Bank Of Thailand Predicts Lesser Growth

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1 October 2013, 20:19

(1 October) Senior Direction of the Bank of Thailand (BoT), Mr. Methee Suphapong, said that the Bank is expecting the lesser growth of the national GDP, which had been predicted to be 4.2% earlier this year.

The US Quantitative Easing Policy (QE), the delayed recovery of the European economy, and low government spending in Thailand were cited as the risks for the kingdom′s greater economic growth.

However, the BoT Senior Director insisted that the nation’s economy in August had been stabilised, after national consumption rate expanded 0.6%. Nonetheless, the national investment had fallen 4%, due to the decreasing number of electronics and motor equipment imports.

Business Confidence Index (BCI) has been reduced to 20 months-lowest 47.5 in October, from 48.3 in July. The last quarter BCI stands at 51.7, breaking the record of the 21 months-lowest, after it had been lowered from 53.3, as many manufacturers put their investment on hold to recalculate the economic situation.

Mr. Noppon Thepsittha, President of the Thai National Shippers? Council, said that his organised had lowered the export growth down to 2.5%, from 3%, and suggested that last quarter’s export revenue should not be lower than 20,500 million USD.

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Chiang Rai Temple Launches 'Elderly School'

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1 October 2013, 19:00

(1 October) Wat Hua Fang Temple in Chiang Rai province has been turned into a school for local elderly folks.

Pra Kru Piyawan Pipat, the abbot of the temple, said that the elderly people school has launched in 2011, with the cooperation from the community and the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education. So far, 20 teachers have volunteered to teach, particularly in languages class, such as Thai, English and Chinese.

According to the monk, each academic year takes approximately 1 calendar year, and staff do not rush the elderly students to finish their lessons if they are not ready.

Apart from their primary education, the elderly people are also encouraged to engage in other leisure activities, such as handicraft, Thai dancing, and cooking with herbs.

Ms. Chansom Jiemsakul, 96, one of the students in the second academic year, said, despite her health condition – she cannot see and hear clearly – she has a strong will to learn.

After attending several language classes, she believed that she can communicate with her children and grandchildren better.

Ms. Chansom added that attending has helped her make new friends and improved her health by joining various activities at the school.

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Prominent Royalist Found Guilty Of Lese Majeste

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1 October 2013, 17:19

(1 October) The leader of the royalist Yellowshirts movements has been convicted of lese majeste, or insulting the monarchy, by the Appeals Court for repeating remarks deemed offensive to the monarchy.

The case stems from an the incident in 2008 when an activist called Ms. Daranee Charncherngsilpakul, aka "Da Torpedo", gave a speech to an audience at Sanam Luang, just yards away from Bangkok′s Grand Palace, criticising the Royal Family.

The act of insulting the Thai monarchy is criminalised under Article 112 of the Criminal Code, and Ms. Daranee was subsequently found guilty of lese majeste by the court, which also sentenced her to 15 years in prison. Ms. Daranee is currently jailed at a Bangkok prison.

Later, Mr. Sondhi Limthongkul, a prominent figure of People′s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), read parts of Ms. Daranee on a rally stage on the night of 20 July 2008, when the Yellowshirts were gathered for a protest against the government at the time.

Mr. Sondhi had accused former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his allies of plotting against the monarchy, and he was citing the incident of Ms. Daranee as proof to his allegations about a sinister plot to overthrow the Royal Family.

However, Mr. Sondhi′s was soon charged with lese majeste for repeating Ms. Daranee′s remarks, as the prosecutors argued that propagating the offensive material to a wider audience also amounts to insulting the monarchy. Mr. Sondhi insisted he was simply acting out of his loyalty to the monarchy.

After the lower court had acquitted Mr. Sondhi, the prosecutors filed an appeal, and the Appeals Court has today overturned the verdict.

The court noted that it had been aware of Mr. Sondhi′s insistence of his good intention to expose the alleged anti-monarchy attitude of Ms. Daranee, but it ruled that "it was not necessary for the defendant to re-broadcast the contents in public places, as some Thais were not aware of what Ms. Daranee had said, and they only learned about the matter from the defendant′s words"

It continued, "[the incident] caused much discussion and criticism, eventually affecting the monarchy. The defendant′s action lacks sufficient caution."

Therefore, the Appeals Court found Mr. Sondhi guilty of lese majeste and sentenced him to 2 years in jail. Nevertheless, Mr. Sondhi had contested the sentence, saying he intends to take the matter to the Supreme Court, and applied for bail. The court later granted him a release on a bail of 500,000 baht.

The case highlights the nature of the Thai lese majeste laws which has been described by critics as silencing any discussion of the monarchy and violating the principles of free speech.

Opponents of the law argue that such stifling measures help discourage the media from reporting about ongoing lese majeste cases, as the news agencies have become fearful of being punished for broadcasting offensive contents.

Many Redshirts also criticised the case of Mr. Sondhi, accusing the court of political bias, as Mr. Sondhi was allowed to walk free throughout the years of court procedures, whereas Redshirts-affliated defendants in lese majeste cases have been routinely denied release on bail – including Ms. Daranee herself.

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Another Inquest Suggests Army Roles In Redshirts Deaths

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1 October 2013, 15:35

A soldier captured by the Redshirts was forced to look at the bodies of dead protesters on the Redshirt stage, just hours after the clashes on the night of 10 April 2010.

BANGKOK – The South Bangkok Criminal Court has ruled that two Redshirts protesters were killed by gunfire from the direction of the military during clashes between the protesters and troops in 2010.

Jaroon Chaiman and Siam Wattananukul and nearly 100 others died in political violence between April-May 2010 during the government's attempts to disperse Redshirt protesters in Bangkok. The pair was killed on the night of 10 April 2010, when then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva ordered the troops to dislodge Redshirts from their encampment in Ratchadumnoen Avenue.

The protesters had been demanding Abhisit dissolve the Parliament and organize a new election, arguing that Abhisit′s ascension to power was undemocratic as his party had not won the general election.

The military operation on 10 April 2010 was called off as night fell and mysterious militants fired at soldiers, leading to an escalation of the violence. More than 20 people, mostly civilians, died in the clashes, including a Japanese journalist working for Reuters. The Redshirts accused the military of killing the mostly unarmed protesters, while the authorities blamed the shadowy militants for the deaths.

In a lengthy reading yesterday morning, judges cited testimony gathered from a number of witnesses, who said that Jaroon and Siam were seen running after soldiers who were retreating from grenade attacks launched in front of Satri Witthaya School, just opposite Democracy Monument.

The judges said the soldiers, who were rallying near Wan Chart Bridge, fired their weapons toward the oncoming protesters. Jaroon and Siam suddenly fell down in front of Satri Witthaya School, the judges said, citing witnesses' accounts.

The pair was taken to the hospital by rescue volunteers, where they were pronounced dead.

According to autopsy reports presented to the court, residue of lead and other metals found on the bodies of the two victims point to the trace of 5.56 bullets, the type of ammunition used by the military during the clashes.

The autopsy also suggested that the victims were shot from the direction of the soldiers at the time, the judges said in their statement.

The court added that the accounts of the witnesses, which include a journalist and a volunteer medic, were reliable in their impartiality.

Therefore, the court concluded that Jaroon and Siam were killed by the gunfire from the military direction, but said there was not sufficient evidence to determine who committed the manslaughter.

In previous court inquests, military gunfire was also determined to be the cause of civilian deaths, such as the Italian photojournalist Fabio Polenghi, a 14-year old orphan named Kunagorn Srisuwan, a pair of volunteer medics who were taking shelter in a temple on the final day of the military crackdown, and a military private reportedly killed in friendly fire.

No court inquest has explicitly blamed shadowy 'Blackshirt' militants for casualties of the crackdown, contrary to the claims of the Abhisit administration and the military.

After the inquest was read, Siam's sister Boonnam Taviang told reporters in the courtroom she was "very happy" to receive "justice."

"I was there, I saw the soldiers with guns," Boonnam said. "But the protesters were unarmed. My brother was just holding an empty water bottle."

She said those responsible for the crackdown should be punished by the laws. Even though she had received 7 million baht in compensation for her brother′s death, she said, it did not satisfy her because "hundreds of millions of baht cannot replace my brother's life."

Speaking in front of the court, Jaroon's wife, Nangnuan Chaiman, also called for holding Thai authorities legally accountable for killing her husband and other protesters.

"I want [the culprits] to have some humanity. I want them to imagine what it feels like to have lost someone, to endure life without loved ones," Nangnuang said.

She said it pained her to be accused of enjoying the compensation money issued by the government. "I don't want the money. I want my husband to come back … we went to the protests because we knew the Redshirts were not villains. We simply wanted democracy to be restored in our country".

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Chinese 'Blackmail Gang' Arrested By Thai Police

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1 October 2013, 15:12

(1 October) The Thai police have arrested 5 Chinese nationals accused of blackmailing businessmen in China.

According to a press conference held at the Investigation Division Immigration Bureau, the group had tried to lure money from several companies based in China.

The method of the group is to send emails to various companies, threatening that they would insert computer virus into the victims? systems, unless the companies pay them extortive amounts of money, police said.

The blackmailing had caused Chinese businessmen to lose approximately over 100 million baht according to a senior police officer.

The 5 individuals fled to Thailand after the Chinese police issued arrest warrants on the group, following complaints from a number of companies.

Thai police eventually apprehended the suspects on 26 September, acting on a request by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Bangkok.

According to the police, one suspect had escaped and crossed the Thai border to a third country. The other members of the group will be extradited to China as soon as possible.

Flood Crisis Will Be Solved In 7 Days: Former PM

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30 September 2013, 19:12

(30 September) Former Prime Minister Banharn Silpa-Acha told reporters he is expecting the flood crisis that has inundated a quarter of Thailand′s provinces to be solved within 7 days.

He made the comment during his trip to inspect a flooded area in Prachinburi province with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and other officials on 29 September.

The time frame of 7 days for the crisis resolution could be achieved, he said, if the authorities followed the Prime Minister′s instruction to pump water into Prachinburi River and Bang Pakong River.

Asked by the reporters whether outgoing floodwater and rainwater from Sa Kaew province would worsen the situation in Prachinburi, Mr. Banharn said the government must quickly solve the short-term problem and plan for long-term improvements.

The former Prime Minister also offered to take care of the situation on the Prime Minister′s behalf, as she is occupied with more pressing issues.

Meanwhile, Ms. Yingluck said that the Prachinburi Provincial Authority and the Royal Irrigation Department had been ordered to open Tha-Hae Watergate as requested by many residents, in order to release the water from Kabinburi district.

Additionally, she has instructed the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to help evacuate people from the affected area, and provide them with basic necessities .

At the same time, said the Prime Minister, the government will also study the affected area to prevent and relieve both short and long term flood crises.Earlier today, Ms. Yingluck and her team have also visited Warinchamrap district in Ubonratchathani province, where she inspected the current flood situation and handed out assistance to the flood victims.

Ms. Yingluck said that she had ordered the Department of Irrigation to carefully handle the flood, after 2,632 families had fled their homes in the province.

According to Ms. Yingluck, she will consider the plan, submitted to her by a group of locals, to build 2 water pumping stations and develop the roads in the district to prevent further flooding. The plan is estimated to cost 100 million baht.

So far, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported that 27 provinces have been affected by the flood, causing the evacuation of approximately 15,00 people. Over 2 million people have been affected, and at least 21 people reportedly killed.

The flood might be worsened by an oncoming typhoon from the South China Sea. According to the Thai Meteorological Department, Typhoon Wutip has made landfall in Vietnam and is expected to hit the northern and the north eastern regions of Thailand before dissolving in the next few days.

The department warned that the said typhoon will cause heavy rains and strong winds and may prolong the flood in many provinces already ravaged by the disaster.

Heartthrob Panda ‘Nervous’ In Her Chinese New Home

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30 September 2013, 17:51

SICHUAN, China — As of Sept. 30, the Thai-born giant panda “Lin Ping” is gradually adjusting to her new abode in China, where she had been sent to select a mate, according to a Thai official.

The popular panda travelled from Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand to China on 28 September. She is currently housed in Bifengxia Panda Base in Sichuan province, and will return to Thailand next year after having chosen her mate.

Lin Ping is an offspring of a pair of pandas China has loaned to Thailand.

Mr. Somchai Wongsawad, the former Thai Prime Minister, and Mr. Ning Fukui, Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, presided over the procedure to fly Lin Bing via Thai Airway’s flight TG 8183 from Chiang Mai Airport to Chengdu, China.

Ms. Kanchana Silpa-Acha, Advisor of the Tourism Commission in Thailand who travelled with Lin Ping to Chengdu Airport, said the panda seemed a bit scared and threatened the crew as she was being unloaded, but she was told by the staff that the aggressive behaviour was a good sign that the panda was healthy.

After landing at Chengdu, Lin Ping was taken on a two hour long journey to the panda research facility.

According to Ms. Kanchana, Lin Ping had made many Thai people happy. Ms. Kanchana also wished to thank the Chinese panda centre for treating Lin Bing so importantly and preparing all the natural environment to receive the panda.

“I am worried whether Lin Ping will get along [with other pandas], but I am sure she will do so in due time” said Ms. Kanchana, who also likened her sad feeling about the panda′s departure to China to “Seeing my own child off to study abroad.”

Ms. Kanchana also described the panda as ?the great Ambassador representing the relationship between Thailand and China?, and expected that many Thais would fly to China in order to visit Lin Ping in the future.

Lin Ping is scheduled to choose her future mate from 6 candidates at around the end of this year, and start mating by April 2014.

When Lin Ping returns to Thailand with her future mate, the Thai authorities will be required to send her parents, Chuang Chuang and Lin Hui, back to China in accordance with the Chinese authorities? guideline which prohibited any foreign nation from hosting more than 3 pandas at the same time, a Thai official said.

Ms. Kannikar Nimtrakul, one of the veterinarians who tended to Lin Ping during her stay in Chiang Mai, told Khaosod that despite her nervousness to the new environment, Lin Ping is healthy.

According to Ms. Kannikar, Lin Ping woke up early and wandered around nervously, but she could eat normally.

After a few discussions with the Chinese centre, Ms. Kannikar said, within a month Lin Ping will gradually have to move to other places.

“At the moment she would stay at the zoo in Ya’an for a week, until she coped with the new environment,” said Ms. Kannikar.

The veterinarian also said that the panda will be fed with less bamboo leaves, as they planned to have her eaten more bamboo shoots. The food for panda will be changed again in 45 days.

Bangkok Tollway Accident Kills Pregnant Woman

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30 September 2013, 16:40

(30 September) A car crashed into a minivan on Bangkok expressway yesterday, killing one pregnant passenger.

The incident took place near Rama IV exit of the tollway. According to a witness, the white car was travelling at high speed before it crashed into the black minivan. The impact caused the victim to be thrown out of the minivan and killed instantly.

The woman was later identified as Ms. Juthamas Chotwongsurojna, 36, who was five months into her pregnancy. Her husband, Mr. Pantil Nuamjerm, 36, was also reported injured as he was trying to escape his car.

Mr. Bhumichnant Rueangchainan, the driver of the white car who was still visibly shaken by the incident when the police arrived, told the officers that he lost lost control of his car because he was attempting to swerve away from another speeding car.

He later knelt down in front of the victim′s husband and tearfully apologised for his action.

Police said that the CCTV camera could not capture the moment of the incident, however, they are gathering all the information and will later investigate both the suspect and the victim before pressing any charges.

Nonthaburi Bogus Electrician Arrested For Rape

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29 September 2013, 22:05

(29 September) Nonthaburi police have arrested a "fake" electrician on suspicion of raping a woman.

Several reports have been made to the police that Mr. Seksan Thairat, 30, disguised himself as an electrician in order to enter houses and sexually assault his victims in Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi province.

According to Ms. A (real name undisclosed), who reported to the police on 23 September, Mr. Seksan offered to fix a supposed electrical problem at her house. Once the man entered, he allegedly raped her, threatening to kill her with a knife if she refused.

Three days later, Ms. B (real name undisclosed) reported to the police about a similar incident. Fortunately, she managed to escape and called from help, which drove the man away.

Police believe that Mr. Seksak manually switched off the electrical circuit at the victims’ houses, before appearing at their doors claiming that he has been sent to inspect the problem.

The officers have been retrieving information from the victims and gathering images of the suspect from CCTV cameras in the village. After several days, the court granted the police an arrest warrant to capture the man.

Mr. Seksak reportedly confessed to his crime. According to the police, the man had been previously arrested in Phetchaburi province for assaults, sexual abuses, and unlawful detentions.

"Fake General's Son" Accused Of 5.66 Million Baht Fraud

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28 September 2013, 17:12

(28 September) An owner of a fine art foundry has filed a complaint to the police that she has been defrauded by a 24 year old man who claimed to be the son of a Royal Thai Army general.

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Ms. Kamonnat Sangkate, 47, whose company is based in Italy, filed notice to police against Mr. Rachata Soonthornwipat, 24, for also disguising himself as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Thai Army.

According to the victim, Mr. Rachata had been in contact with her through mutual friends, and had supplied a car worth 3.7 million baht to her, presenting himself as a partner of a car dealer company.

She said she later realised that Mr. Rachata had tricked her into signing a document which granted him the right to transfer the car into his possession before he gave it to other individuals.

Later, after she returned to Italy, Ms. Kamonnat was still in contact with Mr. Rachata from time to time, as he asked her to buy him brand name items to be sold in Thailand.

But Ms. Kamonnat said Mr. Rachata simply disappeared with the items. She had allegedlybeen swindled of 5.66 million baht by Mr. Rachata. She then appointed a lawyer to fight him in court.

During the investigation, Ms. Kamonnat said she received a call from a mysterious woman threatening her for her legal move, which prompted Ms. Kamonnat to search for Mr. Rachata’s real identity.

Ms. Kamonnat also submitted to the police a number of documents as evidence, including a picture of the man in army uniform, a letter from the Thai Army stating that Mr. Rachata is not one of its officers.

She said she wants to warn others the dangers of Mr Rachata′s deceptive behaviour who reportedly also goes by other names such as Bhuwares and Chanont.

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