PCAD Halts Ballot Papers Printing

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17 January 2014, 18:16

(17 January) Anti-government protesters have forced publishers of ballot papers to close down.

Approximately 100 supporters of the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) marched to the governmental publishing house on Lad Phrao Road earlier today, where they proceeded to cut off the power and water supply into the building.

PCAD has demanded that general election on 2 February 2014 be cancelled in order to pave way for the establishment of an unelected ′People′s Council′, whose members would be selected by PCAD leadership, to rule Thailand as a transitional government.

The government has so far refused to postpone or cancel the election, and PCAD protesters have vowed to do everything they can to prevent the election from taking place.

The protesters also entered the publishing house and instructed officials there to leave, causing the director of the printing operation to temporarily close down the venue.

Officials were eventually ordered to go home for their own safety.

The publishing house is under the supervision of Office of the Welfare Promotion Commission for Teachers and Educational Personnel (OTEP), and it is the sole agency tasked with the printing of ballot papers for 2 February election.

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Former Boxer Burns His Ex-Girlfriend Alive: Police

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17 January 2014, 17:08

(17 January) A former professional boxer has been arrested after he has set fire on his ex-girlfriend out of jealousy, police said.

On 13 January police received reports that the woman, Ms. Supawadee Boonchote, 24, was dosed with gasoline and set on fire in front of a convenience store in Udon Thani province by an assailant who arrived and left the scene on a motorcycle with no license plate.

The victim was later transported to the hospital. Doctors said she suffered severe burned injuries, and she remains under intensive care.

The police later identified the attacker as Mr. Baramee Srikul, 42, a former famous boxer who went by his nickname Baramee Petchpiroon. The officers also reportedly found burns on Mr. Baramee′s both hands.

The suspect reportedly confessed of his crime, stating that he had been in a relationship with the victim since last year. However, Mr. Baramee said, Ms. Supawadee later ended the relationship with him as she preferred to be in a relationship with a woman.

After several failed attempts to regain his relationship with him, Mr. Baramee said he decided to commit a revenge by setting the woman on fire.

The investigation also revealed that the couple often had intense arguments, and the former boxer regularly ended up beating Ms. Supawadee.

She eventually portrayed herself as a tom boy and engaged in a relationship with another woman in the community to stop Mr. Baramee from asking her to go back into the relationship, police said.

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Protests Cause Industry Confidence To Plunge

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17 January 2014, 16:22

Anti-government protesters at Pathumwan Intersection, 16 January 2014

(17 January) The Thai Industries Sentiment Index (TISI) has hit a 25 month low at 88.3 amid the ongoing political protests.

According to Mr. Phayungsak Chatsuthiphon, President of the Federation of Thai Industires (FTI), the drop reflects concerns felt by many businesses that prolonged political crisis could gravely harm Thai economy.

The TISI figure of 88.3 corresponds to the period of December 2013, and it has fallen from 90.3 in November 2013, Mr. Phayungsak said, adding that he fears the number could keep plunging down due to worries that the conflict may not be resolved in the near future.

The statistic, which was taken from 1,025 samples in 42 industries, also revealed that the entrepreneurs are experiencing a decline in domestic spending, and withholding orders from their foreign counterparts, as well as an increasing cost of production.

3 months sentimental index also falls to 100.9 point, slightly below 101.4 point in Novermber 2013, as many investors are assessing the impact of the current political crisis, which pits the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against protests led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

“Many businesses, especially in motor industries, are readjusting their plans concerning the current unstable situation in the country," Mr. Phayungsak said, "It is also obvious that there are the declines of domestic consumption, private sector investment and imports of raw material”,

He added, “Thai economy in Q1/2014 is not looking great.”

Mr. Phayungsak also noted that PCAD′s "shutdown" of Bangkok in the past three days might not have severely harmed the economy, but it could cause severely affect the economy if it lasted more than a week.

Meanwhile, Mr. Surapong Paisitpattanaphong, Deputy President and Spokesperson of FTI, said motor industry had produced 158,893 cars in December 2013, which is the lowest rate in 20 months.

Compared with the same time last year, the production had decreased by 28.22%, whereas the statistic from November 2013 shows 13.09% declination during the end of year 2013.

The annual production have also been disappointing, producing only 2,475,086 cars, 2.55 million less than expected, he added.

“We have missed out our target for nearly 100,000 cars, partly due to the government′s "first car" scheme," Mr. Surapong complained, referring to the populist policy which offers tax break for first time purchasers of cars, "However, concerning our competitiveness as a car exporter, we have reached No. 9 in global stage.”

As for the outlook for 2014, considering the political and economic factors, motor industry might produce no more than 2.5 million cars, said Mr. Surapong.

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Pro-Election Faction Cheered By Lotto Result

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17 January 2014, 14:33

Supporters of 2 February election during a rally in Minburi, 16 January 2014

(17 January) Some supporters of 2 February election have welcomed the result of the latest lottery draw.

Although 52 is the the official winning number in the two-digit category, the hugely popular underground lottery market across the country also recognise 02 as the winning number for the said category, since the "unofficial" market adopts the last 2 digits of the first prize number, which is 306902 in this case.

The number has drawn much attention since it appears to coincide with the date of the 2 February election. The draw also came amid the ongoing campaigns by anti-government protesters to cancel the 2 February election and install an unelected ′People′s Council′ to rule Thailand.

Lottery is massive business in Thailand, where many also claim that lottery results can contain divine or ominous meanings.

However, Pol.Maj.Gen. Attakrit Thareechat, director of the Government Lottery Office, said the public should not make any connection between the election and the 02 lotto number.

"Any number can turn up, from 0-9," Pol.Maj.Gen. Attakrit explained, "Please don′t assume the result has been ′locked′ to represent the election date".

He added, "The lottery draw was conducted in a transparent and fair manner. Furthermore, outside observers also oversee each lottery draw".

Asked whether the lottery operation would be affected by ongoing "Bangkok Shutdown" engineered by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), Pol.Maj.Gen. Attakrit said the Office has already prepared a back-up system in case of prolonged mass protests.

"The distribution of lottery will continue smoothly," he said.

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Grenade Attack On PCAD Marchers Kills One

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17 January 2014, 13:55

(17 January) Anti-government demonstrators have come under a deadly grenade attack during their march near financial centre of Bangkok today.

The incident took place at around 13.00 when supporters of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) were marching along Banthadthong Road as a part of their "Bangkok Shutdown" campaign.

The crowd was led by PCAD secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban.

As the marchers approached Charoenpol Intersection, an unidentified individual hurled down a bomb, largely speculated to be a grenade, from one of the vacant buildings that lined the road into the crowd below. The subsequent explosion reportedly injured numerous people.

Immediately after the explosion the protesters guards stormed into the derelict buildings and sought out the assailant, while the injured were transported to hospitals. A number of military medics wearing Red Cross armband later arrived to assist the protesters.

Mr. Suthep was heading the march at some distance away from the scene when the attack took place.

It is not immediately clear what type of explosive was involved in the attack.

One anti-government protester injured by the grenade blast later died at hospital, and official reports say a total of 36 people have been wounded in the incident.

The attack is seen as a major escalation of violence, as it took place at a short distance from the National Stadium and Pathumwan Intersection, the financial district of Bangkok where PCAD supporters had been occupying since late Sunday.

Although PCAD rally sites have come under sporadic attacks – mostly consisting of gunfire and homemade explosive devices – almost nightly since their "Shutdown" campaign began, the attack earlier today marked the first daylight violent incident against the protesters.

Earlier today, another group of PCAD demonstrators also claimed that they were attacked by stones launched from slingshots during their march on Nares Road in Bang Rak district.

The protesters said the assailants were positioned on an abandoned building next to Bang Rak Police Station.

No suspect has been arrested so far.

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Mystery Over Arrests Of Navy 'Infiltrator Team'

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17 January 2014, 12:52

(17 January) Much doubt remains concerning the arrests of three armed individuals said to undercover operatives of the Royal Thai Navy.

The police made the arrest at around 00.10 yesterday at a checkpoint on Krung Kasem Road, Bangkok, when the officers stopped and searched the vehicle driven by the group. A group of anti-government protesters has been camping at a rally site nearby.

Upon the search the police uncovered a number of handguns, a silencer, and some ammunition, while the license plate of the vehicle was revealed to be a fake one.

The suspects were identified as Lt. Pairat Plai-Ngam, 47, Petty Officer Pairint Photi, 26, and Petty Officer Ballang Khantaphon, 35. All of them claimed to be Navy infiltrator team on the mission to track down illicit drugs, but police also found that the three officers possessed ′VIP′ identification cards issued by anti-government protest leadership.

The suspects were initially charged with holding weaponry without authorisation, and using false license plate on their vehicle.

But shortly afterwards Rear Admiral Winai Klom-In, Chief of the Navy Special Warfare Command, visited Nang Lerng Police Station, where the three officers were being detained, with a letter confirming the identity of the three Navy agents.

Rear Admiral Winai reportedly told the police that the three officers were indeed on a undercover mission to track down narcotics trade from eastern Thailand into Bangkok.

The weapons the officers were carrying had been properly issued by the Navy, Rear Admiral Winai said, and the three were given counterfeit protesters′ ID cards so they could blend into anti-government protest rally site during their mission if they were ever required to do so.

Nevertheless, Rear Admiral Winai assured the police that he will not interfere with the police investigation.

More than 20 Navy officers later visited the three suspects at Nang Lerng Police Station throughout the day, a senior police officer at the station said.

However, the nature of the undercover mission allegedly undertaken by the three suspects became increasingly questionable, as other high-ranking Navy officers failed to explain to the press what the three infiltrators were doing near an anti-government protest site.

Admiral Pijarn Teeranate, Chief of the Royal Thai Fleet, told our correspondent yesterday that the Navy is currently investigating the incident. Although he confirmed that the three suspects are indeed infiltrator operatives, Admiral Pijarn said the Navy had given them no order to attend the protest rally.

"If they wish to join the protest, they must do it personally, in the manner of civilians," Admiral Pijarn said, "If they were doing something illegal, they must face the same legal prosecution like civilians".

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Kan Dee-Ubon, Spokesperson of the Royal Thai Navy, stated that the Royal Thai Navy Chief, Admiral Narong Pipattanasai, had been informed about the incident.

According to Rear Admiral Kan, the Navy Chief had instructed Admiral Winai to determine as soon as possible whether the arrested Navy officers had acted beyond their orders.

If they are found guilty, Rear Admiral Kan said, a special commission will be appointed to hand down punishment to the suspects, both in disciplinary and legal manners. "There won′t be any protection [for the suspects] in the investigation," the Navy spokesperson promised.

Nevertheless, Rear Admiral Kan said there is a possibility that the three officers might have been on a mission to track down a narcotics delivery which would have forced them to enter the anti-government rally, but insisted that a thorough and detailed investigation will clarify the matter soon.

The incident came at a time when the roles of the powerful Thai military in the ongoing anti-government protests are intensely scrutinised.

Many pro-government Redshirts activists have accused the military of aiding the anti-government faction, and of plotting a coup against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, but high-ranking members of the armed forces stressed that the military is not taking any side in the conflict (it should be noted, though, that they refused to explicitly rule out the possibility of a coup).

The incident even led Deputy Prime Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul to announce that he had ordered a separate investigation into the arrests of the three Navy officers.

Mr. Surapong also expressed his concern that the officers would have carried state-issued firearms into the protest site if they had not been stopped by the police.

"There has been reports that some military officers have taken up jobs as guards for the protesters," Mr. Surapong said.

Just today, the Ministry of Defence issued an "urgent" statement addressed to all units of the armed forces, urging them to keep their subordinates within strict discipline and stay out of political conflicts.

The statement cited the case of three Navy officers arrested yesterday as an incident which "should not be repeated again".

The statement also called for the military personnel to maintain their political neutrality, avoid political criticism in the public, and refrain from dressing in uniforms if they attend any protest. Violation of these principles would amount to disrespecting the military as a whole and would be punished with disciplinary actions.

If the said violation is accompanied by legal wrongdoing such as possession of firearms or explosive devices, the military would also seek legal prosecution against the wrongdoers, the statement warns.

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Pro-Election Campaign Continues Outside Bangkok

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16 January 2014, 21:44

(16 January) While anti-government protesters continue to "shutdown" Bangkok to oppose the 2 February election, thousands in many provinces have staged rallies in support of the election yesterday.

The campaign, which heavily featured placards and signs with the phrase "Respect My Vote", was meant to counter the demands of People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

In Chiang Mai province, more than 2,000 citizens met at Sri Donmoon Temple in Sarapee district to pray for peaceful and harmonious atmosphere to return to Thailand, and affirmed their opposition to any military coup.

The demonstrators, led by Kru Ba Noi Techapanyo, then lit up candles in tribute to the country, before giving alms to Buddhist monks at midnight. Afterward, Kru Ba Noi also showered his followers with holy water for good luck.

The rally coincides with Peng Pud Festival, which falls on the first full moon on Wednesday night. In the festival, Chiang Mai residents give food to the monks by midnight and donated items to poor people.

Here are reports of some of the similar events elsewhere:

Korat People Lit Candles for Democracy

Around 500 Nakhon Ratchasima locals from Bua Yai district, Kaengsanamnang district, Bua Lai district and Sida district, met at Sra Yai pond to light up candles in support for democracy. They had also read their statement to defend democracy and sang The Royal Anthem for His Majesty the King before disbanding peacefully.

Sri-Saket ‘Respect My Vote’

At Srisaket Rajabhat University, over 500 students, teachers, officials, and people of different occupation under the name ‘White-Gold Democracy’, dressed up in white costume and held candle-lit vigil to oppose PCAD′s ongoing campaign against the government. They also demand negotiation from every party in order to lead the country through the current conflict peacefully.

They also expressed their opposition to violent clashes and bloodshed, and called for the respect of democracy, as well as the election on 2 February.

Mr. Pakkhawat Jantasuthiwong also read the group’s statement before shouting the motto ‘Tranquility, Peace, Democracy’ before concluding the events.

Silpakorn Activists Float Tank-Krathong

‘Liberal Silpakorn for Democracy’ held an event at Silpakorn University, Nakhon Pathom Campus, which was attended by approximately 300 people, to demonstrate their support for democracy and 2 February election.

The event included activities such as sending postcards to Constitutional Court, the Royal Thai Army, and the Office of Election Commission to insist that the election must go ahead.

The group then floated a Krathong made in a shape of army tank into Sra Kaew Pond.

After they had let the floating lantern, the group sang John Lennon’s hit ‘Imagine’ and lit up candle on Sra Kaew bridge to represent their demand. The group then disbanded at around 20.00 pm.

Ying Charoen Market Traders to Light Up Candles Everyday

Meanwhile, 500 Ying Charoen Traders dressed up in white to affirm their support for the Election on 2 February in the event called “No Protest, No Coup, We Need Election”.

They yelled ‘Election’ for several times before lighting up the candles. The group promises to meet everyday until the situation in the country is resolved.

Moreover, approximately 300 Minburi locals in Minburi District of Bangkok met at Minburi Intersection to support the election on 2 February and opposed the shutdown of Bangkok by PCAD. They also plan to meet daily.

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Woman Drowned After Fleeing Sexual Assault

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16 January 2014, 21:12

Mr. Thawatchai Sae-sim during a crime reenactment at the crime scene, 16 January 2014

(16 January) A woman has reportedly drowned as she fled from a rescue worker who attempted to rape her.

The investigation started when the body of the victim, later identified as Ms. Chananchida, 28, was found in the canal near Suvarnabhumi Water Gate on Wednesday.

The police were forced to post the picture of her body on the social network to search for her relatives, after they initially failed to identify her. The police were later contacted by Ms. Chananchida′s father, who said the victim was last seen at Foodland grocery mall on Soi Ramkhamhaeng 9.

According to Ms. Chananchida′s father, he has been told by her friend that she fainted at the mall before a rescue worker took her to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital. The disappearance complaint on behalf of Ms. Chananchida was later filed with Hua Mark Police Station.

After Ms. Chananchida′s body was found, the police tracked the witnesses who were with the victim that night. A CCTV footage retrived from Foodland also revealed that after Ms. Chananchida fell unconscious, she was picked up by a rescue worker named Mr. Thawatchai Sae-sim, 31.

CCTV evidences show Mr. Thawatchai placing Ms. Chananchida on the front seat of his car and drove her to Ramkhamhaeng Hospital, but when he arrived at the hospital he refused to get out of his car. Instead, Mr. Thawatchai was seen driving away quickly from the hospital shortly after he arrived.

The police were also assisted by citizens who retrieved Ms. Chananchida′s belongings, which are believed to have been taken by Mr. Thawatchai, at Lad Phrao Temple. The police then arrested Mr. Thawatchai in connection with Ms. Chananchida′s death.

Initially, Mr. Thawatchai reportedly denied the accusation. However, police further interrogated the suspect and asked him for urinal tests, which revealed that he was on drugs.

Mr. Thawatchai later confessed that he was under influence of narcotics when he picked up Ms. Chananchida and intended to sexually assault the victim, so he decided at the last minute at the hospital not to bring her to the doctors.

The suspect said he later drove away from the hospital toward the crime scene. He claimed that he tried to assault the woman along the way, but she reportedly regained her consciousness when they arrived at the scene.

He told police that Ms. Chanathida had grabbed a knife in the car to threaten him. They later reportedly fought for a while before he bit her on her arm, but the victim fought hard. Mr. Thawatchai claimed that her struggle convinced him to let her go.

The suspect said he later sold her belongings to buy drugs, and hid at his friends’ residence before he was eventually arrested.

According to Pol.Maj. Thatchai Hongthong, Chief of Samut Prakarn Provincial Police, the case is being treated seriously, as the accused is a volunteer for a rescue team.

Mr. Thawatchai has been charged with attempting to rape, stealing with the aid of a vehicle, possessing radio equipment without authorisation, as well as using illicit substances.

Pol.Maj. Thatchai said the suspect would be additionally charged with rape if post mortem investigation of the victim suggested that she had been raped.

It is also unclear why Ms. Chananthida drowned into the canal, said Pol.Maj. Thatchai.

The police are suspecting two possibilities he said; firstly, the victim may have been panicked after the harassment and attempted to escape the suspect by swimming into the canal, but her strength failed her.

Secondly, Pol.Maj. Thatchai said, she may have been hallucinated from taking too much diet pills; according to her family, Ms. Chananthida had been relying on diet pill for quite a long time, and it may have caused her to be overcome with cramp when she went down into the water.

Pol.Maj. Thatchai added that the police have been contacted by a couple who claimed to have helped Ms. Chananthida during the incident. They claimed that they had helped her on their motorcycle, but Ms. Chananthida panicked and left their vehicle after a while, according to Pol.Maj. Thatchai.

Investigation is ongoing.

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Govt Rice Fund 'Not Enough' To Pay Farmers

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16 January 2014, 20:46

(16 January) The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperative (BAAC) has revealed that its budget is not enough to pay farmers who had engaged in the government's rice pledging scheme.

According to the BAAC, its maximum budget currently consists of 10 billion baht, and the money can only sustain the payment in the rice program until 22 January.

But Mr. Prasit Boonchoei, the President of Thai Rice Farmers Association, said the government is still bound to pay over 80 billion baht of the guaranteed rice pledging price to the farmers, as well as interests for withholding the payment which was due 3 months ago.

Mr. Prasit added that members of his association is planning to sue the government after the Finance Ministry admitted its incapability to fulfill the pledging contracts they had made with the farmers.

Farmers in many provinces also claimed that the controversial policy has put them in fund shortage for next season’s cultivation, according to Mr. Prasit.

It is the latest blow to the controversial rice mortgage mortgage program, which has been the cornerstone of populist policies pursued by the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Just today, farmers in Ratchaburi province also submitted an open letter to Mr. Nisit Chantrasomwong, the Governor of Ratchaburi, complaining that more than 16,000 farmers have never been paid for their pledged rice.

Reportedly, only 20% of 20,000 farmers had received the money, and the rest is promised to receive the money from the government in total of 1.9 billion baht. The group demanded for the payment by 20 January, as the new cultivating season will soon start on 3 February.

BAAC, which is responsible for handing out the payment to farmers, has suspended the payment to farmers and instead submitted its consultation regarding the eligibility of the scheme to the Office of the Election Commission (ECT), lest the payment amounts to vote-buying as the 2 February general election is approaching.

However, the BAAC later backtracked the decision, and the fate of the rice payment is now in limbo.

According to Mr. Tanusak Lek-Uthai, Deputy Minister of Finance and General Manager of BAAC, the payment in the scheme is currently depending on the decision of BAAC board. Mr. Tanusak also said he had disagreed with the BAAC′s decision to get ECT involved in the first place.

“They [BAAC Board] should not worry too much about politics, as it is the lawful process [to pay the farmers]. The decision had been made even before the dissolution of the parliament, there is no need to consult with ECT,” stated Mr. Tanusak, who further complained that “I had tried every possible way to pay the farmers as promised by 15 Jan"

However, the BAAC decided to suppress the payment. "Now I know that my future is not as bright as it was anymore, because I could not keep my promise," Mr. Tanusak lamented.

Meanwhile, Mr. Suwit Rotjanawanich, Bond Market Consultant from Public Debt Management Office (PDMO), suggested that if the ECT agreed to approve the 130 billion baht public lending for the scheme, the decision will be passed on to the Cabinet, who would in turn facilitate the money to the farmers.

Another 13 billion baht lending under the 410 billion baht framework will gradually be paid to BAAC to support the scheme, Mr. Suwit said.

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Crackdown On 'Counterfeit' Whistles Begins

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16 January 2014, 13:02

(16 January) Blue Sky TV has announced a crackdown on sales of counterfeit whistles in anti-government rally sites.

The satellite channel, which has been serving as official mouthpiece of the ongoing protests led by the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), said on a Facebook post that sales of unauthorised whistles would no longer be tolerated.

A symbol of anti-government movements, the whistles are ubiquitously worn by PCAD supporters in their rallies and demonstrations.

But Blue Sky has previously complained that many vendors in PCAD rally sites have copied the special design of whistles officially adopted by the channel, which come in shapes similar to a lightning, and stated that these actions amount to copyrights infringement.

The channel also sells its own "premium" lightning-shaped whistles, costing up to 999 baht per piece.

In the same Facebook post, Blue Sky staff claimed that security guards employed by the channel have confiscated their first batch of countefeit whistles sold at PCAD rally site around Pathumwan Intersection, and said that the guards would do so in all other PCAD protest sites across Bangkok as well.

The announcement also asks for understanding from anti-government protesters, stating that vendors of counterfeit whistles are profiting from opportunistic business ventures which would undermine the channel′s enterprise.

Furthermore, Blue Sky channel would take legal action against manufacturers of these counterfeit items, according to the statement posted on Facebook.

The announcement has attracted many comments from the Netizens. While many expressed their support for Blue Sky′s crackdown on unauthorised whistles, others raised concerns that security guards employed by Blue Sky do not have legal power to confiscate items suspected of violating copyrights.

Some PCAD supporters also commented that the crackdown might alienate many vendors in the protest areas.

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