(7 May) Pheu Thai Party again tried to distance itself from the Redshirts protesters who had been campaigning for resignation of 9 Constitutional Court judges.

Mr. Prompong Noparit, spokesperson for Pheu Thai Party, responded to the reports that many Pheu Thai MPs support the Redshirts? major rally – scheduled to take place on 8 May – by insisting that all of these stories are untrue.

He said that he had personally checked with the leadership of the party, and that they have all denied support or involvement.

Mr. Prompong expressed his belief that rumors may have come from the opposition to create confusion to the people of Thailand.

The spokesperson also stated that PM Yingluck Shinawatra and her brother former PM Thaksin Shinawatra should not be dragged into this protest without evidence.

Nonetheless, he said that he believes the protest will be non-violent and law-abiding.

I am not worried about the protest, but I am worried about a third party taking advantage of the situation, Mr. Prompong was quoted as saying.

Mr.Suporn Attawong, the Deputy Prime Minister, stated that the group gathered to express their opposition to injustice and just wants to see lawmakers that are fair and just. As for the rumours that MPs have gathered protesters, he confirms that this is untrue because if that were the case, here would be more than 100,000 people in the rally.

Meanwhile, our correspondent has reported that earlier, Mr.Praset Chaikijdennapalai, an MP of Pheu Thai Party, asked the Redshirts to end the daily rally against the Constitutional Court, but the protesters asked to continue the protest until 8 May, since the mass from the 37 provinces have already made plans to attend the rally.

Latest report indicated that Pheu Thai Party leadership had contacted the group again, but any further detail was not immediately clear.

(7 May) With a day before their major rally against the Constitutional Court, the Redshirts who had been staging daily protest for 15 days in front of the Court office in Chaengwattana Road said they would abandon the protest if less than 100,000 people show up tomorrow.

Mr. Chan Chaiya, vice president of The People’s Radio for Democracy, announced they will continue the largely peaceful protest until 8 May, whereby the group will take the protest to the next level with the slogan “100,000 protesters on 8 May”, calling for resignation of 9 judges of the Constitutional Court and the cancellation of Section 309.

Mr. Chan said more than 100,000 protesters from 37 provinces will present.

8 May will be the deciding day for this protest. If more than 100,000 people show up, the judges will have to resign, but if less than 100,000 people show up, we will announce defeat and understand that this is not what the people want. We will end the protest immediately, he said

At the operations center of the police department, Pol.Maj.Gen. Parinya Junsuriya, vice commander of Metropolitan Police, called a meeting to prepare for the protest.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Parinya revealed that from the assessment on late night 5 May, there were 2,000 protesters. They dispersed after midnight without any violence. Officers are still performing their duty as normal, with no reinforcements.

He also stated that for 8 May, the police have prepared to protect the safety of the citizens and the government buildings in the area with the same number of police officers, since the location does not allow heavy fortification. However, the officer said, the police have prepared reinforcements should chaos ensue.

The situation is currently under control, the commander assured the reporters.

Mr.Sompoj Prasartthai, a leader of the Redshirts of Nakhon Ratchasima province, revealed that vehicles have been prepared to take the Redshirts to the protest on 8 May. A bus was chartered and will leave from Tao Suranaree monument at 07.00 am, others will travel via personal vehicles and vans. The number is currently estimated at more than 1,000.

Mr. Sompoj added that the Redshirts will not make trouble in Bangkok and urged Bangkokians to rest assure that there will be no violence.

We just want to display the power of the mass to the judges, the Redshirts leader said.

(7 May) Our correspondent has received reports of a "miraculous event" that happened during funeral of Phra Kru (Temple Master) Boonchuay Tummajaree, abbot of Na Fai Temple in Phrae province last week.

Mr.Anusorn Promrungka, director of Ratbumroong School, who attended the funeral, said religious rites were being carried out for the funeral of this senior monk when a bird whose coloring is
emarkably similar to monk robes – with a yellow torso, ombred into yellowish red towards the bottom, black and white wings, and yellow and black tail – flew into the temple and rested on the chairs in the funeral service.

After the service, Mr. Anusorn said, the bird flew into the chapel and flew around in circles 2-3 times, then rested on the wall and the top tiers of the Buddha statue, scanning the attendees of the funeral service with its black eyes.

During that time, the religious rites were taking place and many important officials of the village was among the attendees. One of the attendees suggested the bird might want to drink coffee. So, coffee was given to the bird. After the service, many people came over to look at and touch the bird. The bird then flew to the flower arrangements near the portrait of the deceased monk.

Attendees gathered to ask the bird whether it was, indeed, Phrakru Boonchuay.

Mr. Jon Kaewsook, headman of Nai Fai and a friend of Phrakru Boonchuay, challenged the bird, saying “If this bird is really Phrakru Boonchuay, then pirch on my arm.” Then, the bird jumped onto his arm immediately.

Onlookers were reportedly dumbfounded by the incident. The district administrator, overcome with wonder and faith, announced he will be the host in building the shrine for the body of the senior monk to rest in. The bird then swiftly flew to the monk offerings and scanned the attendees of the funeral once more. That night the bird rested on the
monk’s food bowl throughout the night.

The bird remained in the vicinity of the temple until the next evening. Two of the attendees said they won the 2 number lotto with the numbers 58, which was the age of the deceased monk.

Phraku Boonchuay had been ordained for 17 years before passing away on April 28th.

(6 May) A man reportedly drank himself to death early today in Chumpon province.

The incident took place at a large house in the middle of Lang Suan market. The dead body of Mr. Sai Taengtong, 46, was found in the wooden gazebo at the estate′s workers residence, behind the main
mansion. The body was foaming at the mouth and had no other wounds or evidence of struggle.

Upon questioning his friends, it was revealed that Mr.Sai had traveled from Ubon Ratchathani Province and worked as the foreman of the household workers for a construction company in Chumpon′s Langsuan district. He had been staying at this house which belonged to the owner of the construction company.

According to witnesses, early yesterday evening, Mr.Sai asked his friend to buy him some liquor and would not come out to have dinner. When he finished the bottle of liquor, his friends put him in a mosquito net so he could sleep through the night.

In the morning, witnesses said, workers went by to check up on him and found he was lying stiffly dead foaming at the mouth. They proceeded to call the police. Initial diagnosis suggests he died of alcohol poisoning, which caused his heart failure.

(6 May) A shopowner in Pitsanulok province posted on Facebook a video showing a thief stealing a Buddhachinaraj Buddha figure from her shop, generating much attention from other Facebookers.

Our correspondent has reported that the shop is called Sabiengboong and located only 50 meters away from a police station.

In an interview, Ms. Akeorn Meetes, 43, said her shop sells temple-related goods and Buddha statues. On May 5th, 7.30 PM., she and an employee were closing up the shop and discovered that 9 inch statue, weighing 10 kgs. had disappeared from its stand. She then looked through the security camera footage and discovered that at 7.10 PM., a young man aged 20-30 who was tall and thin, wearing a motorcycle helmet to conceal his face, walked into the side entrance and carried the Buddha statue away.

Mrs. Akeorn speculated that he must have had friends waiting in a getaway motorcycle since the Buddha statue was big and he couldn’t have done it by himself.

Mrs. Akeorn also added that she later questioned the shops nearby and found the statue’s plastic box that the culprit has left behind. She speculated that the criminal must have surveyed the area beforehand, since he got away with one of the more expensive statues. She went to the Muang Pitsanulok police station to press charges, bringing along the footage from the security camera and the plastic box, which she hopes contains the culprit’s fingerprints, as evidence for the case.

(5 May) Bhumjai Thai Party conference ended in tragedy, with party members fighting and shooting each other in the face over a card game at a 5 star hotel in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.

Earlier today police received reports of a gunshot victim at Ban Glang Aow Beach Resort, situated along the beach of Bang Sa Phan district. Officers, a doctor on call at Bang Sa Phan hospital, and volunteer rescue workers rushed to the scene.

The body of Mr. Nirut Srinuan, 30, was found in the connecting walkway of the hotel lying face up, wearing an orange t-shirt and ¾ length pants. The body had a gunshot wound in the forehead. 4,400 baht and several ATM cards were found in his wallet.

Investigations revealed that the victim was a party member of Bhumjai Thai Party who attended the party conference with 50 other party members. After the conference and the accompanying banquet, the victim and Mr. Yootana Poompaeng, 27, along with 5 other party members, stayed for drinks and a card game, which is where the incident took place.

After the game, the victim left for his room, but Mr. Yootana followed him and called him back to clear up the dispute since there was 1 card missing from the deck. A violent exchange ensues and, out of anger, Mr.Yootana shot the victim in the face, killing him instantly. He then drove away in his car.

A senior police officer said that they were collecting evidence on this case. All witnesses were called in for questioning, and an arrest warrant has been issued for Mr. Yootana. Currently, the suspect already had his relatives contact the police about his surrender.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Tanet Soontarasook, commander of the Prachuap Khiri Khan police force, said that the case is still in its initial evidence collection stage, and that if the suspect did not surrender himself up, the police would have to seek the approval of the court to issue a warrant for arrest.

He said the suspect will visit Tongchai police station on May 7th for further questioning.

(6 May) A disaster was closely averted last night in Ranong province after a pickup truck crashed into 15 vehicles near a roadside sports bar where scores of patrons were watching Man Utd – Chelsea match broadcast.

The accident took place on Ruangrat Road around 22.30 on 5 May. Police and volunteer rescue
teams at the scene had rescued the driver of the pickup truck who was ejected from his seat after it
plunged into 14 motorcycles and 1 car. He was identified as Mr. Somyos Yomkaew, 30, and was sent to
Ranong Hospital.

Many witnesses at the nearby nighttime restaurant said they owned the
vehicles damaged by Mr. Somyos? car. They said they were watching live broadcast of Manchester
United – Chelsea match when the pickup truck slammed into the parking space of the establishment.

The pickup truck first slammed into a parked pickup truck, and was launched on top of 3
parked motorcycles, then flipped and landed on another motorcycle. It then skidded and damaged 10
more motorcycles parked in the area, all vehicles piling up in one big mountain of
wreckage.

Mr. Krisna Glinhual, owner of the white Chevrolet damaged in the accident, said
that he was sitting at the table and heard a sound similar to many fire crackers going off and
turned to see the truck colliding with his car and several others before flipping and landing only
meters from where people were watching the broadcast.

At the hospital, Mr. Somyos said he
dozed off from fatigue while driving and had no recollection of the accident.

The 2 trucks
and 14 motorcycles were taken to the Muang Ranong Police Station to investigate the damage, and
officers questioned the driver for further information to determine the compensation for damage
caused.