AFP – NYON, Switzerland- The draw for the Champions League semi-finals made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday:
Bayern Munich (GER) v Barcelona (ESP)
Borussia Dortmund (GER) v Real Madrid (ESP)
First-leg matches to be played on April 23 and 24, with return games on April 30 and May 1.
(12 April) A Regional Defense volunteer is found dead in an apparent case of accidental discharge, Nakorn Ratchasrima police say.
Mr. Joompon Darndumrongchai, 47, suffered shotgun wounds in his left thigh and left wrist. A shotgun was found nearby. His body was sent to the provincial hospital for a closer inspection.
Ms. Jamrus, the victim’s wife, told police the volunteer was appointed to escort the local district chief during his visits to Songkran ceremonies in the province. As he prepared to leave his home, he grabbed his shotgun from the table and dropped it in a hurry, she said.
She added that she was doing laundry when she heard the gunshot. She tried to give her blood-soaked husband CPR but it was too late.
Police said Mr.Joompon apparently accidentally discharged the gun and the bullet lethally cuthis veins. The firearm was legally bought.
Regional Defense volunteers served as personalarmed bodyguards, drivers, and assistants for provincial officials in up country Thailand.
(12 April) Our correspondent reports that Highway 304, a major road connecting Bangkok with Nakhon Ratchasrima province and other Northeastern provinces, is clogged with travelers headed home for Songkran festival.
The traffic stretched for 10 km, keeping local traffic officials busy throughout the day, while the police opened an extra lane to ease the congestion. The particularly severe congestionsare reported to occur around the 26-29 km mark, near Khao Yai National Park,and 42-55 km mark, the mountainous ascending slope of the highway.
(11 April) Mr. Arnat Arpapirom, adviser to the exectutive boardof Bangkok Transit System (BTS), commented on the photos which showed flooded floors of Skytrains and were circulated widely on social network sites,sparking criticism of the System’s management. Mr. Arnat acknowledged there had been such problem on a train in Sukhumvit line on afternoon of 11 April.
He said the storm and heavy rain in Bangkok during that time spilled into the trains when they stopped and opened the gates at each station.
“The problem was not serious and did not affect the train’s operations. There was no electronic hazard as some people had worried. The pictured train managed to arrive safely at the destination where the staff cleaned the floor, and brought it back to service shortly afterwards” Mr Arnat said.
(12 April) A fire burned down 3 teak houses which served as residences for monks in Nang Boon Temple, Pathum Thani, and damaged an adjacent building.
Police received the call informing them of the fire at 03.30 am, and the fire continued for an hour before the rescue teams managed to extinguish it.
Thai wives are also extremely submissive to domestic violence committed by their husbands, study says.
(10 April)Mr. Vichian Chawalit, secretary of Ministry of Social Development and HumanSecurity (SDHS), presided over a panel discussion under the topic “DomesticViolence Report”, co-hosted by Women andMen Progressive Movement Foundation, Office of Women Affairs and Development,and Foundation For Promotion of Thai Health, at Prince Palace Hotel, Bangkok.
Mr. Somchai Charoen-amnuaysuk, director of the Office of Women Affairs andDevelopment, said a study on domestic violence in 49 countries has revealed thatThailand ranks 30th in the world in term of number of cases involvingphysical violence between husbands and wives. Thai men are also ones of themost physically abusive toward their wives in the world, ranking 7thin numbers of cases.
Meanwhile,Mr. Somchai said, Thai women are 2nd most submissive to domesticviolence in the world, due to the fact that many women in Thailand are taughtto “endure it for the sake of their families”.
“Therefore, there needs to be ashift in mentality,”, Mr Somchai concluded, adding that the Ministry ofEducation has recently introduced a course on gender to schools from level ofkindergarten to teach children about gender equality. SDHS is also working ona “help hotline” for those who sufferdomestic violence, he said.
Mr. Vichian, the Minister of SDHS, saidThai women should be more willing to “come out” and seek help instead ofsubmitting to their husbands’ abuses.
According to Ms. Charee Srisawasdi, representative from Women and MenProgressive Movement Foundation, alcohol contributed to 29.13% of domesticviolence incidents – basing her calculation from cases reported by the press.She also divided news about domestic abuses into 6 categories: murder (59.16%),suicide (24.02%), physical violence (8.71%), other kinds of violence (3.10%),unwanted pregnancy (2.7%), and sexual harassment (2.4%)
Ms. Charee said news about murders in family increased over past several years,while provinces that were most frequently featured in such news are SamutPrakarn, Nakorn Prathom, and Chonburi.
In this hot summer, Thai film industry has become "HOT" with the two remake films : "Ku-Gum" (Sunset at Chaophraya) and "Pee-Mark-Pra-Ka-Nong" (Ghost Nang Nak) Both of them presents love story in another interpreted way.
They are not only to merge the difference of antiquity with the modernity of Thai society but also bring the popular drama actors to act as leading actor in the movie.
"Ku-Gum" a famous opus of "Tomyantee" was made as TV drama for six times and as film for three times, while the last successful version of "Pee-Mark-Pra-Ka-Nong" had a wonderful achievement in 1999 by famous director "Oui" Nonzee Nimitbutr.
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"Ku-Gum" version 2013 by "Riew" Kitikorn Leawsirikul the director from M39 Motions Pictures said about the reason to reproduce this story that he find the structure of "Ku-Kum" is the best plot ever. Moreover, this story can be interpreted in many points of view and this version he fulfills the meaning of this couple in the way of a young and romantic love during wartime.
Although the story is about conflict of nationality and national politics, Riew prefers to show how teenagers in that period fall in love with each other. He doesn?t give much weight on the conflict and history between Thailand and Japan because he believes the relationship between two countries in that period was not enemy.
"Nadech Kugimiya" an Austrian-Thai daring actor from Channel 3 acts as Kobori with the new actress "Richy" Oranate Dicarbales acts as Angsumalin.
According to the interview of Nadech, he thinks that Kobori is a boy who has to go far from birthplace to be under the soldier discipline. Hence, when he meets Angsumalin who is brave to dispute and express her own idea with him, it makes him fall in love with her.
Also Richy′s interview, she thinks that Angsumalin is just a girl who has a conflict in herself that she loves Kobori but the sense of nationalism has distorted her. She pretends not to express her real feeling. So it is about confused love which continues under the conflict situation.
The recommend from Riew for this many time remake film is do not adhere in the old version , open your mind and you will find a new taste of this classic love story.
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On the other hand, Pee-Mark-Pra-Ka-Nong is also a true love story during the wartime in 19th century. Thai man name Mark just comebacks from the battle ground to see his beloved wife. Unfortunately she had died in childbirth. Love is the last one which is standstill. Nark becomes an immortal wife and waits for her husband.
"Tong" Bunjong Pisanyathanakul, the director from GMM Tai hub, has an idea to interpret this most famous Thai ghost story to be comedy horror film in modern way.
He wants to show the view point of husband and his friends instead of Mae Nak herself that already presented in former films. So this version has various ingredients of emotional laugh with horrible feeling and fulfill with an ending of bitter love. The main message is a reaction of Pee Mark on what he wants to say after he knew the truth that his wife is a ghost.
Furthermore, the expression of Mae-Nak feeling can be implied that to deceive her beloved husband and live with lies is such a bad thing for love and couple life. Tong said this is a romantic comedy one.
"Mario Maurer" the Thai-German star who acts as Pee-Mark gives an interview that he was chosen by director because of he has both funny and serious character that suits for modern Pee-Mark.
For "Mai" Davika Horne a Thai-Belgian star, Tong explains that she has an eye expression that can be an extremely power to catch the audience.
Lastly, the director concluded that he doesn?t expect that it would become high grossing film (now on April, 11 its gross has passed 10 million US dollar, which is so huge for Thai film industry) He only wishes that his work will make something new in the future.
Finally, we have to keep an eye on the accomplishment of these two reproduced films whether it comes from the factor of the famous actors or an immortal structure of old love story. Which one can be impressed audience′s mind depends on your decision.
A man from Payao province committed suicide and asked a love song be played at his funeral.
The man, Mr. Puttasakdi Tankruea, 32, was found hanged in his room, in Rachatevi area of Bangkok. Police found no traces of fights or struggles at the house, which was partitioned into rooms for rent. The police also found 2 letters with Mr. Puttsakdi’s handwriting. The first one was addressed to his mother, the other to his siblings, instructing that the song “I Guess Love Is Not Enough” by Thai singer Suea Thanapol be played in his funeral.
“I’m sorry. I’m a bad man. I love you all” the letters said.
Witnesses told police Mr. Puttasakdi worked as motorcyclist for hire and recently broke up with his girlfriend. On the day of his death, witnesses said, he called his ex-girlfriend asking for money to return to his hometown, but she told him to sell his TV for the money.
According to witnesses, Mr. Puttasakdi then called his sister, telling her to take care of herself. A friend of Mr. Puttasakdi told police that he tried to call him but no one picked up the phone, so he came to check on him, only to find Mr. Puttasakdi hanged in his room.
His body would be returned to his family in Payao after an autopsy.
In a recent panel discussion on Thai media at the Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand (FCCT), a Western journalist turned to me and asked, "why do Thai crime news sound like police reports anyway?"
It′s a good question. For those unfamiliar with Thai newspapers, a typical news article – especially one about crime – begins by stating which police officer at which police station received what news, followed by which officers (complete with lengthy police titles) went to inspect the site and what their initial conclusions were.
Here′s an example of a crime news piece from a page of Khaosod newspaper:
เมื่อเวลา 02.00 น. วันที่ 10 เม.ย. ผู้สื่อข่าว ข่าวสด รายงานว่า ร.ต.ท.สมจิต บุญตาม ร้อยเวรสถานีตำรวจภูธรสามกระทาย ได้รับแจ้งอุบัติเหตุบนถนนเพชรเกษม ขาล่องใต้ หลักกิโลเมตรที่ 289-290 ต.สามกระทาย อ.กุยบุรี จ.ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ มีผู้ได้รับบาดเจ็บและเสียชีวิต จึงรุดไปที่เกิดเหตุ
(On 02.00 am. of 10th April, a Khaosod correspondent reported that Pol. Lt. Somjit Boontaam, officer in charge of Saam Kratai Provincial Police Station, had received a report about accident on the southbound Petkasem Road, km. mark 289-290, Saam Kratai Subdistrict, Gui Buri District, Prachuabkirikan Province, killing and wounding a number of victims. [The police] then hurried to investigate the scene.)
Some readers would have thought they were reading a memo in a police station. Well, in a way, that′s an accurate description because crime news in Thai newspapers pages are police reports.
Unlike many Western media outlets, mainstream Thai newspapers normally do not have regional "bureaus." Instead, they rely on "regional reporters" contracted to provide news in the areas they are assigned to.
Regional reporters are highly independent. They seek out news (crimes, accidents, and other happenings), race to the crime scene, and file reports back to the news rooms in Bangkok on their own. They also keep close contacts with local police to get timely information and access to the scenes of the incidents.
This is where the line starts to blur. A senior editor at Khaosod said that sometimes regional reporters simply kick back and copy information from the local police without doing extensive field work like interviewing the witnesses or victims.
Another journalist at Khaosod said regional reporters prefer copying police reports to save money and time; many of these reporters are paid per piece and write several news items per day, often for a range of different news outlets.
"Of course, the ideal method is inspecting the site yourself, talking to the victims, to the witnesses, to the rescue teams, before checking with police reports to fill in important information later," the journalist said. "But would you do all that for [a small amount of money]?"
Some journalists familiar with the process also said that some police officers like to see their names printed in the media, which is why they provide their names and ranks along with necessary details of the incident.
Hence, the dizzying arrays of names like this news:
ผู้สื่อข่าว "ข่าวสด" รายงานว่า ที่สำนักงานกองบัญชาการตำรวจภูธรภาค 4 พล.ต.ท.กวี สุภานันท์ ผบช.ภ.4 พบ.ต.ต.ศักดา เตชะเกรียงไกร รอง ผบช.ภ.4 พล.ต.ต.จตุพล ปานรักษา รอง ผบช.ภ.4 พล.ต.ต.ชำนาญ เครือบัว ผบก.สส.ภ.4 พ.ต.อ.เนติพงศ์ ธาตุทำเล รอง ผบก.สส.ภ.4 พ.ต.อ.ยรรยง เวชโอสถ รอง ผบก.ภ.จว.หนองคาย พ.ต.อ.อนุวัฒน์ สุวรรณภูมิ ผกก.สส.ภ.จว.นครพนม พ.ต.อ.สมนึก มิควาฬ ผกก.สภ.เมืองนครพนม เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจสืบสวน บก.น.2 เจ้าหน้าที่ตำรวจ ภ.จว.นครพนม
และ นายรังสรรค์ อยู่สุข ผู้จัดการสำนักงานเขตสกลนคร ธนาคารกรุงไทย และ นายสุทธิพงษ์ บุญปรก ผู้จัดการธนาคารกรุงไทย จำกัด (มหาชน) สาขานครพนม ร่วมกันแถลงข่าวจับกุมผู้ต้องหาร่วมกันลักเงินธนาคารกรุงไทย สาขา นครพนม มากกว่า 10 ล้านบาท
And Mr. Rangsan Yoosuk, manager of Krung Thai Bank′s Sakol Nakorn branch, with Mr. Sutthipong Boonprok, manager of Krung Thai Bank′s Nakonpanom branch, attend the press conference to announce arrest of suspects who stole 10 million baht in cash from Krung Thai Bank′s Nakonpanom branch)
Are these habits hard to change? Yes, according to many Thai journalists who say the practice has been in place for decades.
The reliance on police reports does have its benefits, however.
In the intial hours after a crime has been reported, details can be murky. It is therefore sometimes beneficial for journalists to limit the scope of their articles to what police have reported, rather than reporting speculations that later turn out to be unsubstantiated.
Nonetheless, one cannot be too careful. Relying solely on police narratives can transform newspapers into de facto mouthpieces for the police, who are known to make mistakes.
Take this example: in February this year a Scottish woman reported she had been raped in Nakorn Srithammarart, but a senior police official insisted the crime did not happen and threatened to sue her for false complaint.
A major Thai newspaper ran the story on frontpage with a headline sympathetic to the police′s version of the event. Khaosod refrained from doing so, which paid off. On the next day, a suspect was arrested and confessed to raping the woman.
"At the end of the day, it all comes down to basic journalist principles," a senior editor at Khaosod said. "You have to be aware what is fact and what is police speculation."
Korean Superstar Hyun Bin, who best known for his leading roles in the TV dramas My Name is Kim Sam-soon in 2005, and Secret Garden in 2010 has come to meet Thai fans and enjoy Songkran festival on April 10-11, 2013 in Bangkok.
Thai female stars, Poo Praiya, Mai Davika and Bella Rani also joined him
on stage, gave him a water gun and colourful shirt to celebrate Songkran, a traditional New Year in
Thailand.
Hyun Bin The 1st Asia Fan Meeting Tour in Bangkok by LOL held on
April 11 at Royal Paragon Hall, 5th floor, Siam Paragon.
The superstar
started his Asia tour in Taiwan to meet with his fans overseas for the first time since being
discharged from the Army in December after two years of military duty. Bangkok is the next step
and then in Singapore to meet with more of his fans who have waited for his
return.
