Thailand Not A Hide Out Place For Foreign Criminals

THANLAND : July 31-- Thai is not a save country for international criminals who is on the run, according to a top police officer.

Pol Gen Wuthi Liptapanlop, advisor to Thailand's national police commissioner, said French national Jonathan Piant was arrested recently on Koh Samui, Surat Thani's famous tourist site.

An Interpol warrant issued in August 2005, Hungarian Antal Racz was arrested in Hua Hin on suspicion of shooting two persons to death and seriously wounding 14 others, by gunfire and hand grenade is what Gen Wuthi described as a family feud.

A Hungarian court sentenced Mr Racz to life imprisonment, but at some point he escaped to Thailand.

Italian Francesco Galdell was arrested at Bangkok's Dusit Thani Hotel last Friday. A Milan court wanted him for fraud, acceptance of stolen objects, impersonation, selling pirated goods and copyright violation.

Four Taiwanese nationals Chang Chia Wei, Wang Yi Chieh, Wu Yu Shuo and Chen Li Yen were arrested for allegedly being part of a 21-member call center scam in Phnom Penh. Taiwan and Cambodian authorities earlier arrested 13 suspects in the gang in the Khmer capital.

Central Bank Warns Of Counterfeit 1,000-Baht Bank Notes

THAILAND : -- Central Bank of Thailand has warned the people of its detection of counterfeit 1,000- baht banknotes in circulation but assured they could be easily distinguished by sights and touches.

According to central bank said the counterfeit banknotes it discovered  bore the serial numbers of 9ฉA 3828862 and 9ฉA 3828863 and they could be easily distinguished as they did not have the watermark of His Majesty the King. 

Also watermarks of the King on the white space of authentic notes are noticeable on both sides.

Their Thai paintings are translucent and their metallic sheens show their denomination numbers.

The central bank said authentic banknotes were made from special paper that were hard and durable and tolerated folding and pulling,  while added  that finger touches on denomination numbers of genuine notes give the feeling of friction.
 

Thailand’s Growth Rate Is Expected To Be Two Percent

BANGKOK : --July 31-- Mr Krisda Jiravijarana, Fiscal Policy Office of the Finance Ministry director, said Thailand’s growth rate for 2014 down to 2 percent from 2.6 percent as projected in March this year.

The Private sector’s consumption  is projected to expand by 0.3 percent whereas consumption of the government sector is to expand by 4.6 percent.

Investment of the private sector is projected to shrinkby 3.5 percent whereas government sector’s investment is estimated to expand by 4 percent. 

Export growth is projected at 1.3 percent compared to 5.2 percent of import growth. 

Inflation rate is projected to increase by 2.4 against basic rate of 1.5 percent.


Mr Krisda added that growth rate for the first half of the year was low but would pick up in the second half.

Thailand To Sell Out 18 Million Tons Of Rice In Three Years

BANGKOK : -- Thai  Ministry of Commerce says the 18 million tons of rice the government has bought from farmers under the corruption-plagued rice pledging scheme would be sold out in three years.

The  permanent secretary for Commerce, Ms Chutima Boonyaprapat, said the rice sale would be through auctions, G2G contracts, AFET, and the private sector.

 She said the  government would call  for bidding and it will start from  200,000-500,000 tons of rice in state stockpiles within the next two months.

If combined with rice to be sold by the private sector, total rice sale this year will be amounted to 8 million tons, she said.

Thai government is also set to sell 3-4 million tons of rice by the end of the year, she said.

Upon totaling  she said 18 million tons of rice could be released in three years.

The Foreign Trade Department said 500,000 tons of rice would be sold monthly throughout the three year period.

Heavy Penalties Await Any With Visa Overstays

BANGKOK : -- Starting from August 29 Thai Immigrations  Bureau will ban visitors who overstay their visas in Thailand. The longer the overstay period, the longer will be the re-entry ban.

The ban will be imposed on any foreigner found to have overstayed his or her visa or visa-exemption period.

Immigration Bureau decided to mete out such tough punishment after the current penalty, a maximum fine of Bt20,000, had apparently failed to serve as a sufficient deterrent.

Reporter said a total of 70,715 foreigners were chargedlast year for overstaying their visas.

From January to June this year, the number of visa overstayers reached up to 30,359.


Immigration Division spokesman Colonel Worawat Amornwiwat said foreigners who turn themselves in would be barred from re-entering Thailand for one year if their overstay time exceeds 90 days.

The ban will be valid for three years if their overstay period is more than one year. Those overstaying for more than three years will be barred from coming back to Thailand for five full years.

In the event an overstay exceeds five years, their re-entry to Thailand will be prohibited for the next 10 years.

Starting from August 29, foreigners who failed to produce their passports would be fined up to Bt20,000 and jailed for up to two years., He said.

Junta Agrees To Extend Free Bus And Train Services

BANGKOK : -- The National Council for Peace and Order today accepted to extend the free bus and train services for another six months from August 1 until end of January next year in order to alleviate the financial burden of the low income-earners. 

The NCPO also  to extend the charge excise on tax cut for diesel by another month until August 31 pending a decision on energy restructure by the Ministry of Energy.

The charge excise on tax cut  for diesel will render the Excise Department a loss of about 9 billion baht in revenue each month.

The department has suffered revenue loss of about 336 billion baht since the excise tax cut was introduced  in April 2011.





 

Burmese Boy Won Top Prize In Thai Handwriting Contest

TAK : --A Burmese  12-year old boy caused a big stir in Tak province when he won the first prize of the Thai Handwriting Competition held by the Office of the Basic Education Commission on the occasion of the Thai National Language Day on Tuesday. 

The Burmese who was identify as Yaza is studying in Prathom 3 at Arunmetha school in Pob Phra district of Tak where about 30 percent of the students are poor and live near the Thai-Burmese border. 

He was  born and grew up in Thailand, Yaza is considered as a Burmese immigrant.

Mrs Sang-aroon Sornchai, his Thai teacher, described Yaza as very deligent and dedicated to study and has represented the school at several handwriting competitions.

 
The 12 years old  boy said he was very happy to be awarded the top prize and to bring fame to his school and family.

Phuket Police Officer Kills Himself

PHUKET : -- Thai police officer intend to kill himself by jumping out of a third floor window in police accommodation in Talad Yai, Phuket Town at about 3am today (July 29).

Sub Lt Rapiwat Kongchim, 42, crashed through a tree which slowed his fall, and then landed on a car.

Officers later said they heard the thud of his landing, but thought nothing. Lt Rapiwat thenj climbed back up to his room and some officers said they heard him walk at a steady and consistent speed.

He later returned downstairs and, at about 7am, his brother officers all came wide awake when they heard a shot.

This time Lt Rapiwat had succeeded, shooting himself in the head with his 38 pistol.

He was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital by Kusondharm Rescue Foundation volunteers, but was declared dead on arrival.


Officers investigated the cause of his death, and concluded that the death did not involve anyone else.

 It is believed he was suffering from depression, perhaps because of a chronic illness that had put him in hospital a number of times.

Cambodia Assures Thai Junta Of No Resistance From Its Soil

BANGKOK : - July 29 Cambodian government has stated that it will support the actions of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and will not allow Cambodia to be as a stepping-board for actions to oppose the NCPO.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Tea Banh led a delegation from the government to call on  General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the head of the NCPO. 

The meeting was to strengthen greater cooperation on economic and trade in preparation for entry into the AEC.

The meeting also gave Gen Prayuth the opportunity to clarify the actions of the NCPO in dislodging the political deadlock in Thailand.

Gen Prayuth told the visiting Cambodian guests of  the NCPO’s plans for improving economic environment along the border between both countries so that both countries can mutually benefit from improved trade.

He also touched on improving tourism between both countries and stated that the NCPO was planning to send representatives for a formal visit to Cambodia in the foreseeable future.

General Tea Banh stated that the Cambodian understood the motives of the NCPO and praised its actions in defusing the political situation.

He added that Cambodia will not allow anyone to use Cambodia to infringe on Thai sovereignty.

 Cambodia has a national constitution and laws that clearly forbid such actions and any party attempting to sidestep those laws will be severely punished.  Gen Tea Banh remarked.



 

US Understands Thailand's Measures On Human Trafficking

 BANGKOK : --  Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that the United States has accepted labour solutions in National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) actions and might remove four Thai products from its child and forced labour watch list.

Director-general of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, Songsak Saicheua said he and representatives of eight Thai food associations visited the United States July 19 to 25 and meeting the government officials, wholesalers and trade union members.

NCPO was seriously tackling the problems and bringing illegal migrant workers to Thailand's formal labour system by registering them at one-stop service centers to protect them from abuse and human trafficking in the Kingdom.

The explanation make the US better understand the systematic labour solutions of the NCPO and realize they are sincere measures.
  

The establishment of 12 special economic zones along the border, solutions to all labour issues in the fisheries and marine industries.

Marine labor bill that will systematically protect fishery workers who will have 30 vacation days per year.

The NCPO approved it and will forward it to the National Legislative Assembly.

US business operators understood and have confidence in the work of the NCPO and they insisted on continuing to buy Thai products.

Thai Immigration uncompromising

HUA HIN : -- Hua Hin Immigration said that as from today enforcing the existing rule that foreigners are required to carry a valid photo ID at all times.

An immediate enforcement regarding the requirements for foreigners - both tourists and expats, to carry valid photo ID at all times.  Immigration is likely to enforce this nationwide.


Valid ID's are as follows:

- Thai Drivers Licence
- Passport original
- Copy of passport verified and stamped by Immigration

Penalty is as follows:

Failure to carry valid ID as above is 2,000 Baht.

24-hour reporting

Immigration added that as from today also enforcing the requirements that you and your landlord (condominium owner, house owner etc) must report to Immigration within 24 hours of moving in to a new address.

On your arrival card you already reported your place of stay, and if that changes you need to visit Immigration and report your new address.

This applies to both tourists and expats.

There are the two Immigration forms to be used, they can be downloaded from the Immigration's web site.

And TM28 form that must be used from now nationwide.


Here is another reporting obligation, and this applies when a foreigner visits another province and stays for more than 48 hours. In that case the reporting of the new address must be provided to the police, or the immigration, within 48 hours.

There is form to be used by house owners or possessor of the residence where foreigners reside.

For more information vist the Immigration web site





 

Thai Capital Faces Numbers Of Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease

BANGKOK : - July 29 --  Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) reported that the number of patients infected with hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) have doubled since last year, with almost 85 per cent of the patients being children under age 5.

Dr Wongwat Liewlak, director of the Communicable Disease Control Division in the BMA Department of Health, said that  latest figure of infected patients with the disease in the Capital, from the beginning of this year until July stands at 4,695; twice of that of last year.
 
  The Department of Health, pointed out that the rising figure was not because the disease has become stronger, but because the disease usually spread during the this time of year, where 85 per cent of the people infected were children under the age of 5.

No deaths have been reported from the disease.

The disease has  been found to spread in the capital's Khlong Sam Wa and Phra Khanong districts.

Schools are advised to take precautions by improving their hygiene within school grounds, particularly shared items and locations, like toys and classrooms, as the disease is normally passed through saliva.

BMA Health Department director Dr Wantanee Wattana said that the numbers of patients  found to have contracted the disease was not yet out of control.

Indonesia Sets Free Hundreds Of Prisoners

JAKARTA : -  Hundreds of prisoners in Indonesia were freed on Monday, the start of the IdulFitri celebration this year, following a massive sentence reduction granted by the government as it sought to reduce overcrowding at jail facilities, the Jakarta  source reported.

Those in jail were 55,884 prisoners and juvenile detainees were handed for a special remission but still remain in jail,” Akbar said.

He added that of those, 15,958 had their sentences reduced by 15 days, 35,534 received a one-month sentence reduction, 3,471 received a one-month and 15-day sentence cut, while another 921 prisoners received a two-month sentence cut, Akbar said.

He said  majority of the prisoners who received the reduced time were located in West Java.

The Justice and Human Rights Ministry spokesman Akbar Hadi said the government had granted an IdulFitri reduced sentences for 56,704 Muslim prisoners, 820 of which were allowed to walk free on IdulFitri.

 

Eleven Nations Seek Legal Recourse Over MH17 Tragedy

KUALA LUMPUR : -- Malaysian government and  countries whose citizens were killed in the MH17 tragedy are undertaking legal recourse beginning today against those responsible for blowing the Malaysia Airlines jet out of the sky on July 1.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul GaniPatail told the Media Prima reporters that Malaysian police had opened an investigation paper into the MH17 case on Thursday and Malaysia would seek the way in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

Malaysia was pushing to be the country to try the perpetrators behind the tragedy and that they would be subjected to the Malaysian criminal justice system Gani said.

The country would also seek to retrieve critical data from the investigations led by the Dutch government, including results from the post-mortems on the bodies, as well as data retrieved from the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Kuala Lumpur builds  case against the perpetrators,that will also seek the cooperation of the countries concerned to extradite the accused for trial in Malaysia.

Bombers Against PDRC Protesters Arrested

BANGKOK : -- Two motorcycle taxi-drivers suspected to be members of a gang responsible for several grenade attacks against anti-government protesters of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee  have been arrested.

Pol Gen Somyos Poompanmuang, the deputy national police chief said the two suspects were identified  as Natthapan Loombangla, 40, a motorcycle taxi-driver working at Petchaburi Soi 5, and Charoen Promchart, 38 who works at Rama IX road.

Only Natthapan was presented to the media on Tuesday by the police.

According to  investigation, Natthapan and Krisda Chaikae who is on the run and believed to be taking refuge in a neighbouring country went to Sampeng Square shopping centre to collect four RGD-5 hand grenades from Apichart Puangpetch but it was Krisda who lobbed three hand grenades at the protest sites at Victory Monument and Banthadthong road during the PDRC protests.

Vietnam Airlines To Establish Emergency Back-Ups

HANOI : -- Dinh Viet Thang, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam on Friday said Vietnam's airlines have been ordered to identify at least one reserve airport for landings, in case of bad weather.

Thang said airlines were also asked to follow special flight procedures during storms. The  aims to ensure the safety of flights after recent crashes of foreign airplanes that were later tied to weather issues.

Airlines were banned from taking off and landing when weather conditions resulted in poor visibility, cloud ceilings and wind speeds that were above allowed standards.  Airlines were also not allowed to make landing approaches more than twice.

Thang also said In case of complicated weather, flight crews are to ask advice from air-traffic controller agency to receive better assessments of weather developments before making the second landing approach.

Spider-Bitten Patient Dies In Hospital

PHRAE : -- Man in Phrae province who was bitten by a Brown Tarantula spider and had his leg amputated to save his life has died of intestinal haemorrhage. 

Deputy director of Phrae provincial hospital, Dr Thongchai Meeluekarn, said that the patient, Mr Uthai Wiangkham, a native of Mae Puak, Den Chai district, was placed under 24-hour watch after he had his leg which was bitten by the spider amputated in order to spare his life.

The patient developed kidney failure after the surgery and his condition continued to deteriorate with intestinal haemorrhage being detected due to low blood platelet, he said.

Mr Uthai’s body was later brought by his relatives back to his home town for funeral.

Appeals Court Rejected A Petition

BANGKOK : -- Appeals Court today rejected a petition by Luang Poo Buddha-issara calling for  withdrawal of an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on charge of obstructing election on January 26 early this year. 

The activist abbot of Wat Ornoi temple in Nakhon Pathom did not appear at the court to hear his appeal decision but assigned his lawyer to the court instead.

He was charged by the police of Thung Song Hong station in Bangkok for obstructing election when he led anti-government protesters to encircle Lak Si district office on January 26 this year.

The Appeals Court reasoned that the issuance of arrest warrant was under the jurisdiction of the Criminal Court (court of first instance) in case of emergency.

It also said that if the obstruction was proved later to have incurred damages, compensation could then  be  demanded later by the police.

 The court then retained the arrest warrant for the abbot.

Ms Yingluck And Pheu Thai Members Face Indictment

BANGKOK : -- Thai investigating panel of  Election Commission has decided to indict former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and seven other former ministers and the ex-police chief of using state resources and personnel for electioneering before the February 2 election this year.

 They were accused by the panel for violating Artices 57 and 137 of the Election Act which carry an imprisonment of 1-10 years and a fine of between 20,000-200,000 baht.

Mean-while, they face losing the right to vote in an election for 10 years and the Pheu Thai party risks being dissolved.

Ms Yingluck, also eight former cabinet ministers and a senior official are Plodprasob Suranswadi, Charupong Ruangsuwan, Chadchart Sitthipan, Santi Promphat, Sermsak Pongpanich, Thanusak Lek-uthai, Visarn Techathirawat and Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew.

Thai To Treat Migrant Workers The Same As Locals

BANGKOK : -- Thai Employers have been advised to obey labour laws protecting migrant workers and treat them the same way Thai workers are treated, and also en-suring they adhere to local laws.

Sumeth Mahosot, the department's director-general, said unlicensed labour agents were being closely monitored by labour officials and immigration after being found trying to register migrant workers at the new one-stop service centres.

Centres in Bangkok are to accommodate mass registration of migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

It is being done under the supervision of the military junta.

Immigration police would also ask them to produce their ID cards and documents to show if they are a lawful representative of an agency or an employer.

Spanish Man Arrested For 'ATM Skimming

CHONBURI :  —  Thai Police in the resort town of Pattaya say they have arrested a Spanish nationality, Fernando Manuel Navaro, 56 in an ATM card skimming scheme.

Pol.Maj.Gen. Sanit said Mr. Navaro used the data to create copies of the ATM cards and withdraw large amounts of money from the victims' bank accounts.

Police raid on Mr. Navaro's residence reportedly turned up one ATM card skimming device, 109 copies of ATM cards, and more than 1,000 blank ATM cards.

Mr. Navaro is charged with producing counterfeit electronic cards and possessing a device to produce counterfeit electronic cards. If found guilty, he could face imprisonment and a 100,000 baht fine.

Mr. Navaro who later confessed he worked for a "Romanian gang" in Pattaya.

And  was hired by the Romanians to skim these ATM cards for 15,000 baht.

Police have advised the public to check for any suspicious signs on ATMs before they withdraw money.

Gender Gains Still Fall Behind

 

PHNOM PENH : -- Marginalisation and under-education of women in Cambodia, remains among the worst in the world, a new report says. 

Organisations development have long recognised the centrality of women and girls in the fight to eradicate poverty. But in practice, the pace of poverty alleviation in the region is slacking, mired in a rut of inequality, according to the latest United Nations Human Development  report.

Cambodia drops towards the bottom of the low development category.

 Human Development Report bumps Cambodia up one ranking place to 136th out of the 187 countries rated, but the Kingdom’s development index – which takes into account standard of living, knowledge and the ability to live a long healthy life – clocked in well below the regional average (0.584 compared to 0.703). And when factoring in inequalities in education and income too.

Mostly females, the education index in Cambodia lags woefully behind the rest of ASEAN.  

Only some 9.9 per cent of Cambodian females 25 and older have had some secondary school education, among the lowest in the world, on a par with Afghanistan, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

Crown Prince’s birthday today

THAILAND : -- Today is the 62nd birthday anniversary of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. 

On July 28 which is the Crown Prince’s birthday,  activities was held in royal honor, starting with food offering to 162 monks in the early morning at the ceremonial ground of Sanam Luang.

The ceremony was jointly organized by the Ha-Thawa-Maharat Foundation, government and private sectors, as well as people from all walks of life, to express their royalty to the Crown Prince.

Her Royal Highness Princess Srirasm,  held religious functions yesterday to mark his birthday.

SRT board agrees on 700,000 compensation for rape victim funeral

THAILAND :--- Omsin Chivapruek, board chairman said Sunday that the State Railway of Thailand board has decided to pay the family of the 13-year old rape and murder victim 700,000 baht in compensation for funeral costs.

The victim who was raped and killed by an SRT staff while travelling on a Bangkok-bound sleeper train and her body was thrown out of the running train. 

The suspected rapist-murderer, identified as Wanchai Saengkhao, was arrested.

The board had instructed the management to speed up restoring public confidence in the train services through the implementation of several measures, among them the recruitment of staff members and employees which must strictly adhere to the rules, transparent and fair and the introduction of lady carriages staring August 1.

Applicants for jobs at the SRT must not have criminal records, and  not be addicted to drugs and must not used to be imprisoned, he said.

Thailand faces flooding

SI SA KET :  ----  Several Thai regions, especially  in the northeast, have been hit by natural disaster, with  underwater.

SiSaKet Governor Prateep Kiratilekha has inspected flooding in  Benchalak district and in villages, after heavy downpours hampered access to the area for several days, causing the water level to rise considerably.

Most areas the water was as high as 3 metres, prompting the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to cut off power from the district as a safety precautions.

Mahasarakham Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office chief Sitthipol Sa-ngium reported that the province is seeing continuous rainfall, the province's 17 reservoirs face water shortages, with overall capacity now standing at only 21.48 per cent of their 81.42 million cubic metres.

The disaster director said his work-force will  closely monitor the situation around and to provide immediate assistance to the public.

Lady train service begins August 1

THAILAND : --  State Railway of Thailand announced today that the first lady train service will be introduced on August 1. 

Train which provides service for only women and children will be on service on three main routes.

And will be a second class air-conditioned car and second-class sleeping car on three routes - north, northeast and south.

Also boys under 10 years old and no taller than 150 centimetres can also travel on these carriages.

The service is introduced on special express trains on Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Bangkok  route in the North, Bangkok – Ubon Ratchathani – Bangkok route, and  Bangkok – Nong Khai – Bangkok route in the Northeast, and Bangkok – Sungai Kolok – Bangkok route in the South.

These carriages was introduce following the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl by an SRT staff member on an overnight train from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Bangkok earlier this month.

Thai Car Production Projection Down

THAILAND : -- The automotive industry of the Federation of Thai Industries has revised down the automobile production projection for this year by 200,000 units to 2.2 million units due to drop in sale during the first half of the year.

Vice president, Mr Surapong Paisitpattanapong, of  automotive industry, disclosed Wednesday that production projection for this year would be about 10.45 percent lower than last year or 257,000 units less.

Consumption will be scaled down from 1.2 million units to one million which accounts for 45.45 percent of the entire production or 25.14 percent down from last year’s total production of 1.33 million units, he said, adding that the scaleback in production projection was due mainly to below-target sale during the first six months of the year.

He said 73,800 units were sold in June, down by 30.4 percent compared to the same month last year.  Overall car sale for the first six months stood at 441,000 units, down by 40.5 percent from the same period last year.

Nigerian Arrested For Murder In Pattaya

PATTAYA – July 24, 2014 Maj.Gen.Suraphol Wiratyosin-deputy commander-, Pol.Col.Theeraphol Jindaluang-deputy commander- and Pol.Maj.Gen.Chettha Komolwattana-commander- made a statement that Pol.Col.Chatri Suksiri-superintendent- and his team had arrested Mr.Nmamaka Onwuhafua aged 32 from Nigeria who was being hunted for murder. 

The police officers arrested him in a room in Four Man House, South Pattaya.

Authorities said that on 14th May Mr.Nmamaka stabbed and beat Mr.Jude Chukwu aged 32 from Nigeria who was his friend to death in a house in Pattaya.

Mr.Nmamaka  confessed that on the incident day he asked Mr.Jude for 20,000 baht that he had borrowed to him but Mr.Jude didn’t have it. Soon after they started arguing and Mr.Jude tried to hit him with a bottle therefore Mr.Nmamaka decided to stab him.

Insurance professional shot by husband

THAILAND : -- Muang Thai Insurance managing director Mrs Kritaya Lamsam was shot dead by her Swiss husband Friday night at their  condominium room on Soi Narathiwat 7 in  Sathorn area.

Reto Castellazzi, 54 her husband, later shot himself with the same pistol in a suicide after shooting his wife to death, Thung Mahamek police investigator said.

Their maid, Mrs Ngad,  told police that both had normal morning exercise outside and also had breakfast together on the table with no sign they would have any quarrel.

While  ironing their clothes at night she heard a shot but did not take care as she thought it was a firecracker explosion. It was until a tenant on the third floor came down to ask if she heard gunshots inside the room of the couple.

Then she opened the room to find that both were shot. She then alerted the guard and the police.

The guard told police he heard two gunshots from the second-floor room and shortly later saw the Swiss man coming out to the corridor and fired several gunshots at random to the ground.

Later, the man came inside the room and another single shot was heard.

Mrs Kritiya had a gunshot wound on her head, and lied dead near an open suitcase  indicating that she was packing to leave.

Her husband lied dead with shot wound on the face, indicating he shot himself through the mouth. He lied dead holding a 11 m.m. pistol firmly in hand.

Investigation also revealed that  the Swiss husband who also worked as a computer engineer at the insurance company had earlier received treatment of mental health.

Karoon Hosakul enters monkhood

BANGKOK : -- Thai former Pheu Thai party MP for Don Muang Mr Karoon Hosakul was ordained as a Buddhist  monk Saturday morning at Wat Don Muang temple.

His ordination ceremony was performed  by Phra Ratchavisuthimongkol, the abbot of Wat Don Muang as his preceptor.

The ceremony Sunday morning included his parents, wife, and former information and communication technology minister Anudit Nakorntab, former MP Surachart Thienthong,  local administration politicians, and supporters.

He was given a Buddhist name of Phra Kittitaro which means “the man with fame and honour”.

Phra Kittitaro will perform Buddhism practice’s at the temple for nine days.

Complaints against taxi and bus services

BANGKOK : -- Today complaints against taxi drivers whereas reckless driving tops the complaints against public bus service in Bangkok during the past six months of this year, according to the Land Transport Department. 

Director-general of Land Transport Department, Mr Atchathai Rattanadilok na Phuket, disclosed that the department had received altogether 15,632 complaints through the 1584 hotline against taxi services and 6,854 complaints against public bus services through the same hotline from January-June.


The complaints  is as  follows: 5,315 complaints or 84.74 percent of all the complaints concern the problem of taxi drivers refusing to accept passengers for various reasons; 2,261 complaints against impolite language used against passengers; 1,823 complaints of reckless driving; 1,543 complaints against drivers not sending passengers to their agreed destinations; and 1,100 complaints of not using meters.

Complaints against public bus services,  are as follows:  2,217 complaints against reckless driving which account for 78.04 of all the complaints; 1,035 complaints for not stopping at bus stops; 1,028 complaints of impoliteness; 368 complaints of letting passengers to disembark outside bus stops and 276 complaints of overcharging.

Mr Atchathai said that the department had summoned taxi drivers in 13,247 cases to be told of the complaints against them and to be fined at not more than 1,000 baht each.

Police arrest Thai human trafficking gang

BANGKOK :  -  Yesterday Sa Kaeo police  arrested three members of a human trafficking gang after they kidnapped four Cambodian migrant workers  and raped them in hotel in Sa Kaeo province.

The kidnap and rape story was then revealed by the migrant workers through a Cambodian interpreter at the police station.

 The workers said they were 20 illegal Cambodian migrant workers seeking for jobs in Thailand and were arranged to stay together at a townhouse in Song Roi Hong community waiting for the job brokers to pick them up and take them to Bangkok.

Reporter said, three hooded armed men broke into the room, While the job seekers are  in the house.

 When the three hooded armed men picked six good looking girls and took them at gunpoint  with them.

Among them were a 15-year-old girl and a 23-year-old girl.

The gang took the six women to a hotel in the same district where the 15-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman were later taken away by a gang member.

Two men then raped the 19-year-old and 21-year-old women before stealing a pair of gold earrings, a mobile phone and 3,000 baht cash, one of the migrant worker told police.

The police are still hunting for other gang members who also raped two other migrant workers, one of them aged below 15, at a nearby hotel and freed them on a road in Aranyaprathet.

They were identified as Pern Kem-ngern, 31, Thanakorn Deemee, 31, and Uthai Nongpa, 33.

Police arrested them  from their rented house in  Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province.

Street racing to be crackdown

THAILAND : -- the police and the army as part of the National Council for Peace are to tackle with street racing motorcyclists that will be the next to face crackdown by the authorities.
 

 An officer of the judge-advocate department in charge of coordinating with the police to enforce the social order, said Friday that since the NCPO had already taken actions to deal with several social problems ranging from illegal parking by passenger vans, illegal motorcycle taxies, loan sharks, illegal gambling and etc it was about time that focus would be shifted to street racing by young motorcyclists.

Lt-Col Burin Thongprapai said, Street racing, not only poses danger to the riders themselves but put other motorcyclists and motorists at risk and also poses a nuisance to the public in general.

He added that the problem remain because,  the racers are set free after their parents were summoned by the police to receive warnings and in some cases, their motorbikes were impounded.

From today upward arrested racers will be sent to a rehabilitation school for seven days for rehabilitation to change their habits, he noted.

Lottery vendors to protest overpriced lottery tickets

BANGKOK :  -- Thai lottery vendors gathered in front of the Government Lottery Office at Sanambin Nam in Nonthaburi blocking the rush hour traffic Friday morning to protest overcharging of lottery price by the lottery agents.

They said that in the last lottery draw, was sold at 73 baht for a pair of   lottery tickets,  from selling agents but yesterday they were charged 10 baht higher, which made them impossible to continue selling at the controlled price of 80 baht as they would have no profit.

Police  came as the protest  worsened the traffic as vehicles were stranded and could hardly move during the morning rush hours.

Negotiation was implemented with regard to the trouble of the people who have to travel to work and students who have to go to schools, the vendors agreed to open a lane  on each side of the road to pass.

More than 300 vendors also asked the military to receive their complaint and  to investigate why the agents have to raise their wholesale price from 73 baht to 83 baht.

Dutch national arrested

PATTAYA : -  The Department of Special Investigation (DSI), Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and local police takedown an international drug trafficking gang led by a notorious Dutch trafficker and his Thai wife and seized their assets worth  sum of 100 million baht in Pattaya.

DSI got a petition from the Netherlands to arrest and extradite Johannes Petrus Maria van Vanarhoven and his Thaiwife Mingkwan Kaen-in for their involvement in the trafficking of marijuana through a drug network in the Netherlands.

Which they  later found their hideouts location and houses at four places in Bang Lamung and Sattahip districts of Chonburi.

Johannes Petrus Maria van Vanarhoven and his Thai wife have been accused of smuggling large quantities of marijuana into the Netherlands for sale.

They had been involved in drug trafficking for years and money laundering from the sale of drugs to buy properties and other assets in several countries.

Two handguns and 159 bullets were also seized.

Secretary-general Pol Col Sihanart  Prayoonrat, Anti-Money Laundering Official said   initially seized 10 bank accounts connected to the couple and their two children worth 20 million baht, about 100 million baht worth of buildings  in Samut Prakan including  gold ornaments and three cars worth about 30 million baht.

They would face punishment in Thailand before  extradite them to the Netherlands, authorities said.

Syria to deport 26 Filipinos

SYRIA  :  -  Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Wednesday that 26 Filipinos from Syria are ready to be deported back to Manila on July 25. 

The Filipino repatriates will arrive at 10:10 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on board Emirates Airlines flight number EK-334 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

They traveled  by land from Damascus to Beirut on July 24.

And will be assisted by Philippine Embassy in Beirut personnel during their transit at the Lebanese Masna’a border.

The repatriates underwent departure briefing and medical check-up prior to their travel to Manila.


Their tickets were provided, free of charge, by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Damascus.

Yingluck on a one-way ticket

BANGKOK : -- Thai  Ex-Premier Yingluck Shinawatra flew to Paris last night with 15 suitcases  on a one-way ticket, according to report today. 

Yingluck sought permission to  travel abroad with her son  from July 23- August 10 and was permitted at the same day when the National Anti-Corruption Commission ruled her guilty of malfeasance involving corruption in the rice-pledging scheme.


The National Anti-Corruption Commission said in conclusion of investigation that she knew about all irregularities and corruption but neglected to take action or put an end to it.


She requested  for  three-week long overseas trip was later hypothesize to be an attempt to flee supreme court’s trial of which its ruling can’t be appealed.

Sources reported that Yingluck and her son brought with them 15 suitcases on the flight, while 12 of them checked in, and three carry-on.

Morchit 2 bus terminal to relocate

BANGKOK: -- The Morchit 2 provincial bus terminal at Chatuchak and city bus terminal at Morchit 1 will move to pave the way for  construction of the Red Line electric project.

It was agreed at the meeting hosted by the Ministry of  Transport.

The meeting were executives of the State Railway of Thailand, the Transport Company, operator of the provincial bus terminal at Morchit 2, and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) which uses the Morchit 1 as a city bus terminal.

Permanent secretary Soithip Traisut revealed after the meeting that the Transport company and the BMTA would be moving their provincial bus terminal at Morchit 2 bus and city bus terminal at Morchit 1 to other area.

Wuthichart Kalayanamit  Managing director of the Transport company,  said the new location of the bus terminals would be decided by the end of the year, while the new site must have at least 100 rais of land, where the state company has planned to invest around three billion baht for the construction of the new bus terminals within 2017.

Thailand Immigration confirms new overstay rules

BANGKOK: --The  Immigration Bureau in Bangkok today (22nd July 2014) posted a new announcement regarding its rules for overstay.

                          Details is as follows

 Aliens who violate The Immigration Act, B.E.2522 by overstaying more than 90 days in the Kingdom of Thailand will be forbidden from re-entering the kingdom for a certain period of time.


Overstay more than 90 days forbidden 1 year

Overstay more than 1 year forbidden 3 years

Overstay more than 3 years forbidden 5 years

Overstay more than 5 years forbidden 10 years

In the case that alien is being apprehended

Overstay less than 1 year forbidden 5 years

Overstay more than 1 years forbidden 10 years.
 

Bhutan princess in Thailand

THAILAND : -  Sister to the King of Bhutan, Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck of Bhutan,  is now in Thailand on a five-day official visit from July 20 to 24, 2014. 

 Her visits to the Kingdom as  guest of the Court of Law of Thailand, according to National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT).

Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck  Monday (July 21) visited the Supreme Court of Thailand located in the Government Center in Chaeng Watthana area, to observe the system of searching for court decisions and rulings and other legal services, source said.

She observed the activities of the Legal Training Institute of the Thai Bar Association in Taling Chan area, which currently has over 24,000 registered students. In the 2013 academic year, 1,227 students successfully passed the bar examination.

Thai Bar Association humbly bestowed on the Princess honorary membership in recognition for her talents and knowledge in political science and law and her contributions in the fields to the people of Bhutan.

 The Princess is the fifth person to receive the honor from  Thai Bar.

Luang Poo Buddha-issara hospitalized

NAKHON PATHOM : -- Buddhist abbot, Luang Poo Buddha-issara was hospitalized and he is in the intensive care unit of the Nakhon Pathom hospital center under closed monitoring.

Wat Ornoi  temple said the abbot was admitted to the hospital Monday morning after suffering breathing difficulties. 

Dr Somruek Chungsamarn said his condition  improved Tuesday but still needed to be under close watch by doctors.

He was admitted in the hospital’s ICU for close check

He is suffering chest pain and doctors are still diagnosing his sickness symptom to find the exact cause of the pain and  difficulties while breathing.

The People’s Democratic Reform Committee came to visit the abbot at the hospital but were not allowed by doctors to meet him as doctors wanted him to take full rest.

MH17 Malaysia Airline receives black boxes from rebels

MALAYSIA : -- On Tuesday Malaysian officials have received the two MH17 black boxes from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)  in Ukraine, according to source. 

DPR representatives showed up at their government headquarters with the Malaysian government representatives.

The DPR leader Alexander Borodai thanked Malaysia and the Netherlands for sending teams here on Monday to resolve the MH17 issues.

 DPR  brought a white sack containing the black boxes and showed them to the Malaysian officials.

The boxes were  inspected and later accepted by the Malaysian officials.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Monday reached an agreement with Ukrainian rebels for custody of the black boxes and access to the Malaysia airlines flight MH17 crash site.

NCPO approves bills

BANGKOK : -- The National Council for Peace and Order on Tuesday endorsed 12 bills and gave a greenlight for Thailand to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Most of the bills endorsed by the NCPO include feedstock quality control bill, land reform for agriculture bill, bill regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes and insurance bill.

The bills will  be submitted to the National Legislative Assembly  to be established for deliberation before they will come into effect.

A kindergarten kid dies in a locked school van

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT :  -- A four-year old boy  died of suffocation in a locked school van parked under the sun in the compound of Cha-uad district police station in Nakhon Si Thammarat on Monday.

Police said that the kindergarten school boy whose name was mentioned fell asleep at the back seat of the van which also carried 6-7 other kindergarten school children from their homes to the school in the morning.

Anusorn Joengrungruang the van driver, later admitted to the police that he did not notice that the victim had fallen asleep in the back seat.

After he let the other children get off at the school, he drove the van to the police station where he usual park and then left in a motorcycle.

At  noon, Anusorn said he started wondering if he had  let the 4-year old kid out of his van.

Then he rushed back to the van, opened the door only to find the kid lying dead.  Police said the kid died 3-4 hours ago and will be charged with manslaughter..

Crackdown on illegal passenger van

BANGKOK : --  Thai soldiers, police and transport officials started a joint drive against illegal passenger van service in the capital for the first day Monday with the round-up of   20 illegal passenger vans operating without proper registrations.

 Victory Monument has been inspected by combined force.

It was reported that more than 20  vans were stopped and their drivers fined for not registering their vehicles properly for public transport service.

The National Council for Peace and Order to legalize all illegal van service and rid of mafia giving protection to the illegal van services.

Each of them was fined 2,000 baht in violation of the Motor Vehicle Act 1979.

More inspection will be conducted at nine  locations in the capital this month to bring an end to illegal van service.

They include Nual Chan Si 16, Sihaburanakij on Happy Land,  Tawana, Yaek Bang Na, Silom, Pata Pinklao, Yaek Pothong, Rama 2, and Central Phraram 2.

During the past two days 5,000 vans have registered for passenger service transport with the department.

Reconciliation Among Thais

BANGKOK : -- The National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO)  host  activities in Bangkok while in the provinces  the Interior ministry will be host as  means, of reconciliation among Thais and returning  happiness to the people started  Tuesday across the country. 

In Bangkok, 99 Buddhist monks received food and alms from government officials led by the NCPO representative Gen Surasak Kanchanarat, the defense permanent-secretary.


The reconciliation fair at Sanam Luang  features musical concerts by the armed forces and the police bands,  exhibitions of state enterprises and government agencies, food and low-priced goods sales and exhibitions.

And in the provinces, reconciliation activities are held at provincial town halls with governors presiding over the opening  ceremonies.

The reconciliation fair include a redshirt leader Veerakarn Musikapong. But representative of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee did not take part, though was invited by the military junta.

Thaksin wants celebration among family members

BANGKOK :  -- Thai  ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra has solicit former  members of the Pheu Thai party and  redshirt leaders not to attend to his birthday celebration on July 26 in Paris but would like only a few family members to join. 

Ms Yingluck Shinawatra has seek  permission from the National Council for peace and Order  to leave for France with her son on July 23. She planned to visit five European countries after joining her brother’s 65th birthday anniversary in Paris.

The Pheu Thai party saying that Thaksin wanted his birthday celebration to be a quiet family gathering, as he did not want them to come under the watchful eyes of the military. 

Reporter says, his sister Yaowapa Wongsawat, Yingluck and former wife Khunying Pojamarn Damaphong will join the celebration.

Thai police to be reformed

THAILAND : -  Bangkok Poll have wanted the police force to be reformed, Over 90 percent of the people polled against Thai police and 34.8 percent of them have identified corruption as the top priority problem that they would like the new national police chief to tackle. 

The poll was conducted by Bangkok University which sampled 1, 239 people across the country.

If  asked about police restructure to prevent political interference, 88.9 percent said they agreed with this reform while 11.1 percent disagreed.

When asked if  they would prefer the police to be answerable to each respective provincial governor, 64.5 percent said they agreed with the idea while 35.5 percent disagreed.

And when asked what is the problem they most want the police to tackle, 34.8 percent identified police corruption and 26.1 percent said public safety problem and 20 percent identified illicit drugs.

Spider bitten may cause lose his leg

PHRAE : -- In Phrae province a Thai  man identified as Uthai Wiangkham,  was bitten by a poisonous spider might have his leg amputated to prevent further damages to other body organs from the poison. 

Uthai Wiangkham, is now being treated in the intensive care unit at the Phrae General Hospital.

The Siriraj medical team has revealed the findings of tests made and found that the spider was a brown tarantula and not the feared brown ‘Back Widow’ spider.


 Dr Wanchai Lohkarnjanarat Phrae General Hospital director, revealed that the patient’s condition is now stable and that the medical team had no choice but to amputate his right leg due to the extensive damage to tissue.

Siriraj General Hospital and the Chulalongkorn Faculty of Medicine released tests result which shows that the bite was from a brown tarantula and not the brown colored ‘Black Widow’ spider as originally feared.

The patient’s liver and kidney functions have also been severely impaired.

Local paralysis of organs surrounding the bite is also another symptom as the amount of venom secreted is relatively small.

Cases of spider bites are reported during the rainy season when spiders are most numerous. 

Vietnam diverts flights away from Ukrainian airspace

VIETNAM : --  National carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) on July 18 announced that it rescheduled four flights on July 17 following the crash of a Malaysian Airlines plane in Ukraine. 

Later, rescheduling was aimed at changing flight paths to avoid the area where the Malaysian Airlines plane MH17 crashed. The VNA flights which were rescheduled included the VN37 Hanoi – Frankfurt flight, VN17 Hanoi – Paris flight, VN55 Ha Noi – London flight and VN11 HCM City – Paris flight.


VietnamAirlines said that these flights left Friday morning, about three to five hours later than their scheduled time of departure.

According to reporter,  many airlines around the world have announced that they are going to divert flights away from the Ukrainian airspace. These airlines include Russia’s Aeroflot, UTair and Transaero; Germany’s Lufthansa; Belarus’s Belavia; Eva Air; Korean Air Lines; Asiana Airlines; and the Swedish SCA.

Flight MH17 crashed in east Ukraine while flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur.

Phuket beaches strong waves and winds

PHUKET : --     Yesterday  strong and high waves pounding the beaches of Phuket province Saturday, making provincial authorities to consider declaring several beaches as disaster areas.

Somkiat Sangksosuthirak Phuket deputy governor said the strong waves have battered the shores causing damages to at least four beaches.

He added, authorities were  to declare four beaches as disaster zones so that local administration would be empowered to draw its own budget to restore the beaches on urgency basis.

Thai  Meteorological Department issued its latest warning late Saturday saying the typhoon has weakened into tropical storm as it landed on the northern part of Vietnamese shore with its centre  at 125 kilometres  northeast of Hanoi.

As the storm was moving northwesterly at about 20 kilometres an hour.

It was reported that the typhoon passed, strong and high waves of 2-4 metres are expected in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand and small bots are advised not to leave shores during the period.