Thailand's Prostitutes: Caught Between Passion And Compassion
Written by Sudhamahi Regunathan, Woman's feature Service
Pattaya Walking Street, file photo. Source: wikimedia
PATTAYA: -- The Thai government may be trying to cast away its image as a destination for sex tourism but the Walking Street of Pattaya is blissfully unaware of this. It continues to attract girls from all over Thailand, who use their bodily endowments to make their fortunes.
Pattaya, a gamey city south of Bangkok, recently made the world press again when photos were flashed around the world showing three suspected Iranian bombers cavorting with prostitutes in the resort city. They later managed to blow up their rented house in Bangkok and one of the three blew off his own legs trying to throw explosives at police. All are in custody, one in Malaysia.
As the sun sets and the neon lights [more...]
Full story: http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392
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Written by Sudhamahi Regunathan, Woman's feature Service
Pattaya Walking Street, file photo. Source: wikimedia
PATTAYA: -- The Thai government may be trying to cast away its image as a destination for sex tourism but the Walking Street of Pattaya is blissfully unaware of this. It continues to attract girls from all over Thailand, who use their bodily endowments to make their fortunes.
Pattaya, a gamey city south of Bangkok, recently made the world press again when photos were flashed around the world showing three suspected Iranian bombers cavorting with prostitutes in the resort city. They later managed to blow up their rented house in Bangkok and one of the three blew off his own legs trying to throw explosives at police. All are in custody, one in Malaysia.
As the sun sets and the neon lights [more...]
Full story: http://www.asiasenti...4281&Itemid=392
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Posted 2012-03-02 16:14:25
Traffic Police to Get Tough on Cabs
BANGKOK: -- The Traffic Police has launched a new campaign passenger and road safety. They are calling for taxi drivers to observe the official dress code for taxi drivers and obey traffic laws.
The Traffic police have launched a new campaign to promote road safety and safety of taxi passengers. They are calling for taxi drivers to help the police solve the chronic traffic in Bangkok and help promote the city as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
Officially, taxi drivers must follow an official dress code.
They are required to tuck their shirttails into their pants. They must wear a name tag with Thai alphabets on the left hand side of the shirt. For footwear, drivers must not wear flipflops during work hours.
Violators could face a fine of no more than 500 baht. Taxis are also prohibited from parking their vehicles in unauthorized areas or blocking traffic. Violators could face a fine up 500 - 1,000 baht.
All taxis are required to use their meters to determine the cab fares. There are two main types of taxi in Thailand. Ones that are sporting two-tone paint, more specifically yellow and green, are privately owned taxis. The ones that have red-blue two-tone paint, however, are not privately owned.
They are older taxis that belong to a taxi cooperative or company. Taxis that are painted in one color are those that are owned by taxi cooperatives or companies. They are rent out to taxi drivers who usually split the driving shifts between 2 drivers per vehicle.
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BANGKOK: -- The Traffic Police has launched a new campaign passenger and road safety. They are calling for taxi drivers to observe the official dress code for taxi drivers and obey traffic laws.
The Traffic police have launched a new campaign to promote road safety and safety of taxi passengers. They are calling for taxi drivers to help the police solve the chronic traffic in Bangkok and help promote the city as one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
Officially, taxi drivers must follow an official dress code.
They are required to tuck their shirttails into their pants. They must wear a name tag with Thai alphabets on the left hand side of the shirt. For footwear, drivers must not wear flipflops during work hours.
Violators could face a fine of no more than 500 baht. Taxis are also prohibited from parking their vehicles in unauthorized areas or blocking traffic. Violators could face a fine up 500 - 1,000 baht.
All taxis are required to use their meters to determine the cab fares. There are two main types of taxi in Thailand. Ones that are sporting two-tone paint, more specifically yellow and green, are privately owned taxis. The ones that have red-blue two-tone paint, however, are not privately owned.
They are older taxis that belong to a taxi cooperative or company. Taxis that are painted in one color are those that are owned by taxi cooperatives or companies. They are rent out to taxi drivers who usually split the driving shifts between 2 drivers per vehicle.
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Posted 2012-03-04 12:47:36
BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok police is planning to question all parties involved in a video clip posted on Youtube showing a foreigner assaulted by BTS security guards.
Superintendent of the Thonglor Police Station, Police Colonel Rattasak Raksalam has reported that all parties involved in the video clip recently posted on Youtube showing a foreigner assaulted by BTS security guards at the Prompong Station will be summoned for questioning.
Rattasak said both sides have already filed a complaint with the police.
The investigation team will also try to track down the person who posted the clip to serve as a key witness.
Rattasak noted that the incident was likely caused by miscommunication.
President of the Bangkok Mass Transit System or BTS Arnat Arpapirom indicated that from an initial investigation, the foreigner was trying to board a train with his daughter's balloons which is against the BTS's security protocol.
BTS officials told the foreigner he had to abandon the balloons if he wants to go on the train but he refused, saying that he was let on the BTS with the balloons earlier in the day.
Arnat claimed the foreigner then started to get aggressive, kicking at trash cans, resulting in security guards being called in to subdue him.
The video clip showed the foreigner and BTS officials having a heated argument at the front of the ticket collection machine before he was clubbed in the head by the guards' baton.
The man is then seen going through the ticket collection machine, clutching some balloons in his hand and with blood dripping on his face.
The police will have to determine whether a crime has been committed as both sides have lodged a complaint.
The BTS will also launch a disciplinary inquiry on its employees.
In any case, the company is planning to compensate the victim, which will be unrelated to the police's investigation.
-- Tan Network 2012-03-22
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Irish tourist found dead in Pattaya hotel
PATTAYA: -- An Irish tourist was found dead in a hotel of this seaside town early Friday, police said.
Police said Paul Henry Lynch, 48, was found lying face-down on his hotel bed with blood seeping out of his mouth and nose. He was staying on the sixth floor of the seventh-floor Eastiny Seven Hotel on Soi Pattaya 7.
Police said no trace of physical attack was found and he was found after having died for about six hours.
His friend told police that he knocked the door at 1:30 am Friday to but Lynch did not answer so he told hotel staffs to open the room with a spare key and found that the man has died.
His body was sent to the Police Hospital's Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy.
-- The Nation 2012-03-23
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Four dead, five injured as pickup truck slams into Phuket tourist van
Phuket Gazette –
The van full of tourists was heading to Phuket when the accident occurred. Photo: Warisa Temram
The five Phuket tourists injured were rushed to Tai Muang Hospital. Photo: Warisa Temram
PHUKET: Four tourists are dead and five injured after a pickup truck loaded with fish and a van filled with tourists heading for Phuket collided in Tai Muang, Phang Nga, yesterday evening.
Tai Muang Police received a report of the accident, on the Mae Yey Bridge on Petchkasem Road between Tai Muang and Takuapa Moo 1 in Thung Maphrao, Tai Muang District, at 5:30pm
At the scene, officers found a white van registered in Trang province with the right side of the van heavily damaged from the driver’s door to the end of the van.
Emergency rescue first-responders from the Pu In Foundation as well as rescue workers from Khao Lak and Takuapa rushed to free the tourists trapped inside.
Four of the tourists were dead. Another five were injured, all of whom were rushed to Tai Muang Hospital for treatment.
About 100 meters down the road was a Phuket-registered pickup truck lying on its side with its cargo of fish strewn over the road.
Police identified the driver of the truck as Chamnan Dabgaew, a 26-year-old resident of Rassada subdistrict, in Phuket.
He did not flee the scene.
“The driver of the pickup was driving toward Takuapa. He lost control on the curve and crossed into the oncoming lane and hit the tourist van heading toward Phuket,” said Lt Col Songwut Khunjan of Tai Muang Police.
Police charged Mr Chamnan with negligent driving causing death.
However, the driver of the tourist van did flee the scene, said police.
“We have yet to confirm his identify. We are now looking for the driver in order to question him and determine the true cause of the accident,” said Lt Col Songwut.
Police identified the tourists who died in the accident as: Mrs Krinicina Jaliya, 29, from Russia; Mrs Nergiz Tinc, 26, of as-yet unknown nationality; and Mr Alexanden, 37, and Mrs Melhichender, 47, both of as-yet unknown family name and nationality.
The five tourists rushed to Tai Muang Hospital were named as: Mr Serkan Tinc, 33, from Turkey; Mrs Lubeznaya Galina, 56, from Ukraine; Mrs Medvedeva Nadeina, 59, from Ukraine; Miss Luzina Svetlanarut, 28 from Russia; and Mrs Sepdakor Alexandarus, 54, of as-yet unknown nationality.
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Phuket Gazette –
The van full of tourists was heading to Phuket when the accident occurred. Photo: Warisa Temram
The five Phuket tourists injured were rushed to Tai Muang Hospital. Photo: Warisa Temram
PHUKET: Four tourists are dead and five injured after a pickup truck loaded with fish and a van filled with tourists heading for Phuket collided in Tai Muang, Phang Nga, yesterday evening.
Tai Muang Police received a report of the accident, on the Mae Yey Bridge on Petchkasem Road between Tai Muang and Takuapa Moo 1 in Thung Maphrao, Tai Muang District, at 5:30pm
At the scene, officers found a white van registered in Trang province with the right side of the van heavily damaged from the driver’s door to the end of the van.
Emergency rescue first-responders from the Pu In Foundation as well as rescue workers from Khao Lak and Takuapa rushed to free the tourists trapped inside.
Four of the tourists were dead. Another five were injured, all of whom were rushed to Tai Muang Hospital for treatment.
About 100 meters down the road was a Phuket-registered pickup truck lying on its side with its cargo of fish strewn over the road.
Police identified the driver of the truck as Chamnan Dabgaew, a 26-year-old resident of Rassada subdistrict, in Phuket.
He did not flee the scene.
“The driver of the pickup was driving toward Takuapa. He lost control on the curve and crossed into the oncoming lane and hit the tourist van heading toward Phuket,” said Lt Col Songwut Khunjan of Tai Muang Police.
Police charged Mr Chamnan with negligent driving causing death.
However, the driver of the tourist van did flee the scene, said police.
“We have yet to confirm his identify. We are now looking for the driver in order to question him and determine the true cause of the accident,” said Lt Col Songwut.
Police identified the tourists who died in the accident as: Mrs Krinicina Jaliya, 29, from Russia; Mrs Nergiz Tinc, 26, of as-yet unknown nationality; and Mr Alexanden, 37, and Mrs Melhichender, 47, both of as-yet unknown family name and nationality.
The five tourists rushed to Tai Muang Hospital were named as: Mr Serkan Tinc, 33, from Turkey; Mrs Lubeznaya Galina, 56, from Ukraine; Mrs Medvedeva Nadeina, 59, from Ukraine; Miss Luzina Svetlanarut, 28 from Russia; and Mrs Sepdakor Alexandarus, 54, of as-yet unknown nationality.
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Bt50 Million to Be Used to Buy iPads and iPhones for Senators and MPs
BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives has agreed in principle to spend 50 million baht to procure 700 iPads and iPhones for MPs. The deputy House speaker says 'when' the MPs will be the coveted tablets and smart phones is still uncertain and adds MPs have the right to decline.
Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol says, according to the information he has, a large number MPs want to try out the iPads and the iPhones. The popular gadgets will be given to all MPs, Senators and governmental department chiefs.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has come out to express his opposition to the procurement plan. He reiterated that each MP is already given a computer and urged the House to consider the necessity of such a purchase.
The committee in charge of the One Tablet Per First Grader project, headed by education minister Suchart Thadadamrongwej, is meeting today to select the manufacturer for the tablets to be distributed to every first grader nationwide. So far, the concession to provide the tablets could go to any of the four companies; Huawei Technoloy, TCL Corporation, Haier Information Technology and Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.
The Thai government is expected to fork out just a little under 1.8 billion baht to buy the first lot of 860,000 tablets. They hope the students will get to try out the tablets by May this year. The tablet will have a 7" touch-screen with 16GB memory and a CPU of no less than 1GHz. The tablet will be run on either Andriod 3.2 or 4.0.
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BANGKOK: -- The House of Representatives has agreed in principle to spend 50 million baht to procure 700 iPads and iPhones for MPs. The deputy House speaker says 'when' the MPs will be the coveted tablets and smart phones is still uncertain and adds MPs have the right to decline.
Deputy House Speaker Charoen Chankomol says, according to the information he has, a large number MPs want to try out the iPads and the iPhones. The popular gadgets will be given to all MPs, Senators and governmental department chiefs.
Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva has come out to express his opposition to the procurement plan. He reiterated that each MP is already given a computer and urged the House to consider the necessity of such a purchase.
The committee in charge of the One Tablet Per First Grader project, headed by education minister Suchart Thadadamrongwej, is meeting today to select the manufacturer for the tablets to be distributed to every first grader nationwide. So far, the concession to provide the tablets could go to any of the four companies; Huawei Technoloy, TCL Corporation, Haier Information Technology and Shenzhen Scope Scientific Development.
The Thai government is expected to fork out just a little under 1.8 billion baht to buy the first lot of 860,000 tablets. They hope the students will get to try out the tablets by May this year. The tablet will have a 7" touch-screen with 16GB memory and a CPU of no less than 1GHz. The tablet will be run on either Andriod 3.2 or 4.0.
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Posted 2012-03-08 11:01:38
Phuket News - Phuket tourist electrocuted in resort pool
The Phuket News
Photo courtesy of thephuketnews.com
PHUKET: -- Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov, 45, died last night (March 7) after being electrocuted while swimming in the pool of the five-star Dewa Resort and Spa in Karon.
Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov was electrocuted after coming into contact with the bridge’s metal railing.
Witnesses told police the incident occurred while Mr Samsonov’s wife and two children were taking an evening dip in the hotel pool at around 7pm.
Mr Samsonov heard his daughter screaming from the other side of the bridge which crosses over the pool. He got out of the water to see what was wrong.
But when he gripped a steel bar on the bridge next to his daughter, he fell down into the water and died instantly.
The hotel’s restaurant manager, 33-year-old Surasak Petchsut, was also rushed to Vachira hospital, after he too was electrocuted trying to help the Russian.
Mr Samsonov’s daughter’s scream was apparently caused by an electric shock to her hand when she brushed against the steel bar, according to police.
They suspect that a fault in the lighting system on the bridge may have been responsible, but are continuing to investigate.
Mr Samsonov checked in to the hotel on February 12 and was due to leave on March 13.
Source: http://www.thephuket...st.php?id=29130
-- thephuketnews.com 2012-03-08
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The Phuket News
Photo courtesy of thephuketnews.com
PHUKET: -- Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov, 45, died last night (March 7) after being electrocuted while swimming in the pool of the five-star Dewa Resort and Spa in Karon.
Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov was electrocuted after coming into contact with the bridge’s metal railing.
Witnesses told police the incident occurred while Mr Samsonov’s wife and two children were taking an evening dip in the hotel pool at around 7pm.
Mr Samsonov heard his daughter screaming from the other side of the bridge which crosses over the pool. He got out of the water to see what was wrong.
But when he gripped a steel bar on the bridge next to his daughter, he fell down into the water and died instantly.
The hotel’s restaurant manager, 33-year-old Surasak Petchsut, was also rushed to Vachira hospital, after he too was electrocuted trying to help the Russian.
Mr Samsonov’s daughter’s scream was apparently caused by an electric shock to her hand when she brushed against the steel bar, according to police.
They suspect that a fault in the lighting system on the bridge may have been responsible, but are continuing to investigate.
Mr Samsonov checked in to the hotel on February 12 and was due to leave on March 13.
Source: http://www.thephuket...st.php?id=29130
-- thephuketnews.com 2012-03-08
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Thai Traffic Kills another Swede
KANTHARALAK: -- It has been a terrible 2012 when it comes to tragic road accidents claiming the lives of Swedish citizens. But it does not seem to stop as Wednesday saw another Swede losing his life on the Thai roads, this time in Kantharalak in the East of Thailand.
According to the Swedish paper, Aftonbladet, the Swede was a 60 year old man who was driving a big motorbike as he was hit from behind by a pickup truck.
“I know that there has been a traffic accident,” is the only information Camilla Åkesson Lindblom from the Swedish Foreign Ministry has to give.
According to Aftonbladet the driver of the pickup truck fled the scene of the accident and is now being chased by the police.
The relatives of the dead Swedish man have been informed about the tragic death.
Source: http://www.scandasia...83&coun_code=se
-- scandasia.com 2012-03-09
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KANTHARALAK: -- It has been a terrible 2012 when it comes to tragic road accidents claiming the lives of Swedish citizens. But it does not seem to stop as Wednesday saw another Swede losing his life on the Thai roads, this time in Kantharalak in the East of Thailand.
According to the Swedish paper, Aftonbladet, the Swede was a 60 year old man who was driving a big motorbike as he was hit from behind by a pickup truck.
“I know that there has been a traffic accident,” is the only information Camilla Åkesson Lindblom from the Swedish Foreign Ministry has to give.
According to Aftonbladet the driver of the pickup truck fled the scene of the accident and is now being chased by the police.
The relatives of the dead Swedish man have been informed about the tragic death.
Source: http://www.scandasia...83&coun_code=se
-- scandasia.com 2012-03-09
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Student Claims Lecturer Gives Attractive Students Better Grades
BANGKOK: -- The Sunandha Rajabhat University says it will only launch a sexual harassment probe against a Faculty of Education lecturer only when an official complaint has been submitted to the university. The dean says he'll do whatever it takes to protect the students.
A female student at the Sunundha Rajabhat University has submitted a complaint with the dean against an Education Faculty lecturer who she claimed based his grades on the attractiveness of the students. She alleged the lecturer will only help attractive female students with questions, while turning away students who are less appealing. She also claimed her fellow students have been sexually harassed by the lecturer. The student claimed the professor has touched the students who wear short skirts and tight fitting uniform inappropriately.
However, she claimed fellow students who were subjected to the lecturer's inappropriate conduct have refused to come forward, fearing repercussions on their grades.
The dean of Sunandha Rajabhat University revealed the female student has submitted a formal complaint against the lecturer for allegedly giving unfair grades. Sunandha Rajabhat dean, Chuangchote Pantuwej, said a committee will be set up to investigate her claim and, if necessary, revise her grades accordingly. He also said he's met with the chief of the Education Faculty to ask if he was aware of the claim of sexual harassment against the faculty lecturer. The faculty chief denied any knowledge into the claim and has been ordered to investigate the allegation and report back to Chuangchote.
Chuangchote is hesitate to launch an official investigation into the sexual harassment allegation fearing it could hurt the university's image if it was proven to be groundless. He's calling on the students who've been victims in the sexual harassment claims to come forward and form a final complaint against the lecturer. He assured their complete anonymity if they decided to come forward.
A representative of the Office of the Higher Education Commission said the female student has not submitted a complaint with the commission. The commission is encouraging students who have been treated unfairly to know and protect their rights. Sexual harassment is a serious offence that is punishable by an immediate dismissal of the lecturer.
Suchat Thadadamrongvej, education minister, said he is not aware of the allegation. He's urged the university to launch an investigation to get to the truth of the allegation.
-- Tan Network 2012-03-09
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BANGKOK: -- The Sunandha Rajabhat University says it will only launch a sexual harassment probe against a Faculty of Education lecturer only when an official complaint has been submitted to the university. The dean says he'll do whatever it takes to protect the students.
A female student at the Sunundha Rajabhat University has submitted a complaint with the dean against an Education Faculty lecturer who she claimed based his grades on the attractiveness of the students. She alleged the lecturer will only help attractive female students with questions, while turning away students who are less appealing. She also claimed her fellow students have been sexually harassed by the lecturer. The student claimed the professor has touched the students who wear short skirts and tight fitting uniform inappropriately.
However, she claimed fellow students who were subjected to the lecturer's inappropriate conduct have refused to come forward, fearing repercussions on their grades.
The dean of Sunandha Rajabhat University revealed the female student has submitted a formal complaint against the lecturer for allegedly giving unfair grades. Sunandha Rajabhat dean, Chuangchote Pantuwej, said a committee will be set up to investigate her claim and, if necessary, revise her grades accordingly. He also said he's met with the chief of the Education Faculty to ask if he was aware of the claim of sexual harassment against the faculty lecturer. The faculty chief denied any knowledge into the claim and has been ordered to investigate the allegation and report back to Chuangchote.
Chuangchote is hesitate to launch an official investigation into the sexual harassment allegation fearing it could hurt the university's image if it was proven to be groundless. He's calling on the students who've been victims in the sexual harassment claims to come forward and form a final complaint against the lecturer. He assured their complete anonymity if they decided to come forward.
A representative of the Office of the Higher Education Commission said the female student has not submitted a complaint with the commission. The commission is encouraging students who have been treated unfairly to know and protect their rights. Sexual harassment is a serious offence that is punishable by an immediate dismissal of the lecturer.
Suchat Thadadamrongvej, education minister, said he is not aware of the allegation. He's urged the university to launch an investigation to get to the truth of the allegation.
-- Tan Network 2012-03-09
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American owner of Pattaya Newspaper caught-up in 7 Million Baht extortion case
PATTAYA:--Pattaya Police have arrested the American Owner of an English Language Newspaper who is accused of attempting to extort 7 Million Baht from the Australian owner of a Beauty Clinic, to avoid publication of a potentially damaging story for his business.
On Saturday Morning at Pattaya Police Station, Police Major General Jamnong, the Chonburi Provincial Police Commander who was flanked by Police Colonel Nantawoot, the Pattaya Police Superintendent announced the arrest of Mr. Drew Walter Noyes aged 56 and his Thai Wife, Khun Wanpar aged 29 who were caught following an undercover operation at a Jomtien Restaurant on Friday Night. Also present at the press conference was the Australian owner of the Thonglor Clinic which has branches in Jomtien and Bangkok.
He had earlier filed a Police report at Pattaya Police Station stating that Mr. Noyes had approached him and was preparing to publish a story relating to the use of unlicensed products in the Thonglor Clinic in the Pattaya Times Newspaper where Mr. Noyes is listed as the Managing Director of the publication. The report details allegations that Mr. Noyes requested payment of 7 Million Baht to ensure the story was not published. A counter-offer of 2.3 Million Baht was made by the Australian who, at this point, contacted the Police, who persuaded him to contact Mr. Noyes to arrange the payment of an initial deposit of 100,000 Baht.
The meeting point was agreed upon and undercover Police waited for the transaction to be completed. Mr. Noyes and his Thai Wife were then detained and taken to Pattaya Police Station.
Full story:http://www.pattayaon...extortion-case/
-- Pattaya One 2012-03-10
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PATTAYA:--Pattaya Police have arrested the American Owner of an English Language Newspaper who is accused of attempting to extort 7 Million Baht from the Australian owner of a Beauty Clinic, to avoid publication of a potentially damaging story for his business.
On Saturday Morning at Pattaya Police Station, Police Major General Jamnong, the Chonburi Provincial Police Commander who was flanked by Police Colonel Nantawoot, the Pattaya Police Superintendent announced the arrest of Mr. Drew Walter Noyes aged 56 and his Thai Wife, Khun Wanpar aged 29 who were caught following an undercover operation at a Jomtien Restaurant on Friday Night. Also present at the press conference was the Australian owner of the Thonglor Clinic which has branches in Jomtien and Bangkok.
He had earlier filed a Police report at Pattaya Police Station stating that Mr. Noyes had approached him and was preparing to publish a story relating to the use of unlicensed products in the Thonglor Clinic in the Pattaya Times Newspaper where Mr. Noyes is listed as the Managing Director of the publication. The report details allegations that Mr. Noyes requested payment of 7 Million Baht to ensure the story was not published. A counter-offer of 2.3 Million Baht was made by the Australian who, at this point, contacted the Police, who persuaded him to contact Mr. Noyes to arrange the payment of an initial deposit of 100,000 Baht.
The meeting point was agreed upon and undercover Police waited for the transaction to be completed. Mr. Noyes and his Thai Wife were then detained and taken to Pattaya Police Station.
Full story:http://www.pattayaon...extortion-case/
-- Pattaya One 2012-03-10
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Posted 2012-03-13 00:31:43
NATIONAL SECURITY SEMINAR
Foreigners own 100 million rai
Some 100 million rai of Thai land is owned by foreigners, mostly through their Thai spouses or nominees, Auditor-General Sriracha Charoenpanit revealed yesterday.
He said if this situation was "unsolved", it could lead to later generations of Thais having no land to live on.
Sriracha told a seminar yesterday on concealed juristic acts that threats to national security came from: firstly, drug problems ruining people, and secondly, the lack of land for future generations, as foreigners now owned a third of Thai land - about 100 million rai.
Foreigners own about 30 per cent of Hua Hin and Pattaya
It was a long-standing issue that resulted from a policy in 1997 to stimulate the economy by giving a special right of land ownership to foreigners with one million US dollars, he said. Some 90 per cent of coastal land at Ban Phe Beach in Rayong was foreign-owned, and foreigners owned about 30 per cent of Hua Hin and Pattaya.
Land deals were done in ways such as via marriage with Thais or setting up a Thai-based company and a law which allows foreigners to hold up to 49 per cent of the shares. Indeed, he said, many companies let them hold the other 51 per cent through nominees.
Sriracha called for a limit on land owned by foreign residents and said the land tax should be hiked to promote the use of land, although doing this might be difficult, as the rich would object.
Arrests for those who break the law
As a long-term solution, he urged the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and Department of Special Investigation to look into foreign land ownership and give rewards to people who help police arrest those who break the law.
National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) lecturer Piyanuch Potawanich warned that the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015 would lead to more foreigners using nominees to own Thai land, especially Singaporeans, who were smart, had money and needed to invest for profit. Among many solutions, she also urged laws to punish nominees and deport any foreigners who do wrong.
Land Department executive Sujit Jongprasert admitted that finding nominees for foreigners who buy land wasn't easy. And AMLO chief Pol Colonel Sihanat Prayoonrat said the agency only checked land transactions that involved over Bt2 million in cash, so many buyers reduced the payment to avoid having to report such deals.
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Foreigners own 100 million rai
Some 100 million rai of Thai land is owned by foreigners, mostly through their Thai spouses or nominees, Auditor-General Sriracha Charoenpanit revealed yesterday.
He said if this situation was "unsolved", it could lead to later generations of Thais having no land to live on.
Sriracha told a seminar yesterday on concealed juristic acts that threats to national security came from: firstly, drug problems ruining people, and secondly, the lack of land for future generations, as foreigners now owned a third of Thai land - about 100 million rai.
Foreigners own about 30 per cent of Hua Hin and Pattaya
It was a long-standing issue that resulted from a policy in 1997 to stimulate the economy by giving a special right of land ownership to foreigners with one million US dollars, he said. Some 90 per cent of coastal land at Ban Phe Beach in Rayong was foreign-owned, and foreigners owned about 30 per cent of Hua Hin and Pattaya.
Land deals were done in ways such as via marriage with Thais or setting up a Thai-based company and a law which allows foreigners to hold up to 49 per cent of the shares. Indeed, he said, many companies let them hold the other 51 per cent through nominees.
Sriracha called for a limit on land owned by foreign residents and said the land tax should be hiked to promote the use of land, although doing this might be difficult, as the rich would object.
Arrests for those who break the law
As a long-term solution, he urged the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and Department of Special Investigation to look into foreign land ownership and give rewards to people who help police arrest those who break the law.
National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) lecturer Piyanuch Potawanich warned that the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2015 would lead to more foreigners using nominees to own Thai land, especially Singaporeans, who were smart, had money and needed to invest for profit. Among many solutions, she also urged laws to punish nominees and deport any foreigners who do wrong.
Land Department executive Sujit Jongprasert admitted that finding nominees for foreigners who buy land wasn't easy. And AMLO chief Pol Colonel Sihanat Prayoonrat said the agency only checked land transactions that involved over Bt2 million in cash, so many buyers reduced the payment to avoid having to report such deals.
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British man, wife murdered in Thai resort
BANGKOK, March 14, 2012 (AFP) - An elderly British man and his Thai wife were robbed and beaten to death by three men, including a chef and a security guard, at a beach resort in Thailand, police said Wednesday.
A worker at the resort in Thap Sakae district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, 280 kilometres (180 miles) south of Bangkok, found the badly beaten bodies of Michael Raymond, 68 and Suchada Baokhamdee, 52, Tuesday afternoon in their beach front bungalow.
"They were beaten with a chair and other hard objects," case officer Captain Winai Raila-aied told AFP by telephone.
Police have arrested three Thai men, including two resort staff and a villager, who all confessed to robbery and murder.
"At first two suspects -- a chef and a security guard -- admitted they had robbed the couple of 2,000 baht ($67), a mobile phone and a Bangkok Bank ATM card," Winai said.
"Now all three have confessed to their wrongdoing," he said.
The couple had checked in at the resort on the Gulf of Thailand a day earlier.
Winai said Raymond had lived in the northeastern Thai province of Khon Kean for two years since he got married.
Related link: Hua Hin Info portal http://huahin.thaivisa.com
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BANGKOK, March 14, 2012 (AFP) - An elderly British man and his Thai wife were robbed and beaten to death by three men, including a chef and a security guard, at a beach resort in Thailand, police said Wednesday.
A worker at the resort in Thap Sakae district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province, 280 kilometres (180 miles) south of Bangkok, found the badly beaten bodies of Michael Raymond, 68 and Suchada Baokhamdee, 52, Tuesday afternoon in their beach front bungalow.
"They were beaten with a chair and other hard objects," case officer Captain Winai Raila-aied told AFP by telephone.
Police have arrested three Thai men, including two resort staff and a villager, who all confessed to robbery and murder.
"At first two suspects -- a chef and a security guard -- admitted they had robbed the couple of 2,000 baht ($67), a mobile phone and a Bangkok Bank ATM card," Winai said.
"Now all three have confessed to their wrongdoing," he said.
The couple had checked in at the resort on the Gulf of Thailand a day earlier.
Winai said Raymond had lived in the northeastern Thai province of Khon Kean for two years since he got married.
Related link: Hua Hin Info portal http://huahin.thaivisa.com
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Kidnapped American girl found in Thailand 5 years later
SYRACUSE, New York - Authorities say a Syracuse-area girl abducted nearly five years ago by her non-custodial father has been found in good health in Thailand.
Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh says Deonna Shipman, now 8, was found just over two weeks ago by the FBI in Bangkok and is back in the county. Walsh says Tuesday she'd been missing from the town of Salina since July 2007 after Jeffery Shipman took her and fled the country.
Read more:http://www.myfoxny.c...x#ixzz1p8Qd18gA
-- Associated Press 2012-03-14
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SYRACUSE, New York - Authorities say a Syracuse-area girl abducted nearly five years ago by her non-custodial father has been found in good health in Thailand.
Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh says Deonna Shipman, now 8, was found just over two weeks ago by the FBI in Bangkok and is back in the county. Walsh says Tuesday she'd been missing from the town of Salina since July 2007 after Jeffery Shipman took her and fled the country.
Read more:http://www.myfoxny.c...x#ixzz1p8Qd18gA
-- Associated Press 2012-03-14
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Over 1 million Thais are infected with HIV/AIDs
BANGKOK, 18 March 2012 (NNT) - The Public Health Ministry reports that the number of HIV/AIDs patients in Thailand is on the rise with over 1 million patients currently.
At the annual HIV/AIDs conference held in Chiang Mai, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri disclosed that HIV/AIDs is an incurable chronic disease of which more than 1 million patients have been reported to be infected.
According to Mr. Wittaya , 25 percent of the total diagnosed patients are in the working group aged between 30-34. While unprotected sex is the major risk factor which accounts for as high as 84 percent, premature and unprotected sex among secondary school and vocational students is becoming more of a problem.
The Public Health Minister added that this year the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has set nearly 3 billion baht as a budget for HIV/AIDs care and treatment while planning to increase the budget to 3.5 billion baht for next year.
-- NNT 2012-03-18
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BANGKOK, 18 March 2012 (NNT) - The Public Health Ministry reports that the number of HIV/AIDs patients in Thailand is on the rise with over 1 million patients currently.
At the annual HIV/AIDs conference held in Chiang Mai, Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri disclosed that HIV/AIDs is an incurable chronic disease of which more than 1 million patients have been reported to be infected.
According to Mr. Wittaya , 25 percent of the total diagnosed patients are in the working group aged between 30-34. While unprotected sex is the major risk factor which accounts for as high as 84 percent, premature and unprotected sex among secondary school and vocational students is becoming more of a problem.
The Public Health Minister added that this year the National Health Security Office (NHSO) has set nearly 3 billion baht as a budget for HIV/AIDs care and treatment while planning to increase the budget to 3.5 billion baht for next year.
-- NNT 2012-03-18
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Posted 2012-03-21 12:37:33
German man found dead in old city guesthouse
Nopniwat Krailerg
CHIANG MAI: -- Muang District police were informed by guesthouse workers that the body of a German guest had been found dead in his room at 5 p.m. on March 19, 2012.
Guesthouse staff told police that the man had checked in to the guesthouse on March 6 and had not been seen by staff since the 14th. One of the employees knocked on his door to collect the rent and noticed a strong odor coming from the room. Upon unlocking the door, they found the body of German tourist Gunter Göbel, age 43, lying on the bed.
Police were called to the scene as were the investigators from the Department of Forensic Medicine from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. There were no signs of a struggle in the room and police found a bottle of wine, some painkillers and sleeping pills and anti-allergy medicine. Doctors say the man had died not less than 5 days before being found.
The body was taken to Maharaj to determine the cause of death.
Nopniwat Krailerg
CHIANG MAI: -- Muang District police were informed by guesthouse workers that the body of a German guest had been found dead in his room at 5 p.m. on March 19, 2012.
Guesthouse staff told police that the man had checked in to the guesthouse on March 6 and had not been seen by staff since the 14th. One of the employees knocked on his door to collect the rent and noticed a strong odor coming from the room. Upon unlocking the door, they found the body of German tourist Gunter Göbel, age 43, lying on the bed.
Police were called to the scene as were the investigators from the Department of Forensic Medicine from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. There were no signs of a struggle in the room and police found a bottle of wine, some painkillers and sleeping pills and anti-allergy medicine. Doctors say the man had died not less than 5 days before being found.
The body was taken to Maharaj to determine the cause of death.
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Posted 2012-03-21 08:47:38
14 year-old Malaysian girl, kidnapped for prostitution, rescued in Bangkok
SHAH ALAM: A 14-year-old girl, reported missing from home by her family in Seksyen 18 recently, has been rescued by Thai police at a train station in Bangkok.
Selangor CID chief SAC Mohd Adnan Abdullah said the girl called her mother on March 12 and informed her that she and several Myanmar nationals were abducted by a group of people and sent to Thailand.
"They managed to escape and were rescued by Thai police at the Hua Lampong train station in Bangkok," he said, adding that the case was investigated under kidnapping with the intention of prostitution.
Continued:
http://thestar.com.m...0149&sec=nation
The Star (Malaysia)
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SHAH ALAM: A 14-year-old girl, reported missing from home by her family in Seksyen 18 recently, has been rescued by Thai police at a train station in Bangkok.
Selangor CID chief SAC Mohd Adnan Abdullah said the girl called her mother on March 12 and informed her that she and several Myanmar nationals were abducted by a group of people and sent to Thailand.
"They managed to escape and were rescued by Thai police at the Hua Lampong train station in Bangkok," he said, adding that the case was investigated under kidnapping with the intention of prostitution.
Continued:
http://thestar.com.m...0149&sec=nation
The Star (Malaysia)
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Posted 2012-03-22 13:17:21
Police Launches Investigation into Foreigner Assault on BTS Case
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gPrur8x7ktI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok police is planning to question all parties involved in a video clip posted on Youtube showing a foreigner assaulted by BTS security guards.
Superintendent of the Thonglor Police Station, Police Colonel Rattasak Raksalam has reported that all parties involved in the video clip recently posted on Youtube showing a foreigner assaulted by BTS security guards at the Prompong Station will be summoned for questioning.
Rattasak said both sides have already filed a complaint with the police.
The investigation team will also try to track down the person who posted the clip to serve as a key witness.
Rattasak noted that the incident was likely caused by miscommunication.
President of the Bangkok Mass Transit System or BTS Arnat Arpapirom indicated that from an initial investigation, the foreigner was trying to board a train with his daughter's balloons which is against the BTS's security protocol.
BTS officials told the foreigner he had to abandon the balloons if he wants to go on the train but he refused, saying that he was let on the BTS with the balloons earlier in the day.
Arnat claimed the foreigner then started to get aggressive, kicking at trash cans, resulting in security guards being called in to subdue him.
The video clip showed the foreigner and BTS officials having a heated argument at the front of the ticket collection machine before he was clubbed in the head by the guards' baton.
The man is then seen going through the ticket collection machine, clutching some balloons in his hand and with blood dripping on his face.
The police will have to determine whether a crime has been committed as both sides have lodged a complaint.
The BTS will also launch a disciplinary inquiry on its employees.
In any case, the company is planning to compensate the victim, which will be unrelated to the police's investigation.
-- Tan Network 2012-03-22
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Posted 2012-03-22 19:58:43
Eerie silence cloaks the Phuket death of a Swedish tourist
Phuket Gazette –
Phuket Riddle: Why the official silence over the death of a Swedish tourist last week? Image: US Office of War Information (1945)
PHUKET: The death of a 35-year-old Swedish tourist, whose body was discovered in his hotel room at Kata Beach, has quietly surfaced on Phuket.
The resort involved, the Swedish embassy in Bangkok and police have all confirmed that James Karlsson was found dead in his room at the Serene Resort last Wednesday.
However, they have all declined to offer any further details about the circumstances under which Mr Karlsson died.
Emergency first-responders from the Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation were called to the resort at 6:30pm.
Sayan Dharmmapun, one of the rescue workers responding to the call, told the Phuket Gazette that when his team arrived Mr Karlsson’s body was lying face up on the bed. He was shirtless, showing the tattoos on his right arm and the left side of his chest.
“We presumed that he died about eight hours before we arrived,” said Mr Sayan.
The rescue team transported Mr Karlsson’s body to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
A staffer at the morgue has since told the Gazette that Mr Karlsson’s body was sent to Surat Thani Hospital for autopsy on Monday.
The police officer responsible for the case, Capt Nitikorn Rawang of Chalong Police, confirmed Mr Karlsson’s death, but declined to give any details about Mr Karlsson, or to confirm or deny whether any investigation is underway.
Staff at the resort and at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok declined to comment, saying that it was against policy.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12688.html
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Phuket Gazette –
Phuket Riddle: Why the official silence over the death of a Swedish tourist last week? Image: US Office of War Information (1945)
PHUKET: The death of a 35-year-old Swedish tourist, whose body was discovered in his hotel room at Kata Beach, has quietly surfaced on Phuket.
The resort involved, the Swedish embassy in Bangkok and police have all confirmed that James Karlsson was found dead in his room at the Serene Resort last Wednesday.
However, they have all declined to offer any further details about the circumstances under which Mr Karlsson died.
Emergency first-responders from the Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation were called to the resort at 6:30pm.
Sayan Dharmmapun, one of the rescue workers responding to the call, told the Phuket Gazette that when his team arrived Mr Karlsson’s body was lying face up on the bed. He was shirtless, showing the tattoos on his right arm and the left side of his chest.
“We presumed that he died about eight hours before we arrived,” said Mr Sayan.
The rescue team transported Mr Karlsson’s body to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
A staffer at the morgue has since told the Gazette that Mr Karlsson’s body was sent to Surat Thani Hospital for autopsy on Monday.
The police officer responsible for the case, Capt Nitikorn Rawang of Chalong Police, confirmed Mr Karlsson’s death, but declined to give any details about Mr Karlsson, or to confirm or deny whether any investigation is underway.
Staff at the resort and at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok declined to comment, saying that it was against policy.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12688.html
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Posted 2012-03-23 09:27:17
ACCIDENT
Three wounded in tanker explosion on Pattanakarn
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Traffic around Pattanakarn 20 Road where a LPG tanker crashed into a bridge railing and exploded is still closed and people are suggested to evacuate from the site.
As of 10am, firefighters still could not put out the blaze which erupted after a tanker of Siam Gas Co Ltd crashed and exploded into flames at about 5.30am.
Nation Channel reported at least three people were injured from fire burnt in the accident and were being treated in hospital. The man who is severely burnt is in intensive care unit of Phetcharavej Hospital.
Firefighters may have to let the fire burnt down the vehicle as their earlier bid to put it out failed.
Police said the tanker crashed, causing it to overturn and causing gas leakage.
The leaked gas later exploded into flames, prompting nearby residents to flee from their houses.
The sounds of explosions were heard for a while and the blast shattered glass windows of seven houses nearby.
Police had to cordon off the section of the road for both inbound and outbound traffic for fire fighters to put out the blaze. Motorists were directed to use the local road along the railway in parallel of the Pattanakarn Road.
-- The Nation 2012-03-23
Three wounded in tanker explosion on Pattanakarn
The Nation
BANGKOK: -- Traffic around Pattanakarn 20 Road where a LPG tanker crashed into a bridge railing and exploded is still closed and people are suggested to evacuate from the site.
As of 10am, firefighters still could not put out the blaze which erupted after a tanker of Siam Gas Co Ltd crashed and exploded into flames at about 5.30am.
Nation Channel reported at least three people were injured from fire burnt in the accident and were being treated in hospital. The man who is severely burnt is in intensive care unit of Phetcharavej Hospital.
Firefighters may have to let the fire burnt down the vehicle as their earlier bid to put it out failed.
Police said the tanker crashed, causing it to overturn and causing gas leakage.
The leaked gas later exploded into flames, prompting nearby residents to flee from their houses.
The sounds of explosions were heard for a while and the blast shattered glass windows of seven houses nearby.
Police had to cordon off the section of the road for both inbound and outbound traffic for fire fighters to put out the blaze. Motorists were directed to use the local road along the railway in parallel of the Pattanakarn Road.
-- The Nation 2012-03-23
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PATTAYA: -- An Irish tourist was found dead in a hotel of this seaside town early Friday, police said.
Police said Paul Henry Lynch, 48, was found lying face-down on his hotel bed with blood seeping out of his mouth and nose. He was staying on the sixth floor of the seventh-floor Eastiny Seven Hotel on Soi Pattaya 7.
Police said no trace of physical attack was found and he was found after having died for about six hours.
His friend told police that he knocked the door at 1:30 am Friday to but Lynch did not answer so he told hotel staffs to open the room with a spare key and found that the man has died.
His body was sent to the Police Hospital's Forensic Medicine Institute for an autopsy.
-- The Nation 2012-03-23
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Posted 2012-03-26 06:24:21
Sex-slave charity head quits amid row
Lindsay Murdoch
THE head of an Australian charity that has been accused of faking the rescue of Thai hill tribe children from sexual slavery has resigned.
Former Australian army commando Sean McBride stepped down from the Grey Man charity at the weekend following new claims about the organisation and an investigation into the hill tribes children by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation.
Mr McBride, who also uses the name John Curtis, told The Age the Grey Man’s board decided he should step down because ‘‘personal issues’’ between him and people in Thailand were interfering with the organisation’s operations.
Funded by Australian donations, the high-profile charity promotes the use of former Australian soldiers and police in daring missions to rescue victims of sex trafficking in Asia. [more...]
Full story: http://www.smh.com.a...0325-1vsie.html
-- smh.com.au 2012-03-26
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Lindsay Murdoch
THE head of an Australian charity that has been accused of faking the rescue of Thai hill tribe children from sexual slavery has resigned.
Former Australian army commando Sean McBride stepped down from the Grey Man charity at the weekend following new claims about the organisation and an investigation into the hill tribes children by Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation.
Mr McBride, who also uses the name John Curtis, told The Age the Grey Man’s board decided he should step down because ‘‘personal issues’’ between him and people in Thailand were interfering with the organisation’s operations.
Funded by Australian donations, the high-profile charity promotes the use of former Australian soldiers and police in daring missions to rescue victims of sex trafficking in Asia. [more...]
Full story: http://www.smh.com.a...0325-1vsie.html
-- smh.com.au 2012-03-26
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Posted 2012-03-28 05:44:44
Blasts, fire at Saraburi fireworks factory spark evacuation
The Nation
SARABURI: -- Explosions erupted late yesterday evening at a fireworks factory in Saraburi's Kaeng Khoi district, causing no casualties but prompting an evacuation of residents within a five-kilometre radius.
More than 20 fire-engines rushed to the scene to contain fires in several structures in the Pacific Pyro Co Ltd compound. At the time of going to press, the fires had been brought under control, but one of the buildings - a warehouse - later collapsed, spreading the pungent odour of sulphur in the compound.
Police said the blasts, which occurred at 7.20pm, were likely the result of an accident. The explosions resulted in fires at two warehouses and two additional buildings in the 50-rai compound.
The company imports gunpowder from China and assembles fireworks. Owner Songchai Iamphoonsab could not be reached for comment by media or police as of press time last night.
Provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Chalit Preechaharn said the fire started in a front building housing the firm's headquarters.
Governor Thaworn Phrommeechai said later that the fires had been brought under control and that the owner had arrived at the scene. He said the firm was ranked Thailand's seventh safest in terms of fire safety. It employs 65 workers, none of whom were inside the buildings affected by the fires, he said.
-- The Nation 2012-03-28
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The Nation
SARABURI: -- Explosions erupted late yesterday evening at a fireworks factory in Saraburi's Kaeng Khoi district, causing no casualties but prompting an evacuation of residents within a five-kilometre radius.
More than 20 fire-engines rushed to the scene to contain fires in several structures in the Pacific Pyro Co Ltd compound. At the time of going to press, the fires had been brought under control, but one of the buildings - a warehouse - later collapsed, spreading the pungent odour of sulphur in the compound.
Police said the blasts, which occurred at 7.20pm, were likely the result of an accident. The explosions resulted in fires at two warehouses and two additional buildings in the 50-rai compound.
The company imports gunpowder from China and assembles fireworks. Owner Songchai Iamphoonsab could not be reached for comment by media or police as of press time last night.
Provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Chalit Preechaharn said the fire started in a front building housing the firm's headquarters.
Governor Thaworn Phrommeechai said later that the fires had been brought under control and that the owner had arrived at the scene. He said the firm was ranked Thailand's seventh safest in terms of fire safety. It employs 65 workers, none of whom were inside the buildings affected by the fires, he said.
-- The Nation 2012-03-28
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Ministerial action over TV comment urged
Janjira Jarusupawat
The Nation
Nathee
BANGKOK: -- Gay rights defender Nathee Theerarojanapong yesterday urged Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome to act against writer/TV host Lakkhana "Kham Phaka" Panwichai whose television show claimed Thailand was the world's brothel.
Nathee submitted the letter to Sukumol yesterday morning calling for legal action against Lakkhana through the Chiang Mai Cultural Office at the City Hall Complex. A copy was also sent to Chiang Mai Governor Panadda Disakul, and a complaint filed against Lakkhana at the Chang Pheuk police station.
Nathee claimed that Lakkhana's Kid len hen tang kub kham phaka (Think differently, play differently with kham phaka) television programme on Vice TV channel had shown the damaging message "Thailand is the world's brothel" several times during midMarch.
Nathee's Chiang Mai Ariya Group and allies want Sukumol to proceed with legal action against Lakkhana, saying the comment was an insult to Thais and similar remarks should be prevented in the future.
-- The Nation 2012-03-28
Janjira Jarusupawat
The Nation
Nathee
BANGKOK: -- Gay rights defender Nathee Theerarojanapong yesterday urged Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome to act against writer/TV host Lakkhana "Kham Phaka" Panwichai whose television show claimed Thailand was the world's brothel.
Nathee submitted the letter to Sukumol yesterday morning calling for legal action against Lakkhana through the Chiang Mai Cultural Office at the City Hall Complex. A copy was also sent to Chiang Mai Governor Panadda Disakul, and a complaint filed against Lakkhana at the Chang Pheuk police station.
Nathee claimed that Lakkhana's Kid len hen tang kub kham phaka (Think differently, play differently with kham phaka) television programme on Vice TV channel had shown the damaging message "Thailand is the world's brothel" several times during midMarch.
Nathee's Chiang Mai Ariya Group and allies want Sukumol to proceed with legal action against Lakkhana, saying the comment was an insult to Thais and similar remarks should be prevented in the future.
-- The Nation 2012-03-28
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Posted Yesterday, 10:51
Firebomb blasts rock Phuket housing estate
Phuket Gazette
Phuket Police question neighbors, none of whom could provide the name of the neighbor who is presumed to have been the target of the attack. Photo: Wichai Witthawat
Bloodstains presumed by Phuket Police to be those of the owner of house 310/74 in the Bo Din housing estate in Thalang, Phuket. Photo: Wichai Witthawat
PHUKET: -- Two explosions left one man injured, a dog dead and caused extensive property damage in a late-night firebomb attack in a Phuket housing estate early this morning.
Thalang Police were at 12:20am notified of two explosions in the Bo Din housing estate, located near the TOT office on Ban Don Road in Thepkrasattri Village 1.
At the scene, they found extensive damage to the front of two attached homes, numbered 310/74 and 310/75.
In the gated car park of house 310/74, the presumed target, they found a car with shattered windows. More shards of glass were found near the front door of the house, where glass from one of two empty aquariums shattered.
Initial investigation revealed that one man, injured in the bombing, was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, presumably by a friend and not by an ambulance.
However, initial police efforts to contact local hospitals, to check on the man’s condition and question him have thus far proved fruitless.
From an examination of the bloodstains at the scene, police suspect that he may have suffered only minor injury and gone into hiding.
Initial questioning of witnesses revealed that a pickup truck circled past the home twice before the bomber lobbed two bombs into the residence.
One missed the target, landing in the carport of the adjacent unit, where it killed a small pet dog.
Police presume the bombs were homemade gasoline bombs, as the smell of petrol was thick in the area.
A group of about 10 neighbors who assembled at the scene told rescue workers that the sole occupant of house 310/74 was a single man, who did not spend much time there. Nobody knew his name.
The neighbor who lost her dog in the bombing said she had long feared trouble from the home which, when occupied, was frequently the site of visits by unknown youths.
Police at the scene would neither confirm nor deny the neighbors’ rumors that the victim had once served time for a drug conviction, a rescue worker said.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12767.html
-- Phuket Gazette 2012-03-29
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Phuket Gazette
Phuket Police question neighbors, none of whom could provide the name of the neighbor who is presumed to have been the target of the attack. Photo: Wichai Witthawat
Bloodstains presumed by Phuket Police to be those of the owner of house 310/74 in the Bo Din housing estate in Thalang, Phuket. Photo: Wichai Witthawat
PHUKET: -- Two explosions left one man injured, a dog dead and caused extensive property damage in a late-night firebomb attack in a Phuket housing estate early this morning.
Thalang Police were at 12:20am notified of two explosions in the Bo Din housing estate, located near the TOT office on Ban Don Road in Thepkrasattri Village 1.
At the scene, they found extensive damage to the front of two attached homes, numbered 310/74 and 310/75.
In the gated car park of house 310/74, the presumed target, they found a car with shattered windows. More shards of glass were found near the front door of the house, where glass from one of two empty aquariums shattered.
Initial investigation revealed that one man, injured in the bombing, was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment, presumably by a friend and not by an ambulance.
However, initial police efforts to contact local hospitals, to check on the man’s condition and question him have thus far proved fruitless.
From an examination of the bloodstains at the scene, police suspect that he may have suffered only minor injury and gone into hiding.
Initial questioning of witnesses revealed that a pickup truck circled past the home twice before the bomber lobbed two bombs into the residence.
One missed the target, landing in the carport of the adjacent unit, where it killed a small pet dog.
Police presume the bombs were homemade gasoline bombs, as the smell of petrol was thick in the area.
A group of about 10 neighbors who assembled at the scene told rescue workers that the sole occupant of house 310/74 was a single man, who did not spend much time there. Nobody knew his name.
The neighbor who lost her dog in the bombing said she had long feared trouble from the home which, when occupied, was frequently the site of visits by unknown youths.
Police at the scene would neither confirm nor deny the neighbors’ rumors that the victim had once served time for a drug conviction, a rescue worker said.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12767.html
-- Phuket Gazette 2012-03-29
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Phuket Area News: Gang hacks off tourist's thumb in bag snatch
Phuket Gazette
Police question one of the youngsters over the attack, which occurred just across the bay from Phuket. Photo: Warisa Temram
PHUKET: -- Krabi Police arrested three teenagers and one 20-year-old yesterday after a gang cut off a German woman’s thumb during an early-morning bag snatch in Krabi Town, across Phang-nga Bay from Phuket.
Muang District Police Deputy Superintendent Chatchawan Ninchan said Hanna Zerlaut and Sina Maureen Beckert, both 21, were attacked while walking along Chaofa Road in Tambon Paknam, Krabi Town, at about 2am on Sunday.
“The two women were walking along the street when ‘Dot’ and ‘Ae’ pulled up on a motorcycle to snatch the ladies’ bags, but the victims tried to fight them off.
“In the struggle Ms Zerlaut’s right thumb was cut off and Ms Beckert suffered cuts to her right arm and left index finger by a knife brandished by ‘Ae’,” said Lt Col Chatchawan.
Then the suspects rode off with their victims mobile phones and cameras, he said.
The women filed a complaint with the German Embassy, which sparked police action.
The four were arrested at their individual homes in Krabi Town two days later.
Lt Col Chatchawan named the gang members as Jirachai “Dot” Rattanathop, 18; Nattawut “Tum” Singhyoowong, 20; and “Ae” and “Mr B”, both 16.
Although he used fake nicknames to protect the identity of the two minors, Lt Col Chatchawan identified Ae as the gang’s leader.
“All four are Krabi residents. Each one was arrested in his respective home,” he said.
“In making the arrests, police seized two mobile phones, two digital cameras, handcuffs and some cash from Ae’s house. The items seized will be used as evidence,” he added.
The gang has apparently confessed to a slew of other robberies.
“Besides snatch thefts and robbery of several tourists, the gang stole motorcycles as well. Ae confessed that he had committed at least eight thefts in the past three months,” Lt Col Chatchawan said.
“They said they targeted foreign tourists because they do not know the area well. Then they sold the stolen items and spent the money,” he added.
“All of them have been charged with armed robbery and receiving stolen property,” Lt Col Chatchawan said.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12760.html
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Phuket Gazette
Police question one of the youngsters over the attack, which occurred just across the bay from Phuket. Photo: Warisa Temram
PHUKET: -- Krabi Police arrested three teenagers and one 20-year-old yesterday after a gang cut off a German woman’s thumb during an early-morning bag snatch in Krabi Town, across Phang-nga Bay from Phuket.
Muang District Police Deputy Superintendent Chatchawan Ninchan said Hanna Zerlaut and Sina Maureen Beckert, both 21, were attacked while walking along Chaofa Road in Tambon Paknam, Krabi Town, at about 2am on Sunday.
“The two women were walking along the street when ‘Dot’ and ‘Ae’ pulled up on a motorcycle to snatch the ladies’ bags, but the victims tried to fight them off.
“In the struggle Ms Zerlaut’s right thumb was cut off and Ms Beckert suffered cuts to her right arm and left index finger by a knife brandished by ‘Ae’,” said Lt Col Chatchawan.
Then the suspects rode off with their victims mobile phones and cameras, he said.
The women filed a complaint with the German Embassy, which sparked police action.
The four were arrested at their individual homes in Krabi Town two days later.
Lt Col Chatchawan named the gang members as Jirachai “Dot” Rattanathop, 18; Nattawut “Tum” Singhyoowong, 20; and “Ae” and “Mr B”, both 16.
Although he used fake nicknames to protect the identity of the two minors, Lt Col Chatchawan identified Ae as the gang’s leader.
“All four are Krabi residents. Each one was arrested in his respective home,” he said.
“In making the arrests, police seized two mobile phones, two digital cameras, handcuffs and some cash from Ae’s house. The items seized will be used as evidence,” he added.
The gang has apparently confessed to a slew of other robberies.
“Besides snatch thefts and robbery of several tourists, the gang stole motorcycles as well. Ae confessed that he had committed at least eight thefts in the past three months,” Lt Col Chatchawan said.
“They said they targeted foreign tourists because they do not know the area well. Then they sold the stolen items and spent the money,” he added.
“All of them have been charged with armed robbery and receiving stolen property,” Lt Col Chatchawan said.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12760.html
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Posted Yesterday, 20:39
Phuket pyre flames B182mn of pirated goods
Phuket Gazette –
Pirated goods valued at more than 182 million baht were shoveled into the Phuket Town incinerator. Photo: Orawin Narabal
POUND FOR POUND: Deputy Commerce Minister Bhumi Saraphol hammers his ‘Stop Piracy’ campaign slogan home – Buy original! Photo: Orawin Narabal
PHUKET: The Phuket Town incinerator today flamed counterfeit products valued at more than 182 million baht as part of the Intellectual Property Department’s crackdown on copyright infringement across the country.
A total of 79,524 items seized by officers of Provincial Police Region 8 and 9, as well as the Regional Customs Bureau 4, were destroyed in the incinerator.
“Intellectual property infringement is illegal, so these items must be destroyed,” said Deputy Commerce Minister Bhumi Saraphol, one of the VIPs at the event.
“The destruction [of such goods] must be shown to the public to make this clear, and to assure the owners of those intellectual properties that the confiscated items will not be exported abroad or resold at the markets,” explained Mr Bhumi.
Bags, CDs, DVDs, watches, sunglasses, shoes, caps and clothing items were all included in the burning.
Among the items burned today were counterfeit goods seized by the Kathu Police in Patong yesterday.
That haul netted goods with a total estimated value 2 million baht.
The mass burn-off was the result of a coordinated campaign against copyright pirates by the Intellectual Property Department, the Royal Thai Police and their Department of Special Investigations, the Customs Department and the Ministry of Finance.
After the ceremony, the VIPs walked the streets of Patong, Kata and Karon to encourage tourists and vendors to not buy or sell any pirated goods.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12779.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Phuket Gazette –
Pirated goods valued at more than 182 million baht were shoveled into the Phuket Town incinerator. Photo: Orawin Narabal
POUND FOR POUND: Deputy Commerce Minister Bhumi Saraphol hammers his ‘Stop Piracy’ campaign slogan home – Buy original! Photo: Orawin Narabal
PHUKET: The Phuket Town incinerator today flamed counterfeit products valued at more than 182 million baht as part of the Intellectual Property Department’s crackdown on copyright infringement across the country.
A total of 79,524 items seized by officers of Provincial Police Region 8 and 9, as well as the Regional Customs Bureau 4, were destroyed in the incinerator.
“Intellectual property infringement is illegal, so these items must be destroyed,” said Deputy Commerce Minister Bhumi Saraphol, one of the VIPs at the event.
“The destruction [of such goods] must be shown to the public to make this clear, and to assure the owners of those intellectual properties that the confiscated items will not be exported abroad or resold at the markets,” explained Mr Bhumi.
Bags, CDs, DVDs, watches, sunglasses, shoes, caps and clothing items were all included in the burning.
Among the items burned today were counterfeit goods seized by the Kathu Police in Patong yesterday.
That haul netted goods with a total estimated value 2 million baht.
The mass burn-off was the result of a coordinated campaign against copyright pirates by the Intellectual Property Department, the Royal Thai Police and their Department of Special Investigations, the Customs Department and the Ministry of Finance.
After the ceremony, the VIPs walked the streets of Patong, Kata and Karon to encourage tourists and vendors to not buy or sell any pirated goods.
Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12779.html
