PEFOT Bomb Attack 'Designed To Kill', Witness Claims

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11 October 2013, 20:06

(11 October) Thai police have promised a timely investigation into the explosive attack on the anti-government protest in central Bangkok last night, in which a protester had been injured and several cars damaged.

The protesters broke off from a larger rally organised by People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism (PEFOT) at Government House, after its leaders decided to end the protests temporarily yesterday in order to clear the governmental area for the visit of Chinese premier Li Keqiang.

Refusing to halt their protests against the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the dissenting protesters decided to stage a rally of their own on the road near Uruphong intersection, vowing to carry the fight until Ms. Yingluck resigns.

The protesters were later shaken out of their sleep in the dead of the night when a loud explosion occurred. Several cars were damaged by the explosion and Mr. Pattrawut Chirawibulwan, a volunteer guard of the protesters, was injured. Scores of leaflets were also thrown onto the protest site, which rudely advise the protesters to leave the intersection because they were causing traffic jam.

Investigating the scene shortly afterwards, the police ruled the bomb to be a homemade explosive device composed of energy drink bottle filled with incendiary substances and metals. The officers assume that the bomb was thrown down from one of the tollway roads above Uruphong intersection.

Mr. Pattrawut, the injured man, said he was asleep in his tent when the bomb exploded, and he was wounded by shards of glasses in his left foot. He said he had not seen the attackers as he was sleeping when the incident occurred.

Another guard, Mr. Suttinan Prayong, told the police he was about to sleep when he heard three explosions and leaflets being thrown from the overflying tollway. He was certain the explosive was thrown from the same position on the tollway.

"I don?t know who did it," Mr. Suttinan said, "But it was surely designed to kill, because of all the burning and the shrapnel"

Speaking after a meeting with top police officers at Bangkok Metropolitan Police headquarters, Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamronwit Thoopkrachang said the police force had set up security checkpoints in the roads leading to the protest site but not on the tollways. He told the press he would station additional officers in the area.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamronwit said the protesters have the rights to assembly "but they should stay within the legal boundary and refrain from causing troubles to other people" such as blocking the traffic. He insisted that the police are working hard to identify the suspects and solve the case.

He added that the police have attempted to persuade the protesters to move to an empty plot near Rama VI Road which is "safer" and away from traffic, but the protesters have refused to negotiate.

Nevertheless, Pol.Maj.Gen. Kamronwit urged the protesters to inform the police if they encounter any suspicious object around the protest site. "We have EOD units that are on stand by and ready to investigate the area at any time," he said.

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Woman Arrested For 'Counterfeit' Winning Lottery

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11 October 2013, 18:49

(11 October) Nonthaburi police arrested Kalasint woman for allegedly counterfeiting lottery tickets and claiming the prize.

Ms. Tawee Sawanate, 62, from Yang Talad district, Kalasin province, traveled to the Government Lottery Office to claim the first prize worth THB 2 million with her lottery ticket.

She was promptly arrested when the Office realised that the ticket was fake.

An official from the Lottery office said that the ticket had been altered from 249545 to 647882.

Ms. Tawee denied she had modified the tickets, claiming that she bought the tickets from a lottery vendor at a bus terminal located in Kalasin province for THB 110 per ticket.

The tickets were left in her pocket until she checked the lottery draw results on 7 October. Once she found out she won the first prize, Ms. Tawee said, she phoned her relatives and traveled with 5 of them to Nonthaburi to claim the prize.

However, police officers questioned her testimony and pressed charge against Ms. Tawee, who makes a living by selling chilli, accusing her of counterfeit.

The penalty for the charge carries 6 months to 5 years in prison and THB 1,000 to 10,000 fines.

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Hospital Warns Of 'Drugging & Robbing' Gang

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11 October 2013, 18:18

(11 October) Director of Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok has warned of criminals drugging victims with high doses of anaesthetic and robbing them inside the hospital.

The director, Surasak Leela-Udomlipi, M.D., identified the drug as a substance called ‘Xylazine’, which is colourless and odourless.

In the letter circulated to different departments of the hospital, which is situated in central Bangkok, Mr. Surasak instructed the staff to be vigilant of criminals mixing the substance with water and tricking unsuspecting victims whom they had befriended to drink it.

After the victims lose consciousness, the robbers would reportedly remove valuable belongings and slip away.

In the letter, Mr. Surasak expressed his "sincere concern", and urged a timely response to the incidents. Every worker was told to tighten the hospital’s safety policy, inform their patients of the dangers, and closely monitor the situation.

Relatives of the residing patients are also warned about the incident, and warning signs were posted at various spots inside the hospital.

The hospital director said he had contacted the Food and Drug Administration and required details about the substance. The two institutions plan to collaborate in making long-term procedures to prevent further abuse in the future.

According to an initial report from Phayathai police, the suspect may have been a well-dressed man who works closely with his gang to identify and rob the victims.

However, further information is yet to be revealed as the police are scheduled to talk to a victim of the crimes on 16 October.

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Finally, Mandatory Seatbelts For Inter-provincial Buses

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11 October 2013, 15:30

(11 October) The transport authority in Thailand has announced a new safety measure by requiring all inter-provincial buses to install seatbelts and present safety videos to their passengers on the buses.

The announcement by the Transport Company Limited, a state enterprise operating under Ministry of Transport, is a response to the major road accident in Saraburi province in which 19 people were killed and 30 injured.

From 15 October onwards, every bus operated by Transport Co.Ltd. must install safety belts and provide a short video clip informing the passengers about safety procedures in the same manner of commercial airliners, according to the new regulation.

The clip will also inform the passengers about possible dangers that may occurred if they do not fasten their seatbelts.

The move has been seen by much of the Thai public as a long-overdue measure which would have saved lives in the frequent traffic accidents on Thai roads. Many public vehicles, such as the minivans and taxis, do not have seatbelts for their passengers.

Mr. Pong Cheewanant, Deputy Transport Minister, said that the Transport Company’s safety measure is a strategic policy which he encourage every transport company to follow.

“To save more lives from road accidents, we would also need qualified drivers to perform their tasks properly” added Mr. Pong.

The Ministry of Transport had also previously announced plans to attach CCTV cameras to monitor the driver behaviours, and the circumstances inside and outside the bus.

It is expected that the camera should allow the authority to speculate the risk of accidents caused by the bus drivers.

The Transport Co.Ltd. said that they are assessing costs and effectiveness of the CCTV camera, and hopeful to apply the equipment to their bus shortly in the future, as the technological items are becoming increasingly cheaper.

“The goal is to strengthen passenger’s safety when they travel on Transport Co.Ltd. buses” said Mr. Pong, “At the beginning phase, Transport Co.Ltd. will be the leader, and I expect other [private] companies to join the program later.”

He added, “I am confident that once all 8,000 buses run by Transport Co.Ltd. apply the policy, the passengers should feel safer. This should encourage other transport companies to follow the same safety procedures in the future”,

Meanwhile, Mr. Chatchart Sittipan, Minister of Transport, took to his Facebook account to air a complaint that he encountered an inter-provincial bus that did not comply with the regulations while he made a trip to Nakhon Ratchasima province.

According to the Minister, who was attending a government-exhibition in the Northeatern province, the bus that he took from Mo Chit terminal to Nakhon Ratchasima was not equipped with the safety procedures video.

Mr. Chatchart also claimed that he did not witness the Air-Conditioned bus driver fasten his seatbelt as the bus departed the terminal.

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Superstar Ends 11.5 Million Baht Feud With Her Ex-Manager

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11 October 2013, 00:45

(10 October) Pee Mak star settled negotiation with her former manager, ending the lawsuit in which the latter party sued her for breach of contract and demanded compensations of THB 11.5 million.

The well-known actress, Ms. Davika ‘Mai’ Horne, told our correspondent at the Ratchada Court hearing on 9 October that the negotiation is well settled and admitted that ‘it is my own fault’.

According to Ms. Davika, who became famous largely due to her role in the ghost-comedy hit Pee Mak, she had personally apologised to her counter party, Mr. Supphachai ‘A’ Srivijit, who sued her for THB 11.5 million compensations, alleging that the actress had violated the terms in their contracts.

The Pee Mak star said that in a personal phone call, Mr. Supphachai greeted her well, and promised to meet up and hang out together. Ms. Davika added that she felt much better with the issue, after the two had successfully negotiated over it.

Mr. Vikrom ‘Klao’ Photrakul, Ms. Davika’s current manager, also attended the court hearing along with their lawyer, Mr. Kittipong Thitithanwarat.

Mr.Vikrom told our correspondent that the negotiation is agreed by both parties, and he did not wish to comment any further about the issue.

Ms. Kosum Prasopsaowalak, Mr. Suphachai’s lawyer who was present at the court as his representative, commented that since the contract between Ms. Davika and Mr. Suphachai has been annulled, she hopes that everything could end and no further speculations about the case should be made.

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American Family Returns Ancient Artifacts To Thailand.

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11 October 2013, 00:36

(October 10) A family of American citizens, whose relatives lived in Thailand during Vietnam War, returned the biggest single lot of ancient items to the country, as 76 items were shipped to the kingdom.

The items have been proved by archaeologist to be valid, and will be registered as national treasures, according to Mr. Anek Sihamat, deputy director-general of the Fine Art Department.

Archaeologists reportedly had studied the items, and clarified that they belong to Ban Chiang era, and should be made between 1000 BC – 300 AD.

According to Mr. Manaswee Srisodaphol, director-general of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the owners of the artifacts contacted the Royal Thai Consulate in Los Angeles, and had started to return the items since 2002.

Our correspondent also reported that the donors explained that their relatives had lived in Thailand during the war period, and had shipped the items back with them once their returned to America. They later sought the origins of the items, and wished to return them to where they belong.

Mr. Anek said that the Fine Art Department plans to display the items in Ban Chiang Museum and other regional museums where there is adequate security for the items.

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Man Kills Woman For Having New Boyfriend 'Too Soon'

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11 October 2013, 00:11

(10 October) A man reportedly shot his ex-girlfriend to death in a shopping mall because she had a new boyfriend.

Police arrested Mr. Boonlert Ladlod, 35, from Mueang District, Chumphon province, in connection with the murder of Ms. Piyakron Homlarp, 34, a resident in Thasae district.

Initial investigation suggested that the victim was a worker in a coffee shop inside Chumphon′s branch of Tesco Lotus.

CCTV camera had recorded the time when Mr. Boonlert allegedly fled the scene by his motorcycle. The image of Mr. Boonlert captured in the CCTV was later confirmed by witnesses that he was the alleged murder.

The man then confessed of murder, after the police pressed charge against him.

Explaining his motives, Mr. Boonlert said that he and Ms. Piyakorn decided to end their two-year relationship prior to the incident, and Ms. Piyakorn promised she would not date any other man until Mr. Boonlert is over her.

However, Mr. Boonlert believed that Ms. Piyakorn broke the promise, as he had seen her with another man in the mall. He felt insulted by the sight, and decided to commit the crime.

The alleged murderer said he threw the gun in Tha Taphao canal, but the police had yet found it.

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Thai Economy 'Growing' Despite Flood & US Shutdown

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10 October 2013, 16:45

Flood in Sa Kaeo province, 9 October 2013

(10 October) The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has reported a positive outlook for the Thai economy despite ongoing flood crisis and US Government Shutdown.

In a document detailing economic prospoect of August 2013 presented to the Cabinet, NESDB highlighted improvement of the economy, particularly the increase in spending and manufacturing sectors.

According to the report, private consumption, export, agricultural production, manufacturing and tourism sectors are growing slightly.

The 2013 annual economic growth, according to the NESDB, is expected to be 3.8 – 4.3%, while the inflation rates remains at 2.3 – 2.8%. It also advised that the national current account stays positive at 0.3% of national GPD.

However, it noted that Thailand will have to face with several problems through the rest of the year, including the floods and the struggling US economy, which is largely based on the public debt ceiling issue.

Meanwhile, in comparison with August 2012, national demand had increased, both in national consumption and exports. On exports sector alone, the NESDB predicts the additional USD 19 billion, resulting in 2.5% expansion, according to the Bank of Thailand (BOT) or relatively 3.9% according to the Minister of Commerce.

Assistant governor in charge of financial institutions policy, Ms. Chantawan Sujaritkul, said that the BOT is keeping close look at the US public debt payment, stating that the issue may affect both Thailand and other countries investing in the US bonds.

Mr. Siri Karncharoendee, a member of BOT′s Monetary Policy Committee, agreed with Ms. Chantawan, and suggested that the US government shutdown should be solved as soon as possible.

He also added that the major economic player should not allow any delay in its bond debt payment, as it may result in the US’s inaccountability. However, if the US shall fail to pay its bond, which would be the first time in history, international economy would suffer massive catastrophe, said Mr. Siri.

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Splinter PEFOT Group Refuses To Disperse

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10 October 2013, 16:33

(10 October) Reports say a small group of anti-government protesters has rejected the calls from both the government and their leaders to disperse.

The People′s Force of Democracy to Overthrow Thaksinism has previously announced to relocate their protests from Government House to Lumpini Park, after the government asked them to clear the ground for the visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

As of 15.10 today, the defiant protesters were gathering at Nang Lerng intersection where the PEFOT leaders were convincing them to disperse.

By 16.00 The negotiation failed and the splinter group, numbering around 150-200, broke away to Uruphong intersection, out of reach of the Internal Security Act, and vowed to continue the rally on their own.

Our correspondent says the situation remains tense, with members of the riot police keeping close watch nearby.

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Kwanchai Presses Libel Charge Against Democrat MP

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10 October 2013, 15:28

(10 October) A prominent member of the Redshirts movements and his wife have pressed charge of defamation against a Democrat MP who accused them them of stealing diamonds during political riots in 2010.

Around 100 Redshirts also accompanied Mr. Kwanchai Praipana and Ms. Arphon Sarakham to the police station in Udon Thani province.

According to the evidences presented to the police, Mr. Issara Somchai has spoken on the stage of a Democrat-organised rally on 5 October that Ms. Arphon has stolen diamonds from Central World shopping mall, which was partially burned down in the chaotic aftermath of Redshirts rally in 2010.

Mr. Issara was criticising the attempts by Pheu Thai Party to amend the 2007 Constitution to pave way for a fully elected Senate body and lift the ban which prevents spouses of existing MPs to run for the Senate.

The Democrat MP reportedly told the crowd that after the Constitution is amended and Ms. Arphon elected as a Senator, "The Parliament will be a parliament of thugs".

Mr. Kwanchai claimed Mr. Issara violated the laws by broadcasting such libellous statements via Blue Sky TV, the cable network allied to Democrat Party.

He added that Ms. Arphon has been a "fighter" for democracy and encouraged to run for the Senate by her Redshirts supporters.

The Redshirt leader also threatened to press charges against Mr. Issara in other police stations across the country.

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