Clashes Narrowly Averted At Chiang Rai White Masks Rally

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23 June 2013, 19:51

(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.

Woman Says She's Threatened By Followers Of Controversial Monk

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Khaosod English

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22 June 2013, 21:07

(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.

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

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Khaosod English

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21 June 2013, 20:42

(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.

Attorney Appeals Court Ruling On 2010 CTW Arson

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Khaosod English

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21 June 2013, 20:12

(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.

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

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Khaosod English

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21 June 2013, 19:24

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.

Supporters of Controversial Monk Defend His Luxurious Lifestyle

By

Khaosod English

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21 June 2013, 18:21

(21 June) Spiritual followers of a
controversial monk defend his lavish lifestyle which hit headlines around the world, even as
torrents of public criticism continue to mount against him.

Luang Puu
(Elder/Grandfather Monk) Nen Kam Chattigo, whose temple is based in Sisaket province, was seen on
various images and videos riding a camel in his trip to Egypt, showing off a Mercedes Benz, smiling
from his seat in a helicopter, and relaxing with an iPhone and Luis Vuitton bag on his private jet
plane.

But the image which seems to touch off the nerve of the public the most is the one
that appears to show Luang Nen Kam sleeping next to a girl. Both were presumed to be naked. The
Office of National Buddhism has previously called for investigation into the matters, calling his
actions damaging to the faith of Buddhists, since Buddhist monks were supposed to lead a humble
life.

Although his title suggests that he is an aged monk, Luang Nen Kam is believed to be in
his late 30s. His followers said that the title of Luang Pu denotes the years he had lived in his
previous lives.

The monk himself has not spoken to the public since the issue surfaced. His
temple staff said he′s currently on a trip in Europe and will be back in Thailand soon. It is not
clear which country he is traveling at the moment.

In the meantime, his spiritual supporters
– which are believe to be numerous and include many influential businessmen and bureaucrats – are
rallying behind him. Yesterday (20 June) a group of such supporters, led by Mr. Pattaradech
Sopanpanich, hosted a press conference in Nonthaburi province to tell their side of the story. The
conference was attended by more than 100 followers of Luang Pu Nen Kam.

Mr. Pattaradech said
that the media attack on Luang Pu is unfair, saying that he did not own or buy any such luxury.
The helicopter and jet plane rides, he said, were paid for by the monk′s followers who want to offer
convenient and fast means of travel for Luang Pu. As for Luis Vuitton bag, Mr. Pattaradech said they
were all donated to him by the templegoers.

Mr. Pattaradech also dismissed the allegation
that Luang Puu Nen Kam slept with a woman. He told reporters that the sordid image was fabricated
4-5 years ago by someone who unsuccessfully attempted to extort 7 million baht from the
monk.

He also deflected criticism about the construction of emerald Buddha statue which costs
over 200 million baht. Mr. Pattaradech said the temple gathered money from faithful donators and all
donation procedures are transparent.

Phra (Monk) Takrit Kantadharmmo, spokesman of
Luang Pu Nen Kam, told the reporters that he has spoken to Luang Pu and insisted that the monk would
explain everything to the press once he′s back in Thailand. He denied suggestion that the Buddhist
authorities might strip his temple from religious site status, noting that the temple has never been
registered properly in the first place.

Meanwhile, Mr. Virord Chaipannana, director Sisaket′s
provincial chapter of Office of National Buddhism (ONAB), said that a committee has been established
to investigate Luang Pu Nen Kam′s financial status. He said the investigation will start as soon as
the monk returned from abroad, and if the monk is found to be guilty of any wrongdoing, he will be
instantly expelled from monkhood.

However, Mr. Virord said that the investigation will be
difficult because Luang Pu′s temple in Sisaket province is not officially registered with ONAB.
Therefore, he said, officials can only see whether the donations have been properly spent, but they
have no way of knowing where the money comes from or who really has the ownership over the massive
donation.

Mr. Virord noted that the decision by Luang Pu Nen Kam not to register his temple
officially might be a calculated move to avoid such investigation.

PM Yingluck Celebrates Her 46th Birthday

By

Khaosod English

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21 June 2013, 15:35

PM Yingluck Shinawatra lighting an incense at the Government House's spirit shrine.

(21 June)
PM Yingluck Shinawatra marks her 46th birthday anniversary by performing religious rites and
expressing the wish to see peace in Thai society as her birthday present.

Ms. Yingluck
arrived at the Government House at 08.39 today, clad in blue blouse and skirt, which she assured the
reporters bear no political nor supernatural meaning (many Thais believe dressing in certain color
would affect their fortunes).

She began her day by praying to the Buddha figure in her
office, to the statue of Hindu deity Brahma at Thai Ku
Fah building, and to the shrine dedicated to the spirit which is believed to
reside in the Government House.

Rain started to shower lightly as she prayed to the outdoor
shrine, and Ms. Yingluck joked to the reporters that heaven is sprinkling her with holy water in the
manner of a monk blessing his templegoers, therefore it must be sign of good luck. Later, she
ordered donation of food and fruits to be brought to Priest Hospital and orphanages in
Bangkok.

Various officials streamed to the Thai Ku Fah building to wish her well, such as
Cabinet members, politicians from Chart Pattana Party, and heads of her security guards team. Every
gift brought to the Prime Minister was scanned thoroughly by bomb detectors.

Ms. Yingluck later emerged and took questions from the crowd of reporters. She
said she wanted to see love, compassion, and peace in the society as present for her 46th birthday.
She told reporters that she still had the energy to serve her role as leader of the nation. She
thanked her supporters for the moral support she had been receiving.

The Prime Minister also
urged fellow politicians to work together with creativity in order to improve the country. She
said she′s willing to listen to opinions from all sides.

Asked what present her son has given
her today, Ms. Yingluck said her son has shown her a birthday e-card he has customized for her on
the computer this morning before she left for Government House.

Later, when a reporter asked
her about the problems caused by the controversial rice mortgage scheme, Ms. Yingluck declined to
give an answer, saying that That′s enough. Please, it′s my birthday
today.

Our correspondent added that lottery hunters across the country are
busy themselves interpreting numbers associated with the Prime Minister′s birthday. Popular numbers
are 46, her age, and 2510, which is the Buddhist reckoning of the year 1967 – Ms. Yingluck′s
birthyear. Also popular is the license plate of her van, 2924.

Hardcore lottery speculators
argued that numbers surrounding Ms. Yingluck have often ended up as winning lottery numbers,
especially the license plate of her cars. While the more rational population of Thailand dismiss the
claim as fallacious observation, some anti-government critics went as far as accusing the government
of fixing lotto number.

Phuket Top Police Blasts Video Of Thai Man Slapping Russian

By

Khaosod English

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20 June 2013, 21:12

PHUKET – Commander of the police in Phuket province criticized the Russian man who made public the video of himself being slapped and threatened with a gun by a Thai man, saying the video has 'caused damage' to the image of Thailand.

Phuket news agency The Phuket News uploaded the video which was sent to them by Mr. Vasiliv Tubaev onto Youtube website. The video appeared to record the moments when a Thai man showing up Mr. Tubaev′s room with a gun. In the video, the man could be seen slapping and threatening the Russian with his handgun, saying that Mr. Tubaev should leave his wife alone. The individual eventually left the room.

Phuket News reported that Mr. Tubaev was dating a woman who had not told him she was already seeing someone else, hence the angry responses from the woman′s husband. The news agency says Mr. Tubaev saw the man coming to his room, so he set a camera to record the confrontation.

Mr. Tubaev declined the offer of 10,000 baht in cash as compensation from the man and pressed charge instead, the Phuket News reported, adding that the Russian already left Phuket.

Today, Pol.Maj.Gen. Choti Chawarnvivat, commander of Phuket provincial police, hosted a press conference at the police HQ and gave out details about the matter. He said the incident took place at PN Mansion in Muang district on 6 June, and the police arrested the Thai individual on 12 June.

The suspect was identified as Mr. Patchara Utsaha, 37, a native of Trang province. Pol.Maj.Gen. Choti said the man confessed to his actions, saying that he threatened the Russian with his replica gun out of anger after Mr. Tubaev went on a date with his wife. The police commander added that the case is now being processed by the court.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Choti said he wanted to stress that Phuket police pressed importance on providing safety for foreign tourists. He insisted that every case that involved foreign tourist in Phuket is taken very seriously by his force.

"However, the video greatly damaged the people of Phuket … this is not the big picture or the work of some bureaucratic agency abusing this Russian. It is just the action of an individual and the police are working very seriously on the case," Pol.Maj.Gen. Choti said.

He voiced his suspicion about Mr. Tubaev′s intention, saying that the video looks "staged". He said the video might help individuals who want to cause damage to Phuket island′s tourism industry and paint a negative picture of the people of Phuket.

"We might be used as a tool to spread news about bad things we did," the police commander said.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Choti went on to say that Mr. Tubaev "hurt" Thailand and Phuket by airing the video "about his personal experience" instead of contacting the officials if he thought the police are not being fair to him.

He said he had tasked the vice commander of Phuket provincial police to investigate what the motives of the news agency that uploaded the video are, especially whether the news agency has any intention to cause damage to the nation or the province. He warned that if the media agency is found to be violating media ethics or any law, it would be severely "dealt with".

He did not explicitly name The Phuket News as the target of his investigation.

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