(16 April) Bangna Police arrested a suspect who confessed she stole 10 million baht worth of diamonds.
Thaksin's Son Claimed Korn Went To Hong Kong
(16 April) Paanthongtae "Oak" Shinawatra, the son of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, posted a photo that purported to show a top ranking Democrat Party member during his trip to Hong Kong.
Mr. Thaksin has been hopping between his residences in the cities of Hong Kong and Dubai in past few years.
There has been a rumor on social network that Mr. Korn Chatikavanij, the former Minister of Treasury, secretly met with Mr. Thaksin in Hong Kong, presumably for a private cross-party negotiation. Mr. Korn′s wife, Worakorn, denied the rumor, insisting that Mr. Korn would only visit his archenemy “over my dead body”.
However, Mr. Paanthongtae wrote on his Facebook that Mr. Korn did travel to Hong Kong and posted the photo as an evidence. He also challenged Mr. Korn to clarify himself.
“If you can?t explain such a simple matter, please stay away from bigger things”, Mr. Paanthongtae wrote in his post, “Just say it straightforward: what did you do on that day in Hong Kong? Was it an intentional or an accidental visit? Why did you spend 2 hours waiting to meet someone, and did that person let you meet him?”
Pictures: Songkran Away From Home In Hong Kong
(14 April)
Celebration of Songkran, or Thai New Year, is certainly not limited to hot spots like Khaosarn Road
or Chiang Mai City Moat, as Thais living overseas also celebrate the occasion in their residence
countries.
Celebration of Songkran, or Thai New Year, is certainly not limited to hot spots like Khaosarn Road
or Chiang Mai City Moat, as Thais living overseas also celebrate the occasion in their residence
countries.
An example of such away-from-home Songkran celebration is the one held at
Tak Ku Ling Road Garden, in the district of Kowloon City, Hong Kong, an area well-known for a
sizable population of Thai nationals who settled in the special administrative region. Restaurants
and stores operated by Thais are common sight in the Little Thailand.
The annual event was
co-hosted by Royal Thai Consulate-General and Thai Regional Alliance in Hong Kong, and featured all
the trademark stuff one would expect to see in Songkran: a Buddha image shrine (pour water onto the
figure to ask for good luck), folk dancing, and – of course – waterfights.
Thais and
foreigners jostled under the constant barrages of waterfights, many faces pasted with the white
powder mixed in water – another omnipresent specialty of Songkran. Those without waterguns resorted
to using bottles and bowls of water to splash the (sometimes ice-cold) ammunition at their immediate
neighbors.
The festive, chaotic, and jovial atmosphere could easily rival Khaosarn Road, our
correspondent reported from the scene.
Apart from Tak Ku Ling Road, waterfights also broke
out in front of some Thai-owned shops in the vicinity.
29-year-old Irishman dies diving in Thailand
(16 April) The Irish Times – A 29-year-old Irishman who was living in Australia has died while diving off the coast of Thailand.
Colin Callanan from Innishannon, Co Cork, drowned off the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand last Friday.
Mr Callanan, a father of one, was on a work trip on behalf of the Perth company AMS Service and Maintenance when he lost his life while diving in his free time.
Mr Callanan was hired by the air conditioning company three years ago. He previously undertook an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner having been based in Perth for the last six years. Prior to leaving Ireland he was employed at Eli Lilli in Cork.
Mr Callanan’s body has been recovered and the Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to his family. He is survived by his six-year-old son Lee, who lives in Ireland, and by his mother Marie, father Donal, brothers Keith and Simon, and sisters Sarah and Julie.
Thai Foreign Minister Greets His Counterpart At The Hague
(16 April) The final oral statement to the International Court of Justice in the Thailand-Cambodia legal fight over the surround area of Preah Vihear temple has started with the Cambodia side on April 15 2013 while Thai is expected to do on April 17.
The oral hearing set to take place during 15-19 April. The verdict is expected to be handed down 6 months from now.
Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he is not worried after listening the Cambodia side for the hearing. He added Thai team has prepared rebuttals to every possible argument the Cambodian representatives were expected to make.
The minister also said PM Yingluck Shinawatra phoned him to commend him for greeting and showing friendship to Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong in the court.
Thailand does not dispute Cambodia′s ownership of the temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has seen deadly clashes along their joint border. But both sides claim an adjacent 4.6-square-kilometre (1.8-square-mile) patch of land.
Ministers Headed To The Hague For Fight Over Preah Vihear
(13 April) Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by Minister of Defense, left for the Netherlands to make the final oral statement to the International Court of Justice in the Thailand-Cambodia legal fight over the surround area of Preah Vihear temple.
The oral hearing was set to take place during 15-19 April. The verdict is expected to be handed down 6 months from now.
Mr. Surapong Tovichakchaikul, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he was ready for the hearing, having prepared rebuttals to every possible argument the Cambodian representatives were expected to make.
The minister urged Thai citizens to follow the event live via television and radio broadcasts planned by the government to avoid misinformation.
“I am confident that Thailand will win the case … and that the ICJ will grant us a fair process, because peace of the opposing sides will be in the court’s consideration” Mr. Surapong said.
PM Yingluck Shinawatra has given the lawyer team her moral support, he added.
ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat, the Ministerof Defense, said he was certain Thai-Cambodian border will be peaceful throughout the process. He said he gave no order for any reinforcement into the area.
"You Can't Stop Me", Topless Ladyboy Told Police
(13 April) A transsexualwas arrested and fined in North Pattaya for dancing topless in a bar.
Police were informed by an onlooker and arrived at the scene where the transsexual – later identified as Mr. Narinmek Paopan, 21, a resident of Buriram province – was amusing foreigners and bar workers with her bare breasts.
Mr. Narinmek reportedly ignored the officer’s order to stop, but eventually agreed to put on clothes and was escorted to police station.
Mr. Narinmek told police she spent 500,000 baht, given to her by a foreign husband, on surgeries which removed her genitals and enhanced her breasts. She said she worked as a sex worker at the bar, and wanted to show her newly-acquired breasts to other people in Songkran festival.
Mr. Narinmek added she had exposed herself in such manner before.
The police fined her for indecent exposure. Before leaving the police station, Mr.Narinmek reportedly taunted that she would do it again since she had paid a lot for the surgeries, and that ‘it’s only natural to show expensive stuff’.
"You can't stop me", she was reported to have said.
Bounty Set For Pregnant Elephant Killer
(12 April) Petchaburi police and local authorities are hunting down those responsible for the killing of a pregnant elephant in Kang Kajarn district.
The elephant′s carcass was found on 9 April. Police
speculated it was the work of a hunting band seeking tusks and
intestines from elephants in the forest.
speculated it was the work of a hunting band seeking tusks and
intestines from elephants in the forest.
Different branches of the authorities are coordinating to solve the killing and prevent further incidents. Among the planned projects are joint patrols between forest rangers and the
military.
military.
A bounty of 100,000 baht has also been set by the
Governor of Petchaburi for any traces that lead to the capture of those responsible for the
killing.
Kang Kajarn subdistrict has one of the largest forest areas in Thailand, estimated
at 1.8 million Rai. The national park has been plagued by lack in
number of staff to keep watch on the local wildlife and fend off
criminal activities, chiefly illegal logging, drug trafficking,
and wildlife hunting.
Frenchman Charged With Making False Complaint
(12 April) Phuket police arrested a French man and charged him on the ground of making false accusation.
Police said Mr. Mark Proressi, 54, had
filed a report to the police earlier in the day that he was
robbed by 2 young men in front of Karon subdistrict branch
of Siam Commerical Bank, losing 2,000 baht in cash and a
number of documents.
The police reportedly interviewed many people in the vicinity but no one said they witnessed
the crime. Reviews of CCTV footages taken from nearby bank
and shops also yielded no trace of the robbery, police said. Mr. Proressi was interrogated and reportedly confessed he made false
complaint.
According to the police, Mr. Proressi made up the lie
because he had lost the money
during a night-out and was afraid his wife would be
angry.
Pictures : Thai and Foreigner Enjoy Songkran Festival
It′s time to enjoy throwing of water!! Thai and
foreigners have celebrated Songkran festival in many popular places such as Khao san Road in
Bangkok, Patong Beach in Phuket, Chiangmai Moat around the city, etc. They roam the streets with
containers of water or water guns or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and
drench each other and passersby.
Khao san Road Road in Bangkok
The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the
traditional New Year′s Day from 13 to 16 April. Songkran is also celebrated in Laos, Cambodia,
Myanmar and by the Dai people in Yunnan, China. It is believed that throwing of water
will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. Moreover it is really fun during the time of
summer.
Patong Beach in Phuket
around Chiangmai moat
