News from Thailand – July 14, 2013

Jakkrit Panichpatikum, who represented the national pistol shooting team at the London Olympics last year, was arrested yesterday.

He is charged with attempted murder and endangerment. On Thursday, he fired a gun into the air in the matrimonial home to terrify his wife. Then he attacked her and his mother.

Jakkrit stated at the press conference following his arrest that quarrels are a "normal" part of married life, but he did not give details. With much lamentation, he showed a wristwatch that he intended to give to his 5-year-old daughter. Jakkrit also has an 11 month old son.

According to the wife, Jakkrit had been using drugs for some time, but his addiction had worsened after returning from London. Once she had told him she wanted a divorce, taking the children with her. "He put a gun in my face and threatened that I could only take their souls."

– Luang Pu Nen Kham is now called Wirapol Sukphol. He is no longer allowed to use the title 'Luang Pu', because his monk status came to an end yesterday. During a meeting of senior monks at Wat Pa Sri Samran, the provincial office, it was decided to strip him of his habit for violating Buddhist principles. They relied on evidence provided by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and the Office of Buddhism in Si Sa Ket, including Sukphol's sexual misconduct.

The former monk was ordained in 1999 at Wat Pa Don That in neighboring province of Ubon Ratchatani. In Si Sa Ket he built a monastery in the forest and called himself 'Luang Pu' despite his age of 34 years. That title may only be used by older monks, but Sukphol counted the years of his past lives with his age.

It is not yet known what will happen to the forest monastery. It has ten wards in other provinces. The relevant provincial offices have been instructed to check whether they have been set up illegally. The central Khantitham monastery is not registered as a temple, so it has never been audited, including financial transactions.

Sukphol has been charged by the DSI with deception, rape, tax evasion, drug use, fraud, reckless driving, money laundering and claims of supernatural abilities. He is said to be currently in the US where he has a home in California. The DSI will ask the US authorities to revoke his visa. The case came to light after images of the monk in a private jet surfaced on social media.

– Let's reverse Cruijff's captivating statement 'Every disadvantage has its advantage'. Resistance group BRN has agreed to a ceasefire in the South until the end of Ramadan: that's the advantage. But that allows the insurgents to regroup and store weapons and explosives in peace. Moreover, it strengthens BRN's position at the negotiating table.

Bangkok Post attributes this theory to an anonymous security officer in Bangkok. He calls the ceasefire a public relations stunt that does not benefit the state.

Senator Anusart Suwanmongkul from Pattani suspects that the BRN will use the violence as a bargaining chip in the peace talks, which he calls 'unacceptable'.

“When the BRN can contain the violence during Ramadan, but allows an attack [eight soldiers were wounded a day after the start of Ramadan], this indicates a tactic to get what they want. The ceasefire is to be commended, but it should be honored every month so that peace talks can proceed smoothly.”

Angkhana Neelapaijit, chair of the Working Group on Justice for Peace, questions the credibility of the ceasefire. It was announced by Malaysia, a BRN signature is missing and government and BRN representatives were missing from the announcement.

Boonsom Thongsripai, president of the Confederation of Teachers in the Three Southern Border Provinces, doubts whether the BRN is able to contain all insurgent groups.

– He must have hit a nerve with his allegation, as the Ministry of Commerce joins CP Intertrade Co, which has filed a complaint against Sutthiphong Thammawuthi. Who claims that packaged rice in department stores is contaminated with chemicals.

Sutthiphong, director of TV Burapha Co, has written that on his Facebook page, but Deputy Minister Yanyong Phuangrach (Trade) says Tra Chatr branded rice is safe. This has been shown by tests by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The minister inspected the Tra Chatr factory in Ayutthaya yesterday.

Sutthiphong seems to be in the mood already, as he has asked the ministry for an appointment to resolve the matter and has also contacted the company to ask for clarification. CP Intertrade has not yet decided whether to withdraw the complaint.

The Thai Rice Packers Association will announce tomorrow what action it will take against social media users who spread Sutthiphong's claim.

Damrong Chirasuthat, head of the Agricultural Department, said his agency examined samples from XNUMX brands stored in Yasothon and Surin. None were contaminated.

The head of the FDA says his agency examined 107 samples from different shopping centers with the same result. The FDA tests 10.000 samples each year.

– The Animal Quarantine Center in Nakhon Phanom is upset with the 92 cats seized from a man who wanted to smuggle them out of Thailand. The center is already packed with 1.432 dogs, also rescued from a food plate in Vietnam. The shelter needs more money if it wants to be able to care for the cats for a longer period of time, because the bottom of the greenhouse is coming into view.

It is the first time that cats have been intercepted. Cat and dog meat is popular in Vietnam not only as a snack but also as a medicine. Dogs fetch 5.000 to 7.000 baht each and cats 2.000 to 3.000 baht.

– A second suspect of the kidnapping of a businessman in Sa Kaeo was arrested yesterday in the home of his wife. Clothing merchant Chaichana Mai-ngan was kidnapped on July 1. Earlier, a former police lieutenant colonel was arrested. He has confessed, but says he does not know where the victim is. The second suspect also confessed. According to the police, six people were involved in the kidnapping.

– Nineteen young Rohingya refugees have fled a refugee camp in Pattani. Thirty refugees have been staying in the camp since January.

– A 28-year-old Hmong man was arrested yesterday in Muang (Chiang Mai) because he was in possession of 750 wild orchids worth 50.000 baht. Trade in wild species is prohibited. The man confessed to buying the flowers from fellow tribesmen in Mae Rim, who picked them in a forest.

– In Ratana Wapi (Nong Khai) 300 cobras and 569 turtles were intercepted. The animals were transported in a pickup truck and would be smuggled across the Mekong to Laos. The driver and his co-driver have been arrested.

Economic news

– The long-awaited solar energy stimulus program is coming this quarter, says Minister Pongsak Raktapongsaipal (Energy). On Wednesday, the National Energy Polici Council is expected to give its approval to the feed in tariff (FiT) and incentives for investors.

The FiT is the rate paid for the electricity supplied to the grid by the Provincial Electricity Authority and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority. It consists of a basic fare and a fuel fare. The proposed FiT varies according to use from 6,96 baht per kWh (households and small businesses) to 6,55 and 6,16 baht for large users.

The ministry expects the production of roof panels in Thailand to reach 200 megawatts.

– The Art in Paradise Museum opened in Chiang Mai on Friday. The museum is said to be the largest museum of 3D art in the world. It contains more than 130 3D murals. According to experts, it differs from the 3D museum in Pattaya because the paintings are more creative and imaginative.

Dossier

Dossier is a section with information about topics that are or have been regularly in the news. Dossier provides background information, based on articles Bangkok Post. The column won't appear every day, but for now I can get ahead with the topics I've collected data on over the years. I hope that the blog readers correct errors and/or add information where necessary.

Agricultural poison
Thailand imports 160.000 tons of agricultural poisons annually, costing the country 22 billion baht. According to the World Bank, Thailand is the world's fifth largest importer of chemicals. About 70 percent of the pesticides used there are extremely dangerous and banned in the West. As a result, 81 percent of water reservoirs are contaminated. The same goes for food.

The increased use of chemicals is disastrous for the environment and the health of farmers. It is universally agreed that the intensive use of chemicals leads to hardening of the soil, wipes out organisms and contaminates waterways, groundwater and the entire food chain. The use of agricultural poisons has also been linked to the rise in cancer, diabetes and many other diseases.

The Ministry of Health says the number of farmers and consumers with dangerous levels of pesticide in their blood is on the rise. (Source: Bangkok Post, July 12, 2013)

www.dickvander lugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post