(17 March) Officials have denied claims that the authorities have "rigged" lottery numbers to resemble the vehicle license plates of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

They also insisted that Thailand's lottery drawing process is strictly transparent.

Speculation that Ms. Yingluck has somehow influenced the supposedly randomised mechanism of lottery arose after the lottery draw on 16 March, which turned up the number 531404 as the first prize winner. 

In accordance with the unofficial rule of underground lottery business across the kingdom, the number 404 is also recognised as winning number in the three digits category; the official winners of the category are 250, 305, 400, and 904.

The result sent a wave of euphoria throughout Ms. Yingluck’s supporters since the number 404 coincides with the license plate of the official vehicle used by Ms. Yingluck during her recent trip to Chiang Mai province – 5404. Many of her supporters have played that number in the underground lotto market in a hope that it might bring them some fortune.

When it did, a loud cheer was heard in the community around the famous Three Baht Noodle shop on Chiang Mai's Sanambin Kao Road after the result was broadcast. 

According to an underground lotto dealer in the vicinity, who asked not to be named, many residents have wagered on the number 404 after Ms. Yingluck arrived at the Three Baht Noodle Shop on Saturday on the vehicle.

As she stepped off the car, Ms. Yingluck accidentally slipped and fell on the pavement. To the many reporters at the scene, it was a golden photo opportunity. To the locals, however, it was interpreted as a lucky sign that the number of the license plate might turn up in the lotto draw, the dealer explained.

It is understood that a number of officials and reporters who accompanied Ms. Yingluck on that day similarly won prizes by wagering with the number 404.

Another underground lottery dealer in Sakon Nakhon province told our correspondent that many residents in northeastern Thailand, the political stronghold of Ms. Yingluck, may have won "hundreds of millions of baht" since they decided to bet on 404 as a show of support for Ms. Yingluck.   

In the country where obsession over lottery runs as deep as superstition concerning all things abnormal, Ms. Yingluck is revered by some veteran lotto buyers as "the Lucky Lady", due to previous winning lotto numbers which have been associated to her vehicles or activities.

While more rational citizens dismiss the phenomenon as a typical case of confirmation bias, some anti-government critics voiced their concerns on the social network that the state lotto machinery might have been rigged in order to add a halo of mysticism around Ms. Yingluck via the winning lotto numbers.

Such speculation forced Pol.Maj.Gen. Attakrit Tharichatra, director of the Government Lottery Office, to state that the lotto result was merely a coincidence amplified by imagination.

The result could very well resemble the age of famous people, or license plates of other politicians, Pol.Maj.Gen. Attakrit said, adding "It depends on individual interpretation".

The circumstances of the lotto draw, which was broadcast live on TV and had involved the use of clear plastic devices, also meant any rigging of lotto result is impossible, Pol.Maj.Gen. Attakrit insisted.

"There is no number locking as the accusation claims," the director said, "The process is very transparent. Every step of the procedures can be scrutinised".  

Pol.Lt.Gen. Rapeepat Palawong, who was appointed to oversee the lotto draw of 16 March, similarly denied any foul play. He added that he was not even aware of Ms. Yingluck's vehicle license plate number until it was reported in the media.

(14 March) Local Redshirts leader Kwanchai Praipana is back at his home in Udon Thani province for the first time since he was severely wounded in an assassination attempt.

Mr. Kwanchai of the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) was admitted to hospital in late January after a group of assailants shot him in his residence. He was said to have recovered steadily ever since, and has returned to his residence today at around 09.00 amid heavy security escort.

Speaking at his home in Mueang district, Mr. Kwanchai said he underwent the final surgery on 7 March and has been transported back to Udon Thani on 11 March. He added that the doctors have mended his leg's nerval system and inserted a metal supporter into his shoulder.

Nevertheless, he still needs to see the doctors for stitches removal and physical therapy later, Mr. Kwanchai said.

Mr. Kwanchai estimated that he has recovered by "70-80%", as he can now use his legs and arms normally, but he still needs companions to support his balance whenever he needs to walk. The Redshirts leader said he has been informed by the doctors that they would remove the metal supporter inside his shoulder 6 months from now.

A group of security guards, handpicked by Mr. Kwanchai, were seen patrolling the house. 

Mr. Kwanchai also stated that he would not get involved in any politcal activity in coming weeks, as his wife is running for the Senator seat in the province.

The police have arrested a group of Royal Thai Army officers in connection to his assassination attempt. They have been released after an interrogation session, and vowed to contest the charges in courts.

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(14 March) Families of two civilians who were shot dead by the military during 2010 unrest have filed murder lawsuits against the former government leaders.

Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva and Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister at the time, respectively, are named in the lawsuit, which aims to prosecute the two Democrats on charge of co-instructing other individuals to commit premeditated murders.

The lawsuit specifically focused on the deaths of the two of six civilians who were shot as they took shelter inside Wat Pathumwanararm Temple in downtown Bangkok on 19 May 2010 – the day the military, acting under Mr. Abhisit's order, launched a final assault against the Redshirts' protesters who have been encamped in Bangkok's financial district for months.

According to court inquest last year, the soldiers who were stationed on the BTS track opposite the temple fired their weapons into the sanctuary and subsequently killed the six civilians, despite the government's designating the temple as a "safe zone". Several volunteer medics are among the dead.

Today, families of two of the slain civilians, Mr. Suwan Sriraksa and Mr. Attachai Chumchan, have appointed a lawyer to sue Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suthep on their behalf. 

It is now up to the court whether to accept the lawsuit, said the lawyer, Mr. Chokechai Angkaew, during a press conference at the Ratchapisek Criminal Court in Bangkok.

Families of 4 other victims who had been slain in Wat Pathumwanararm Temple are also considering their own lawsuits, but they are not ready to file the cases at the time, Mr. Chokechai told reporters.

He added, "The victims' families have plenty of time to consider their lawsuit, because murder charges carry a limitation of 20 years".

Mr. Abhisit and Mr. Suthep are also facing separate murder charges filed by the public prosecutors for their roles in 2010 crackdown, which claimed the lives of more than 90 people, most of them civilians.

The former Prime Minister has acknowledged the charge and expressed his willingness to contest it in trials, while Mr. Suthep has repeatedly postponed the meeting with public prosecutors to acknowledge his charges, citing his need to lead anti-government protesters in their quest to oust Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Related Story: Court Inquest Dispels Oft-Recited Myths Of 2010 Crackdown

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(14 March) The Transport Minister who has been hailed on the internet as "the strongest Minister on earth" has denied media reports which suggest that he may run in the next Bangkok Governor election.

The speculation that the celebrity minister, Mr. Chatchart Sittipan, may represent Pheu Thai Party in the race surfaces almost as soon as the current Governor, Mr. Sukhumbhand Paribatra was handed "yellow card" by the Election Commission for his alleged violation of election laws during the March 2013 gubernatorial election.

The penalty meant a new election might be called by December this year; the case is pending a verdict by the Court of Appeals which may or may not drop the penalty handed down by the EC.

 However, the uncertainty of the new election does not stop political observers from speculating which candidate Pheu Thai Party will adopt to challenge the solid Democrat voting base in Bangkok metropolis.

Due to his fame and status as a cult hero on the internet, Mr. Chatchart was promptly named as a possible candidate by a number of media. Mr. Chatchart rose to prominence thanks to his attempts to improve the abysmal state of Thai public transport system with "hands on approaches" – riding and inspecting those transports by himself.

Whether those visits were done out of Mr. Chatchart's genuine care for public safety or his need for publicity stunts is not clear, but much of the public nevertheless praised him as the first top governmental official who bothers to experience and investigate the common folk's problems.

Some political analysts consequently expect him to easily muster enough swing votes and convert sizable number of urban voters to turn the table against the current Democrat Governor.

But Mr. Chatchart reportedly refused to run in the Bangkok gubernatorial race today. In a report published by Matichon, Mr. Chatchart was quoted of saying that he has not thought of joining the election, and no one in Pheu Thai Party has invited him to do so either.

Mr. Chatchart also explained that the wide array of responsibilities as a Bangkok Governor are beyond his skill to handle.

"Just because I have a good popularity doesn't mean I can do a good job of running Bangkok," Mr. Chatchart was quoted as saying, "And it doesn't mean people will vote for me as a governor. They are completely different stories".

Meanwhile, a recent verbal skirmish broke out between Mr. Chatchart and chairman of the Democrat Party, Mr. Abhisit Vejjajiva, who suggested in a televised interview that the Transport Minister should not use his ability to serve the evil regime of Pheu Thai Party.

"It's a pity that a person who has been praised by the online word as the strongest man on earth is serving an evil system," Mr. Abhisit said on Blue Sky TV yesterday.

The Transport Minister hit back in a Facebook post published this morning, in which he stated that he never judged anyone as good or evil, and he has been simply doing his job in the best way possible.

"[Mr. Abhisit] and I can't judge for other people who is bad, and who is good, because we both have stakes in the matter," Mr. Chathchart wrote, "We have to let the people judge for themselves".

Related Story: Read Khaosod English's interview with Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan last year HERE

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(14 March) The Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order is aiming to end the State of Emergency over Bangkok by 18 March, a top official said.

The government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared the emergency decree over Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces in January in an attempt to contain the anti-government protests led by the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

But the CMPO has recently concluded that the situation can be maintained by repealing the State of Emergency and resorting to the Internal Security Act, which was imposed over Bangkok prior to the SoE's enactment in January, said Lt.Gen. Paradorn Pattanatabutr, secretary-general of the National Security Council and a secretary to the CMPO.

The CMPO will seek approval from the Cabinet on 18 March. If granted, the State of Emergency will be revoked on the same day, Lt.Gen. Paradorn said.

He expected that the government will retain the power of the Internal Security Act until the end of April in order to provide public security for the Senate election in that month.

The State of Emergency granted the authorities a sweeping power to contain the protests, such as banning or suppressing any political gathering, banning the use of certain buildings and roads, detaining suspects without charges, and censoring the media.

However, a recent ruling by the Civil Court strips the CMPO of many of those powers, rendering the emergency decree powerless in the eyes of many observers.