Thai Transgender Actress To Star In New HK Film

By

-

25 March 2014, 16:14

(25 March) Famous Thai transgender celebrity says she has secured a role in another movie produced in Hong Kong.

The upcoming film will be shot at many locations in mainland China and feature her as the main protagonist, according to the actress, Ms. Treechada "Poy" Petcharat.

The transgender actress, who rose to prominence after being crowned the winner for Miss Tiffany beauty contest in 2004, has previously starred in a Hong Kong film called White Storm.

Ms. Treechada told reporters she expects to devote herselfto her film career, and she has already signed a contract with a company in Hong Kong, which would land her in at least 2 movies per year.

Asked whether the company was aware of her biological sex, Ms. Treechada replied, "They know about it, but they have already looked beyond that issue".

Furthermore, due to the "strict" image-management protocol required in the contract, Ms. Treechada said she would not appear in racy photoshoots anymore. "They even told me I shouldn't have a boyfriend," the actress told reporters, "Well, they didn't tell me that frankly, but they did instruct me to something along those lines".

She added that she is not intending to engage in any romantic relationships anyway, since she is currently very busy with her works.

"I'm only free one day a week," Ms. Treechada said, "Any suitor would have a hard time".

2010 Unrest: Court Says Military Gunfire Kills Protester

By

Khaosod English

-

25 March 2014, 14:13

BANGKOK — A court has ruled that yet another Redshirt protester was killed by gunfire from a military position during the 2010 crackdown in downtown Bangkok.

According to the South Bangkok Criminal Court, Narin Srichomphu was shot and killed by military-issued weaponry fired from the location where a group of soldiers were standing at Saladaeng Intersection in the Ratchadamri district on 19 May 2010.

The inquest was a part of legal procedure to identify those responsible for the more than 90 deaths caused by clashes between security forces and protesters during March – May of that year.

Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban are also facing murder trials for overseeing the military operation. Both leaders and high-ranking military commanders have publicly denied that security forces were responsible for any deaths, blaming the violence on the "Blackshirt" militants allegedly allied to the protesters.

Today, judges cited a significant body of evidence to back the claim that soldiers used live ammunition against protesters on 19 May 2010, such as video clips, testimony from soldiers themselves, and ballistic investigations.

Although Col. Noppasit Sitthipongsophon, commander of the troops around Saladaeng at the time, insisted his unit was only armed with blank rounds, soldiers in his unit testified in court that they did fire live ammunition at the protesters.

The court also noted that Narin was shot in the same vicinity where an Italian photojournalist, Fabio Polenghi, was shot and killed on the same day. A previous court inquest determined that Polenghi was killed by military gunfire.

"Therefore … the court found that the deceased was killed by high-velocity bullet which penetrated his head and nerve system," the court verdict concluded. "A bullet fired from the direction of the military personnel who were operating under orders of the Centre for Resolution of Emergency Situation (CRES)".

The court did not identify the particular soldier responsible for Narin's death, citing insufficient evidence, but a lawyer representing Narin's family says his clients were satisfied by the inquest’s findings.

"It is yet more proof that nearly every death of Redshirt demonstrators and civilians in the crackdown was caused by the military," Chokechai Angkaew told reporters.

Several previous inquests have also attributed crackdown deaths to the actions of military officers, such the deaths of six civilians who were shot and killed by soldiers inside Wat Pathumwanararm Temple on 19 May 2010.

Although some inquests were inconclusive and unable to identify the perpetrators, the Blackshirt militants have yet to be formally attributed with a single crackdown death.

Court: Military's Bullet Kills Italian Photographer Fabio Polenghi

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
http://twitter.com/KhaosodEnglish
http://www.facebook.com/KhaosodEnglish

Chiang Rai Redshirts Cleared Of 2010 Charge

By

Khaosod English

-

25 March 2014, 13:10

A protester wounded by gunfire is carried away from clashes between the military and Redshirts in Bangkok, 16 May 2010

(25 March) Chiang Rai provincial court has found 5 Redshirts activists not guilty of charges under the Emergency Decree enacted during the 2010 political unrest.

The authorities previously charged the activists, local Redshirts coordinators and operators of a "community radio" station, of violating the State of Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to quell the Redshirts mass protests in Bangkok.

According to the complaints, on 17 May 2010 the five defendants organised a rally in front of Chiang Rai City Hall to protest against the ongoing military crackdown on their fellow demonstrators in Bangkok, hence violating the Emergency Decree which bans political gathering and dissemination of false information.

The defendants argued that they were exercising their political rights protected by the Constitution, and that they were merely trying to urge the authorities to call off a military crackdown on the Redshirts in the capital city.

After five postponements, the judges today finally ruled that the defendants were simply exercising their freedom of peaceful assembly as protected by the Thai Constitution.

Furthermore, the court noted that during their demonstration the defendants were stating simple facts – that the there was indeed a military operation using live ammunition against the Redshirts protesters in Bangkok, and that the violence resulted in some fatalities as the defendants said in their rally.

"There is no clear evidence of any distortion of fact in the defendants' speech," the judges said in the ruling, hence acquitting the five defendants of all charges.

Tak: Bus Plunges Down Gorge, Killing Dozens

By

Khaosod English

-

25 March 2014, 12:16

Transport Minister Chatchart Sittipan talks with one of the victims of the crash, 25 March 2014

(25 March) Faulty brakes are said to be the cause the charted bus accident in Tak province which killed more than 30 people.

The bus was traveling with three other vehicles that were hired by the regional authority of Tha Sai Luat subdistrict in the province to transport 30 officials and 160 local residents to a field trip in Laos, police said.

According to witnesses, when the convoy reached a descending slop of Route 105 in Mae Tho subdistrict at around 20.30 last night, the fourth bus, with around 50 passengers onboard, lost control and slammed into a roadside barrier before plunging down into 100-metres deep gorge below.

More than 20 police force units and rescue teams later arrived at the site of the accident, where they struggled to retrieve the dead and the injured from the bus wreckage amid the darkness and difficult terrain.

At least 30 people lost their lives in the accident, medical workers at Somdet Prachao Taksin Hospital said, adding that more of the dead were women.

Mr. Thammanoon Khatbho, a 41-year old resident of Bangkok and driver of the doomed bus, told police he regularly maintained and repaired the bus, and claimed to have good knowledge of the area, as he frequently traveled in the province.

When the bus started down the 4-km long slope, Mr. Thammanoon said, he attempted to slow the bus down, but the brakes did not respond. The driver reportedly intended to collide with a large truck in front of him to stop the vehicle, to no avail, causing the bus to crash into the barrier and fall into the gorge.

It is not immediately clear whether the police have pressed any charges against Mr. Thammanoon, but officers stress that the incident is currently under investigation.

Thailand is known for its notoriously poor safety record in public transportation, especially concerning inter-provincial travels which involve double-deck buses and public vans.

The accident also occurred less than a month since the bus crash in Prachinburi province which killed 15 victims, most of them young schoolchildren.

In the February accident, the driver was found to lack the proper license for operating a public or chartered vehicle.

Army To Remove Red Cross Signs From 'Bunkers'

By

Khaosod English

-

24 March 2014, 18:57

(24 March) The Royal Thai Army have agreed to remove Red Cross symbols from their numerous checkpoints in Bangkok, following complaints from the Thai Red Cross Society.

The organisation has previously notified the army that its displays of Red Cross signs might violate international principle on the symbol, as some soldiers in the checkpoints bear arms, said Col. Winthai Suvaree, deputy spokesman of the army.

The army will immediately proceed to remove the signs from the checkpoint to comply with the request, and to avoid any confusion, Col. Winthai said, adding that some tents which were solely manned by military medics might retain the Red Cross symbol.

The military has deployed over 170 checkpoints – nicknamed "bunkers" – across financial district of Bangkok with the stated purpose of maintaining public order amid the ongoing anti-government protests at Lumpini Park.

Although the government has revoked the State of Emergency, the bunkers are here to stay, Maj.Gen. Warah Bunyasidh said, insisting that the security checkpoints are necessary tool to deter any attacks by shadowy militants on the anti-government protesters.

He also told reporters that the army is willing to remove the Red Cross signs from these bunkers as requested by the organisation.

Nonthaburi PCAD Rally Site Seized By Redshirts

By

Khaosod English

-

24 March 2014, 16:53

A Redshirts supporter argues with police officers during the standoff in Nonthaburi province, 24 March 2014

(24 March) Redshirts activists have dismantled the rally stage set up by anti-government protesters in Nonthaburi province today.

Supporters of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have previously installed a rally site, complete with loudspeakers and a stage, near the office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission in the province.

But pro-government Redshirts under the name People's Radio for Democracy (PRD) later arrived at the scene, and proceeded to dismantle the rally stage.

Police officers attempted to bar the Redshirts from storming the PCAD rally site, but the protesters have broken through the police barrier line by pushing six-wheeler trucks fitted with loudspeakers at the police officers.

A leader of the PRD claimed the operation was meant to "seize back" the area from anti-government protesters. The PRD has held rally in front of the NACC office in the past to protest the Commission's corruption case against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, and has vowed to stage another rally there.

"We will stay here until 31 March," said PRD core leader, Mr. Sornrak Malaithong.

Although no PCAD supporter was present at the rally site at the time of the incident, fistfights erupted when a monk approached the Redshirts before berating them for their actions and making other impolite remarks to the activists.

Some of the Redshirts became enrgaged and mobbed the monk, who was later rescued from the angry mob by police officers and protest security guards.

Crackdown On Shopping Mall Street Parking Announced

By

Khaosod English

-

24 March 2014, 16:51

(24 March) Parking of vehicles on roads in front of shopping malls in busy financial district of Bangkok would no longer be tolerated, police warned.

Pol.Lt.Gen. Rueangsak Jarit-Ake, assistant to the chief of the Royal Thai Police, said in a ceremony to mark the beginning of the crackdown that the police have received numerous complaints about cab drivers and tuk-tuk drivers who caused traffic jam in front of thse shopping malls by parking their vehicles on the roadside as they hawked their service to tourists.

The problem appears to be particularly widespread in Pathum district, where famous shopping malls such as MBK and Central World Plaza are located, said Pol.Lt.Gen. Rueangsak said, but added that the police will also look out for any offending on other districts in Bangkok, including the road in front of Don Mueang Airport.

"We have arranged traffic police to swiftly regulate the parking of these buses, taxis, tuk-tuks, and other vehicles for the sake of public orderliness," Pol.Lt.Gen. Rueangsak told reporters, "We want to provide convenience to the people".

He added that any violation will be strictly punished, and said that the police will evaluate the success of their operation in the next 15 days.

Rohingya Smugglers Arrested In Ranong: Navy

By

Khaosod English

-

24 March 2014, 15:04

(24 March) The Royal Thai Navy said they have arrested a group of human traffickers who were en route smuggling Rohingya refugees into Thailand.

The suspects, Thai and Burmese nationals, were on board three large ships which were just about to depart from a port in the Mueang district of Ranong province today when Navy personnel spotted the boats and made the arrests, said Lt.Col. Thaweepon Kanathong, a regional director of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC).

Authorities have been investigating reports of Ranong-based smugglers who transport Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into Thailand, to be sold later to human traffickers, Lt. Col. Thaweepon said.

Today's raid on the three boats and subsequent arrests followed a tip-off from local informants, Lt.Col. Thaweepon added.

Upon inspection on the ship, Navy servicemen reportedly found large cargo spaces converted into hideouts for more than 100 Rohingya passengers. Supplies such as water tanks, canned fish, and instant noodles were also stored on the board, presumably to feed the refugees during the sea voyage.

17 people have been arrested in connection with the crime. All of the suspects confessed that they intended to sail to Myanmar where they would pick up Rohingya refugees before returning to Thailand, said Lt.Col. Thaweepon.

According to Lt.Col. Thaweepon, the suspects claimed they had previously smuggled over 200 Rohingyas into Thailand and sold them to a Thai dealer. The suspects reportedly claimed they did not know the whereabouts of the sold Rohingya refugees, but Lt.Col. Thaweepon said the authorities suspect the refugees had been sold to local human traffickers in Satul, Ranong, and Phan-Nga provinces.

"We will thoroughly interrogate the suspects before we send them to the civil authorities for legal prosecution," Lt.Col. Thaweepon said, "We have already informed relevant authorities to locate and rescue the 200 Rohingyas".

He added that the Myanma suspects would also face charges for residing in Thailand without valid permits.

According to a number of media reports, flows of Rohingya refugees into Thailand have increased over several years due to ethnic violence in Myanmar, where the Rohingyas were treated as "second-class citizens" and allegedly subject to brutal discrimination.

In December last year, the Royal Thai Navy pressed libel charges against two editors of an online news site based in Phuket province for running a story, originally penned by Reuters, which claimed that some Navy personnel either were involved in the human trafficking of Rohingya refugees, or turned blind eyes to the trade.

If found guilty, Mr. Alan Morison, an Australian citizen, and his Thai colleague, Ms. Chutima Sidasathian, could face up to five years in prison under the Computer Crimes Act. Various civil rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, have urged the Thai Navy to drop the complaint.

Chinese Tourist Beaten By Teenage Gangsters

By

Khaosod English

-

24 March 2014, 14:19

(24 March) A Chinese tourist accused of molesting a 'Coyote Girl' was subsequently mob-beaten by a group of teenage gangsters in Sa Kaeo province.

The incident reportedly took place at around 03.00 yesterday at Fusion nightclub in the Aranyapradesh district. Police arrived at the scene to find scattered chairs and tables and glasses in the nightclub, while Mr. Au Kai Chuan (name transcribed from Thai text), a 36-year old Chinese tourist, was found unconscious on the floor.

Mr. Au's condition was described as severe and medical workers said he sustained multiple bruises.

Witnesses told police a large group of teenagers were dancing in the establishment when a shout went up that someone has molested a "Coyote" (female dancer) of the nightclub, causing the teenagers to mob and beat Mr. Au.

Coyote staff attempted to tell the assailants that Mr. Au was not the perpetrator, but the suspects refused to listen and proceeded to kick the Chinese tourist until he passed out. The suspects fled the scene shortly afterward.

A senior police officer said the assailants belong to a local teenage gang who previously assaulted a police officer inside the same nightclub only a week earlier. Police said that they are currently looking for 7 suspects in connection with the assault on Mr. Au.

Thai Army's Use Of Red Cross Sign Questioned

By

Khaosod English

-

22 March 2014, 19:21

(22 March) A senior Thai Red Cross official has expressed concern over the display of the Red Cross sign at security checkpoints manned by Thai army troops in Bangkok.

The Royal Thai Army has installed more than 170 checkpoints – nicknamed "bunkers" due to their use of sandbags and camouflage – in downtown Bangkok. Their stated purpose is to provide security to the public amid the ongoing anti-government protests.

However, some members of the public have raised concern over appearance of the Red Cross sign on many of the bunkers, as it might violate the International Red Cross guidelines.

Mr. Pichit Siriwan, M.D., deputy director of the Relief and Community Health Bureau, which operates under the Thai Red Cross, said, while military units are allowed to display Red Cross signs, they must be strictly unarmed and clearly identified as non-combatant personnel.

The use of Red Cross signs must also be approved by the relevant authorities first, Mr. Pichit explained.

"If the situation is not life-threatening, and if it is not a war time, I think they should avoid displaying [the Red Cross signs] altogether," Mr. Pichit told our correspondent, adding that the symbols have been routinely misused by political groups whereas they should have been adopted only by impartial volunteer groups.

"I have asked many times that the Red Cross sign not be used," Mr. Pichit complained, "Every side should respect the use of the symbol, so Red Cross International can remain an impartial agency that helps people in critical situations".

Nevertheless, Mr. Pichit refused to comment on the authenticity of an alleged Thai Red Cross letter which was purportedly filed to the Royal Thai Army, requesting the military bunkers cease their display of Red Cross symbols on their banners.

In the purported letter, which is widely shared on the social network, the authors complain that armed soldiers are sometimes stationed inside bunkers bearing the Red Cross signs.

"I didn't sign that letter, so I can't comment about that," Mr. Pichit said.

Hot News

LATEST NEWS