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'White Masks' Organizers Say Their Group Not Involved In 7-11 Robbery

(24 June)
Individuals sporting Guy Fawkes masks robbed a convenience store in Bangkok′s Don Mueng area,
prompting the Facebook page of the anti-government group, which has adopted the White Masks as their
symbol, to deny any link to the robbery.

The robbery took place around 03.00 at 7-11 store
on Terd Rachan Road. The staff said the 2 assailants took 1,600 baht in cash from the cashier drawer
and 2 bottles of Johny Walker′s Black Label whiskey, which cost about 2,800 baht, before speeding
away on motorcycle. The 2 suspects reportedly completed their robbery within 40 seconds.

The
police are still searching for the suspects. They were described as no more than 170 centimeter
tall, wearing Guy Fawkes masks and black attire.

The incident coincided with the wave of
anti-government protests in recent weeks which saw the adoption of the White Masks as the
protesters? defiant symbols. The Redshirts had retaliated by holding their own counter-protests with
red-colored masks, sparking a new battle of colored politics.

The Facebook group ?V For
Thailand?, which has played crucial role in organizing the protests, took pain to state on Facebook
that the movement is not connected to the robbery in Don Mueng today. The statement also offered a
conspiracy theory that it was in fact the Redshirts who donned the White Masks and robbed the store
to discredit the group.

The greatness of the V crowd is expanding so fast that the
government resorts to any available means to stem it. The latest evil tactic by the Thaksin regime
and crooked politicians to discredit the White Masks is begun, the statement says, referring to
Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, the center of the anti-government faction′s hatred.

The
democratically-elected Mr. Thaksin was ousted by military coup in 2006 but retained huge influence
in Thai politics. His sister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra is the current Prime Minister. The White Masks
accuse Mr. Thaksin of passing down culture of autocracy and corruption to his proxy government.
Many of them also claim that Mr. Thaksin has anti-monarchy agenda.

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'Celebratory Gunfires' Injure One And Narrowly Miss The Other

Ms. Napapon Saengpakdi showing the bullet that almost hit her as she washes the dishes in her kitchen.

(23 June) A man was shot
by stray bullet as he sat in his car at Ayutthaya province, while a woman was almost hit by stray
bullet which penetrated down from her house′s ceiling. Both cases were said to result from
suspects who fired their weapons in celebration.

The first case was reported to have occurred
when Mr. Dharma Srimakom, 39, was sitting in his parked car at a market, waiting for his wife to do
her shopping. Just then, Mr. Dharma told police, a bullet fell down from the sky and hit his arm
that was resting on the vehicle′s side window.
 
Police later realized that the
moment of Mr. Dharma′s injury coincided with monk ordination ceremony at the nearby Luang Por
Kiew Temple, situated 500-700 meter away from Mr. Dharma′s car. The police said they have
arrested 2 suspects who confessed to discharging their firearms into the air as means of
celebration.

The suspects reportedly told police that they took turn to shoot a 9 m.m.
handgun as the monk-to-be around the temple. They said they had no idea the bullets might have hit
someone. The police charged the 2 suspects with illegal firearm carrying, and unauthorized
discharging of firearms in the public area.

On the same day, Ms. Napapon Saengpakdi, 37, a
resident of Pathumthani province, told local police that a handgun bullet has smashed via her house
ceiling into the kitchen sink where she was washing the dishes, narrowly missing her. She said
it′s very fortunate that the bullet has not hit any of the 6 relatives, including small
children, who were staying at her house at the time.

Pathumthani police said 2-3 bullets
have also fallen onto the streets near Ms. Napapon′s residence, suggesting that the shots were
fired in the air by celebratory gunmen. Police said they are investigating the
matter.

Although Thailand has strict laws concerning firearms, the regulation are not widely
enforced. Many Thais carried – mostly illegal – guns when they travel, and there have been
casualties caused by such celebratory gunfire in the past, especially during New Year
Day.

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More Than 500 Pigs Killed At Lightning-Struck Farm

(23 June) Hundreds of
pigs at a farm in Prachinburi province were killed and injured after the farm was struck by
lightning, setting off a rapid firestorm.

Police received report about the incident around
00.30. When officers and rescue workers arrived at the scene – Somchit Farm in Kabinburi district –
they found heavily damaged pigsties filled with hundreds of dead pigs with burned injuries, while
injured pigs lay on the ground, baying their wretched cries.

Ms. Somchit Prakorbya, 52, the
owner of the farm, said that her farm supplies pork to the provincial branch of the food company
Betagro Group. She said she owned 1,474 pigs in total, many of them piglets.

The owner told
our correspondent there was lightning storm on the previous night, and suddenly a lightning has
struck in the middle of the pigsties, causing the blackout in the entire farm and igniting plastic
sheets which covered the pigsties. Ms. Somchit said she tried to dose the flame but failed, so she
called the emergency number. However, she said, by the time firefighters arrived most of the
pigsties are already burned down.

Reports said at least 500 pigs died. Ms. Somchit calculated
that the incident costs her 7-8 million bajt. The police said they would investigate for certain
whether the fire was caused by lightning or electric circuit.

Officials had buried the dead
pigs to prevent a pestilence, and the injured ones were sprayed with antibiotics. Mr. Pirayuth
Kruebkratoke, a representative of Betagro Group in the province, said he expected additional deaths
in the near future because many of the injured pigs suffered more than 50% burns on their
bodies.

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Pheu Thai Denies Rumor Of Hong Kong Secret Cabinet Meeting

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra participates in a business forum and launch of the Indonesian Journal of Leadership, Policy and World Affairs Strategic Review on July 17, 2012, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim / Associated Press

(23 June) The governing Pheu Thai Party dismissed reports that its
MPs and some Ministers are visiting Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong to secretly discuss
about upcoming changes in the Cabinet.


Earlier reports suggested that top Pheu
Thai politicians are consulting Mr. Thaksin, the highly influential brother of current Prime
Minister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra, in secret session about arranging new members of the
Cabinet. 

Today, Mr. Prompong Nopparit, Pheu Thai
spokesman, confirmed that Mr. Thaksin is currently in Hong Kong, after having traveled to Singapore,
but said that the former leader was there merely to meet with friends and business
partners. 

He has no hand in Cabinet changes. That power
belongs solely to the Prime Minister, Mr. Prompong said.

The spokesman said he believed the Cabinet lineup will be changed
soon, but details about the change will depend on government′s policies. He insisted that even if
the Cabinet rearrangement would happen in near future, it has nothing to do with Mr. Thaksin′s trip
to East Asia. He asked the public not to link Mr. Thaksin with political development in
Thailand.

Mr. Prompong′s insistence might do little to
dissuade anyone, however, as Mr. Thaksin is thought to retain vast influence in Pheu Thai Party even
though it has been years since he was ousted from power by military coup in 2006. Mr. Thaksin is the
hate figure of the Yellowshirts who view Ms. Yingluck as proxy for her brother and have vowed to
oust her, too.

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Students Severely Injured By 'Electric Shock' At Science Museum

Entrance to Wakor Science Park (file photo)

(23 June) Ill-maintained electric circuit is thought to be responsible for the accident in
which 3 elementary school students were seriously injured after they touched a metal bar at a major
science museum in Prachuab Kiri Khan province.


Police say the incident happened when a group of students from a Catholic school
in Prachuab Kiri Khan province was visiting Wakor Science Park, which is located in the same
province. 

3
students, aged 8, 12, and 12, reportedly touched a metal railing in the museum′s astronomy section,
which was filled with leaked electricity from the building′s circuit. 

The 3 fainted immediately from the shock.
The students were sent to the provincial hospital and their conditions were initially described as
seriously injured. However, their conditions are said to have improved, but doctors said the
patients will have to undergo brain checkup.

Police officers from Klong Warn police station
said the technicians at the museum told them that the establishment had been poorly maintained,
especially its electric circuit, which led to the accident.

Mr. Prakit Chansri, director of
Wakor Science Park, said he had closed off the museum temporarily in order to investigate the cause
of the electric shock closely. He told our correspondent that the investigation will be concluded
within 7 days, and the museum will pay all medical bills and any other compensation for the injured
students.


He
said the matter will be taken seriously as the museum is routinely visited by tourists and students
from many schools in the country.

The district of Wakor has been officially presented as the major landmark in Thailand′s
history of modern science. King Rama IV (King Mongkut) traveled there with his entourage – including
many foreign astronomers – in 1868 to observe the solar eclipse he has predicted by modern
astronomy, a newly imported science in Siam at the time. However, the King died of malaria shortly
after the trip.

Wakor
is also the name of the subforum which deals with science and technology in the hugely popular
Pantip website.

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Clashes Narrowly Averted At Chiang Rai White Masks Rally

 (23 June) Anti-government protests in Chiang Rai province were forced to call off their
rally early after some Redshirts showed up nearby to voice their displeasure but no clashes took
place. 


At
14.00, around 20 anti-government protesters – which adopted Guy Fawkes masks as their dress
code – gathered at King Meng Rai monument in the town center. Approximately 50 Redshirts arrived
near the monument in their cars and trucks mounted with loudspeakers. 

The Redshirts proceeded to
make speeches denouncing the so-called White Masks protesters. Around 100 police officers were
keeping close watch on the rival crowds. The anti-government disbanded their rally earlier than
planned, citing the fear for their safety.

However, the Redshirts also showed up in front of Pi Daeng restaurant on
Singhakrai Road, which is just 20 meter away from Muang Chiang Rai police station. They shouted
insults at the eatery′s owner, Ms. Chaliao Boonwanna, 61, who was reportedly responsible for
organizing the White Masks protest.

Speaking to our correspondent, Ms. Chaliao said she was surprised to see the Redshirts
protesting in front of her shop, but clarified that she did not feel particularly threatened because
there were police officers monitoring the situation nearby. Nevertheless, she said the protesters
should respect the rights of other people to express their opinions.

Our political idea are different, but we
are still residents of the same province, Ms. Chaliao said.

Chiang Rai, like many other provinces in
the Northern and Northeastern regions of Thailand, is known as stronghold of the Redshirts
movements.

Elsewhere, the weekly White Masks rallies went without any reported violence contrary to
the sporadic tension in the previous week.

In Prachinburi province, the anti-government protesters rallied at the plaza in
front of the City Spirit Shrine. Representatives of the Redshirts in that province said they
had no intention to stage a counter-protest, but they will join the activities marking 81st
anniversary of 1932 Revolution in Bangkok tomorrow (24 June).

White Masks were also rallying in Mae Hong
Sorn province – another Redshirt base – and some Redshirts were reportedly organizing their own
rally while police officers were deployed to keep the 2 factions separated. No violence or clash has
been reported, however.

The biggest rally of the White Masks were in central Bangkok, where
the police estimated that at least 2,000-3,000 people joined the protest. The organizers of the
event did not provide their estimate.

The Bangkok anti-government protesters suffered few
hiccups, though, after the Central World shopping mall refused to let the protesters stage their
rally in their plaza like in previous weeks. The shopping mall management released a statement
saying they did not oppose any political group, and that their decision to turn away the protesters
was due to their principle of maintaining
eutrality.
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Woman Says She's Threatened By Followers Of Controversial Monk

Ms. Lon Manas

(22 June) The woman who
owned the land where the controversial wealthy monk has built his monastery says she is now being
threatened by his spiritual followers after she told the press she might recall the land rights
because she is disillusioned with the monk′s behavior.

Previously, Ms. Lon Manas, 68, a
resident of Sisaket province, has told the reporters that she donated the land to Luang Pu
Nen Kam Chattiko around 10 years ago, on the condition that Luang Pu Nen Kam would build a temple
and register it properly with the Office of National Buddhism (ONAB). However, the temple remains a
privately-operated one, and not under jurisdiction of the Buddhist authorities.

She had said
yesterday (21 June) she initially donated the land because she wanted to make good karma and
insisted that the temple be registered properly out of fear that an unregistered one will become
breeding ground for financial corruption.

Now, she fears that it is exactly what′s
happening, given the news about Luang Pu′s display of immense wealth that has been reported on the
media recently, so she expressed her intention to have the land taken back from Luang Pu Nen Kam and
given to some other monk for construction of a properly registered temple.

After the interview was published by many news agencies,
including the daily edition of Khaosod, a group of spiritual followers of the monk vehemently
denied the story. One of them is
Mr. Pattaradech Sopanpanich, a businessman, who went on a popular talk show on
Channel 3 and alleged that the report published by Khaosod a is fabricated one.

Mr. Pattaradech has told the talk show host Mr. Sorayut Sutasanachinda that the reporters
pressed the matter on Ms. Lon and invented the story themselves.

Today, Ms. Lon told
our correspondent that she has received phone calls from many supporters of Luang Pu Nen Kam – who
is believed to command a considerable following among some businessmen and police officers –
threatening her that she might be abducted or even killed for telling the media about the plan to
evict the monk.

According to Ms. Lon, a woman who claimed to be a supporter of Luang Pu Nen Kam
also appeared at her residence and shouting insults at her. The woman also reportedly told Ms. Lon
to recant her story in front of the press, but she refused to do so. Ms. Lon said her family
eventually told the woman to leave the house.

Pol.Col. Phuchong Wanna, commissioner of local police, said he has
dispatched some police officers to protect Ms. Lon from any other potential intruder.

At the press conference in Pathumthani
province, a group of Luang Pu Nen Kam′s supporters denied the allegation that they have intimidated
Ms. Lon. Ms. Naruedee Piraroj, representative of the group, said she was the one who visited Ms. Lon
at her house. According to Ms. Naruedee, she was there to ask Ms. Lon whether she had talked to the
reporters about her intention to evict Luang Pu from the land.

She told me she did not, so I
beg her to clarify the story, but she told me she is feeling ill so she cannot talk to the press
right. I left shortly after that. I did not intimidate her in any way, Ms. Naruedee insisted.

Mr. Virord Chaipannana, director of ONAB′s
chapter in Sisaket, said that he believed Ms. Lon could take the matter to the court if she feels
that the land she donated to the monk was not being used in the manner both parties have initially
agreed.

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Man Kills Parents-In-Laws Before Turning Gun On Himself

(20
June) Songkhla police received reports that a man has opened fire on individuals in a house at Sadao
district late in the evening.

Mr. Pian Srichalerm, 61, and his wife Ms. Wandee Srichalerm,
58, were shot dead at their heads by a handgun. Their daughter, Ms. Nittaya Chan-in, 37, was shot in
the body for 4 times and is currently admitted to hospital. Mr. Klong Chan-in, believed to be the
gunman, suffered a wound to his head which was caused by the same handgun. He died at
hospital.

Police say investigation reveals that Mr. Klong, who was married to Ms. Nittaya,
was having big argument with his wife in front of their house, reportedly because Ms. Nittaya caught
him cheating on her with another woman. Mr. Pian and Ms. Wandee tried to break up the fight, police
say, but Mr. Klong became uncontrollably angry and shot his wife and her parents, before shooting
himself in the head.

The neighbors said the incident happened so fast they could not come to
Ms. Nittaya′s rescue. Her condition was described as severe.

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Attorney Appeals Court Ruling On 2010 CTW Arson

(21
June) Attorney of the Criminal Court is appealing the verdict which acquitted 2 Redshirts protesters
previously accused of assisting the arson attack on Central World shopping mall in central Bangkok
in 2010.

Parts of Central World (CTW) was burned down in the final day of Redshirts mass
protests which had been occupying Bangkok′s financial district until they were brought down by
military operation on 19 May 2010.

The case is a deeply political one. The government of the
time, along with the Democrat Party and the Yellowshirts, accused Redshirts protesters as
errorists who set fire to the mall and other buildings as retaliation against the crackdown. The
Redshirts denied any involvement, and insisted that the mall was burned down by hird hand party
that attempted to place the blame on Redshirts.

The court ruling in March 2013 which had not
only acquitted Mr. Saichol Paebua, 31, and Mr. Pinit Channarong, 29, but also set them free from
their imprisonment, was a blow against the anti-Redshirts factions who have been using the CTW case
as an example of the Redshirts? alleged plan to ?Burn Down The City? (Phao Baan Phao
Muang
).

Now, as the attorney is appealing the said verdict, Mr. Pinit said he hoped the
attorney will give them fiarness. He said he had not considered plan to sue the prosecutor in his
case for wrongly accusing him, since he is preparing to ordain as a monk for 29 days – the number of
his age – to make good karma for his parents.

Nonetheless, he said he still felt anger for
those who accused him of ?burning down the city? and caused him to be imprisoned for almost 3 years.
He hoped that the 20 remaining Redshirts who are still imprisoned for their alleged crimes during
the 2010 protests would be free soon.

Mr. Saichol – the other former suspect in the case –
said he was already starting his new life by investing the money donated to him by other Redshirts
during his imprisonment on a clothes shop in Samutprakarn province with his girlfriend. Prior to his
arrest, Mr. Saichol was virtually homeless and living off the grid around Bangkok′s Sanam
Luang.

Mr. Arkom Rattanapojanart, lawyer who represents Mr. Saichol and Mr. Pinit,
said that he′s confident the attorney would have no sufficient evidence to back their
appeals.

I still don?t even know why Mr. Pinit was charged in the first place. The witnesses
said they did not recall seeing him burn the shopping mall. Mr. Pinit and Mr. Saichol did not even
know each other prior to the court case, Mr. Arkom said.

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Son of Bangkok ‘Mafioso’ Threatens Lawsuit Against Ex-Girlfriend

The image showing injuries that Ms. Ploy told police were caused by Mr. Boonyasit

(21 June) The son of a famous businessman widely known for his underground influence admitted he had indeed physically assaulted his ex-girlfriend who sought help from police about the abuse, but added that he is considering a lawsuit against her for tarnishing his reputation by speaking out.

Previously, a 21 year old woman, who had not disclosed her real name, appeared alongside a representative from a women protection foundation in a press conference detailing the physical abuses that she allegedly suffered during her relationship with Mr. Boonyasit Thammarojpinit, the son of Mr. Pairat Thammarojpinit aka Por Pratunam.

The woman, who gave her name simply as Ploy, said she was beaten and detained by Mr. Boonyasit when he was in bad mood. She said she would file charge against Mr. Boonyasit for intimidation and physical assault, and had sought help from police because she feared reprisals from Mr. Boonyasit. The police had suggested that Ms. Ploy might be placed under a protection program.

Today, Mr. Boonyasit said in press conference, held at PJ Hotel in Bangkok′s Pratunam district, that Ms. Ploy moved in to live with him since 2010, and Ms.
Ploy was 18 at the time. He admitted that they had engaged in many fights and verbal arguments during their relationship, which he claimed are normal for couples.

He said the pictures of her injuries shown by Ms. Ploy to the press few days ago were the incident that happened years ago. Mr. Boonyasit told the reporters that he hit Ms. Ploy because he caught her talking to someone else.

He insisted that he resorted to violence because he loved her very much and wanted to stop her flirtatious behavior.

The incident happened years ago. I don?t understand why she told the police that I did it to her last month. I have not hurt her at all since the beginning of this year, Mr. Boonyasit was quoted as saying.

Mr. Boonyasit claimed that Ms. Ploy liked to make a scene to gain attention to herself. According to Mr. Boonyasit, she had cut her wrist and run away from home for a few times when they got in fights.

He said he is willing to forgive Ms. Ploy and end all the troubles. He said he still loves and has good feelings for her, and he had hard time understanding why she defamed him by pressing charges against him.

He expressed his intention to press charge of his own against Ms. Ploy on the ground of defamation.

“When the news came out, I didn?t know who to turn my face to. The society has branded me as a psychotic and cruel man. If all these allegations were true, I?d have accepted it. But since they are false, I?ll seek fairness … I have assigned my lawyer to proceed with the lawsuit,” Mr. Boonyasit said, before adding that he felt terrible to be involved in a lawsuit with someone he had loved for 3 years.

Mr. Pairat, Mr. Boonyasit′s father, is nicknamed ?Puu Gwang Kwang? (literally, a big and large person) – a Thai equivalent of ?mafioso? – by Bangkokians. Mr. Pairat, who is commonly known as Por Pratunam due to his influence in Pratunam district, is alleged to maintain vast underground businesses and have cultivated support among many officials.

Meanwhile, The Nation reports that domestic violence in Thailand has risen sharply throughout 2012. In that year, 30.8% of Thai households reported abuse.

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