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Protestors target
Chinese consulate
Saksit Meesubkwang
A rare protest took place in front of the Chinese consulate in
Chiang Mai on the morning of October 4th as police monitored the
demonstration but did not intervene.
Some 30 members of the Shan Women’s Action Network gathered at the closed
gates of the Chinese consulate on Changlo Road with placards calling for
China to stop supporting the government of Myanmar.
Miss Pranom Somboon, coordinator of Lanna Action for Burma, said that the
demonstrations were carried out because China is one of the major powers
that support the Myanmar government with trade, investments and the sale of
weapons.
Protestors spent about an hour outside the consulate before dispersing.
New Governor meets the press
Will target illegal entertainment venues
Saksit Meesubkwang
Chiang Mai’s new Governor, Wiboon Sa-nguanpong, met with members of the
city’s media to discuss his agenda as the new leader of the province.
 The
new Chiang Mai Governor Wiboon Sa-nguanpong at his first weekly press
conference held at Chiang Mai city hall.
He replaced former Governor Wichai Srikwan who was promoted to Director
General of the Local Administration Department and who will oversee the next
general elections.
The Governor stated that one of his priorities will be to concentrate on the
city’s entertainment venues, adding that relevant organizations will be
monitoring and carrying out inspections for any illegal activities.
If these venues are not in compliance they will be shut down said the
Governor.
Online video game addiction and drug problems among the youth will also
receive his attention as he begins his duties.
Governor Wiboon Sa-nguanpong told the media that he realizes that Chiang Mai
is famed for its culture, historical and natural charms and it is important
for tourists to be introduced to these charms of the city.
He added that is was important for the residents of Chiang Mai to understand
the importance of promoting sustainable tourism to the city.
Governor Sa-nguanphong was most recently the governor of Angthong province
and served as deputy governor in Lop Buri province.
Chiang Mai’s new Governor was born in 1954 in Ayuthaya province. He
graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science form Chulalongkorn
University and obtained his masters degree in Public Administration from
NIDA in Bangkok.
Prior to being named Governor of Chiang Mai, he served as deputy Governor of
Roi Et, Ayuthaya, Samut Sakhon and Lop Buri provinces, and then Governor of
Angthong province since October 2005.
Pandas to get new
50 million baht home
Lin-Hui nibbles at her
birthday gifts as zoo officials announced a new 50 million baht home will be
built for the star attraction.
Saksit Meesubkwang
Lin-Hui, the female resident panda at the Chiang Mai zoo just turned
six and zoo officials will begin building a new 50 million baht home for her
and her mate Chuang Chuang.
The new home and display section will include an icy dome with artificial
snow according to the panda project manager who added that construction
should be finalized by October 2008.
Prasertsak Boontrakulpoonthawee added that construction work plan and design
for the new dome will serve as a multi-purpose space of 400 square meters.
The panda’s new residence will be temperature controlled to minus 5 and 18
degrees Celsius to replicate as best possible the cold weather and
surroundings of their original home in China.
Zoo officials have tried in vain to have the pandas reproduce. Next year
they will attempt to inseminate Lin-Hui once again.
As part of the birthday celebrations students from surrounding schools
turned up to join in the festivities last week.
Birthday cakes, crafted fruits and panda dolls made from bamboo wood and
leaves served as treats for the birthday girl.
Exhibition to honor HM
the King coming to Chiang Mai
The Minister attached to the Prime Minister’s Office,
Khunying Dhipavadee Meksawan has asked that the general public follow the
projects on the celebration of His Majesty the King’s 80th Birthday
Anniversary on December 5th this year.
Khunying Dhipavadee said the projects on this celebration will be held
across the country, starting in November.
The special event will be held in Chiang Mai from November 17 until the 25th
and the location is yet to be announced.
She added that His Majesty the King’s biography; duties, initiatives and
projects will be exhibited in this event.
Khunying Dhipavadee says the religious ceremonies to celebrate this
auspicious occasion will be held in 76 provinces throughout Thailand before
they will be presented to His Majesty the King in Bangkok at a later date.
The Prime Minister’s Office Minister announced that members of the public
can send letters on this celebration to the Government House at P.O. Box 80,
or they can log on to www.dogood .or.th to send their messages. NNB
Nurses van used to
traffic illegal immigrants
At 3.30am on September 29, Police Major Surachart
Boonjaroen, inspector of the Muang District Police Station, Chiang Rai,
Weerayuth Sriwanrom, deputy inspector and police officers set up a check
point on the Phaholyothin road (Chiang Rai-Mae Chan route) to screen people
coming into Thailand.
A Toyota van with a sticker on the side that read “for transportation of
nurses” was pulled over for a closer inspection by the police whereas 12
undocumented nationals from Myanmar were discovered.
The driver, Kijti Kerdruen, 27, who is a resident of Tab Sagae district, was
charged with transporting illegal aliens.
The three females and nine males admitted being from Yangon and they escaped
from Myanmar due to the recent uprisings. Each had paid a 5000 baht fee to
be smuggled into the country.
Driver Kijti admitted that he was hired to transport the migrants from Mae
Sai district to Bangkok where their agents would pick them up.
According to the police the van driver had an advance team in a pick-up
truck that was to warn him of any check points along the way. Apparently
there was a breakdown in communication. Chiang Mai News
School official robbed
and stabbed to death
Police arrest three teenagers
Saksit Meesubkwang
A Toyota Corolla car abandoned in a parking lot behind Carrefour
Hypermart was brought to the attention of the Mae Ping police who discovered
blood stains inside the vehicle.
 Police
escort one of the suspects during a re-enactment of the death of the Lamphun
school official whose body was discovered on the banks of the Ping River.
The silver colored car had been sitting in the parking lot for several days
according to Police Lt. Puwanai Kanasai, of Tambon Mae Ping police station.
A team from the office of Police Forensic Science 32 and medical staff from
Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital were sent to investigate.
They found blood stains on the driver’s seat and on the back seats of the
vehicle along with a golden watch, a gold topaz ring, luggage and personal
documents.
The owner of the car was subsequently identified as deputy director of the
Khumngoen Wittayakhan School in Mae Tha, Lamphun, Boonrat NaProm, 56, who
according to his family had gone missing since September 29th.
On October 2 police discovered his body on the banks of the Ping River. Soon
after police arrested the first of three suspects, a 16 year old and the
other two, aged 15. It is unclear what led police to the suspects.
During questioning the suspects told officers that three days before they
killed him they had planned to rob the victim.
The victim apparently picked up the three suspects at Tesco Lotus Kha Thieng
branch. Two of the suspects rode in Mr. Naprom’s car while another suspect
followed on a motorbike.
The two suspects then threatened the victim with the knife and robbed him of
his wallet containing 2,100 baht and an ATM card.
They then forced Mr. Naprom to give up his PIN access code and subsequently
withdrew 78,000 baht from his bank account at an ATM machine.
Mr. Naprom was then stabbed to death, said the police and his body was
dumped on the banks of the Ping River near Ban Suan Phi Sua. The suspects
then drove the victim’s car to the Carrefour parking lot, removed the
license plates and divided the stolen money. A laptop computer belonging to
the victim was also recovered at one of the suspect’s home.
Police Lt. Gen. Theerasak Sukijkhun, Commander Region 5 Police said officers
are expanding their investigations as they believe the boys could not carry
out such a vicious crime on their own initiative.
Under laws that went into effect recently, the parents of the suspects
(under 18 years of age) could face prosecution for the crimes they allegedly
committed.
Six months needed to
study aircraft’s flight data
A senior Civil Aviation Department official admitted that
an additional analysis of data from the black box flight recorders of the
ill-fated One-Two-Go aircraft, which crashed in Phuket on September 16, will
take six months at the soonest.
Fifty three foreigners were among the 90 persons killed when One-Two-Go’s
MD-82 jet carrying 123 passengers and seven crew members crashed at Phuket
International Airport in bad weather.
Department Director General Chaisak Angkasuwan said data decoded from the
black box has already reached Thailand but an analysis of the data will need
at least six months to three years depending on its complication.
He pointed out that the analysis had to be carefully carried out to avoid
any error, adding that the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing Co., would have to
get involved by analyzing the data pertaining to the aircraft’s operation
system.
This process on the Boeing side itself takes at least two months, he said.
Chaisak said results of an initial analysis of the flight data recorders by
Thai and US officials were in line with the information and evidence
gathered by a Thai committee investigating the crash.
The McDonnell-Douglas MD 82 aircraft broke into two sections before bursting
into flame in both wings and the tail section of the plane, after it smashed
into a wooded embankment near the runway while landing in bad weather.
TNA
Merit making ceremony for killed monks
Khajohn Boonpath,
Mae Hong Son
The women’s association Burmese Women Rights Protection Network in Mae Hong
Son known by its acronym SCOEWBA and Pa-o Women’s Union (PWU) held a making
merit ceremony in memory of the monks who were killed in the bloody
crackdown by Myanmar soldiers.
The ceremony took place at the Huay Due temple and was attended by 200
monks, novices and residents.
A march then took place following the ceremony where participants carried
placards that read, “Stop the crackdown on monks and innocent people.”
Teachers at CMU denounce actions Myanmar
Teachers at Chiang Mai University lead by Mr. Chaiyant
Vathanaphut denounced inhumane acts by the Myanmar military against their
people.
They called upon the Thai, Chinese, Indian and members of ASEAN to present a
clear stance and call for an end to the human rights breaches against its
people.
The Thai government should cease support provided to the Myanmar military in
all forms, such as provision of loans, investment in energy and natural gas;
including the construction of the Salaween Dam.
Mr. Somchote Ongsakul said the events in the neighboring country show that
the real needs of the people who dream of peace are willing to risk their
lives.
Mr. Chaladchai Rimtanont said that those who disagree with the events should
present a clear stance by not supporting businesses that have investments in
Myanmar, including energy, gas and oil companies. CMM Reporters
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