BANGKOK: -- Police have arrested an American man for sex crimes allegedly committed in the United States and Thailand.
Thomas Andrew Erickson, 47, who is also known as Andrew McLean or Barry
Stewart, was nabbed in Samut Prakan while in possession of fake US and
British passports.
Central Investigation Bureau acting chief Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri
announced Erickson's arrest yesterday. "On September 15, US authorities
alerted us that an American had fled to Thailand to avoid arrest related
to sexual and physical assaults," Prawut said.
After learning that the US has already revoked Erickson's passport,
police also learned that a jewellery shop assistant in Bangkok's Bang
Rak district had lodged a complaint against Erickson in early 2011 over
an alleged rape and attack that left her seriously injured.
Prawut said that after having a brush with the law here, Erickson had
used a fake British passport to secure a teaching job at a famous school
in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
"He later moved to the Rangsit area and then Prawet area, doing a brief
stint as an English-language teacher," the senior officer said. "He also
worked as a freelancer for a media firm via an Internet-based contact".
Prawut said Erickson opened a language school behind Khon Kaen
University. "Based on our inquiries, he assaulted many victims in
Thailand," he said. "Some victims were lecturers at famous private and
state universities. These victims came to him as they wanted to improve
their English skills. After the assaults, they did not lodge complaints
because they felt humiliated."
He said Erickson had bipolar disorder.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Vietnamese Fishing Trawlers Apprehended In Thai Waters
First Naval Area Command deputy chief of staff, Captain Samreung Janso, said the trawlers - identified as CM 99518 TS , CM 91550 TS , CM 91551 TS , CM 91718 TS , CM 91685 TS , CM 91360 TS , CM 99833 TS - were found to contain hundreds of sea snakes along with some squid and were towed to the Royal Thai Fleet's pier for Sattahip police to proceed with legal action.
Samreung said 60 Vietnamese trawlers have been caught so far for intruding into Thai waters. He said they hunted for sea snakes to export to China at the lucrative price of Bt500-Bt1,000 per snake, while some hunt for squid, as dried squid could be sold at Bt800-Bt1,000 per kilo.
Stateless Children Still Living In Limbo, Unsure Of Future, And In Fear Of Security Personnel
A 17-year-old Sangkhla Buri-born Karen girl named Thida will graduate from Mathayom 6 in four months and she wants to become a nurse so she can treat villagers.
But her pursuit of higher education may go unfulfilled, as her parents' four applications to gain her Thai nationality have failed.
Being stateless poses financial obstacles because, although universities have a stateless quota, the students are not entitled to money from the Student Loan Fund while business operators cannot hire them.
An 18-year-old Mon girl named Tukta wants to be a teacher for underprivileged kids and is in the process of her fourth application for Thai nationality.
Tukta said her stateless status meant she lived in fear of security personnel.
"When we go to city, people without Thai ID cards get stopped. Lucky, I wear a student uniform so they didn't stop me," she said.
Photchanee Saichompoo, a teacher at the school, said: "If they [stateless children] graduated with a bachelor's degree, they could use that to apply for Thai nationality as people who can bring merit to the country. But the path to that point is very slim."
Thida said her parents would have to pay Bt20,000 in "tea money" for her to have a chance of getting Thai nationality, but there was no guarantee she would.
The National Statistical Office's population and housing census in 2010 found that there were 5,346,592 children aged up to six in the country and 136,942 of them were without Thai nationality.
Surapong Kongchantuk, a human rights lawyer for the Lawyers Council of Thailand, said stateless people applying for Thai nationality are made up of two groups - children born in Thailand to stateless or migrant parents and those who live here but were not legally certified.
The second group included minorities living on the border whose identification cards started with a six or a seven, Surapong said, adding that people whose identification card starts with 0 were not entitled to Thai nationality.
This means both Thida and Tukta can apply for Thai nationality because they were born in Thailand but they have encountered delays and corruption.
Surapong said state officials and local administrative bodies often wrongly believe it is illegal to grant Thai nationality to aliens but not giving Thai nationality to someone who qualified for it was also illegal - that was negligence in performing their duty.
Udom Sitthisuksa School director Pongsakorn Pulsombat, a member of a
committee that screens applications for nationality in that area, said this process needed to be thorough and evidence needed to be verified.
Pongsakorn said some stateless people supposedly had a private hospital certify their birth but the year of birth didn't match an applicant's year of birth.
He would push for children at his school to get nationality but it depended on the evidence. He said that after Thailand ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, public schools nationwide introduced a policy in 2005 to give stateless children equal entitlement to the per-head subsidy, lunch and the tuition fee.
Pongsakorn urged people should have at least one nationality so as to receive protection under the state and basic rights as a citizen. "The nation's component - besides territory, sovereignty, etc - also includes the population and the birth rate is on the decline, so that's food for thought," he added.
Pongsakorn said a stateless child who graduates from Mathayom 6 should be considered for Thai nationality and that would solve the problem.
"I personally think Mathayom 6 graduation confirms that the child is responsible, knowledgeable and thus deserves an educational opportunity. They can be good citizens for the country," he said.
Former CIB Chief Taken To Remand Prison
Former Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Pongpat Chayaphan was sent to Bangkok Special Remand Prison yesterday after the Criminal Court rejected his request for temporary release on bail.
Pongpat, who is at the centre of a high-profile police corruption case, was brought to the prison after the court agreed to a police request for him to be detained further, as part of the police investigation.
Corrections Department director general Witthaya Suriyawong said yesterday that the disgraced crime-buster would be treated in the same way as other inmates in the prison.
Pongpat looked visibly pale and weak when police brought him to the court yesterday for the proceeding. In seeking his further detention, police investigators said they feared that he might use his influence as a senior police officer to interfere with evidence and witnesses in the case.
To date, police have arrested 17 out of 22 suspects in the case, and they are seeking five others who are still at large. Two of those arrested have been released on bail.
Pongpat, his deputy Pol Maj-General Kowit Wongrungroj, and some other suspects in the case have admitted guilt during the investigation, including the charge of lese majeste, according to police.
Large amounts of cash and rare artefacts in possession of Pongpat and other suspects have been confiscated, as well as Buddha images and amulets, gold and wood.
Meanwhile, police said yesterday three of the safes confiscated from the houses of Pongpat's family members contained no valuable items, Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said yesterday. He said it was possible that any valuables in the safes might have been removed before they were confiscated by police.
Also yesterday, police confiscated some 400 planks of coveted wood from a house in Nonthaburi whose owner is said to be a cohort of Pongpat in his ring, according to police.
In a related development, the royally-bestowed surname Akharapongpreecha has been cancelled and users have been told to change back to their previous family name, police said yesterday. Some suspects in Pongpat's case use this surname.
Prawut said that police would open three more safes, each 1.7 metres high, tomorrow - adding that they were confiscated from Pongpat's house in Chaeng Wattana. He is convinced that valuables will be found inside the safes.
Colonel Watcharin Phusit, who led to police raid on the Nonthaburi house, said that police confiscated all the wood planks and some contained Forestry Department stamp marks.
He said the owner was required to produce evidence to prove the wood was acquired legally.
Prawut said that police had received a letter from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's secretary informing them about the cancellation of the surname.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Thai PM Prayut May Discuss Southern Peace Negotiations With Malaysia's Najib
BANGKOK, Nov 24 : Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha might discuss the schedule and venue of the next round of southern peace negotiations with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak during the former's visit to Malaysia in early December.
Gen Prawit said that the discussion was likely as Malaysia offered to facilitate the peace negotiation. He also said that preparation for the peace talks was nearly completed.
He denied that ongoing violent incidents against innocent people in the far South were related to the upcoming peace negotiation with southern insurgent movements.
Gen Prawit said that they retaliated against the authorities' arrests of southern insurgents and raids in the South.
Actually the situation in the far South were improving and the authorities could maintain order and control the area.
Gen Prawit encouraged insurgents to enter into negotiations with authorities.
Early today a bomb was detonated near Ban Utae Buera-ngae School in Kapho district of Pattani province wounding two paramilitary rangers on patrol. They were on duty to protect local teachers.
Army Sergeant Found Dead In Phuket Tin Pond
PHUKET: -- Two dead bodies, one of them that of an armed soldier, were pulled from Phuket waters yesterday (November 23), one from a lake and the other from a canal.
The body of Sgt Jessada Suthon, 31, was pulled out of a tin mine lake behind Rock Garden Village on Thung Ka Rd at about 2:30pm Sunday (November 23).
He was spotted floating face-down on the water by a local resident. Authorities on the scene said they believed that Sgt Jessada, who was from Phang Nga province, had been dead for two days.
Pol Lt Col Kittisak Noopeung, Scientific Specialist of Forensic Office, said that on the body police found an 11mm pistol with two magazines, a mobile phone, cash and a car key – which was for a black Mitsubishi Pajero Sports car that was parked nearby.
A check revealed the vehicle was registered in Bangkok and owned by a woman. Inside the car, police found a bottle of brandy, a bottle of water, and strands of a woman’s hair.
Police are in the process of gathering more information, including searching through mobile phone records, for possible leads as to the cause of death.
Earlier on Sunday the body of a 30-year-old Thai man was found floating in the canal in Thalang.
A relative of Chanwit Pongpa, 30, discovered his lifeless body in the canal and phoned police. The 76-year-old relative told police she had last seen Chanwit the night before, drinking in front of her home with her husband.
The body had scratches on the wrist and a wound to the forehead. Emergency rescue workers say they believe the man died roughly five hours before the body was found.
Koh Chang Monk Hugging Foreign Babes To Be Investigated
KOH CHANG: -- A Thai friendly monk from a Koh Chang temple will be investigated by religious authorities for getting a little too friendly with female tourists.
Photos circulating online showing Phra Supoj of Khlong Prao Temple grappling two foreign babes upset locals on the island, who consider them obscene.
Koh Chang Sheriff Peera Iamsoonthorn said he’s ordered an investigation by the temple’s committee as the monk in question has departed on a temple visit in Nakhon Sawan province.
Village headman Nitikorn Kawirawan said he was upset by the leaked photos and called upon Phra Supoj to tell his side of the story. The monk claimed the tourists, Russian and Cambodian.
Russian Visitor Fined 20,000 Euros For Vandalizing Ancient Monument
ROME: - Italian authorities say a Russian tourist has been fined 20,000 euros ($25,000) for engraving a big letter 'K' on a wall of the Colosseum, the latest act of vandalism by tourists at the ancient structure.
Italian news agency ANSA reported that the 42-year-old tourist was given a summary judgment of a fine and a suspended four-year jail sentence on Saturday.
He was spotted by a guard as he used a pointed stone to carve the 25-centimeter-tall letter.
Union leaders, citing recent acts of vandalism, have complained about the lack of personnel to properly monitor Rome's archaeological treasures — with increasing numbers of visitors seeking to leave their trace on antiquity, causing incalculable damage.
It was the fifth incidence of vandalism by foreign tourists at the Colosseum this year.
Three Chinese Nationals Arrested Over 'Staggering' Crystal Meth Haul In Jakarta
JAKARTA 24 Nov : -- Indonesian authorities arrested three Chinese nationals and seized 157kg of crystal methamphetamine in a major drug bust in Pluit, North Jakarta, on the weekend, reported the Jakarta Globe.
Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Anang Iskandar said the three men — identified as Xiao Jin Zeng, 43, Chen Wei Biao, 44, and Li Lin Fei, 32 — were arrested with the “staggering” amount of drugs at a rented home in the Pluit Karang complex in Penjaringan on Saturday.
“This syndicate smuggled their goods through Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta,” Anang said. “Our intelligence operatives have been spying on them and checking on the delivery control from the shipping company they used and we managed to track it down to the North Jakarta home address.” Anang alleged the suspects had hidden the drugs among preserved food and children toys in a container to mislead customs officials.
“They were planning to market the goods to some of the major cities, fortunately we managed to capture them with all the evidence before it happened,” Anang said.
The narcotics chief said the suspects entered Indonesia using their own passports and rented a home in Pluit a few weeks ago. A local community head, Anang, told investigators the men had rented the house for a year and paid Rp 75 million ($6,170) in advance.
The suspects have been arrested under the 2009 Anti-Narcotics Law and could face the death penalty if found guilty.
Floods Recede In Thailand's Deep South; Cold Envelopes North
SONGKHLA, Nov 24 -- Flooding in Thailand's deep south has started to recede after rain stopped, even as several popular tourist destinations in the North are packed with tourists attracted by the chilly weather.
Heavy rain which fell in the southern province of Songkhla overnight Saturday stopped, but metre deep floodwater overflowed a canal in Sadao district swamping the homes of government workers, including doctors and nurses at the hospital.
The Sadao hospital remains open as usual despite the floodwater.
In Narathiwat province, people living near the Sungai Kolok River began cleaning their homes after being under water earlier in the week due to heavy rain. Some waited for another few days after a warning by the Meteorological Department urged people to closely monitor the weather situation.
While the heavy monsoon has only just stopped in the deep South, temperatures in the North continue to drop.
Weather in the northernmost province of Chiang Rai dropped to 16 degrees Celsius early Sunday while it fell to between 10-12 degrees Celsius only atop the mountains.
Phu Chi Fah, a popular tourist destination in Chiang Rai’s Thoeng district, was packed with Thai and foreign tourists waiting to see the sunrise and the sea of fog while temperatures fell to 10 degrees Celsius.
Owners of restaurants and resorts atop Phu Chi Fah say their business has been bullish since the beginning of this month, and they expect business will remain strong until February, especially during the New Year celebrations.
More than 1,000 resort rooms atop the mountain have been booked by tourists, amounting to more than 80 per cent occupancy.
Temperatures atop mountains in the North are now lower than 6 degrees Celsius, while weather forecasters said a high pressure system from China is still covering the northern region, causing chilly weather with thick fog in the early morning.
Koh Tao's Dark Side: Dangers Of Island Where Britons Were Murdered
KOH TAO: -- Six weeks on, there is little to mark the spot on the idyllic rocky beach inlet on Koh Tao where Hannah Witheridge and David Miller met such brutal deaths; just two tiny piles of stones separated by a line of twigs in the sand, someone’s modest, anonymous, temporary memorial.
A few hundred yards away along Sairee beach, the main tourist drag on the Thai holiday island, life continues as normal. Business, says a French man running a dive shop – much of Koh Tao’s tourism is based around diving – is actually busier than expected for the monsoon season. “After the murders you did notice that there were fewer people for a bit. But it was only really the British that stayed away. With everyone else, they didn’t even really notice.”
If this appears curious then Koh Tao, the smallest and most remote among a trio of tourism-dominated islands in the Gulf of Thailand, abounds in such paradoxes.
It is a place where visitors spend their days learning the rigorous safety standards of diving before hopping, without helmets and clad in shorts and vest, on to rickety rental motorbikes. Tourist deaths are not unknown – two bodies of drowned westerners were found in the sea within a couple of days this month – but it is known as one of the safer spots in Thailand.
The biggest contradiction centres around the deaths of Witheridge, 23, and Miller, 24 – the British backpackers brutally beaten on the head yards from their hotel, the former also raped, the latter left to drown in shallow surf. Just about everyone on Koh Tao insists visitors are safe, but many also agree, quietly, that the Burmese migrant workers arrested for the murders are innocent – meaning the real killer or killers remain at large.
Thai Work Permits To Be Valid For 2 Years - Govt Proposal
Chiang Rai: The government plans to seek cabinet approval
for its proposal to extend the maximum period of work permits for
foreigners working in Thailand to two years from the current one year,
as part of a range of measures aimed at attracting more foreign
investment.
Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula revealed the plan at
yesterday's forum of the 32nd Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) annual
meeting in Chiang Rai.
The government planned to propose the cabinet approve the work
permit extension at the weekly meeting tomorrow. It was among measures
designed to boost foreign investment in Thailand, he said.
Thai PM Leads Two Ministers To Have An Audience With The King
BANGKOK : Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha on Sunday led his two newly
-appointed ministers, Deputy Finance Minister WisutSrisuphan and Deputy
Agriculture Minister Amnuay Patisae to have an audience with His Majesty
the King at Siriraj hospital.
During the audience, the prime minister spent about 40 minutes giving a briefing to HM the King about his government’s performance since the past six months.
Two More Civilians Arrested In Connection With Major Bribery Scam
BANGKOK : Two more suspects wanted for bribery and four other charges that
eight senior police officers and two civilians are facing have been
arrested, Royal Thai Police commissioner spokesman said Monday.
The arrest of the two who are husband and wife, Mr Chob
Chinporapa and Mrs Tiyaphan, came after the Criminal Court issued
warrants for their arrest on bribery in connection with the eight
accused officers now facing five charges that include lese majeste,
demanding bribes, and money laundering.
Six senior police officers who included former commissioner
of the Central Investigation Bureau Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat Chayaphan and
his deputy Pol Maj-Gen Kowit Wongrungroj were dismissed from police
services pending disciplinary action investigation, in addition to the
five charges.
The spokesman said Chob Chinporapa and his wife were under the police custody and were being questioned.
One civilian suspect Mrs Sawong Mungthieng has contacted
the police to turn herself in to the police, while another Mr Rerngsak
Saknarongdej has escaped. Both were wanted for violating wildlife
conservation law and bribery, he said.
Former Crime Suppression Division commander Pol Maj-Gen
Chaitat Boonkam who was earlier transferred to the Royal Thai Police
Operations Centre same as the CIB commissioner, however, was still
spared from the charges as evidence remained insufficient to implicate
him, the spokesman said.
But for another CSD officer Pol Lt-Col Akarawut Limrat who
died falling from high ground, the spokesman confirmed the deceased
officer also faced questioning in connection with the charges that
eight police officers were accused.
The spokesman said Pol Lt-Col Akarawut gave very useful information to the Investigation team.
However the officer committed suicide later, may be from
stress after he was engaged with the accused officers, the spokesman
said.
He said he was told that the officer had tried to commit suicide three times before he jumped to his death.
Earlier circumstances surrounding his death was not
explained as death certificate issued by Ratchathevi district office
said he died from fractured spine bones after falling from high ground.
Meanwhile Justice Minister Gen Phaiboon Khumchaya said the
Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Anti-Money Laundering
Officer (AMLO) were closely monitoring the case as suspects were accused
of money laundering.
He said it was not yet discussed if the ministry would
request the case to be a special case that will allow the DSI to take
over investigation from the police as the suspects were also charged
with lese majeste.
However he would seek information from the Royal Thai
Police commissioner whether the case should be handled by the DSI or not
as it was very complicated.
4.4 Quake Jolts Myanmar Border
MYANMER : An earthquake of 4.4 magnitude rocked Tachilek town of Myanmar at
6:49 pm Sunday sending shockwaves that were felt by residents in
Chiang Rai province.
The Seismological Bureau in Bangkok stated that the
epicentre of the earthquake was 13 kilometres underground and about 14
kilometers north west of Chiang Rai province.
Shockwaves were felt by residents living in Mae Sai, Chiang
Saen, Mae Chan, and Mae Fah Luang districts as well as those in the
downtown area of Chiang Rai.
Residents living in a two-story townhouse in San Sai
subdistrict reported buildings shaking while those in one-story homes
also felt the shaking.
Huge Amount Of Cash And Valuables Found In CIB Chief’s House
BANGKOK : More than one billion baht in cash and many other valuables such as rare Buddha images and land title deeds were found in the house of Central Investigation Bureau commissioner Pol Lt-Gen PongpatChayapong, according to informed police sources.
The sources said that police teams searched the houses of Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat and seven other policemen and civilians arrested by the police and seized large amount of cash and other valuables especially at the house of the CIB commissioner.
Police are now investigating to determine how the commissioner had amassed the assets.
Pol Lt-Gen Pongpat, his deputy, Pol Maj-Gen KowitWongrungroj and four other police officers were arrested on charges of malfeasance in office and bribe taking among others.
They have all been temporarily relieved from police service pending investigation.
All the eight arrested suspects are currently separately held in eight different detention cells. Pongpat is held at Taopoon police station whereas his deputy is held at Paholyothin police station.
It was reported that a committee has been set up to consider disciplinary actions against the CIB commissioner and five other officers.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Prices For RON95 And Diesel In Malaysia To Be Determined By Float System
KUALA LUMPUR : The retail price for RON95 petrol and diesel will be fixed on a
managed float system from Dec 1, effectively marking the removal of all
fuel subsidies, according to The Star Online.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, who announced the Cabinet’s decision on this yesterday, said the average price difference in the cost of the fuels in a month would determine the retail prices for the following month.
“This means, if the price of world crude oil increases, so will retail prices of RON95 and diesel and vice-versa. We monitor the world oil price every day to get the average price.
So for Dec 1 prices, we will calculate the average price between Nov 20 to Nov 31 and make the necessary announcement,” he said.
The current price of RON95 is RM2.30 per litre while the price of diesel is RM2.20.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Myanmar’s Catholics celebrate 500th jubilee with events in Yangon
MYANMAR : The Roman Catholic Church in Myanmar is celebrating the end of its
500th jubilee year this week with musical and dance events. Tens of
thousands of people from across the country are expected to attend the
events, which will end on Sunday, reported The Irrawaddy.
People sang peaceful songs in Myanmar’s largest church, which was filled to its 1,500-seat capacity, and many more people gathered outside.
An estimated 30,000 people from various states, such as Chin, Kachin, Karenni, Mandalay, Mon, Bago, Shan and Sagaing, are expected to attended the events, organizers said.
The Bishops Conference of Burma started celebrations for the “500th Great Jubilee Year” on Nov. 24, 2013 and with a number of events in the coming days the jubilee year will officially come to a close coming on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Organizers of the jubilee year said Catholicism was first brought to Myanmar’s shores by Portuguese sailors in 1511, but the 500-year jubilee could not be held in 2011 because of repression of religious minorities by the then-military regime, which has long promoted a nationalist, Buddhist identity for Myanmar.
As the political reforms of recent years have created more space for some religious minorities, the church chose to mark the jubilee this year.
Ha Noi Sky Train Project Lags Behind Schedule
VIETNAM : The Ha Noi urban sky train project is not likely to be completed
before its December 31, 2015 deadline, the Railway Project Management
Board admitted.
The 19 households at the site where the future Cat Linh station will be located have yet to agree on compensation settlement.
This alone has put the construction of the Cat Linh station seven months behind schedule, and it will take up to a year to finish the building after the site is cleared.
The Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban sky train project was approved in 2008 with a total investment of US$552 million. This was readjusted to $892 million, a 61.5 per cent surge, last April.
The construction phase is supposed to be completed at the end of December 2015, and the trial phase is supposed to begin in January 2016, said Nguyen Manh Hung, acting director general of the Railway Project Management Board.
Construction will have to be completed after the deadline that Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and Transport Minister Dinh La Thang set for the project.
They initially expected the trial phase to begin in October 2015 and commercial activities to commence two months later, in December.
Revenue Collection In First Month Of Fiscal Year Above Target
BANGKOK : The Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) says revenue collection in October totalled 171 billion baht, or 5.1% above estimates.
FPO director-general Kritsada Jinavijarana said the
collection in October which is the first month of the 2015 fiscal year
represented 5.% higher or 8.35 billion baht more than it earlier
estimated.
However the figure was still 4% below the same month in 2013, he said.
The three revenue collection departments – revenue, excise
and customs – generated 1.32 billion baht, 0.9% above target, due to
high returns from value-added tax, personal income tax and tobacco tax.
State enterprises contributed 11.6 billion baht more than the target, or 46.1% above expectations.
Higher revenue collection was the result of increased
domestic consumption, an important factor for the recovery of the
economy, he added.
Thailand Economic Growth Now Only 1%
BANGKOK : The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) says
economic growth this year will be a mere one percentage point against
2.9 percent last year.
In its report on economic outlook released Monday, the
NESDB revised down its projection for Thailand’s economic growth in
2014 from 1.5-20 percent to 1 percent.
NESDB Secretary-General Arkom Termpitayapaisit said the new
projection was based on the country’s economic performance in the third
quarter and in the first nine months of this year.
He said Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by
0.6 percent in the third quarter from July-September period and by 0.2
percent from January-September period.
The economic growth continued its rally from the second
quarter, Mr Arkom said, attributing the expansion during the
July-September period to strong rebound in private investment.
Private investment expanded by 3.9 percent in the third quarter after plunging below the red line for four consecutive quarters.
But he said NESDB projects that the Thai economy will grow
by 3.5-4.5 percent next year thanks to exports which are likely to
perform well in line with the global economic recovery; the government’s
tourism promotion campaign; and expansion by firms that have received
promotional privileges from the government.
Meanwhile, Bank of Thailand (BoT) spokesperson Jirathep
Seniwong na Ayutthaya said the central bank will also revise down its
projection for Thailand’s economic growth in 2014 as the country’s GDP
growth in the third quarter as revealed by NESDB was lower than the
bank’s projection of 1.5 percent.
Central bank governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul also voiced concern over growing household debt in the country.
Household debt has expanded rapidly in the country over the
past 4-5 years, indicating that there are problems in the people
sector, he said.
Law Passed Making Improper Behaviours On Board A Plane An Offence
BANGKOK : The National Legislative Assembly today unanimously passed a bill
which will make certain undesirable behaviours committed on board a
commercial airplane an offence punishable by imprisonment from one to
five years.
Penalties range from fine of 40,000 baht to 100,000 baht and imprisonment from one to five years.
The existing law only covers hijacking, sabotaging an airplane or other facilities on the plane.
Prayut Tells Media Press Freedom Has Its Limit
BANGKOK : Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha warned opponents to stop inciting rifts, and media members not to over exercise their freedom as it could do more harm than good to the country.
“I would like members of the media no matter they be
station owners, editors, reporters, news anchors, publishers to
understand the current situation. If you enjoy press freedom with no
boundary, it would do more harm than good for the country,” he said.
His warning was repeated again when he spoke to the people
during his weekly “Returning Happiness to the People” TV programme on
Friday night.
In slightly over an hour address, Gen Prayut began by
expressing his condolences for the nine army officers died in
helicopter crash in Phayao province.
He turned to his government’s reform effort with concern that it still encountered obstacles at different levels.
One obstacle he saw was news media reporting..
He then warned that “freedom of the press” had its limits,
citing some social media commentary were hurting the cause of
reconciliation.
He asked that media members express their views with regard to appropriateness.
Input was welcomed, but that they must not “propagate new
conflicts and deepen old wounds in the society to the point that the
government is unable to work for the public, he said.
He said people should refrain from being quick to judge or
take action purely based on emotions or feelings, otherwise such action
would bring about more disputes.
But he said it was regrettable that there were still social
media posts aimed at inciting hatred and conflicts, most of them with
false content and hidden agendas.
But he assured that the government and the military junta
have never thought of using force toward the press, but all they were
asking for is your cooperation and respect for the law.
Making groundless accusations is counterproductive and there are special laws in effect now.
Gen Prayut said the media can support national reform by
adhering to the principle of reporting factual news, and then he would
be happy to listen to every media member.
King Puts Off Audience For New Ministers
BANGKOK : The Bureau of the Royal Household issued Announcement No 10 Friday
night stating that the team of doctors has advised that His Majesty the
King put off an audiencece for Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha to
bring two newly appointed ministers to swear in before taking office
today.
The announcement stated the team of doctors have
reasoned that His Majesty the King is still not ready to grant audience
and that it be postponed.
Police On A Manhunt For 'Dangerous' Drug Dealer
BANGKOK: -- The authorities have extended their hunt for a much-wanted drug dealer along the Thai-Myanmar border, where he has reportedly been hiding under the protection of armed minority groups. The man is armed and deemed to be dangerous.
Meanwhile, national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmueng yesterday dismissed speculation on social media that the heavily-tattooed Adisorn Srisa-ard, 28, had already been apprehended.
The police chief also played down the drug-dealer's Facebook post claiming that he had evidence of a senior policeman taking bribes from him, saying that an investigation into the claim would be conducted, but in a careful manner.
The drug dealer made headlines earlier this week when he posted a photograph of himself brandishing two automatic rifles with an accompanying message threatening to kill all officers at Suphan Buri's Sri Prajan Police Station as well as their parents and families. Adisorn, better-known by his alias "Benz Tha Sai", also condemned police of being cowards for not admitting that they had been taking bribes from him, boasting that he was brave enough to admit that he was a drug dealer.
When asked if police were waiting to hear about the conclusion of secret negotiations, Somyot said: "That is confidential."
Meanwhile, Karen warlord Nat Khann Mway of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) said he would hand Adisorn over to the Thai police as soon as he is found. DKBA and two other related dissident groups have denied having Adisorn in their domain - located across from Kanchanaburi's Three Pagodas crossing in Sangkhala Buri district - a location confirmed by the Thai police.
Adisorn's so-called arrest, however, took a turn on Thursday when his wife called the police asking to know where her husband was and if they could bring him home.
Briton & Thai Mother Reunited After 54 Year Separation
PHUKET - A Thai-born Briton is finally reunited with her mother after 54 years of separation in Phuket province today.
Kimberley, 54, and her mother, Yokluen Chankaew, 79, hugged each other upon their meeting this afternoon, which was arranged by local administrators.
According to Kimberley, she was born in Ta Kua Pa district of Phang Nga district in 1960 to Yokluen and an Australian manager of a mine in the province. Birth certificate provided by Kimberley identified her as Tukta Chankaew, the Thai name given to her at the time of birth by her parents.
Yokluen said a British engineer who worked for the mine and his wife later asked to adopt her from her parents when she was four years old. Yokluen told reporters she decided to give up Kimberley, then known as Tukta, to the engineer because she was in poverty.
"I thought I could not raise her up into a comfortable life," Yokluen said, adding that the British engineer and his wife, who were childless, soon left the country for the United Kingdom, and she never heard from them again.
Yokluen said she was surprised to be told by a local official that she was going to meet Kimberley again after over 50 years of silence. "I didn't expect at all that I would see my daughter again," she said emotionally.
Dokset Testimony: I Did Not Intend To Kill Her
PHUKET : Norwegian prisoner in Phuket, Stein Havard Dokset – prime suspect in the infamous “Body in the bin” case – gave official testimony in court today, reiterating that he did not intend to kill his late partner, Rungnapa “June” Ratchasombut.
Today’s hearing at the Phuket Provincial Court follows a five-month adjournment of the legal proceedings to allow for “blood money” compensation negotiations.
Initially calm, Dokset told his side of the story to the court. Interrogated by his own lawyer as well as the public prosecutor, he described the nature of his relationship and history with the victim.
When he came to speak about the early 2009 incident, he broke into tears, insisting that the death was not a case of premeditated murder.
He admitted that he was “emotional and aggressive” during the time of the incident, but that he did not intend to kill his ex-partner, and that she had died as the result of an accident.
Dokset denied the charge of “possessing a gun without a permit”, claiming that the gun found at his residence had belonged to the victim. [The gun was found by police in 2012 following Dokset’s arrest but has not been connected to the death of the victim]
Dokset did, however, admit to “hiding the body for personal reasons”.
Specific details of said reasons were shared with the court, the victim’s family, media and lawyers; however, the judge ordered everyone in attendance not to share details until a verdict has been reached and made public.
The hearing concluded at about 4pm today, after which Rungnapa's family lawyer told The Phuket News that a settlement had already been agreed upon, in which Dokset had agreed to compensate the victim’s four children with a total of B1.8 million, which would derive from the sell of the former residence of Dokset and Rungapa.
I'm Not A Dictator, Says Angry Prayut
BANGKOK: -- Warns that 'unfounded antagonism towards the government' will destabilise country
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asserted yesterday that his government was not dictatorial although he admitted that it "may not be 100 per cent democratic".
He reiterated that he had no plan to set up a pro-military political party that would inherit power from his post-coup administration.
"Did I do anything wrong? Have I done any damage or wasn't the situation already bad when I took over?" Prayut said.
"I may not be 100 per cent democratic. But I want to ask if being 100 per cent democratic did anything good to the country? Find the answer for me," he added, appearing tense.
General Prayut, who led the coup of May 22 while serving as the Army chief, also urged anti-coup activists not to obstruct his government's work on national reform.
"I am ready to listen to any problem. They should tell me. But don't ask for democracy or an election now. I can't give it to you," he said.
The prime minister has been on the defensive following his first visit to the Northeast on Wednesday, when five students staged a protest in front of the stage where he was giving an address at Khon Kaen Provincial Hall.
The students from Khon Kaen University were arrested after making a three-finger salute at the PM. The salute is associated with the anti-coup movement.
They were later released after meeting military authorities and their parents.
"I don't want to punish them [the students] so they were merely reprimanded, released and told not to do it again because it does not benefit anyone," Prayut said.
He praised their courage but added that they should think of the country's future. He also warned that the students' future could be jeopardised if they had a problem with the law.
When asked if a pro-military party would be formed, Prayut said: "You have to ask people who said this. I have never said it and I have never thought about doing it. Don't report about this nonsense."
The premier was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Thailand Energy Awards 2014 presentation ceremony at Government House.
Prayut, who also heads the National Council for Peace and Order, reiterated that there was no plan to lift martial law, in effect since the coup.
In his weekly national address last night, the prime minister warned that "unfounded antagonism towards the government", as well as continued conflicts, would destabilise the country.
"The complete and strong democracy that we are building will not be realised if we continue to quarrel without civility, and things will go back to the way they were," he said in the TV programme "Returning Happiness to People in the Country".
He said that in the current situation, exercising freedom of the press without boundaries would do more harm than good for the country.
"The government and the NCPO have never thought of using force towards the press, but all we are seeking is your cooperation and respect for the law," he said.
Prayut said his government was "just the facilitator" in the ongoing national reform movement.
"We are trying to get everyone involved in the reform process so that the outcome of our efforts can be enjoyed by all of us," he said. "The government is just a facilitator for all stakeholders to come together to address our common problems."
He said the government was acting as a referee or an organiser of the process, and was not a player.
"In sports, athletes must play by the rules while the referees or the judges are the ones enforcing these rules," he said. "On the other hand, the organiser is the one who makes sure that everyone involved in the competition, including the fans, are safe."
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