BANGKOK — The Italian photographer-turned-activist who campaigned for justice on behalf of victims of the 2010 crackdown, including her own brother, passed away last night.

Elizabeth Polenghi died at a hospital in Milan, Italy, where she had been hospitalised for pancreatic cancer, Prachatai reports. She was 51.

A photographer and artist by profession, Ms. Polenghi turned to activism shortly after her brother, photojournalist Fabio Polenghi, was shot dead while covering the Thai military’s assault on Redshirt protesters in downtown Bangkok on 19 May, 2010.

Citing ample evidence and numerous witnesses, a 2013 court inquest ruled that the military was most likely responsible for Fabio's death, despite its insistence otherwise.

Ms. Polenghi has made numerous trips to Thailand—an expense she covered by selling her photography studio, she said—to seek justice on behalf of her brother and other victims who lost their lives in the 2010 unrest. She had also expressed her opposition to the idea of granting amnesty to politicians and military leaders behind the crackdown.

Her quest for accountability from the Thai authorities, whom Ms. Polenghi once described as plagued by the culture of impunity, was featured in a 2011 BBC documentary, "Thailand: Justice on Fire."

"She has devoted the last years of her life to uncovering the truth for the world," said Jarupan Kuldilok, a former Pheu Thai MP and associate of Ms. Polenghi.

Ms. Jarupan said she and her fellow activists intend to continue Ms. Polenghi's fight for justice by filing a complaint to a European court if the Thai justice system fails to prosecute the authorities who approved the deadly crackdown in 2010.

The former Pheu Thai MP, who provided assistance to Ms. Polenghi during her stays in Thailand, added that she last saw Ms. Polenghi on 29 May 2013, when the court ruled on the circumstances of Fabio's death. 

According to Ms. Jarupan, Ms. Polenghi left her with two instructions before she passed away: to pursue Fabio's case to the end for the sake the rule of law, and to construct a memorial in honour of journalists who were killed and wounded during the political unrest of April-May 2010.

Ms. Polenghi has already provided her with a detailed plan of the memorial, Ms. Jarupan said. The memorial—dubbed "Frames"—will consist of a large rectangular concrete frame, symbolising a camera viewfinder, set in a pond in Lumpini Park, close to where Fabio lost his life.

The draft also features the inscription, "Freedom of Information Guarantees Human Rights," on the memorial. 

Ms. Jarupan said her organisation, the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), will discuss the draft of the memorial and campaign for its construction, though its location and physical design may be altered. 

Fabio Polenghi was one of two journalists who died in the 2010 unrest; the other was Hiroyuki Maramoto, a Japanese national who was working as a cameraman for Reuters. Many other journalists, both Thai and foreign, were also injured by the violence.

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NAKHON PANOM — Buddhist worshipers are flocking to the fallen head of a giant Buddha statue, which was recently unearthed in Nakhon Panom province, in search of good luck.

The head was a part of a failed construction project to build a 9-metre-tall Buddha statue at Wat Buddha Nimit Temple in Tha Uthen district 26 years ago.

The construction was halted when scaffolds around the huge Buddha collapsed, injuring several construction workers, local officials said. The head of the Buddha also fell off from its body. Over time, the Buddha and its detached head became completely buried underground. Local administration officials unearthed the artifacts for the first time earlier this week.

The news has attracted much attention from local residents, who flocked to witness the unearthed giant Buddha head and construct a number of colourful shrines filled with offerings of fruit and flowers around the artifiact. 

Those hoping to win the next lottery draw also closely inspected the Buddha head for potential clues to prize-winning numbers.

One such lottery hunter, Sitthichai Mikawan, 35, said he arrived with his family members this morning after hearing about the incident on TV to seek a divine fortune for next try at the lottery on 1 May. 

Asked whether he found what he sought, Mr. Sitthichai said he noticed a mark resembling the number five near the Buddha head.

Lampoei Chanapot, village headman of Na Soke Nuea community, told reporters that some residents claim to have seen the numbers 815 and 915, while others swear that they have witnessed "holy water" trickling out of the Buddha head's neck.

"It's a strange incident, but I don't want them to be too superstitious," Mr. Lampoei said.

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BANGKOK — The government has harshly criticised a top court official for lobbying the chief of the Royal Thai Police to grant a promotion to a policeman he knows personally.

The letter was written by the secretary general of the Administrative Court, Direkrit Jenkrongtham, and addressed to the Thai police chief, Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew. 

In the letter, Mr. Direkrit asked the police chief to consider promoting another police officer, Pol.Lt.Col. Chutharet Yingyongdamrongsakul, from deputy commander to the position of station commander.

According to Isra News, which published the letter online, Pol.Lt.Col. Chutharet is a friend of the nephew of Mr. Direkrit's boss, the chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court, Hassawut Withiwiriyakul. It is also understood that Pol.Lt.Col. Chutharet and Mr. Direkrit know each other personally.

The image of the letter has been widely shared on social media, attracting many comments that brand Mr. Direkrit's action as a typical case of the favouritism that plagues Thai bureaucracy. 

Mr. Direkrit defended the letter in an interview with Isra News, insisting that he has not violated any laws or bureaucratic regulations because his request was not made through an official channel.

In fact, Mr. Direkrit told Isra News that it is the media who is at risk of violating the law by publishing internal memos with the potential intention to defame or accuse an official like himself.

Mr. Direkrit added that it is important to have policemen who are close to court officials in high-ranking positions, for the sake of reliable security service. 

"The request for policemen we trust, such as those who are our relatives or used to work with us … to be in a position to provide security is perfectly reasonable," Mr. Direkrit said. 

"We need people we can trust in charge. We can't use just anyone. They may stab us in the back later on," Mr. Direk told Isra News. "This is not an interference or abuse of power."

He added, "As far as I know, many police officers do this on a regular basis. It's nothing illegal."

However, the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) has a different view. 

"It warrants the strongest terms of criticism and condemnation," said CAPO spokesperson Pol.Lt.Col Anchulee Theerawongpaisan. “It’s an act that violates the ethics decreed under the Constitution at the hands of one of the highest leaders in the judicial branch."

The CAPO spokesperson also raised concern that the incident may lead the public to question the impartiality of the courts, especially when the Constitutional Court will soon rule on the status of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra following complaints that she unfairly removed a former head of the National Security Council.

"CAPO does not have the power to take any action in this case," Pol.Lt.Col Anchulee said. "But it is the task of  CAPO to solve conflicts in society. Therefore, we demand the two officials in the Administrative Court reconsider their action,” Pol.Lt.Col Anchulee said in reference to Mr. Direkti and his superior, chairman of the Supreme Administrative Court Mr. Hassawut.

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