(21 October) Chiang Mai police have arrested a pair of teenagers who randomly hit an Italian passer-by with a shoe, and uploaded a video clip of the incident on the internet afterwards.

The two 16 year old suspects have been charged with causing physical and mental harms for the crime which allegedly took place in front of a gift shop called ?Freebird? in Mueang district in late September.The victim, an Italian national named Mark Monti, filed the report to Chiang Mai police on 20 October, claiming that the teenagers attacked him unprovoked, hitting him in the face with a sandal.

Police then quickly solved the crime, as they reportedly had possessed some information on the suspects prior to Mr. Monti′s report.

The accused admitted to their crimes, stating that they, along with two other friends, left their college that morning with the intention to ?find someone they could prank on?, police officers said.

They allegedly found Mr. Monti later and decided to attack him with the sandal as recorded in the video.

In the press conference announcing the arrests of the two suspects, Pol.Col. Aksorn Wongyai, Chief of the Chiang Mai police station, said the crime has damaged the good images of Chiang Mai city, a popular tourist destination.

According to Pol.Col. Aksorn, Mr. Monti did not initially wish to pursue legal charges against the teenagers in the first place. However, the video soon went viral on the internet and his friends started asking about the incident, causing Mr. Monti′s embarrassment.

He eventually sought police supports to arrest the suspects and demanded their apologies. The teenagers’ parents and teachers were also asked to acknowledge the suspects? actions, Pol.Col. Aksorn said, and Mr. Monti will not pursue any further action.

"We have contacted the teenagers? parents to inform them about their children′s action." said Pol.Col. Aksorn, "The case will proceed according to the legal procedures, and the accused should be fined no more than THB 500 each.

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(18 October) The Thai Royal Air Force have sent officials and equipment to help the Laotian authorities to salvage the Lao Airline plane which had crashed into Mekong River in Southern Laos earlier this week.

Officials said they were responding to a request from the Laotians.

The two countries are now collaborating in the search for the victims’ bodies. Thai officials have provided information, boats, and a team of frogmen along with other relevant equipment to the crash site.

Pol.Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, has led a team to Pakse district to help identify the bodies that had been found. However, it is reported that the bodies, which had been submerged in water for 2 days, might be very difficult to identify.

All 49 people on the doomed aircraft are believed to have died in the crash.

In the meantime,forensic teams in Thailand also reported to be stand-by if the Laotian authorities should make a request. According to the police, DNA matching process should take at least a week to finished, but finding the bodies of the victim may delay the whole process. Nevertheless, the police affirmed that the identification process will be in accordance with international guidelines.

Reports say that the requests for the fingerprints of the 5 Thai nationals on board have been made to the Department of Provincial Administration, along with dental profiles of the individuals.

Transport Minister,Mr. Chatchart Sittipan, wrote on his Facebook after visiting the crash site near Pakse in Laos that 17 bodies have been retrieved so far, but their identities remain unclear.

He said he had assured his Laotian counterpart, Mr. Sommad Pholsena, that the Thai authorities are fully committed to provide any assistance required by the Laotians.

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(18 October) Another train derailment in Nakhon Ratchasima province has disrupted the Northeastern rail service just as a number of Cabinet members are converging in a nearby province to promote the plan to construct the high-speed railway across the country.

The train, which ran from Bangkok toward Nong Khai province, derailed in Non Sung  district, causing the entire Northeastern region rail to halt their services.

No injury or death has been reported. Nevertheless, the incident – merely the latest in the long series of derailments this year – could pose doubts about the safety of the government′s future investments in the kingdom′s railway.

Transport Minister, Mr. Chatchart Sittipan, who is in the neighbouring Ubon Ratchathani province to attend an exhibition touting the promised benefits of the planned high-speed rail service, wrote on his Facebook that "I feel lucky for not taking the train [here], because I just heard about yet another train derailment in Non Sung".

Mr. Chatchart took an interprovincial coach from Bangkok.

The “Thailand Future: 2020” showcase exhibition is being held at OTOP Centre in Mueang district, Ubon Ratchathani province, and has so far received much attention from local residents.

The exhibition is aimed to win the support for the government′s package of massive infrastructure overhaul, including the high-speed rail construction, which would cost the country 2.2 trillion baht.

Mr. Kittarat Na Ranong, Minister of Finance also joined Mr. Chatchart as the hosts of the exhibition. Both ministers were planned to give speeches on the topics of “Moving forward for Economy, Trade and Investment” and “Connecting Regions-Lives and the Integration for Urbanisation”, respectively.

At the showcase, a simulator train model is also available for event attendees to experience a slice of the planned high-speed project and has attracted many visitors, our correspondent said. Police expected that there will be at least 20,000 visitors a day, and urged officers to be on lookout for pickpockets thieves.

The event also featured many famous  stars from Channel 7 including New Wongsakorn, Kelly Thanapat, Namwan Kanhaphon, and singers from R-Siam – Kratae and Kratai.

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(October 18) Threats of lawsuit followed the closely-watched election of the Thai Football Association Chairman, which saw the victory of its controversial incumbent, Mr. Worawi Makudi.

Mr. Worawi was pitched against Mr. Virach Chanpanich in the bid to win his 4th consecutive term as the FA Chairman.

The election has attracted much attention from the public, many calling for the end to Mr. Worawi′s reign in the lucrative Football Association, citing his previous failures to reform the performances and transparency of Thai football industry.

Mr. Worawi′s pre-election promise that he would lead Thai national football team to play in a World Cup is widely derided since he has previously made and missed the same vow.

The fateful election, held yesterday at Golden Tulip Hotel,  was marked with turmoil even before it began, as opponents of Mr. Worawi alleged that the incumbent′s decision to lower the number of voting football clubs from 184 to 72 is designed to keep smaller clubs away and benefit Mr. Worawi′s chance to win his 4th term.

On the day of the vote, Mr. Virach, Mr. Worawi′s contender, claimed that some representatives of six participating football clubs have no rights to cast their ballots, as they were not directly related to the clubs. He also protested the fact that members of the election committee had been changed from what he had agreed.

The disagreement resulted in a delay of several hours, before the election committee dismissed Mr. Virach′s objection and ordered the voting to take place. Representatives of the 72 football clubs then proceeded to cast their votes in a closed session. Members of the press were not allowed to observe the voting.

Later, it emerged that 42 votes were cast in favour of Mr. Worawi, while Mr. Virach received 28 votes. One member abstained, and one ballot was voided.

Mr. Worawi′s new term would last two years, although the Football Association is considering a charter amendment that would extend the post to four years.

Speaking after the voting session, the clearly upset Mr. Virach told the press that he would object to the election result, alleging fraudulent practices in the voting process.

Mr. Virach said he would consult with his legal team about his plan to file lawsuit to the Administrative Court in order to have Mr. Worawi′s victory overturned.

"I actually won ever since the day I announced I would run in the election," Mr. Virach claimed, "Because there was hope that there would be change in the football community".

Mr. Peeradech Amornsukon, the chairman of Rayong United FC, also voiced his displeasure that the election committee had allocated the voting rights of his selected representative to another individual without his agreement. He said he would file a lawsuit to void the election result.

He added: "Rayong FC is very much damaged. We want clarity whether the owners of the club are allowed to manage their own business, because even their voting rights are taken away and given to someone else".

Speaking at the same venue, Mr. Worawi dismissed Mr. Virach′s threat of legal challenge, claiming that many impartial observers had validated the election process, including members of FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

"I believe it has been a fair and clean election," said Mr. Worawi, who also serves as an executive of the ruling Pheu Thai Party.

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(17 October) Five Thai nationals were said to be on the plane operated by Lao Airline as it plunged down into Mekong River yesterday.

The plane believed to have crashed at around 16.00 on Wednesday near the borders of Thailand and Laos, only 3 km away from Pakse’s airport in Laos. Bad weather might have been the main factor for the crash, as Typhoon Nari was hitting the region on Tuesday.  

All 49 people on board are feared dead.

As off 15.00 today, Thai authorities had sent 50 rescue workers – 30 frogmen and 20 inland supporters – to the scene to retrieve bodies. The searching process is estimated to take at least 1-2 days.

So far, 7 bodies have been retrieved, but the authorities could not verify their identification. The crash is believed to have killed people from at least 10 nation, including 5 Thais identified as Mr. Khanueng Chatkasemchai, 47, Mr. Niphon Chaichanakuldee, 27, Mr. Phakkhawat Athinarattanachai, 50, Mr. Wikit Butsarawuthanusorn, 38, Mr. Banyong Aphanant, 29.

 Mr. Pongsak Raktapongpaisan, Minister of Energy, said that there is possibility that two engineers and one contractor employed by PTT Public Company, the petroleum corporation partially owned by the Thai state, was on board, but he refused to comment any further as no reports have confirmed their deaths.

However, the Minister added that PTT is willing  to compensate the victims? families in the fullest terms as they were performing duties for the company at the time of the accident.
ompensation is to be made for the crash victims’ families, as they were performing duties for the company.

 At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sek Wannamathee, Director General of Public Relations Department, said that the Foreign Minister, Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, had been in contact with Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mr. Thonglun Sisoulith.

In a statement, the Thai government expressed its sympathy for the loss, and offers to facilitate the Laotian officials in the searching operation.

 Sapsithiprasong Hospital director, Mr. Chalit Thongprayoon, also offered helps for post-mortem investigation, and stated that its forensic sciences department is adequately equipped for the tasks.

 Lao Airlines started its operation since 1976, and has long been the Laotian flag carrier providing domestic and international routes within East Asian Region. 

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(17 October) Over 3,500 people lost their jobs and six households were damaged after a large fire destroyed the famous shopping mall of Phuket province.

The destruction of SuperCheap, a major retail and wholesale mall, is also estimated to have cost 100 million baht at the very least.

Rescue teams from Phuket and the neighbouring Phang-Nga provinces took 13 hours to control the fire, which reportedly broke out at 21.00 on the night of 16 October.

According to witnesses, an explosion was heard before the fire started. The time of the incident also suggested the possibility that many people were inside the mall during the incident, as the mall is said to operate 7.00 to 23.00 daily.

Initial reports suggest that at least 700 – 1,000 people work at the mall. However, further reports indicate that at least 3,500 workers would be affected by the fire.

Phuket’s provincial authority, in collaboration with Ministry of Labour (MOL), has promised to help the workers to find new jobs if the mall decides to terminate their contracts. A registration desk was set to allow workers to sign up for compensation and job-hunting services. According to the MOL, there are currently 1,600 positions available in the province.

Raksa subdistrict municipality mayor, Mr. Phudit Raksarat, said that the municipality is preparing THB 5 million as a compensation budget for those who suffered from the incident, after initial reports indicate that 6 households were damaged by the blaze.

During his visit this morning, Phuket Governor, Mr. Maitree Intusoot, ordered his officers to set up a public relations centre to receive complaints and assistance request filed by locals. So far, two people came to file the application.

Three people were reported missing as the news of the blaze emerged. One of the missing people was later located, while other two are still unreachable. However, the officials have not confirmed any fatality.

Around 500 police officers and volunteers were appointed to patrol the area to ensure security. Officers said they will stay vigilant of any thieves who may take advantages of the fire to rob the mall, as there are gold dealer shops and cash machines inside the mall.

The police also asked netizens to stop spreading a photo on the social network which was alleged to be the picture of the incident, including reports about 11 dead in the fire.

According to police, the picture was inaccurate, as it was a photo of the fire at Bangkok′s Zantika Pub in 2009. The police also insisted they cannot yet enter the scene, but will do as soon as they can, and that the report of any death toll is unconfirmed.

The 12-acre SuperCheap Mall is described to be one of the few Thai-owned malls in the island province where much of the business is co-owned by foreign conglomerates. The mall started its operation in 1995, and generates annual revenue of approximately THB 3,000 – 4,000 million.

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