BANGKOK — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced plans to draw more Chinese visitors to Thailand through a campaign involving twelve 'Top Provinces,' six short films, and one celebrity.
TAT director Thawatchai Arunyik said "celebrity marketing" will be the main feature of the 201
JAKARTA (DPA) – Police in Indonesia's East Java province have shot dead a man who took a young girl hostage and demanded military protection from debt collectors, media reports said Thursday.
Fuad Ahmad grabbed a student from an elementary school, held her at knifepoint and took her to a nearby military base in Gresik district on Wednesday, the Jakarta Post reported.
He demanded military protection, saying someone had threatened to kill him unless he paid his debt from an online football bet, the report said.
The military agreed to meet his demand, but while driving to another location the police were able to free the hostage and shoot the man twice, killing him instantly, the report said.
The girl was injured and needed to be hospitalized.
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BANGKOK — The director of Thailand's Alcohol Control Committee has vowed to push ahead with a proposal to outlaw the sale of alcohol during New Year celebrations.
Although Dr. Saman Footrakul's previous attempt to pass the New Year booze ban was rejected by junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the public health official said today that he is not deterred.
"I will ask Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to support the outlaw of alcohol sales from 31 December to 1 January, and during Songkran [the traditional Thai New Year festival in April]," Dr. Saman said. "I'll also propose that he instructs all relevant officials to strictly enforce the ban."
Dr. Saman first publicly proposed the ban earlier this month, but the suggestion was immediately criticised by Thailand's tourism and nightlife industries.
Although Buddhism, Thailand's primary religion, forbids drinking alcohol, many Thais are considered to be avid or even heavy drinkers.
A 2013 report conducted by the Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) shows that 31.5 percent of Thai people aged 15 years and over – or about 17 million drinkers – consume alcohol regularly. Each regular drinker is estimated to consume 7.1 litres of pure alcohol per year, the report says.
However, Dr. Saman told reporters today that a survey conducted by the Alcohol Control Committee also shows that a vast majority of Thais – 81 percent – support his ban on alcohol sales during the New Year holiday.
"This measure does not constitute a violation of the free market, because the ban would be equally applied to domestic and imported products," Dr. Saman said.
Following outcry from business owners across the country, Gen. Prayuth told reporters on 9 December that he would not ban alcohol sales during the New Year.
"There won't be any ban," Gen. Prayuth said. "The drinkers must learn how to exercise caution and control themselves. They must not drive when they drink. They have to be responsible for their own safety."
Dr. Saman has consistently argued that the ban is needed to reduce the high number of drunk driving incidents and deaths that occur annually during the New Year and Songkran holidays.
In 2014, at least 336 and 332 people were killed during the so-called "Seven Dangerous Days" of the New Year and Songkran holiday seasons respectively. Drunk driving is cited as the leading cause of car accidents during these days.
Dr. Saman, who was a physician before he took up job with the government, was also the major force behind the current 2008 Control of Alcohol Beverage Act, which is known for its stringent measures against alcohol sales and advertisements. Under the law, alcohol cannot be advertised on the media, and bar owners cannot offer any alcohol promotions or "happy hours."
However, in practice the law is largely ignored in Thailand.
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BANGKOK — The director of Thailand's Alcohol Control Committee has vowed to push ahead with a proposal to outlaw the sale of alcohol during New Year celebrations.
Although Dr. Saman Footrakul's previous attempt to pass the New Year booze ban was rejected by junta leader and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the public health official said today that he is not deterred.
"I will ask Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha to support the outlaw of alcohol sales from 31 December to 1 January, and during Songkran [the traditional Thai New Year festival in April]," Dr. Saman said. "I'll also propose that he instructs all relevant officials to strictly enforce the ban."
Dr. Saman first publicly proposed the ban earlier this month, but the suggestion was immediately criticised by Thailand's tourism and nightlife industries.
Although Buddhism, Thailand's primary religion, forbids drinking alcohol, many Thais are considered to be avid or even heavy drinkers.
A 2013 report conducted by the Center for Alcohol Studies (CAS) shows that 31.5 percent of Thai people aged 15 years and over – or about 17 million drinkers – consume alcohol regularly. Each regular drinker is estimated to consume 7.1 litres of pure alcohol per year, the report says.
However, Dr. Saman told reporters today that a survey conducted by the Alcohol Control Committee also shows that a vast majority of Thais – 81 percent – support his ban on alcohol sales during the New Year holiday.
"This measure does not constitute a violation of the free market, because the ban would be equally applied to domestic and imported products," Dr. Saman said.
Following outcry from business owners across the country, Gen. Prayuth told reporters on 9 December that he would not ban alcohol sales during the New Year.
"There won't be any ban," Gen. Prayuth said. "The drinkers must learn how to exercise caution and control themselves. They must not drive when they drink. They have to be responsible for their own safety."
Dr. Saman has consistently argued that the ban is needed to reduce the high number of drunk driving incidents and deaths that occur annually during the New Year and Songkran holidays.
In 2014, at least 336 and 332 people were killed during the so-called "Seven Dangerous Days" of the New Year and Songkran holiday seasons respectively. Drunk driving is cited as the leading cause of car accidents during these days.
Dr. Saman, who was a physician before he took up job with the government, was also the major force behind the current 2008 Control of Alcohol Beverage Act, which is known for its stringent measures against alcohol sales and advertisements. Under the law, alcohol cannot be advertised on the media, and bar owners cannot offer any alcohol promotions or "happy hours."
However, in practice the law is largely ignored in Thailand.
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CHONBURI — Police shot dead a local administrative official in Chonburi province after he fired a handgun at his girlfriend and her alleged German partner last night.
According to police, Nattapol Yimpakdi, a 54-year-old official at Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation, arrived at a restaurant on Khao Lam Road around midnight and opened fire at a Thai woman and German man, severely injuring both.
Several police officers who were also eating at the restaurant reportedly ordered Nattapol to drop his weapon, but the official refused and fired at police, said Pol.Cpt. Warit Butthijak, an officer at Saen Suk Police Station.
"The officers were forced to return fire," Pol.Cpt. Warit said. "A bullet hit the suspect in a vital organ and killed him."
Nattapol was shot once in the chest, police say.
According to medical workers, the Thai woman and German man are in "severe" condition.
Police found a handwritten note on Nattapol's car explaining that he recently discovered his girlfriend was cheating on him with a German man, Pol.Cpt. Warit said.
Police records indicate that Nattapol was previously arrested in July 2013 for shooting and killing a colleague at Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organisation who allegedly flirted with his girlfriend. He was charged with murder but later released on bail.
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(Prachatai English)
BANGKOK — An anti-coup activist accused of defying an order to report to the junta in June, pleaded guilty during his trial at a military court in Bangkok on Wednesday morning.
Nut S. was arrested and detained by the military from 7-14 June. However, on 28 June, he was arrested again and brought to the Crime Suppression Division on a charge on defying junta orders.
He was charged with disobeying Order No. 5/2014, which summoned him to report to the junta in late May. If found guilty Nut could be imprisoned up to two years and fined up to 40,000 baht.
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BANGKOK — A Muslim advocacy group has protested Khaosod newspaper's recent coverage of atrocities committed by Islamic State fighters in the Middle East.
On 14 December, the international section of Khaosod's Thai edition published a story about guidebooks that were reportedly distributed by IS fighters in Mosul, an Iraqi city now under IS control. The books, titled "Question and Answers on Female Slaves and their Freedom," allegedly permitted IS militants to have sex with kidnapped women and sell them as slaves.
According to the report, which was first published by CNN, IS leadership attempted to justify its ill treatment of female prisoners by citing the Quran, the holy book of Islam.
However, Muhammad Faosi Yaena, sec-gen of Federation of Thai Muslim Media, met with a Khaosod editor yesterday to condemn the report, which he said may mislead the public about the "true" teaching of Islam.
Yaena, who was accompanied by other representatives of the Federation, filed a formal complaint yesterday explaining that IS practices are not recognised by Islamic principles.
"The IS may want to amend what was said in the Quran, but it cannot be done, because it is against the principle of [Islam]," Yaena told Khaosod. "Also, their violation of humankind is unacceptable."
He continued, "We are not here today to say whether IS is a legitimate group. We are here because of Islam. We want to clarify that IS's [actions] are wrong."
Yaena also questioned the authenticity of CNN's coverage about the IS fighters use of sex slaves in occupied territories, which span a significant portion of Iraq and Syria.
"If a person reads the news closely, they will know that Islam can never allow such practice," Yaena said. "But if the reader doesn't read it closely, they may misinterpret it, and it will mislead people into thinking that Islam is about violence. Therefore, any news that touches on the religion should include quotes from experts or scholars to prevent any misunderstanding."
The Federation also demanded Khaosod's Thai edition refrain from associating IS with Islam in any way. Khaosod's Thai edition, which maintains a separate editorial board from Khaosod English, complied with the request and will now refer to IS as "an armed group known as the Islamic State," instead of "a radical Islamic group known as the Islamic State."
These new measures do not apply to Khaosod English.
In July, the group also protested reports in Daily News – one of the biggest newspapers in Thailand – that allegedly "sided with the Israeli Jews" in "unethical" coverage of the Israeli invasion in Gaza Strip earlier this year.
A Daily News executive publicly apologised and promised to remove any "offensive" articles. According to a post on the Federation's Facebook, Daily News editors also agreed to consult "credible sources about the Middle East" and allow the Federation to regularly publish articles in the newspaper.
The Federation says it also prompted a Thai publishing house to apologise last month for publishing a novel based in the Middle East that allegedly "used an inappropriate name for a character."
Muslims make up approximately 5 percent of Thai population, which is largely Buddhist. A majority of Muslims in Thailand practice the faith of Sunni sect, and are formally represented by the Shayk-al-Islam Office.
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KUALA LUMPUR (DPA) — An 11-year-old boy was missing and thousands of people have fled their homes as floods hit two north-eastern Malaysian states, a media report said Thursday.
The missing boy fell from the roof of his house into rampaging flood waters late Wednesday in Kuala Krai in the state of Kelantan, 270 kilometres north-east of Kuala Lumpur, the New Straits Times said.
A total of 3,930 people have fled their homes in several areas of Kelantan due to flooding caused by two days of heavy rains.
In the adjacent state of Terengganu, 4,209 people fled to evacuation centres after their homes were inundated by floodwaters.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department on Thursday issued an advisory that intermittent and occasionally heavy rains will continue in Kelantan and Terengganu, while moderate rains will be experienced in other states on the peninsula.
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KANCHANBURI — Local officials say they cannot remove a tree that blocks a thoroughfare in Kanchanaburi province because it is believed to possess spiritual powers.
Many motorists have complained about the Bodhi tree, which takes up a significant portion of the road in Thamaka district, officials said.
However, the tree cannot be cut down because locals believe it is sacred and possesses spirits that could harm the workers, the director of Thamaka Municipality explained today.
Thamaka district, Kanchanaburi.
"The villagers believe that Bodhi is the type of tree that Lord Buddha sat under when he attained Enlightenment. It's something villagers respect, so we respect that too, because we are also Buddhists," Thamaka Municipality director Abhisama Bhodharamkul told Khaosod. "In the past, someone tried to cut it down but went insane instead. Another person tried to use a backhoe to clear it but the vehicle just broke down."
According to Aphisama, the tree was there even before the road was paved.
"The Bodhi tree stood in the middle [of the dirt road], and locals always travel on the sides," she said.
She added that local residents regard the tree as "lucky" because many of those who have prayed to the Bodhi tree have had their wishes granted.
"It's a holy tree," said Siriwan Siriwaree, a 40-year-old resident in Thamaka district. "Many people asked for lucky lottery number, and they get it. Some also asked for success in their life. They say that an elder ghost is residing in that tree."
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BANGKOK — The wife of Thailand’s Crown Prince has asked reporters camped outside her home to respect her privacy following her resignation from the Royal Family last week.
After giving up her royal status on 12 December, Srirasmi Suwadee, formerly known as Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasmi, moved out of the Crown Prince's palace to live with her parents at their residence in Ratchaburi province. She has not been since in public since 13 December.
Today a police officer emerged from Srirasmi's residence and posted a letter that appears to have been handwritten by the former princess.
The brief note read:
I'd like to thank all of the reporters for taking kind interest and closely following [me]. But I'd like to ask for your compassion: at this moment I only want to practice Dharma quietly with my family in this house in a peaceful manner.
Srirasmi
17 Dec 57
Monks have been seen entering Srirasmi's residence in recent days, presumably to conduct religious ceremonies hosted by her family.
Yesterday, Pol.Lt.Col. Thanongsak Kaewpolnoi, superintendent of Wat Pleng Police Station, asked reporters camping outside Srirasmi’s house not to disturb the former princess.
"[Srirasmi] is now a commoner, we treat her like any other ordinary citizen. There is no special treatment," said Pol.Lt.Col. Thanongsak. "But many reporters have come to cover the news, so my commander has instructed me to maintain order because sometimes they disturb the area by her house. She doesn't want to be disturbed."
Several relatives of Srirasmi came to visit her yesterday, but entered through a side door as the main gate remains locked.
A small commotion also took place when a woman showed up a the front of the gate and tried to sell a portrait of a monk for 1 million baht. Police officers promptly escorted the woman away.
Srirasmi, who married Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn in 2001, resigned from her status as a member of the Royal Family following the recent arrests of many of her relatives on charges of corruption and lese majeste.
The palace did not identify the reason for Srirasmi's decision to shed her royal status, but the announcement came a week after the Crown Prince stripped several of her family members of their royally bestowed surname, presumably in response to the ongoing scandal.
The Royal Household Bureau has not addressed the status ofPrince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, the Crown Prince and Srirasmi's 9-year-old son.
On 15 December, Ministry of Finance confirmed that the Crown Property Bureau has also granted an unspecified sum of money to the former princess to assist her cost of living.
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