Mr. Jatupon Prompan, who also served as an MP for the Pheu Thai Party, said violent
confrontation is exactly what the anti-government forces want to see.

At least 2 protests
were planned by anti-government activists: the one on 4 August will be organized by activists
opposed to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the brother of Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra who is
currently serving as Prime Minister, while the protest on 7 August will be focused on opposing the
government-sponsored amnesty bill.

The bill, if passed, will grant amnesty to Redshirts
protesters currently imprisoned for their alleged crimes during their mass protests in 2010.

The Redshirts argue the detainees were implicated in false crimes by the authorities at the
time, but the opposition Democrat Party and its allies insist the amnesty bill amounts to bending
the laws to forgive criminal thugs.

The protests on 7 August will be held around the House of
Parliament, where the amnesty bill will be debated. Mr. Jatupon warned his fellow Redshirts not to
stage a counter-rally or disrupt the anti-government protesters there.

He said he would meet
with local leaders of the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) on 3 August
to make sure they reach mutual understanding about the matter.

In normal situation, we would
respect the freedom of all Redshirts [to stage rallies]. But this is not normal situation, Mr.
Jatupon told our correspondent, adding that the Redshirts should let the government handle the
upcoming protests.

He went on to criticize Mr. Suthep Theugsuban, a senior Democrat MP, for
encouraging people to join the anti-government protests on 7 August. Mr. Jatupon said the gesture
has made it clear the Democrat Party is behind the protests, using extra-parliamentary means to
overthrow the elected government.

The Redshirt MP insisted the amnesty bill would not cover
the legal cases against him and other Redshirts leaders of the 2010 protests, as the bill would only
give amnesty to ordinary protesters.

Meanwhile, the representative of People′s Army
Overthrowing Thaksin Regime said his group would not reveal the location of the protest on 4 August
yet, since the authorities might try to stop the protest.

The representative, Mr. Taikorn
Polsuwan, said he will also submit letters of explanation to many foreign Embassies in Bangkok to
explain situation and facts to the foreign governments.

He stressed that his group would
stick to non-violence. Asked if his group would join another protest on 7 August, Mr. Takorn said it
is still too early to tell.

Government officials had previously expressed their wish to
invoke a public security laws in some districts of Bangkok to contain the planned protests in a more
robust way. The laws – Internal Security Act – would permit the authorities to seal off certain
roads and buildings or even declare a curfew.

The
incident took place at a bridge across the canal near Wat Chalor Temple in Bang Kluay District. The
9 passengers in the boat were slightly injured, while the driver, a 60-year-old Thai man was
reported to be in severe condition.

After some investigation, the police said the boat was
carrying foreign tourists for a tour along Bangkok Noi canal for sightseeing, until the driver
somehow crashed into one of the bridge′s pillars at the scene of the accident.

It is not
immediately clear how the accident took place, and whether the driver was under influence of
alcohol, as the injured man is being administered in hospital.

The beverage, called Peptine, is sold alongside bottled teas and other energy drinks in convenience stores. It has been marketed as an ingredient that would help improve students? ability to study harder; its target group is apparently millions of young students struggling to enter their desired universities via the national Admission exams.

According to the letter sent by Office of Consumer Protection Board (OCPB) to Osotspa, the distributor of Peptine drinks, such advertisement is unacceptable.

The letter, which is viewed by Khaosod, says the Board has received complaints  from a number of concerned physicians, and asked Osotspa to halt its TV commercial immediately.

Osotspa has responded in a statement that it is willing to cooperate with OCPB′s order, saying it will cease airing its controversial commercials on this 1 August.

Peptine is certainly not alone in the extensive
utritional food market in Thailand. Even more ubiquitously advertised around the country is Brand′s, a sort of chicken soup that, according to its commercials, boost brain activities.

But Peptine came under heavy scrutiny after its airing of Want To Be Doctors TV ads which feature medical students endorsing the product.

Some medical students are also frustrated by the commercial. A representative of the Society of Medical Students of Thailand (SMST) has recently submitted a complaint to Osotspa, demanding that the company stop airing the advertisement.

Doctors are highly respected career for many Thai families, due to its (perceived) social prestige and rewarding salaries. Therefore, many parents encourage their kids to pursue medical studies.

Public records show that from 2007-2012 Thailand′s Food And Drug Administration (FDA) has fined Osotspa for violating the 1979 Food Act concerning its advertisements of Peptine drinks. The fines ranged from 2,000 baht to 40,000 baht.

Previously, a number of media outlets has been circulating a story that Luang Por
Toe, the name given to a large Buddha statue in Wat Koh Temple, was seen with streaks of tear
on its cheek.

Moreover, story alleged that the supernatural gesture might portend certain
disaster that might befall on the community around the temple. Among the media reporting about the
incident is Thai Rath, the biggest selling newspaper in Thailand.

Phra Samruay
Kemthongrord, 71, one of the residing monk at Koh Temple, led our visiting correspondent to inspect
the giant Buddha statue – a large bronze artwork glistening with its gilded golden colour. Indeed,
no water or trace of any ear was found on the statue.

The monk explained that one of the
reporters who had visited the temple might have been misled by the reflection of light on the
Buddha′s face, which must have looked like streaking tear to unsuspecting observers.

He
pointed out that smaller statues, built with the same shiny bronze, also displayed the same natural
phenomenon.

In all, the police arrested 8 male and
7 female suspects at the motel in Bangkok′s Bang Phlat District. One of the suspects, Mr. Wirach
Wattanapinyo, is a well-known ?Sian Phra? (Amulet Master), whose career is based on
collecting and selling rare Buddhist amulets, often at high price.

The police said 3 of the
female suspects worked as coyote girls, the sexily clad dancers who graced many entertainment venues.

The police
confiscated a large number of narcotics, mostly ketamine and ectasy, found in the room along with 4
handguns and box of condoms.

Pol.Col. Mathee Rakpan said the raid followed reports from a
local informant about a party involving illegal substance in the motel room. He said 7 of the
suspects were tested positive for narcotics, and the police would process other suspects in a more
elaborate tests.

The officer added that the guns were legally registered firearms, but none
of the suspects has the permit to carry the weapons.

Mr. Wirach, who operated the
amulet-trading website called Watchara Amulet, told police he bought the drugs for using with his
friends. He said he had organised such parties for more than 10 times so far.

The police
charged Mr. Wirach and other suspects with drug abuse.

Buddhist amulets (Phra Kreung)
are tiny tablets imprinted with images of Buddha and other religious figures. The ones manufactured
by revered monks or discovered in ancient temple grounds are highly sought after by amulet
collectors. It is not hard to find vendors selling these amulets on streets of Bangkok and other
major cities.

The pipeline from which about 50,000 litres of oil
leaked is operated by PTT Global Chemical Plc. The leakage took place few days ago off the coast in
Rayong province, and the company failed to contain its area of damage until it reached Koh
Samed.

Now, the sea and beaches in Samed′s Phrao Bay and Ban Pae Bay are covered in black,
inky stain with foul smell along their approximately 600 metre-long shoreline.

Anti-government protesters had called for rally around the House of Parliament on
7 August in central Bangkok to voice their opposition to the draft amnesty bill which would be
debated in the Parliament on that day.

The draft, proposed by Mr. Worachai Hema, an MP of the
ruling Pheu Thai Party, would give amnesty to all protesters who were detained by the authorities
following the 2010 mass protests in Bangkok. The amnesty will not extend to the government leader at
the time – former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

The issue about legal prosecution of the
military forces involved in the crackdown, which left more than 90 people dead, is more dubious. The
draft did not mention the military, but Mr. Worachai insisted to the press that the military can be
brought to trial later after the bill is passed.

Nevertheless, the draft is enough to incense
anti-government faction, like the opposition Democrat Party and the Yellowshirts, which saw the bill
as an attempt to whitewash the Redshirts protesters? alleged crimes during the 2010
protests.

The last major anti-government protest, led by a retired army general, took place
in November 2012. That protest, initially declared to be decisive war that would bring down the
government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, flopped badly and dispersed itself in a single
day.

Top officials expressed confidence that the upcoming protest is no more threatening than
the last. Ms. Yingluck, speaking before her trip to the African nation of Mozambique, said she
expected the protest would take place without violent incidents.

Moreover, the movement still lacks concrete support from financial and political
backers, Lt.Gen. Paradorn said, adding that he did not believe any emergency powers would be needed
for the authorities in order to handle the protest.

Mr. Charupong Ruengsuwan, Minister of
Interior Affairs, said he had instructed Provincial Governors to
each understanding with local
residents who wished to participate in the upcoming Bangkok protests that they cannot close down
roads or disrupt the public during their rally.

Asked if he plans to obstruct the protesters
from entering Bangkok, Mr. Charupong replied that it′s impossible to do such thing. 

Mr. Chullanop Nuchanart, director of Bangkok′s Phra Nakorn
Area, in which Khaosarn Road is situated, said he had received many complaints from residents in the
popular backpackers? destination concerning the vendors who put their stalls on the road, which in
theory should be reserved for motor traffic.

With these vendors selling goods and street food
on the road, Khaosarn is turned into an an unauthorised ?walking street?, Mr. Chullanop said.

Cars can?t travel in the Road during the day, and the place is overwhelmed with people at
night, he said, adding that the situation had caused much trouble to residents and shop-owners
along the Road.

Nevertheless, even some shop-owners started placing stalls on the motor way,
too, Mr. Chullanop said.

He clarified that street vendors are not allowed on the road way
from 06.00 to 22.00 but they are permitted to hawk their goods on the pavements.

The
official said he had delivered the warning to many vendors in the area that the authorities would
launch crackdown on those who continue violate the laws, with fine set at 2,000 baht per offence.
After the warning was issued, the situation improved somewhat, he added.

Police were first alerted of
the murder that took place in Samed District (not to be confused with Samed Island of Rayong
province). At the scene, the police found the body of Mr. Taitoon Sunthornwongsa, 34, with gunshot
wounds on his neck and his back.

Early investigation revealed that Mr. Taitoon, an official
working for Chonburi municipality, was standing outside his pickup truck, which he had just parked
in front of his office. A minute later, a car then parked behind Mr. Taitoon′s car. Its driver got
off and shot Mr. Taitoon at close range.

Once Mr. Taitoon fell down, the suspect shot him
again for 3 more times, before fleeing the scene.

Few hours later, Mr. Nattapol Yimpakdee,
50, arrived at the police station in Samed District and identified himself as the shooter of Mr.
Taitoon. He also brought the handgun he said he used in the crime.

Mr. Nattapol told police
he and Mr. Taitoon had been in rouble for some time already, as Mr. Taitoon was having affairs
with Mr. Nattapol′s wife. The suspect said he had chided Mr. Taitoon for his action, but the victim
reportedly challenged him by threatening Mr. Nattapol with the gun he carried.

The suspect
said he felt greatly disrespected by the gesture, so he pre-emptively shot Mr. Taitoon dead
today.

I have told him, if you are a true man and truly loves my wife, just tell me and I
will give her up for you, but he insulted my honour, Mr. Nattapol told police
investigators.

The girl told police the
monk lured her to visit him at his temple in April this year by promising her free food, an offer
she said she accepted because her family was in poverty. The monk reportedly raped her there before
paying her 80 baht and threatening her not to tell anyone.

In spite of what happened, she
said, she continued to visit the monk for food, due to her family′s financial situation. But
she said she had taken care not to be with the monk alone during those visits.

On 28 May,
however, when Phra Mahasanan reportedly called the girl to visit him for free food again, the girl
came to see the monk with her 2 friends. The monk then asked the girl to buy him some alcohol so she
went out buying the alcohol, leaving her friends with the suspect, according to the
victim.

When she came back,she said, she saw the suspect touching her friends, so she ran
inside, dropped the items on the floor and headed for the exit. Unfortunately the monk allegedly
grabbed her and raped her again while her friends managed to escape.

The girl told
investigators she was worried that she might be pregnant, so she consulted her friends about buying
contraception pills. The words of the incident finally reached her mother, who contacted 
Pavena Foundation, a charity group for women and children in distress, for help.

Ms. Pavena
Hongsakul, Social development and Human Security Minister and the director of Pavena Foundation,
reported the incident to the police, and they later arrested Pra Mahasanan at Wat Tung Ruang Tong
temple in Chun district, Phayao province, where he was hiding.