SONGKHLA — A Vietnamese-American man who was displaced in the aftermath of Vietnam War has asked Thais to help locate his daughter, who was reportedly abducted by sea pirates 30 years ago while the pair was en route to seek refuge in Thailand.

Can Tang, 73, said he and his daughter Tang Bich Hang, who was 13 at the time, were separated during their voyage from Communist-ruled Vietnam to Thailand in 1984. 

Mr. Can and his daughter were on a boat with other refugees somewhere in Gulf of Thailand when a group of Thai pirates reportedly attacked and robbed their ship. Mr. Can said the pirates took Ms. Tang and two other women, despite his attempts to save them.

The refugees later landed in Malaysia and Mr. Can eventually made his way to Los Angeles, where he gained US citizenship. Mr. Can has been trying to locate his daughter for the last 20 years.

Speaking to reporters in Songkhla province today, Mr. Can asked Thais to help him reunite with Ms. Tang, who would now be 43 years old. Mr. Can said he is confident that Ms. Tang is still alive and believes she is living in Songkhla province.

Mr. Can also recently helped found the South East Asia Missing Children Foundation (SEAMCF) in 2013, which helps families reunite with missing children. SEAMCF has successfully located two missing persons so far and still searching for 90 others, Mr. Can explained.

"I am looking for ways to establish a branch of SEAMCF in Thailand and to extend our network to other countries in Southeast Asia, so that they can coordinate the search  and receive information about these missing Vietnamese,” Mr. Can told reporters.

Mr. Can previously visited Thailand in 2012 in a similar effort to locate his daughter. In 1989, he also posted an advertisement in Bangkok Post newspaper and offered 7,500 US dollars for information leading to Ms. Tang. 

Last year, two Vietnamese-American siblings arrived in Thailand to seek help from Thais concerning their sister, Fam Noch Bichtri, who also reportedly went missing during a sea voyage in Gulf of Thailand.

In the early 1980s, refugee boats headed for southern Thailand were frequently stopped by pirates. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) began compiling statistics in 1981 and found that more than 80 percent of refugee boats en route to Thailand were attacked by pirates that year. Pirates killed at least 464 refugees, raped 535 women, and abducted 224 others in 1981, the UNHRC reported. 

Anyone who has information about Ms. Tang or any other missing Vietnamese refugee can contact Mr. Can by email at [email protected] or by phone at 081-986-1487.

SONGKHLA — A Vietnamese-American man who was displaced in the aftermath of Vietnam War has asked Thais to help locate his daughter, who was reportedly abducted by sea pirates 30 years ago while the pair was en route to seek refuge in Thailand.

Can Tang, 73, said he and his daughter Tang Bich Hang, who was 13 at the time, were separated during their voyage from Communist-ruled Vietnam to Thailand in 1984. 

Mr. Can and his daughter were on a boat with other refugees somewhere in Gulf of Thailand when a group of Thai pirates reportedly attacked and robbed their ship. Mr. Can said the pirates took Ms. Tang and two other women, despite his attempts to save them.

The refugees later landed in Malaysia and Mr. Can eventually made his way to Los Angeles, where he gained US citizenship. Mr. Can has been trying to locate his daughter for the last 20 years.

Speaking to reporters in Songkhla province today, Mr. Can asked Thais to help him reunite with Ms. Tang, who would now be 43 years old. Mr. Can said he is confident that Ms. Tang is still alive and believes she is living in Songkhla province.

Mr. Can also recently helped found the South East Asia Missing Children Foundation (SEAMCF) in 2013, which helps families reunite with missing children. SEAMCF has successfully located two missing persons so far and still searching for 90 others, Mr. Can explained.

"I am looking for ways to establish a branch of SEAMCF in Thailand and to extend our network to other countries in Southeast Asia, so that they can coordinate the search  and receive information about these missing Vietnamese,” Mr. Can told reporters.

Mr. Can previously visited Thailand in 2012 in a similar effort to locate his daughter. In 1989, he also posted an advertisement in Bangkok Post newspaper and offered 7,500 US dollars for information leading to Ms. Tang. 

Last year, two Vietnamese-American siblings arrived in Thailand to seek help from Thais concerning their sister, Fam Noch Bichtri, who also reportedly went missing during a sea voyage in Gulf of Thailand.

In the early 1980s, refugee boats headed for southern Thailand were frequently stopped by pirates. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) began compiling statistics in 1981 and found that more than 80 percent of refugee boats en route to Thailand were attacked by pirates that year. Pirates killed at least 464 refugees, raped 535 women, and abducted 224 others in 1981, the UNHRC reported. 

Anyone who has information about Ms. Tang or any other missing Vietnamese refugee can contact Mr. Can by email at [email protected] or by phone at 081-986-1487.

BANGKOK — Hundreds of anti-coup flyers were laid along a stretch of Ratchadamnoen Avenue this morning, a historic road in Bangkok that is home to the military junta’s headquarters.

Witnesses say an unidentified individual arrived at the avenue on a motorcycle at 5 am this morning and scattered the leaflets along the road between Jor Por Ror Intersection and Makawan Bridge.

The flyers criticise Thailand’s military junta, known as the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) with brief phrases like, "Evil Coup," "NCPO: National Council for Promotion Of Evil," and "The cross-eyed is mad on power," which is a reference to NCPO leader Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, who is said to be cross-eyed.

All of the leaflets are signed with "Free Thais," the abbreviated name of an anti-coup organisation formed in exile by several politicians allied to the deposed government. The organisation has not yet publicly claimed responsibility for the flyers. 

After finding the flyers, traffic police sealed off the area and dispatched workers to remove them. The operation took about 20 minutes.

Police say they are studying CCTV footage to identify and locate whoever is responsible for the incident. 

After seizing power on 22 May, the NCPO banned public protests and criticism of the junta and its missions. In recent months, dozens of anti-coup protesters have been arrested and sent to face trials in martial court.

Yesterday, the military court issued its first verdict against an anti-coup protester in Chiang Rai province. The protester was given a one-year suspended jail sentence. 

PRACHUAP KIRI KHAN — Officials and beach vendors in the resort town of Hua Hin have agreed to fix the price of food sold from stalls along the popular beach, following a wave of complaints from tourists about the vendors' "extortionate" prices.

According to photos of the bills posted on social media earlier this week, beach-goers were charged anywhere from 150 to 400 baht for staple Thai dishes, like som tum and pork fried rice. The standard market price of those dishes ranges from 30 to 40 baht.

At a meeting with local officials held today, the vendors agreed to new fixed prices that will be applied to all food stalls in the area. Under the new regulation, a dish of som tum will cost 45 baht, pork soup 80 baht, and a bottle of beer 80 baht, for instance. 

Suphadee Karaked, a representative of the Department of Internal Trade, said that although all of the vendors included the price of food in their menus, some of them did not do so in a clear way.Thus, officials asked the vendors to post large signs of their menus at the entrance to their stalls, Ms. Suphadee said.

"I believe this method will regain confidence from consumers and tourists. They will return to Hua Hin," Ms. Suphadee said. "It can also help regain the image of Hua Hin as the number one resort town of Thailand."

Many of the food vendors are also guilty of encroaching on public land, as their stalls are sitting on the beach, said Hua Hin's District Chief Officer Pornchai Thomkrachang. The authorities will move to evict all stalls that are currently encroaching the public land, Mr Pornchai said.

However, Mr. Pornchai added that authorities also struck a compromise with the vendors. According to Mr. Pornchai, the vendors are welcome to return to the beach on 18 August after the eviction and cleaning operation is completed, but they will have to strictly adhere to new regulations that only allow non-permanent structures on the beach. 

Each stall will also be limited to certain area by the local officials in order to avoid congestion on the beach, Mr. Pornchai said.

"On every Wednesday all stalls must also close down for cleaning and returning nature to the beach," Mr. Pornchai explained.

The vendors accepted the compromise, Chongkolnee Rittirong, a representative of the vendors, told Khaosod.

"The solution that was discussed today is acceptable. We may have to adjust ourselves, but we can keep our jobs and look after our families," Ms. Chongkolnee said. "The regulation of Hua Hin Beach should help improve everything now."

Ms. Chongkolnee added that all vendors will adhere to the new prices pegged by the officials. As for dishes that are not listed in the regulation, the vendors will submit prices to the officials for approval. 

PRACHUAP KIRI KHAN — Officials and beach vendors in the resort town of Hua Hin have agreed to fix the price of food sold from stalls along the popular beach, following a wave of complaints from tourists about the vendors' "extortionate" prices.

According to photos of the bills posted on social media earlier this week, beach-goers were charged anywhere from 150 to 400 baht for staple Thai dishes, like som tum and pork fried rice. The standard market price of those dishes ranges from 30 to 40 baht.

At a meeting with local officials held today, the vendors agreed to new fixed prices that will be applied to all food stalls in the area. Under the new regulation, a dish of som tum will cost 45 baht, pork soup 80 baht, and a bottle of beer 80 baht, for instance. 

Suphadee Karaked, a representative of the Department of Internal Trade, said that although all of the vendors included the price of food in their menus, some of them did not do so in a clear way.Thus, officials asked the vendors to post large signs of their menus at the entrance to their stalls, Ms. Suphadee said.

"I believe this method will regain confidence from consumers and tourists. They will return to Hua Hin," Ms. Suphadee said. "It can also help regain the image of Hua Hin as the number one resort town of Thailand."

Many of the food vendors are also guilty of encroaching on public land, as their stalls are sitting on the beach, said Hua Hin's District Chief Officer Pornchai Thomkrachang. The authorities will move to evict all stalls that are currently encroaching the public land, Mr Pornchai said.

However, Mr. Pornchai added that authorities also struck a compromise with the vendors. According to Mr. Pornchai, the vendors are welcome to return to the beach on 18 August after the eviction and cleaning operation is completed, but they will have to strictly adhere to new regulations that only allow non-permanent structures on the beach. 

Each stall will also be limited to certain area by the local officials in order to avoid congestion on the beach, Mr. Pornchai said.

"On every Wednesday all stalls must also close down for cleaning and returning nature to the beach," Mr. Pornchai explained.

The vendors accepted the compromise, Chongkolnee Rittirong, a representative of the vendors, told Khaosod.

"The solution that was discussed today is acceptable. We may have to adjust ourselves, but we can keep our jobs and look after our families," Ms. Chongkolnee said. "The regulation of Hua Hin Beach should help improve everything now."

Ms. Chongkolnee added that all vendors will adhere to the new prices pegged by the officials. As for dishes that are not listed in the regulation, the vendors will submit prices to the officials for approval. 

BANGKOK — Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seeking legal action against an ultra-royalist Thai newspaper that accused him of associating with anti-monarchy activists last week.

Mr. Thaksin's lawyer, Winyat Chartmontri, says the former leader is suing Naewna newspaper for libel and violating the Computer Crime Act, which criminalises disseminating false information through computer systems. 

The lawsuit is over an article published on the newspaper's website on 9 August that includes a photo of Mr. Thaksin with Anek Chaichana, a Thai-born Redshirt activist who is currently residing in the United States.

Mr. Anek is thought to have appeared in a controversial anti-monarchy video that was uploaded earlier this month and blocked almost immediately by Thai authorities. A separate lese majeste (insult of monarchy) charge was also filed against Mr. Anek by Buddhist monk and conservative activist Buddha Issara. Under Thai law, those found guilty of criticising the monarchy can face up to 15 years in prison.

The Naewna article alleged that the photo was proof that Mr. Thaksin and Mr. Anek know each other personally. The article also accused Mr. Thaksin of advising Mr. Anek, who reportedly owns a Thai restaurant in San Francisco, to take in another anti-monarchy activist, Chatwadee Amornchat, during her visit to the US.

Mr. Thaksin and his Redshirt supporters are routinely portrayed as anti-monarchists by the rival “Yelloshirt” political faction, which mostly consist of royalists and Thailand's traditional elite.

Mr. Winyat, Mr. Thaksin's lawyer, denied the accusation.

"The fact is: Mr. Thaksin is someone who is very loyal to the monarchy," Mr. Winyat told Khaosod.

He explained that the photo published by Naewna is misleading, because Mr. Thaksin is a public figure that all kind of people want to have their photos taken with. 

"It's an old photo," Mr. Winyat insisted, "And Mr. Thaksin is not related to any action that insults the monarchy."

The lawyer continued, "Each person should be responsible for their own action. It is not related to Mr. Thaksin at all. I would like to call on the movement that aims to undermine Mr. Thaksin to stop this behaviour of linking different things to accuse [Mr. Thaksin] of being a member of anti-monarchy movements."

Attempts to overthrow the monarchy are punishable by death under Thai law.

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