Man Accused Of Stealing Male Athlete's Underpants

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29 January 2014, 16:09

(29 January) A group of Paralympics male athletes have captured a man who is accused of repeatedly stealing their underpants.

According to Mr. Akkrachai Pimthong, 40, a Thai Paralympian Archery, many underpants of his and his friends′ had been stolen for a period of time from their athlete residence near Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok′s Hua Mak area.

The theft has become more frequent after he and his friends returned from ASEAN Paragames, which was held in Myanmar’s Capital Nay Pyi Taw previously in January, Mr. Akkrachai said.

The group then decided to set up watches around their dormitory, and started to observe outside visitors.

In the evening of 28 January, the group reportedly noticed a man stealing their underpants, but they failed to capture him. The athletes later set up a trap by hanging an underwear as a bait, and waited for the thief to come back while several people kept watch on the trap.

Eventually, at around 23.00 last night the suspect returned to the scene and started stealing the underpants from the hangers again. This time, however, Mr. Akkrachai and his friend gave chase by riding handicapped-friendly motorcycles, and contacted the security team to help capture the man.

Once the group stopped the suspect and searched his car, they were surprised to find over 100 underpants stored in there, Mr. Akkrachai said. The suspect was later brought to the police.

The suspect, identified as Mr. Pachara Saengrojasuk, 50, confessed of his crime, telling police that he has stolen the items simply because he wants to wear them. The man has been charged with theft, and will be prosecuted soon.

Police have urged all victims of Mr. Pachara′s alleged theft to file complaint to the police before the prosecution starts.

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Govt Mortgaged Rice To Be Sold 'By Jan-Feb'

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29 January 2014, 15:17

(29 January) The Thai government is planning to auction off its mortgaged rice by late January and early February, officials said.

Under the general auction programme, the Department of Foreign Trade (DFT) is reportedly expecting to release at least 500,000 – 1,000,000 tonnes of rice by the end of this year.

According to DFT officials, the government has been forced to rely on auction instead of selling the mortgaged rice under Government to Government (G2G) agreement , after the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) ruled that the DFT′s involvement in the G2G agreement lacks adequate transparency.

Officials insisted that they will carefully restrict the quantity of rice selling in each auction, as it may affect the future market price for the goods.

They also stressed that the DFT is ready to testify to the NACC regarding the investigation into the G2G scheme.

The NACC has previously expressed its suspicion that the G2G scheme is selling Thai rice to non-existent state-owned enterprises in China, but officials interviewed by Khaosod insisted that the agreement is legitimate, explaining that each province in China has the ability to form its own state-owned enterprise and engage in international trading on its own.

The debate is in fact centering around NACC′s definition of state-owned enterprise, one official said, since NACC might define it strictly as a federal level, while DFT also defines it as regional level.

Meanwhile, Ms. Korbsook Iamsuri, President of the Thai Rice Exporters Association (TREA), agreed that the government should release the rice under the general auction method, but she cautioned that auction must be conducted under strict transparency.

She noted that the price rate of Thai rice in global market remains unchanged at approximately 400 USD per tonne, and is currently competing with Vietnamese rice.

However, Ms. Korbsook stated that the general auction, which will be joined by private companies, may also propose a difficulty to the competitiveness of Thai rice in global market. Recently, many buyers turned to other competitors, so the Thai distributors must actively improve their marketing plans to increase the popularity of Thai rice again, said Ms. Korbsook.

The government should also use other methods, for example, matching the export distributor with individual rice mills, suggested the President of the TREA.

"But I am not sure whether the laws would allow the caretaker government to do that," Ms. Korbsook said.

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Man's Vehicle Vandalised By Jealous 'Ex-Girlfriend'

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29 January 2014, 13:30

(29 January) A "jealous" ex-girlfriend has spray-painted her former boyfriend's car to express her anger, said the victim's brother who reportedly witnessed the scene.

The incident took place near Ranong Bus Terminal in Mueang Ranong district, Ranong province.

At the scene, police found a silver colour pick-up truck spray-painted in red with vulgar curse words. Many parts of the vehicle were also damaged, reports said.

In front of the car, police found a funeral wreath of flower dedicated to Mr. Krittaphas Rossukhon, the owner of the car.

According to a witness, who is a brother of the victim, he saw a "tall, skinny" woman in white T-shirt and short trousers arriving at the vehicle on the night of 27 January and vandalising the car, along with leaving the funeral wreath.

The witness said he suspected the woman to be his brother’s former girlfriend, who has moved to Bangkok several years ago. He speculated that she might have returned to Ranong province and committed the crime out of "jealousy".

The police said they are investigating CCTV footage to identify and arrest the suspect on the charge of damaging other people′s belongings at night.

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Police Preparing Security Plans For 2 Feb Election

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28 January 2014, 19:10

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra arrives at the Army Club for the meeting with Election Commissioners, 28 January 2014

(28 January) The police are drafting plans to ensure that the 2 February election would go ahead smoothly, the deputy police spokeswoman said.

The advance voting for the election, which was held on 26 January, was marred by anti-government protesters′s seizing of numerous polling stations in Bangkok and 10 other provinces, clashes between the protesters and voters, and a shooting incident which killed one protest leader.

There are fears that the protesters, led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), would mount an even fiercer campaign to disrupt the poll on 2 February; PCAD has demanded that the election be scrapped in favour of the formation of an unelected "People′s Council".

Citing such possible violence, the Constitutional Court has ruled that the government and the Election Commission (EC) possess joint authority to postpone the election, throwing out the constitutional requirement that the snap election must be held within 45-60 days after a House dissolution.

However, following the highly anticipated meeting between EC officials and Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today, the government has announced that the election will proceed as planned on 2 February.

Responding to the fears that the protests could escalate on the election day, Pol.Col. Vichayakorn Nichabawarn, Deputy Spokeswoman of the Royal Thai Police, said the police force is drafting plans to provide security to the polling stations, and to deter any violent incident.

The main focus of the plan would be to prevent clashes between anti-election protesters and those who wish to vote, and the protection of ballot boxes, Pol.Col. Vichayakorn said.

"The police will ensure, with the best of our ability, that the public can exercise their voting rights," Pol.Col. Vichayakorn insisted.

The police have been heavily criticised for failing to maintain order during the hectic advance voting day of 26 January.

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Policeman 'Mistaken' As Gunman, Brutally Beaten By Protesters

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28 January 2014, 18:09

(28 January) A policeman was brutally beaten by anti-government protesters after they mistook him as a hostile gunman, a governmental body has claimed.

The chaos broke out today when the protesters were besieging Army Club on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet members were appointed to meet with Election Commission (EC) officials for discussion.

The protesters, who were led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), have threatened to storm into the venue and apprehended Ms. Yingluck along with her entire Cabinet.

Police officers and soldiers, backed by concrete barricades and other reinforcements, guarded the entrance to the Army Club. The situation became markedly tense when protesters broke through the front gate, and slowly approached the police line.

Just then, a gunshot was heard from other side of the multiple-lane Vibhavadi Road. A large group of protesters immediately ran to investigate the source, while others ran for cover in panic.

What happened next is extremely hazy, our correspondent said. A shout went up among the protesters that the gunman had been apprehended at a soi opposite the Army Club, a number of individuals injured by the gunshots has been reported.

PCAD guards also claimed to have found some evidences in the area, such as a motorcycle allegedly driven by the gunman, a motorcycle taxi jacket, a pair of handcuffs, and a magazine of 11 mm. handgun.

It later emerged that the assailant has been mobbed by the protesters and transported to hospital. The injured protesters were likewise sent to hospital, but it is not immediately clear how many have been wounded by the gunfire.

Police officers, distrusted by the protesters, were not allowed to inspect the crime scene, and the evidences reportedly found at the scene were handed to military personnel who were assisting the protesters instead.

The Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) later released a statement claiming that the alleged gunman apprehended and assaulted by PCAD protesters was in fact a police detective officer who had been placed among the protesters for intelligence gathering.

According to the statement released by CMPO, the policeman was falsely accused of shooting at the protesters and assaulted by the nearby protesters, who also allegedly attempted to seize his sidearm. The officer reportedly tried to flee the scene, only to be mobbed by more anti-government protesters.

CMPO described the officer′s injuries as "severe".

The claim cannot be independently verified at the moment; both governmental officials and anti-government leaders have accused each other of deploying provocateurs to stage numerous violent incidents in the past weeks.

Meanwhile, PCAD spokesman, Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, accused the police force of conspiring with individuals who attacked one of the protesters′ convoy at Wat Sri Eiam Temple on 26 January. A PCAD prominent leader was also shot to death during the clashes.

Mr. Ekkanat also demanded that the police step up their investigation on other cases of violence against the protesters, such as the grenade attack on PCAD rally at Victory Monument on 19 January, and alleged that the police are deliberately slow in their effort to locate the suspects.

"If the police still do nothing, it would demonstrate that the RTP is related to these incidents," Mr. Ekkanat said, referring to the Royal Thai Police.

Furthermore, Mr. Ekkanat criticised the police force for planting undercover police officers who "behaved suspiciously" in their protest sites.

"In many incidents, the police infiltrated into the protests and behaved suspiciously," Mr. Ekkanat said, "But when an incident occurred, they would always blame a third hand party".

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Bomb Attacks On Anti-Govt Rally & Leader's House

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28 January 2014, 16:54

Anti-government protesters blocking a road in Tax province, 27 January 2014

(28 January) Daily violence against anti-government protesters continues, after an explosive was thrown at one of the protesters' rally sites last night.

The target was the camp site maintained by the Student and People Network for the Reform of Thailand (SRT) protesters near the Government House and he Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC).

One man reportedly suffered a minor injury from the incident.

Mr. Nasser Yimah, leader of the protesters′ guard unit, stated that the "giant firecrackers" were thrown from the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) building at approximately 22.00 last night.

He added that his security team had strengthened the security measures around the protesting grounds. They have also closed all the entrance and exit routes to search for the culprit, but the suspect was not found.

Military Police who stationed nearby also reportedly assisted the protesters in managing the situation.

All evidence from the scene was initially seized by the security team, and Mr. Nasser said they would be handed to the police soon afterwards. The leaders later tried to cheer up the crowd, and the situation returned to normalcy.

On the same night, another incident was also reported from a residence of Mr. Samran Rodpetch, a core leader of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Reportedly, unknown assailants threw a grenade into the residence, which is located in Bangkok′s Ram Intra area, causing damages to the living room and one car.

Mr. Samran was not at home during the incident. His wife who was present at the scene was unharmed. The police later arrived at the scene to investigate the evidences.

Anti-government protesters and the residence of their leaders have come under frequent attacks from shadowy assailants in recent weeks.

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Chalerm Flees Meeting After Taunting Protesters

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28 January 2014, 15:24

Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung talking to reporters at the Army Club

(28 January) Commander of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) has fled a meeting shortly after he challenged the besieging anti-government protesters.

Supporters of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) have marched to lay siege at the Army Club on Vibhavadi Road this afternoon, where Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her Cabinet appointed to hold a meeting.

PCAD threatened to break into the venue and "capture" Ms. Yingluck and her Cabinet members. The protest leaders also demanded the government dissolve CMPO within 24 hours.

But CMPO chairman, Mr. Chalerm Yoobamrung, derided PCAD′s demands. "Are the protesters confused?" Mr. Chalerm asked. He also criticised the PCAD′s threat to surround CMPO headquarters at the Police Club tomorrow.

Nevertheless, he said, the CMPO has already arranged an emergency headquarters venue in Nakhon Pathom province lest "problems" occurred. Mr. Chalerm insisted the plan should not be seen as a retreat, as he is confident he can defend the headquarters from the protesters.

"The protesters have acted too much like gangsters," Mr. Chalerm said, "If they are still acting like gangster by storming Army Club and Police Club, I would like them to storm their own properties".

He added, "We have already warned them, but if they still don′t listen to us, they are welcomed to try".

However, as the protests in front of the Army Club grew more tense, especially after an unknown assailant reportedly fired shots at the protesters, Mr. Chalerm changed his mind and quickly fled the meeting venue through the back exit.

Mr. Chalerm′s current whereabouts is unknown.

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Mall Employee Allegedly Beaten, Robbed By Protesters

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28 January 2014, 14:33

Mr. Siam Thanachattranond filing complaint with the police at Pathumwan Police Station

(28 January) An employee of Siam Center shopping mall has filed a complaint to police after was reportedly beaten and robbed by anti-government protesters.

Mr. Siam Thanachattranond, 30, told officers at Pathumwan Police Station that he was traveling to work at around 09.30 yesterday when he was stopped by volunteer guards of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) at Chalermla Bridge, metres away from the shopping mall.

PCAD protesters have been occupying Pathumwan Intersection, the famous shopping district of Bangkok, for three weeks, and PCAD guards have set up security checkpoints around the area.

According to Mr. Siam, the guards asked him for his ID card, which he complied, but one of the guards aggressively asked him "Why the fuck are you looking at my face?", before the entire group mobbed and beat him.

In a statement to the police, Mr. Siam said the PCAD guards took his iPhone 5, eyeglasses, cap, and 15,000 baht – a total loss of approximately 50,000 baht. One of the assailants also hit his head, Mr. Siam said, adding that he kept screaming for help but no one in the vicinity dared to help him.

A Bangkok authority official later reportedly came to help Mr. Siam wipe the blood from his head injury, and told him not to argue with the PCAD guards as they are known to be very aggressive. The official also escorted him to a first aid station nearby, Mr. Siam said. His wound reportedly required 5 stitches.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Wallop Prathummueang said he has instructed the officers to coordinate the investigation with PCAD leaders in order to locate the suspects.

He added that a 53 year old police officer was also beaten by PCAD guards in the same area yesterday morning as he traveled through the intersection for work at the Royal Thai Police Headquarters. The protesters reportedly took away the officer′s 3,000 baht cash, a .357 pistol, and 5 bullets, Pol.Maj.Gen. Wallop said.

Mr. Siam later posted on his Facebook profile that he has previously joined anti-government rallies with his friends, but he has now "lost faith" in the movements after the incident at Pathumwan Intersection.

"It hurts," Mr. Siam wrote, "Not the wound. It hurts in my heart".

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Fire At Suvarnabhumi Airport Not Terrorism: Chatchart

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28 January 2014, 14:08

(28 January) Transport Minister Chatchart Sitthipan has insisted that terrorism was not behind the case of a burning luggage at Suvarnabhumi Airport earlier this morning.

Reports say the luggage, which belongs to a Thai passenger on a Bangkok Airway′s flight, suddenly caught fire on a conveyor belt at Suvarnabhumi, which is one of Bangkok′s two international airports.

Airport staff extinguished the fire, and the airport is now reportedly resuming normal operations.

According to Pol.Col. Phumin Singhasut, Chief of Suvarnabhumi Police Station, the luggage belongs to an agricultural instructor who is carrying Urea fertilizer to a seminar in Cambodia.

Transport Minister Chatchart also indicated that the passenger has packed phosphorous substances into the luggage to demonstrate them later to his Cambodian customers.

It is believed that the heat and the friction on the conveyor belt had caused the small blaze, he added.

“It is still fortunate that the luggage was burning before it is loaded into the plane”, said Mr. Chatchart, “this could be really dangerous if it is on fire after the plane takes off”.

Mr. Chatchart also said he firmly believes that the incident does not involve terrorism, but had instructed the police officers to carefully investigate the case.

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Khaosarn Staff Might Be Axed Due To Protests

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28 January 2014, 13:20

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban greeting his supporters, 27 January 2014

(28 January) Restaurants and other venues would have to inevitably cut jobs due to the ongoing political crisis , experts have warned.

Ms. Taniwan Kulamongol, President of Thai Restaurant Association (TRA), stated that since the government announced the State of Emergency on 22 January in response to the spree of political violence, restaurants nationwide have suffered an initial loss of nearly 300 million baht.

10,000 out of 30,000 TRA members are located in Bangkok and its perimeters, and have been affected by the political situation, Ms. Taniwan said.

She warned that if the conflict prolongs with no peaceful resolution in sight, many restaurants will need to cut jobs, particularly the waiting staff, as cash flows have been drained within the period of three months.

Mr.Sa-nga Rueangwattanaul, President of Khaosarn Road Business Association (KRBA), added that since the anti-government protests broke out in November 2013, the revenue of several businesses have decreased approximately 40-50%, and the booking rate for hotel and guesthouses in the famed backpacker street has dropped by 50%.

The enforcement of the Emergency Decree also worsened the declining income for these businesses, Mr. Sa-nga said.

The loss in revenue may eventually prompt businesses to dismiss their part time workers, as well as forcing full time workers to be put on holiday leave with less than normal wage, according to Mr. Sa-nga.

The President of KRBA also warned that if the situation does not end by February, even more employees in many establishments would be "indefinitely" suspended altogether, which may affect no less than 10,000 workers in the area.

Meanwhile, Central Plaza Hotel Public Company Limited (CENTEL) Senior Manager, Mr. Ronnachit Mahatthanaprit, also commented that CENTEL had eliminated all part time positions, and had transferred some of full time staffs to other tourist attractions such as Hua Hin, Pattaya, Phuket.

The situation is a grave contrast to the tourist ′peak time′ period of previous years, in which CENTEL would usually hire 30% extra staff for part time positions, Mr. Ronnachit said.

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