|
The Kingdom celebrates the Royal Couple’s 56th Wedding Anniversary
(Photo courtesy
of the Bureau of the Royal Household)
His Majesty King Adulyadej Bhumibol The Great first met
His future Queen in Paris in 1947, when she was an extremely beautiful
teen-aged girl. The daughter of the Thai Ambassador in London, she was in
Paris to study French and classical music. M.R. Sirikit could not have been
more aptly named - Sirikit meaning beauty and honor. The 20-year-old
King-to-be was enraptured by Sirikit whom he plied with music and poetry,
composing a waltz in her honor entitled “I Dream of You”.
The lyrics for that blues number which Bhumibol dedicated
to his bride-to-be, “In the kingdom of my dreams, you are my queen...
Please make my dreams come true,” were soon to be real. The couple were
married in Bangkok on 28 April 1950. At the auspicious time of 10:24, chosen
by the Buddhist Astrologers, the 22-year-old King of Thailand married the
love of his life, M.R. Sirikit Kitiyakara.
Not even a King, however, can escape bureaucracy and,
after paying the 10-baht marriage fee, the young couple received a
traditional blessing from his grandmother, Sawang Vadhana, who anointed them
and sprinkled them with holy water which had been blessed daily by four
Buddhist monks for more than 160 years.
The young newlyweds, like any other just-married couple,
‘escaped’ to the privacy of their honeymoon hideaway - in their case the
Klai Kangwol (Far from Worry) Palace on the Western Gulf, hardly pausing to
examine their wedding gifts from many of the world’s leaders.
A week later, on the fifth of May 1950, Prince Bhumibol
Adulyadej was crowned King, the Ninth Rama of the Chakri Dynasty. Towards
the end of the splendid coronation ceremonies, the young King elevated his
new bride Sirikit to become Queen Somdej Phranang Chao.
Thailand’s King, the world’s longest-reigning
Monarch, and His lovely Queen are known universally as the quintessence of
devotion, dedication and tireless application to the development and
well-being of each and every one of Their subjects.
The benevolence His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen have
bestowed on Their subjects, including those living in remote rural areas,
explains the love They have earned from Their people.
The Kingdom of Thailand rejoices at
the celebration of Their Majesties the King and Queen’s fifty-sixth wedding anniversary
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej the
Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit will celebrate Their 56th wedding
anniversary on Friday, April 28.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Mom Rajawongse
Sirikit Kitayakara were married by Her Majesty Queen Sawang Vadhana, the
paternal grandmother of His Majesty, at the Sra Pathum Palace in Bangkok
on April 28, 1950.
Mom Rajawongse Sirikit, the daughter of the Thai
Ambassador to France Mom Chao Nakkhatmongkol Kitayakara and Mom Luang Bua
Sanitwongse, met the soon-to-be-King at the Thai Embassy in Paris in
1948. They were engaged to be married at the Windsor Hotel in Lausanne,
Switzerland on July 19, 1949.
They returned to Thailand during the government of
Prime Minister Field Marshal Pibul Songkhram and a stunningly beautiful
marriage ceremony was held while the Thai military forces formed to honor
and salute the Royal Couple.
Following the Royal marriage, His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej the Great ascended the throne, becoming the ninth King
of Thailand in the Chakri Dynasty with all the pomp and pageantry
befitting a Royal coronation on May 5, 1950.
Their Majesties have four children, HRH Princess Ubolratana, HRH Crown
Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and HRH
Princess Chulabhorn.
Get the giant diapers ready – Giant pandas expecting two cubs
How much can a panda bear?
 Saksit
Meesubkwang
The veterinary team at Chiang Mai Zoo has reported on the pregnancy of the
female Giant Panda. Vet. Kanika Nimtrakhun revealed that after Chuang Chuang
and Lin Hui had mated 70 days ago they carried out ultrasound examination to
see if the female panda had become pregnant.
The procedure showed that she certainly was pregnant, and
the ultrasound revealed the presence of twins. This was the norm as pandas
usually produce two offspring with each pregnancy.
Whilst the panda was sedated the Vet team took the opportunity to carry
out a thorough physical examination and found everything was proceeding
normally for birth in around 130 days time.
Surprise, surprise! Bhumibol Dam reserves down after Songkran
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Boon-in Chuenchaowalit, director of Bhumibol Dam disclosed that the capacity
of the dam when full was 8,402.94 million cubic meters, but at the present
time only 4,598 million cubic meters (or roughly half) was available for
use. The level of the water in the reservoir had decreased rapidly, reducing
by 1,500 million cubic meters since November, 2005 to April, 2006, because
of farming needs throughout the Chao Phraya River basin.
This was not the only cause. The water-level also fell
sharply in April due to large amounts being required for the annual Songkran
Festival; with the water company at the dam distributing almost 20 million
cubic meters of water a day. Hopefully, water distribution will be reduced
in May when the rainy season usually starts, by which time the water volume
in the dam will have fallen to 3,800 million cubic meters.
In the meantime, the director warned residents to do everything they
could to save water and use it as economically as possible. He added that
they should not hoard water because that would further reduce the volume in
the dam; assuring everybody that if they did not waste the precious liquid,
there would be sufficient water for everyone until next year.
Chiang Mai residents kick up stink over rotting garbage
Nopniwat Krailerg
Answering the complaints of residents living near the Hai Ya
Graveyard earlier this year, Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chiang Mai Mayor
gave his word that Chiang Mai had prepared contingency plans for
eliminating 500-600 tons of garbage during Songkran Festival. The
numerous complaints about the disgusting smell from the garbage
dumping area at Hai Ya Graveyard had already been resolved. But
recently, during Songkran, there have been many other complaints
about garbage being made to the media from several directions.
According to a report from the Outdoor
Incineration Center and Administration for Chiang Mai Regional
Environment office 1, officers manning the hotline telephone number
0-5389-0000, were receiving 20 calls a day; all complaints about
incineration of garbage on the middle and outer belts. The people
who complained most were residents living on the Mae Taeng
Irrigation Canal Road, at Huay Tueng Tao, in the north; and those
living on the middle beltway in the south, near the Super Highway at
Yang Nerng in Saraphi district, the road to San Kamphaeng, and Mae
On sub-district, the road to Doi Saket and San Sai.
Mayor Boonlert said that garbage which is causing
this problem is certainly not from the municipality, because the
city has its own operation which can be inspected at any time. He
said that there was garbage from nearby local areas, for which there
was no dumping arrangement, so they hire private contractors to take
the garbage away. These private contractors illegally dump their
loads anywhere they can, usually at night; and residents presume
that Chiang Mai Municipality is responsible for it.
Chiang Mai Municipality has recently signed a
contract with the same company, Baan Tarn Group, after receiving
funds of 72 million baht to cover the annual cost of garbage
disposal. This contract started in April, and the contractors
assured the municipality that they would not allow garbage to
accumulate again.
From a survey of people’s complaints, it was
found that there are many dumping areas in some of the outlying
communities, especially in such places that have no garbage
collection service, such as Ra Kaeng Road, Nantharam Road, Nhong Hoi
Community, and Sri Ping Muang Community. Accumulation of garbage in
these communities causes a disgusting smell and a bad image for
tourism.
Pornchai Jitnawasathian, Chiang Mai Deputy Mayor
confirmed that the problems that were occurring were not from the
official dumping areas but from unofficial dumping by rogue
operators. He urged anybody who witnessed these clandestine
operations to immediately report the matter to the authorities; and
anyone caught dumping illegally would be dealt with severely.
Although there will be a slight backlog whilst
several legitimate dump trucks are being repaired, Chiang Mai
Municipality expect to soon have all 25 trucks fully functional and
clear the city’s garbage from every area.
April 12th was the 710 year anniversary of the founding of Chiang Mai
Monks
receiving donations.
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Buddhists of Wat Chiang Man, the Chiang Mai Buddhist Network, the City
Development Institute Foundation and other alliances recently organized a
merit making ceremony at Wat Chiang Man at the start of the Songkran
Festival on the occasion of the 710 year anniversary of the founding of
Chiang Mai.
Dr. Chao Duang Duan Na Chiang Mai, president of Chiang
Mai Cultural Council presided and joined with many others at Wat Chiang Man,
the oldest temple of Chiang Mai province. This temple was constructed at the
same time that King Meng Rai was establishing Chiang Mai to be his northern
capital and he designated Wat Chiang Man to be his royal temple.
The merit-making activities on that day started at 8.30
a.m. with everyone present worshiping Phra Thad and Phra Setang Khamanee,
followed by nine monks conducting a religious ceremony. The monks spoke on
topics as the local New Year celebrations, and the age and history of
important places of Chiang Mai. The talks were led by Assoc. Prof. Thanet
Chareunmuang, Ajarn Sanan Thamathi, Phra Maha Bunchuay Sirintharo, Phra Maha
Sanga (Chaiwong).
Afterwards, everyone went to pay their respects to the long-dead monarch
at the King Meng Rai Tower. History records that this was the place where
King Meng Rai died after being struck by a thunderbolt, so a tower was built
in his honor as the founder of Chiang Mai.
Chiang Khong Giant Cat Fish Club to quit and get real jobs
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Tueanjai Deeted, Acting Chiang Rai Senator said that after having a talk
with the members of the Chiang Khong Giant Cat Fish Club, they had
reluctantly decided to quit catching the Giant Cat Fish. They will also sell
all 68 of their Giant Cat Fish seine-nets, which cost them 20,000 baht per
seine. This money, amounting to almost 1.5 million baht will go into a
support fund to help the fishermen to find other careers. The Union of
Universal Conservation had agreed to provide some money to buy the redundant
seine-nets. Most importantly, the Fishing club members had decided to quit
as an example to Chiang Rai residents and people from all over Thailand; and
to highlight the plight of the of the Mekong River.
The club gave a press-conference on April 18 at Wat Had
Krai, Chiang Khong district, which is the day of making the annual sacred
offering to the Giant Cat Fish Angel. On that occasion there will be many
activities joined by several Local Administration Organizations, the Giant
Cat Fish Club and Love Chiang Khong Group, held to honor the Giant Cat Fish,
reputed to be the biggest fresh water fish in the world.
Unfortunately, due to the severe ecological changes that
are taking place in the Mekong River the fate of the Giant Catfish is in
jeopardy. The decline in numbers can be directly attributed to several
causes; including netting, destruction of forests, single plant intensive
agriculture, dam construction projects in the upper reaches of the river,
bridge construction, island bombing and the dredging of navigation-channels
for ever-larger boats. By quitting the age-old practice of catching this
fresh-water monster fish, the club members hope that their action will
enable the Giant Catfish to breed undisturbed; and that their numbers will
eventually return to those of yesteryear.
Bronze Age artifacts discovered in Tak
Chiangmai Mail Reporter
Suk Kaewno, the president of Mae Salid TAO in Baan Tak district, Tak
reported that ancient artifacts had been discovered at Baan Den Mai Sung,
Tambon Mae Salid, Baan Tak district in Tak.
These ancient objects were found while villagers were
constructing a house and they are now being kept at Mae Salid TAO; and
archeologists of the Department of Fine Arts Region 6 intend to check their
origin shortly.
The antique items included 31 pieces of bronze bracelets,
three complete bronze bracelets, nine glass bracelets, a bowl, three pieces
of an arm bracelet, glass beads and many colorful stones, a bronze knife and
a spear.
The president of Mae Salid TAO disclosed that
archaeologists hoped to ascertain exactly when these antiques had been
created; and the glass beads could be compared with similar items found at
Baan Don Taphet in Kanchanaburi, which had already been proved to have come
from the Bronze Age period between 1,200-2,000 years ago.
Unfortunately some artifacts had already been sold to merchants in
Sukhothai province after a villager had discovered a crown, gold ornaments
and earthenware including several bronze items and precious ornaments. The
value of some of those pieces proved impossible to estimate, but should be
considered priceless.
Training courses for Organic growers and exporters
Saksit Meesubkwang
Assoc. Prof. Danuwat Pheng-aon, director of the product quality-control
center of Maejo University says that organic agriculture is growing, in more
ways than one!
Organically grown food has become the preferred choice of
many consumers, who nowadays are becoming more aware of how produce is grown
and critical about what they consume. Organic agriculture is sustainable
agriculture; being able to produce food that is both tasty and at the same
time safe for consumers, as well as improving and protecting the environment
by not using chemical fertilizers and herbicides and insecticides.
Organic produce is also becoming more in demand by the
world market. Exports are at the moment worth 600 billion baht, with
overseas countries placing orders for a further 800 billion baht which at
present cannot be satisfied. Some countries like the USA have had the
Organic Food Production Act-OFPA since 1990; and European Union (EU) has its
own regulations governing the production and importation of Organic Products
in EEEC No 2092. The WTO of Japan has paid a great deal of attention to
organic produce as well.
He added that the Department of Agriculture, Science
Research Institute of Thailand had announced formally that Thailand would
achieve the internationally recognized Organic Agriculture standard for
exports in 2001. Many products grown in Thailand were exported to Europe,
America and Asia. Customers in these countries insisted that all these
products must be organically grown and pass the stringent standards for
Organic Agriculture products. Over 160 countries have expressed their desire
to import organically-grown produce, but at the moment only 10 percent of
this demand is being met.
Maejo University realizes the importance of being knowledgeable in every
aspect of organic produce; and because the university has its own product
quality-control center, it is ideally placed to provide a workshop to train
farmers and exporters. The workshop will train farmers and exporters in the
necessary production techniques to enable them to reach the required
standards of Organic Agriculture of Europe, America and Japan. The first
training courses will start from April 24 to 28, 2006 and will cost 3,000
baht for each course. For more information telephone 053-873046-47 on
weekdays.
Five Thais duped in Greece
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts!
Nopniwat Krailerg
Orachorn Rattanamanee, Head of Chiang Mai Employment Office, said that
Department of Employment had been informed by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of five Thai people who had called at the Thai embassy in Athens,
complaining that they had been lured to work in Greece under false
pretences.
They had responded to an advertisement placed by Kanyanat
Laosuntreeya, who advertised a job in www.sanook.com website, in which she
claimed to be an agent for Tsolakidis Konstantionos, a Greek national, who
wished to employ Thai laborers to work in Greece; three for cooking and two
for foot massage. The employer offered to cover all expenses and promised to
pay 12,000 baht per month, increasing to 15,000 baht per month in the fourth
month.
On arrival in Greece the employer collected the five Thai
people’s return air tickets and their passports, saying that he needed
them to apply for work permits. The Thai embassy noticed that none of the
five Thai had any authority to work in Greece, and no paperwork from
Ministry of Labor. The wages which the employer agreed to pay were far lower
than the Greek minimum wage that should be paid by law; in fact so low that
it would have been almost impossible to live in Greece on such a meagre
amount, let alone save money to return home.
Chiang Mai Employment Office is again warning people who
are looking for a job, that if they see advertisements offering foreign job
opportunities, they should investigate the job offers quite critically
before committing to going abroad to work. A good rule of thumb to apply is
simply this: If the offer seems too good to be true, it is not usually
precisely that!
Job seekers considering foreign employment can get helpful advice by
contacting Chiang Mai Employment Office, 1st
floor of middle administration building, Chotana Road, Tambon Chang Puek,
Muang Chiang Mai.
Thousands celebrate Thai-Burmese Songkran Festival
Chiangmai Mail Reporter
Thousands of people in three southern districts; Mae Sariang, Mae La Noi,
and Sob Moei, gathered in their colorful tribal costumes and participated in
the Thai-Burmese Songkran Festival at Had Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son.
There were many activities for people to enjoy; such as
ritual bathing of Phra Petch parade and 20 parade groups for people to make
a ritual bathing merit. There were also Thai-Burmese parades consisting of
Karen, Lawa, Tai tribe, and Burmese tribes to promote a good relationship
between residents along the Thai border at Mae Hong Son and their
counterparts in the neighboring country of Burma.
The most popular products which pass through the
Thai-Burmese border favorable trading area in Baan Mae Sam Lab are sesame
oil, chili, clothes, cows, buffaloes, and most of exported products are
vegetable oil, sandals and instant noodles, adding up to more than 100
million baht a year.
This festival was organized by Direk Konkleeb, Mae Hong
Son Governor together with the local hill tribes, with the opening presided
over by ACM Kongsak Wanthana, Ministry of Interior.
Higher fuel oil costs affect car rental business in Mae Hong Son
Saksit Meesubkwang
Siri-aon Rangsiritanon, manager of Mae Hong Son TN Tour disclosed that
gasoline prices have risen sharply in Mae Hong Son and that diesel now
stands at 27.34 baht, benzene 91 at 28.99 baht and benzene 95 at 28.19 baht,
with further increases likely soon. The high fuel prices are seriously
affecting the car rental business, with these enterprises losing money
whilst still trying to attract customers by maintaining the same rental
rate.
However, with fuel oil costs the highest they have ever
been, car rental owners will have to raise their tariffs to stay in
business. Initially, the renting price inclusive of fuel oil was 1,500 baht
per day, but that will have to be adjusted to 1,800 baht per day.
If the fuel oil price increases again, the business
owners will have to adjust the rental price to follow the gasoline cost.
Some car rental business owners have had to shut down their business because
they could not continue to bear the burden of the high cost of fuel.
Poonsak Soonthornpanichakit, president of Mae Hong Son
Chamber of Commerce revealed that the high diesel price also affected
tourism and the border trade of the province. Moreover, if it continued to
rise, the whole economy of Mae Hong Son would stagnate, because the number
of tourists who liked to travel using their own vehicle would inevitably
decline.
Fuel oil orders from Thailand to Burma would also decrease. The higher
price of fuel oil is being felt by many countries and Mae Hong Son
especially is feeling the pinch because of the length of the journey the oil
has to travel to this remote location; and because of the difficult,
tortuous, mountain route.
Vagabonds told to beggar off during Songkran Festival
Nopniwat Krailerg
Police officers arrested a group of 10 people, both children and adults, who
were begging along the heavily frequented tourism location at the Night
Bazaar and Chang Klan area of Chiang Mai. Most of beggars were hill tribe
people from Chiang Rai province and Thai citizens from the North-east of
Thailand. When they were arrested they were found to be carrying around
20,000 baht, which had been obtained from the handouts from sympathetic
tourists. The money was seized before sending the adults to a residence for
homeless people in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai; while children, most of whom were
not the offspring of the begging adults, were sent to Wiang Ping Childrens
Home.
Yaowaman Ngamsajatikul, in charge of the residence in Mae Taeng reported
that the begging gang used children as a tool to earn money by forcing them
to beg along principal tourism locations of Chiang Mai and other similar
places throughout Thailand. The gang usually rented hotel room as residence
for the beggars and forced the children to act as if they were disabled,
such as having a crippled arm or leg or even to pretend they were blind.
They played on the tourists sympathy, fooling them into having pity on them;
and in an evening’s begging each child could receive around 5,000 baht,
which the adults would then transfer to their relatives back in their home
town. Some beggars had their own cell phones and used them to alert other
members of the gang to the presence of police, to enable them to flee before
being caught.
Chiang Mai province suffers multiple deaths over Songkran
Motorcycles, alcohol and no helmets a lethal combination
Nopniwat Krailerg
Once more, the joyful festivities of Songkran were marred by the totally
needless deaths of two young teenagers in Mae Rim. Because of Chiang Mai’s
popularity as a tourist destination, the city has been monitoring
road-traffic accidents during the 10 dangerous days, as part of a national
attempt to reduce the road tolld.
This particular example was an accident involving a
motorcycle and a pick-up truck on the Chiang Mai-Mae Rim Road; that caused
the horrific deaths of two teenagers.
The collision had occurred in front of Wat Kumpapradit or
Wat Baan Mhor and on arrival at the scene the police found a white Toyota
pick-up truck parked blocking the street, with a seriously dented hood. A
Honda motorcycle had obviously hit the front of the pick-up head on, judging
from the total destruction of the front end of the motorcycle.
The body of Thongchai Karbkham, 17, a Mae Rim resident,
was lying with the leg still across his motorcycle. It was believed that he
was the rider and he was wearing only red shorts and no shirt. There was
another body lying nearby, identity unknown at the time because he was
carrying no I.D., but believed to be the pillion passenger, wearing black
shorts and also shirtless. Both young men died instantly from serious head
injuries, due to not wearing safety helmets.
From the initial investigation, it was believed that both teenagers had
got drunk and took off their shirts in the afternoon due to the hot weather.
In the evening, they went back home, traveling at high speed because there
was a straight road. They collided with a pick-up truck that was turning
into a side-street, unable to brake in time due to their excessive speed and
the wet road conditions. Officers turned both dead bodies over to the
Prakraipruek rescue-team, who brought them to Chiang Mai Maharaj Hospital.
17 deaths over Songkran - no drop from 2005
Nopniwat Krailerg
The Road Safety Center Chiang Mai released its report on the
traffic-accidents on the city’s streets during the Songkran Festival, for
what are regarded as the ten most dangerous days of the holiday period, from
April 7 to 16, 2006.
 Accident
causes loss of life and possessions. (File photo by Nopniwat Krailerg).
The accident statistics show that 17 deaths occurred in
Chiang Mai, being 13 males and three females and one child. There were also
208 injuries, 50% less than the previous year, and a total of 191 traffic
accidents.
As could be predicted, most accidents involved young
teenagers riding motorcycles after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, as
well as speeding and riding recklessly without crash helmets. The most
common time for these accidents to occur was between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and
happened mostly outside the city or in the TAO area, on routes linking the
villages and the superhighway.
During the holiday period, the authorities had campaigned to reduce these
accidents by setting up checkpoints to breathalyse drinkers throughout
Chiang Mai. However, with the road toll standing at 17, this campaign did
not work.
Mae Sai Customs rakes in 10 mio baht from drugs and piracy
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Choochai Udompode, Mae Sai Custom Officer reported on the activities of the
Mae Sai customs officers during March this year.
He said that due to the vigilance of his customs
officers, they had managed to seize 43,500 ya ba pills, and many pirated
products to the value of approximately 10 million baht. The pirated products
took many forms, ranging from Gucci purses, Rolex watches, Jimmy Choo socks
and shoes, all of which were cheap copies.
Mae Sai customs officers also said that the following the
seizure of the pirated products, they had supervised the incineration of all
the counterfeit goods.
His officers had noticed an upward trend in smuggling at the moment and
had increased their vigilance and strictly inspected the luggage of all
people coming through the border customs check-point. Aware that people will
try and evade customs inspections during the holiday period, officers will
increase inspections during the forthcoming Songkran Festival.
Speedy police intercept 100,000 speed pills
Nopniwat Krailerg
During the weeks leading up to Songkran, drug suppression officers became
aware of an increase in the activities of known drug traffickers and with
the help of informers and other intelligence, built up a picture of a large
amount of drugs being shipped into Thailand in readiness for the forthcoming
holiday period.
The police were informed that a certain group of aliens
belonging to the Tai tribe from Mae Hong Son were planning to smuggle
amphetamines from Burma to Chiang Mai and had cooperated to build up a
network to transfer the narcotics during the Songkran Festival. However,
this network was finally detected at Tambon San Sai Noi in San Sai, Chiang
Mai. The police swooped and closed the net on the gang, catching them in the
act of preparing to deliver ya ba and sell the drugs around the
entertainment places and restaurants in Muang, Chiang Mai. The speed-pills
had been purchased at the Burmese border for 30 baht per pill and then would
have been sold in Chiang Mai for 120 baht per pill.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, commissioner
of the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5 said that his officers had mounted
two separate operations. Pol. Col. Sarawut Jantharaprasert, Superintendent
of investigation of the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5 headed a force of
police to arrest one drug trafficking gang with 7 members and seized 16,000
ya ba pills, along with five motorcycles, seven cell phones and two gold
ornaments.
On the same day in a separate operation, Pol. Maj. Gen.
Jiruj Promobol, Chiang Mai Provincial Police commander and Pol. Col. Chamnan
Ruadreuw, the deputy and Pol. Lt. Col. Jitphisut Imsa-nguan, head officer of
drug suppression division of Chiang Mai province led police to capture two
residents of Wiang Pa Pao district, Chiang Rai. They were arrested after
accepting 2,000,000 baht from two under-cover drug squad officers posing as
buyers wishing to purchase the 100,000 speed pills that the two drug dealers
had in their hotel room.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong reported that his officers had
learned of further drug connections from gang-members who were implicating
others in the hope of receiving lighter sentences.
Summer storm wreaks havoc
A huge
tree fallen against the building at Wang Singha Kham in Chiang Mai.
Nopniwat Krailerg
A summer thunderstorm, stemming from a depression over China spreading to
cover Northern Thailand, caused havoc in and around Chiang Mai for three
quarters of an hour, on April 15.
The gale-force winds blew away advertising signs, felled
huge trees, sending them crashing against buildings and electricity posts
and bringing down power and telephone lines. Luckily, there ware no injuries
reported, but police officers had to block some roads for safety reasons.
One potentially dangerous incident occurred when a huge Kapok tree was
blown over and fell onto a two storey building at the northern end of Wang
Singha Kham Road, near Par Tan Bridge. The house belonged to Saokham
Jormphakdee, a former Chiang Mai municipal councillor. Fortunately, there
was no one at home at the time and the place was only used for storage.
Damage to the property was estimated to be around 100,000 baht and a team
from Chiang Mai Municipality with trucks from the private sector took all
day to saw the branches and remove the fallen tree.
|
