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Redshirts Gearing Up For Coup Anniversary

Tanks positioned outside the Government House in the night of 19 September 2006.

(18 September) Redshirts
activists have vowed to take to the streets tomorrow to commemorate the 7th anniversary of the
military coup which ousted former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in September 2006.

The
2006 coup is generally regarded as a turning point in Thai modern history, sparking the turbulent
period which saw the appointments and elections of 5 Prime Ministers in the space of 7 years, and
occasional outbursts of political violence that have claimed more than 100 lives.

Ms. Suda
Rungkupan, a lecturer at Chulalongkorn University and the leader of Redshirts-allied Declaration of
Street Justice group, said her group would gather in front of the Parliament House in Bangkok
tomorrow to attend a rally named Remember the 7 Disgraceful Years.

The rally would
criticise the 2006 coup, Ms. Suda, which she said has led to numerous human rights violations, such
as the military crackdown on the Redshirts protesters in 2010 in which more than 90 people had been
killed and over 1,800 individuals arrested.

She also cited the spike in arrests over lese
majeste (insults of the monarchy) as a result of the 2006 coup, which was supported by the Thai
royalist factions.

Ms. Suda said the Thai public has been forced to swallow the
military-backed 2007 Constitution which greatly limited the power of the electoral institutions. She
called for a swift amendment to the Constitution, especially to allow a fully elected Senate
body.

Apart from Declaration of Street Justice group, the 24 June Democracy network will also
organise an activity to commemorate the fateful day.

Representatives of the group said they
aimed to gather at Ratchaprasong Intersection in downtown Bangkok – the main site of Redshirts
protests in 2010 – where they would be holding candle-lit vigil and laying down flowers.

However, the official leadership of the Redshirts, the National United Front of Democracy
Against Dictatorship (UDD), has refused to organise any street rally to commemorate the coup
anniversary, contrary to previous years.

Ms. Thida Tojirakarn, the chairwoman of UDD,
explained her organisation′s puzzling refusal to stage a rally that he display of the people′s
power is not appropriate in the current situation.

It is better to commemorate the coup by
organising an academic panel discussion, Ms. Thida.

Nevertheless, the chairwoman stressed
that the UDD still condemns the 2006 coup as a grave mistake which has sown deep division in the
Thai society. But, she said, the democratic camp has grown stronger in the past years, while the
Ammart (traditional elite) grows more desperate.

Mr. Sombat Boon-ngarmanong,
coordinator of Red Sunday group, said the Thai public has learned from the 2006 coup that military
intervention cannot solve any problem.

He cited an opinion poll conducted in the aftermath of
the coup which claimed that over 80% of the Thai public
agree with the coup. If they do the poll
again today, I believe those people won?t dare agree with it anymore said Mr. Sombat, who also
co-founded
the 19 Sep Network, the first activist
group to publicly oppose the coup in 2006.

Asked if he believed there would be another coup
in Thailand, Mr. Sombat said he is not so sure, but he expressed his confidence that any potential
coup leader would be deterred by the popular resistance that would follow the coup.

But the
problem is that today we still have intellectuals and academia who oppose the amendment of the 2007
Constitution, Mr. Sombat told our correspondent, They are like the obedient kids of the coup
junta.

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Influential Abbot Resigns Over Sex Tape

Phra Kru Boonyapinan in an amulet blessing ceremony

(18 September) The abbot
of a famous temple in Phang Nga Province has been forced to resign by a clip video showing him
fondling naked with a woman.

The 2-part video, apparently shot from a hidden camera in a
room, showed the monk, Phra Kru (teacher monk) Boonyapinan entering the room, where he was
welcomed by the woman who obviously owned the place.

The pair sat at the dining table and
talked for a while, before the woman led the monk to another room where they were presumed to be
engaged in sexual acts.

The second part of the video, shot from a nearby angle, showed Phra
Kru Boonyapinan and the woman taking off their clothes, fondling each other, and walking around with
their genitals exposed. Again, the pair disappeared into a nearby room, before emerging later to put
on their clothes.

The woman was also seen offering cash to the monk.

Thai Buddhist
doctrines dictate that the monks could not touch women, let alone caress or have sex with
one.

After the video has been circulated, staff at Pa Moke Temple in Phang Nga
Province, where Phra Kru Boonyapinan is stationed as its head abbot, contacted a number of news
agencies, explaining that the monk in the video clip is not Phra Kru Boonyapinan.

The video
had been doctored, the temple parishioners insisted, in order to discredit the abbot. They also
warned that any media outlet that reported about the video would be met with defamation lawsuits.

However, Phra Kru Boonyapinan had met with the Prelate of Phan Nga Province at 04.00 this
morning for defrocking from the monkhood. His wishes were granted immediately.

The Prelate,
Phra Thep Panyamolee, told the reporters he was shocked by the incident. I suppose there is more to
the monk than we saw, Phra Thep Panyamolee said, referring to the now-defrocked Phra Kru
Boonyapinan.

Before his sudden downfall, Phra Kru Boonyapinan has been in the monkhood since
1981. He has gained much influence and many supporters as he ascends in the hierarchy, having served
with many famous elder monks and commissioned many successful amulet productions, including the
famous Jatukarm Rama Thep amulet class.

Although religious misconducts and even criminal
acts committed by monks have regularly made it to the news, the Thai Buddhist authorities have been
particularly rocked by a few high-profile controversies this year
.

The most closely-watched incident is Luang Puu Nen Kham, the
self-proclaimed reincarnated embodiment of an elder monk′s spirit who has been exposed for amassing a 
vast amount of wealth and luxurious assets, including a private jet plane.

Luang Puu Nen
Kham, now known as Mr. Wirapol Sukphol, is also facing charges of fraud and statutory rape of an
underaged woman. He has not been in Thailand since the controversy began.

Equally mesmerising
to the Thai public is the case of
Phra Mitsuo
Gavesako, the Japanese-born abbot of a famous forest monastery, who shocked the nation by quitting the
monkhood without any explanation and flying back to Japan.

Few weeks later, it emerged that
Phra Mitsuo had registered his marriage with a businesswoman who had frequented his monastery during
his tenure there.

Although it is not clear whether their relationship had developed as he
was still the abbot, Phra Mitsuo′s marriage had come as a shock to many because he had preached
about the benefits of a solitary and unmarried life. 

As for the video that announced
Phra Kru Boonyapinan′s sexual affairs to the world, it is believed that the woman′s husband had
installed the camera because he was upset by her affairs with the monk.

However, other
reports suggest the married couple is pitched in a legal battle over a divorce, and the husband has
released the video in order to blackmail her into a certain negotiation.

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British Man Rescued From Si Saket Forest

(18 September) A Briton
who had been lost in the wilderness for 3 days has been rescued in Si Saket Province.

The
police were alerted when local fishermen in the Moon River reported of hearing cries for help in
English in the direction of Tarm Forest, on the bank of the river.

The rescue team later
found Mr. Alex Walton, 60, lying unconscious on the ground. He was shirtless and full of mosquito
bites marks when he was found, the police added.

Mr. Walton was sent to Rasi Salai Hospital
for medical check-up. His condition is reported to be stable, but the doctors said they would keep
him in the hospital for few more days in order to ensure he did had not been infected by any disease
in the woods.

The police also found a car owned by Mr. Walton 3-4 kilometres away from the
forest. The car is registered in Kalasin Province. His wife later contacted the police to inform
them that Mr. Walton had been missing since 14 September and his neighbours have been looking for
him ever since.

Mr. Walton′s wife said he had a mental disability and tends to lack out
when he is stressed. Sometimes he does things without being aware of it, his wife said.

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20 Kilometres Of Skytrain Track Wire 'Stolen'

(17 September) Police
have arrested a group of suspects accused of stealing more than 20 kilometres of copper electric
wire under Skytrain tracks in Bangkok.

In a press conference at the Metropolitan Police
headquarters, Pol.Col. Chayanon Meesati said the first of the suspects was apprehended on 29 July and
confessed he collaborated with 2 other individuals in the crime. The police then sought arrest
warrants from the court and arrested the 2 other suspects.

However, Pol.Col. Chayanon said 3
more suspects in the case are still on the run.

According to Pol.Col. Chayanon, the group
climbed ladders to reach the BTS tracks via a gap between the pillars, and the pillars helped
shielded the suspects from the public eye as they worked, cutting lengths of copper wire under the
tracks.

The wire was hidden in sacks, according the police, the group later sold the copper
wire to metal shops, and used the money to buy illegal drugs for their consumption.

The suspects
reportedly told the police they had worked as construction workers for the BTS project, which
granted them extensive knowledge of the tracks? structure. They also wore orange jackets worn by BTS
construct workers when they performed the operation, police said.

Mr. Pakdee Jirapapan, director the
maintenance department of Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA), estimated that the suspects had
hauled away 20 kilometres of copper wire in total, costing the authority around 10 million
baht.

Mr. Pakdee said the theft did not immediately affect the services, but admitted that
the BTS functions could be severely disrupted in the long term. He told the reporters the BMTA would
install metal grates on vulnerable locations along the tracks to avoid further theft.

One of the suspects confessed to the police that he and his cohorts had been
operating for a year, reaping 10 sacks of copper wire in their biggest attempt. The group then
separated the money, each person receiving 20,000 baht per haul, according to the
suspect.

The stations targeted by the suspects are identified as Chong Nonsri, Arie, Saphan
Kwai, Ekkamai, Pra Khanong, and On Nut.

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iPhone Thief Caught By Tracking App

(17 September) The
phone-tracking application on the iPhones has led the police to arrest a woman had stolen an iPhone
that she did not know how to turn off.

Mr. Arnant Hiranlai, 21, has reported to the police in
Nakorn Ratchasima Province that his iPhone had been stolen as he was rehearsing for a dancing
contest with his friends at the plaza in front of Lady Suranaree Statue.

He said he had left
his belongings near the Statue, and noticed that a woman was observing him and his friends as they
danced, then left the plaza. Mr. Arnant said he realised later that his iPhone was
missing.

Mr. Arnant then showed the phone-tracking application installed in his friend′s
mobile phone to the police, who followed the location and eventually arrested Ms. Tarn Pittarn, 49,
a resident of Taak Province.

The suspect confessed that she had stolen the phone but did not
know how to turn it off. The police charged her with theft.

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Man Punched To Death For 'Long Phonecall'

(17 September) A man was
beaten to death last night by his friend in Chonburi Province reportedly because he had borrowed his
friend′s cellphone and used it for too long.

Responding to emergency calls about a deadly
fistfight, rescue workers found the body of Mr. Visan Kamdee, 31, in front of a petrol station in
Mueang District. The police also arrested Mr. Kwanpai Wongkrachang in connection with the crime.

Mr. Kwanpai said he and Mr. Visan were on their way to work in Bangkok, when their car got
into an accident near the petrol station. As the men waited for the insurance agents to show up, Mr.
Kwanpai said, Mr. Visan borrowed his cellphone to talk with his girlfriend.

According to Mr.
Kwanpai, Mr. Visan was taking a long time on the cellphone, so he asked Mr. Visan to hand the
cellphone back. The suspect claimed Mr. Visan became incensed and threw the phone at his face,
breaking the mobile phone, and the pair immediately started fighting with their bare
fists.

Mr. Kwanpai said he had beaten his friend until he was unconscious, and quickly
realised that he was dead.

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Movie Tycoon 'Fed Up' With Tony Jaa

(17 September) The boss of giant film corporation ?Sahamongkol Film? will
go ahead with taking legal action against the action star Tony Jaa, according to the director
Prachya Pinkaew.

Mr. Somsak Techaratanaprasert had previously threatened a lawsuit over Tony
Jaa′s planned appearance in the upcoming sequel of the American film series Fast and Furious,
insisting that the star was still under contract with the company and he was therefore not allowed
to star in any foreign film without Mr. Somsak′s approval.

Tony Jaa, whose real name is Panom
Yeerum, has maintained that he had terminated the contract with Mr. Somsak′s company – a contract he
condemned as business slavery. Mr. Somsak has disputed those claims.

Mr. Prachya Pinkaew,
the famous director of Sahamongkol Film who has worked with Mr. Panom, said in an interview that Mr.
Somsak is fed up with the action star.

Jaa has done this kind of thing for so many times.
Right now, Sia Jiang is very tired. As far as I know, he′s just fed up. From now on we will
treat Jaa as a contract violator, said Mr. Prachya, using the nickname of Mr. Somsak.

The
case is being discussed by lawyers of both parties, Mr. Prachya added.

Asked if he is
disappointed by the star he has made famous with his own hands (Mr. Panom was launched to fame by
Mr. Prachya′s film Ong Bak), the director said he is saddened by how things are unfolding
because we trained him to acting. We had him study English.

Mr. Prachya also accused Mr.
Panom of betraying the people who rought him to his fame during his pursuit for wealth after his
ascension to international recognition.

We are at the point where he earns more than his
director, Mr. Prachya said.

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PM Yingluck Outlines Govt Policies For AEC

(16 September) Prime
Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today gave a keynote speech at the opening of the “Path for Thailand
toward ASEAN Community” exhibition in Bangkok, saying in parts that the government must re-adjust
policy to welcome the change, and should not treat the integration as a threat.

According to
the Prime Minister, Thailand must develop new strategies, particularly by public sectors, to create
more competitiveness in the region and improve the standard of living in Thailand.

By
creating competitiveness in the region, Ms. Yingluck suggested that Thai’s public sector should
readjust regulations to support Human Rights and ease trade protectionism.

The country also
needs to rebalance their government public services to be more efficient and effective, in order to
develop the standard of living in Thailand Ms. Yingluck is quoted as saying.

The Prime
Minister also said that the wobbling global economy may become a challenge to the country. The US
Quantitative Easing policy had strengthened national currency, due to large capital inflow into the
country. However, the situation has worsened the national export sector, which accounted up to 60%
of national GDP.

She stressed that Thailand should be ready for the economic fluctuation,
both in domestic, regional and international stages.

The private sector will also need to
adjust their policy and improve their competitiveness through providing a better quality of goods,
Ms. Yingluck said.

She also suggested that the country should rely more on green
energy.

Apart from the economic fluctuation, Ms. Yingluck noted, the nation is also facing a
lack of capable workforce, as the elderly population is expected to increase from 14% in 2013, to
27% in 2025.

At the end of her speech, the Prime Minister added that in order to be
competitive in meeting the new challenge, and to live together peacefully, we must integrate our
social and cultural aspects.

Thai people must also develop English skill, as the language
becoming more important as the media to communicate within the region, she added. 

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Lese Majeste Complaint Against Reformist Student

(16 September) A TV show host has accused the student known for her campaign against mandatory uniform wearing of insulting the monarchy.

Ms. Ponnipa Supatnukul, 41, the host of a talk show called "Best of Your Life" which is broadcast on a satellite TV channel, filed the complaint to the police in Nonthaburi Province, invoking Article 112 of the Criminal Codes which criminalises insults to the Royal Family.

The target of her legal action is a transgender student at Thammasat University, who has spearheaded a campaign  to abolish the practices in universities which she deems as oppressive to the students, including the rule requiring all students to wear uniforms.

The student, who goes by her nickname Aum Neko, was interviewed in a talk show hosted by Ms. Pontipa 3 months ago, according to Ms. Pontipa. In the show, she said, she talked to Ms. Aum and 20 other Thammasat students about the impact of economic slowdown on students? livelihood.

Ms. Pontipa claimed that Ms. Aum shocked everyone by "talking outside the topic" and "insulting the higher institution", a term referring to the monarchy. Ms. Aum′s words were "so shocking we could not broadcast the show", Ms. Pontipa said, but she has nevertheless stored footage of the interview.

She claimed that she decided to pursue a legal action against Ms. Aum because she was incensed by the student′s continued defamation of the monarchy. Ms. Pontipa also alleged that Ms. Aum is encouraging other students to commit similar crimes.

Ms. Pontipa had brought footage of the interview recorded 3 months ago to the police as evidence.

In a report by Manager ASTV website, Ms. Pontipa is quoted as telling the police that a lecturer in Thammasat University had informed her that Ms. Aum′s student network in Thammasat is funded by unknown sponsors.

The police later told Ms. Pontipa to file a complaint at the Technology Crime Division because Ms. Aum′s alleged wrongdoings include online postings.

Insults of the Thai monarchy (lese majeste) are punishable with up to 15 years in jail per offence.

For comments, or corrections to this article please contact: [email protected]

You can also find Khaosod English on Twitter and Facebook
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Transport Ministry Considering Taxi CCTVs

(16 September) Minister of Transport Chatchart Sitthipan said he is planning to equip close
circuit cameras inside taxis to reduce crimes and address the problems of drivers refusing
services to passengers.

Mr. Chatchart said the CCTV installation will promote safer taxi
services, as it allows the authorities to monitor bahaviours of both the drivers and the passengers
inside the cab, including incidents of drivers refusing to take passengers.


Many Thais have complained of taxi drivers in
certain parts of Bangkok refusing services to the them, preferring to pick up foreigners and
charging them extortive fares.

According to Mr. Chatchart, the CCTV project is
cost-effective, noting “the camera is no longer expensive, and the taxi drivers should be able to
afford the equipment.”

The Minister also mentioned the previous GPS-attachment plan, which
the Department of Land Transport (DLT) previously proposed, explaining that it would be a good idea
but is rather too expensive.

He also suggested that the taxi rental companies should be held
responsible if their drivers refused services to passengers.

Mr. Atchsathai Rattanadilok Na
Phuket, Deputy Director – General for Operation of DLT, said that the Department is expecting to
draft a law that prohibits such refusal which will also hold the taxi companies accountable for
their drivers? violations. The law is set to be completed in 3 months.

According to the
Deputy Director, punishments include forfeiting the right to renew or withdraw registration
plate.

Moreover, the department is also trying to add a list of taxi drivers and their
registered company into the department’s database, in order to be able to check and keep track of
the drivers. The idea is hoping to facilitate the police investigations, if the drivers had violated
the law, or caused harm to their passengers.

However, Mr. Jiruth Wisaljit, Deputy
Director-General for Administration, said that the department still keeps the idea of attaching GPS
to the taxis, as it should help in reducing crimes in Bangkok metropolis and suburb areas.

In the first stage, according to Mr. Jiruth, the DLT might encourage individual taxi drivers
to equip the GPS to their private cab, before gradually pushing the attachment in rental taxis
later.

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