt him down in November, but by that time Singh had already gone underground.

The owner of the house where Singh was found, a Pakistani named Ali Alat, told Thai police he did not personally know the suspect.

"The homeowner told us that Singh phoned him on 1 January and asked to stay at his place for several days because his passport had expired, and offered to pay him 30,000 for the accommodation,” said Pol.Maj.Gen. Nitipong. “Ali said he agreed to let him stay because Singh is a fellow Pakistani.”

Police have charged Ali with providing shelter to an illegal alien and detained him for further interrogation. 

BANGKOK — Thailand's military government has asked New Zealand authorities to confirm whether a 23-year-old Thai charged with lese majeste has been granted asylum there.

Sek Wannamethee, spokesperson of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said he summoned the Charge d'Affaires of the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok to seek clarification about Ekapop Luara’s claim that he and his partner have been granted political asylum in New Zealand.

Ekapop, 23, was charged with insulting the Thai monarchy for a speech he made at a Redshirt rally in late 2013. He is believed to have fled Thailand shortly after the military seized power from the elected government on 22 May 2014. 

Last month Ekapop claimed on his Facebook account that he and his girlfriend were granted asylum in New Zealand. He also posted a photo of a New Zealand passport that he said was given to him by New Zealand authorities, and wrote that he had been hiding in Cambodia and the Philippines prior to New Zealand. 

"The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep concern over the matter to the New Zealand representatives," MFA spokesperson Sek told reporters yesterday. "Mr. Ekapop is using his status granted by the New Zealand government to engage in political matters that affect the national security of Thailand, at a time when Thailand is moving forward and seeking a national reconciliation." 

Since he announced his alleged asylum status in New Zealand, Ekapop has been criticising Thailand's military junta and mocking its effort to extradite him and other lese majeste suspects. 

According to Sek, the New Zealand Charge d'Affaires said he would seek information from New Zealand’s immigration agency about whether Ekapop has indeed been granted political asylum.

The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok had not responded to Khaosod English’s requests for comment at the time of publication.

"This matter is not a good thing for Thai – New Zealand relations," Sek said. "Therefore, Thailand is waiting for clarification from the New Zealand authorities about the status of Mr. Ekapop. We have also urged New Zealand officials to consider appropriate measures to put an end to Ekapop's activities that violate the Thai laws."

When asked about how Thai authorities will respond if it is confirmed that Ekapop has been granted asylum, Sek said he hopes the New Zealand government will not allow anyone who violates Thai laws to use its country as a base for political activities.

"We have to wait for explanation from the New Zealand Ambassador before we proceed with any action," Sek added. 

Criticising the monarchy is punishable by up to 15 years in prison under Section 112 of Thai Criminal Codes, a law known as lese majeste. Although the letter of the law only criminalises defaming the King, Queen, Heir Apparent, and Regent, in practice it is used to stifle any discussion that touches on the Thai monarchy. 

Since staging a coup on 22 May 2014, junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has stepped up prosecution of lese majeste suspects. Gen. Prayuth, considered a hardline royalist, has also granted military courts – where appeals are not permitted – jurisdiction over lese majeste cases.

Among those currently facing prosecution are two theatre activists who were accused by the military of insulting the Royal Family by staging a play about a fictional monarch in October 2013. The two activists have been held in prison since they were arrested last August, with the court repeatedly denying their requests for release on bail. 

The growing persecution has forced a number of activists and academics to flee Thailand and seek asylum in foreign countries. Apart from Ekapop, other notable exiles include transgender activist Saran Chuichai and historian Somsak Jeamteerasakul, who say they are living in France, as well as Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a political science scholar who lives in Japan. 

BANGKOK — Thaksin Shinawatra, the de facto leader of the Redshirt movement, has reportedly advised his supporters to refrain from interfering with the missions of the military junta that seized power from the Redshirt-allied government last year.

Thaksin, who served as Prime Minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006, made the comment to a group of visitors at his residence in Beijing, China, over the New Year holiday, a source told Matichon.

The source, who was reportedly one of the visitors at Thaksin’s residence, said the former leader chose to celebrate the New Year in "low-key manner" with only close friends, relatives, and small number of politicians.

Thaksin reportedly told his visitors that he is concerned with the state of the economy in Thailand and its potential effects on low-income workers, such as farmers and labourers. Therefore, "capable people" must be allowed to work and solve the problems, Thaksin reportedly said.

"We have to let the military government work in the fullest way. Pheu Thai Party and Redshirts must not oppose it, because there are already serious problems right now," the source quoted Thaksin as saying. "If we cannot fix them, we will be accused of creating even more problems."

The majority of Redshirt activists and leaders have kept a low profile since the 22 May coup that ousted the government led by Thaksin’s sister, former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

After seizing power, the junta banned all political activities and detained hundreds of Redshirt activists, academics, and journalists in military camps for “attitude adjustment.” In order to secure their release, most detainees were forced to sign documents promising not to participate in any political activities.

Although Thaksin has lived in self-imposed exile since 2008 to avoid corruption convictions, he has remained a powerful player in Thai politics and the beloved leader of the Redshirt movement that formed after his ouster. 

Thaksin, who is loathed by rival "Yellowshirt" activists as vehemently as he is loved by Redshirts, has not spoken publicly about politics since the coup. 

Nearly eight months after the military takeover, the junta, formally known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), has maintained nationwide martial law and a ban on political protests.

The NCPO appointed an interim government last year to draft a new constitution and oversee a national reform effort. According to junta leaders, elections will be held after the reforms are completed in 2016 at the earliest.