Suthep Promises 'One Last Fight' Against Govt

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27 April 2014, 20:00

Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a prominent anti-government activist, poses for photo with a supporter on a march in Bang Khae district of Bangkok, 27 April 2014.

BANGKOK — Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has urged his supporters to prepare for the "last fight" to overthrow the government.

Mr. Suthep, who has made himself secretary-general of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), told throngs of supporters in an eastern suburb of Bangkok today that the PCAD will soon achieve a great victory.

It is unclear when the "last uprising" against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will take place. Mr. Suthep has made similar ultimatums in the past.

PCAD leader Sakoltee Phattiyakul, who was arrested by police and recently released on a bail, also attended today’s march in Bang Khae district despite court orders that he not participate in any political gatherings as a condition for his release on bail.

PCAD leaders also planned an event at their campsite in Lumpini Park to celebrate the 180th day of their prolonged rally against Ms. Yingluck.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of pro-government Redshirts organised a rally on the same day in Chaiyaphum province to show their support for the caretaker Prime Minister.

Redshirt leaders have repeatedly warned that millions of pro-government supporters across the country will rise up to defend Ms. Yingluck if she is ousted from her position by extra-legal means.

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Savage Chonburi Gang Fights Injure Two

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27 April 2014, 18:21

Paramedics administer first aid to a teenager who was shot in a gang fight on Mitsamphan Road, Chonburi province, 27 April 2014.<br /> — Paramedics administer first aid to a teenager who was shot in a gang fight on Mitsamphan Road, Chonburi province, 27 April 2014.

CHONBURI — Two people were severely injured after two teenage gangs attacked each other with explosives and gunfire in Chonburi province last night.

The fights broke out on Mitsamphan Road in Ban Puek district, police say.

According to an initial police investigation, two rival gangs encountered each other on a beachside road and exchanged "aggressive glances," causing some of the members to fire their weapons into the sky.

A brawl reportedly broke out shortly afterwards and one of the gangs started to retreat along Misamphan Road, but it was pursued by the other gang for at least one kilometre before its members dispersed indifferent directions.

Witnesses said the two groups exchanged gunfire and threw homemade explosives throughout the chase.

One 16-year-old gang member was shot in the head while a 30-year-old bystander was injured in his left arm by an explosive device.

Police say they are trying to locate and arrest the individuals who took part in the fights.

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French Tourist Murdered, Suspect Arrested

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27 April 2014, 18:21

A immigrant from Myanmar known as "Dam" at the police press conference in Phuket province, 27 April 2014.<br /> — A immigrant from Myanmar known as "Dam" at the police press conference in Phuket province, 27 April 2014.

PHUKET — Police in Phuket province say they have arrested a immigrant from Myanmar who allegedly robbed and murdered a French tourist with an accomplice.

The body of Fabrice Boigeol, 37, was found in his room at a resort in Mueang district on 18 April. Following an investigation, police determined that two men entered Mr. Boigeol's room with the intention of robbing him, but ended up killing the French tourist as well.

The court later approved arrest warrants for the two immigrants from Myanmar, known as Ao, 24, and Dam, 23.

In a press conference attended by a French consul in Phuket today, police said that Mr. Dam is now in their custody.

According to police, Mr. Dam admitted to entering the room and robbing Mr. Boigeol. Mr. Dam and his accomplice reportedly took a number of Mr. Boigeol’s belongings, including his laptop computer and mobile phone. Mr. Ao and Mr. Dam later sold these items and split the money, police said.

However, Mr. Dam claimed that it was his friend, Mr. Ao, who killed the Frenchman by smashing him with a piece of rock, a police spokesperson added.

Mr. Ao's whereabouts remain unknown.

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PT Disappointed By Anti-Govt Leader's Bail Release

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27 April 2014, 17:01

Police escort PCAD activist Sakoltee Phattiyakul after he was detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport, 27 April, 2014

BANGKOK — The ruling Pheu Thai Party has expressed disappointment over the court's decision to release an arrested anti-government protest leader on bail.

Sakoltee Phattiyakul, a core leader of the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD), was arrested yesterday at an immigration checkpoint in Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport on charges of insurrection and unlawful intrusion into public buildings.

The charges against Mr. Sakoltee were pressed by the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO).

The court has granted Mr. Sakoltee a temporary release to fight his charges, placing his bail at 600,000 baht. However, Mr. Sakoltee is prohibited from participating in future PCAD rallies or attempting to leave the country under the conditions of his bail release.

Anusorn Iamsa-ard, deputy spokesperson of the Pheu Thai Party, said in a press conference yesterday that his party is deeply disappointed to see Mr. Sakoltee on a temporary release given that he has been charged for a number of severe offences, including insurrection against the administration.

Mr. Anusorn also claimed that Mr. Sakoltee's release will allow him to participate in the next mass PCAD rally.

"We have received intelligence that PCAD will relocate its rally from Lumpini Park to Ratchadamnoen Avenue, or maybe even escalate it into a massive rally to 'shutdown' Bangkok on 30 April," Mr. Anusorn said. "Mr. Sakoltee might join these campaigns."

He added, "People do not wish to see such prominent wrongdoers have the privilege of bail release."

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27 April 2014, 15:17

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Mysterious Military Leaflets Denounce PCAD Guards' 'Thuggery'

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27 April 2014, 14:26

Anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban surrounded by PCAD guards during a demonstration in Bangkok on 23 April, 2014

BANGKOK — The alleged shooting and beating of an army colonel by anti-government protest guards has been condemned in mysterious leaflets currently being circulated around the armed force headquarters.

Col. Witthawat Wattanakul, a staff officer of the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters, was allegedly attacked in northern Bangkok early morning on 25 April.

Pol.Col. Thanawat Wattanakul, a commander at Chokechai Police Station and the elder brother of Col. Witthawat, said the army officer was driving home on 24 April when he encountered traffic cones blocking Chaeng Wattana Road near a campsite maintained by the anti-government protest group, the People's Committee for Absolute Democracy With the King As Head of State (PCAD).

Col. Witthawat reportedly got out of his car and began to remove the traffic cones. A group of PCAD guards then opened fire on the officer and rushed forward to beat him violently, despite Col. Witthawat's pleas for mercy, said Pol.Col. Thanawat.

Pol.Col. Thanawat claimed that the guards only stopped assaulting Col. Witthawat after they found his military ID card while searching his car.

Medical workers at Mongkutwattana Hospital said Col. Witthawat was admitted to the emergency room in a severe condition, with bloody bruises all over his body and small gunshot wounds on his feet. Since then his condition has gradually improved, hospital workers said.

Col. Witthawat was later moved to Mongkut Klao Hospital, the officials added.

Pol.Col. Thanawat said his brother remembers the faces of the perpetrators and intends to press charges against them.

The incident appears to have caused outrage among a number of military personnel. Shortly after news of the alleged attack surfaced, mysterious leaflets condemning the incident began circulating around the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters, our correspondent says.

The leaflets harshly criticise high-ranking army officers for their perceived failure to protect army personnel from the brutal "thuggery" of the PCAD guards. The fliers also urge army commanders to "restore the dignity" of the Royal Thai Army by taking concrete actions against the anti-government militants.

It is not clear who is responsible for the publication of the documents.

A spokesperson of the Royal Thai Police said the police will increase patrols around Chaeng Wattana Road to prevent further cases of violence.

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly implied that the leaflets were distributed around the Royal Thai Army headquarters, whereas the documents in fact appeared at the Royal Thai Armed Force Headquarters. We apologise for any confusion the error may have caused.

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Hunt For WWII 'Treasures' Ended By Police

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25 April 2014, 18:56

KANCHANABURI — Police have arrested a group of men for drilling a tunnel into a mountain without a permit in search of “buried treasure” today.

The police arrested four workers at the site in Thong Pha Phum district in Kanchanaburi province and confiscated a number of drilling equipment, such as a power generator, an electric-powered driller, and four shovels.

The men told police they were hired by an unnamed businessman last month to search for "treasures" believed to have been buried in the mountain by Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Each of them has been paid 350 baht per day for their treasure hunting, the workers said. They added that they have not found any trace of the elusive war spoils despite a month of thorough drilling.

The police charged the workers for drilling without a permit and causing disturbance to the forest area.

Known to the Thais as "Gobori Gold," the tales of the Japanese Army's buried loots have captivated the attention of treasure seekers in Thailand for decades.

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Missing Billy: Court Summons Kaeng Krachan Park Chief

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25 April 2014, 17:01

PHETCHABURI – The Phetchaburi Provincial Court has issued a summons order for the chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park because of his suspected connection with the disappearance of a local Karen activist.

Porlachee "Billy" Rakchongcharoen went missing on 17 April as he was making way to meet with representatives of the Karen community located in the national park.

Mr. Porlachee is a longtime activist who campaigned against the violent removal of Karen families living inside the park by officials who allegedly acted under orders from the park chief, Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn. Mr. Porlachee is also a key witness in the court case against Mr. Chaiwat regarding the torching of a Karen community in 2011.

Yesterday the court accepted a request filed by Mr. Porlachee's family to summon Mr. Chaiwat for questioning in front of the judges by 1:30 p.m. on 30 April.

The court designated the case as an "emergency," meaning that an arrest warrant will be promptly issued if Mr. Chaiwat fails to show up by the scheduled date.

Pol.Col. Narat Sawetnan, director of the Rights and Liberties Protection Department under the Ministry of Justice, said his agency is deeply concerned by Mr. Porlachee's disappearance, especially in light of his ongoing legal disputes with high-ranking officials in Kaeng Krachan National Park.

Pol.Col. Narat likened the case to the disappearance of Somchai Neelapaichit, the Muslim rights lawyer who was allegedly kidnapped by authorities during the government of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

"There was information that state officials were involved in Mr. Somchai's disappearance, which is similar to the case of Billy," Pol.Col. Narat said. "It affects the credibility of Thai [law enforcement], and many foreign organisations are very interested in this case."

In order to prevent further instances of forced disappearances, Pol.Col. Narat said the police should compile a "white list" of activists that are at risk of being targeted, so that the authorities can provide them with extra protection.

The police may also cooperate with NGOs and members of civil society in their effort to compile the "white list," Pol.Col. Narat added.

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Investigation into Murder of Redshirt Poet Deepens

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25 April 2014, 15:53

BANGKOK – The motive behind the fatal shooting of a pro-government poet and activist remains a mystery, as police refuse to rule the case as a political assassination.

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was starting his car in a restaurant parking lot in Bangkok when two masked gunmen shot him dead on the spot before speeding away on a motorcycle on 23 April, witnesses told police.

Mr. Kamol, commonly known by his pen name Mai Nueng Gor Gunthee, was an active member of the Redshirt movement who frequently critcised the establishement in speeches and poems.

The activist regularly spoke out against Thailand’s draconian lese majeste (insult of monarchy) laws, which many Redshirt supporters believe was the reason behind his assassination.

Yet Wad Rawee, a writer and longtime friend of Mr. Kamol, told Khaosod that he does not believe the poet was killed because of his involvement in anti- lese majeste campaigns.

"The police should work harder to establish the motives," Mr. Wad said, "because the political situation these days is so confusing."

A number of Redshirt activists who knew Mr. Kamol also privately speculated that Mr. Kamol might have been targeted in revenge for his alleged role in engineering violent attacks on anti-government protesters in recent months.

However, Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch Sap-udom, a senior investigation officer at Chokechai Police Station, stressed that non-political motives behind the murder have not been ruled out either.

According to Pol.Lt.Col. Nampetch, other suspected motives include business conflicts, personal disputes, and a vendetta concerning Mr. Kamol's alleged adultery; Mr. Kamol was known to be a womaniser, Pol.Lt.Col Nampetch claimed.

Tharit Pengdit, chief of the Division of Special Investigation (CAPO) and adviser to the Centre for Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO), also said in a press conference that it is too early to determine the link between Mr. Kamol's death and his political activities.

Meanwhile, Thida Thawornseth, chief advisor to the United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), urged Redshirts to remain calm and exercise restraint in the wake of Mr. Kamol's murder.

"This action will not dissuade the Redshirts from their struggles, but it will only add more anger and prolong the struggles," Ms. Thida said. "We must learn from this. His death will not be in vain."

Ms. Thida added that the military needs to prove to the public that its members were not involved in the murder.

In Februrary, four army officers were arrested for allegedly attempting to assassin UDD leader Kwanchai Praipana in Udon Thani.

"The military must clarify itself … before people suspect that it had a hand in Mai Nueng case," Ms. Thida said.

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Investigation into Murder of Redshirt Poet Deepens

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25 April 2014, 15:53

Kamol Duangphasuk, 45, was shot and killed on 23 April, 2014.

BANGKOK —The motive behind the fatal shooting of a pro-government poet and activist remains a mystery, as police refuse to rule the case as a political assassination.