Ambassadors Decline Anti-Govt Rally Tour Offer

By

-

18 December 2013, 16:10

PCAD staff clearing the ground for the anticipated foreign ambassadors' visit to the protest site, 17 December 2013

(18 December) Ambassadors of various nations have rejected the invitation to tour the anti-government protest site at Ratchadumnern Avenue as invited by the protest leaders.

The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) has previously invited foreign embassies in Thailand to send their ambassadors and diplomats to tour their encampment this evening so they could witness the PCAD′s "peaceful" fight to overthrow the corrupt regime of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The tour was scheduled to start at 18.00 earlier today.

However, only 6 representatives of international entities showed up at the protest encampment, our correspondent said.

The group privately met with PCAD leader Suthep Thaugsuban in the air conditioned tent behind the stage. The protest volunteer guards did not allow members of the press to observe or photograph the meeting, citing privacy and security concerns. The meeting lasted for two hours.

After the meeting was concluded, large number of guards immediately escorted the foreign entourage out of the protest site, and no press conference was given.

A member of the PCAD leadership said one of the foreigners who met with Mr. Suthep is Mr. Matthew Wheeler from International Crisis Group. Another foreigner was said to represent the Red Cross International, while the identities of other four foreigners were not immediately clear.

When a reporter attempted to ask one of the delegates which organisation or embassy he represented, the individual simply replied, "Doesn?t matter".

It is understood that no Ambassador was present at the meeting with Mr. Suthep today.

According to a report on the website of Thai Rath newspaper, embassies of prominent nations such as the United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States have declined the offer from PCAD, saying they would not send any representative to observe the protest site.

Thai Rath also quoted an official of the US Embassy in Bangkok as saying that a tour to the PCAD encampment would not be necessary because the US diplomats have been engaged in dialogues with both the protest leaders and the government already.

Embassies of Southeast Asian nations are also unlikely to accept PCAD′s offer, Thai Rath says, with the Ambassador of Indonesia on the trip outside Bangkok and Embassies of Laos and Singapore stating that they have not been informed about PCAD′s invitation.

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

Woman Severely Injured By Fallen 'Rusted' Billboard

By

Khaosod English

-

18 December 2013, 14:54

(18 December) A 50 year old woman has been put into coma by a billboard which has fallen on her as she was waiting for bus at a bus stop in Pathumthani province.

The incident took place in front of Major Cineplex Rangsit shopping mall yesterday morning. The 1×2 square metre billboard – displaying advertisement for a fastfood restaurant – was mounted on an 8 metre long metal pole; its base was visibly rusted.

The injured woman suffered from sharp wounds in her face, skull, and mouth, while her nose had also been broken by the fallen billboard, rescue workers said. She was later admitted to ICU in Pathumthani Hospital, and her condition had been described as severe.

Witnesses said the woman was waiting for bus along with other pedestrians when a strong gust of wind blew and the billboard suddenly fell down onto the victim.

Manager of the Major Cineplex Group Rangsit said he had visited the woman at the hospital, adding that the company will take responsibility for the medical bills.

The manager said the metal pole might have been rusted from the Great Flood in 2011, during which the mall and surrounding area were hit by 1 metre high flood.

He told reporters that the company will inspect other billboard poles in the area for any similar damage to prevent further disasters.

A senior police officer said the local police will assist Major Cineplex company in their inspection of the billboards. He added that no one has yet been charged in the incident, as the police are waiting for the injured woman to recover and give testimony first.

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

Suthep Summoned For Court Appearance By January

By

Khaosod English

-

18 December 2013, 13:37

Soldiers facing Redshirts protesters on Rama IV Road, 14 May 2010 — Soldiers face off with Redshirts protesters on Rama IV Road, 14 May 2010.

(18 December) The court has instructed anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban to appear before the judges for the murder charges he is facing.

Mr. Suthep and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva have been charged with murders for their roles in authorising the military crackdown on the Redshirts protesters in 2010 which killed over 90 people, mostly civilians. Mr. Suthep served as Mr. Abhisit′s deputy at the time.

Mr. Abhisit had already appeared before the judges last week but Mr. Suthep′s lawyer has asked the court to postpone his client′s appearance, citing the ongoing protests against Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra led by Mr. Suthep.

The court has agreed with the postponement request, spokesman of the General Attorney Office said on Monday, and has summoned Mr. Suthep to report to the judges on 8 January 2014.

The court believes that the political situation should have been less tense by the appointed time, allowing Mr. Suthep to commute to the court, the spokesman added.

On 16 December the South Bangkok Criminal Court also heard testimonies from witnesses in the inquest of Mr. Kiattikun Chatvirasakul and Mr. Prachuab Prachuabsuk, two victims killed in the military operation near Redshirts encampment at Rama IV Road on 16 May 2010.

One of the witnesses, an injured Redshirt protester, told the court he was driving motorcycle to his home at 19.00 on Rama IV Road but was stopped by the security forces who were blocking the roads near Suan Lum Night Bazaar, so he parked his motorcycle underneath the tollway road and joined the Redshirts rallies.

By 20.00, the witness said, around 10-20 Redshirts protesters were injured by the military gunfire. The injured were shot in their legs, shoulders, waists, and backs, the witness said.

"I?ve seen them getting shot, with my own eyes," the witness testified.

The witness reportedly helped transport around 10 injured Redshirts away from the clashes by carrying one protester on his motorcycle at a time. Later on 00.30, the witness said, he saw another injured individual near Soi Ngamduplee, so he and another protester drove motorcycle to pick up the injured.

As they were driving along Rama IV Road, according the witness, an explosive device dropped onto the road in front of his motorcycle and exploded, causing the motorcycle to fall. Gunshots later rang out, witness said.

The witness told the court he was injured by the explosion, while another protester who was riding on motorcycle with him was shot by the gunfire from Suan Lum Night Bazaar direction.

He added that most of injured protesters he had reportedly helped rescue throughout the day were shot from direction of Thai-Belgium Bridge, where the military personnel were reportedly positioned. Gunfire could be heard ringing out from that direction continuously, he said.

The witness also told the court he has seen no armed militants inside the group of protesters, and the protesters were armed with only slingshots and fireworks. None carried firearm or grenades, the witness said.

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

PCAD Wants Police To Investigate Ramkhamhaeng Incident

By

Khaosod English

-

18 December 2013, 12:57

(18 December) Anti-government protesters have demanded the police to speed up their investigation of the clashes in Bangkok′s Ramkhamhaeng district which killed one of their supporters.

In a statement submitted to Pol.Gen. Ake Angsananond at headquarters of the Royal Thai Police, the People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD) said it had previously instructed the police to investigate the death in a week, yet the police failed to heed to the deadline.

Four people were reportedly killed in the violence between Redshirts and anti-government protesters which lasted throughout the night of 30 November near Rajamangala Stadium where the Redshirts were holding a mass rally in support of the government.

All victims died of gunshot wounds, police said.

Although three Redshirts also died in the violence, their deaths have never been publicly mentioned by PCAD leaders.

Mr. Taworn Senniam, representing the PCAD in the meeting with Pol.Gen. Ake, told the officer he is suspicious of the police′s efforts in investigating the death of anti-government protester, identified as Mr. Teerasak Phokaew.

Mr. Taworn claimed that the police have already arrested the suspects accused of torching a bus carrying Redshirts, yet they have not arrested any suspect in connection with the murder of Mr. Teerasak.

He added that Mr. Teerasak′s parents have asked the PCAD to relay their message to the police that they are still waiting for justice on behalf of their dead son.

The PCAD representative also warned that if the police still failed to apprehend any suspect in the case, it would retaliate with further activities.

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

Lesbian Celebrities To Be Married In Western Country

By

Khaosod English

-

17 December 2013, 17:05

(17 December) The famous Thai actress ?Aew? Ampha Phusit has announced that she will marry her girlfriend in an unidentified Western country.

The actress, whose latest work was the role as Tayai Lae in the hit TV soap drama ?Thong Nuea Kao?, has been dating Ms. ?Jane? Rangsiya Mueangkaew for two years.

Despite its sense of tolerance toward gays and lesbians, Thailand does not recognise same-sex marriage or civil partnership.

Ms. Ampha told reporters her same-sex relationship is not different to relationships of heterosexual couples. "Don?t see me as an idol in a negative manner," she said.

She also expressed her surprise that many of her fans appear to be shocked by news reports that she would marry her girlfriend. "Many other people also register [their marriages]," Ms. Ampha said, "Is it a surprise that I would register [my marriage], too? Is it so surprising that a person of my age would want to get married?"

Ms. Ampha added, "Don?t see me as tom and dee. Don?t see me as lesbians. We are just two people who understand each other. We belong to each other. That is all."

However, the actress said she had not yet scheduled the date for her marriage, explaining that she would probably marry Ms. Rangsiya next year in a European country.

Asked whether she would move to the West with her partner, Ms. Ampha said she had no plan for that yet.

"I?m busy now, and I?m quite frugal," Ms. Ampha told reporters.

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

'Nong Cartoon' Alleged Murderer Has No Known Family

By

Khaosod English

-

17 December 2013, 14:59

Mr. Nui showing the police the spot where he allegedly raped and murdered his 6 year old victim, 17 December 2013

(17 December) The police have escorted the homeless man accused of raping and murdering a 6 year old girl to stage a crime re-enactment at his crime scene in Bangkok suburb.

As expected, large crowd gathered around the secluded area near Soi Sukhumvit 105 and Bearing BTS Station, where the rape and murder are believed to take place, to shout abuses and curses at the 36 year old suspect, named simply as Mr. Nui.

Mr. Nui has confessed that he has lured nong Cartoon away from the pick-up truck where his father had left her to sleep on her own on 6 December. He said he later took her to the secluded spot, then proceeded to rape and murder her. The suspect was arrested on Sunday.

One company of police had to shield Mr. Nui from the angry crowd who bellowed their threats against him during the crime re-enactment.

He was later sent to be detained at Phra Kanong Court; the police have contested his rights to be released on bail. A police officer said the police are additionally investigating Mr. Nui′s claim that he had murdered other girls he had raped.

The police are also struggling to find details of Mr. Nui′s background. Pol.Col.Lt Sitthisak Nakhamart of Bangna Police Station said Mr. Nui has no registered surname and the national ID card database does not contain information about him.

"The only papers he had on him is certificates of his boy scout classes," and documents related to his previous imprisonment in Khon Kaen province, Pol.Col. Lt Sitthisak said. Both documents identified Mr. Nui only by his first name, he added.

The officer said investigations suggested that Mr. Nui was an orphan with no known family members. He was raised by adoptive parents in Khon Kaen until they passed away, Pol.Col.Lt Sitthisak said, leaving him on his own.

Records say the suspect was also housed in state shelter home for some time, and he later committed crimes which landed him in Khon Kaen prison, the officer said.

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

Protests Won't Disrupt New Year Celebration: Paradorn

By

Khaosod English

-

17 December 2013, 12:54

Members of Student and People Network For Political Reform of Thailand posing for photo with the Thai national flag, 16 December 2013

(17 December) Chief of the National Security Council has assured the public that the ongoing anti-government protests won?t spoil the festive mood for New Year celebration.

Lt.Gen. Paradorn Pattanatabutr told reporters that although the protests will continue to 2014, the protesters will refrain from engaging in new offensives during the New Year festival.

"I believe they will renew their campaigns next year," Lt.Gen. Paradorn said, citing intelligence reports.

He was speaking prior to Cabinet meeting at Army Club in Bangkok.

According to Lt.Gen. Paradorn, the protests have greatly dwindled from their peak on 9 December. The number of protesters last night (16 December) stands at 4,000-5,000 people, he said, and only 1,000 people were present at the protest site in the morning.

He expected the protesters, led by People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), to besiege the offices of the Election Committee in the future, since the PCAD has demanded that an unelected People′s Council must be formed to "reform" Thai political system before any election can take place.

However, as of the moment only the core supporters of Student and People Network For Political Reform of Thailand are taking the helm of offensive movements, Lt.Gen. Paradorn said, with the rest of protesters remaining in their position.

Asked by a reporter whether he believes any political party is behind the anti-government protests, Lt.Gen. Paradorn said it′s normal for political wings of political parties to mobilise their supporters in their local areas.

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

PM Yingluck Turns Down Call For Resignation

By

Khaosod English

-

17 December 2013, 12:14

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra taking questions from reporters, 17 December 2013

(17 December) Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has said she will not resign from her caretaker position demanded by anti-government protesters.

The People′s Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban, has been calling for Ms. Yingluck′s resignation and a royal appointment of an unelected Prime Minister along with the formation of unelected ?People′s Council? to rule the country as a transitional government.

But in a press conference earlier today after a Cabinet meeting in Bangkok, Ms. Yingluck stressed that she will not resign, because the Constitution requires her to stay until the next election.

She also told reporters that the election will go ahead on 2 February 2014 as scheduled; the protesters have demanded that the election be postponed and their "reform" of Thailand be implemented first.

However, she refused to say whether she will run as the top ticket of Pheu Thai Party again, stating that there is still plenty of time to decide.

Also attending the Cabinet meeting was Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang, chief of Bangkok Metropolitan Police, who refused the talk to reporters about the police strategies to contain the prolonged protests.

Asked whether the election will happen on 2 February 2014, Pol.Lt.Gen. Kamronwit said he does not know. "We have to evaluate that possibility from many [agencies]", but insisted that police can provide security for the election.

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

Nong Cartoon's Murderer 'Has Killed 3 More Victims'

By

Khaosod English

-

16 December 2013, 20:28

Mr. Nui, the alleged murderer of 6 year old nong Cartoon

(16 December) The alleged murderer of nong Cartoon, the 6 year old girl who had gone missing, has claimed he had previously raped and murdered three other girls.

Mr. Nui, a homeless man with no registered surname, said in the press conference after his arrest that he had raped "more than ten" girls around the country. Some of them he murdered, Mr. Nui claimed, and some he allowed to survive.

He said he cannot control his emotion whenever he encountered a vulnerable child.

The case of nong (little sister) Cartoon has been captivating the nation′s attention since 6 December, when Cartoon′s father alerted the police that he had lost the child during a folk music (lookthoong) concert near Bearing BTS Station in Bangkok.

Reportedly, he took Cartoon to see the concert, but she soon became sleepy, so he left his daughter at the pick-up truck to sleep and returned to the concert. When he returned at 23.00, he said, he could not found his daughter there.

CCTV records from Bearing BTS Stations and nearby 7-Eleven stores showed an unidentified man taking the girl across the road. The images were later shared on the social networks, and posted in every police station across the country, in hope that she would be located.

However, on 15 December a skull along with a skeleton, and floral purple short pants with a bar of chocolate in one pocket were found in a secluded wooded area in Bangkok′s Bang Na district.

The skull was partly covered with dirt when it was found. Initial investigation found no direct knife-inflicted cut on it, leading to the speculation that the reptile may have dug up the body and torn away the flesh.

DNA tests revealed that the clothes belongs to Cartoon police said, but results of the forensic tests on the bones have not yet released to the public.

Once nong Cartoon′s father saw the skull, he broke into tears and crouched over it, tearfully saying that he should not have left her alone.

According to Cartoon’s father, whose name is withheld per Khaosod′s printing regulations, the chocolate found in the abandoned clothes was given to Cartoon on the day he lost her.

Later in the same day, police in Nong Khai province arrested the man believed to be captured on the CCTV footage with the missing girl. The man was alter identified as Mr. Nui, or Tingtang, 32, a homeless man who, police said, has served a previous jail term in Khon Kaen province for charges related to child abuse.

Reports say Mr. Nui had been hired by a traveling lookthoong band to help assemble concert stages throughout the country, and he was working at one such site in Nong Khai province when the concert organiser noticed that Mr. Nui resembled the man he has seen in the news. The organiser later called police.

Upon the arrest, Mr. Nui confessed to his crime, stating that he saw the girl when he went out to buy beer. He then reportedly took her to the snack shop, and lured her to a secluded place, where he raped her and strangled his victim afterward.

Mr. Nui claimed he was not aware that the girl was dead.

In his bag, police also found the clothes he allegedly wore on the night of the incident, and female underpants, which he claimed to belong to his girlfriend.

As for Mr. Nui′s claim that he had murdered other victims, police reported that there are two unsolved murders in Loey province and one case in Bangkok′s Bang Bon district which could have been committed by Mr. Nui.

Mr. Nui has been charged with numerous offences, including murder, abuction, and rape. Further investigation is proceeding.

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

Govt Urged To Prosecute Red Student For Lese Majeste

By

Khaosod English

-

16 December 2013, 19:35

(16 December) Coordinator of an anti-government network has urged the government to prosecute a Redshirts student activist for allegedly insulting the monarchy.

Mr. Uthai Yordmanee, leader of Student and People Network For Political Reform of Thailand, said in a press conference that Mr. Ekkaphob Lueangra, a self-described vocational student who supports the Redshirt movements, has gravely defamed the monarchy in his speech at Rajamangala Stadium, where the Redshirts were holding mass rallies, on 28 November 2013.

Although Mr. Uthai did not specifically identify the parts of Mr. Ekkaphob′s speech which he considered as a lese majeste offence, he nevertheless called on Mr. Jarupong Ruangsuwan, chairman of Pheu Thai Party, and Mr. Chaturon Chaisang, Minister of Education, to take legal responsibility for Mr. Ekkaphob′s remarks.

The two politicians must be held accountable since they allowed Mr. Ekkaphob to deliver his speech on the rally stage in the stadium, Mr. Uthai said.

"Pheu Thai Party has always claimed to be loyal to the institution [of the monarchy]" Mr. Uthai said, "Therefore, to allow the individual with such behaviour to give speech that greatly insults the monarchy … is something the two cannot deny responsibility".

The Student and People Network will give the government 7 days to locate Mr. Ekkaphob and have the police arrest the man, Mr. Uthai said. If Mr. Jarupong and Mr. Chaturon failed to do so, he warned, they must resign from their caretaker positions.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would also have to show her responsibility for the incident, Mr. Uthai added.

Lese majeste, or insults of monarchy, is punishable up to 15 years in prison per offence according to Article 112 of Thai Criminal Codes.

Anti-government and Yellowshirts factions routinely accuse the government of insulting the monarchy, or discreetly encouraging republican activists to disrespect the monarchy.

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

Hot News

LATEST NEWS