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Airliners black
boxes sent to US
Officials expect answers within a week
The analysis of flight data recorders that may bring
answers as to what caused the fatal One-Two-Go crash will be finished by the
end of this month Flight Safety Standards Bureau director Wutthichai
Singmanee. He added that investigators had collected all information about
the weather and the aircraft as well as data from the control tower.
Aviation specialists from the US were also helping analyze the data.
Of the 53 bodies of foreigners, nine bodies of Israeli and Indonesian
nationals were claimed and have been returned to their families, and the
remains of three dead Americans were to be retrieved by their relatives late
last week, he said.
The remaining 31 bodies are as yet identified, but while forensic staff has
already collected information for identity verification, the remaining
bodies of foreigners would be returned to their families more rapidly if the
forensic technicians received added evidence from relatives.
After a meeting of agencies concerned, Udom Tantiprasongchai, chief
executive officer of One-Two-Go’s parent company, Orient Thai Airlines, said
it will pay 100,000 baht (US$ 3,000) to the family of each victim killed in
the plane crash.
Most of the families of Thai victims — about 27 families out of all 32
families — have already received the initial compensation. No family of
other nationalities has as yet received compensation directly from the
airline, but One-Two-Go is cooperating with the embassies.
Speaking about the insurance company, he said the insurer will be able to
pay about 5.2 million baht (US$ 152,940) to the family of each of the
deceased victims.
The injured will receive an initial sum of 50,000 baht (US$1,470) and they
will receive added compensation later.
Meanwhile the Department of Civil Aviation has sent the black box flight
data recorder of the airplane to the US on Friday for analysis to determine
the cause of the accident.
The conclusion of investigation and data analysis will be reached within one
week.
The chief of the department, Chaisak Angkasuwan said that the officials
transported the flight data recorder to Washington, D.C.
The cause of the accident and overall investigation will be disclosed to the
public. The conversation between the pilots and the staff at the control
tower won’t be revealed as the investigation is not aimed to find someone to
blame for the accident, Chaisak said.
Chaisak added that the department will meet with agencies concerned to
discuss about the international aviation safety standard on September 27.
TNA
Monorail goes through test runs at zoo
Foreigners to pay higher price
The Chiang Mai zoo monorail
goes through tests runs as it prepares to enter into service in November.
Saksit Meesubkwang
The 200 million baht monorail project at the Chiang Mai zoo went through
several test runs as it prepares to enter into service in November.
Members of the Board of Zoos Organization of Thailand carried out an
inspection of the project and concluded that more greenery will need to be
added along the routes of the elevated transportation system.
Mr. Prasert Kasemkomase Managing Director of Assets Co Ltd said the
construction of the monorail began in 2005. The contract with the Chiang Mai
zoo states that Assets company will receive 50% of the profits until the
term expires and the zoo will take sole ownership of the monorail in 20
years.
The test runs were conducted to ensure all safety procedures and mechanisms
were in working order. Tests included preparing staff on how to handle
situations such as power cuts or accidents.
The monorail system will has 50 carriages able to transport passengers over
a two kilometer route above the Chiang Mai zoo.
The monorails maximum speed has been set at 35 kilometers per hour.
Ticket prices for Thai nationals have been set at 40 baht while foreigners
will be charged 100 baht for the ride.
The adjacent marine park is still under construction and 70% complete
according to the zoo officials and it is expected to open after the monorail
system becomes operational.
100 homes destroyed in Mae Wang floods
Following days of heavy rain some 100 homeowners in the
Mae Wang district of Chiang Mai lost their homes after the Mae Khan river
overflowed washing away everything in its path.
No injuries or loss of life were reported but substantial damage to farming
land, orchards, and homes have left the residents of Mae Wang without
housing and work.
Rescue teams including the Red Cross are providing assistance and members of
the Tambon Administration department are providing sandbags until the worst
is over.
The worst hit areas were in Ban Namton, tambon Bankad, Ban Seankhanta,
tambon Tungruangthong, and Ban Rimwang, tambon Bankad, according to the
district officials.
Though the water levels on the Mae Khan river have subsided more rains are
predicted and residents are on alert. Chiang Mai News.
Police crackdown on ladyboys
An early morning round-up of ladyboys on the streets of
Chiang Mai last week led to two arrests after most in the group of late
night alleged sex workers fled from police.
According to the Chiang Mai police the kathoeys or ladyboys are responsible
for frequent robberies involving tourists in the city and this is damaging
the image of Chiang Mai.
An investigation team headed by the Muang district police station organized
a raid at 2:30am on September 18 on Moonmuang road. As police approached,
many of the alleged sex workers fled in different directions and the
authorities were only able to detain two in the group. Both were charged
with prostitution after police questioning.
Pol Lt Col Chanawut said the crackdown on the kathoeys came after a tourist
was robbed in the area. He added that both ladyboys and female sex workers
will be subject to arrest in an effort to rid the streets of Chiang Mai of
prostitution.
Immigration police hold training seminar
Saksit Meesubkwang
The Northern Immigration Police Center hosted a training course for border
check point chiefs and police inspectors from 17 Northern provinces to
discuss planning, strategies and management of alien workers from
neighboring countries.
 Pol
Col Krit Piasaeng, deputy Commander of the Immigration Police, Northern
Office, presides at the opening ceremony of the training seminar of the
immigration police from the Northern region.
The seminar was aimed at formulating stricter policy controls in order to
control the number of alien workers who cross from Myanmar, Cambodia and
Laos said the deputy commander of the Northern Center who added that the
priority for the National Immigration Police Bureau is to uphold the
country’s national security.
The high ranking police officers met at the Chiang Mai Hills hotel and also
discussed ways to work together as well as ethical development and
improvement.
Police Colonel Krit Piasaeng, the deputy commander of the Northern
Immigration Police Office presided over the opening ceremony of the seminar
which included guest speakers on minority groups and labor laws.
Although Police Colonel Krit said the number of alien workers have declined
in the Northern region due to the season, policy and control measures must
still be enforced.
The Police Immigration hotline in Chiang Mai is 053-851957.
Tops supermarket opens third store
l/r Chayan Petchonkram,
District Director; Nick Reitmeigr, Vice President - International Food &
Wines; Benchawan Ongsri - Vice President Operations; Nithirut Anansiriphoom,
Store Manager.
Chotana branch is the new Tops Market next to The Novotel
Hotel. It is the 98th store in Thailand and covers an area of 3,000sqm.
There are other retail clothes shops, Wawee Coffee, S & P coffee and Khun
Noi Bakery in the building which used to be occupied by Rimping supermarket.
Special services include home-delivery and interpreters for English speaking
customers. In the near future both the Airport Central Tops supermarket and
the Kad Suan Kaew supermarket will be remodeled.
The Tops Chotana branch is open daily from 10am until 9.30pm
Woman’s 80 thousand baht commission stolen
Saksit Meesubkwang
Miss Ampha Tabchu, 26, of Sansai, a sales assistant at the Mazda car dealer
on Charoen Muong Road was out to celebrate at a dinner with her companion
after receiving an 80,000 baht commission for selling a car. She didn’t get
very far as two gangsters rode up alongside Ampha’s motorbike, pulled a
pistol and demanded she hand over her bag containing her cash.
After filing a police report ten investigators went in pursuit of the thugs
and happened upon them in Mae Rim.
According to the police the suspects were driving an unlicensed cream
colored Honda Dream motorbike and attempted to flee up Samoeng Road when
they realized they were being pursued. After an hour of hiding in the forest
along the mountain road the suspects thought it safe to continue but were
caught by the investigators.
The suspects, Khomchit Chaiman, 26, of Phayao Province and Kittipong
Kantason, 26, also of Phayao Province were detained.
Pol. Lt. Col. Thanarach Chumsawat, Deputy Superintendent Investigations
Region carried out the investigations and concluded that the robbery was
carried out by a gang comprising of four members whose method of operation
was similar to several crimes that have been committed in the area.
During preliminary questioning suspect Khomchit admitted that he didn’t work
and earned a living with other gang members by robbing people and bag
snatching in Sansai and Hang Dong areas and after spending the stolen money
they would hit the streets and commit another crime.
Police are questioning Khomchit and searching for his alleged accomplices.
Anyone who has been robbed recently can come to the Sansai police station
where a lineup will be provided.
Three given death penalty
in Chiang Mai court
Two others confess and given life
Judge Sukpichai Rattananont and a Committee of judges of
the Chiang Mai Provincial Court handed down the verdict of death to three
family members and sparred two others is a drug case dating back two years.
Defendants Suwan Saenfu 20, Pitak Chaisuthavee 32, Phach Saenfu 25, Chaiwat
Saenkaew 27, Wattana Photethong 28 and Anchalee Saenfu 21 all members of the
Lisu hilltribe group were arrested and faced the death penalty after being
found guilty of transporting drugs with the intent to sell.
Pitak, Phach and Wattana were given the death penalty while Suwan and
Chaiwat pleaded guilty and had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment.
The case dates back to November 2005 when the six traffickers were detained
during a routine check point and it was discovered they were transporting 24
bars of heroin and almost half a million amphetamine pills hidden in three
different vehicles.
The discovery was made in the Sansai sub-district on the Chaiprakarn-Phrao
road.
Thai News
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