Certain media agencies have reported,without
citing verifiable source, that the US Food and Drug Agency (FDA) has prevented all shipments of Thai
rice grains from entering the US mainland due to supposed fear that rice under the Thai program is
heavily contaminated with dangerous chemicals.

In his Facebook post, Mr.
Noch Hautavanija also cited the story previously reported by The Nation and Thai Rath newspapers,
which had been vehemently denied by top officials in Thai government.

However, a quick
inspection would reveal that the FDA alert notice mentioned by Mr. Noch as
evidence is in fact a very broad order instructing FDA agents to detain shipments of food imported
from various companies and countries that are suspected of containing dangerous
chemicals.

The said order affects wide-ranging products, and it did not mention the Thai rice
scheme. Moreover, its most recent order (dated 12 May 2013) appears to focus on shipment of
glutinous rice from only one company in Thailand – based in Samut Sakorn province – and not on all
shipments of Thai rice, contrary to what the anti-government critics have claimed.

Mr. Braunohler explained that the FDA alert was first
established in 1998 and has been updated regularly ever since. He said the import alert has nothing
to do with Thai rice pledging program.

The murder took place in front of a condominium in the town
center. When police arrived at the scene, they found the body of Mr. Surapol Sukkasem, 38, a
resident of Autthaya province, in the front seat of his car. He was said to be a son of a
businessman in that province.

Later, Mr. Chirawat Kuanliang, 37, a resident of Saraburi,
surrendered himself to the police and said he shot Mr. Surapol to death because he had been sleeping
with his wife.

Mr. Chirawat told police he and his wife had 2 children together, and Mr.
Surapol has been a good friend of his. However, he said, he found out that Mr. Surapol has been
bringing his wife to sleep with him at that condominium, which enormously enraged him.

According to Mr. Chirawat, as soon as he saw Mr. Surapol he raced to the car, opened the car
door, and shot Mr. Surapol at point-blank range. He also sprayed bullets on the car windshields and
the car doors. He reportedly spent 3 magazines of his handgun in the murder.

The suspect told
police he felt compelled to committing the crime out of rue man′s honor.

Reports have been streaming from Chiang Mai that certain number
of Tai ethnics, who reside as immigrant workers in the province, has banded into gangs loitering in
the town center and causing disturbance to locals. Some of these gangs were also reportedly mugging
and beating up victims at odd hours.

One such incident was said to take place at 03.00 on 16
June. Police say 2 teenagers were assaulted by knife-wielding suspects who rode on 3 motorcycles and
spotted the victims as they were hanging around a bridge in Muang District.

The victims
reportedly fled on their motorcycle but the assailants caught up with them in front of a restaurant.
There, they were slashed with knifes on the heads, legs, and arms. The suspects also stole mobile
phone from the victims. Later, police arrested 5 Tai ethnics accused of committing the crime. The 5
Tai men reportedly confessed.

The worries over the so-called Tai gangs have led to
retaliation from Thai teenagers who formed vigilante groups and attacked Tai immigrants in the
province. Our correspondent said the situation forced many residents in town center to stay indoor
during night time, fearful of various gangs and vigilante groups who raced their motorcycles noisily
along the city roads looking for their rivals.

Recently, a Facebook page titled Campaign of
Taming Tai Gangs has been launched, gaining many ?Likes?. Many Facebook users wrote their
complaints about the alleged Tai gangs behavior, while some openly encourage vigilante actions
against the gangs.