British Man Rescued From Si Saket Forest

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18 September 2013, 14:58

(18 September) A Briton
who had been lost in the wilderness for 3 days has been rescued in Si Saket Province.

The
police were alerted when local fishermen in the Moon River reported of hearing cries for help in
English in the direction of Tarm Forest, on the bank of the river.

The rescue team later
found Mr. Alex Walton, 60, lying unconscious on the ground. He was shirtless and full of mosquito
bites marks when he was found, the police added.

Mr. Walton was sent to Rasi Salai Hospital
for medical check-up. His condition is reported to be stable, but the doctors said they would keep
him in the hospital for few more days in order to ensure he did had not been infected by any disease
in the woods.

The police also found a car owned by Mr. Walton 3-4 kilometres away from the
forest. The car is registered in Kalasin Province. His wife later contacted the police to inform
them that Mr. Walton had been missing since 14 September and his neighbours have been looking for
him ever since.

Mr. Walton′s wife said he had a mental disability and tends to lack out
when he is stressed. Sometimes he does things without being aware of it, his wife said.

20 Kilometres Of Skytrain Track Wire 'Stolen'

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Khaosod English

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17 September 2013, 18:52

(17 September) Police
have arrested a group of suspects accused of stealing more than 20 kilometres of copper electric
wire under Skytrain tracks in Bangkok.

In a press conference at the Metropolitan Police
headquarters, Pol.Col. Chayanon Meesati said the first of the suspects was apprehended on 29 July and
confessed he collaborated with 2 other individuals in the crime. The police then sought arrest
warrants from the court and arrested the 2 other suspects.

However, Pol.Col. Chayanon said 3
more suspects in the case are still on the run.

According to Pol.Col. Chayanon, the group
climbed ladders to reach the BTS tracks via a gap between the pillars, and the pillars helped
shielded the suspects from the public eye as they worked, cutting lengths of copper wire under the
tracks.

The wire was hidden in sacks, according the police, the group later sold the copper
wire to metal shops, and used the money to buy illegal drugs for their consumption.

The suspects
reportedly told the police they had worked as construction workers for the BTS project, which
granted them extensive knowledge of the tracks? structure. They also wore orange jackets worn by BTS
construct workers when they performed the operation, police said.

Mr. Pakdee Jirapapan, director the
maintenance department of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), estimated that the suspects had
hauled away 20 kilometres of copper wire in total, costing the authority around 10 million
baht.

Mr. Pakdee said the theft did not immediately affect the services, but admitted that
the BTS functions could be severely disrupted in the long term. He told the reporters the BMTA would
install metal grates on vulnerable locations along the tracks to avoid further theft.

One of the suspects confessed to the police that he and his cohorts had been
operating for a year, reaping 10 sacks of copper wire in their biggest attempt. The group then
separated the money, each person receiving 20,000 baht per haul, according to the
suspect.

The stations targeted by the suspects are identified as Chong Nonsri, Arie, Saphan
Kwai, Ekkamai, Pra Khanong, and On Nut.

iPhone Thief Caught By Tracking App

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Khaosod English

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17 September 2013, 17:20

(17 September) The
phone-tracking application on the iPhones has led the police to arrest a woman had stolen an iPhone
that she did not know how to turn off.

Mr. Arnant Hiranlai, 21, has reported to the police in
Nakorn Ratchasima Province that his iPhone had been stolen as he was rehearsing for a dancing
contest with his friends at the plaza in front of Lady Suranaree Statue.

He said he had left
his belongings near the Statue, and noticed that a woman was observing him and his friends as they
danced, then left the plaza. Mr. Arnant said he realised later that his iPhone was
missing.

Mr. Arnant then showed the phone-tracking application installed in his friend′s
mobile phone to the police, who followed the location and eventually arrested Ms. Tarn Pittarn, 49,
a resident of Taak Province.

The suspect confessed that she had stolen the phone but did not
know how to turn it off. The police charged her with theft.

Man Punched To Death For 'Long Phonecall'

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Khaosod English

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17 September 2013, 17:05

(17 September) A man was
beaten to death last night by his friend in Chonburi Province reportedly because he had borrowed his
friend′s cellphone and used it for too long.

Responding to emergency calls about a deadly
fistfight, rescue workers found the body of Mr. Visan Kamdee, 31, in front of a petrol station in
Mueang District. The police also arrested Mr. Kwanpai Wongkrachang in connection with the crime.

Mr. Kwanpai said he and Mr. Visan were on their way to work in Bangkok, when their car got
into an accident near the petrol station. As the men waited for the insurance agents to show up, Mr.
Kwanpai said, Mr. Visan borrowed his cellphone to talk with his girlfriend.

According to Mr.
Kwanpai, Mr. Visan was taking a long time on the cellphone, so he asked Mr. Visan to hand the
cellphone back. The suspect claimed Mr. Visan became incensed and threw the phone at his face,
breaking the mobile phone, and the pair immediately started fighting with their bare
fists.

Mr. Kwanpai said he had beaten his friend until he was unconscious, and quickly
realised that he was dead.

Movie Tycoon 'Fed Up' With Tony Jaa

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Khaosod English

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17 September 2013, 15:39

(17 September) The boss of giant film corporation ?Sahamongkol Film? will
go ahead with taking legal action against the action star Tony Jaa, according to the director
Prachya Pinkaew.

Mr. Somsak Techaratanaprasert had previously threatened a lawsuit over Tony
Jaa′s planned appearance in the upcoming sequel of the American film series Fast and Furious,
insisting that the star was still under contract with the company and he was therefore not allowed
to star in any foreign film without Mr. Somsak′s approval.

Tony Jaa, whose real name is Panom
Yeerum, has maintained that he had terminated the contract with Mr. Somsak′s company – a contract he
condemned as business slavery. Mr. Somsak has disputed those claims.

Mr. Prachya Pinkaew,
the famous director of Sahamongkol Film who has worked with Mr. Panom, said in an interview that Mr.
Somsak is fed up with the action star.

Jaa has done this kind of thing for so many times.
Right now, Sia Jiang is very tired. As far as I know, he′s just fed up. From now on we will
treat Jaa as a contract violator, said Mr. Prachya, using the nickname of Mr. Somsak.

The
case is being discussed by lawyers of both parties, Mr. Prachya added.

Asked if he is
disappointed by the star he has made famous with his own hands (Mr. Panom was launched to fame by
Mr. Prachya′s film Ong Bak), the director said he is saddened by how things are unfolding
because we trained him to acting. We had him study English.

Mr. Prachya also accused Mr.
Panom of betraying the people who rought him to his fame during his pursuit for wealth after his
ascension to international recognition.

We are at the point where he earns more than his
director, Mr. Prachya said.

PM Yingluck Outlines Govt Policies For AEC

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Khaosod English

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16 September 2013, 23:44

(16 September) Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today gave a keynote speech at the opening of the “Path for Thailand
toward ASEAN Community” exhibition in Bangkok, saying in parts that the government must re-adjust
policy to welcome the change, and should not treat the integration as a threat.

According to
the Prime Minister, Thailand must develop new strategies, particularly by public sectors, to create
more competitiveness in the region and improve the standard of living in Thailand.

By
creating competitiveness in the region, Ms. Yingluck suggested that Thai’s public sector should
readjust regulations to support Human Rights and ease trade protectionism.

The country also
needs to rebalance their government public services to be more efficient and effective, in order to
develop the standard of living in Thailand Ms. Yingluck is quoted as saying.

The Prime
Minister also said that the wobbling global economy may become a challenge to the country. The US
Quantitative Easing policy had strengthened national currency, due to large capital inflow into the
country. However, the situation has worsened the national export sector, which accounted up to 60%
of national GDP.

She stressed that Thailand should be ready for the economic fluctuation,
both in domestic, regional and international stages.

The private sector will also need to
adjust their policy and improve their competitiveness through providing a better quality of goods,
Ms. Yingluck said.

She also suggested that the country should rely more on green
energy.

Apart from the economic fluctuation, Ms. Yingluck noted, the nation is also facing a
lack of capable workforce, as the elderly population is expected to increase from 14% in 2013, to
27% in 2025.

At the end of her speech, the Prime Minister added that in order to be
competitive in meeting the new challenge, and to live together peacefully, we must integrate our
social and cultural aspects.

Thai people must also develop English skill, as the language
becoming more important as the media to communicate within the region, she added.

Lese Majeste Complaint Against Reformist Student

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Khaosod English

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16 September 2013, 18:27

(16 September) A TV show host has accused the student known for her campaign against mandatory uniform wearing of insulting the monarchy.

Ms. Ponnipa Supatnukul, 41, the host of a talk show called "Best of Your Life" which is broadcast on a satellite TV channel, filed the complaint to the police in Nonthaburi Province, invoking Article 112 of the Criminal Codes which criminalises insults to the Royal Family.

The target of her legal action is a transgender student at Thammasat University, who has spearheaded a campaign to abolish the practices in universities which she deems as oppressive to the students, including the rule requiring all students to wear uniforms.

The student, who goes by her nickname Aum Neko, was interviewed in a talk show hosted by Ms. Pontipa 3 months ago, according to Ms. Pontipa. In the show, she said, she talked to Ms. Aum and 20 other Thammasat students about the impact of economic slowdown on students? livelihood.

Ms. Pontipa claimed that Ms. Aum shocked everyone by "talking outside the topic" and "insulting the higher institution", a term referring to the monarchy. Ms. Aum′s words were "so shocking we could not broadcast the show", Ms. Pontipa said, but she has nevertheless stored footage of the interview.

She claimed that she decided to pursue a legal action against Ms. Aum because she was incensed by the student′s continued defamation of the monarchy. Ms. Pontipa also alleged that Ms. Aum is encouraging other students to commit similar crimes.

Ms. Pontipa had brought footage of the interview recorded 3 months ago to the police as evidence.

In a report by Manager ASTV website, Ms. Pontipa is quoted as telling the police that a lecturer in Thammasat University had informed her that Ms. Aum′s student network in Thammasat is funded by unknown sponsors.

The police later told Ms. Pontipa to file a complaint at the Technology Crime Division because Ms. Aum′s alleged wrongdoings include online postings.

Insults of the Thai monarchy (lese majeste) are punishable with up to 15 years in jail per offence.

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Transport Ministry Considering Taxi CCTVs

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Khaosod English

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16 September 2013, 18:04

(16 September) Minister of Transport Chatchart Sitthipan said he is planning to equip close
circuit cameras inside taxis to reduce crimes and address the problems of drivers refusing
services to passengers.

Mr. Chatchart said the CCTV installation will promote safer taxi
services, as it allows the authorities to monitor bahaviours of both the drivers and the passengers
inside the cab, including incidents of drivers refusing to take passengers.

Many Thais have complained of taxi drivers in
certain parts of Bangkok refusing services to the them, preferring to pick up foreigners and
charging them extortive fares.

According to Mr. Chatchart, the CCTV project is
cost-effective, noting “the camera is no longer expensive, and the taxi drivers should be able to
afford the equipment.”

The Minister also mentioned the previous GPS-attachment plan, which
the Department of Land Transport (DLT) previously proposed, explaining that it would be a good idea
but is rather too expensive.

He also suggested that the taxi rental companies should be held
responsible if their drivers refused services to passengers.

Mr. Atchsathai Rattanadilok Na
Phuket, Deputy Director – General for Operation of DLT, said that the Department is expecting to
draft a law that prohibits such refusal which will also hold the taxi companies accountable for
their drivers? violations. The law is set to be completed in 3 months.

According to the
Deputy Director, punishments include forfeiting the right to renew or withdraw registration
plate.

Moreover, the department is also trying to add a list of taxi drivers and their
registered company into the department’s database, in order to be able to check and keep track of
the drivers. The idea is hoping to facilitate the police investigations, if the drivers had violated
the law, or caused harm to their passengers.

However, Mr. Jiruth Wisaljit, Deputy
Director-General for Administration, said that the department still keeps the idea of attaching GPS
to the taxis, as it should help in reducing crimes in Bangkok metropolis and suburb areas.

In the first stage, according to Mr. Jiruth, the DLT might encourage individual taxi drivers
to equip the GPS to their private cab, before gradually pushing the attachment in rental taxis
later.

'Four Seasons' Rumour Commentators Postpone Trial

By

Khaosod English

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16 September 2013, 14:13

(16 September) A group of
Democrat MPs charged with defaming Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has postponed an appearance in
court.

Mr. Chawanond Intarakomalsut, Mr. Theptai Senpong, and Mr. Sirichok Sopa have been
charged with libel for hosting a talk show on the Democrat-allied Blue Sky TV channel in which they
repeated the rumour of Ms. Yingluck′s alleged secretive meeting with a number of businessmen at Four
Seasons Hotel in downtown Bangkok.

The rumours, which had been circulated in early 2012,
alleged that Ms. Yingluck has shirked her responsibility of attending an important parliamentary
session in order to hold a meeting with Mr. Settha Thaweesin, director of the well-known Sansiri
land developer group.

According to the rumours, Ms. Yingluck had requested Radio Code 5,
denoting a secret assignment, to her bodyguards during the meeting.

The secretive nature of
the meeting had led many anti-government critics at the time to accuse Ms. Yingluck of having sexual
tryst with Mr. Settha, while other variations of the story claimed the Prime Minister was engaged in
a group sex with other businessmen as well.

The 3 Democrat MPs were supposed to appear at the
court with the prosecution today, but the defendants? lawyer requested a postponement, citing his
client′s busy schedule as the MPs. The court has agreed to reschedule the trial to December.

The spectre of ?Four Seasons Affair? was briefly back in the public discussion when The
Nation newspaper incorrectly stated in July that Mr. Settha is Ms. Yingluck′s husband. Ms. Yingluck
is in fact (unofficially) married to Mr. Anusorn Amornchat.

The incident led to an apology
by the newspaper′s management which also announced a disciplinary action against some of its staff
responsible for the mistake.

Fugitive Ex-Monk Narrowly Escapes Arrest In Laos

By

Khaosod English

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15 September 2013, 21:55

Mr. Wirapol Sukphol (center, next to the Caucasian individual) after he narrowly escapes from the DSI in Laos.

(15 September) An attempt
by the Thai police to arrest a controversial ex-monk in Laos ended when the fugitive made a dramatic
escape from the besieging officers with his private helicopter.

The former monk, Mr. Wirapol
Sukphol, is wanted by the Division of Special Investigation (DSI) for alleged financial fraud,
computer crimes, and statutory rape of an underaged woman.

He has been eluding the DSI ever
since the controversy broke out; Mr. Wirapol is believed to have resided in France, the US, and he
was last known to have taken an abode in Wat Phoo Khaokwai Temple near the capital city of Laos,
where he reportedly resumed acting as a monk despite having been defrocked by the Thai Buddhist
authorities.

Source close to Mr. Wirapol, known formerly as Luang Puu Nen Kham, said a team
of DSI agents had carried an arrest warrant to the temple in Vientiane, intent on apprehending the
monk and bringing him back to face charges in Thailand.

However, reports say, local Laotian
officials barred the DSI from entering the temple, arguing that the Thai agents had not carried a
proper document permitting them to make an arrest within Laotian borders.

Reportedly, as 2
sides were negotiating just outside the temple, one of Mr. Wirapol′s disciples then flew a private
helicopter owned by the ex-monk to pick up Mr. Wirapol and some of his close companions away. The
DSI field agents could only look on helplessly.

Sources also revealed that Mr. Wirapol is
currently hiding in a Laotian temple in Oklahoma, USA, and had received legal advice from an
American lawyer.

According to the sources, the American lawyer is attempting to seek Mr.
Wirapol an asylum visa to remain in the US on the ground of
eligious persecution, which he will
be protected from extradition to the kingdom.

It is not clear why the DSI agents were
operating in Laos, or whether the Laotian officials had been informed of the arrest
attempt.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ansukate Wisuthiwattanasak, DSI Security Crime Department Chief, said
that Mr. Wirapol′s brother, Mr. Suri Sukphol, had confessed for falsely claiming that he was to
responsible for fathering Mr. Wirapol′s child – a claim he made on a famous TV news programme – in order to protect
his brother′s reputation.

The DSI said that they are hoping to meet with the US Immigration
Office and Customs in the US at the end of this month, to bring Mr. Wirapol′s back to stand trial
in Thailand.

There has been no immediate comment from the US authorities on the matter. It is also unclear how he travelled to, and entered, the US.

Correction: The original version of this article incorrectly stated Mr. Wirapol is charged with sexual assault. He is in fact facing a charge of statutory rape.

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