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Two international societies honour HM the King
for inventiveness
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was
honoured by two international associations for his innovative inventions,
according to the Office of the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
NRCT Secretary General Prof. Anond Bunyaratvej said at a press conference
that the International Federation of Inventors’ Association (IFIA) in
Hungary and the Korea Invention Promotion Association (KIPA) form South
Korea had honoured HM the King for his outstanding inventions.
Also presented at the press conference were IFIA President Dr. Andras Vedres
and KIPA director Lee Jip-joong.
The Budapest-based IFIA is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation
created by seven European inventors associations in 1968 to improve the
status of inventors at the national and international levels, and to promote
cooperation between inventors associations.
KIPA is an organisation specialising in promoting national intellectual
property rights and commercialisation of patent technologies.
IFIA presented IFIA Cup for His Majesty is Chaipattana Low Speed Aerator, a
paddle-wheel machine in the form of a floating buoy that helps add oxygen to
water, this aiding the purification process.
The surface aerator is effectively used in wastewater treatment, he said.
IFIA also honoured HM the King with its Genius Prize medal for his “New
Theory” for farmers and his sufficiency economy philosophy.
Meanwhile, KIPA honoured HM the King as the Father of Thailand’s Inventions,
he said, adding that KIPA also praised HM the King for his tireless work to
find innovations to help ease the problems of the people and benefit persons
in other countries.
IFIA said HM the King was a role model for the world’s inventors. His
inventions could benefit all humanity.
Eighty-four member countries of IFIA have set February 2 as the first world
inventor’s day, to honour the Thai monarch as he was the first person to
receive the patent for the Chaipattana Low Speed Aerator.
The patent, number 3127, was granted on Feb. 2, 1993 for his invention.
It was awarded the first prize by the National Research Council of Thailand
on July 22, 1993.
Thailand will host world inventors day February 2-5 next year. (TNA)
Court passes judgement
in malpractice case
Saksit Meesubkwang
In mid November 2007, the Provincial Court in Chiang Mai passed
judgement in an appeal case concerning medical malpractice which cost the
life of a 17-year-old girl.
 An
initial court case had resulted in Dr. Charlie. Kanjanarak, right, being
sentenced to four years imprisonment.
In 2002, Ms Siriporn Muima had attended a clinic to undergo a liposuction
process, but the doctor who administered the treatment had allegedly used
expired medication, causing her death.
An initial court case had resulted in Dr. Charlie. Kanjanarak, 48, being
sentenced to four years imprisonment. An appeal was mounted, and bail was
paid; however, this was finally rejected and the judgement of four years
imprisonment was upheld. The parents of the dead girl have filed a civil
case against Dr. Kanjanarak in the amount of 13 million baht damages.
Holmes’ Comet viewed
from Doi Inthanon
The latest image of the
beautiful Holmes’ Comet, shot by the deputy director of the National
Astronomical Institute of Thailand, Dr. Saran Posayajinda, on November 18,
2007, at 01.22 a.m. The location was the mountaintop at Doi Inthanon, the
highest peak in Thailand. Dr Saran used his telescope with a 106mm diameter
lens to take the photograph.
Election candidates sworn in
CMM reporters
The last day of Chiang Mai’s Members of Parliament candidate
application welcomed eight more candidates, bringing the total for the four
election zones to 108 applicants from 13 political parties.
The parties represented are People Power, Democrats, Chart Thai, Matchima
Thipataya, Rua, Jai Thai Chart Pattana, Prachamati, the New Aspiration, Thai
Pen Thai, Thai Rum Ruay Ekkaratch, Puea Pandin and the Farmer Networks of
Thailand. The first and second election zones have 33 candidates, whilst the
third has 24 and the fourth has 18.
The orientation session for the MP candidates was held on November 17 at the
Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel, chaired by Dr. Sutthipol Taweechaikarn of the
Election Commission of Thailand. All candidates were asked to conduct their
campaigns in line with the relevant laws in order to promote corruption-free
and fair elections. They were advised to shun vote-buying, and to be aware
of the value of unanimity.
Many well known candidates attended the session, including Dr. Thaworn
Kiatchaiyakorn, Maj. Gen. Intarat Yodbangtoey, Budsaba Yodbangtoey, Pol Maj
Gen Prasert Chantrapipat, Kingkarn Na Chiangmai, Pol Sgt Gen Udom Worawan
and Sujit Na Wichai. After the orientation session ended, the candidates
attended a swearing-in ceremony, which took place in front of an image of
His Majesty the King, a reproduction of the Three Kings’ Monument, and a
monk.
Regarding the requirements for conducting the election, it was announced
that verification of the candidates’ qualifications would take seven days.
Application approval or disapproval would then be announced. The processes
during the five registration days had been carried out smoothly and with
good coordination from all parties. Several agendas were assigned including
the selection of unbiased election staff, security arrangements during the
election process, and management of the ballot boxes.
Candidate resumes only should be sent to the election zones to avoid
confusion, and the election areas themselves should be arranged in order to
facilitate usage by handicapped and aged persons. Election staff should be
on hand to advise, in order to prevent voided ballots. The Deputy Governor
of Chiang Mai, Ruengwan Buanuch, said that Chiang Mai Provincial Authority
had been promoting and campaigning in order to allow voters to choose
suitable and virtuous candidates, and that 1,000 democratic network
volunteers had been appointed to follow up and deal with the problem of vote
buying.
Attempted murder
results in drowning death
Saksit Meesubkwang
An urgent call from a police box in Tam Pla, Mae Sai, resulted in a
team of police rushing to a development under construction at Ban Sonkled
Thong. There they found the drowned body of Mr. Prachon floating in the
nearby river.
In his trouser pockets were two hand guns and a number of bullets. In a
house on the development they found the pregnant owner, Ms Ladda, who had
been shot twice in the head. She was in a serious condition, and was rushed
to Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital’s emergency unit, where she remains
gravely ill.
The police also found her husband, Rapsael Louisandre, who had been shot in
the shoulder. He told them that, when he returned home from a shopping trip
with his wife, an intruder had stepped from behind the door and shot his
wife twice in the head. The intruder then tried to make a run for it. Mr.
Louisandre gave chase, and was shot in the shoulder. He continued to give
chase and caught the attacker. In the course of the struggle which followed,
both men fell into the river. The intruder was pushed under the water, where
he drowned.
During the following police investigation, it was found that Mr. Prachon was
unemployed and in debt, and that his wife had very recently given birth to a
baby. His motivation for his crime was obviously theft, as he had no money
to purchase necessities for the child. He had intended to rob the victims,
but had lost his life as a result of his actions.
The superintendent of Mae Sai Police Station, Pol. Col. Thivathach Nakhorn
Sri, commented that Mr. Louisandre was worthy of praise for struggling with
and overcoming the attacker, that he had great sympathy for Ms Ladda and
that he is praying for her full recovery. He confirmed that police will be
sent to protect the family from further danger. Mr. Louisandre will have to
be prosecuted under the law, but hopefully will be extended clemency as his
actions were taken in order to protect his family.
He also stated that Mr. Louisandre’s action may well act as a deterrent to
further attacks on foreigners.
Royal initiative “Discovery” brings ambassadors to Chiang Rai
19 Ambassadors from 11 countries including Greece, Korea, Chile, Portugal,
Cuba, Pakistan, Singapore, Bangladesh, the Vatican State, Nigeria, Panama
and the Ukraine, visited Chiang Rai recently as part of the Royal Initiative
“Discovery”.
The visit was organised and led by the Thai Tourism and Sports Minister Dr.
Suwit Yodmanee. The Ambassadors were warmly greeted and welcomed on their
arrival at Chiang Rai airport by the Governor of Chiang Rai, Preecha
Kamolbutre, together with Thanya Nikrothanont, the Director of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand, Northern Region 2, the Director of Chiang Rai
tourism, sport and recreation, Sawet Mantai, the Director of Chiang Rai
Airport, Pratueng Sornkham, and the heads of many governmental offices in
the region.
Dr. Suwit Yodmanee said, in an address to the visiting VIPs, that he was
sure their first visit to Chiang Rai would encourage them to fully promote
the natural charms and artistic charms of the city, adding that he expected
a large number of tourists to visit the city during the high season,
especially during the Mekong River Basin Cultural Festival, scheduled for
21st to 25th November. He continued as follows:
“More foreign tourists are expected this year, with the focus on visitor
quality rather than quantity. However, some groups, particularly from Japan
and China, may decrease in number, as negative domestic news may cause
diminishing confidence.
“Meanwhile, Thailand has to develop and promote new tourist attractions in
order to compete with neighbouring countries. TAT has established several
new offices overseas to help promote tourism in Thailand.”
The Deputy Governor responsible for TAT’s plans and policies, Akkapol
Phrueksawan, mentioned that, when the R3a-R3b route linking Thailand, Laos,
Myanmar and China is completed, an increased influx of tourists is expected
in Chiang Rai as a result of decreased journey time. Currently, 4-5 Thai
entrepreneurs together with those in neighbouring countries are offering
Mekong River ferry services, which will result in more optimistic prospects
for tourism and the resultant income growth.
The third Mekong Friendship Bridge will be constructed in Chiang Khong
district, with completion expected in 2012, concurrent with the completion
of Route R3a linking Thailand with Laos and China.
The Director of Chiang Rai Airport, Praterng Sornkham, said that an influx
of tourists is expected to crowd the city this winter. On average, 100,000
passengers have arrived each month, which signals optimism for the growth of
tourism in the province. Chiang Rai’s geographic location close to Laos,
China and Myanmar can only encourage its desirability as a base for
exploring these countries.
Samurai gang resurfaces in Lampang
CMM reporters
Lampang teenagers not fearing the law have set up a Samurai gang in
each village, and nearly 50 of them gathered to ride around on motorbikes
attacking people with swords who ignored them. The latest victim was a
student from a technology institute, who was attacked and struck in the face
during the Loy Krathong Festival, which resulted in several stitches.
The attack took place at 11:40pm on November 25, after the last parade group
had passed by. Pol. Cap. Kaiyachat Kampanchan, Inspector on duty at the
Muang Lampang Police Station received a notice that a group of between 40-50
teenagers had assaulted another group of teenagers. The gang used swords to
strike one of the teenagers in the back and face, while he was sitting and
drinking on the sidewalk observing the parade, which resulted in serious
injuries. The Lampang Hospital Center rescue vehicle transferred the injured
person to the Lampang Hospital Center.
The incident occurred in front of Arunothai School on Chatchai Road, Sobtui,
Muang, Lampang. The officers were only able to arrest one of the criminals,
who was identified as Witsanu Paranan, a 17 year old, from Ban Klauyluang,
Klauypae, Muang, Lampang. However, he denied striking the injured person
with a sword, but admitted that he was with the group of criminals. The
others had already fled on the motorbikes (3-4 on one motorbike). The
officers detained him and expanded the case to pursue the other criminals.
The injured person was Mr. Witawat Muangkam, 19 years old, a 3rd year
student at Lampang Technical College. He had black and blue marks on his
back, but had been seriously injured to his face, which required 25
stitches; right eyebrow and right cheek.
The injured person stated that he had attended the Loy Krathong Festival
with seven others. He was sitting and drinking together with them, while the
last of the Krathong parade passed by in the direction of the Lampang
Municipality Office at the clock tower 5-way intersection. Then a group of
approximately 40-50 teenagers on motorbikes came and stopped beside the road
before attacking his group without saying a word. He was the last person in
the group that tried to run away. One of them struck his back with a sword,
and followed up by striking his face once again. This resulted in him
sustaining injuries to the right eyebrow and cheek. He fell down in a pool
of blood, before a rescue unit arrived and transferred him to the Lampang
Hospital Center, where he received 25 stitches.
The officers didn’t allow Witsanu Paranan to be bailed out, and charged him
with cooperating with others to injure and try to kill another person. The
case is being expanded to pursue the other criminals for punishment
according to the law.
Rice share fraud special
investigation to begin
Saksit Meesubkwang
A special unit will be set up at Changpuak Police Station this month
by the Department of Special Investigation, Crime Suppression, to
investigate the recent rice share scam instigated by Ruamtun Khapleek Co.,
known as the Joint Capital Retail Trade Company, and Somkid Business Co.
Ltd.
 A
special unit will be set up at Changpuak Police Station this month by the
Department of Special Investigation, Crime Suppression, to investigate the
recent rice share scam.
This unit will create a file of all victims of the scam who have made a
report, which will assist in tracing the perpetrators in order to make
arrests. The scam, which was networked countrywide after it was started in
the Chiang Mai area, involved persuading people to deposit an investment of
650 baht in the company, telling them that it would earn a return of 1,000
baht per month. The companies used rice to persuade people to invest, then
closed down without returning the invested funds.
At present, there are at least 426 victims of the fraud, although it is
believed that many more, particularly workers from the Lamphun area, have
not yet come forward to register.
The deputy director of DSI Crime Suppression Pinyo Thongchai stated that he
would be co-operating with local police officers to urge a full
investigation of this case, as the companies concerned have infringed the
Royal Act of 1984 by creating a loan system with intent to defraud. On
further examination of the use of the money so received, it will be decided
whether money laundering regulations have also been breached.
Police Lt. General Kittitat Ruantip, the assistant national police chief,
requested that persons who had been defrauded by these companies and who had
not yet filed a report should kindly come forward and give details. They
should not believe that they will eventually have their money returned by
the fraudsters.
A press release on November 21 by the Superintendent of Changpuak Police
Station stated that this scam, which had damaged not only individuals, but
also Thai society, has received a great deal of attention, and that the
authorities are committed to a thorough investigation resulting in
convictions of those involved.
Man arrested for
smuggling rare gibbon
On the afternoon of November 15, Somsak Posuwan, a
resident of Chiang Rai, was charged with possessing a male gibbon monkey
belonging to a protected species.
It seems that he had obtained the animal through local villagers, and had
trained it in order to be able to put it on show at one of his tourist
attractions in the Mae Yao area.
On being informed of this, two C8 forestry officers, Sitthikarn
Chuemuangparn and Payao Saidee, both working with the Forest Conservation
Unit in Chiang Rai, arrested Mr Somsak and confiscated the animal, as the
possession of any animal belonging to a protected species is illegal.
A full investigation will be carried out, based at Mae Yao Police Station.
(CMM reporters)
Police on the lookout for murderer who killed a Japanese female
Japanese tourists and more than 10 Japanese mass media
organizations are following a case about a Japanese woman being murdered.
It was reported that in the afternoon of November 25, Miss Tomoko Kawashita,
27, a Japanese tourist, had been robbed, her throat cut, and her body dumped
in the forest on a hill in the area of the entrance to Saphanhin Temple at
Sukhothai Historical Park Muangkao.
The deputy commissioner in Region 2 called in the Muangkao Police and
ordered them to urgently conduct an investigation, emphasizing that the
murderer must be arrested, since the case affects Thailand’s tourism image.
After questioning witnesses, it was found that the deceased had rented a
bicycle for sightseeing in the park, and then had been murdered and robbed.
In continuing news for this case, on November 26, Pol. Maj. Gen. Ta-Ngai
Prasajaksattoo, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police in Region 6
came to the Muangkao District of Sukhothai to follow the progress of the
case. This included calling a meeting for every department of the police
station associated with this, in order to speed up conducting an
investigation to find the criminals “as soon as possible since it is a case
that has a lot of consequences for the tourism image of the Sukhothai
Province”, including that the Japanese media is interested in this case.
There are more than 10 Japanese Mass Media organizations closely monitoring
the progress of this case.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Ta-Ngai revealed that there has not been much information
released, because the police are in the process of questioning witnesses.
However, a search warrant was requested to search the suspects’ houses. This
case drew interest from Suwit Yodmanee, Minister of Tourism and Sports, who
was at the crime scene and is monitoring the progress of this case by
himself.
“The police were not complacent, because this case is crucial. It involved a
foreign tourist, and it has consequences for the tourism image of the
Sukhothai Province. Every sector was urged to hurry and investigate to find
the criminals to continue the case,” the Deputy Commissioner of the
Provincial Police from Region 6 said. (Thai News)
BOT keeps an eye
on graft busters
The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Tarisa Watanagase,
said recently that before every national election, BOT sends a letter to the
commercial banks requesting their co-operation in reporting suspicious
transactions, particularly those involving amounts in excess of Bht2
million. This information is intended to help identify and prevent
malpractice involving vote buying during the run-up to the elections
themselves.
Governor Tarisa also said that the upcoming election would help to expand
the Thai economy in the short term as the resulting stability of government
policy would encourage increased confidence amongst investors.
In Phayao province, the chairman of Phayao Provincial Public Health Office,
Dr. Chamnun Hansuthiwechakul, is organising a workshop for village health
volunteers. In accordance with provincial policy, the workshop will
encourage volunteers to vote without bribes.
Dr. Chamnun has said that the workshop will be held in every village in
Phayao Province. On November 14 and 15, the workshop visited Khun Chom Dam
Camp, Chiang Kam District, the meeting hall of Phuchang District, Wad Koo
Phang Land in Tambon Huay Kao Kum, Chun District, Sala Pratchakom of Pom
District, and the meeting hall of Phu Kam Yao District.
On November 21 and 22, the workshop took place at Doi Phu Nang National Park
in Chiang Muan District.
In Chiang Mai, the second day of registration for candidates in the upcoming
election passed quietly, as no candidates tried to register, although
representatives of certain candidates arrived to submit additional
documents. Candidates were beginning to escalate their campaigns by using
vehicles to make announcements as they drive around the city; some others
were visiting voters door to door, after paying their respects to the sacred
statues of Chiang Mai.
There were about 67 registered candidates from 9 political parties active in
Chiang Mai; with the final date for registration being November 16.
In Mae Hong Son Province, the second day of registration mirrored that of
Chiang Mai, in that only one party registered that morning, with another in
the afternoon. To date, there are candidates from 10 parties registered in
the province, most of whom are local politicians, former representatives, or
former senators in Mai Hong Son. (Thai News)
One year anniversary of koala bears celebrated at Chiang Mai Zoo
Saksit Meesubkwang
Chiang Mai Zoo organized a celebration on November 22 for the one year
anniversary of the koala bears’ arrival last year from a zoo in Australia to
live at Chiang Mai Zoo.
It’s already been a year
since these koalas arrived at Chiang Mai Zoo.
The four koala bears named CoCo, Flula, Simpson and
Byron arrived on November 20, 2006. The celebrations included performances
and games for the 300 school children who were able to attend the event for
free. There were also animal quizzes and souvenirs were on sale to visitors
at discounted prices.
Thanaphat Phongkamorn, the director of Chiang Mai Zoo, said that since the
koalas came to live at the zoo, a staff of experts have been taking care of
the koalas regularly and the four animals are all in good health.
In 2007, the zoo has so far earned 50 million baht in zoo entrance fees and
it is anticipated that in 2008 more Thais and foreign tourists will visit
the zoo generating even greater revenues.
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