Kaset U. Student Seriously Injured By 'Stone-Throwing Gang'

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12 June 2013, 14:30

(11 June) A freshman student at Kasetsart University was injured after an assailant reportedly threw a brick into her car as it sped on the highway in Nakorn Pathom province.

Ms. Jenjira Thongchai, 18, was riding in the front seat of her boyfriend′s pickup truck around 20.00 when an unknown assailant on the roadside threw a large brick, estimated to weigh around 2 kg., at the car′s front windshield, according to her mother Ms. Prapai Thongchai.

Aided by the speed of the oncoming car, the rock smashed through the window and hit Ms. Jenjira in her face, causing massive injuries, Ms. Prapai said. Ms. Jenjira is currently staying at Sanamchan hospital. Her head′s wound was so grave that the doctors had to shave her head, and she is advised to stay in bed lest the wound is disturbed.

Ms. Prapai said she has already contacted the police, but the investigation is very diffilcult because the crime scene was dark at the time and no CCTV is installed nearby.

She said she′s worried about her daughter′s future because it is not clear how much she would recover from her injuries. She urged the police to solve this case seriously in order to prevent other people from falling victims to similar crimes.

′Stone-throwing gangs′ (Thai: gang pa hin แก๊งปาหิน ) are known to terrorize motorists on inter-provincial highways, especially around Bangkok suburb, with some cases involving deadly casualties. The suspects in these crimes are mostly youngsters who said they did it "just for fun".

Appeal Court Reaffirms 'Da Torpedo' Lese Majeste Sentence

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12 June 2013, 13:56

Ms. Daranee Charncherngsilpakul (file photo)

(12 June) The Appeals
Court in Bangkok today reaffirms the 15 year jail sentence handed down by Criminal Court to the
former activist convicted of insulting the monarchy.

Ms. Daranee
Charncherngsilpakul, 55, is a former activist who campaigned against the 2006 military coup. She was
known by her supporters for her aggressive language on stage, hence her nickname ?Da Torpedo?.

Although she is generally described in the media as member of Redshirts, Ms. Daranee had
been active in the field even before the formation of the Redshirts? organization, National United
Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD).

She was arrested in 2008 for the speeches she
made in January-June that year during the series of rallies held at Sanam Luang (Royal Field) in
front of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. The authorities say the speeches were insulting toward the
monarchy, and the Criminal Court agreed with the allegation, saying that she intended to sabotage
the people′s loyalty to His Majesty the King.

The Court sentenced her to 15 years in jail in
December 2011, but Ms. Daranee had already been imprisoned for years before the ruling.

Explaining their rejection of her appeal today, the Appeals Court judges said her actions
has caused harm to the majesty of the monarchy, we must therefore punish [Ms. Daranee] severely to
discourage similar actions from other people.

Ms. Daranee told reporters after the ruling
that she has been in jail for 5 years but no leader of the UDD has ever come to visit her. Only Ms.
Suda Rangkupan, leader of the more progressive wing of the Redshirts, has visited her, Ms. Daranee
said.

I?m not sure if I would still fight alongside the UDD after I?m released from jail,
Ms. Daranee said.

'Prank Bomb' Sets Off Panic At Samut Songkram Post Office

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Khaosod English

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11 June 2013, 18:49

(11
June) Police in Bangkontee district, Samut Songkram, received report from post office employees in
the district that a suspicious package has been found at the office. The police then dispatched bomb
squad to investigate the scene.

The said package was a mail parcel containing what appeared
to be C4 bomb attached to a watch, with a note saying You will die, old bitch. Post office staff
said they received the package from usual mail route.

Bomb squad officers moved the object
to the back of the building, and found that the the parcel was addressed to Ms. Boonyadee (surname
undisclosed), a resident of Bangkontee district.

Upon being contacted by the police, Ms.
Bonnyadee said the parcel might have been sent from her friend who wanted to pull a prank on her
because it′s almost her birthday. Eventually, her friend contacted the police and told them that the
omb was in fact an alarm clock, and he bought it from a website selling toys.

The man was
fined 500 baht by the police on the ground of causing panic.

Pol.Col. Prapas Inta,
superintendent of Bangkontee police station, said that people should not tease each other with such
toys because it might give wrong impression to children that real bombs might be toys.

Vice Govt Spokesman Disagrees With Redshirts' Actions At Lamphun

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11 June 2013, 15:29

(11 June)
The vice spokesman of the government, Mr. Pakdiharn Himatongkum, said the Redshirts had gone too far
when their supporters staged a protest near the venue of Democrat Party′s rally in Lamphun province
on Saturday (8 June).

Democrat Party supporters at the rally complained of fireworks and
other projectiles fired by slingshots from direction of the rowdy Redshirts crowds, and Mr. Abhisit
Vejjajeeva, the chairman of the Democrats, publicly criticized the Redshirts about
this.

Nonetheless, Mr. Pakdiharn said that Mr. Abhisit should also ask himself why there were
people acting violently against him in a manner as one who lost his patience.

The vice spokesman
offered an answer himself, saying that the Redshirts in Lamphun province are tired Mr Abhisit′s
lies and distorted facts he had spoken at the rally.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sombat Boonngam-anong, leader of Red Sunday group which
is a relatively progressive wing of the Redshirts mass, voiced his dissatisfaction with the Lamphun
Redshirts on his Facebook, saying that the Redshirts had no legitimacy to disrupt rival groups?
rallies.

If we demand democracy, we have to respect its principles. Everyone has the right
to speak, Mr. Sombat wrote, if the Redshirts movement continues to behave this way, Redshirts who
had been holding the banner of democracy might be dissuaded and take off their
Redshirts.

Editorial: 11 June 2013

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Khaosod English

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11 June 2013, 14:22

Who Was Who In 2010

It is not surprising to see Mr. Suthep Thueksuban, former vice Prime Minister and former director of the so-called Center for the Resolution of the Emergency Situation (CRES), insisting that his decision to authorize the fully armed military personnel to disperse the protesters in 2010 was a correct, innocent, and appropriate one.

Surely, every individual has the freedom to speak or express according to what he or she believes, and it is the right of the individual to defend his or her self from allegations.

But whether other individuals and agencies would agree with Mr. Suthep is entirely different matter.

We hope that the Court of Justice will judge what is right and wrong according to the laws, after it has collected all the information and accounts from every side involved, while the society that has been waiting for "truth" about the incident will finally understand what really happened, or reaffirm whatever beliefs they have already held.

What is certain is this: the investigation about deaths of civilians caused by the military crackdown cannot rely on what came out of Mr. Suthep's mouth alone. One must listen carefully to all sides of the story.

Another crucial piece of information that we must bear in mind is that almost 100 civilians and security forces personnel were dead with more than 2,000 people injured by the crackdown, and that there must be someone to take responsibility for the losses.

The legal process to achieve justice for those who suffer losses is important thing, but what is also important is the process to discover the truth so that the society can learn together, that we might find the way to prevent such atrocities from recurring in the future.

History will not only remember who has which roles in the crackdown, but also who attempted to hide the truth when others sought to reveal it to the world.

Doubts Surround Renowned Abbot's Sudden Return To Japan

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11 June 2013, 13:51

(11 June) The Buddhist
community in Thailand is still reeling from shock today after reports emerged that Phra
(monk) Mitsuo Gavesako, the popular Japan-born monk who has been living in Thailand for more than 30
years, has resigned from monkhood and returned to his home-country.

Rumor about Phra
Mitsuo′s resignation and return to Japan surfaced throughout yesterday (10 June) and was later
confirmed by various Buddhist officials, including the senior staff at Sunandhavanaram
monastery in Kanchanaburi province where he had overseen as its abbot for many years.

The
news came as a shock to his numerous followers, many of them middle class urbanites. Phra Mitsuo,
whose pre-ordaination name is Mr. Mitsuo Shibahashi, was well-known for his emphasis on
meditation, his preaching about calm mind, and the charity works at the foundation he helped
established, Maya Gotami Foundation.

His reputation was even more cemented by the fact that
he was ordained by the famous Luang Por (elder monk) Cha Suphatto of Nong Pa Pong temple,
Ubon Ratchathani province.

Maya Gotami Foundation has released statement saying that Phra
Mitsuo has undergone defrocking ceremony at Chanasongkram temple in Bangkok on 8 June and had since
returned to Japan. The statement cited health problems such as diabetes and high cholesterol level
for his resignation.

He needs rest and the doctors need to tend to him for very long
period, the statement says.

Mr. Nopparat Benchawattananan, director of National Buddism
Office, said that he was shocked by Phra Mitsuo′s resignation and regretted it because Phra Matsuo
had done great service to Buddhism, bringing many Thais and foreigners to the
faith.

Nonetheless, many of his followers remain skeptical of Phra Mitsuo′s real motive
due to the sudden and secretive nature of his resignation. Some wonder whether a darker reason is
involved.

Meanwhile, vice abbot of Sunandhavanaram monastery, denied rumor
that Phra Mitsuo had resigned to escape from financial dispute in the
temple.

As for latest development, a nun in Sunandhavanaram
monastery has revealed to our correspondent that Phra Mitsuo has phoned a volunteer
worker in the monastery and told her that he planned to set up meditation courses for Japanese and
Thais in Japan around September. According to the nun, Phra Mitsuo will tour the cities of Kumamoto,
Okinawa, and Nagoya that month.

However, she did not reveal the city that Phra Mitsuo is
currently staying, and said that he had not discussed his reasons to leave Thailand during the
telephone conversation.

Man Flirts Woman, Gets Knifed By Her Husband

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Khaosod English

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11 June 2013, 11:46

(10 June)
Around midnight, Pathumthani police received report that a fight broke out and a victim was knifed
to death in Muang district.

The incident took place at an unnamed 2-storey flat in Baan Klang
sub-district. At the staircase of the building police found the body of Mr. Nopparat Kotekapi, 41, a
native of Nong Kai province, with stabbing wound in his left side chest.

Witnesses told
police they saw Mr. Nopparat, in drunken state, flirting with the wife of his neighbor, inviting her
to go out with him that night, and the woman became upset and told her husband, Mr. Banchong
Seedokpud, 40. Mr. Banchong reportedly confronted Mr. Nopparat about this, and fights broke
out.

Police said Mr. Bangchong fled the scene after stabbing Mr. Nopparat to
death. Police are still looking for
him.

Suspect In Rayong Rape-Murder Case Arrested

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Khaosod English

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11 June 2013, 10:50

(10 June) Rayong police
say they have arrested the suspect wanted for a rape and murder case.

Previously, police in
Rayong province found the naked body of Ms. Pad (alias) in a wooded area in Soi Krun 2, Pe district,
with her feet bound. Later, police realized that Ms. Pad had a daughter who had gone missing as
well, while locals identified the suspect as Mr. Anucha Srimantra, 32, a native of Amnart Charoen
province.

Eventually police arrested Mr. Anucha and recovered Ms. Pad′s daughter. Mr.
Anucha told police he entered Ms. Pad′s house, raped her, and killed her by strangling her
neck in front of her daughter, then proceeded to dispose her body by driving away in her truck,
taking her daughter with him.

He claimed he had committed the crime because he had secretly
been in love with Ms. Pad.

Official: Thai Jailors Overwhelmed By Number of Prisoners

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Khaosod English

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11 June 2013, 10:34

(11 June) Chief of the
Department of Corrections warned that lack of staff to properly maintain Thai prisons must be
rectified as soon as possible.

Pol.Col. Suchart Wong-ananchai said that the Department of
Corrections has seen no rise in new civil servants for the past 20 years, the number currently
standing at 11,000 officials. He said only new additions so far have been temporary staff, and their
training has not been as rigorous as normal staff.

Meanwhile, Pol.Col. Suchart said, number
of prisoners in Thai prisons increase by about 3,000 persons each month. He expected that by the end
of this year, the total number of prisoners would reach 300,000 nationwide, which means there would
be 1 jailor for every 30 prisoners, whereas the standard recommends a ratio of 1 jailor for every 5
prisoners.

The chief of the Department of Corrections also noted that 70% of convicts are
jailed for drug-related sentence, and he feared that Thai prisons are ripe ground for officials to
get involved in drug business.

Comedian Caught In Political Crossfire Turns To Police For Help

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Khaosod English

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10 June 2013, 20:00

(10 June) A famous
comedian who was accused by anti-government online groups of parodying His Majesty the King lodged
complaint to computer crime police today, and pleaded that he be left alone.

The case of Teng Terd Terng, whose real name is Pongsak
Pongsuwan, 47, escalated quickly after he appeared at
a birthday party ofa prominent Redshirt leader, who′s also a Pheu Thai Party MP. There, onstage,
he told the audience that he wished Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra would come back quickly to
Thailand.

Mr. Thaksin was ousted in military coup in 2006 and had been spending most of his
time abroad to escape from corruption charges, which he insisted are politically motivated.
Nonetheless, his political base remained strong. His sister Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra is now the Prime
Minister.

The former prime minister is a deeply divisive figure: his supporters the
Redshirts see him as symbol of electoral democracy while his critics the Yellowshirts say he is a
corrupt tyrant who sought to overthrow the monarchy.

After the news of Mr. Pongsak′s words
surfaced, anti-government groups on social network disseminated a screenshot of his comedy TV show,
in which he sat on what appeared to be wheelchair holding a camera, and accused
him of making funof His Majesty the King who sometimes appeared on wheelchair with his
camera.

Insulting or criticizing the monarchy is extremely serious crime in Thailand, and can
be punished with up to 15 years in jail.

Today, Mr. Pongsak brought his lawyer to meet with
the computer crime police at their headquarters on Chaeng Watana Road, and filed complaint about the
matter.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Pongsak said he lodged the complaint today to show his
innocence, insisting that he loves the monarchy and would like to beg those who accuse him of
insulting His Majesty the King to stop their action.

Please stop. I?m a working man. I just
want to [stay in business and] have works in the future. Nowadays I can?t even sleep or eat, he
told reporters.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit Pao-in said that although Mr. Pongsak did not want to
press charge against anyone, his unit will investigate and find those responsible for disseminating
the accusation. He said legal procedure might be brought against these people, but did not give
details about specific laws.

They use the beloved institution to bully others. This is not
right. We will take this matter very seriously, Pol.Maj.Gen. Pisit said.

Meanwhile, Mr.
Panthongtae Shinawatra, the son of Mr. Thaksin, wrote on his Facebook that Redshirts should give
moral support to Mr. Pongsak. He said he praised Mr. Pongsak for showing his Red spirit and
suggested that his supporters adopt a mask with the face of Mr. Pongsak to counter the Guy Fawkes
Mask wearing anti-government protesters.

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