Rayong Man Electrocuted By 'Charging iPhone'

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26 November 2013, 18:01

(26 November) A counterfeit iPhone item with faulty electricity is believed to have been behind the death of a 28 year old man in Rayong province.

Police said the body of Mr. Phisit Changlek was discovered by his father, Mr. Cheaow Changlek, 52, who went to check on his son after he had not left the room for hours. The body was lying topless on the floor.

Mr. Cheaow added he felt a leaked electric current when he touched his son′s body. He also recalled seeing his son talking on the phone which was being charged. After he has gone to bed, Mr. Cheaow said, he heard Mr. Phisit’s moaning in the night, but did not suspect such tragedy.

Mr. Cheaow also told the police he believed his son used counterfeit gadget in his iPhone.

The police said they had found several burns on Mr. Phisit′s hand and chest, confirming their speculation that the victim was electrocuted by the device. Nevertheless, police said post mortem investigation is scheduled for further information.

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Parking Lot Dispute Led To House Shooting

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25 November 2013, 19:58

(25 November) A man has discharged his firearm at his neighbour′s house following a dispute over parking space, police in Chonburi province said.

When the police arrived at the scene in Nong Prue district, they found Ms. Supattra Khamwan, the owner of thouse, waiting in tears with her young nieces, who were visibly distraught by the alleged gunfire.

She told police that she and Mr. Aree Daugnpathum, 40, often had arguments about how she parked her car next to her house, which Mr. Aree reportedly claimed to his usual parking space. Under influence of alcohol, Ms. Supattra said, Mr. Aree arrived in front of her house and shouted angrily that she had parked the car in the disputed space again.

When it became clear that Ms. Supattra would not come out to talk to him, Mr. Aree allegedly fired his pistol several times into Ms. Supattra, in the presence of young children, but no one has been injured.

Police later arrested Mr. Aree, who confessed to his crime, but insisted that he did not intend to cause any death or injury.

It is reported that Mr. Aree is facing charges for his misconduct.

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Foreign Couple Accused Of Stealing From Hotel Room

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25 November 2013, 18:06

(25 November) A pair of foreigners has been arrested by police in Pattaya on the suspicion of stealing from an organiser of a university badminton team.

Ms. Maneenet Weerarattanamanee, 36, a lecturer of Assumption University in Bangkok, told police she was leading her college′s badminton team to compete in the MMOA Pattaya Badminton Sawasdee 2013 Championship and had been staying at Siam View Hotel in the seaside town.

According to Ms. Maneenet, she spent less than 5 minutes in the restroom and realised later that her purse and belongings including 18,000 baht in cash were gone.

The CCTV camera footage revealed that a foreign couple, later identified as Mr. Mohamed Meghraoui, an Algerian national, and Ms. Leila Boukazza, a French national, had been knocking the doors of hotel rooms, checking which room was deserted. When there was no response from Ms. Maneenet′s room, the pair was seen entering the room and leaving shortly afterwards.

Police then made the arrest at their residence at Daeng Apartment in Pattaya.

It is reported that during the arrest, the suspects had thrown out Ms. Maneenet’s purse from their window. Police has also found a yellow polo shirt which Mr. Megharaoui wore during the scene recorded in the CCTV camera.

The suspects denied the charge, but police said they had clear evidence against the couple. Further investigation is pending.

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Anti-Govt Campaign Marked By Media Intimidation

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25 November 2013, 18:04

Anti-government protesters in front of Channel 9 TV station

(25 November) Anti-government protests appear to be increasingly hostile toward members of the media seen as pro-government by the protesters.

Tens of thousands of protesters led by various former Democrat MPs have been staging massive rallies and coordinating demonstrations in Bangkok in the bid to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

The protesters had been rallying a largely peaceful manner at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, but in the past 24 hours the mood has quickly shifted, as the protesters launched an aggressive campaign aimed at causing disruption to the government. The protesters are now occupying several governmental buildings, including the Ministry of Finance.

It is under this atmosphere that journalists are more and more threatened by the protesters. Yesterday a group of anti-government protesters surrounded a broadcasting vehicle operated by Channel 3 near Ratchadamnoen Avenue, accusing the channel of reporting about the protests in a negative way.

The protesters also demanded that all reporters working for Channel 3 leave the protest site, while on stage Mr. Suthep told the cheering crowd that the protesters should pay visits to media agencies which do not give adequately positive coverage of the protests in Mr. Suthep′s opinion.

State-owned Channel 3, Channel 7, and Channel 9 television stations were targeted by hundreds of the anti-government protesters today, who rallied just in front of the buildings and blowing the whistles – their adopted gesture against the government – to express their anger toward the news stations.

Popular news show host of Channel 3, Mr. Sorayuth Suttassanachinda, was singled out by many protesters who view him as a mouthpiece of the government.

At the headquarters of Channel 3, Mr. Sorayuth, who became a familiar face to many Thais by hosting a daily news talk show, later emerged to talk to the protesters and assured them that he had reported the news without any intention to belittle the protest movements.

In a tense confrontation, hundreds of protesters ignored his explanation and shouted in unison to Mr. Sorayuth demanding that he apologise for his perceived bias. Mr. Sorayuth responded by blowing a whistle alongside the protesters and said he had no hatred toward them. The famous TV personality then returned to the building without any violence.

However, a violent episode broke out near the Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters, where thousands of protesters were facing off with lines of riot police. There, Mr. Nick Nostitz, a German freelance photojournalist, was assaulted and punched by a group of anti-government protesters who were responding to a remark made by a protest leader on a nearby stage that Mr. Nostitz is a pro-government journalist.

Some volunteer guards of the protest were seen trying to defend Mr. Nostitz, while others tried to charge at him, before a group of police officers intervened and rescued him from the crowd.

Speaking to our correspondent later, Mr. Nostitz said he was arguing with the protest guards when he was spotted by former Democrat MP Chumpon Junsai, who pointed his finger to Mr. Nostitz, accused him of being a "Redshirt reporter", and urged the crowd to evict him from the protest site. The photojournalist was promptly assaulted by the crowd.

"None of this would have happened without Chumpon′s instruction," said Mr. Nostitz, adding that he aims to press charges against the protest leader.

Facebook pages of anti-government network later published photos of the incident and continued to identify him as a Redshirt reporter. Asked if he would return to taking photos of the protest afterwards, Mr. Nostitz said it would have been impossible for him to do so under this atmosphere.

Mr. Nostitz is a longtime photojournalist who has been reporting about various protests and crackdowns in Thailand since the 2006 military coup. He has published several photo books on the conflicts between Redshirts and Yellowshirts.

Responding to the incident, the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand (FCCT) released a statement deploring the assault on Mr. Nostitz "in strongest possible terms". It also called on the protest leaders to respect the rights of journalists to cover the protests in safe manner.

Meanwhile, the Thai Journalist Association similarly said in statement that all media agencies have done their best to report the ongoing protests in the most impartial way possible.

Although the protesters are inevitably upset by what they perceive as biased coverage by the media, reporters and journalists are entitled to the rights to cover the news and broadcast their stories without obstacle, the statement reads.

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Construction Worker Stabbed Over 'Political Argument'

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25 November 2013, 17:41

(25 November) Pattaya police say a construction worker has been stabbed by his colleague after the two argued bitterly about the ongoing political turmoil.

Responding to reports of fights, the police arrived at a worker residence behind Jomthien Complex in Banglamung district, Chonburi province, where Mr. Daomrong Thanonsilpa, 37, waited for the officers, his neck and body covered in blood.

According to Mr. Damrong, a native of Buriram province, he invited a fellow construction worker called Jo to his room to drink after work. Their discussion later turned to the anti-government protests taking place in Bangkok, Mr. Damrong said, and the two started to argue loudly.

His colleague eventually scolded him for his political opinion and stabbed him with a knife before fleeing the scene, Mr. Damrong said. The wounded man later called police.

Police said they have made a notification about the case and is searching for Jo to be prosecuted.

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Education Official Begs Protesters To Disperse

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24 November 2013, 21:44

(24 November) The director of the Office of Basic Education Commission of Thailand (OBEC) has asked the anti-government protesters to disperse as soon as possible as their massive rally had forced many schools to shut down.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has ordered 24 schools to close, citing safety concerns for the students, while the administrators of Satri Wittaya School had no other choice than shutting down due to its extreme proximity to the rally stage at Democracy Monument.

According to Mr. Anont Sukhprakkit, OBEC director, said more schools might follow suit if the school principals deem it necessary.

Mr. Anont also pleaded to the protesters to disband due to the approaching end of the semester and final exams. "Morever, many students are going through university and college admission exams and need to attend schools," Mr. Anont said, adding that the OBEC is currently working to arrange additional classes for the students on weekends if possible.

Secretary to the OBEC, Mr Aphichat Jirawutthilekhatigarn, had also instructed many schools to be aware of the students’ safety during the political turmoil. Schools are appointed to report the situation at noon and evenings to the 24 hour coordinate centre arranged by OBEC to observe the situation.

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Crown Prince Concerned By Protests: Police Chief

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24 November 2013, 20:25

(24 November) The Crown Prince has expressed his concern over the ongoing political turmoils, according to chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police.

"His Royal Highness has summoned me to his palace earlier this evening", Pol.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang said, "He is very concerned about his royal subjects. He doesn?t want to see Thai people fighting each other".

Pol.Gen. Kamronwit also said the Crown Prince has explicitly urged all Thais to defuse the tension by dialogues and peaceful negotiations. "I think we all should obey His Royal Highness," the police chief added.

He delivered the comments during a press conference after inspecting the perimeter of the anti-government protesters who are rallying in a massive show of force around Ratchadamnoen Avenue and the nearby vicinity. Pol.Gen. Kamronwit estimated that at least 75,000 people joined the rally, but media reports have put the figures at 100,000, while a protest leader insisted over 440,000 people were present.

Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, the former Democrat MP who is now leading the protests, has previously promised a showdown in the final bid to "overthrow" the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Some of the protesters under the name People and Student Network for Political Reform of Thailand have splintered from the main rally site at Ratchadamnoen Avenue to block the roads around Nang Loeng Intersection. Pol.Gen. Kamronwit said he regretted the move, as it directly interferes with the Crown Prince′s scheduled travel route.

"They refuse to move and open the roads for the royal convoy," Pol.Gen. Kamronwit told reporters.

Asked whether the police are prepared for the coordinated marches of the protesters which are expected to take place on 25 November, Pol.Gen. Kamronwit said the police will mobilise in fullest way to maintain public order during the marches.

"But I plead to the protesters, don?t cause troubles to the people who are not involved in the protest, and please don?t disrupt the route of the royal convoy," Pol.Gen. Kamronwit said.

He stressed that the police have no plan to crack down on the protesters, and that the police will rely on negotiations with the protesters to resolve any tension.

If the protesters do indeed march to besiege House of Parliament or Government House as feared by many officials, the police would have appropriate measures to contain the situation, according to the Bangkok police chief.

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Redshirts Stage Mass Rally Against 'Silent Coup'

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24 November 2013, 16:56

(24 November) Thousands of Redshirts have entered Bangkok to attend the rally at Rajamangala Stadium, displaying their opposition against what they describe as a "silent coup".

It is the second show of force of the Redshirts in less than two weeks. More than 50,000 Redshirts have previously rallied at the stadium last week to protest the ruling of the Constitutional Court which struck down legality of the government′s effort to amend the 2007 Constitution.

The ruling Pheu Thai Party has repeatedly vowed to revise the charter, which was drafted by military-appointed panel after the 2006 military coup, calling it an obstacle to Thai democracy.

Following the verdict, leaders of the Redshirts and Pheu Thai Party have accused the Constitutional Court of harbouring hostility against the elected government and conspiring with anti-government faction to undermine the legitimacy of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra′s administration.

The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has called for its supporters to attend the rally at Rajamangala Stadium, which it terms as fight against a "constitutional coup".

Ms. Thida Tojirakarn, chairwoman of the UDD, said yesterday that the situation of the country is now in a "perilous" turning point in which the ammart (feudal elite) is using its power to overthrow democratic regime.

"We have seen the display of power by the Constitutional Court," Ms. Thida said, "If we don?t fight now, all the victories we have gained would be in vain", adding that the Constitutional Court′s action amounts to a silent coup against the Legislative Branch.

She urged all Redshirts in Bangkok and nearby provinces to pack their bags and prepare for a prolonged "struggle", signaling the possibility that the Redshirts are planning a long-term rally.

The show of force of the Redshirts also coincides with the mass rally called by the anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, but UDD leaders insisted they would not march from their position to confront their rival protesters.

"We are aware that if the Redshirts decide to march out, some groups will exploit the situation for political ends," said Mr. Nattawut Saikua, a leader of UDD and Pheu Thai MP, "[Even] if Mr. Suthep′s protesters proceed to besiege governmental buildings, we will still rally in our position".

He also warned that if the anti-government protesters escalate their campaign by seizing governmental buildings, the crisis similar to the turmoil in 2006 might return to Thailand.

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Teen 'Snipers' Apprehended At Anti-Govt Protest

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24 November 2013, 16:28

(24 November) The police have apprehended a group of teenagers who carried BB guns into anti-government protest site near Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

Seven men, all of them underage individuals, were stopped at a police checkpoint in Khattiyani Intersection as a part of police procedure to search for weapons that could be smuggled into the protest site.

The police officers were surprised to find what resembled a sniper rifle and a handgun in backpacks carried by the teenagers.

Although the police quickly realised that the weapons were in fact BB guns, the rumour of police intercepting snipers has spread widely on the social network – both anti-government protest leaders and governmental officials have in recent days claimed that shadowy armed militants are attempting to infiltrate the protest site and cause chaos.

For instance, Mr. Suthep Thaugsuban, the former Democrat MP now leading the protests, told the crowd on stage he is being targeted by government-allied snipers who could finish him off at any time.

The fact that the teenagers were carrying Guy Fawkes Masks at the time also compounded fear that the group was related to the protests; anti-government protesters in the past have adopted the white masks as their symbol.

The concern over the news eventually forced spokesman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police to announce in a press conference earlier this afternoon that the teenagers were carrying the BB guns to film their own parody of the popular first-person-shooter video game Payday.

The teenagers decided to walk through the anti-government protests to board their buses to the venue for film shooting, the police spokesman said, before they were eventually stopped and searched by the police at the checkpoint.

"The young individuals had no intention to cause any disorder in the rallies," said the spokesman, Pol.Maj.Gen. Adul Narongsak, "Their guardians were summoned to pick them up and the BB guns. No charge was filed against them".

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Over 100 Cars Damaged By Mysterious Caltrops

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24 November 2013, 14:38

(24 November) Metal caltrops laid by unidentified individuals on the Bangkok-bound highway in Petchaburi and Prachuab Kiri Khan province have damaged more than 100 vehicles last night.

The police started receiving first reports of the incident yesterday evening that numerous vehicles encountered small metal spikes scattered along wide stretches of Petchakasem Road, which connected Bangkok with 14 southern provinces.

Despite the efforts by police officers from various police stations and local rescue workers in combing the area for the scattered caltrops, new vehicles kept running over the spikes, as the drivers could not spot the small metal spikes in the darkness of the night.

Our correspondent reported that chaos quickly descended on stretches of the highway, as very few vehicles had spare tires with them, and repair services were working frantically to replace the damaged wheels along the highway with limited supplies.

By morning, the police have recorded at least 100 cars whose tires had been punctured by the caltrops. Vehicles damaged by the caltrops include cars, pick-up trucks, public minivans, cargo trucks, and public buses.

Despite the widespread damage caused by the spikes, no injury has been reported, police said.

All of the caltrops were found on Bangkok-bound side of the road, rescue workers and police said, leading to speculation that the spikes were placed there to disrupt the flows of anti-government protesters headed for Bangkok from the southern region – the stronghold of the opposition party.

Indeed, among the vehicles damaged in the incident were 10 buses which were ferrying hundreds of anti-government protesters to join the mass rally in Bangkok. Enraged by the incident, the group briefly blockaded the road, before continuing to Bangkok around 01.00 this morning.

Leaders of the anti-government protests have been mobilising their supporters for a major rally on 24 November.

Mr. Suwiwat Promma, deputy director of Huay Mongkol Highway Rescue, said many of the caltrops were found in Hua Hin district.

"No matter who′s behind this, it′s a wrong and horrible action," Mr. Suwiwat fumed, "The damaged cars could have plunged into the roadside canal or crashed into trees and killed a lot of people. I condemn this horrible action".

A senior police officer in Prachuab Kiri Khan also voiced his suspicion that the caltrops were deliberatedly placed by "individuals with ill-intention" to disrupt the anti-government protesters. He added that some police vehicles were also damaged by the spikes.

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