News from Thailand – June 24, 2012
– Reward for gold type murder Australian
A tip of 300.000 baht is awaiting anyone who can put police on the trail of the two men who attempted to rob an Australian woman in Phuket on Wednesday evening, one of them fatally wounding the woman.
The woman, Michelle Smith, 60, was part of a group of travel agents. She would travel around Phuket for a month. Together with her colleague Tammee Lynn (42) she returned to their home that evening hotels, after they had dinner. On the way, two men on a motorcycle passed and tried to steal Smith's purse. When she resisted, one of them stabbed her in the chest with a knife. She died instantly. Lynn was hit in the arm.
Earlier that day, a British tourist (37) was stabbed in the same area. [Details not mentioned in the message]
– NASA: Fear of espionage is unjustified
The US space agency NASA has invited Thai government officials for an inspection of its research aircraft and a meeting with scientists involved in a climate study. The invitation is in response to the objections raised in Thailand have been raised against NASA's request to use U-Tapao Naval Air Base as a base for that study.
The opposition suspects the government of a bargain: using U-tapao against granting a US visa to Thaksin. Academics wonder if the study might have military ulterior motives. NASA has given Thailand until Tuesday to make a decision, because otherwise it will not have enough time to bring in and install the necessary equipment.
Project leader Hal Maring of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration says Nasa has already briefed Thailand on the details of the project. He emphasizes that there is no need to fear loss of sovereignty or espionage over China and other countries, because NASA is a civilian organization and has no ties to the military. The aim of the study, which will be conducted in August and September, is to gain a better understanding of the weather conditions in Southeast Asia.
Opposition Democrats spokesman Chavanond Intarakomalyasut says his party does not want to torpedo the project because it could benefit the country. But the government must disclose the details to ensure that Thailand's sovereignty is not at risk. Chavanond points out that one of the three aircraft deployed is the ER-2, the civilian variant of the U-2S military reconnaissance aircraft used in high-altitude missions and invisible to radar.
– Constitutional Court judges threatened
The request of the Constitutional Court to revoke the bail of red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan has been made because of threats against the judges. Not only did Prompan and other red shirt leaders deliver threatening speeches at a rally of red shirts at parliament on June 7, but the telephone numbers and names of the judges' relatives were also circulated. In addition, the driver of the President of the Court recently received a telephone call informing him that some persons were planning to visit the residence of the President of the Court.
The request to revoke Jatuporn's bail was not made by the judges themselves, as previous reports suggested, but by the Court's office out of concern for the safety of the judges. Contrary to what Jatuporn claims, the Court is indeed authorized to make such a request to the Criminal Court.
Jatuporn is charged with terrorism and lèse majesté for his role in the 2010 red shirt protests. He was jailed last year and then released on bail. The protested statements during the rally related to the Court's decision to adjourn parliamentary consideration of a constitutional amendment. That change is controversial. Critics fear that the constitutional monarchy will be crushed. The procedure would also aim to rehabilitate fugitive former Prime Minister Thaksin.
– Fake agents are exposed
Three men who posed as an official of the Narcotics Control Board in Songkhla and ransom 100.000 baht per person by holding them hostage, were caught in the latest hostage-taking yesterday. The family of a 40-year-old man had called for the help of the police. When the suspects wanted to collect the ransom, they were arrested. The other victims were people with a drug history. They kept their mouths shut out of fear for their lives.
– Democrats: Police, keep an eye on red shirts
Opposition party Democrats have asked the police today during a rally of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) at the Democracy Monument in Bangkok to be extra alert to defamation and reckless accusations. The rally is held on the occasion of the 1932 revolution when absolute monarchy was replaced by constitutional monarchy.
The Democrats fear that speakers will aim their arrows at the Constitutional Court, which has adjourned the parliamentary debate on a constitutional amendment (see above). Another target may be the Ombudsman's office, which has called the appointment of red shirt leader Nattawut Saikuar as deputy agriculture minister "unethical."
The rally is themed '80 Years: the Absence of Democracy'. UDD chair Tida Tawornseth considers the rally as 'a new fight, a more serious one in the face of a coup threat'. The UDD expects to collect 100.000 signatures in support of its request to challenge the judges of the Constitutional Court. So far, 50.000 people have signed.
(Note from Dick van der Lugt: Bangkok Post was sold out at my reseller. The above messages are based on the newspaper's website.)