Airport Safety In Thailand Raised To Level 3

BANGKOK, August 2015 (NNT)-The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has raised airport safety levels to level 3 for its 28 airports across the country, following the bomb attack in the heart of Bangkok last night.

According to DCA Director General Parichart Kotcharat, a high level of security at 28 airports is now being carried out rigorously to assure safety for passengers and those visiting the airport.

Stricter passenger and luggage search for any forbidden items and weapons as well as a thorough x-ray scan within the airport terminal have already been enforced.

Level 3, out of 4, is said to have been the highest level of safety ever implemented at the airport. Airport officials are expected to be monitoring surveillance cameras around the clock for any suspicious people or activities.

Soldiers and police have been coordinated to safeguard the airports.

Massive Manhunt On The Way For Bomb Suspect

BANGKOK: -- A massive manhunt is now underway by the police and the military for an Arabian looking man after a video footage of a surveillance camera showed him placed a shoulder bag inside the fence where hundreds of visitors to the Erawan shrine were worshipping, and explosion followed a minute after he left.

National police chief Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuong confirmed the man in the video clip is a wanted bomb suspect.

A massive manhunt was now ordered and all airports and border checkpoint were alerted to watch out for the suspect.

The video footage now released by security officials showed the man, wearing yellow shirt and dark blue shorts and red sports shoes, was carrying a shoulder bag.

The man with curled hair and in dark sunglass and wristwatch on left hand and wrist bands on both hands, walked towards the fence where the Erawan shrine is located.

He took off the bag from the shoulder and placed it inside the fence near the shrine where many foreign tourists were worshipping and praying.

He left the fence leaving the shoulder bag there and walked away.

One minute later, explosion was heard at the place.

PM Prayut Vows To Quickly Find Bombers In Bangkok Blast That Killed At Least 20

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's prime minister on Tuesday promised that authorities would quickly track down those responsible for the central Bangkok bombing that killed at least 18 people and injured more than 100, which he described as the country's worst attack ever.

The defense minister, meanwhile, said officials had no prior intelligence about Monday's rush-hour bombing of a popular shrine at a hectic intersection. The blast from the improvised explosive device scattered body parts, spattered blood, blasted windows and burned motorbikes to the metal.

"This is the worst incident that has ever happened in Thailand," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said. "There have been minor bombs or just noise, but this time they aim for innocent lives. They want to destroy our economy, our tourism."

The explosion went off around 7 p.m. in an upscale area filled with tourists, office workers and shoppers.

Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said the attack, which no one immediately claimed responsibility for, was aimed at destroying the country's economy by targeting a major tourist area.

"It is much clearer who the bombers are, but I can't reveal more right now," Prawit said, as he headed into a Cabinet meeting Tuesday morning. "We haven't ruled out terrorism."

He acknowledged that authorities had no idea an attack was planned.

"We didn't know about this ahead of time. We had no intelligence on this attack," the defense minister said.

Prayuth vowed to "hurry and find the bombers."

Video shortly after the blast showed a scene of shock and desperation: people running for their lives and crying amid the debris. An emergency worker in an ambulance, frantically pounding the chest of a victim.

National chief of police Somyot Poompanmoung said the perpetrators aimed to kill "because everyone knows that at 7 p.m. the shrine is crowded with Thais and foreigners. Planting a bomb there means they want to see a lot of dead people."

Early Tuesday morning, Somyot was among those surveying the damage as police and soldiers guarded the area, still littered with shattered glass and other debris. The normally busy intersection that was closed off to traffic and eerily empty aside from onlookers standing behind police tape to take pictures. Barricades were set up outside five-star hotels in the neighborhood and security stopped cars to inspect trunks before letting them pass.

More than 12 hours after the blast, onlookers dashed for safety as shards of glass torpedoed to the ground from windows of a nearby building. Nobody appeared to have been injured.

At least 18 people were confirmed dead and 117 injured, according to the Narinthorn emergency medical rescue center. China reported three of its citizens dead, and Somyot said a Filipino also was among those killed.

As a single, devastating blow to this Southeast Asian metropolis, Monday's bombing has no equal in recent history, though Thailand is no stranger to violent attacks. A more-than-decade-long insurgency by southern Muslim separatists has left more than 5,000 dead far from the capital. In Bangkok, politically charged riots centered on this very intersection in 2010 killed more than 90 over two months.

Police chief Somyot said the bomb was made with a pipe wrapped in cloth and weighed 3 kilograms (more than 6 pounds).

It detonated at the Erawan Shrine, which is dedicated to the Hindu god Brahma, but is extremely popular among Thailand's Buddhists as well as Chinese tourists. Although Thailand is predominantly Buddhist, it has enormous Hindu influence on its religious practices and language.

Throngs of tourists come there to pray at all hours, lighting incense and offering flowers purchased from rows of stalls set up on the sidewalk along the shrine. The site is a hubbub of activity, with quiet worshippers sometimes flanked by Thai dancers hired by those seeking good fortune, while groups of tourists shuffle in and out.

Bangkok has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May last year after several months of sometimes violent political protests against the previous government. Anusit Kunakorn, secretary of the National Security Council, said Prime Minister Prayuth, the former army chief who orchestrated the May 2014 coup, was closely monitoring the situation.

At the same time, the military government has tightly controlled dissent, arresting hundreds of its opponents and banning protests. Tensions have risen in recent months, with the junta making clear that it may not hold elections until 2017 and wants a constitution that will allow some type of emergency rule to take the place of an elected government.

Stirring the pot has been exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup. It was his sister Yingluck Shinawatra who was ousted as prime minister last year.

Last week, Thaksin posted a message on YouTube urging his followers to reject the draft constitution because he said it was undemocratic. The draft charter is supposed to be voted on next month by a special National Reform Council. If it passes, it is supposed to go to a public referendum around January.

Another source of recent tension is the annual military promotion list, with the junta's top two leaders — Prime Minister Prayuth and Deputy Prime Minister Prawit — widely believed to be supporting different candidates. The reshuffle, which comes into effect in September, has traditionally been a source of unrest, as different cliques in the army, usually defined by their graduating class in the military academy, seek the most important posts to consolidate their power.

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok issued an emergency message for U.S. citizens, advising them to avoid the shrine's area. In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby expressed deep sympathy to those affected by the Bangkok explosion. He said authorities were still determining whether any Americans were among the victims.

Tourists reacted with concern.

"We didn't think anything like this could happen in Bangkok," said Holger Siegle, a German who said he and his newlywed wife had chosen Thailand because it seemed safe. "Our honeymoon and our vacation will go on, but with a very unsafe feeling."

While bombings of this magnitude are rare in Bangkok, they are more common where Thailand's Muslim separatist insurgency has been flaring: in the country's three Muslim-majority provinces in the deep south.

Angry Chinese Ask: Why Did So Many Firefighters Die In Tianjin Explosion?

BEIJING — Last Wednesday night, 25 members of the fifth company of the Tianjin Port Group fire department rushed to the site of an explosion.

They were mostly young men, some just new-in-town teenagers. Eleven hailed from the same county in Hebei province, at least two from the same small town.

None made it out.

Now, almost a week after the massive, chemical-fueled blasts that left more than 100 dead and dozens missing, the fate of these young contract firefighters has become a focal point in a story that has gripped China and sent authorities scrambling to stay ahead of mounting public rage.

Chinese officials have yet to say conclusively what caused the blasts but have acknowledged that there were dozens of types of chemicals on site, including a reported 700 tons of sodium cyanide, 800 tons of ammonium nitrate and 500 tons of potassium nitrate.

Royal Brunei To Waive Fees For Change In Bangkok Flights

BRUNEI: -- National flag carrier Royal Brunei (RB) airlines will waive reissuance fees for passengers who wish to defer their flights to Bangkok following the deadly blast that rocked Thailand's capital city on Monday night, according to The Brunei Times.

An RB spokesman said the fee waiver will be subjected to certain terms and conditions, but did not specify further.

He added that Bruneians who had bought Bangkok flight tickets are pushing ahead with their travel plans despite the bombing and “only a small number” of travellers have opted to cancel or postpone their travels in light of the explosion.

RB has yet to receive any circular from the Thai government advising against travels to Bangkok, he said.

General Manager of Century Travel Centre Foo C P, said a small group of customers returned to Brunei yesterday earlier than planned due to safety concerns. There were also customers due to travel soon who decided to cancel their plans, while others who are still in Bangkok had decided to stay as they had originally planned.

He advised travellers to exercise caution while travelling and to avoid crowded places for their own safety.

The Brunei Embassy in Thailand on Monday night said no Bruneians were reported injured in the blast outside Erawan Shrine along the Rachaprasong intersection in central Bangkok.

Malaysia Condemns Bangkok Blast

KUALA LUMPUR: -- Malaysia condemns the heinous act on innocent civilians yesterday in Bangkok which claimed the lives of two Malaysians and others, New Straits Times reported.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Foreign Ministry and Malaysian Embassy in Thailand will be in touch with and provide assistance to victims’ families.

“I urge Malaysians who are traveling in Bangkok to be more alert and to contact the Malaysian Embassy for assistance if needed,” he said in his Facebook posting this afternoon.

A bomb blast occurred at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine which is a tourist attraction, killing at least 20 people, and wounding at least 120 people.

Earlier today, Wisma Putra has confirmed that two Malaysians — Lim Saw Gek and her son Neoh Jai Jun were killed in the explosion. Meanwhile, an official at Malaysian embassy in Thailand, said that three Malaysians were injured in blast.

Special Bomb Use Indicates Different Suspect Group

BANGKOK: -- Forensic specialist investigating the Ratchaprasong deadly bomb explosion Monday blast have discovered strange bomb shards and shrapnel which they say are not normally seen in devices in past bombings in the country.

Specialists from both the police and military have been collecting shrapnel and bomb fragments at the site since Monday night and what they found was a device that is not normally used in past bombings in Thailand.

Fragments discovered at the blast site are made up of a section of metal tubing and 2 types of metal pellets.

The metal tubing is between 1.5 – 2 cm in thickness and authorities believe it was used to contain the explosives.

More than 100 metal pellets have been collected and they came in 2 sizes.

Some were 0.6 cm in diameter and the remainder was 0.8 cm and was employed as fragmentation to cause maximum damage.

The bomb is believed to have contained high grade explosives but it has not been determined yet whether TNT or C4 explosive was used.

Authorities suspected a timer – either a digital wrist watch or a mobile phone; was used to set the device off.

Earlier Royal Thai Police commissioner Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuong said, “We have not yet determined the type of explosives material used. What we know is that the device was contained in a metal tube and wrapped with a piece of white cloth.”

The materials used in this device differ from other devices in other past bombings and authorities suspect that the bomber was highly skilled as only 3 – 5 pounds of explosives was used but metal pellets were used to exponentially increase the amount of damage.

The force of the detonation resulted in fatalities at the scene and caused damage on structures as far away as 50 meters.

Buildings on the periphery of the blast such as the Police General Hospital, Gaysorn Plaza and the Hyatt Erawan Hote, some 50-100 metres away, suffered glass damage from debris and the force of the explosion.

But surprisingly, the main Erawan Shrine which sits only five metres from the deadly explosion site, suffered only slight damage.

Australian Model Questioned After Being Accused Of Being Bangkok Bomber

SYDNEY: -- A Sydney actor, model, tutor and fashion blogger says he is "in shock and really saddened" and feared he may become the "terrorist version of Schapelle Corby" after rumours that he was the Bangkok bombing suspect seen in CCTV footage before the deadly attack began circulating online.

Sunny Burns, who lives in Bangkok where he acts, models and teaches English, handed himself in to police after Monday evening's bomb blast at Erawan Shrine, which took the lives of 22 people and injured 123 more.

He told Sunrise on Wednesday morning that he was forced to go to the police, who questioned him for six hours, after his immigration papers and local address were posted on social media.

"People were accusing me of being a terrorist...I had no other choice but to go to the police..." he said.

Sukhumvit Road Reopens After BTS Nana Bomb Scare

BANGKOK — All lanes have been closed on a stretch of Sukhumvit Road this afternoon while police check a suspicious object near BTS Nana.

UPDATE: Reports indicate roads reopened after object removed.

All vehicles have been diverted along other routes around the station, according to Traffic Police Radio, while the Skytrain operator announced at 2:30 pm that BTS Nana remains open except for one exit on the Phloenchit side, which has been sealed off during the investigation.

Thai Police Identify 2 More Bangkok Blast Suspects

BANGKOK: -- The Royal Thai Police today reiterated its call for cooperation from the people to send photographic evidence of the wanted bomb suspect to the police if they happened to capture views of the area with the suspect appearing in their cameras or smartphones.

The call for public cooperation came as the police still have no clearer images of the wanted bomb suspect rather than from video footage of CCTV cameras.

The Royal Thai Police will stand by its Emergency 1599 to receive call from the people of the information, and allows access to its website to get the images of the suspect, either from smartphones or their car video cameras.

The police are also suspecting two more persons who appeared in the video footage along with the bomb suspect before the explosion.

One dressed in red T-shirt and another in white shirt.

Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Lt Gen Prawut Thawornsiri said the man in white seemed to give seat to the bomb suspect when he came with the shoulder bag while the man in red also acted as if to provide cover for the bomb suspect to loose the bag from the shoulders.

Earlier the police have said the bomb attack was a well organised work with more than one, and aided by some Thais.

Moreover components used in the pipe bomb were locally available such as pellets, thus convincing the police to believe the bombing was cooperated locally.

A Powerful Bomb Exploded Near Rajprasong Intersection Wounding 20

BANGKOK — A large explosion in front of Bangkok's Erawan shrine injured at least 10 people at around 7pm tonight.

Photos from the scene show blood and bodies laying on the ground as rescue workers rush to provide aid. In images tweeted by JS 100 radio just after the blast, fires were burning in Sukhumvit Road before the local landmark, which is heavily frequented by Thais and tourists alike.

One of those injured is believed to be a foreign national, according to Thai Rath TV.

Photos from the scene appear to show an injured Caucasian woman being taken away on a stretcher.

There is no indication yet of what caused the explosion during rush hour. Roads around Rajaprasong Intersection have been closed.

NBTC To Extend Registration Of Prepaid SIM Cards Till August 31

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) now allows users of cellular prepaid SIM cards another 30 days to register after the deadline for registration expired yesterday July 31.

NBTC secretary general Thakorn Tanthasith said however that the extension of registration until August 31 would mean only those who failed to register their cards by the July 31 deadline could answer calls but could not make calls during the extended period.

But he said these callers could still call 191 emergency numbers only.

After the expiration of the extended period on August 31, they could neither receive or make calls, even the 191 emergency numbers, he said.

The extension of registration of prepaid SIM cards came after 16.9 million users of the prepaid cards still did not register.

He said there are altogether 85.5 million prepaid cards in use but only 68.8 million have registered by the July 31 deadline, or 80.2%.

He said the remaining 16.9 million users have until end if this month to register otherwise they could not be used both to answer or make calls.

He said it was necessary to require registration of all prepaid cards for security reasons as some prepaid cards were used for criminal activities such as drug trafficking and insurgency.

Of the total 68.8 million registered cards, 34.3 million are users of AIS mobile phone service, DTAC 21.2 million users, and True 12.9 million users.

Thai And US Military Officials Discuss Next Cobra Gold Exercise

BANGKOK: --  Thai and United States armies continue to maintain close cooperation on defence affairs despite Washington's outspoken criticism of the Thai military's political role.

The Cobra Gold joint military exercise would still be held annually and preparations for next year's operation are proceeding as usual, Lt General Sermsak Niyamosot, deputy chief of staff, said yesterday.

At yesterday's meeting of Thai-US Executive Steering Group at Army headquarters, co-chaired by Sermsak and his American counterpart Lt-General Todd McCaffrey, the United States informed the Thai side that full military assistance |and cooperation would be restored |when Thailand holds an election under the junta's reform roadmap, Sermsak said.

For this year, the two forces have scheduled 26 activities such as the Hanuman Guardian joint drill and an exchange of logistic experts.

Thailand has sent a delegation on a study tour to Texas and Washington.

However, the meeting did not discuss military assistance to Thailand or weapons procurement.

Thailand used to rely heavily on weapons and defence equipment from the US, but the Thai military has had to diversify its sources of materiel to many other countries due to budget constraints, not tense relations.

"Thailand might not move to democracy now, but that won't affect military relations and assistance from the US to the Thai army," he said.

Deadline For Mandatory Prepaid SIM Card Registration

BANGKOK: You may remember that we previously posted news regarding the mandatory SIM card registration that is being enforced in Thailand.

 

Here’s a gentle reminder if one were needed that you have until next Friday the 31st of July to register your prepaid mobile phone number with your operator.

 

If you don’t, you’ll be unable to make calls or use data after that date, though it seems that you will still be able to receive text messages.

 

Also note that one of our staff writers, Jonathan, registered his DTAC SIM card earlier this year in Market Village Hua Hin, but recently received an SMS (in Thai) with a reminder to register. So, be warned that even if you think you have registered, there is a slim chance that something went wrong and you’ll have to do it again! Oh dear…

 

How to register your SIM card in Thailand

 

If you’re not Thai, just take your passport to either 7-11, Tesco Lotus or Big C, or your local NBTC (Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission) if there is one near you (Bangkok and Phuket have one apparently). Thai citizens just need to show their ID card.

 

You can also just pop along to your network company’s local shop, which is probably the simplest approach as they should be able to process it quickly without somebody queueing up behind you to buy cigarettes…

 

You can dial *151# to find out if your SIM is registered.

 

Alternatively, if you have any questions about the whole registration process, call your network operator directly or go and speak to staff at the store of your network operator.

 

Here are the details for the main ones in Thailand:

 

AIS: call 1175 in Thailand or +66 2299 5000 from abroad.

DTAC: call 1678 (press 7 for English) in Thailand or +66 2202 8000 from abroad.

True: call 1331 in Thailand or +66 89100 1331 from abroad.

Obama Returns To Kenya, Reunites With Father's Family

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Fulfilling the hopes of millions of Kenyans, Barack Obama returned to his father's homeland Friday for the first time as U.S. president, a long sought visit by a country that considers him a local son.

The president spent the evening reuniting with his Kenyan family, including his elderly step-grandmother who made the trip to the capital of Nairobi from her rural village. U.S. and Kenyan flags lined the main road from Nairobi's airport, and billboards heralding Obama's trip dotted the city.

"I don't think that Kenyans think of Obama as African-American. They think of him as Kenyan-American," said EJ Hogendoorn, deputy program director for Africa at the International Crisis Group.

Obama's link to Kenya is a father he barely knew, but whose influence can nonetheless be seen in his son's presidency.

Obama has spoken candidly about growing up without his Kenyan-born father and feeling "the weight of that absence." A White House initiative to support young men of color who face similar circumstances has become a project dear to Obama, one he plans to continue after leaving the White House.

In Africa, Obama has used his late father's struggle to overcome government corruption as a way to push leaders to strengthen democracies. He's expected to make good governance and democracy-building a centerpiece of his two days of meetings and speeches in Nairobi, as well as a stop next week in Ethiopia.

"In my father's life, it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career," Obama said during a 2009 trip to Ghana, his first visit to Africa as president. "We know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many."

The president's father, Barack Obama, Sr., left Kenya as a young man to study at the University of Hawaii. There, he met Stanley Ann Dunham, a white woman from Kansas. They would soon marry and have a son, who was named after his father.

The elder Obama left Hawaii when he son was just two years old, first to continue his studies at Harvard, then to return to Kenya. The future president and his father would see each other just once more, when the son was 10 years old. Obama's father died in a car crash in 1982, at age 46.

"I didn't have a dad in the house," Obama said last year during a White House event for My Brother's Keeper, his initiative for young men. "I was angry about it, even though I didn't necessarily realize it at the time."

Obama's first trip to Kenya nearly 30 years ago was a quest to fill in the gaps in the story of his father's life. In his memoir "Dreams From My Father," Obama wrote that at the time of his death, "my father remained a mystery to me, both more and less than a man."

What Obama uncovered was a portrait of a talented, but troubled man. An economist for the Kenyan government, the senior Obama clashed with then-President Jomo Kenyatta over tribal divisions and allegations of corruption. He was ultimately fired by the president, sending him into a tailspin of financial problems and heavy drinking.

The Kenyan leader Obama will meet with this weekend, Uhuru Kenyatta, is the son of the president his father confronted decades ago.

Obama met most of his Kenyan family for the first time on that initial trip to his father's home country. As he stepped off Air Force One Friday, he was greeted by half-sister Auma Obama, pulling her into a warm embrace. The siblings then joined about three dozen family members at a restaurant at the president's hotel for a private dinner.

Logistical constraints and security precautions prevented Obama from visiting Kogelo, the village where his father lived and is buried, on this trip. Sarah Obama, the step-grandmother he calls "Granny," still lives in the village.

Despite the intense focus on the American leader's local roots, the White House has cast the trip as one focused on the relationship between the U.S. and Kenya, not the president and his family. Officials say Obama's agenda is heavily focused on trade and economic issues, as well as security and counterterrorism cooperation.

The president is traveling with nearly two dozen U.S. lawmakers, along with 200 U.S. investors attending the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha did not accompany the president.

Auma Obama said she believed her late father would be proud to see his son return to Kenya as American president.

"He'd be extremely proud and say, 'Well done,'" she said in an interview with CNN. "But then he'd add, 'But obviously, you're an Obama.'"

Temple Fights Against Plan To Demolish Pavillions

BANGKOK: -- Posters have been put up at Wat Kalayanamit to protest against the Fine Arts Department’s attempt to demolish two newly-built pavilions allegedly located on off-limit archaeological site.

The Fine Arts Department has recently won an approval from the Administrative Court to demolish the two pavilions built by the temple without the department’s permission.

The temple was notified by the department of the court’s ruling on July 19 and of the plan to start the demolition work on Friday. A private company has been commissioned by the department to pull down the two structures.

The temple claimed in its posters that the two pavilions were constructed with donations from followers and, therefore, regarded as religious property for Buddhism study by monks and novices.

The temple also threatened to take legal action against any attempt to demolish the pavilions. It also asked for police protection from Booppharam police station.

Caution Urged As Myanmar Poised To Embrace More Mining

BANGKOK— New mining laws in Myanmar are expected to come into place after November’s national elections, enticing more foreign investment, but rights groups fear local communities could be imperiled without more solid legal protections.

 

Analysts say Myanmar’s mining industry is still at the “frontier” stage of development with prospects in precious metals as well as copper, tin and tungsten.

 

John Hancock, an Australian lawyer and consultant in Yangon, said there is plenty of enthusiasm with surveys of valuable deposits dating back to British colonial times.

 

“I don’t think there’s any doubt in anyone’s mind that Myanmar is what they call ‘highly prospective,’ with all the mineral surveys and work that has been done in past times and seems to indicate that it has a very high level of mineral wealth, a wide range of mineral wealth. And all the geology is very promising," Hancock said.

Pheu Thai Ex-Spokesman Prompong, Another MP To Serve One-Year Jail Term

BANGKOK: -- PHEU THAI Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit and another party politician were sentenced to a year in jail yesterday for libelling former Constitution Court president Wasant Soypisut.

The Supreme Court found Prompong and Kiart-udom Menasawat, both former Pheu Thai MPs, guilty of making slanderous statements via media against Wasant in June 2010.

In the statement, Prompong and Kiart-udom accused Wasant of lacking neutrality and credibility as a judge, which prompted him to file a lawsuit a week later.

In July 2012, a lower court found both defendants guilty and sentenced them to a year in jail each, but suspended the punishment for two years, as they had no criminal record. They were also ordered to publish an apology in three newspapers for seven consecutive days.

However, the politicians appealed against the verdict and in December 2013, the Appeals Court found them guilty and sentenced them to a year in jail with no option for a suspended sentence. Yesterday, the Supreme Court upheld this ruling.

The politicians' friends and relatives were in the courtroom for moral support, and when Pichit Chuenban - a party member and former legal adviser to ex-PM Thaksin Shinawatra - hugged Prompong, the latter was heard saying "it's OK, I'm still fine".

Prompong and Kiart-udom were later escorted out of the courtroom by corrections officials.

Separately, the Supreme Court yesterday discussed the defamation case against former and current Democrat Party politicians filed by Prommin Lertsuridej, an executive of the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party. After deliberation, the judges decided to dismiss the case against former Democrat secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban, who is now a Buddhist monk, party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva and former party spokesman Ongart Klampaiboon.

After hearing the verdict, the three defendants walked out of the courtroom without speaking to reporters.

Prommin had sued the Democrat Party and the three politicians for accusing him of being involved in electoral fraud.

When a lower court dismissed the case in 2009, Prommin appealed and the Appeals Court in 2012 sentenced Suthep to a suspended sentence of four months in jail.

The Supreme Court yesterday altered the ruling and dismissed the case.

Cambodian Senate OKs Restrictions On Non-Government Groups

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodia's Senate on Friday approved tight restrictions on non-governmental organizations, rejecting appeals from rights groups that say the law could be used for political repression.

 

About 400 protesters gathered peacefully outside Parliament during the vote on the bill, which states that local and foreign non-governmental organizations must register with the government, and that all NGOs must be politically neutral. It also gives the government unchecked power to block registrations and dissolve groups in the name of national security.

 

Senators from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party boycotted the session in protest against the bill, as the party's lawmakers in the lower house did last week when the bill passed there.

 

All 44 Senators present from the ruling Cambodian People's Party approved the bill, which now faces the formalities of a legal review and signing by King Norodom Sihamoni.

 

The U.N. human rights office in Geneva said the draft law "falls significantly short of international human rights laws and norms governing the right to freedom of association.

 

"The draft law threatens the existence of a free and independent civil society in Cambodia and the crucial work that NGOs in the country carry out on development, governance, and human rights," its statement said.

 

Cambodian opponents of the bill said they would not give up the fight.

 

Chak Sopheap, executive director of Cambodian Center for Human Rights, called the draft that passed "unacceptable and in contravention with our constitution and international law." She said her group would "advocate for a review from the Constitutional Council and for the King not to promulgate this law."

 

According to figures from the Interior Ministry, there are about 5,000 associations and NGOs operating in Cambodia.

Six UK Men Convicted In Child Sex Ring Case Involving Two Girls

LONDON (AP) — Six men in Britain aged 29 to 45 have been found guilty of multiple crimes involving a child sex ring that preyed on two schoolgirls for years.

Four other defendants were cleared Friday and the jury failed to reach a verdict on another man. The offenses took place between 2006 and 2012 in the small English city of Aylesbury, northwest of London.

The girls spent days giving evidence to the Old Bailey court. The charges included multiple rape of a child under 13, child prostitution and sedating a girl in order to have sexual activity. The guilty will be sentenced Sept. 7.

Britain has been plagued with several child sex abuse cases in recent years, including others like this that involve the grooming of young girls by older men.

Myanmar Ethnic Peace Talks Recess Without Peace Agreement

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A three-day round of talks between the government and leaders of ethnic rebel groups concluded Friday without a sought-after ceasefire draft agreement to end decades of fighting.

 

Hla Maung Shwe, the special adviser to the government peace negotiating team, told reporters that both sides agreed to resume talks in the first week of August after further discussions among leaders of the various armed ethnic minority groups. The two sides have been negotiating for more than 18 months.

 

More than a dozen ethnic minority groups, mostly in Myanmar's border areas, have been struggling for greater autonomy since the country attained independence from Britain 67 years ago. Several have fielded substantial guerrilla armies, though the government over the past 25 years has reached shaky provisional ceasefires with many.

 

Pu Zing Cung, a spokesman for the ethnic rebels, said Friday they are confident that they can finalize the ceasefire agreement in August.

 

Among the issues to be resolved are participation of all armed ethnic groups and which local and international representatives will witness the signing.

 

The ethnic leaders want President Thein Sein and army chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing to sign the proposed ceasefire but the government wants chief peace negotiator Aung Min to sign.

 

They also insist on an "all inclusive" signing including other ethnic armed groups not taking part in the talks, such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, the Ta'ang National Liberation Army and the Arakan Army — all of whom are currently engaged in armed combat with government troops.

 

Pu Zing Cung, from the Chin minority, said this might be the most difficult issue to solve.

 

During the meeting ethnic leaders have expressed concern over escalating government military operations in ethnic areas, including Kachin State on the border with China, where the fighting has been sporadic but bitter.

 

Ahead of this week's meeting, Hla Maung Shwe warned that failure to reach an accord could trigger a fresh round of fighting if the military takes action. The general election, which would usher in a new president, takes place in November.

 

"If negotiations fail and the military believe that the nationwide ceasefire agreement cannot be signed under the present government, they will have no choice but to launch military operations," he said.

 

Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in a recent interview with the BBC said that Myanmar's military will play a leading role in the country's politics as long as there is ethnic fighting and until peace deals have been concluded.

 

Myanmar was under military rule from 1962 to 2011, when an elected government took power. However, the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party was formed as a vehicle for the military, and a constitution implemented during army rule ensure that the military retains a dominant role in running the country.

Baht Unlikely To Slide Below 35/$

BANGKOK: -- ECONOMISTS believe the country's status as net creditor and the current account surplus will strengthen the baht after it had hit a six-year low to the US dollar on Thursday, however the global price of gold is expected to continue to drop due to the strengthening of the US dollar.

Usara Wilaipich, senior economist at Standard Chartered Bank, expects the baht that is currently weakening because of overseas factors and the drop in the gold price, to strengthen after the short-term psychological effect dies down due to its strong backup.

"It is like trying to kick a football up the hill; it will eventually roll down since you are kicking it up the slope without anything to provide upward momentum," she said.

Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) expects the baht to be at 34.5 by the end of the third quarter.

The baht has slid from Bt32.835 to the greenback on April 29 (the day of the second consecutive cut of the policy interest rate this year) to trade at Bt34.936 as of 4pm yesterday. The global gold price has also continued to drop to $1,084 per ounce at the same time yesterday compared with $1,160 per ounce on July 12 (the day that the value of the precious metal started to decline amid the strengthening of the US dollar).

She explained that the reason why the baht had outperformed other currencies before the consecutive cuts in the policy interest rate in March and April was because Thailand was a net creditor: The country's current lending in US dollars is around $190 billion while its foreign debts stand at around $140 billion, which means the Kingdom is a net lender of around US$50 billion.

Somchai Amornthum, executive vice president at Krung Thai Asset Management (KTAM) said the baht was unlikely to slide that much further than Bt35 to the US dollar, as the country's current account surplus is expected to continue to expand. Imports normally increased in July and August every year but oil price has dropped 50 per cent. "Although exports have continued to contract since the beginning of the year, in the overall scenario the surplus in the current account will be even bigger," he said.

"The global oil price is also expected to be in the region of $50 per barrel for quite some time due to the increase in supply and that is another support for surplus in the current account, as Thailand is a net importer of oil," he added.

Thailand currently carries a current account surplus of $2.127 billion as of May 2015.

Kamolthun Pornphaisarnvichit, director of the Gold Research Centre, said the global gold price is expected to drop by about $30 to around $1,050 per ounce during the period of expectation of an expected Fed rate hike around September this year. If the US interest rate is hiked in September, then gold is expected to trade around $1,050-$1,150 per ounce in September and October.

"The gold price in Thailand has dropped less than the global gold price because of the weakening baht. The price in Thailand has dropped by 3.2 per cent to around Bt18,000 per gold bar since the beginning of the month until now while the global gold price has dropped by 4.5 per cent in the same period of time," he said.

Thai Junta Uses Special Power To Stop Youth Drinking

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand's interim premier used special powers under the junta-installed constitution to tackle illegal street racing and alcohol sales near schools and universities.

 

The measures were taken to protect youths from risky behaviors and vices that could lead to societal problems in the future, Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Friday. The five-page order was published in the Royal Gazette and became effective on Thursday.

 

Under the order, public gatherings intended to conduct street racing are banned and parents must take responsibility if their children are involved in such activities. New or harsher penalties than under past laws are possible for those involved.

 

Police and state officials can temporarily confiscate cars or motorcycles suspected of being raced and can arrest suspected racers and spectators.

 

The measures were intended to "tackle the issue comprehensively, not only to go after the youth racers," Sansern said.

 

The order follows a major crackdown in May on the longstanding problem, in which youth blocked streets at night in order to race.

 

The constitution put in place after the coup last year empowered Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha to issue any orders he considered necessary to maintain security and public order. He has exercised the vast powers under Article 44 on several occasions, sometimes to bypass the law and to remove civil servants to inactive posts.

 

Sansern said a recent ban on alcohol sales within 300 meters (feet) of educational institutes should be strictly followed.

 

"Please think about the future of the youths, which will become the future of the country. Do not look at the commercial benefits only," Sansern said. "If you stop selling alcohol and sell food only, you can continue your business as normal

Australian Islamic State Group Medic Arrested On Return Home

SYDNEY (AP) — An Australian nurse who says he was forced by Islamic State militants to work as a medic in Syria was arrested after returning home and faces potential terrorism-related charges.

Adam Brookman, 39, was arrested at Sydney International Airport on Friday night on a Victoria state warrant relating to his alleged involvement in the conflict in Syria, Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

He appeared from a police cell by video link in the Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, where a magistrate granted an application by the Melbourne Joint Counter Terrorism Team to extradite him to Victoria. He is to appear in a Melbourne court no later than Monday morning.

The court heard a warrant for Brookman's arrest was issued on Friday. Police did not detail the charges he could face.

Brookman did not speak during his brief appearance.

He surrendered to Turkish officials in Turkey on Tuesday. He voluntarily flew back to Australia with a police escort.

Brookman, a Muslim convert and father of five children who live in Melbourne, told Fairfax Media in May that he went to Syria last year to do humanitarian work for civilians caught in the war. He said he was innocent of any crime.

Brookman said he was forced to join Islamic State militants after being injured in an airstrike and taken to a hospital controlled by the group.

"After I recovered, they wouldn't let me leave," he told Fairfax.

He won the militants' trust by working as a medic and was able to escape to Turkey in December.

Brookman told Fairfax that he opposed the violent and extreme actions of the militants, including the beheading of their captives.

"Of course there will be an investigation. That is fine. Hopefully things don't look that bad," Brookman told Fairfax.

It is not clear whether Brookman was still in Syria on Dec. 4, when Australia made a presence in the Islamic State stronghold of al-Raqqa province in Syria a crime punishable by 10 years in prison. If charged, the onus would be on Brookman to prove he had a legitimate reason to be in the terrorist hotspot.

Supporting a terrorist organization is a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.

Vietnam, Cambodia Work Closely To Ensure Border Situation

Relevant Vietnamese and Cambodian agencies have closely coordinated to control the situation in their joint border areas and not let the border matter affect the countries’ friendship, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said on July 23.

He made the remark in response to reporters’ queries about measures to prevent the repeat of disturbances in joint border areas.
Vietnam and Cambodia have an agreement on activities in their joint border areas, especially those that have not been demarcated or planted with markers, he said, noting that recent disturbances in Vietnam-Cambodia border areas did not comply with related bilateral agreements.

The countries have also agreed to accelerate the negotiations on, demarcation and planting of border markers along their borderline under reached agreements, Binh added.

The spokesman said Vietnam does not have any comments about Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen’s sending of letters to the UN Secretary-General and leaders of the UK, the US and France to borrow the Bonne map that defines the borderline between Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the regular press conference, he provided further information that on December 27, 1985, Vietnam and Cambodia signed the Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries between them, which took effect on February 22, 1986. On October 10, 2005, they inked a supplementary agreement to the 1985 Treaty, and the additional document began enforcement on December 6, 2005.

Based on the two agreements, the land border between Vietnam and Cambodia is showed on the Bonne map, scale 1/100,000, and the UTM map, scale 1/50,000, that was enclosed with the 1985 Treaty.

Binh emphasised that the border demarcation and border marker planting is bilateral work between Vietnam and Cambodia and conducted on the basis of the two aforementioned documents and other related bilateral agreements which are in line with international law and practices.

Trial Opens For 2 Accused Of Killing British Tourists

SURAT THANI — The head of Thailand's Central Institute of Forensic Science will testify in defense of two Burmese men accused of killing two British backpackers in southern Thailand last year. 

 

Judges ruled on Friday to add an additional day to the trial to allow for CIFS director Pornthip Rojanasunand to take the witness stand at Koh Samui Provincial Court on 11 September. 

 

Pornthip’s appearance was requested by the defendants’ lawyers because her agency, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice, is re-examining several pieces of forensic evidence from the case that have only been tested privately by police. Pornthip is well-known in Thailand for disagreeing with police in several high-profile cases.

 

Four items collected from the crime scene on Koh Tao's Sairee beach, including the garden hoe believed to be used in the murder, have already been sent to the CIFS for a second examination. On Thursday, the court learned that solutions containing DNA traces taken from the victims’ bodies may also be available for a re-test.

 

Defense lawyer Nakhon Chompuchat said his team is still discussing which additional evidence to send to the forensic institute.

 

"We want to consult with Dr. Pornthip first," Nakhon told Khaosod English on friday.

Bangla Thugs Threaten Expat Police Volunteers

THAILAND - PHUKET: A gang of drunken thugs threatening expat police volunteers on patrol has exposed the lack of police protection provided at the police box at the beach end of Bangla Rd in Patong.

The gang turned up at the scene in a white pickup at 10:50pm on July 10 and started playing loud music from the vehicle while drinking beers on the steps right in front the police box, noted an incident report filed to Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpiriya at the Patong police station.

“There were no police in attendance at the police box all night and it was locked… The people were asked to leave as parking the car [and] drinking alcohol [there] is not allowed and playing loud music was not appropriate at the police box – and they left immediately,” a lead volunteer said in the report.

But the gang was soon back, in greater numbers and looking for a fight. “They returned with more people at 11:20pm, parked the car in the

same spot, played loud music, drank alcohol and told Thai people they were looking for the farang [foreign] police to fight them,” the report said.

“I chose not to engage them as the girl I spoke to outside Starbucks said they were waiting to fight with us and there were no police on Bangla Rd.”

Lt Col Pongphichan Chayanonpiriya, the officer in Patong responsible for co-ordinating police volunteers, this week told The Phuket News that he had little to say to rectify the lack of police presence on the busy tourist street.

“We have three to four officers stationed on Bangla every day, but at that particular time those officers were called to an incident elsewhere. That’s why they could not be found,” he said.

“We also have an officer at the police box every day, but he has to leave the box often to check along the entire three kilometres length of the road, from the bridge at the southern end of the beach road to the ‘dolphin circle’ at the northern end.

“That one officer has much to do, and all on Thaweewong Rd only,” said Col Pongphichan.

“I presume that the officer was not at the police box at the time of the incident because he was performing these duties.”

Col Pongphichan noted that expat police volunteers have no law-enforcement rights whatsoever unless a regular officer on duty is with them, which is often the case.

He also assured that anyone who assaulted a volunteer would face the law.

Despite having the report and photos for more than a week, Col Pongphichan on Wednesday said that no effort had been made to find the culprits, as the report did not constitute an official complaint.

FAA Says Thai Aviation Industry Lacks Sufficient Qualified Personnel

BANGKOK: -- The latest inspection of the Thai aviation safety standard by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has revealed that insufficient qualified manpower may be one of the country’s main drawbacks in delivering its aviation safety services up to international standards.

But Thai authorities say that this problem could be resolved.

Transport minister Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong revealed yesterday that a team of four FAA senior members arrived on July 13 to inspect aviation safety standards with particular focus on the two main Thai airlines that conduct flights into the USA namely, Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways.

Inspection revealed that the Thai civil aviation is insufficiently staffed per FAA’s recommended industry standards and that staff were sometimes inappropriately assigned to aircraft types.

The second concern was that the operations check list is not strictly adhered to. And thirdly, safety checks were lacking mainly as a result of insufficient qualified personnel.

But ACM Prajin said Thai aviation authorities have already started to take up measures to solve the mentioned problems.

This is because the International Civil Aviation Organisation had previously inspected the safety standard which revealed similar results.

But he said full inspection report is expected to be released within 30 days where the country will be given 65 days to take corrective measures.

The minister admits that if Thailand is not able to resolve those problems highlighted by the FAA, the country’s aviation safety standard rating could be downgraded to a second class ranking which could affect the industry’s flights into the USA.

ACM Prajin also stated that he would have a clearer idea on the severity of the impact to the local industry on July 20 once he has read the full inspection report.

The FAA’s recent inspection prior to this year’s was conducted in 2008 where Thailand received a first class rating for excellence.

Thai Army Bases Selling Cheap Food To Public

BANGKOK - The Royal Thai Army has announced that some military bases are now offering low-cost food to the public.

Col. Sirichan Ngathong, an army spokesperson, said today that army bases in Nakhon Ratchasima, Lopburi, Prachinburi, Sa Kaeo, and Chonburi are participating in the program so far, while other military camps around the country are expected to join soon.

"It is an option for people to buy food at a special price, which is cheaper than the market price," Col. Sirichan said, adding that each dish costs around 10 - 20 baht. Staple food dishes in Thailand normally cost 30 - 40 baht per serving.

According to Col. Sirichan, the army bases are offering noodle dishes, basil fried rice, curry rice, fried rice with pork, and omelettes with rice.

Bangkok Suspends Buying Submarines From China Over US Concern

BANGKOK: -- A Chinese news website has reported that the relationship with the US is an important factor in Thailand's decision to put on hold plans to buy submarines from China.

The Global Times online quoted Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, as saying it was clear that the US did not want to see closer cooperation between China and Thailand, especially in terms of military ties and defence.

From the perspective of foreign relations, it was understandable and predictable that Thailand considers its relationship with the US a very important diplomatic priority, Li said.

Thai deputy premier Prawit Wongsuwan said the US$1.6 billion acquisition for its first submarine from China was put on hold and that the Navy needed to further study the matter.

Meanwhile Lan Yun, deputy editorinchief of the Beijingbased Modern Ships magazine, told the website that the S26T Submarine China is the most costeffective model among all the bids.

"Thailand's defence ministry might not have reached a consensus with its finance ministry on the issue of cost and Thailand is not in urgent need of a submarine," Lan said.

With an AirIndependent Propulsion system, the 2,600ton submarine priced $355 million was obviously a better choice than the 900Ton S210 German submarine, costing around $340 million, Lan added.

Chinese Businessman Says He Was Extorted By Thai Police

CHIANG MAI — A Chinese businessman told police in northern Thailand today that a man who claimed to be a police officer threatened to kill him if he did not fork over 4.3. million baht.

The businessman, Yian Tong, and his Thai wife, Mananthacha Kasema, filed the complaint with the Fifth Region Police in Chiang Mai.

According to Mananthacha, Yian started a tour company and resort in Chiang Mai several years ago, and later leased the business to another Chinese busineman named Tong Wan under a one year-contract. However, six months after the contract started police raided the company for hiring staff without proper work permits and organizing group tours without registering with the Immigration police.

Tong Wan then asked to terminate the contract, and demanded that Yian pay him 4.3 million baht in damages, even though he still owed Yian more than 500,000 baht in rent, Mananthacha said.

"My husband and I didn't break the contract, and we are the victims in this because we don't get rent money from him," Mananthacha said.

GLO Continues Checking Lottery Market To Control 80-Baht Price

BANGKOK: -- A special unit of the Government Lottery Office (GLO) and police continued to survey the lottery market in its effort to make sure that all lottery vendors sell at 80-baht apiece.

In the latest survey, four lottery wholesalers were found to hoard lottery tickets for profiteering purpose.

Spokesperson of the GLO board Thanawat Polwichai revealed that officials from the special unit of GLO has nabbed four lottery wholesalers after finding that they have hoarded a large quota of their lotteries in hope to sell them at higher prices 1-2 days before the lottery drawing date scheduled for the June 16 draw.

The authorities will trace their financial paths and tax payments history to look for any irregular activities, warning every wholesaler not to profiteer as they could be subjected to legal action and tax payments inspection as well.

Meanwhile the GLO board has planned to implement stricter measures to control the overpricing of lotteries in the long term.

GLO board chairman Major General Apirat Kongsompong would give a joint press briefing on June 15 with the Ministry of Justice and Revenue Department on the implementation of stricter measures to control the overpricing of lotteries in the long term to prevent lottery wholesalers from trying to make higher profit.

The GLO board has also planned to ink an agreement with PTT Plc allowing handicapped lottery vendors to sell lotteries at petrol stations under a control price of 80 baht.

ISIL Brings Al-Qaeda to Brink of Collapse – Jihadi Clerics

The Islamic State extremist group has weakened al-Qaeda, draining it of human and financial resources, two of al-Qaeda’s prominent spiritual leaders told the Guardian.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The scholars told the Guardian that al-Qaeda's leader Ayman Zawahiri had been cut off from his commanders and that al-Qaeda could be considered a functional organization any longer.

"[Zawahiri] operates solely based on the allegiance. There is no organisational structure. There is only communication channels and loyalty," jihadi scholar Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi, who is reportedly a close friend to Zawahiri, told the newspaper on Wednesday.

Abu Qatada, a Jordanian preacher, told the Guardian that the Islamic State’s ground advances and extensive propaganda had left Zawahiri "isolated."

Abu Qatada, born Omar Mahmoud Othman, is a Sunni cleric of Jordanian-Palestinian origin. Qatada has been repeatedly accused of having links with al-Qaeda and is under a UN-imposed worldwide embargo.

Red-Shirt Activist Jaran Grateful France Granted Him Political Asylum

BANGKOK: -- FUGITIVE red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) Jaran Ditapichai, who has been residing in exile in France since late last year, claims he has been given political asylum since November.

"I feel particularly grateful to France. I feel safe and can live without the fear of being deported," Jaran said in an interview with The Nation through Facebook from France.

The French Embassy acknowledged that Jaran is in France but refused to deny or confirm his legal status. Spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), Colonel Winthai Suvari, meanwhile said the Foreign Ministry is still checking on Jaran's status.

The 68-year-old Jaran spent his time in France contacting officials at various European Foreign Ministries, European parliamentarians, lobbying the United Nation's Human Rights Council and trying to convince the European Union on his version of Thailand.

The anti-coup dissident fled after the coup and is now wanted for both refusing to report to the military junta and allegedly violating the lese majeste law.

Winthai insisted that Jaran is among those Thais abroad who distorts things and attacks Thailand.

"There's a chance that distortions are being made. The Foreign Ministry explains the situation every now and then to foreign states and they have a better understanding of the situation," said Winthai.

Jaran said the work he is doing now faces huge odds.

"Things are difficult," said Jaran, adding that awareness and concerns about the Thai situation are low and European states are more interested about what is happening in Greece, Ukraine and Syria. They are unlikely to increase pressure on the military government of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha," he said.

However, the former communist rebel of the 1970s, as well as former National Human Rights Commissioner, is pessimistic about the future of Thailand.

"I can't detect any positive trend. Things are just getting worse and the NCPO is likely to try to hang on to power longer," said Jaran, adding however that the anti-junta groups will persist.

Asked if he hopes to ever return to Thailand, Jaran said France is likely to be his permanent base due to the lese majeste charge against him and the fact that he is already 68.

Winthai defended the military junta saying many leaders of the previous administration are still living in Thailand and have not been prosecuted while those who fled were merely escaping criminal prosecution such as those fleeing the lese majeste charge.

The junta spokesperson said it's unclear if the Foreign Ministry has tried to explain its side of the story to France, which reportedly offered at least temporary safe haven to a few other dissidents.

"I can't say if this is affecting our relations [with France] but so far it hasn't," Winthai remarked.

Jaran said the lese majeste charge against him came after the coup and was simply due to the fact that he had chaired an event, which included a theatrical performance that was later deemed offensive to the monarchy.

He's currently living off his savings but said he will eventually have to look for a job.

Anti-coup Thai restaurants in Paris, which numbered about 10, occasionally host him and Jaran is active on Facebook.

"This is probably going to be my final battle," said Jaran, referring to the struggle and his residency in France.

A First For Thailand: Buying Property With A 20-Year Visa

In what is the first initiative of its kind in Thailand, one property developer has joined forces with Thailand Elite to offer a 20-year visa for purchases at its Pattaya condominium.

 

Purchasers at Kingdom Property’s Pattaya Southpoint development will be entitled to a 20-year visa, which amounts to five-year multiple-entry visa that is renewable every four years.

 

The visa will entitle its holders to benefits that include fast-track immigration clearance, assistance with driving licences, discounts and a bilingual helpline.

 

Nigel Cornick, Chief Executive Officer of Kingdom Property (pictured), said: “The long-stay solution will overcome many of the barriers that we see when selling our properties overseas. Generally unless you have a business visa, retirement visa or marriage visa, you are not permitted to stay for any length of time.

 

“This exciting partnership is akin to Malaysia’s My Second Home (MM2H) program and has massive potential.”

 

The visa will come as part of the purchase of a unit at Southpoint ans the owner can sell the unit and the visa together, if he or she so wishes.

Four Thais Freed After Caught With Gun At Pakistani Airport; One Still Detained

BANGKOK — Pakistani authorities have released four of the five Thai students who were arrested for trying to smuggle a firearm and ammunition past a security checkpoint at an airport in Pakistan, a Thai official said.

The students were reportedly arrested at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore on the night of 8 June, shortly before they boarded a Thai Airways flight bound for Bangkok. Thai officials say they were informed by Pakistani authorities that the five men attempted to carry a handgun, its magazine, and some ammunition onboard the aircraft.

Anusith Kunakorn, secretary-general of the National Security Council, said four of the five students have been released and are on their way back to Thailand. He said they are expected to arrive in Bangkok today.

Pakistani authorities are reportedly still investigating the fifth student.

According to Anusith, all five students arrived in Pakistan in 2013 to study at Islamic schools.

Myanmar Denies Indian Army Crossed Border To Attack Rebels

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A raid by India's army on insurgents accused of killing 18 Indian soldiers last week took place on Indian soil, not inside Myanmar as some Indian media reported, a Myanmar official said Thursday.

 

Although Myanmar has relatively little control over the porous border region, it would be loath to acknowledge an intrusion by its bigger neighbor, and public claims by some Indian officials to that effect would be an embarrassment that could chill bilateral relations.

 

The incident has cast rare light on the insecurity along the two nations' 1,600-kilometer (1,000-mile) border, whose remoteness provides shelter to insurgent groups in India's restive northeast.

 

The disputed raids took place shortly before Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval is to visit Myanmar to discuss security affairs and insurgency issues along the border. India has long worked to keep strong ties with Myanmar's government, in part so that rebel militias do not find safe havens there.

 

Comments by Indian officials have been vague or contradictory about where Tuesday's raids against the insurgents took place. A junior information minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, said the Indian troops crossed the border into Myanmar with the acquiescence of its government.

 

However, Myanmar President's Office director Zaw Htay said Thursday the raids occurred inside India and that foreign rebels are not allowed to operate on Myanmar soil.

 

The claim that Indian troops attacked inside Myanmar's territory has triggered criticism from some Indian politicians, who treated the report as true but suggested that publicly announcing it was boastful and diplomatically indiscreet. On Thursday, Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar declined to comment on details of the attack.

 

Myriad militant groups in India's remote northeast have been fighting the central government for decades, some of them rooted in Myanmar and operating from both sides. The groups, ranging from ragtag collections of barely equipped young men to small armies with hundreds of heavily armed guerrillas, are fighting for a range of issues including political independence and control of drug routes.

 

Zaw Htay said Myanmar's army confirmed that India's raids were carried out in its own territory, and that India's ambassador provided Myanmar's deputy foreign minister with the same account.

 

A top Indian army officer, Maj. Gen. Ranbir Singh, said Tuesday the army was in communication with Myanmar authorities on its operation and inflicted "significant casualties on the rebels."

 

While most clashes with the militants are minor, last week's attack on an Indian army convoy in Manipur state shocked New Delhi.

 

The state has several active militant groups which operate from both sides of the border. None claimed responsibility for the attack, which also wounded 14 soldiers.

 

In April, insurgents armed with automatic weapons fired at two trucks carrying Indian paramilitary soldiers in neighboring Nagaland state, killing eight of them.

 

Most of the main rebel groups in Manipur state are not engaged in cease-fire talks with the Indian government, unlike those in other remote northeastern states.

 

Separatist groups accuse the Indian government of exploiting the region's rich natural resources while neglecting local development.

 

Stash Of ID, ATM Cards - Including Foreigner's - Found At Phuket Trash Site

PHUKET: -- A hoard of identity cards, including one issued to a foreigner, as well as driver’s licenses and ATM cards was found dumped at an illegal trash site in Karon this morning.

A local resident who discovered the items in a plastic bag at the site, behind the Kata Center shopping complex, reported his find, resulting in a Navy troop on patrol in the area being called to the scene.

Among the items found, 14 were identification cards that are still valid, six driving permits, a foreigner’s identification card, eight ATM cards, reported Sub-Lt Taksin Puklim.

“There was also a bankbook for an account that apparently still had a balance B10,000,” he said.

All the items found will be handed to the Karon police, Sub-Lt Taksin confirmed.

“The police will handle the investigation,” he said. “This is not normal. We want to know who dumped these items here and whether it was the work of a criminal or thief after committing a crime.”

Govt Set To Match Education Reform With Students’ Needs

BANGKOK, 14 June 2015 (NNT) – Prime Minister Prayut Cha-ocha has unveiled a number of educational plans which he claims would serve the needs of students and society.

During his weekly TV talk program, PM Prayut spoke about the 2015-2020 education reform strategies which cover three major areas namely teaching, vocational skill development and education management.

According to Gen Prayut, the most urgent mission for the government is to raise the literacy rate in primary schools. The government is urging schools to revive the spelling system in the teaching of grade 1 pupils. The campaign will continue until Mar 2016 after which time its achievement will be assessed.

Regarding the vocational skill development, new courses will be introduced at educational opportunity expansion schools and those in the five special economic zones to boost vocational skills of learners. English teaching at basic education level will be adjusted to serve the needs of students and society. At the same time, distance learning will be upgraded to boost the quality of learners.

As for personnel development, the government will launch more training for school directors, educators and educational supervisors to enhance their abilities.

Swedish Police: Several People Shot, Some Dead, In Gothenburg

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Several people were shot inside a restaurant in the city of Gothenburg late Wednesday and some of have died, Swedish police said.

Police said in a statement that an automatic weapon is believed to have been used in the shooting. They had no details on any suspects but said an investigation was under way.

Gothenburg is located in southwestern Sweden and is the country's second biggest city.

The shooting happened in an area of the city with a history of gang-related violence, police spokeswoman Ulla Brehm said. She said it was too early to speculate on the motive but said there were indications that the shooting was gang-related.

"There is absolutely nothing that indicates terrorism," Brehm said.

One witness told Swedish broadcaster SVT that two men entered the restaurant and started shooting with automatic weapons.

"I didn't have a chance to think about what happened. Then I saw that my friend was bleeding. I tried to stop the bleeding as good as I could with my hand," said the witness, who didn't give his name.

No Execution Of Foreigners In Near Future: Indonesian Officials

JAKARTA: -- High-ranking government officials said on Wednesday that no executions of drug convicts would take place in the next few months, as the country’s judiciary was still processing their appeals and case reviews.

Attorney-General M. Prasetyo said that although all preparations for the drug convicts’ executions had been completed, prosecutors were still waiting for the final verdicts on their appeals.

Prasetyo went on to say that all death-row convicts in the second batch had to be executed simultaneously, including Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso of the Philippines and French inmate Serge Atlaoui, whose case reviews are now being handled by the Supreme Court.

“If they were not executed simultaneously, it would create further problems for us,” Prasetyo said at the State Palace on Wednesday before a Cabinet meeting presided over by president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

Prasetyo claimed the AGO had no deadline for the executions, adding that it was waiting for the ongoing legal proceedings to wrap up.

“There are several ongoing legal proceedings. We must wait for them [to reach their conclusion],” he said, adding that the appeals and case reviews included those filed at the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) by two Australian drug smugglers on death row, Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33.

Prasetyo maintained that the executions’ delay was not due to foreign pressure.

Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport Reports Growth Of 46.7%

According to the latest data from ACI airports in Asia Pacific started year 2015 with an encouraging average growth rate of +4.9% in passenger traffic, while airports in the Middle East posted an even more encouraging growth of +11.4% year-on-year.

Among the top 10 busiest airports in the region, half showed positive growth while the rest reported decrease in traffic from last year.

In Asia, Beijing (PEK) continued to lead as the busiest airport in the region serving close to 7 million passengers in January 2015. New Delhi (DEL) grew at +17.5% in the month and is likely to surpass 40 million by the end of 2015. Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) recorded the highest growth rate (+46.7%) among all reporting airports.

In the Middle East, the strong passenger volume was contributed by double digit growth in the following airports: Kuwait (KWI) +22.2%, Abu Dhabi (AUH) +20.7%, Doha (DOH) +18%.

In terms of air freight traffic for the month, Asia Pacific reported growth at +3.4%. Among the leading cargo airports in the region, Tokyo Haneda (HND) reported highest growth from last year at +21.4%.

The Middle East continued to deliver strong performance at +9.6% with several airports reporting double digit growth year over year: Dubai (aggregated DXB & DWC2) +16.3%, Doha (DOH) +11.8% and Abu Dhabi (AUH) +11%.

Myanmar Woman Arrested In Phuket For Drug Dealing

PHUKET : -- A woman from Myanmar was arrested for drug dealing after being found in possession of methamphetamine (ya bah) and crystal meth (ya ice).

Immigration police arrested Thi Car Myint (Chu), 35, at a workers camp in the the Vichit district. She had in her possession 60 ya bah pills, .2 grams of ya ice and 15 B100 bank notes.

Immigration Policeman told The Phuket News, “We have followed a group of Myanmar workers we believed were involved in drugs for two or three months.

“An undercover officer managed to buy 10 ya bah pills from one of them yesterday for B2,500.

We found the workers camp they lived in and decided to carry out a raid. When we raided the camp some of the workers runaway but we managed to apprehend Chu, and when we searched her she had 60 ya bah pills and .2grams of ya ice in her possession.

“We believe that Chu has been supplying drugs to a number of workers in the area.”

Chu is now being held at Vichit Police Station where she is to be charged with possession of Category 1 drugs with intent to sell.