News from Thailand – November 18, 2013
Nitiwadee Pucharoenyos (left) and her mother Surang Duangjinda, who says she ordered the murder. On the homepage, anti-government protesters carry large krathongs to the water. Many people believe that this is how you get rid of the bad things in your life.
If you want to have someone murdered, you should definitely not have it done by a person with whom you had frequent telephone contact prior to the murder. Because that's how the police tracked down the killer of Olympic sports shooter Jakkrit. The telephone records of his wife and mother-in-law showed that they had often called a certain Kirasak Klinkhai. That was suspicious because the man was not an acquaintance of them.
When the police found out, the solution was at hand. Kirasak was detained by the Krabi police and questioned by the criminal investigation department in Bangkok. At first he kept his lips tight, but 'faced with police interrogation pressure' [You can think of what that could mean] he went crazy. The rest of the story is known: an intermediary was arrested, and a lawyer who would have hired Kirasak was heard. Only the driver of the motorcycle from which the fatal shots were fired is still on the run.
Jakkrit's mother-in-law took care of the final. She confessed to ordering Jakkrit to be killed because he had abused his wife for years. According to the woman, the wife would not have known about her plan, but the police do not believe that. Mother-in-law, wife and lawyer have been released on bail.
- Jakkrit's father has instructed his lawyer to ask Prachuap Khri Khan's court to appoint him as his son's asset manager. A few years ago, Jakkrit registered as a resident of Kui Buri district in order to participate in the elections. The widow resists; the wealth belongs to her and Jakkrit's two daughters.
– Prime Minister Yingluck yesterday launched 'People Against Violence', a campaign of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. The campaign aims to draw attention to violence against women and children. Bangkok Post dedicates a photo with photo caption to it.
– Even more Yingluck, now about the flute concerts that cabinet members are treated to when demonstrators spot them. “People have the right to express their political opinion. Blowing a whistle is one way people express their opinions. The government cannot intervene in this.'
Nevertheless, she asked the whistlers not to whistle on official occasions. "There are numerous other ways to make your voice heard and there are numerous platforms for the government to listen to the public's opinion." She also asked the demonstrators to resume their normal activities.
– Yesterday, the police searched for weapons in the tent of vocational training students at the Makkhawan Rangsan bridge. Six officers from Nang Loen Police Station looked around but found nothing. The students asked them difficult questions and treated them to whistles. They also videotaped and photographed the officers.
The search was in response to an incident Saturday when a police officer was slightly injured in a skirmish with students. The Network of Students and People for Reform of Thailand, which has pitched its tents at the bridge, will find out whether the attackers belong to their club.
The head of the municipal police wants to discuss security measures with the protest leaders. He says he has received information that 'certain people with bad intentions' are going to kick rubbish. The police will set up checkpoints around the protest location for protection.
– A 'major battle day', as rally leader Suthep Thaugsuban calls this Sunday. He hopes to mobilize 1 million people at the Democracy Monument on Ratchadamnoen Avenue. “This is your last chance to be part of a historic day when Thais break free from the Thaksin regime. This is the last opportunity for you to create a better future for our next generation.” [My mother would say: Where does he get it?]
– Macabre finds in a rubber plantation in Khok Po (Pattani). Villagers stumbled upon a burnt 200-gallon fuel tank containing three charred corpses on Saturday. The bodies have been taken to Khok Pho Hospital for an autopsy.
At the crime scene, the police found a wallet with an identity card in the name of a 21-year-old man. Based on this and information from family members, the police have been able to determine the identity of the other two (both 35). The police are still in the dark about the motive; it may have been a business conflict.
– It was to be expected: fireworks victims on Loy Krathong. Well, you are a bovine if you stunt with fireworks, we would say in the Netherlands. Twenty-four did so yesterday in Chiang Mai, including a 12-year-old boy. He was injured in his neck. In Lampang, a teenager (19) lost pieces of three fingers when a large firecracker exploded in his hand.
– Thailand aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to 7 percent by 20. This will be announced by Pithaya Pookaman, adviser to the Minister of the Environment and head of the Thai delegation at a UN conference in Warsaw (the newspaper clearly states: Poland).
The gas reduction is stated in an action plan to be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change next year. The plan contains measures in the field of sustainable energy, logistics, public transport and green technology. The emphasis is on the energy and transport sectors, because they are the biggest polluters.
Thailand is not a major environmental polluter – greenhouse gas emissions amount to 0,6 percent of the world total – but they have increased rapidly in recent years, unlike the US and Europe, which have stable emissions.
– Some villages in Bang Saphan district (Prachuap Khiri Khan) experienced flooding yesterday as a result of heavy rain showers. Roads and farmland were flooded. The residents of tambon Mae Ramphung have been advised to seek higher ground to run off of the Tanaosi mountain range. On Saturday, 28 villages in Bang Saphan Noi district were flooded.
– The bodies of two men (36 and 38) were found in a rented house in Ban Khai (Rayong). They had been killed with a firearm. In an open safe box, police found firearms registration documents and four silencers.
– It took a thief 32 seconds to steal 20 gold necklaces from a gold shop in the Big C superstore in Dao Khanong (Bangkok). He threatened the staff with a firearm and fled on a motorcycle.
– In the first ten months of this year, the drivers of more than four thousand minibuses violated the speed limit and took too many passengers. Furthermore, 3.409 operators went wrong because they violated their permit conditions.
– A dog has dragged half the body of a baby from a pond in Tha Maka (Kanchanaburi). The lower part of the child was missing. The police are looking for the parents.
Political news
– Wednesday is an exciting day for Thailand. In the worst case, ruling party Pheu Thai is dissolved and the members of parliament, who are also board members, are allowed to twiddle their (political) thumbs for 5 years. The already fragile political situation will then come under further pressure Bangkok Post.
On Wednesday, the Constitutional Court will consider four petitions submitted by MPs from the opposition Democrats. They oppose the draft bill to change the composition and election procedure of the Senate. Main pain points: the Senate is no longer half-appointed, but elected in its entirety. Parents, wives and children may also stand for election.
The newspaper outlines four scenarios (see box). In the worst case, ruling party Pheu Thai may be dissolved, but that ruling has no consequences for the cabinet. Prime Minister Yingluck as well as all Pheu Thai MPs can join a new party and it's business as usual. This has already happened twice before after the disbandment of Thai Rak Thai (Thaksin's party) and the People's Power Party, the two predecessors of Pheu Thai.
There is also a threat that the National Anti-Corruption Commission will start impeachment proceedings against the 310 MPs who voted in favor of the amendment.
Political analysts hope that the Court will not opt for the most far-reaching scenario, because then political tension will increase with the risk that supporters and opponents of the government will fight each other.
The police have stepped up surveillance of government buildings and taken positions at the homes of "important people".
www.dickvanderlugt.nl – Source: Bangkok Post
Submitted communication
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