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Missing Billy: Court Summons Kaeng Krachan Park Chief

By
Khaosod English
-

PHETCHABURI – The Phetchaburi Provincial Court has issued a summons order for the chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park because of his suspected connection with the disappearance of a local Karen activist.

Porlachee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen went missing on 17 April as he was making way to meet with representatives of the Karen community located in the national park.

Mr. Porlachee is a longtime activist who campaigned against the violent removal of Karen families living inside the park by officials who allegedly acted under orders from the park chief, Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn. Mr. Porlachee is also a key witness in the court case against Mr. Chaiwat regarding the torching of a Karen community in 2011.

Yesterday the court accepted a request filed by Mr. Porlachee's family to summon Mr. Chaiwat for questioning in front of the judges by 1:30 p.m. on 30 April.

The court designated the case as an "emergency," meaning that an arrest warrant will be promptly issued if Mr. Chaiwat fails to show up by the scheduled date.

Pol.Col. Narat Sawetnan, director of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department under the Ministry of Justice, said his agency is deeply concerned by Mr. Porlachee's disappearance, especially in light of his ongoing legal disputes with high-ranking officials in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Pol.Col. Narat likened the case to the disappearance of Somchai Neelapaichit, the Muslim rights lawyer who was allegedly kidnapped by authorities during the government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"There was information that state officials were involved in Mr. Somchai's disappearance, which is similar to the case of Billy," Pol.Col. Narat said. "It affects the credibility of Thai [law enforcement], and many foreign organisations are very interested in this case."

In order to prevent further instances of forced disappearances, Pol.Col. Narat said the police should compile a "white list" of activists that are at risk of being targeted, so that the authorities can provide them with extra protection.

The police may also cooperate with NGOs and members of civil society in their effort to compile the "white list," Pol.Col. Narat added.

 

 

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Investigation into Murder of Redshirt Poet Deepens

By
Khaosod English
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BANGKOK – The motive behind the fatal shooting of a pro-government poet and activist remains a mystery, as police refuse to rule the case as a political assassination.

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was starting his car in a restaurant parking lot in Bangkok when two masked gunmen shot him dead on the spot before speeding away on a motorcycle on 23 April, witnesses told police.

Mr. Kamol, commonly known by his pen name Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, was an active member of the Redshirt movement who frequently critcised the establishement in speeches and poems.

The activist regularly spoke out against Thailand’s draconian lese majeste (insult of monarchy) laws, which many Redshirt supporters believe was the reason behind his assassination. 

Yet Wad Rawee, a writer and longtime friend of Mr. Kamol, told Khaosod that he does not believe the poet was killed because of his involvement in anti- lese majeste campaigns. 

"The police should work harder to establish the motives," Mr. Wad said, "because the political situation these days is so confusing."

A number of Redshirt activists who knew Mr. Kamol also privately speculated that Mr. Kamol might have been targeted in revenge for his alleged role in engineering violent attacks on anti-government protesters in recent months.

However, Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch Sap-udom, a senior investigation officer at Chokechai Police Station, stressed that non-political motives behind the murder have not been ruled out either.

According to Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch, other suspected motives include business conflicts, personal disputes, and a vendetta concerning Mr. Kamol's alleged adultery; Mr. Kamol was known to be a womaniser, Pol.Lt.Col Nampetch claimed.

Tharit Pengdit, chief of the Division of Special Investigation (CAPO) and adviser to the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), also said in a press conference that it is too early to determine the link between Mr. Kamol's death and his political activities.

Meanwhile, Thida Thawornseth, chief advisor to the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), urged Redshirts to remain calm and exercise restraint in the wake of Mr. Kamol's murder.

"This action will not dissuade the Redshirts from their struggles, but it will only add more anger and prolong the struggles," Ms. Thida said. "We must learn from this. His death will not be in vain."

Ms. Thida added that the military needs to prove to the public that its members were not involved in the murder.

In Februrary, four army officers were arrested for allegedly attempting to assassin UDD leader Kwanchai Praipana in Udon Thani.

"The military must clarify itself … before people suspect that it had a hand in Mai Nueng case," Ms. Thida said.

 

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Investigation into Murder of Redshirt Poet Deepens

By
Khaosod English
-
Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was shot and killed on 23 April, 2014.

BANGKOK —The motive behind the fatal shooting of a pro-government poet and activist remains a mystery, as police refuse to rule the case as a political assassination.

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was starting his car in a restaurant parking lot in Bangkok when two masked gunmen shot him dead on the spot before speeding away on a motorcycle on 23 April, witnesses told police.

Mr. Kamol, commonly known by his pen name Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, was an active member of the Redshirt movement who frequently critcised the establishement in speeches and poems.

The activist regularly spoke out against Thailand’s draconian lese majeste (insult of monarchy) laws, which many Redshirt supporters believe was the reason behind his assassination. 

Yet Wad Rawee, a writer and longtime friend of Mr. Kamol, told Khaosod that he does not believe the poet was killed because of his involvement in anti- lese majeste campaigns. 

"The police should work harder to establish the motives," Mr. Wad said, "because the political situation these days is so confusing."

A number of Redshirt activists who knew Mr. Kamol also privately speculated that Mr. Kamol might have been targeted in revenge for his alleged role in engineering violent attacks on anti-government protesters in recent months.

However, Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch Sap-udom, a senior investigation officer at Chokechai Police Station, stressed that non-political motives behind the murder have not been ruled out either.

According to Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch, other suspected motives include business conflicts, personal disputes, and a vendetta concerning Mr. Kamol's alleged adultery; Mr. Kamol was known to be a womaniser, Pol.Lt.Col Nampetch claimed.

Tharit Pengdit, chief of the Division of Special Investigation (CAPO) and adviser to the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), also said in a press conference that it is too early to determine the link between Mr. Kamol's death and his political activities.

Meanwhile, Thida Thawornseth, chief advisor to the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), urged Redshirts to remain calm and exercise restraint in the wake of Mr. Kamol's murder.

"This action will not dissuade the Redshirts from their struggles, but it will only add more anger and prolong the struggles," Ms. Thida said. "We must learn from this. His death will not be in vain."

Ms. Thida added that the military needs to prove to the public that its members were not involved in the murder.

In Februrary, four army officers were arrested for allegedly attempting to assassin UDD leader Kwanchai Praipana in Udon Thani.

"The military must clarify itself … before people suspect that it had a hand in Mai Nueng case," Ms. Thida said.

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New Charges Filed Against Disgraced Ex-Monk Yantra

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Khaosod English
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Prachin Thanangkorn poses with an old copy of Khaosod which reported about his filing of the charge against Pra Yantra in 1995.

BANGKOK — A Buddhist activist has filed new charges against the defrocked monk Yantra for continually posing as a monk despite protests from the national Buddhist authorities.

Pra Yantra was widely revered as a charismatic and influential monk before a scandal concerning his celibacy erupted in 1994 and caused Buddhist authorities to strip him of his monkhood.

Yantra, whose secular name is Winai La-ongsuwan, fled to the United States where he lived in exile for more than 20 years. Last week, Mr. Winai returned to Thailand for the first time since the scandal, and he was warmly received by followers who continue to regard him as a legitimate monk.

The Office of National Buddhism (ONAB) has condemned Mr. Winai's continued adoption of monk-like clothes and titles since his return to Thailand. 

Frustrated by Mr. Winai's refusal to heed the ONAB's protests, Prachin Thanangkorn, the chairman of a Buddhist group called Dhammathippatai, met with police and filed charges against Mr. Winai for impersonating a Buddhist monk, an offence prohibited under Article 208 of the Thai Criminal Codes.

Mr. Prachin brought a copy of Khaosod newspaper from 24 April 2014, which includes photos of Mr. Winai posing as a monk among his followers, to show to the police as evidence.

"I cannot tolerate the actions of this former monk," Mr. Prachin said. "The way he dresses leads people to think of him as a monk, even though he was defrocked long ago."

Mr. Prachin also filed the very same charge against Mr. Winai in 1995, but that charge has since expired, police said.

The activist said he does not hold any personal grudge against Mr. Winai.

"It's just that what he does is not appropriate, and it could be a bad example for other impersonations in the future," Mr. Prachin explained. "I don't despise him. The [first] charge I filed against him has already expired, so he can enter Thailand as an ordinary man."

He added, "If he had dressed as a layman, it would have been fine. But since he has decided to behave in this way, I have to file charges."

Pol.Lt.Col. Komkrit Sangthong said he has documented the charge and will consult with his superintendents regarding further actions.

Mr. Winai was defrocked in 1994 after he was exposed by Khaosod newspaper to have tricked or coerced a number of women into sexual relations with him, in violation of the Buddhist ethics that prohibit ordained monks from having physical contact with women.

 

 

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1 Killed in Drunken Rampage By Ex-Cop

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Khaosod English
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Pol.Sgt.Maj. Kosol Kawipat lying unconscious after he drunkenly sprayed bullets inside a restaurant, killing one. 25 April, 2014.

LAMPANG — An intoxicated former police officer reportedly sprayed bullets at a group of patrons in a restaurant in Lampang province early this morning, killing one person.

The police received reports about the shooting at around 1:20 a.m. this morning and arrived at La Moon restaurant and bar to find 53-year-old Pol.Sgt.Maj. Kosol Kawipat passed out on the floor because of his severe inebriation.  

Witnesses said Pol.Sgt.Maj. Kosol was drinking heavily that night, pacing around the restaurant shouting incomprehensibly. The former police officer reportedly took out his 11 mm. handgun and fired bullets around the restaurant, hitting two persons. The rest of the patrons quickly scrambled for safety.

One of the wounded patrons, Panya Penasathien, 36, died at the hospital.

After the brief rampage, Pol.Sgt.Maj. Kosol collapsed and fell unconscious because of his intoxication, witnesses said. The man only regained his consciousness when police arrived at the scene.

According to police, Pol.Sgt.Maj. Kosol was stationed in Chiang Mai province before he left the service for an unspecified reason.

A high-ranking police officer suggested that Pol.Sgt.Maj. Kosol might have been "stressed" when he committed the crime. 

 

 

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2 Nakhon Pathom Men Killed In Jealousy Fight

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Khaosod English
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NAKHON PATHOM — A gunman has confessed to ambushing and attempting to murder his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend out of jealousy.

Police at Kampaengsaen Police Station were alerted about the incident on 24 April.

Chatchai Thepsaeng, 21, who was injured in the incident, told police that he was asked by a man named Phakphum Neunim, 23, to meet him and discuss issues surrounding his current girlfriend, who had previously dated Mr. Phakphum .

Mr. Chatchai said he agreed to the meeting and invited his friends, Thanapol Niyaphon, 24, and Saksith Sakultancharoenchai, 20, to accompany him. When Mr. Chatchai arrived at the arranged meeting spot, Mr. Phakphum was reportedly waiting in a car with a driver and immediately opened fire at the group, mortally wounding Mr. Thanapol and Mr. Saksith. Mr. Chatchai was shot in his leg but he managed to escape the scene.

Both Mr. Thanapol and Mr. Saksith were shot in their ribs and arms, medical workers said.

The police later arrested Mr. Phakphum and the driver, Thossapol Mali, 21, in connection with the crime. The police also confiscated the rifle believed to be used by Mr. Phakphum in the shooting.

Mr. Phakphum confessed that he arranged the ambush and shot at Mr. Chatchai's group out because of jealousy regarding his ex-girlfriend. 

 

 

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Constitutional Court Asks Media Not To Call It a 'Joke'

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Khaosod English
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A worker cleans the vacant tribunal of the Constitutional Court in May 2007.

BANGKOK — The Constitutional Court has released a statement asking the media to stop referring to it by its acronym, which also spells the word "joke" in Thai.

The term, "ตลก.", is not an official acronym provided by the Constitutional Court but it has been widely used by the Thai media since the court's inception. 

Due to its similarity to the word "ตลก" (joke), the acronym is also used by many pro-government activists and news sites as a way to mock the Constitutional Court, which many Redshirts accuse of harbouring a bias against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

However, the tradition has come to an end.

A letter signed by Chaowana Traimart, secretary-general of the Constitutional Court, was sent to many media publications today asking all reporters to adopt the official acronym of "ตศร." from now on.

According to the document, the acronym was officially decreed by the Constitutional Court in September 2013. 

"We ask cooperation from all of you to use the decreed acronym in order to create correct understanding among the public," the statement said.

 

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Thailand 'Secures' Rice Deal With the Philippines

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Khaosod English
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BANGKOK — Thailand has reached a trade agreement that will allow the kingdom to sell at least three million tonnes of rice to the Philippines over the next three years, a top official said.

The two countries signed a a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 22 April, and the Thai Minister of Commerce, Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, said he expects to send an initial shipment of 1.4 tonnes of rice to the Philippines by end of 2014.

The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been under pressure to sell the massive stockpiles of rice it has accumulated under its controversial rice-pledging scheme, which bought the rice from Thai farmers at above-market prices.

The government has struggled to sell the rice on the market without facing huge loses, and thousands of rice farmers have taken to the streets over the past few months to protest the government's failure to pay them in a timely manner. 

But Mr. Niwatthamrong said the government will pay the farmers "soon" with the emergency loan of 20 billion baht it has recently acquired from the central budget. 

"We need around two weeks to consider this matter," Mr. Niwatthamrong insisted.

Anan Lila, secretary-general of the Office of Agricultural Economics (OAE), said the price of rice has dropped by 30-40% this month because of the government’s massive stockpiles of rice, which he said destablise the domestic rice market. 

 

 

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Red Cross Bus Crash Injures Three

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Khaosod English
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A public bus carrying passengers from Bangkok to Pichit province crashed on 24 April, 2014, killing the driver of the bus.

AYUTTHAYA — A double-decker bus operated by the Red Cross Society crashed in Ayutthaya province this morning, injuring three people.

The incident took place at a petrol station on the 25 km. mark of 347 Pathum Thani – Bang Pahan Road. Police found the Red Cross’s damaged bus and an 18-wheeler truck at the scene.

One of the injured individuals, 52-year-old bus driver Somboon Pratheepchuang, told police the accident was caused by an oncoming 18-wheeler truck that forced him to swerve off the road and crash into another truck that was being refueled inside the petrol station.

The police said it was very fortunate that the fuel gas was not ignited by the crash.

The Red Cross personnel riding the bus said they were en route to Ayutthaya province to provide medical services to local communities when the crash occured.

There was another double-decker bus crash early this morning in An Thong province.

A public bus carrying passengers from Bangkok to Pichit province reportedly slammed into a ten-wheeler truck travelling in front of the bus at the 59 km mark on Asia Road. 

The driver of the bus, Chalit Mueangmee, was killed in the crash.

Police speculated that the ten-wheeler truck was parked at a U-Turn on the road when the bus crashed into the back of the truck. According to the police, Mr. Chalit might not have seen the rear lights of the truck as they were obscured by goods on the truck's load.

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Suthep to Replace Kamronwit as Top BKK Police Chief

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Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang at a press conference in 2013 (photo by Matichon).

BANGKOK — The commander of the Royal Thai Police says there is no political pressure behind the departure of Bangkok’s top police chief, Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit will swap places with  Pol.Lt.Gen. Suthep Detraksa, the chief of Region 5 Provincial Police in Northern Thailand, after the decision recieves official approval in a meeting set for Friday. 

According to Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, chief of the Royal Thai Police, the reassignment was due to recent shifts and resignations among top police chiefs that required Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit to fill the top job up North.

Pol.Gen. Adul dismissed speculation that politics are behind Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit's reassignment.

As the commander of Bangkok’s Metropolitian police force, Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit was responsible for containing the anti-government protests organised by the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

In late 2012 he raised the ire of many anti-government critics by hanging a photo in his office that shows him receiving a rank decoration from former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, along with the caption "I am here today because of you, brother."

 

 

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