Full Plot Confession Of Controversial Entrepreneur's Murder

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12 June 2013, 23:34

(12 June) Suspects
involved in the abduction and subsequent murder of controversial businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr have
revealed in details how the extraordinary saga unfolds.

When it first emerged on 9 June that Mr. Akeyuth Anchanbutr, a self-proclaimed Yellowshirt
supporter, disappeared from his residence, conspiracy theories that he was abducted and possibly
murdered by politically-motivated assailants immediately followed, due to his longtime opposition to
Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, whose sister is currently serving as Prime Minister.

Mr.
Santiparp ?Ball? Penduang, the driver of Mr. Akeyuth and the prime suspect in the case, has
previously suggested to police that his boss got off his car on the highway in Prachuab Kiri Khan
province and disappeared with the convoy carrying unidentified individuals. His statement fueled the
speculation even further.

However, Mr. Santiparp eventually changed his statements and
confessed that it was he who kidnapped Mr. Akeyuth, extorted 5 million baht from the man, and
subsequently killed him as he struggled to run away. Mr. Akeyuth′s body was found later
in

Mr. Santiparp confessed to investigators that he planned the abduction for
months. He said he wanted the money and was angered by the fact that his girlfriend had been fired
from Mr. Akeyuth′s company for embezzling the company money.

Mr. Santiparp then gathered his
friends from Phattalung, which is his home province, for the plot. 3 friends showed up in Bangkok
days before the incident for preparation. They are Mr. Chawalit Boonchoom, Mr. Tivakorn Kuethong,
and Mr. Suttipong Pimpisarn. Mr. Chawalit and Mr. Tivakorn are now under arrest, while Mr. Suttipong
is still at large.

However, the sources say, Mr. Santiparp also invited a friend whose
father is a police officer to join the plot. This friend declined the offer and later told his
father about Mr. Santiparp′s plan after he heard the news about Mr. Akeyuth′s disappearance, which
eventually led to Mr. Santiparp′s arrest.

According to Mr. Santiparp′s
statement, he acted when Mr Akeyuth was dining in a restaurant in northern Bangkok. He called Mr.
Santiparp to pick him up, so the driver met with Mr. Suttipong, hid him in the backseat, and drove
to meet with Mr. Akeyuth. Once the businessman got into the car, Mr. Suttipong reportedly threatened
him with a handgun.

After Mr. Akeyuth was driven home, where he was held in handcuffs, other
conspirators joined with Mr. Santiparp and Mr. Suttipong. During his captivity, Mr. Akeyuth′s son
phoned him to ask about the house key, so Mr. Akeyuth tried to send a signal in the conversation
while the kidnappers watched him closely.

Sensing something suspicious, Mr. Akeyuth′s son drove to the house, but did not enter
the property. He observed the house from outside for a while, then drove
away.

In the meantime, the kidnappers
destroyed servers of the residence′s CCTV to hide their trails. On then next morning, they forced
Mr. Akeyuth to write 3 cheques, totalling 5 million baht. Mr. Akeyuth was then forced to hand the
cheques to one of his unsuspecting employees who went straight away to the bank to get the
money. They appointed Suvannabhumi Airport as the
place to meet and pick up the money.

The bank staff called Mr. Akeyuth to confirm it is his
consent to let the employee withdraw the money on his behalf. Mr. Akeyuth, threatened with the gun,
gave the consent. As Mr. Akeyuth had withdrawn his money in this manner before, the bank staff did
not become suspicious.

The team drove Mr. Akeyuth to pick up the money at the Airport.
Details grow murky after this point. According to what Mr. Santiparp told the police, the group
intended to let Mr. Akeyuth go on the highway, but the businessman broke free from the car and
attempted to run away as the kidnappers were still talking.

Mr. Santiparp said they rushed
out to hold down Mr. Akeyuth and killed him in anger by holding his throat to death. Reportedly, Mr.
Suttipong was the one who strangled Mr. Akeyuth with shoelaces afterwards to make sure he was
dead.

Police sources say the investigators are not convinced. They hypothesized that Mr.
Santiparp might have planned the murder to cover up their kidnapping all along.

The body was
dumped near Jingjo (Kangaroo) Mountain in Phattalung province. Mr. Santiparp attempted to convince
his friend – the policeman′s son – to help him clean up the mess, but the man reportedly refused.
Mr. Santiparp was later arrested in Bangkok suburb.

Mr. Santiparp and 2 other suspects are
facing numerous charges, including robbing and killing, forcing the victim to sign financial
document, and unlawful detention of the victim.

Bomb Damages Replica of Historic Pattani Cannon

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 20:34

(11 June) For years, some
residents and activists in Pattani province have been demanding the return of the Great Tani Cannon,
the cannon that defended the city-state of Pattani during its wars with Siamese invaders. It was
carted off to Siamese capital city around 200 years ago by the victorious Siamese troops after they
finally conquered the sultanate.

Before it was incorporated into modern-day Thailand, Pattani
was an independent Islamic state, and the the echoes of fierce independence is still found in the
insurgency movements that have plagued the region for decades.

On 2 June, the Thai
authorities responded to call for Great Tani′s return by sending a replica of the cannon to be
installed in front of Pattani′s historic Krue Se mosque, but the actual Cannon is still displayed in
front of Ministry of Defense in Bangkok. The bizarre move puzzled and even angered some locals, who
saw it as an arrogant gesture from the Thai authorities.

Today, in an attack that might
represent that sentiment, a bomb exploded and broke the replica cannon in half.

The bomb,
which was hidden under the replica, was detonated around 18.30, while daily evening Islamic prayer
was being held in nearby Krue Se mosque. The explosion also damaged the base of the replica
cannon.

Reports indicate that shortly after the
bombing, banners bearing pro-independence slogans were hung in many parts of Pattani town center.
One banner reads The Siamese imperialists are liars. They do not own this land.

Maxim Cover Girl Told Police She Was Drugged

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 19:30

(12 June) A well-known
sexy idol reported to police that she woke up half naked in a motel room with a man after a
night-out during which she might have been drugged.

Ms. Pilawan
Arirorb, 30, pressed charge of sexual harassment and unlawful detention against the man, who was
identified simply as Mr. Got.

The idol, who′s better known by her nickname Muay Maxim after
she graced the cover of the adult magazine in 2010, told the police that some time ago she had been
given a job offer from a fellow model called Joy.

The job, she said, was to attend a
birthday party of a young businessman and held the birthday cake for him. She said she was promised
a payment of 5,000 baht.

Ms. Pilawan told the police that on 7 June she showed up at the
appointed venue but could not see any birthday cake. Only 5-6 people were there, according to Ms.
Pilawan, so she stayed and talk with them. She said she drank one glass of alcoholic beverage,
became bored of the lackluster party, went out for smoke, and felt very dizzy when she came
back.

She was certain she was drugged, because the next thing she knew was waking up in a
hotel room with someone from the party, Mr. Got. She said she wore only her underwear when she woke
up, so she phoned her friends for help. Meanwhile, Mr. Got reportedly tried to flee, but she held
him back until her friends arrived.

According to the former Maxim cover girl, Mr. Got
insisted to her that she willingly came to the room with him. However, she said, the hotel staff
showed her CCTV footage of her, unconscious, being half carried to the room.

Ms. Pilawan told
police she was afraid to file the charge at first, but she became worried that Mr. Got might
sexually violate her and film her when she was naked, so she decided to seek help from
police.

The police said they would investigate the matter.

?Muay Maxim? was the center
of a scandal between her and the singer ?Howard Wang? who was alleged to have repeatedly physically
abused Ms. Pilawan.

Relatives Of 2010 Crackdown Victims Protest Amnesty Bill

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 18:24

BANGKOK — The family members of 20 people killed in the military crackdown on Redshirt protesters in April-May 2010 gathered in front of the Government House in central Bangkok today to voice opposition to a bill that would grant amnesty to those responsible for the operation.

The violence in those two months claimed more than 90 lives, including protesters, security forces personnel, journalists, rescue workers, and civilian bystanders.

Today's group was led by Ms. Payao Akhard, the mother of a volunteer nurse who was shot dead while tending to the wounded in Pathum Wanararm Temple on 19 May 2010, and Mr. Pansak Srithep, father of a high school student who killed while he was observing the protests on 15 May 2010.

Ms. Payao said she was disappointed to see 163 MPs of the ruling Pheu Thai Party support the draft of a bill that would absolve all involved in the political violence, including the authorities at the time.

She also expressed concern about the lack of oppostion to the bill among Redshirts or members of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's Redshirt-backed government.

"I have to stand up and ask for justice from Ms. Yingluck because she told the BBC in her early days in office that she wants to find out the truth about the crackdown and punish those who gave the orders," Ms. Payao said.

Ms. Payao's group also urged the government to release prisoners being held for their involvement in the 2010 protests.

The crowd dispersed peacefully after giving a letter of protest to Mr. Supon Attawong, vice secretary of Prime Minister′s Office and a former Redshirts leader.

Full-Time Policeman, Part-Time 'Likay' Dancer

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Khaosod English

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12 June 2013, 16:07

(Kon Kaen) Police agents living double lives are common theme in crime thrillers. The 29-year old Police Lance Corporal Wiwat Chantamom of Kon Kaen provincial police is one of those cops.

His other life is far from the grim pictures depicted in those thrillers, however. LCpl. Wiwat fights the villain to save the damsel in distress, he sits in the lofty palace hall and preached about moral of good triumphing over evil, he dances and sings the poetic rhythm.

In short, he is a part-time leading performer of the folk play troupe called Likay (ลิเก).

Before the lights and sounds of modern cinemas, Likay was one of the core entertainments available to Thais, especially in the countryside. A typical Likay show involves plays on colorful stage with stories set in ancient or literary kingdoms. The players speak and sing in poems, while much traditional dancing and slapstick humor are employed.

Likay is an increasingly rare sight in present-days Thailand, though there are still active Likay companies performing in rural and suburban temple grounds.

Stars of Likay, namely the Phra Ek (male protagonist) and Nang Ek (female protagonist), command fervent fans. Usually these fans are wealthy elderly women who would crowd in the front seats, cheering their favoritePhra Ek and putting necklace made of banknotes (20 baht or 100 baht bills, depending on how rich the fans are) on his neck at the end of the show.

LCpl. Wiwat is one such Phra Ek. When he is free from his police routine works, he performs with Kumpun Ruam Mit Likay company, which combined the arts of Likay with Northeastern folk music performance calledMor Lum (normally, Likay and Morlum are separate arts). LCpl. Wiwat is talented in both Likay dancing and Mor Lum singing. He also performs country songs from time to time.

He said that at the start of each performance season, the company leader will present him with show schedules and he will pick the days that he is free from police duty, usually on weekends.

Asked about his main reason for the double life, LCpl. Wiwat cited the need to make extra money for his family. He is currently married, and his first daughter is 4 month old. They are living in state-owned flats available for police officers′ families.

The half cop half Phra Ek said he earned 1,000 baht for each show, not counting tips from his stage-front fans. He told our correspondent he once earned 20,000 baht on a single night from the banknotes necklace given to him by such fans.

Apart taking care of his family, LCpl. Wiwat said he is also very passionate about folk music and Mor Lum.

His interest in Mor Lum started when he was in elementary school in Kon Kaen province. A Mor Lum band was playing next to his school, so he asked the band leader to teach him the arts. In his secondary school years, he joined a folk music instrumental band and took up singing Mor Lum as well.

After he won school singing contest, he recalled, his teacher took him to learn the professional singing from a Mor Lum band. His professional life as a Mor Lum singer and Li Kay star started there.

"I won the exam into police academy after I did my university degree, but I never left behind my Mor Lum profession," LCpl. Wiwat said.

Pol.Col. Kanit Duanghasadee, vice commander of Kon Kaen provincial police, said he felt very proud to know that his subordinate has helped preserve local Thai culture and in the meantime never failed in his police duty.

He said when his police force has to organize banquets on important days, LCpl. Wiwat is always invited on the stage and awe the audience with his music skill.

Pol.Col. Kanit also told our correspondent that he aimed to assign LCpl. Wiwat to head Kon Kaen police′s public relation unit because of his familiarity with the common folk.

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

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Khaosod English

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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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Khaosod English

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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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Khaosod English

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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.

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