(25 October) A 7-11 convenience store in Phasee Charoen district of Bangkok has been robbed by an intoxicated masked individual believed to be a polytechnic school student.

The cashier on duty at the time said that at around 02.00, a man walked in and threatened her with 50 cm long knife, forcing her to give up the store′s cash worth approximately 5,000 baht.

It is reported that the man was wearing a white shirt and navy blue trousers similar to those worn by polytechnic students. He also covered his face with a black T-shirt during the robbery. The suspect is said to be 1.65-1.70 cm tall.

A CCTV video record shows that the suspect took only 20 minutes to rob the store, after he entered it from Soi Petchakasem 20. However, the video failed to indicate how the suspect fled the scene.

Additionally, police suggested that the man appeared drunk before he robbed the store. Initial police report concluded that the suspect might be a polytechnic student who wanted to commit such crime ‘just for fun’.

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(25 October) A prominent student activist who campaigns for a more progressive education system was briefly detained by the police earlier today.

Mr. Netiwit ?Frank? Chotpatpaisan, an 11th grade student at Nawaminthrachinuthit School, had been leading a group of 30 students to demonstrate near Royal Plaza in Bangkok, demanding reforms in Thai education.

The group was also accompanied by a truck fitted with a loudspeaker, which prompted nearby police to arrest Mr. Netiwit and other students, as their action was deemed a violation of Internal Security Act which forbids political rallies in governmental districts.

The Act was enacted by the government several weeks ago to deter anti-government protesters from encircling Government House.

The students were brought to Dusit Police Station, where they argued against their charge by insisting that their case had nothing to do with politics. Mr. Netiwit also reportedly told the police they merely intended to march to the Ministry of Education so they could submit an open letter to the officials there.

The police eventually relented, dropping the charge on Internal Security Act, but nevertheless fined the students 500 baht for using an illegally modified vehicle. The students were released around 14.00.

Prachatai reports that the police later escorted the activists to the Ministry of Education on two police vans, and the students successfully submitted their letter to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education.

The letter demands, among other issues, an abolition of "outdated" regulations which allegedly contradicts with modern human rights principles.

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(25 October) A Japanese national has reportedly jumped off the balcony of an apartment building in Chonburi province to his death.

The incident took place at a condominium in Sri Racha district. At the scene the police found the body of the victim, who was identified as Mr. Hendo, a 37 year old Japanese national. He was said to be a manager of a firm in the nearby industrial estate.

The police also found a photo of Mr. Hendo with a woman and a boy – believed to be his wife and child – in the locket worn by the victim.

Mr. Manote Charoensuk, 45, a personal driver of Mr. Hendo, told police he was waiting at the condominium ground floor to pick up Mr. Hendo to work when he heard about a man plunging from the building. Mr. Manote said he rushed to the scene and recognised his employer, so he immediately called the staff at his company.

He also told police he believed Mr. Hendo could not have committed suicide off the building as he never showed his stress.

However, police said they had inspected CCTV footages in the building which reportedly showed Mr. Hendo leaving his room at 05.45 and heading to the outdoor swimming pool on 6th floor, where he took the plunge to his death.

The Embassy of Japan has been informed about the incident, police added.

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(25 October) The Thai Meteorological Department has advised tourists against swimming in or venturing out to the seas off the shore of Songkhla province due to dangerous weather.

The meteorological department responsible for the southeastern province said that heavy rains would be hitting the region in upcoming days and may cause big waves at several beaches.

In the most severe conditions, the waves could be as high as 3 metres, the report says.

Mr. Somsak Tantiseranee, Mayor of Songkhla Municipality, also expressed his concern for the tourists visiting the province during the ongoing monsoon season.

According to the mayor, tourists who planned to visit Samila beach and Chalatat beach should be extremely careful when they go swimming in the sea. He suggested it would be best for the tourists to avoid sea-swimming at all if possible.

He added that the authority is attempting to avoid any risk due to several reports about tourists drowning during monsoon season.  

As a precaution, Songkhla Municipality has also placed warning signs around the pine trees at the beach informing the tourists not to picnic under the trees, as the pine trees could be uprooted by strong gusts of winds.

 
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(24 October) A tour bus has plunged off a cliff last night in Wang Nuea district, Lampang province, leaving at least 21 people dead and more than a dozen injured.

Police said the air-conditioned tour bus was operated by Wirapol & Travel Company and travelling from Chiang Mai province toward Phayao province. The bus was reportedly carrying loads of passengers headed for a Buddhist ceremony at a Phayao temple.

Due to the mountainous terrain, the rescue workers had great difficulty reaching the accident site. Once they arrived, they found a number of passengers trapped inside the wreckage of the vehicle, crying for help.

Injured victims were later transported to Wang Nuea Hospital, while rescue team tried to retrieve the deceased victims inside the coach.

So far, it is reported that 21 passengers died at the scene, and 17 people were injured. Police and the rescue team have not yet successfully identified the identities of the casualties.

Pol.Col. Somdech Totsaphon, chief of Wang Nuea Police Station, said that the information found inside the bus revealed the driver to be Mr. Wiwat Nochai, 43, from San Kamphaeng district, Chiang Mai province.

However, police believed that he had been transported to the hospital along with other victims as he was not present at the scene.

Police believe the driver might not be familiar with the route, and attempted to apply a sudden brake when he encountered the cliff, causing the vehicle to slide off into a deep gorge.

The police said they would proceed with further investigation.

(24 October) Pattaya police are searching for a Thai ladyboy who allegedly attacked two Japanese tourists with her knife.

Mr. Kazunari Ito, 37, and Mr. Hinnoshi Imuta, 28, alerted Pattaya police and claimed that they had been attacked by a lady boy (a transgender) in Walking Street, South Pattaya, after they refused her offer for massage service.

The victims said that the suspect asked to join their table before they bought her drinks. Soon they excused her and said they would leave for a massage.

The lady boy then allegedly offered the tourists to go for a massage with her, but the offer was refused as the tourists insisted they would go to a different massage parlour.

Mr. Ito and Mr. Imuta said the lady boy became enraged and started shouting at them. She also attacked them with a knife before escaping the scene amid the chaos, the tourists said.

Mr. Ito suffered a 1-ft long cut on his chest, and a cut on his left arm.

Initial investigation was conducted before Mr. Ito was sent to Banglamung hospital.

Police said they had already obtained a photograph of the suspect and would attempt to arrest her as soon as possible. 

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(24 October) A bus conductor has reportedly been shot in leg by a pen gun, which might have been discharged in accident by one of the students who boarded the bus, police said.

Pathumthani police was initially alerted to investigate a shooting at a bus stop in Mueang district, Pathumtani province.

At the scene, the officers encountered Mr. Anucha Kanyayim, a staff on Bus No. 337 route which runs from Pathumtani to Bang Bua Tong, who told them he was shot in his leg.

An operation was arranged to remove the bullet, which was revealed by an X-Ray scan to have stuck inside the victim’s leg.

Mr. Anucha said he was shot while the bus was about to park at the bus stop. He added that he noticed a group of students fleeing the bus after the incident.

Police suspected that the group of students unintentionally discharged one of their pen guns at Mr. Anucha, and said that they will search for the suspects for further investigation.

Due to bitter rivalries between different polytechnic colleges, many of their students travel armed with weapons such as knives, pen guns, and even homemade explosives in some cases.

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