Thailand Live Wednesday 28 May 2014

[Lite Beer]

Police raid gambling den
By Coconuts Bangkok

Police raided a gambling den in Chon Buri's Bang Lamung district yesterday morning and arrested patrons along with masseuses who were helping the gamblers relax as they made their bets.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729775-police-raid-gambling-den/

[Lite Beer]

RT@KhaosodEnglish: Former anti-govt protest leader Buddha Issara interrogated for insurrection charges after being released on bail. pic.twitter.com/iuOeDRH9OV

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NCPO: 200 of 253 persons summoned report; to evaluate situation before adjusting curfew period /MCOT

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Police suspect that dead Hong Kong tourist overdosed on beer in Phuket

PHUKET: -- Police suspect that a 29-year-old Hong Kong man who was found dead in a Patong hotel room yesterday afternoon most likely overdosed on beer.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729809-police-suspect-that-dead-hong-kong-tourist-overdosed-on-beer-in-phuket/

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13 per cent of Thai women between 15 to 49 tolerate domestic violence

BANGKOK: -- About 13.1 per cent of women aged 15-49 believe their husband/partner has the right to hit or beat them, a survey has found.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729811-13-percent-of-thai-women-between-15-to-49-tolerate-domestic-violence/

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Phuket’s lifeguards back on beaches
Wiparatana Nathalang

PHUKET: -- Phuket’s lifeguards have been working since yesterday (May 27) on every beach in Phuket.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729815-phukets-lifeguards-back-on-beaches/

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Australian drug smuggler sentenced to 23 years in Cambodian prison
Lindsay Murdoch
SOUTH-EAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT FOR FAIRFAX MEDIA

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729821-australian-drug-smuggler-sentenced-to-23-years-in-cambodian-prison/

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4.6 magnitude tremor strikes Chiang Rai Province

CHIANG RAI, 28 May 2014 (NNT) - The Seismological Bureau of the Meteorological Department has made the 48th announcement regarding its latest updates on the Chiang Rai earthquake that struck on May 5th.

From May 5th until today (May 26th), there have been a total of 1,144 aftershocks resulting from the 6.3 magnitude earthquake that originated at Sai Khao Subdistrict.

Three districts in Chiang Rai Province today (May 26th) were experienced five aftershocks. Some districts that felt the aftershocks were Mae Lao, Phan, and Mae Saruay Districts. However, the epicenter of these shockwaves has originated the heart of Chiang Rai Province instead of the previous spot at Sai Khao.

Meanwhile, a local lady expressed that she is not worried about the earthquake’s aftershocks and residents have continued to live normally.


-- NNT 2014-05-28

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Chaturon case to be treated as normal criminal case
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, May 28 -- The Military Judicial Office handling the case of Mr Chaturon like a normal criminal case and he can have a lawyer and be detained during trial.

Vice Admiral Krisada Charoenpanich, chief of the Military Judicial Office, said today that the trial of Mr Chaturon, a key figure of the Pheu Thai Party who failed to surrender after being summoned, would be handled in the Military Court as a normal criminal case and he could have a lawyer to assist in his defence.

"If he confesses, there will not be witness examination and a ruling can be announced right away. But if he denies a charge, the trial will take time and the plaintiff will present witnesses in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code. It cannot be determined how many days (it will take) the process to finish but it will be as soon as possible," Adm Krisada said.

He said that during the trial, Mr Chaturon can be detained in a Department of Corrections prison for 12 days at a time and the combined detention period can reach 84 days.

Those resisting or violating an order of the NCPO are liable to two-year imprisonment and/or a fine of Bt40,000.

Mr Chaturon is the first civilian who will stand trial at the Military Court.

Col Kittiyuth Kittiyutthayothin, director of the General Affairs Division of the Judge Advocate General's Department, said he was informed that soldiers who detained Mr Chaturon could not bring Mr Chaturon to the Military Court today. He commented that it might be because Mr Chaturon had only been arrested yesterday evening. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-05-28

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Exports in April fall from last year

BANGKOK, 28 May 2014 (NNT) – According to the Commerce Ministry’s latest figures, Thailand’s exports, which account for more than 60 percent of Thai gross domestic product, fell 0.87 percent in April from a year earlier.

The export value in April contracted to US$17.25 billion. Cumulative export value in the first four months of this year dropped by 0.97 percent from the same period of last year to $73.46 billion.

The year-on-year export value of industrial products showed growth while goods in sectors such as garment, electrical appliances, and construction materials are on the decline. Exports on agricultural products decreased even further from last year.

The Commerce Ministry maintained that in the second quarter, exports can still increase 4.0 to 4.5 percent from last year, even though for January-April, shipments were 1 percent lower than that in the first four months of 2013.


-- NNT 2014-05-28

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Luang Pu Buddha Issara defends charges against DSI

BANGKOK, 28 May 2014 (NNT) – The People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) core leader Luang Pu Buddha Issara has reported to the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) on Wednesday after he has been accused of insurrection and other related charges.

Luang Pu Buddha Issara has reportedly denied allegations of insurrection and disrupting the election by saying that the Lak Si District Chief would be summoned to testify on his behalf. The senior monk asserted that he is prepared to fight his case.

However, the protest leader has admitted to blocking traffic. He is slated to be fined by relevant agencies later. The monk has 30 days to submit his written defense of the charges.

Luang Pu Buddha Isara also told the press that he expressed full support for the coup, saying the public should cooperate with the Army in solving the current political crisis and putting the country back on track.


-- NNT 2014-05-28

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Suratthani's public and private sector brainstorm about waste management

SURATTHANI, 28 May 2014 (NNT) – Various agencies from the public and private sector in Suratthani province are now brainstorming to find management solutions about accumulating waste in the province.

Suratthani Governor Chatpong Chatbhuti convened with all sectors after recent data showed that the southern province has ranked fifth in most accumulated waste in the country, with an average of 978.2 tons per day. A total of 356.86 tons is collected daily and distributed to five landfills.

There are now urgent measures introduced to improve the landfills and reduce the impact to the adjacent areas. Three of the landfills are situated close to high voltage posts which may cause danger, and at the meeting there was a resolution to initially tighten monitoring efforts and to find appropriate landfills to replace the landfills.


-- NNT 2014-05-28

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UDD core leaders escorted to Army Hall



BANGKOK: -- Armed soldiers escorted redshirt core leaders and politicians to the Army Hall after the seven-day detention period allowed to detain them under martial law expired Wednesday.

Escorted to the hall at Theves inside several dark-tinted vans included hardcore redshirt leaders Jatuporn Phrompan, Kwanchai Praipana, Nattawut Saikua, Weng Tochirakarn, Nisit Sinthuprai, Chaiya Sasomsap, and former deputy prime minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnok.

The vans left a few hours for unknown destination.

There was no information released if all the hard core leaders and politicians be freed or have their detention period extended.

The Army Hall is now used as a place for people summoned by the military junta to report themselves.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/udd-core-leaders-escorted-army-hall/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-28

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RT @RichardBarrow: 3:45pm Many people saying they cannot connect to Facebook. Is this the end of the world? Don’t panic. I’m sure it’s only a glitch #Thailand

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RT @RichardBarrow: 4pm Although some ISPs in #Thailand are allowing people to open Facebook, many say they cannot access it. Both on the web & apps #ThaiCoup

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RT @Mikepeeljourno: #ThaiCoup: #Thailand junta spokesperson denies military blocking Facebook. Says it must be a technical problem.

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Facebook down across Thailand – reports
The Phuket News

PHUKET: -- Social networking site Facebook is reportedly down in various areas in Thailand, reports on social media site Twitter say.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729834-facebook-down-across-thailand-reports/

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SET index closed 1,402.79, up 10.06; Bt/USD32.55; GBP54.48; AUD29.92; EUR44.23; CAD29.83; HKD4.19; SGD25.80; JPY31.79

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Farmers Unearth 2.5 Million Baht in Gold Under Orchard


Gold plates found in Patthalung province, May 28 2014.

PATTHALUNG — A gold rush is now underway in Patthalung province after a local farmer found plates of gold buried beneath his palm tree orchard.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729841-thai-farmers-unearth-25-million-baht-in-gold-under-orchard/

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RT @KissBlake: Weng, Thida, Veera, Korkaew have been released. No sign of Jatuporn yet.

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UPDATE:

NCPO denies blocking Facebook

BANGKOK: -- Following outcries by many Facebook users, the National Council for Peace and Order promptly denied that it has a plan to block Thais' access to the most popular social network.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729834-facebook-down-across-thailand-reports/page-5#entry7896941

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Facebook 'block' shakes coup-hit Thailand

BANGKOK, May 28, 2014 (AFP) - Facebook users in coup-rattled Thailand reacted with alarm Wednesday after experiencing widespread problems accessing the social networking site, but the junta quickly denied imposing a block.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/729834-facebook-down-across-thailand-reports/page-7#entry7897037

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NCPO mulls lifting of curfew in 'peaceful' tourist-destination provinces

BANGKOK: -- The military junta is considering whether to exempt certain tourist destinations from curfew imposition, a spokesman of the junta said.

Nattawat Chancharoen, deputy spokesman of the National Council for Peace and Order, said the popular destinations, such as Phuket and Pattaya, may be exempted from curfew after officials deem them as being peaceful.

He said NCPO chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha has learned of complaints from tourism operators the curfew affected their businesses, so the working committee on economy and security was ordered by Prayuth to work out measures to help the operators.


-- The Nation 2014-05-28

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Army says 53 individuals still defy junta’s orders



BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) says 53 persons still defy orders to turn themselves in to the military.

The Army deputy spokesperson Col Winthai Suwari said a total of 253 people were summoned to report to the junta after the power seizure but 200 have so far reported.

Authorities have made their personal records, sought for their cooperation, and reached understandings with them.

He said 124 perons have been released,with only 53 remaining defiant.

Those who were freed must also abide by conditions not to voice any views or comments critical of politics or provoke unrest. Besides, they have to seek permission from the military if the have to travel abroad.

He said of the total 53 defiant individuals, only a handful hard cores remain resistant.

These stubborn individuals will have their financial and asset transaction activities frozen, he said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/army-says-53-individuals-still-defy-juntas-orders/


-- Thai PBS 2014-05-28

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ELECTION COMMISSION
EC delays local elections to follow junta's order

BANGKOK: -- Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday resolved to postpone by 30 days the local elections scheduled for next month to be in line with the military junta's order prohibiting a gathering of five people for political purpose.

EC Secretary General Puchong Nutrawong said the election for senior officials of local administrative authorities was initially scheduled to be held between May 31 and June 29.

The delaying will affect 180 positions in 160 areas, he said.

The postponement is aimed to restore peace and prevented it from becoming political issue, Puchong said, it will go according to National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)’s prohibition of five-people gathering for political purpose.

EC will discuss with NCPO to set new local election date, Puchong said.


-- The Nation 2014-05-28

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RT @BPbreakingnews: Coup makers released key red-shirt leaders including Jatuporn Prompan and Nattawut Saikuar.

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Focus
Detentions silence coup critics in army-ruled Thailand
by Kelly MACNAMARA

BANGKOK, May 28, 2014 (AFP) - Their names read out on national television, politicians, activists, academics and journalists are among scores of influential people summoned by Thailand's junta and arbitrarily held in secret locations.

Over 250 people have been called in since the army seized power and took top political figures into custody on Thursday during negotiations purporting to be aimed at navigating a path through the kingdom's debilitating political strife.

Dozens are still being held while 53 are in hiding, risking two years in prison for defying the military summons.

And while some people have been freed, including former premiers Yingluck Shinawatra and Abhisit Vejjajiva, the junta says more people will be called.

Military authorities have already cast their net wide.

Troops raided the house of rights activist Sukanya Prueksakasemsuk, whose husband Somyot was jailed for 11 years under the kingdom's strict royal insult laws last year, briefly detaining her and her son in a move decried by Human Rights Watch as "disturbing".

Even academics and journalists traditionally thought to be close to the army have been called in -- although some have not been held.

After days of spiriting people into undisclosed military facilities, the junta on Tuesday released footage of "Red Shirt" protest leaders to show they were safe and well.

The Red Shirts are broadly aligned with Yingluck and her divisive brother Thaksin Shinawatra -- also a former premier, who was ousted in a 2006 coup.

Jatuporn Prompan appeared in the video, wearing loose white clothing and looking tired and unkempt, sitting in a bare room with a uniformed soldier.

"We do not know where we are," Jatuporn said in the clip released by the government.

Several Red Shirt leaders were released on Wednesday, two days after senior figures in the anti-Thaksin movement were freed.

- 'Lives in danger' -

The junta has defended the continuing round-up, mainly of supporters of the ousted government, and insists that those being held have not been beaten or tortured.

"If we do not take some of them into custody, their lives might be in danger from ill-intentioned people who want to inflame the situation," said an announcement from the authorities late Tuesday.

Thailand has undergone 19 actual or attempted coups since 1932, but in a sign that military tactics are at least in some ways moving with the times, lists of those wanted by the junta have appeared on an official Facebook page.

The country has been rocked by persistent and sometimes violent political turmoil for nearly a decade since Thaksin was deposed.

"The military seems to be calling in a lot more people than expected," said Panitan Wattanayagorn, an academic at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and former government spokesman under the establishment-allied Democrat Party.

"They seem to have an idea that they may be able to convince them, talk to them," he told AFP.

Thai journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk, who has been a vocal critic of the coup, was the first reporter to be summoned by the junta.

He reported to a Bangkok army conference centre on Sunday with black tape across his mouth in protest and has not been seen since.

His employer, the English-language Nation newspaper has stood by its reporter, slamming his detention as "akin to curtailing press freedom".

- 'Coup no solution' -

On Tuesday, former cabinet minister Chaturon Chaisang was detained by soldiers in a dramatic swoop on a press conference in Bangkok after he emerged from hiding, having ignored a summons.

"The coup is not a solution to problems of conflict in Thailand," he told reporters before he was captured.

Those freed from detention are required to sign a document proclaiming that they have been well treated in custody and promising not to conduct any political activity.

Thailand's army chief and royally-approved leader on Monday said the military was monitoring the every move of people released and their financial activity and would not hesitate to prosecute them in martial courts.

AFP has spoken to a number of those released, but they were too afraid to be interviewed on the record.

A leader of the anti-government protests that rocked Thailand for months before the coup said rival protesters had been kept at the same facility in very basic accommodation.

"We lived in the same compound but we did not associate much with them," he said, asking not to be named.

Academic Pavin Chachavalpongpun, a former diplomat and Thai politics researcher at Japan's Kyoto University, believes he was the only overseas-based person summoned and has declined the invitation unless the junta pay his first class airfare home.

"If I go back they could always file charges against me," he told AFP, adding that the round up was aimed at "intimidating" people.

"This is absurd. I get really angry, I have done nothing wrong," he said.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-28

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Thai junta frees 'Red Shirt' protest leaders

BANGKOK, May 29, 2014 (AFP) - Thailand's junta on Wednesday freed leaders of the "Red Shirt" movement allied to the civilian government ousted in a recent coup, after holding them without charge for nearly a week.

Key members of the protest group walked out of an army facility in Bangkok, according to an AFP journalist at the scene. The army has said people who have been detained and released since the military takeover must sign a document promising to cease political activity.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-28

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UDD leaders released from military custody
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Wednesday released leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) after they have been detained for seven days.

UDD leaders, who were released, included UDD chairman Jatuporn Prompan, Nuttawut Saikuar, Pracha Promnog, Virakarn Musigapong Weng Tojirakarn and Thida Tavonseth.

The martial law allows authorities to detain people without charges for seven days. Without evidences for charging them in court, they must be released.

The red-shirt leaders were released at 2:30 pm.

Before their release, troops brought them to the Army Auditorium in Thewes at 8:30 am.

Most of the red-shirt leaders were detained shortly before the NCPO seized power last Thursday. They were detained along with several leaders of the People's Democratic Reform Committee, who were released Tuesday.


-- The Nation 2014-05-28

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24 injured when truck rear-ends bus

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Twenty-four people were injured when an 18-wheel truck slammed into the rear of a tour bus in Non Sung district on Wednesday morning.

Police said the crash happened about 8am on Mitraphab Road. Both the truck, licence plate 70-2328, Udon Thani, and the bus, licence plate 01-5785, Nakhon Rachasima, overturned.

A total of 24 people were injured. Four of them were reported in critical condition and were rushed to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. The others were taken to Non Sun Hospital.

Police suspect the truck driver was travelling too fast and too close, could not stop in time when when the bus slowed down and crashed into the back of it.

The truck driver was charged with negligent driving causing injury to others.

-- Phuket News 2014-05-28