Hundreds of ‘Ladyboys’ Exempted From Draft

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3 April 2013, 16:03

Hordes of queers, transsexuals, and ‘katoeys’ showed up nationwide for mandatory military service but were turned away by officials.

It′s the season millions of Thai males dread – the registration for 2-year service in the the country′s armed forces. However, many potential draftees were entertained at the colorful sights of ‘katoeys’ (known in English as ladyboys) who arrived at their registration booths in sexy, revealing dresses, our provincial correspondents reported.

However, the military has strict rules barring ‘katoeys’ from joining the ranks. Col. Attasit Sittitaworn, who oversaw the drafting session in Pitsanuloke Province, said those who “behaved very womanly” or went through relevant surgeries are disqualified on the grounds of “gender conflicting with reported sex” and “mentally impaired” – a term that has raised eyebrows of many LGBT advocates in Thailand before.

According to Thai laws, all males with Thai nationality are required to report for the draft in April every year, but they could also choose to participate in 3-year weekly military training during high school years in order to exempt themselves from the service. Those with health problems and undesirable height or weight are also usually exempted upon inspection at the registration sites.

‘Heartbroken’ Student Leaps To His Death

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Khaosod English

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3 April 2013, 15:29

A college student was found dead in an apparent suicide by jumping off his apartment building while his roommates told police he killed himself to protest his girlfriend’s affection for another student.

The incident took place at Baan Suan Thon Condominium
in Thoong Kru Area of Bangkok. The deceased was later identified by the police as Mr. Chawanon
Yamoon, 21. He was a second year student at King Monkut Technology University Thonburi, the police
added. After inspecting the scene, the police inspected the man′s room, located on the 6th floor of
the building.

Mr. Chawanon′s 3 roommates said they were not aware of
his death until the police informed them, as they were sleeping in their separate bedrooms. Mr.
Chawanon′s laptop was investigated by the police, and officers told the reporter Mr. Chawanon was
chatting with a woman via Line application, presumably his
girlfriend.

Mr. Chawanon was reportedly expressing his anger at her
for not loving him back. He also sent a photo of himself drinking toilet cleaning chemical to his
girlfriend, apparently threatening that he would commit suicide out of his sadness. A cup containing
traces of the chemical was also found near the computer.

Mr.
Chawanon, his roommates said, had been complaining that his girlfriend became too close to another
student lately. His girlfriend, whose name was not identified, later told the police she and Mr.
Chawanon had been dating “casually” for 5 months. On the night of his death, Mr. Chawanon reportedly
accused her of distancing herself from him, and sent her the photo of himself drinking the chemical,
but she dismissed it as “a joke”. She said Mr. Chawanon also sent her a song called “Changing Winds”
by a Thai pop-rock band “Bigass”, saying he intended the song to be last message for her. That was
the last she heard from him until police informed her of his death, she
said.

A senior police officer told the reporter they were not
treating Mr. Chawanon′s death as suspicious.

Survey: Majority of Monks Thinks Lotto is Sinful

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Khaosod English

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2 April 2013, 21:07

A survey claims 92% of monks think lottery is a sin, while a sizable proportion of interviewed monks admit they occasionally assist templegoers in choosing lucky lotto number.

Ms. Thaniccha Limpanich, the director of Family Foundation, unveiled the survey result in a panel discussion under the topic of “Gambling and Degeneration in Buddhism”, which was co-hosted by the Foundation and an anti-gambling network at Suan Moke, Bangkok. The survey was conducted by Assumption College (ABAC Poll), covering 909 20-39 year old monks from the provinces of Chiangmai, Konkaen, Chonburi, and Songkhla.

50.9% of the respondents say there are aware of problems caused by gambling in their communities, citing debt, fights, thefts, and disputes amongst family members as examples. Asked why locals buy lottery, 59.8% of the monks interviewed said the locals “wanted to try their lucks” and 50.6% answered the locals were looking for a “shortcut to being rich”.

According to the survey, 92% of respondents believed that lottery is against Buddhism, did not want to see lottery buying or any gambling take place in temple compounds, and would oppose the plan to install government-sanctioned automatic lottery dispensing machines. 45% of monks surveyed also believed the authorities should seriously crackdown on illegal types of lottery whereas 23% wanted every type of lottery banned.

Upon being asked whether the respondents were involved in lottery business, 60.6% of the respondents said they did not buy lottery or encourage lottery buying in any way. However, 23.5% said they were involved in the trade via actions such as suggesting lucky lotto numbers for templegoers. Furthermore, 24.3% admitted having been encouraged by the templegoers into buying lottery themselves.

Thai Lady aged 102 loves Thai dance

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Khaosod English

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2 April 2013, 02:29

Nakhon Ratchasima – If you want to know how to live a long life, a lady aged 102 years could give an answer.

Her name is Am Shin-jor-hor, residing at 20 Moo 4, Ban Pho, Muang, Nakhon Ratchasima. Her identification does not specify a date of birth, but notes that she was born in the year of 1911. She looks healthy, despite the difficulties misty eyes and ears.

Granny "Am" has 9 children but already died 3. Her husband died in 1997 with the age of 92. She reveals that she loves Thai dancing that maybe make her healthy.

"I dances because dance make physical strength and feel fresh. In addition, I prays every night before bed." Granny Am said.

"How about the food?" a reporter asked.

Granny said she like vegetable with Thai chilly sauce (Namprik) and also KhaoPong, a local snack of dried rice in Northeast of Thailand.

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