Filipino Typhoon Relief 'Scammers' Arrested

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22 November 2013, 13:44

(22 November) Udon Thani police have arrested two Filipino missionaries accused of posing as fund raisers for the relief effort of Typhoon Haiyan and pocketing the donation money for themselves.

The police said they had been informed by a charity group called JC Society Foundation that two citizens of the Philippines have been claiming to work for the charity and raising donation under the name of the foundation in many provinces, such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.

According to complaint filed to the police, the two suspects would perform music in tourist attractions or crowded places, such as shopping malls, and displaying fake documents claiming to represent JC Society Foundation. The suspects would also reportedly pretend to register the names of those who donated their money.

Detective police officers later located the two suspects as they were playing guitar and soliciting for donation opposite Napapai Hotel in Udon Thani province. The police apprehended the suspects and sent their names as printed on passports to the JC Society Foundation for verification. The suspects were identified as Ms.Minerva Macapili Bedana and Ms.Juana Espelita Hoyos

Upon hearing confirmation that the suspects do not exist in the charity database, the police promptly arrested the two and escorted them to police station, where the suspects reportedly confessed that they were missionaries working in a church in Manila and later devised a plan to pose as fund raisers of JC Society Foundation in Thailand.

According to the police, the suspects told them they simply printed out official-looking documents from the foundation′s website and frame them in plastic cover to fool unsuspecting donors.

Ms. Bedana and Ms. Hoyos also reportedly told the police they would return to the Philippines every two months before coming back to Thailand again for further scamming, as their tourist visas would expire after two months.

The suspects also reportedly said the latest trip they made to Thailand was after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, causing devastating damages to the nation, and they claimed to their donors that the donation money would be sent to assist the victims in affected areas.

A senior police estimated that the two Filipinos had gathered "hundreds of thousands" baht throughout their alleged frauds.

Ms. Bedana and Ms. Hoyos were charged with soliciting for donations without permission. The police expect representatives from JC Society Foundation to file charges on using counterfeit documents soon.

The police also urged citizens allegedly scammed by the two suspects to file charges against the pair.

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Officials Scrambling To Ward Off Russian Boycott

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21 November 2013, 17:43

Police arresting two suspects accused of raping a Russian tourist in Pattaya

(21 November) Following a boycott threat by the Russian tourism business federation, Thai officials are coordinating efforts aimed to improve safety standard for foreign tourists in the country.

The Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI) has previously submitted a letter to the Moscow office of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), demanding Thai government to ensure the safety of Russian tourists traveling in Thailand after a series of accidents and crimes which saw Russian tourists killed and injured.

The letter reportedly called for an improvement of tourism safety in Thailand to be in place by the end of November, otherwise the members of the trade union will cancel all their charter flights to Thailand.

Today, Mr. Somsak Pureesrisak, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said he has informed Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of the issues, and that he will chair a meeting on 26 November with Ministry of Transport and representatives of Tourism Council of Thailand in order to devise policies in compliance with the Russian demands.

The Russian ambassador in Thailand will also be invited to attend the meeting, Mr. Somsak added.

"Let me assure you that the Ministry is already doing its best to protect every tourist from every nation," Mr. Somsak said, explaining that the Ministry of Transport will be tasked with reducing number of traffic accidents, while the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will serve as coordinator that listened to the complaints.

He also told our correspondent he will instruct the Ministry to investigate why many accidents have occured with Russian tourists.

Ms. Piyamai Techapaiboon, chairwoman of Tourism Council of Thailand, admitted that many vehicles used by tour companies to ferry foreign tourists to their destinations in Thailand are not up to universal safety standard. Therefore, she said, the officials will focus on enforcing the regulation on safety of public transportation.

"Thailand has extensive laws regulating the safety of these transports, but the laws are seldom enforced," Ms. Piyamai said, adding that she will also inquire why increasing number of Russian tourists fall victims to accidents in Thailand.

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Anti-Govt Actress Files Charge Over Car Acid Attack

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21 November 2013, 16:09

(21 November) The father of a famous actress has pressed charge to the police on her behalf, following an acid attack on her vehicle earlier this week, an attack she believed could be politically-motivated.

Ms. Pattarathida ?Tang Mo? Patcharaweerapong made headlines recently by appearing on the stage of the anti-government protests rally at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, where she gave a fiery speech denouncing former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother of PM Yingluck Shinawatra.

The celebrity′s political venture quickly earned drawn much criticism from many Redshirts, and even led to Mr. Thaksin announcing via his lawyer he might press libel charges against Ms. Pattarathida, although the former leader later said he would not pursue any legal action.

Later, it emerged that her car was sprayed with chemicals which police identified as acid. The wife of a prominent Democrat leader first broke the news to the public by posting photos allegedly showing Ms. Pattarathida′s car in the aftermath of the acid attacks. The actress yesterday confirmed to the press that the incident did happen.

According to Ms. Pattarathida, she parked the car at her house at 18.00 on 19 November, and she spotted the acid marks on the vehicle when she went out to retrieve her items from her car at 23.00 later that night.

She said she has not dismissed the possibility that the attack was a retaliation to her political remarks, but stressed to reporters that she has not concluded what the motivation of the assailants could be.

"If you ask me whether I?m afraid, well, I wouldn?t know what to be afraid of," Ms. Pattarathida said, "Personally, I think the attackers just want to intimidate me".

Asked about what additional security measures she would take, the actress said she would install CCTVs around her house and has instructed security guards to patrol the area more frequently.

When a reporter asked her whether she would continue to give speeches at the rally on Ratchadamnoen Avenue, the actress explained she would only speak when she feels she has issues to address the crowds.

Pol.Col. Somchai Choeyklin, commander of Kok Kram Police Station, told our correspondent he has been informed by his officers that the chemical appeared to be acid as the actress has claimed.

Earlier today, Ms. Pattarathida′s father has officially filed charges over the incident; his action was required as the car was reportedly registered under his name.

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Chalerm Not In Charge Of Protests Monitor: PM Deputy

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21 November 2013, 14:57

Anti-government protesters at Ratchadamnoen Avenue, 20 November 2013

(21 November) Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok was forced today in Parliament to clarify that former Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung was not in charge of the governmental body that monitors the ongoing anti-government protests as claimed by Mr. Chalerm.

Mr. Chalerm, who currently serves as Minister of Labour, announced to the press earlier this week that he has been appointed by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to lead a ?war room? he established at Ministry of Labour to monitor and manage the protests led by former Democrat MP Suthep Thaugsuban at Ratchadamnoen Avenue.

The unilateral announcement surprised many observers, as the government had already appointed Pol.Gen. Pracha to head the official body that directs the authorities involved in public security during the period of the protests. But Mr. Chalerm insisted in the press conference that his work will not overlap or interfere with Pol.Gen. Pracha′s agency.

Curiously enough, Mr. Chalerm also claimed that the appointment was directed to him "verbally" by Ms. Yingluck, without any official document.

In the press conference Mr. Chalerm, went on to threaten a full police blockade around Mr. Suthep′s house, allegedly to intercept illegal arms shipments the protest leaders planned to unleash on the capital city, and claimed he received intelligence reports that the anti-government protesters have devised a plot to seize many important governmental buildings.

Mr. Chalerm′s threats have apparently alarmed Democrat MP Wachara Petchthong, who demanded during the parliamentary session that Pol.Gen. Pracha explain the authorities of Mr. Chalerm.

Replying to Mr. Wachara′s question, Deputy MP Pracha clarified that Mr. Chalerm was not tasked by the government to head any operation concerning the protests.

"The government has delegated the responsibility to me only," Pol.Gen. Pracha said, "Mr. Chalerm was only involved by occasionally giving advice".

He stressed that the government respects the rights to assembly of the protesters, and contradicted Mr. Chalerm by declaring to Parliament that there is no known evidence of any protester smuggling firearms into the protest site.

"The government is well aware of its duty to protect the lives of the protest leaders and the protesters," Pol.Gen. Pracha told Parliament, "Because if anything happens, it would lead to uncontrollable escalation".

Pol.Gen. Pracha also addressed the rumour that three policemen had died on duty as they kept watch on the protesters, admitting that three police officers had indeed passed away during their posts, but the cause of deaths were personal illness and unrelated to the protests.

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Redshirts Refuse To Give Up Constitutional Amendment

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20 November 2013, 21:44

(20 November) The official leadership of the Redshirts has urged the government to press ahead with its effort to amend the 2007 Constitution despite the court ruling which struck legality of the charter revision.

The Constitutional Court handed down its verdict earlier today that Pheu Thai Party has violated the Constitution by attempting to revise it to pave way for a fully elected Senate body.

While Pheu Thai Party and the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra have not publicly commented on the verdict, the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) has asserted a firm opposition to the Constitutional Court′s ruling by calling on the government to ignore it.

Addressing tens of thousands of Redshirts rallying in Rajamangala Stadium, UDD Chairwoman Thida Tojirakarn declared that the Constitutional Court has proven today that the ammart (feudal elite) still refuses to hand sovereign power to the people.

"We should thank the Constitutional Court for showing us its naked form," Ms. Thida said.

She insisted the stance taken by many UDD and Pheu Thai figures that the Constitutional Court has no rights to interfere with the charter revision effort undertaken by Parliament as it amounts to interfering with the Legislative Branch.

Ms. Thida also encouraged the government to intensify its effort even further by pushing for the revision of the entire Constitution in one go, as opposed to separate revisions of certain provision advised by the Constitutional Court last year.

Although the Court refrains from punishing the government, such as disbanding the ruling party or stripping its MPs of their positions, Ms. Thida said the Redshirts should not be content with the survival of the government, because they should keep aiming for a "complete democracy", which, in Ms. Thida′s opinion, requires the amendment of the ammart-backed 2007 Constitution.

Former UDD Chairman, Weerakan Musikapong, took to the microphone after Ms. Thida, urging the Redshirts to brace for "long term" fights against the ammart clique, symbolised by the Constitutional Court′s verdict today.

"We Redshirts are still combating with the same ammart," Mr. Weerakan said, "And it looks like we will fighting with them for many years to come".

Echoing similar sentiment, Mr. Jatupon Prompan, another UDD prominent figure, compared the UDD campaign against the ammart as a fight for survival.

"If we don?t keep pushing forward, they will spare us no quarters," Mr. Jatupon said, "I would like ask you, are we going to simply sit here and wait for the day of our demise?"

Like Ms. Thida, Mr. Jatupon said the government has no other option but ignoring the court ruling and fulfilling its pledge of constitutional amendment.

"The people will be the reinforcement in this quest to a complete democracy," Mr. Jatupon told the cheering crowds.

After further rounds of speeches exhorting the Redshirts to stay united in their opposition against the Constitutional Court′s alleged intervention, the UDD leaders announced the end of their overnight rally, ending the biggest show of strength of the Redshirts in recent months.

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Russian Tourism Group Threatens Thailand Boycott

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20 November 2013, 21:18

(20 November) The Russian Union of Travel Industry (RUTI) has urged the Thai authorities to improve safety for Russian tourists in Thailand or face a boycott from its members.

The Union, which represents more than 5,000 business groups and state agencies related to tourism industry in Russia, has submitted the letter to the Moscow office of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said Mr. Narin Tijayung, director of the TAT branch in Moscow.

The letter followed the road accident which injured more than 30 Russians in Pattaya on 15 November, four of them in serious condition. 51 Russian tourists were on their double-deck bus when it overturned on the highway, which the police believed was caused by the driver was dosing behind the wheel.

There have also been other cases of Russian tourists suffering from accidents or crimes in Thailand. Last month, 1 Russian tourist was killed and more than 30 other Russian passengers were injured when their tour bus flipped over in Kanchanaburi province.

Mr. Narin said the letter submitted by RUTI, which is addressed to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, called for a concise, practical measure to ensure safety for Russian tourists in the kingdom.

The letter specifically names road safety in Thailand as the main concern for the RUTI and its members, Mr. Narin added, such as the training of drivers, the condition of vehicles, and traffic regulations which have been lightly enforced.

The RUTI also reportedly demanded the Thai government to solve these issues within the end of November, otherwise it will consider responses necessary to maintain the safety of Russian citizens by canceling all scheduled charter flights from Russia throughout the period of December 2013 – March 2014.

If the cancellation indeed came to effect, other countries in the region, such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam would be picked as destinations instead of Thailand, the letter reportedly warned.

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Redshirts Await Leaders' Response To Court Ruling

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20 November 2013, 16:22

A Redshirt protester holding portrait of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Rajamangala Stadium

(20 November) The official leadership of the Redshirts movements has instructed its supporters to wait for an official response to the verdict of the Constitutional Court which effectively killed the government′s effort to amend the 2007 Constitution.

The National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) told thousands of Redshirts rallying at Rajamangala Stadium that its leaders will address the crowd at 20.00.

The Redshirts have been staging an overnight rally at the stadium in Bangkok to show their support for the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the ruling Pheu Thai Party ahead of the verdict of the Constitutional Court on the legality of the government′s charter amendment.

Earlier this afternoon, the Constitutional Court has ruled thatPheu Thai Party has violated the 2007 Constitution by attempting to amend the charter by illegal methods such as allowing its MPs to cast votes on behalf of their absent colleagues.

It is not immediately clear how the government will react to the court ruling. Ms. Yingluck has refused to take questions from reporters earlier in the day.

Pheu Thai Party and the UDD have firmly expressed their opposition to the court′s ruling even before it was read out, accusing the Constitutional Court of overstepping its constitutional boundary and interfering with the powers of the Legislative Branch.

But Mr. Weng Tojirakarn, a UDD leader, said leading members of the UDD will convene a meeting to discuss about interpretation and responses to the verdict. He said the UDD will make an official announcement at 20.00 today.

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Redshirt Protester 'Stabbed' As He Leaves Rally

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20 November 2013, 15:44

(20 November) A Redshirt protester has pressed charges against unknown individual who reportedly stabbed him as he left the mass Redshirts rally last night in eastern Bangkok.

The Redshirts have been holding an overnight rally in the Rajamangala Stadium to show their support for the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Mr. Prapan Dang-aram, 60, said he was walking toward a bus stop in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 53 when he walked past a young polytechnic student. However, shortly afterwards the man rushed toward Mr. Prapan and attacked him without any provocation, according to Mr. Prapan.

Mr. Prapan said he was stabbed by a piece of sharp iron at his cheek and right thigh and slammed to the ground before the assailant fled the scene. He later reported the incident to policemen at nearby police checkpoint who brought him to hospital.

He added that he was wearing a red shirt at the time of the attack, but police officers said it was still too early to indicate whether the attack was a political hate crime.

Earlier this afternoon, another violent incident occurred the barrier line of riot police facing the anti-government protesters on Makawan Bridge, which links Ratchadamnoen Avenue with the governmental district where Government House is located, when an unidentified type of explosive device was thrown at the police.

The bomb was caught in the barrier net, but its effect has wounded three police officers nearby.

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Court Kills Govt's Charter Amendment Effort

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20 November 2013, 15:30

Riot police barring the entrance to Constitutional Court, 20 November 2013.

(20 November) The Constitutional Court has ruled that Pheu Thai Party′s effort in revising the 2007 charter is unconstitutional.

Pheu Thai has been attempting to amend the 2007 Constitution to replace the current half-elected Senate body with a fully elected one.

The court verdict was read out after two hours of unexplained delay. The judges cited several actions of Pheu Thai Party as illegal, such as its allowing of its MPs to cast votes on behalf of their absent colleagues.

Adopting strong languages, the court also scathingly portrayed the government′s endeavour at constitution revision as a potential "power abuse" of the "dictatorship of the majority". Concluding the verdict, the court announced that it has come to decision by the votes of 6-3 that the charter amendment is unconstitutional.

However, it refused to hand down any punishment toward the guilty party, rejecting the request of the plaintiffs who had asked the Constitutional Court to dissolve Pheu Thai Party.

The decision is the second judicial blow in two years against the effort of Pheu Thai Party to amend the Constitution, which it viewed as undemocratic as it was drafted by a panel appointed by the military in the aftermath of the 2006 military coup.

Last year, the Constitutional Court similarly stuck down an ongoing effort in Parliament to revise the 2007 Constitution, calling it unconstitutional.

After the ruling was announced, Mr. Jarupong Ruangsuwan, Minister of Interior Affairs and chairman of the Pheu Thai Party, told reporters that the court has shown its bias in favour for the military-drafted 2007 Constitution by ruling against the effort to amend the charter.

He said he personally cannot accept the ruling. "The judges focused on petty issues like the MPs who voted for someone else, but that was the doing of a few individuals," Mr. Jarupong complained.

He also insisted that the quest for a fully elected Senate would benefit Thailand′s path toward democracy, claiming that a half-appointed Senate is an insult to the voters of Thailand.

Asked by a reporter how the government will respond to the court ruling, however, Mr. Jarupong simply said the matter is under discussion.

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Vietnamese-Americans Seeking Lost Sister In Thailand

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20 November 2013, 14:35

(20 November) Two Vietnamese-Americans have appealed for information concerning their sister who reportedly went missing in the aftermath of the Vietnam War and is believed to be residing in Thailand.

Yesterday Ms. Famtri Huang Hoa, 55, and Mr. Fong Li, 61 (both names are transcribed from Thai text), met with officials from Ministry of Social Development and Human Security in Songkhla province to request their assistance in locating their sister, Ms. Fam Noch Bichtri (name transcribed from Thai text).

The brother and sister, who hold American citizenship, told the officials they had fled their homecountry in 1981, few years after the Vietnam War came to an end, along with Ms. Fam.

The three boarded a boat with 43 other Vietnamese, Ms. Famtri said, but her sister and two other Vietnamese women were later abducted, while the rest of the refugees safely landed in Malaysia. Ms. Famtri said her family had not heard of Ms. Fam ever since.

However, according to Ms. Famtri, her family has recently been in contact with one of the former abductees who told them Ms. Fam is still alive and possibly living in Songkhla province.

Ms. Fam was 18 year old when she was abducted, Ms. Famtri said, and she is believed to reach the age of 50 by now.

Ms. Famtri added that she has never given up hope on finding her lost sister.

She has also provided the officials with a number of old photographs of Ms. Fam.

Anyone who has the knowledge or possible whereabouts of Ms. Fam is encouraged to either directly inform Mr. Chukiat Suwannarangsi, who is assisting the family of Ms. Famtri and Mr. Fong, via his mobile phone at 081-986-1497, or contact the the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security.

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