ChiangMaiMail

Mortar shells from Myanmar force evacuation of Thai villagers

By Khajohn Boonpath

Fierce fighting between the Myanmar government troops and armed Karen soldiers saw stray mortar shells falling on Thai soil in Mae Hong Son on January 15.

About 6 shells of 120 mm size landed in Ban Sob Moei in Sob Moei District on the morning of January 15 forcing the evacuation of frightened villagers from the area, Mae Hong Son Governor Kamthorn Thawornsathit reported. No casualties were reported but the shells were found less than 100 meters away from the village.

Thai authorities report hearing the sounds of firing and further fighting on the border at Ban Mae La Oon inside Myanmar opposite Ban Sob Yuam and Ban Huay Ma O.

Mae Hong Son authorities still keep the close watch of the border situation and has also asked the 7th Infantry regiment Task Force at Mon Talaeng Army camp to send Thai troops to help protect villages on the Thai border.

Authorities believe the Karen National Union soldiers are fighting to take their bases back from the Myanmar government after government troops overran their camps. It is expected that fighting will continue through April.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/update/news.shtml#hd7

[chiangmaimail]23/01/2011[/chiangmaimail]

egging street elephants remain a problem

Mahout charged with assault on foreigners

Rittiphong Techaphan, representing the Governor, talks with Saengduen Chailert of the Save the Elephant Foundation and other supporters at the protest at City Hall after a mahout was in court for attacking foreigners.

Nopniwat Krailerg

Members of elephant protection groups demonstrated at City Hall and submitted a petition to the Chiang Mai Governor to present to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva on December 24. A mahout in charge of a begging street elephant appeared in court that day charged with the assault of Australians Kingsley William 41 and Kim Kavanagh, 31 on Loi Kroh street on December 13 after they had an altercation regarding the begging elephants.

Sangduen Chailert, chairwoman of the Save the Elephant Foundation, praised by Time magazine as a Heroine of Asia in 2005 was accompanied by Carol Buckley, founder of Elephant Aid International and representatives of the Elephant Home Foundation were joined by about 30 foreign volunteers from the elephant preserve and concerned residents at Chiang Mai City Hall.

Holding signs protesting the begging elephants, they submitted the letter to Rittiphong Techaphan, chief of the Chiang Mai Provincial Authority Office.

Saengduen Chailert of the Save the Elephant Foundation said that at there are an increasing number of mahouts and elephants begging on the streets of Chiang Mai. “There are about 200 elephants in the country; this gives the country a very bad reputation when film crews come to Thailand to cover Thailand’s elephants.”

She added “We have also submitted about 30,000 signatures of foreign tourists protesting against the roaming elephants and mahouts. It is a shame since the Thai elephant is the symbol of Thailand. We will continue to fight against this problem until the Thai government helps to solve the problem of begging elephants.”

Carol Buckley of Elephant Aid International added that they were calling for changes not just to remove the elephants but to offer better living conditions for mahouts and elephants. She pointed out that “Thai elephants are really a beautiful thing for Thailand, and Thais should help protect and preserve these elephants in the right manner.”

She said that elephants find the city streets torturous, adding, “I believe that the Thai government has a budget to help relieve the status of Thai elephants. And from traveling around the world, I have never seen the roaming elephants anywhere like in Thailand.”

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd11

[chiangmaimail]2011-/01/01[/chiangmaimail]

Chiang Mai bomber arrested

Nopniwat Krailerg

Chiang Mai police arrested a front line member of the Red Shirt group- who bombed four places in San Kamphaeng district, according to the Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5.

Pol Lt Gen Chaiya the Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5 with the suspected bomber; Theersak Suwan

Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5 Pol. Lt. Gen. Chaiya Siri-amphankul reported that Theerasak Suwan a 31 year old resident of Kheelek in Mae Rim had been arrested with a knife and the components to make more bombs.

CCTV video footage taken at bombing sites in San Kamphaeng between December 19 and 22 led the police to arrest Theerasak. Theerasak confessed to police that he had placed bombs in a rest room at the San Kamphaeng District office, at an orchard in Chaechang district and on a road leading to Chaechang village and finally in the restrooms at Wat Chaechang; the bombs damaged both the District Office and the Wat.

The suspect said that he used to take part in political demonstrations with the Red Shirt groups before but that he had not done this out of political motivation or that he had been ordered but to create disruption and chaos. Police continue to investigate the background of the bombings. Pol. Lt Gen Chaiya added this was a serious issue for national security.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd9

[chiangmaimail]2011/01/01[/chiangmaimail]

Full schedule is found in the newest issue of AUG Sports Today, downloadable from here:

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/augsportstoday/index.html

Additionally, each day's schedule will be published in the paper on the morning.

Developing a Creative City

By Phitsanu Thepthong

Chiang Mai Creative City (CCC) is an initiative to put in place the foundations, people, connections, marketing and infrastructure to develop Chiang Mai as a world-class centre of creativity and innovation. The initial focus is on the IT sector, as both a key industry in itself and an enabler of creativity in other sectors and is a collaboration between tertiary education institutes and the private sector and is in line with the Thai Government’s vision to develop the creative economy within the country.

The CCC was initiated in Chiang Mai earlier this year, with a goal to improving quality of life and improving the economy. Chiang Mai is suitable for coping with the creative economy and IT sector, according to the CCC Development Steering Committee. They said it’s infrastructures for creative economy and social development are in line with charming historical and culture aspects.

continued: http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd4

[chiangmaimail]2010/10/18[/chiangmaimail]

The Royal British Legion Charity Golf Event October 30

Annual Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Day Service

Tournament is open to all golfers from beginners to pros at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club on Saturday, Oct. 30th. All players are asked to arrive at 12:00 for additional info etc. Shot gun start at 13:00. Prize giving party and dinner in the evening start around 18:00. Players can enter the tournament either individually or sign in an entire flight of four. Contact Gymkhana office, tel. 053 241035 or by email [email protected] latest on Oct. 27th. Entry Fee is 1200 Baht, which must be paid before the tournament starts. Includes Green Fee, Caddy Fee, Tournament shirt and dinner & soft drinks at Prize giving party. Spouses & Guests, invited to the dinner party, will pay only 300 Baht. Prizes for winners and lucky draw.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd14

[chiangmaimail]2010/10/18[/chiangmaimail]

Chiang Mai has the highest number of Dengue fever and H1N1 flu cases in the North and the 6th highest number of Dengue fever cases in Thailand, Dr. Tassana Liewsri, the Deputy Director for the 10th Disease Control Office in Chiang Mai recently reported.

She said that dengue fever in the 8 upper northern provinces showed Chiang Mai at the highest with 7,859 patients and 2 deaths while Mae Hong Son had one death. Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, and Nan, there were 3,815 cases.

She noted that from January to September, this year, there were 89,000 patients nationwide with about 104 deaths.

Meanwhile, during the past month, number of patients diagnosed with influenza has grown and the doctors have announced a warning to the general public.

Continued: http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd7

[chiangmaimail]18/10/2010[/chiangmaimail]

Chiang Mai Mayor Tassanai Buranupakorn issued a flood emergency warning this afternoon, orange alert at Nawarat Bridge. The municipality has begun preparations for floodwaters that could reach 3.7m and 3.8m between 11 PM and midnight. Sandbags are available to the public at Ban Den cemetery near the Gymkhana Club in Nong Hoi.

Red shirt suspect in two year old murder apprehended

Chiang Mai Mail Reporters

Acting on a tip off, Pol Col Yuthapong Hormchanya, police inspector of Chiang Mai Muang Police and other officers apprehended fugitive Daeng Puanmool, 39 after he was discovered in the forest in Tambon Nongkaew, Hang Dong.

Daeng was one of five suspects in the murder of 60 year old Settha Jiamkitwanna, the father of well known PAD supporter and radio station owner, Terdsak Jiamkitwattana in November, 2008.

The suspect was charged with murder along with 4 other Rak Chiang Mai 51 members after the group pulled Settha from a pick up truck as it neared his son’s blockaded house, beat him and then shot him. He was found dead at the scene after soldiers were able to push the Rak Chiang Mai 51 demonstrators back.

Daeng was arrested with four other suspects for the murder but fled while on bail, the other four men were convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in jail each.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd11

[chiangmaimail]2010/09/02[/chiangmaimail]

Briton dies after fall from hotel

Nopniwat Krailerg

Chiang Mai police were informed that the body of a British man had been found after falling from a hotel located near the Night Bazaar.

Police and rescue rushed to the scene to find the man, identified as Edward Fairburn, 40 of Leeds, United Kingdom, dead near the hotel path and Maekha canal. His arms and legs were broken and his passport, credit card and 7,200 baht were found on his body.

Mrs. Suthasinee Jaiman, and employee of Giant Beauty Salon located opposite the hotel, told police she had seen the man smoking near the fire exit doors on the 12th or 13th floor of the hotel. Shortly after that she heard that a man had fallen off the hotel and when she went to the scene, saw it was the man she had seen smoking earlier.

Police checked his passport and saw that he had entered for the first time in 2009 and arrived in Thailand at Nong Khai on August 2.

Police believe the man may have jumped from the 24th floor of the hotel but have taken his body for autopsy. The British Embassy have been contacted and the family can take the body back to the U.K. once the autopsy is complete.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd8

[chiangmaimail]2010/09/02[/chiangmaimail]

Car chase in Phrao yields drugs, weapon

Suspect shot dead in Fang

Chiang Mai Mail reporters

Phrao police arrested a Phrae man after he fired at a police roadblock on the Chai Prakarn-Phrao road in Phrao district and then led the police on a car chase at 4:00 a.m. on July 9.

Acting on a tip off, police were in the process of setting up a checkpoint at Huay San in San Sai when a black car approached the checkpoint from the direction of Chai Prakarn and stopped. The driver fired a gun at police twice before turning his car around and returning the way he had come.

The police radioed ahead to the Chai Prakarn Police to set up a roadblock down the road and the Phrao police chased the suspect back towards Chai Prakarn.

The suspect, Theerapat Ploypetch, 27 of Denchai District in Phrae, was apprehended at the 12 kilometer mark where police had blockaded the road with police vehicles.

Upon searching the car, they found 800 yabaa tablets, .38 mm handgun and ammunition.

Theerapat confessed to police that he was delivering the drugs to a man named Ott in Denchai in Phrae. He was detained at the Phrao police station after being charged.

On July 15, Fang Police with the Chiang Mai Drug Suppression Police set up an undercover drug buy from two women, Mrs. Napa Sae Kuay, 25, a Lahu r Muser hill tribe woman from Ban Doi Laem, in Mae Aie and Ms. Arhong Sae Li, 21, from Ban Mai Nong Bua Daeng in Chai Prakarn at the Star Gasoline station at Ban Mae Jai.

The women contacted two men to deliver the drugs, 20,000 yabaa pills to the gasoline station. Upon arrival, the pillion rider, Mr. Jaji or Jakor Jalok, 37, suspected a trap, grabbed the gun from the motorbike driver, Mr. Jaha Aita, 20, and fired at the police. The police returned firing, shooing Mr. Jakor in the chest. He died at the scene.

The driver was detained after attempting to flee, along with the two women and a further 2 people involved in the gang, Mr. Yi Jakaim 25, and Mrs. Na Tae Pujai, 21, joined them in charges of drug trafficking. All suspects are being detained at the Fang Police Station.

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd6

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/20[/chiangmaimail]

TAT working with Chiang Mai businesses

Jedsadapong Wongkiew

Ms. Juthaporn Roengron-arsa, Deputy Governor of the TAT’s Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas Market and the Tourism Authority of Thailand met with Chiang Mai tourism oriented businesses at the Rati Lanna Hotel on July 8 to seek local input in promoting Chiang Mai in the North and South American markets.

During the first quarter of this year, the number of tour groups from the Americas grew by more than 20 %, when compared to the growth rate in general which is at 6 %. Tourism earned the country more than 4.5 billion baht.

She said the TAT is working on to mobilizing the ideas from the private sector to help launch tourism marketing in the North American and Latin America. “We are trying to accelerate the marketing plan in order to boost confidence in the tourism market after the extension of the Emergency Decree. We expect that this year tourism will generate more than a trillion baht in revenue.”

She added that next year about 15 million visitors are expected to bring in about 600 billion baht in revenue.

Chiang Mai, she reported, is the main tourist destination for visitors from the Americas, and, accompanied by the marketing managers from the North America TAT offices, they met with local tourism related business operators for the first time.

Last year, 790,000 visitors were from the Americas, a 6.28% drop from the previous year. They could generate as much as 40 billion baht in revenue.

“Although the number of tourists is still small, they stay much longer, an average of 15 days per tourist. The drop was due to the recession in the United States but with the economy starting to recover we have seen a jump in the number of visitors, as high as 10-22 %” she noted.

“Although we have faced domestic problems caused by internal politics, resulting in a drop in number of American visitors, the TAT has launched different promotional campaigns such as providing more information in PR kits, organizing overseas road shows, short-term marketing plans, joining hands with both domestic and international airlines, and launching more tourism campaign like the “Amazing Thailand” in the country as well as abroad,” she told the group.

The main selling point of the promotional campaign will be offering more tours on the ways of life of Thai people, its cultures and traditions, she added.

“Now, we are aiming at Americas because it is a big tourist market and has high potential, particularly in South America. We are consulting with Northern operators, as well as marketing managers from TAT’s offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Canada who joined us to work out a marketing strategy,” Juthaporn added.

The Deputy Governor of TAT added that extending the Emergency Degree for another three months has really affected Thailand’s image with tourists but they have to work with it.

“The TAT has to work harder to educate our visitors about Thailand and safety and security in the country,” she said.

On July 12 the TAT invited about 500 members of the international mass media to visit Thailand so that they could get first hand information about the situation in the country and could then let the world know that Thailand is a safe place to visit.

She concluded noting that tourists from the Middle East are returning to Thailand so that foreign confidence seems to be returning.

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd5

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/20[/chiangmaimail]

A detailed listing of community events this week and upcoming events for the month:

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/happenings.shtml

Feel free to send in your community events, please send in by Wednesday afternoon for the following week

Foreign Affairs Unit of the police liaising on cases with locals

Supoj Thaimyoj

The Foreign Affairs Unit at The Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5 was launched September of 2009 to work closely with the Provincial Police Headquarters nationwide and is working coordinate cases that involve foreigners, according to Pol. Col. Chuchwarin Bunnag, the superintendent. Previously the unit was located at the Royal Thai National Police Bureau.

Pol. Col. Chuchwarin Bunnag, Superintendent of the Foreign Affairs Unit here at Provincial Police Bureau, Region 5

“If there are any cases that concern foreigners then the Foreign Affairs Unit will be the one coordinates so as to help local police deal with cases involving foreigners in a more efficient manner because there are not enough local police offices and staff that can communicate clearly and directly with foreigners,” he said in an interview with Chiang Mai Mail on July 8.

Pol. Col. Chuchwarin Bunnag, Superintendent of the Foreign Affairs Unit was first attached in Region 5 and is accompanied by Pol. Lt. Col. Adoon Sijanta, Deputy-Superintendent of the Foreign Affairs Unit and more than 10 staff to help create good relationships between foreign agencies organizations located in the area and local police in the 8 northern provinces, as well as tourist police and immigration police.

He said that this Foreign Affairs Unit would be involved in handling cases with the Embassies and consulates, “In case of requests from embassies and consulates who are having problems, we would get involved with concerned working agencies to manage the issue.”

Pol. Col. Chuchwarin added that there are several Thai and foreign delegations visiting the Unit, while some have contacted the Unit for working in cooperation on helping find Thai and foreign criminals or deal with transnational crimes.

“At present, the main job is to work in cooperation with tourism organizations in the North, where criminals usually pretend to be tourists or visitors to the border areas near China, Laos, and Myanmar. There are many drug trafficking cases and illegal immigrants crossing the borders into Thailand,” he remarked.

“In the near future, we hope to have close cooperation with other government agencies in the Upper North, as well as from private and tourism organizations and the mass media for the exchange of information,” he concluded.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd11

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/13[/chiangmaimail]

Twin sisters from Kamphaeng Phet in drug bust

Supoj Thaimyoj

Acting on a tip off, the Pha Muang Task Force set up a road block with the Chai Prakarn police in Ban Pha Hong on Highway 107 where they caught twin sisters from Kamphaeng Phet province who were carrying 1,800 yea baa pills with the intent to sell.

Patcharaporn in blue and Patcharaphan in white, were charged with possession of yabaa after the passenger bus they were travelling on was stopped and searched at Ban Pha Hong check-point in Chai Prakarn.

The military personnel and police intercepted and searched a passenger bus from the Transport 999 Co. where they found the two young women with 1,800 yabaa pills hidden in the suspects’ handbags.

The suspects were identified as Miss Patcharaporn Youngtabtae and Miss Patcharaphan Youngtabtae, both 17 of Kamphaeng Phet. They were detained by the Chai Prakarn police for further questioning and legal action.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd10

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/13[/chiangmaimail]

Heavy rains expected in August

Nopniwat Krailerg

The Meteorological Department here has warned of heavy rains caused by tropical storms and depressions during the monsoon season starting at the end of July and August this year.

Chamnong Kaewchapha, Director of the Meteorological Department‘s the Northern Center warned of heavy rain caused by tropical storms and depressions during the end of July through August.

Chamnong Kaewchapha, Director of the Northern Region Meteorological Center, said the extremely hot, dry weather during the past summer was a result of the El Ni๑o phenomenon with temperatures exceeding 40 Celsius in many provinces.

However, he said the El Ni๑o phenomenon had finished in May and the weather is back to normal with rainfall in lower volume at the beginning of rainy season during June and July.

From the end of July onwards, the low pressure areas from South China are expected to pass by the Northern Thailand, resulting heavy rain from July through September as normal. Tropical storms and depressions are expected in August and September and heavy rains would be found coming from Vietnam and across mainland South East Asia into Northern Thailand.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd6

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/13[/chiangmaimail]

CMU climbs in ranking in top 200 Asian Universities survey

Jedsadapong Wongkiew

Chiang Mai University (CMU) climbed two places since last years’ ranking from 81 to 79 in the top 200 universities in the Asian University Rankings poll conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) last month, Professor Dr. Pongsak Angkhasithm CMU’s President reported.

QS, in addition to rating CMU higher in Asia also ranked it as the third best university in Thailand as well. This year 7 Thai universities were ranked in the top 200 universities in Asia; Mahidol University ranked number 28, Chulalongkorn University number 44, CMU at 79, Thammasart University was ranked at 91, Prince of Songkhla University reached 101,Khon Kaen University numbered 122, and Kasetsart University ranked 126 in the list.

Ranking was further divided into Arts and Humanities where Chulalongkorn ranked 7 in the top 200, Thammasart 26, Mahidol 33, CMU number 42, Prince of Songkhla reached 88 and Khon Kaen was 97 in the list.

Chulalongkorn University was number 10 on the Life Sciences in Biomedicine category, while Mahidol as 18, Prince of Songkhla 52, CMU, 61, Thammasart 77, Kasetsart 82 and Khon Kaen 90.

Again ranking high in the Social Sciences category, Chulalongkorn was 9, Thammasart 26, CMU 39, Mahidol 45, Prince of Songkhla 64, Kasetsart 68 and Khon Kaen 99.

Not showing as strongly in the Natural Sciences, Chulalongkorn ranked the highest at 27 while Mahidol reached number 55, CMU 79, Prince of Songkhla 84 and Kasetsart 92nd on the list. IT and Engineering also showed Thai universities not reaching in the top 20 with Chulalongkorn leading the group at 31 in the ranking. Thammasart was much further down at 68 on the list, with Mahidol at 70, Prince of Songkhla 82nd, CMU at number 86 and Kasetsart at 100.

President Prof. Dr. Pongsak said that they were very pleased that CMU had achieved third best university in Thailand and 79 out of top 200. Concluding that, “this is because of increased evaluation of curriculum, development of the school and its students. The University will have to do more to develop its curriculum and to encourage students’ excellence so that CMU can be the University of Excellence.”

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/kids.shtml#hd2

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/06[/chiangmaimail]

Phone booth bombers hit two in one night

Chiang Mai Mail reporters

Two phone booths were destroyed when unidentified people threw homemade bombs at them around midnight on June 27.

The first phone booth was located in front of Siripanna Villa and Spa on Ratcha-utis and the second one at the entrance to Jinda Nives Housing estate on Chiang Mai – Lamphun roads, both in Tambon Nonghoi in Muang District. The locations of the bombings were only about a kilometer apart and located about one kilometer from 33rd Military Circle, Kawila Army camp.

Military inspectors and local police rushed to the scene to investigate, with eye witnesses reporting that two motorbikes carrying two young men each were seen throwing the bombs. Police suspect a youth gang.

The police are trying to trace the bomb suspects and will review the incidents through the CCTV cameras of both Chiang Mai Municipality and Traffic Police. They hope to make an arrest soon.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd5

[chiangmaimail]2010-/07/06[/chiangmaimail]

Partial lunar eclipse seen in Chiang Mai

A more than 50 percent lunar eclipse was viewed by many residents on top of Doi Suthep at the Observatory Tower on June 26 at 7:44 p.m. The first lunar eclipse of 2010, a total solar eclipse is predicted for July 11 and will be visible over the South Pacific. This eclipse is a part of Lunar Saros 120 series, repeating every 18 years and roughly 10 days, last occurring on June 15, 1992, the next one will occur July 6, 2028. This series is winding down: The final total eclipse of this series was on May 14, 1938 and the final partial lunar eclipse will be on July 28, 2064. Story on Page 2. (Photo courtesy of NARIT)

Supoj Thaimyoj

Crowds gathered at the Observatory Tower on Doi Suthep to watch the partial lunar eclipse on June 26 that started at 7:21 p.m. Assoc. Prof. Boonraksa Sunthorntham, Director of National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Narit) led Narit staff set up telescopes of differing sizes so that the general public could participate in viewing the partial eclipse.

Even though there were dark clouds people could observe the moon rising on the eastern horizon and could see part of the eclipse, until finally at 7:44 p.m. the clouds moved away and the moon could be seen at a 15 percent eclipse. About 150 people gathered to witness this natural phenomenon.

This was the 57the part of the Saros Eclipse cycle that began in the time of King Mengrai Maharaj when a full eclipse occurred on 10 December 10, which King Mengrai Maharaj viewed from Yen Throne in Tambon Talechoobsorn, Muang District, Lopburi province.

More than 50 percent of the lunar eclipse was seen at 7.21 p.m. on June 26. (Photo courtesy of NARIT)

A Saros eclipse cycle is calculated at occurring every 223 lunar months following an eclipse, another eclipse of similar duration will take place. This 223-lunar month eclipse cycle equals 6,585.321 days, or 18 years and 11.321 days (the figure sometimes varies by one day, depending on the number of intervening leap years).

The Saros period is about one-third of a day (8 hours) longer than 18 years and 11 days. Therefore, each successive Saros takes place about 8 hours later and 120 degrees west of the previous eclipse. At the third return of the Saros (669 lunar months), the eclipse swings full circle (120 degrees x 3 = 360 degrees), happening at roughly the same time and the same geographical location. This triple Saros is called an Exeligmos, a period of about 54 years and 34 days.

According to Narit, the next full eclipse will be seen again in Thailand on December 10, 2011, from 7.30 -11.30 p.m.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd1

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/06[/chiangmaimail]

Pai hit by major deforestation

Watershed land has been clear cut by poachers intent

on developing the land for agriculture and tourism.

Khajohn Boonpath

Deforestation and trespassing on forest lands covering huge amounts of land were found around Pai in Mae Hong Son recently by the 7th Infantry Regiment that had been surveying the area for an aerial map.

More than 10,000 Rai of land was found clear cut, mainly for agriculture and tourism related businesses, in a massive deforestation that threatens the watershed. It is feared this will negatively affect the area and it is suspected the clear cut was done because some ‘influential investors’ have bought up forest land to develop into tourist destinations.

Col Uthai Chaichana, Commander of the 7th Infantry Regiment reported that a helicopter mapping the area on June 24 discovered the devastated forest land and has disseminated seeds to help reforest the area. The hardest hit areas were on the Thai – Myanmar border and Pang Mapha and Pai districts.

Col Uthai said that some of the deforested land is being used for farming by local Thai villagers who are growing rice, sesame, corn, bean and other field crops as well as for a corporate agricultural projects and tourism related businesses like mountain resorts.

Pai district is counted/ regarded as the country’s number one tourist destination and during the past two years, it was one of the world’s top 50 tourist attraction.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd7

[chiangmaimail]2010/07/06[/chiangmaimail]

It seems there has been some confusion regarding the information written in the Chiang Mai Mail article. Please be aware that the road show was held at the request of Prime Minister Abhisit and was run by high ranking government officials in all departments; Ministry of Interior, Immigration, BOI, and the Dept of Land. All information in the article is coming directly from these government officials.

Hello, thank you for your interest in how the paper works. The warrant was issued the 23rd, the Police report the 24th. Deadline for the paper is the 23rd. This news came too late for the paper that was published on the following Tuesday. As for it being online the 2nd and on Thaivisa on the 4th, apologies for the delay, but posting on ThaiVisa isn't a priority and sometimes news gets delayed on publishing on this site.

While we are a weekly, we strive to include local news, much of which is not published in the daily newspapers. And while this delay can be annoying I do not see that it makes the news any less than news.

We appreciate your feedback and you are welcome to contact the paper directly with your concerns since posting on ThaiVisa is not a main focus of our paper.

Songthaew driver first arrest in riots

Chiang Mai Mail reporters

Sayan Saengsiri, 42, of Saraphi District was arrested in his home after the police were issued a search warrant to search his home. The Chiang Mai Courts issued the search warrant on May 23 and the police searched the home of the red songthaew driver.

He confessed to police that he delivered the tires that were used to burn the Assistant Governor’s residence on Wednesday, May 19. He told police that he had been hired by the Rak Chiang Mai 51 Group to deliver the tires in his songthaew.

Red shirt supporters burned down the home of Surachai Chongrak, the permanent secretary of the Chiang Mai Provincial Authority who serves as the Assistant Governor, as well as the entrance gate, security booth and other structures in residence of Governor Amornphan Nimanant. Damages are estimated at more than 3 million baht.

Chiang Mai Police continue their investigation into the arson and vandalism and expect to arrest further suspects.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd8

-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/06/01

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Community Radio Station shut down

Chiang Mai Mail reporters

The Wihok Community Radio station run by Therdsak Jiamkitchwattana, a local leader of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) also known as “yellow shirts” was shut down by the Chiang Mai Provincial Task Force Center in Chiang Mai on Monday, May 24. Therdsak was also a leader of the Thai King Protectors group.

The combined forces of police and military personnel belonging to the Task Force Center raided Therdsak’s house on Thippanaetre Road, confiscating radio equipment, a computer, poles and antenna , tires, national flags, His Majesty the King’s Phor Por Ror flag, a rifle and some ammunition.

Therdsak was told by the Task Force, when complaining about the raid and search, that the Task Force was implementing the laws and performing their duties without any double standard since they will be searching every radio station that broadcasts on Thai politics

The Police will determine if any charges will be laid after examining the results of the raid.

http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd8

-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/06/01

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Violence erupts in Chiang Mai

A protest that turned violent with burning tires and broken phone booths off of Nawarat Bridge ended Wednesday night as officials imposed a curfew on the city. (Photo by Mick Jackson)

Chiang Mai Mail reporters

Violence erupted in Chiang Mai Wednesday May 19, after news of the crackdown on protestors in Bangkok spread to Chiang Mai with Red shirt protestors burning tires and blocking roads.

A protestor holds up a sign calling for United Nations help at the crackdown on protestors in Bangkok. (Photo by Supoj Thaimyoj)

Earlier in the week saw a buildup to the violence that broke out on Wednesday, when, on May 16, an Army bus parked at the Piak Alaiyont Car Garage on the Chiang Mai – Sankamphaeng Road, in Tambon Tha Sala was torched around 1:40 a.m. The owner of the garage did not see the arsonist but did hear a motorcycle and then a loud bang as the glass on the bus broke from the small bomb hurled inside.

On May 17, a small homemade bomb exploded at the Thai Military Bank on the Chiang Mai –Lamphun road in Nong Hoy and some kind of small bomb was thrown at the Siam Commercial Bank on Chotana Road, both events occurred around 2:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, about 1,000 Red shirts piled tires on Nawarat Bridge and set them alight, an annex of the Assistants Governor’s house was gutted by fire, phone booths were trashed, an electrical transformer near the Bridge was destroyed, the Bangkok Bank on Tha Phae Road was targeted with two ATM machines destroyed, two fire trucks from the San Pakoi fire brigade were set ablaze and fireworks and homemade bombs were thrown at City Hall in a rampage that ended with the Army and riot police moving in with shields, batons, and warning volleys fired into the air to scare the group off.

Chiang Mai Mail’s reporter, Supoj Thaimyoj, was punched in the back of the head by one of the Red shirt protestors and Siripong Wattanapaibool, and Seksarn Fukham of Lanna Thai News were threatened while covering the events at Nawarat Bridge.

Red shirts in San Pakoi burned tires at the Bangkok Bank branch there, later in the afternoon people burned tires near Tha Pae Gate, at the railways, and in front of the Region 5 Court in the evening.

Other Red shirt members held signs calling for U.N. assistance and denouncing the current government.

A curfew was instituted across the province from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Wednesday due to the escalating violence. However, during the night, around 30 motorcycles travelled to the Chiang Mai Construction Co, on Mahidol road, owned by the father in law of Newin Chidchob, and threw Molotov cocktails into the property, caretakers quickly doused the fire. The Bangkok Bank ATM at Chiang Mai gate was also destroyed during the night and further tire burning occurred in scattered locations around the city.

Thursday, May 20 saw the early closure of all Central properties, with Central Airport, Central Kad Suan Kaew, Robinson’s and Big C being ordered to close at 12:30 p.m. by the head office in Bangkok.

Authorities cleared Nawarat Bridge of the burnt out fire trucks and burnt tires; broken glass and debris were swept off the city streets as the City Government set to clearing up.

Provincial authorities removed the bunkers set up by members of the Rak Chiang Mai 51 at their base at the Grand Waroros Hotel and after negotiation with Worawut Rujanaphinant, alias DJ Daeng Songkwae, shut down operations of community radio station 92.50. About ten people stood by watching.

Chiang Mai was one of 24 provinces announced by the CRES to be under curfew until May 22, with curfew hours being 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The Provincial Special Task Force’s joint patrols of police and army patrolled the City every night on motorcycles for fast deployment in case further events occurred.

No deaths were reported from the events on Wednesday, May 19 in Chiang Mai.

See here for more pictures from the day: http://chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd1

-- Chiang Mai Mail 2010/05/25

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