Caught On CCTV: Cab Driver Shot Dead By 'Jealous Man'

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10 April 2014, 13:53

(10 April) The police have released CCTV footage of the murder of a taxi driver who was shot dead following a fistfight in Bangkok earlier this week.

Police said Mr. Duangchan Buakiew, 39, was shot in Soi Lat Phrao 114, Wang Thong Lang district, at around 03.00 on 8 April. A group of local residents rushed him to hospital, but he later succumbed to his severe injuries.

Medical workers found 2 gunshot wounds in Mr. Duangchan's stomach, and another on his left leg. The police also discovered 5 .45 bullet cases at the scene of the crime.

Witnesses told the police Mr. Duangchan was "flirting" with a girlfriend of another man prior to the incident. The man reportedly became enraged and engaged in a fistfight with Mr. Duangchan out of jealousy, but he eventually lost the fight to Mr. Duangchan and fled from the area.

In the CCTV footage obtained by the police, Mr. Duangchan could be seen walking to wash his bruised face in a water tank in an apartment's parking lot in Soi Latphrao 114, apparently thinking the fight was over. However, shortly afterwards the man, now armed with a hand gun, caught up with him and proceeded to shoot Mr. Duangchan dead.

Witnesses said the taxi driver could be heard pleading for mercy, but was ignored by the perpetrator, who fled the crime scene after the incident.

Police identified the man as Mr. Teerapat Rattanapat, a textile vendor and native of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. The court has approved the arrest warrant for Mr. Teerapat, and the police have urged any citizens who recognise the man from the CCTV footage to pass the information to the police force.

The police also dismissed a rumour that Mr. Duangchan was in fact a pro-government taxi driver who had been murdered by an anti-government protest guard, insisting that the case was purely motivated by a personal dispute.

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Bangkok 'Tollway OTOP Shop' Inaugurated

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9 April 2014, 20:38

(9 April) Shoppers can now browse for local goods produced by local communities across Thailand at state-sponsored shops under expressways in Bangkok.

Located under Ram Intra – Ploenchit – Silom Tollway in central Bangkok, these OTOP (One Tambon One Product) shops have been constructed by the Department of Community Development and opened to the public today.

The shops feature "quality items" such as foods, beverages, tools, accessories, clothes, and other souvenirs produced by local artisans in various Tambons (subdistricts) all over Thailand.

The OTOP program was initiated under the government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, and remains one of the most successful and least controversial legacies of his populist administration.

The shops under the "Under Tollway" project consist of "OTOP the Gallery" under Ploenchit expressway, the "OTOP Walking Street" under Silom section of the expressway, and the "OTOP Avenue" located just below Ram Intra tollway. All of the shops are operated daily from 10.00-22.00.

Each venue has been aimed to attract foreign tourists, businessmen, and office employees in their respective areas, said Mr. Pisan Prathanchawano, deputy director of the Department of Community Development, at the opening ceremony today.

Mr. Pisan said he'd like to express his sincere thanks to the Expressway Authority of Thailand, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the police, and OTOP shop-owners for participating in the project.

"I believe this program will be successful if we Thai citizens support these quality Thai products," Mr. Pisan said.

Mr. Kwanchai Wongnitikorn, director of the Department of Community Development, added that since OTOP kicked off 10 years ago, the program has generated more than 80 billion baht in revenue for local communities in all regions.

He hopes the project will greatly expanded now that additional OTOP shops have been opened in prime financial districts of the capital city.

"This project will not only consider the profits and income. It will also adhere to OTOP's main principle, which is to … help develop the skills and products of the local procurers, so they can rely on their own business in a sustained manner," Mr. Kwanchai told reporters.

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Buddha Issara To Sue Khaosod For B100 Mil.

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9 April 2014, 20:01

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and Buddha Issara

(9 April) Anti-government monk activist has pledged to sue Khaosod and Matichon for libel, demanding 100 million baht in compensation.

Buddha Issara and his supporters marched from their rally site in Chaeng Wattana Road to the Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road today, where he submitted his letter to the court officials detailing his intention to file lawsuit against the two newspapers.

The monk alleged that Khaosod and Matichon have unfairly defamed him in their news coverage. He said he wanted the newspapers to pay him 100 million baht in damage.

Nevertheless, it is understood that Buddha Issara has not taken any formal steps in filing the libel lawsuit, and his appearance at the court today was merely symbolic.

The monk and his companions later had a brief "sit-in" on Ratchadapisek Road and ate their lunch, before marching away without incident.

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Buddha Issara To Sue Khaosod For B100 Mil.

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9 April 2014, 19:28

(9 April) Anti-government monk activist has pledged to sue Khaosod and Matichon for libel, demanding 100 million baht in compensation.

Buddha Issara and his supporters marched from their rally site in Chaeng Wattana Road to Criminal Court on Ratchadapisek Road today, where he submitted his letter to the court officials detailing his intention to file lawsuit against the two newspapers.

The monk alleged that Khaosod and Matichon have unfairly defamed him in their news coverage. He said he wanted the newspapers to pay him 100 million baht in damage.

Nevertheless, it is understood that Buddha Issara has not taken any formal step in filing the libel lawsuit, and his appearance at the court today was merely symbolic.

The monk and his companions later had a brief "sit-in" on Ratchadapisek Road and ate their lunch, before marching away without any incident.

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PM Orders Inquiry Over Ko Tee’s Monarchy Remark

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9 April 2014, 18:03

Mr. Wuttipong Kochthammakul, 16 January 2014

(9 April) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has ordered an investigation into the footage of a Redshirt activist mentioning His Majesty the King in a negative way, a top official said.

Mr. Suranand Vejjajiva, Secretary to Ms. Yingluck, said the Prime Minister has specifically asked the police to launch a criminal prosecution against the activist, Mr. Wuttipong Kochthammakul, on the charge of lese majeste (insult of the monarchy).

Mr. Wuttipong, aka Ko Tee, who leads a local Redshirt group in Pathum Thanee province, has appeared in a documentary about the ongoing political crisis in Thailand, produced by Canadian-based news agency Vice.

In the documentary, Mr. Wuttipong talked negatively about His Majesty the King to the host. Due to strict lese majeste laws, Khaosod cannot reproduce or republish the remarks.

The video appeared to have been filmed in the days prior to the general election on 2 February, but was not uploaded to Youtube until this week.

Mr. Suranand added that the police will find and prosecute “the person who uploaded the clip”, although he did not say whether there will be any legal action against the news agency.

Any remark deemed offensive to the Royal Family is prohibited under the Article 112 of the Criminal Codes, with the maximum penalty of 15 years in jail per offence.

Accuser Of 'The Nation' Exec To Submit Evidence

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9 April 2014, 16:41

(9 April) The mysterious individual who accused famous The Nation journalist and executive of engaging in extra-marital affairs with her has agreed to submit further evidence to the news agency.

Mr. Kanok Ratwongsakul previously pressed charges against the accuser, who identified herself as a female Instagram user named "Lie Kanok", for defaming him by posting photos which purported to show Mr. Kanok's genital as proof that he had sexual relations with her.

"Lie Kanok" demanded that Mr. Kanok apologised to her for "manipulating" her into the affairs with him, only to ditch her later. Mr. Kanok has denied the allegation and blamed his political opponents for engineering the false tale to taint his reputation; the journalist has been an active supporter of the anti-government movements.

Nevertheless, Mr. Kanok admitted that a videoclip released by Lie Kanok which showed him whispering the words "I love you" to the camera was genuine, but said he could not remember its context.

Mr. Kanok is currently under an investigation by The Nation.

Today the accuser posted on her Facebook account that she is willing to present further evidence of Mr. Kanok's alleged affairs with her to the Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), including still pictures and video footage of Mr. Kanok.

She also urged the The Nation to reconsider Mr. Kanok's adherence to media ethics, and asked the company to guarantee her safety throughout the investigation.

The exact contents of the evidence she has vowed to submit to The Nation are unclear, but she has nevertheless posted a photo showing what she claims to be Mr. Kanok sitting on a balcony with towel wrapped around his waist.

She also reminded Mr. Kanok of his vow that he would quit his media profession if it was proven that he did manipulate anyone into sexual relations with him.

"Kanok has been 'dramatic' with his claims that he is politically persecuted and intimidated," the accuser wrote, "But if it is proven that it is not the case, how will Kanok take responsibility?"

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'Ghost' Tells Mother Her Son Was Murdered

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9 April 2014, 15:03

(9 April) A woman in Pitsanulok province has urged the police to re-investigate her son's death, following a tip-off from a "ghost".

The 13-year old Supphachai Thammanupat was found dead in a pond near Bua See Ngoen village in Mueang district on 3 April. The police ruled that he died of accidental drowning.

However, according to his mother, Ms. Kallaya Katenawa, 32, during a "supernatural" incident on 6 April, a night before his cremation ceremony, she was led to believe that her son did not die peacefully.

Ms. Kallaya claimed that the coffin of her son suddenly trembled, and the funeral portrait of her son and flower arrangements in front of the coffin fell down for no apparent reason.

Later, Ms. Kallaya said, she was told by witnesses to the incident in which her son died, that a group of teenagers assaulted Supphachai before throwing him into the pond. The witnesses also claimed that Supphachai was still alive when he was thrown into the water.

The witnesses were later threatened by the assailants not to tell anyone, otherwise they would be harmed as well, Ms. Kallaya said.

"I believe the ghost of my son wants to seek justice, to find the perpetrator who murdered him," Ms. Kallaya told reporters yesterday, adding that she decided to check Supphachai's mobile phone and found messages dated 1 and 2 April which contained threatening remarks from unidentified individuals.

She also insisted that Supphachai was an able swimmer who regularly visited the pond, therefore removing any possibility that he would have drowned by accident.

Yesterday the police contacted one of the witnesses, who is an underage individual, and asked him to show the officers where Supphachai was reportedly murdered. The witness said Supphachai was swimming in the pond when the group of teenagers approached him and they exchanged rude remarks, before Supphachai got out of the pond and was beaten by the teenagers.

Pol.Col. Boonyarit Lohsuwan, commander of Mueang Police Station, said the officers are urgently investigating the matter and waiting for further medical evidence from doctors.

He refused to give additional details, citing the ongoing criminal investigation.

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PM, Officials Wish Khaosod A Happy 23rd Birthday

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9 April 2014, 13:39

Mr. Weng Tojirakarn and Ms. Thida Thawornseth

(9 April) Top officials and other prominent guests have congratulated the news team at the Khaosod newspaper on the 23rd anniversary of its founding.

Khaosod was officially founded on 9 April 1991 as a publication under the Matichon Group, which also owns the Matichon and Prachachat newspapers.

Billed as "Forward To 24th Year", the occasion was marked by Buddhist and Hindu rituals in the morning, followed by a reception party hosted in the lobby of Khaosod's office in northern Bangkok for the well-wishers, among them was Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who had to ask one of our reporters to help escort her into the building due to an ankle injury.

After receiving greetings from members of Khaosod and Matichon Group, Ms. Yingluck proceeded to sign a well-wishing remark on a board in the office lobby. "Let me congratulate the managers and news team of Khaosod on their success in their progressive pace toward the 24th year," she wrote.

Ms. Yingluck also told her hosts that she hopes Khaosod will continue to strive in its success and maintain the immense support from numerous readers they have enjoyed for the last 23 years.

Other guests included the popular Minister of Transport, Mr. Chatchart Sittipan; Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, chief of the Royal Thai Police, and his deputy, Pol.Gen. Pongsapat Pongcharoen, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Yukol Limlaemthong.

Politicians and well-known activists also arrived at the Khaosod office to express their congratulations, such as Mr. Nopparit Prompong, spokesman of Pheu Thai Party; Mr. Watchara Kannnikar, spokesman of Chart Thai Pattana Party, and core leaders of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), Mr. Weng Tojirakarn and Ms. Thida Thawornseth.

Khaosod had previously advised all well-wishing guests to refrain from bringing along flower bouquets or other decorative gifts, and requested them to instead donate to a charity fund which will support renovation and preservation efforts for a number of temples across the country.

Today also marks the first anniversary of the newspaper's English edition, Khaosod English.

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Thaksin's Lawyer Denounces Lese Majeste Allegation

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9 April 2014, 10:04

(8 April) The legal representative of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has condemned the allegation put forth by the Lawyers Council of Thailand that he has insulted the Thai monarchy.

According to the statement issued yesterday, the Lawyers Council of Thailand Under the Royal Patronage argued that Mr. Robert Amsterdam had “defamed” the monarchy and insulted the Thai judicial system during his Skype call to a pro-government Redshirts rally on 6 April in Nakhon Prathom province.

In the Skype call, Mr. Amsterdam urged the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Codes, widely known as the “lese majeste” law, which prohibits any remarks deemed critical of the monarchy.

He made no direct mention of the Thai Royal Family, but the Lawyers Council considers it a sufficient cause of insult for the monarchy, calling for the police to press charges of violating 112 Article against Mr. Amsterdam.

“It is the duty of the Royal Thai Police, the General Attorney, and the Ministry of Interior Affairs to proceed with this legal case,” the statement insisted.

An anti-government activist, Mr. Thaworn Senniam, also filed a separate lese majeste complaint to the police against Mr. Amsterdam yesterday for his Skype remarks.

Critics of Ms. Yingluck are mostly conservative royalists who view the Shinawatra family and their supporters as corrupt republicans with anti-monarchy agenda, although Ms. Yingluck and her close aides have repeatedly denied the allegations.

Speaking in a phone interview today, Mr. Amsterdam expressed outrage at the Lawyers Council of Thailand’s statement accusing him of lese majeste, stating that there is absolutely no basis for the lese majeste allegation in what he told the Redshirt demonstrators.

The lobbyist vowed to respond “aggressively” to the Lawyers Council, and added that he is deeply disappointed that its members made no effort to contact him before they issued the statement, despite the fact that he knew some of them personally as colleagues.

“I have never seen so unfair a conduct. This Council should be ashamed of themselves, because they have the duty to fight for human rights,” Mr. Amsterdam said from Los Angeles. “They should remember that they are lawyers … yet they have violated due process and fairness.”

Asked to comment on the lese majeste charge filed by Mr. Thaworn, Mr. Amsterdam indicated that he was not aware of the incident, and said he does not wish to take seriously the people who refuse to debate him openly on the subject.

Mr. Amsterdam also insisted on the point he made in the Skype call, stating that Article 112 should be amended, and he felt even more strongly towards the issue following the statement by the Lawyers Council of Thailand.

“[Lese majeste] is one of the most overused, misunderstood statutes in the world,” Mr. Amsterdam told Khaosod. “It does not in any way serve the purpose it was designed. People in Thailand are afraid to talk about it – and I understand why – but I am not afraid to talk about it.”

He added that he is not deterred by the threats of legal actions against him, and that he will visit Thailand again in the near future.

PCAD Activist Accuses Red Lawyer Of Lese Majeste

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8 April 2014, 19:47

Redshirts rally at Aksa Avenue, 6 April 2014

(8 April) A prominent anti-government activist has pressed charges against a legal representative of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, accusing him of defaming the monarchy.

Mr. Thaworn Senniam, a core leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), arrived at the Dusit Police Station in Bangkok today to file complaints to the police.

According to the activist, Mr. Robert Amsterdam, who has been hired by the former leader to represent him in the international stage, has insulted the Royal Family by urging the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to amend the lese majeste laws.

Mr. Amsterdam delivered the remark in his Skype call to a massive pro-government Redshirts rally in Nakhon Pathom province on 6 April. In his call, Mr. Amsterdam faulted Ms. Yingluck's failure to amend Article 112 of the Thai Criminal Codes, which prohibits any remark deemed offensive to the monarchy.

Although Mr. Amsterdam made no direct mention of the monarchy throughout his speech, Mr. Thaworn said the lobbyist's remarks are sufficient ground for prosecution under Article 112.

"Thailand is ruled by democratic regime with the King as Head of State," Spring News quoted Mr. Thaworn as saying, "Therefore, the penalty for insulting the monarchy should be naturally more severe than the defamation of ordinary people, which is no different to the way things work in other nations".

Mr. Thaworn also demanded that the Royal Thai Police strictly take legal action against Mr. Amsterdam. It is not immediately clear whether the police will proceed with the complaint.

Those guilty of charges under Article 112 can face up to 15 years in prison per offence. A number of academics and rights experts have argued that the law has been heavily politicised and regularly used to repress freedom of expression in Thailand.

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