Thailand Coup: Tourists Confined to Hotels and City Streets Deserted after Curfew Announced

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: TV and radio stations forced off the air and military patrols enforce night-time curfew across the nation

A nationwide curfew was imposed across Thailand on Thursday emptying city streets of their population, closing down bars, businesses and restaurants and forcing tens of thousands at tourist resorts across the country to remain in their hotels.

The dramatic move followed the Thai military's declaration of martial law, defying international pressure by taking over a civilian government which was entrenched in political deadlock.

The head of the military, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, appeared on television, flanked by other armed services chiefs and proclaimed the army would act to resolve those political divisions that have paralysed the state for almost a decade.

Within hours of his appearance TV and radio stations were blocked with the reported threat of an internet and social media blackout to come.

Tourists arriving in the country from Britain and elsewhere were greeted by fleets of vehicles commandeered to ferry visitors after the 10pm start of the curfew between airports and hotels. Read on and comment » | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent | Thursday, May 22, 2014

SAS Man Who Claims That Diana Was Murdered 'Flees to Thailand in Fear for His Life'

MAIL ONLINE: Unidentified Soldier N has said SAS were involved in Princess's death / He claims soldiers shone a light into the eyes of her driver, leading to the fatal car crash in 1997 / Police re-opened investigation into Diana's death in response / But now Soldier N has fled the country before he could be examined

An [sic] sniper who claims the SAS were involved in a plot to kill Princess Diana has reportedly fled to Thailand in fear of his life.

The anonymous soldier is said to be laying low in south-east Asia as police investigators probe claims that members of the Army helped cause the car crash that killed Diana in 1997.

It has been claimed that special forces agents shined a light into the eyes of Diana's driver, which led to him losing control of the car and hitting a pillar in a tunnel in Paris.

The sniper - known only as Soldier N - made the claims to police investigators, leading to the inquiry into the Princess's death being reopened.

But he fled the country before Scotland Yard could properly examine the evidence, which was handed over by the Royal Military Police, reported the Daily Star. Read on and comment » | Daily Mail Reporter | Thursday, September 26, 2013

Muslim Insurgents Launch 50 Attacks in Thailand's Deep South
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Muslim insurgents fighting for a separate state in Thailand's deep south launched 50 bomb and arson attacks over the weekend, killing three members of the security forces as violence in the troubled region intensifies.

The three local defence volunteers died after a bomb hidden in a pile of clothes exploded outside a restaurant in Pattani Town on Sunday lunchtime.

Another nine people were injured in the blast.

A coordinated campaign of terror started at 6pm local time on Saturday, when seven bombs were planted outside shops, supermarkets and a karaoke bar in Pattani Town, the capital of Pattani Province, one of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand with a Muslim majority population.

Bomb disposal experts defused five of the bombs. But further devices were detonated later that night and on Sunday, while a wave of arson attacks gutted shops in Pattani Town and targeted mobile phone towers, security cameras and local defence bases elsewhere in Pattani Province.

"Intelligence estimates suggest there were 50 coordinated attacks. We managed to prevent attacks in eight spots," Police Major General Ekkaphob Prasitwattanachai told local media. » | David Eimer, Saigon | Monday, February 18, 2013

Muslims Fleeing Sectarian Violence in Burma Drown as Crisis Deepens
THE OBSERVER: Many Rohingya people are attempting dangerous voyages to Bangladesh and Thailand, but most are sent back on arrival

First one body appeared, floating in the waters of the Bay of Bengal, then another, and another, until those on board the little fishing boat that had gone to their rescue began to lose count.

Those bobbing lifeless among the waves had set out the night before, so desperate to escape the growing sectarian violence in Burma that they were prepared to risk boarding the dangerously overcrowded boat.

At least 130 had clambered aboard, but the boat foundered – whether it capsized because of the weight of bodies or because it struck rocks remains unclear.

The sinking last week was the worst reported incident resulting from the outbreak of violence between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims in western Burma. The death toll is continuing to rise amid reports of a deepening humanitarian crisis.

"The situation is dire. The UN is doing its best, but it is trying to find more funding to help them," said Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project, an NGO working with the Rohingya. » | Gethin Chamberlain | Sunday, November 04, 2012

Thai Woman Awaits Verdict in Royal-insult Trial
A Thai woman is facing 20 years in jail for comments posted online criticising the Thai king, who is revered as God in the Southeast Asian country. Chiranuch Premchaiporn, a web master, was initially arrested in 2009, charged with being too slow to remove 10 comments from a forum on her website. The postings were made by other people, but under tough computer crime laws enacted after the military coup in 2006, the website's host can also be prosecuted. Chiranuch's verdict was delayed by a month because the judge needed more time. The Thai royal family is, by law, above criticism. Anyone who is caught breaking the rules is more often than not, thrown in jail. Earlier this month, an elderly man died less than six months into a 20-year prison sentence for sending four text messages that were deemed insulting to the monarchy. The death of Amphon Tangnoppakul, also known as Uncle SMS, has shone a light on the country's strict lèse-majesté laws, legal stipulations which criminalise the violation of the royal family and which were designed to prevent criticism of them. Family members of prisoners, also a growing portion of the public, are trying to push for changes to the lèse-majesté laws. Yingluck Shinawtra, the Thai prime minister, admitted to Al Jazeera in a recent interview that the law is sometimes misused. Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay says from Bangkok.

Thai Funeral Shines Light On Royal Family Law
Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Thailand for the funeral of Amphon Tangnoppakul, also known as 'Uncle SMS'. He died less than six months into a 20-year prison sentence for sending four text messages that were deemed insulting to the Thai monarchy. Tangnoppakul's death has shone a light on Thailand's strict lese majeste laws, which were designed to prevent criticism of the royal family. Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawtra has admitted to Al Jazeera that the law is sometimes misused, while a growing portion of the public is now calling for it to be changed. Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from Samut Prakan, Thailand.

Muslimische Separatisten hinter Anschlagsserie vermutet
Bombenterror in Südthailand
NZZ ONLINE: Im Süden Thailands hat eine Serie von Bombenanschlägen am Samstag mindestens 14 Menschenleben gefordert. Rund 500 Personen wurden verletzt, über 100 befanden sich am Sonntag noch in Spitalpflege. Nach Angaben der Polizei waren im Geschäftszentrum der Stadt Yala um die Mittagszeit innerhalb weniger Minuten drei Sprengkörper explodiert. In der Folge gingen ganze Häuserzeilen in Flammen auf. Eine weitere Bombe explodierte eine Stunde später in Hat Yai vor einem Touristenhotel. Dabei kamen ein Malaysier und zwei Gäste unbekannter Nationalität um. » | kam. Singapur/ Neue Zürcher Zeitung | Sonntag, 01. April 2012

Neuer Weltrekord: Jungs können länger küssen
Ein thailändisches Paar küsste sich in den Valentinstag und hat damit einen neuen Weltrekord aufgestellt. Nonthawat Charoenkasetsin und sein Freund blieben mehr als 50 Stunden mit ihren Mündern verbunden. Und auch als Rekord-Langküsser haben die beiden nicht genug von den Lippen des anderen.

Thai Facebookers Warned Not to 'Like' Anti-monarchy Groups

THE GUARDIAN: Country's strict laws against insulting the monarch have been used to jail a man for 20 years for sending text messages

A government minister in Thailand has warned Facebook users that anyone pressing the "like" button on posts that might be offensive to the monarchy could be prosecuted under the country's strict lèse-majesté laws.

The warning was given two days after a Thai criminal court sentenced Amphon Tangnoppaku, 61, to 20 years in prison for sending text messages deemed insulting to the country's queen.

Amphon was found guilty on four counts and sentenced to five years' consecutive jail on each charge.

Thailand's laws against lèse-majesté (insulting a monarch) are the most severe in the world. Even repeating the details of an alleged offence is illegal.

A report in the Bangkok Post quoted the information technology minister, Anudith Nakornthap, saying that anyone who had pressed "like" on items related to lèse-majesté on Facebook should go back and delete all their reactions and comments. Such material could end up being copied by people who set up fake pages to insult the monarchy, he said.

"If they don't delete them, they can end up violating the computer crime act for indirectly distributing inappropriate content," Anudith said. » | Staff and agencies | Friday, November 25, 2011

Related »

Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Insulting Thai Queen by Text Message

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Thailand's criminal court sentenced a 61-year-old man to 20 years in prison Wednesday for sending text messages deemed offensive to the country's queen.

The court found Amphon Tangnoppaku guilty on four counts under the country's lese majeste [sic] and computer crime laws, sentencing him to five years imprisonment for each charge.

Lese majeste [sic] is the crime of insulting a monarch, and Thailand's laws against it are the most severe in the world. Even repeating the details of an alleged offence is illegal. » | Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Bangkok Residents Flee Flooding in Thai Capital
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Bangkok residents fled the capital on Thursday after authorities called an emergency five-day holiday and urged people in flood-prone parts of the city to leave to avoid a massive deluge.

Flood waters were already seeping into central parts of Bangkok in the morning, with waters entering the Grand Palace, near the Chao Phraya river.

After days of preparing for the onslaught of water, many citizens abandoned their homes on Wednesday night and Thursday morning and were heading to safety in other areas, especially southern beach towns of Hua Hin, Phuket and Pattaya.

"We have learned that all of these destinations are packed with Thais who have moved from Bangkok," said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) deputy chief Sansern Ngaorungsi.

He said domestic flights from the country's main air hub, Suvarnabhumi – which is still operating as normal – were also "very, very packed".

Televised footage showed crowded bus terminals in the capital as people sought to escape, while officials said Bangkok's main train station was also filling up and roads north and east out of the city were choked. » | Thursday, October 27, 2011

Two Million People Hit by Thailand's Worst Floods for 50 Years
At least 283 people have been killed and more than 110,000 people left homeless by floods that have destroyed crops and livlihoods across Thailand.

Read short article here | Friday, October 14, 2011

US Man Faces 15 Years in Jail for Insulting Thai Monarchy

THE GUARDIAN: Thai-born Lerpong Wichaikhammat wants Washington to seek his release on grounds of freedom of expression

An American citizen has pleaded guilty to insulting Thailand's monarchy, an offence that carries up to 15 years in prison. Lerpong Wichaikhammat, who also calls himself Joe W Gordon, has asked Washington to seek his release on grounds of freedom of expression.

Thailand has the world's toughest laws on lese-majesty * – insulting the monarchy – and many of its people regard King Bhumibol Adulyadej as almost divine.

Thai-born Lerpong, 55, was charged with using the internet to disseminate information that insults or threatens the monarchy after he translated an article and posted it on his blog.

He was also accused of providing a web link to a controversial biography of 83-year-old Bhumibol by a US author. The book is banned in Thailand. » | REUTERS | Monday, October 10, 2011

* WIKI: Lese majesty / lèse majesté / laesa maiestas »

N Koreans Risk Lives for Freedom
Thousands of North Korean refugees, desperate to find new lives, undertake arduous journey by foot to find shelter in South Korea.

But many of them are intercepted in Thailand.

While South Korea has offered to pay to take care of the migrants, Thailand fears this will encourage more North Koreans to leave.

Al Jazeera's Aela Callan reports from Chaing Saen in northern Thailand

Newly-formed Thai Airline Recruits 'Ladyboys' as Air Hostesses
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A newly-formed Thai airline has recruited transsexuals as air hostesses, in a pioneering move it believes will be copied by other carriers.

Thailand has the largest number of 'katoeys' – as they are called in Thai – in the world. Photo: The Daily Telegraph
[There is] sky-high demand from men wishing to become women [in Thailand]. – [Source: The Daily Telegraph]
PC Air, which has yet to take to the skies, selected three "Ladyboys" in its first round of hiring this week to promote equal opportunities for what is dubbed the "third sex" in Thailand.

Peter Chan, the new airline's boss, is enthusiastic about his groundbreaking move because of the opportunities it would afford transsexuals.

"I think these people can have many careers – not just in the entertainment business – and many of them have a dream to be an air hostess," he said. "I just made their dream come true. Our society has changed. It's evolution. I'm a pioneer and I'm sure there will be other organisations following my idea." >>> Ian MacKinnon, Bangkok | Friday, January 28, 2011

Reporter's Firsthand Account of Thailand Turmoil

Thai Businesses Look to Rebuild

Bangkok Clean-up Begins Amid Curfews

Thailand Extends Curfew As Hardline Protesters Fight On
THE TELEGRAPH: Thailand has imposed three more days of curfew in Bangkok and 23 other provinces as the military extended its operations to crush an anti-government protest movement.



One day after the army moved into the Red Shirt protestor encampment in the centre of the capital, sparking a night of violence in which 35 buildings were torched, residents of Bangkok were struggling to regain some sort of normality.

But the extension of the first curfew in 18 years was a sign that the chaos of recent months and days had not been banished by the extensive army deployment.

In announcing the curfew would stretch until Sunday, officials said rioting of the part 24 hours had been systematically planned. Col Sansern Kawekamnerd, an army spokesman, said a cache of bombs, "war ammunition" and guns including AK-47 and M-16 automatic rifles in the crackdown had been found at opposition strongholds.

"Such violence couldn't happen without systematic planning," said government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn. "The security forces will continue operations to restore order and arrest those involved in terrorism." >>> Damien McElroy in Bangkok | Thursday, May 20, 2010

Bangkok in Flames as Protesters Refuse to Back Down
THE TELEGRAPH: Bangkok is in flames as the government admits it lost control when protesters set fire to key buildings in the city following a day of running battles with troops which left 12 dead and 60 injured.

A statue of Buddha and a torn Thai national flag remain in front of Bangkok's Central World shopping mall. Photo: The Telegraph
Rioters set fires at the stock exchange, electricity headquarters, banks and government offices. Siam Theatre, a much loved city institution, collapsed in flames. Hundreds of people had to be rescued from the burning headquarters of Channel 3 television. The death toll since fresh outbreaks of violence on Thursday now stands at 51.

The government issued "shoot on site" orders for a dawn raid as troops tried to disperse 2,000 Red Shirts who had been camped in Rajprasong, the capital's premier shopping and office district, for more than six weeks.

Seven of the Red Shirt leaders surrendered to police but militant gangs waged an arson and looting spree. The vast Central World shopping centre was torched as government troops shot to kill in a last ditch effort to defend it.

When the army finally marched cautiously into the protesters' former stronghold they discovered that the 2,000 strong crowd had dwindled to one woman.

Kuesadee Narukan, an elderly nurse, stood holding a red flag in the deserted arena. The sound system remained on and rice was cooking on the boilers. "I am not afraid. I am ready for my punishment," she said. "I am a fighter for democracy. >>> Damien McElroy and Ian MacKinnon in Bangkok | Wednesday, May 19, 2010

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