thai.gr
International Section => General in English => Μήνυμα ξεκίνησε από: halfway inn στις Αυγούστου 05, 2013, 12:33:11 μμ
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Bangkok Airways is scheduled to begin Domestic Direct Flights from / and Udon Thani (UTH) to Bangkok (BKK).
Effective starting date is 29 November 2013, with the following flights:
Flight # : PG 352 (UTH-BKK) Departure on:09:15 / Arrival on: 10:20
Flight # : PG 356 (BKK-UTH) Departure on:20:35 / Arrival on: 21:40
There will be 2 flights per day.
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Bangkok Airways is also in process of scheduling the following Domestic Direct Flights:
From / and Udon Thani (UTH) to Koh Samoui (USM)
From / and Udon Thani (UTH) to Phuket (HKT)
From / and Udon Thani (UTH) to Chiang Mai (CNX)
Effective starting date for those flights currently unknown.
More details on those 3 flights will be announced as soon as they become available.
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Board of Investment - Udon Thani
The Thai Board of Investment approved 33 major projects in the country.
Udon Thani's stake? 4,250,000,000 Baht going toward the Industrial Park area (off the Khon Kaen hwy).
Planned and ongoing new condominium projects (nearly 2500 units)
Planned 3 more home improvement centers
Planned and ongoing new Home Subdivisions
Planned and ongoing new hotels and apartments
Planned and ongoing new shopping centers
Planned and ongoing new sports centers
Planned new city university
New housing developments are going up in every corner of the city
Planned and ongoing new airport expansions and facilities
Planned and ongoing new roads, main roads, and another new ring-road
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August 12, 2013
The Udon Thani's first High Rise Condominium project, which launched it's pre-sale bookings just over 4 months ago is now 91% sold.
6 buildings of 14 storey each, total of 1400 luxurious condominium units in downtown Udon Thani City.
(http://s18.postimg.org/g078oevrd/LUMPINI_View1_Tower_A.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s16.postimg.org/e8mg74m9x/LUMPINI_View7_Garden_Tower_C.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s24.postimg.org/9ek4l7zdh/LUMPINI_View6_Garden_Tower_B.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s15.postimg.org/xf6hp454b/LUMPINI_View5_Garden_Tower_A.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s17.postimg.org/3o3dkofjj/LUMPINI_View4_Garden_Tower_AB.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s7.postimg.org/ufcko39rf/LUMPINI_Pool_Tower_A.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s9.postimg.org/jaf2axy5r/LUMPINI_Pool_Tower_B.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
(http://s17.postimg.org/ooy0jc8fj/LUMPINI_Pool_Tower_C.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
All condo units of all 6 buildings of 14 storey each, are now scheduled to be completed and delivered to the owners starting in October 2014.
This project is located in the Center of Udon Thani City and right opposite UD Town Shopping Center
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28th KING'S CUP SEPAK TAKRAW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2013
Takraw World Championship will be played in Udon Thani from September 16th to 22nd this year.
Venue: Convention hall, at the 4th floor of Central Plaza Udon Thani, Udon Thani Province, Thailand.
(http://s24.postimg.org/og3sdrvpx/TAKRAW_WORLD_CHAMPIONSHIP.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
Events: For men and women
-Team
- Regu
- Doubles
- Hoo
If you don`t know what Takraw is, you can find it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepak_takraw
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A Bangkok-Nong Khai diesel express train derailed at a railway crossing in Udon Thani province early Tuesday, causing injuries and about 70 million baht damage, police said.
Pol Lt Bodin Panyaso, the duty officer at Muang district police station, said the accident occurred about 5.15am at the Nong Dae railway crossing in tambon Mu Mon of Udon Thani's Muang district. It involved diesel express train No 77 which departed from Bangkok on Monday at 6.20pm heading for Nong Khai.
The train arrived at Udon Thani railway station about 5am. About 15 minutes after leaving the Udon Thani station and while passing the Nong Dae railway crossing at kilometre marker 585/5 the train hit a 1 x 2 foot concrete slab which was placed between the two rail track so vehicles could cross the rail track.
Three of the five passenger cars derailed, leaving two others on the track.
A number of passengers, the train driver and a member of the train staff were injured. They were admitted to Udon Thani Hospital.
Railway officials from Udon Thani who examined the scene believed the accident was caused by the concrete slab. It had been dislodged from its place by heavy vehicles and one end appeared to have prpotruded over on of the lines.
The damage to the train was estimated at 70 million baht.
A bus was arranged to take about 50 unhurt passengers to Nong Khai.
bangkokpost
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FILIPINO SCAMMERS
Filipino Typhoon Relief 'Scammers' Arrested
(http://s9.postimg.org/dgp7j92m7/UDON_THANI_IMMIGRATION.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
UDON THANI police have arrested two Filipino missionaries accused of posing as fund raisers for the relief effort of Typhoon Haiyan and pocketing the donation money for themselves.
The police said they had been informed by a charity group called JC Society Foundation that two citizens of the Philippines have been claiming to work for the charity and raising donation under the name of the foundation in many provinces, such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thani.
According to complaint filed to the police, the two suspects would perform music in tourist attractions or crowded places, such as shopping malls, and displaying fake documents claiming to represent JC Society Foundation.
The suspects would also reportedly pretend to register the names of those who donated their money.
Detective police officers later located the two suspects as they were playing guitar and soliciting for donation opposite Napapai Hotel in Udon Thani province.
The police apprehended the suspects and sent their names as printed on passports to the JC Society Foundation for verification.
The suspects were identified as Ms.Minerva Macapili Bedana and Ms.Juana Espelita Hoyos
Upon hearing confirmation that the suspects do not exist in the charity database, the police promptly arrested the two and escorted them to police station, where the suspects reportedly confessed that they were missionaries working in a church in Manila and later devised a plan to pose as fund raisers of JC Society Foundation in Thailand.
According to the police, the suspects told them they simply printed out official-looking documents from the foundation′s website and frame them in plastic cover to fool unsuspecting donors.
Ms. Bedana and Ms. Hoyos also reportedly told the police they would return to the Philippines every two months before coming back to Thailand again for further scamming, as their tourist visas would expire after two months.
The suspects also reportedly said the latest trip they made to Thailand was after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, causing devastating damages to the nation, and they claimed to their donors that the donation money would be sent to assist the victims in affected areas.
A senior police estimated that the two Filipinos had gathered "hundreds of thousands" baht throughout their alleged frauds.
Ms. Bedana and Ms. Hoyos were charged with soliciting for donations without permission.
The police expect representatives from JC Society Foundation to file charges on using counterfeit documents soon.
The police also urged citizens allegedly scammed by the two suspects to file charges against the pair.
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(http://s30.postimg.org/443g3tcnl/BIKE_FEST.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
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The Udonthani provincial court has issued warrants for the arrest of six civilians and army personnel who the police said are responsible for the shooting of hardcore red-shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana on January 22.
The warrants were sought after interrogation of a gunman, Maduenang Masae, a village defense volunteer arrested in Narathiwat province, confessed to the plot to kill Kwanchai. Investigation later revealed the team of gunmen comprised mostly of soldiers from an army barrack in Kanchanaburi province.
The police have already notified the Army of its finding and are seeking its cooperation to hand over the accused soldiers for interrogations.
The police said the soldiers are wanted on charges of attempted murder, and possession of war weapon.
Police also are looking for two AK 47 assault rifles which were used to shoot Kwanchai and believed they were thrown into a pond in the compound of a house of another suspect in Kasetsomboon district of Chaiyaphum province.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/court-issues-arrest-warrants-six-suspects-kwanchai-murder-attempt/
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Dutch bar owner killed in Udon Thani
The Sunday Nation
UDON THANI: -- A Dutch businessman was murdered in his rented home in Udon Thani's Muang district early yesterday in what police suspect was a robbery gone wrong.
The body of 67-year-old Fred , who had his throat cut and five stab wounds, was found in the two-storey house in Soi Noenpibul at 8am. Police said he had been dead about five hours.
A nearby construction site worker told police that she saw the victim's car in front of the house and house gate was left open, so she investigated and spotted bloodstains. She found the body and alerted police after following blood drag marks into the house.
Muang Udon Thani police said robbery may have been the motive as Fred owned a bar, carried a lot of cash and was robbed before.
They suspect two robbers attacked him in front of the house, then dragged his body inside and took his wallet.
-- The Nation 2014-03-02
RIP
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Ο ολλανδος (τον οποιον τον ηξερα ) ηταν ιδιοκτητης του μπαρ 59.
Ο φονος εγινε χθες τα ξημερωματα και οχι σιγουρα με κινητρο τη ληστεια.
Εχει ηδη συλληθφει ο μανατζερ του μπαρ.
Το μπαρ δεν ανοιξε χθες.
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IN BOOST FOR PROVINCE, SCHOOL HAS EYE ON AEC LINKS AND LOCAL GROWTH
WITH a Bt200 million investment, the first international school in Udon Thani will open in September as it prepares to take advantage of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) and to improve education in the area.
Udon Thani International School (UDIS) introduced itself officially to the people of its hometown and the media recently at Central Plaza Udon Thani.
"We will invest over Bt200 million in the construction of UDIS over the next three years. UDIS will be one of the first international schools in the Northeast region and will deliver a UK and inquiry-based curriculum to students," Dr Lindsay Stuart, the school manager, said.
Udon Thani Chamber of Commerce chairman Sawat Teeraratananukulchai said: "It has been a long wait for an international school to be launched in our province. We have wanted and waited a long time for this kind of school. Businesses in Udon Thani are growing fast, especially when the AEC is encouraging movement of people and investments between Udon Thani and Thailand's neighbouring countries. In the past, we did not have any schools that could equip our students with good English language skills and who were prepared for the connected world we live in."
Dr Stuart said the economic integration of the AEC sought to provide for the free movement of trade, labour and capital within the Southeast Asia region. Udon Thani lies at the crossroads of the AEC between Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. As a result, it was experiencing a property and business boom. It will act as a hub which allows easy movement of businesses and organisations to this province which will increase the overall economy of Thailand, Udon Thani and the AEC.
"We are examining marketing opportunities in Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and China to bring these students to school and to create an international environment where students can learn from each other," he added.
According to Udon Thani Provincial Treasury Office, the economy in the province has grown substantially. Investments in the private sector have increased as many housing and commercial building projects have been started.
Udon Thani earned revenue of Bt261.25 million in January last year, which was Bt55.87 million or 27.20 per cent higher than the Bt205.38 million revenue earned in the same month in 2012, revealing the growth in income in the province. The city has a population of more than 1.5 million people.
Siriphat Pukpo, UDIS licensee, said that she and Dr Stuart had 10 years' experience in running educational institutions in the Northeast, including managing the Northeastern Bilingual School in Khon Kaen.
They wanted to develop international education in the Northeast and saw Udon Thani |as a good opportunity to do so |as there is a clear lack of |schools teaching English.
She said UDIS was an educational business whose primary focus was on the provision of quality education to its students. Qualified teachers have been selected from the UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The school also has a preference for staff holding advanced degrees and all teacher profiles are made available online to demonstrate the transparency of the school.
Emmi Hines, head teacher of UDIS, said that with home-country qualified teachers coming from different countries, students would learn about cultural diversity and be provided with an international environment to learn in.
"UDIS aims to nurture happy, healthy, critical and creative lifelong learners," said Mark Beaumont, programme coordinator of the school." We want to create an environment which is tailored directly to the needs of students and break away from the rote-system of learning that still characterises much teaching in Thailand."
Prarita Smiley, a parent who has had her twin children enrolled at UDIS, said she wanted them to be equipped with good English in an environment that supported learning the language naturally.
"I like the way international schools teach students. They have freedom to express their thoughts and ideas. They are confident and feel free to ask teachers questions. So, they learn with happiness and enjoyment. I want them to study in international programmes until they reach university level. This will bring about better opportunities for them. It is worth investing in education for their bright future," she added.
UDIS is licensed by the Thailand Ministry of Education. It will also seek accreditation with the Council of International Schools, the International Baccalaureate and approved inspectorates of OFSTED (the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills).
"I will also have my three children study at UDIS. As a mother, I want to ensure that I am providing quality education to my own children and other students here as well," Siriphat said.
The Nation
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http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/399654/concert-stage-collapses-killing-1-worker-in-udon-thani?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
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Udon Thani wants on the map
The Udon Thani Tourism Business Association has set an ambitious goal of placing the northeastern...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism/400921/udon-thani-wants-on-the-map.
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SEASONAL FLU
35 cases of H1N1 reported Udon Thani; 4 fatalities
A total of 35 people - four of whom later died - were diagnosed with seasonal H1N1 flu in Udon Thani province between January 1 and April 21.
The four deaths were in Muang, Ban Phue, Si That and Ban Dung districts.
This prompted the provincial health authorities to host a workshop to brush-up the H1N1 flu knowledge of 150 health volunteers at the Udon Thani City Municipality office yesterday.
Mayor Itthipol Triwattanasuwan, who presided over the workshop's opening ceremony, said the event organised by the municipality and the provincial health office, was to help the volunteers screen flu patients and campaign for public awareness of the disease in order to help people protect themselves from the virus.
Provincial health official Dr Smith Prasunnakarn urged people with high fever, headache, muscular pain, sore throat and possible vomiting and diarrhoea to separate themselves from others and see a doctor immediately.
The Nation April 23, 2014
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As the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) steps up efforts to boost reconciliation, the red-shirt stronghold of Udon Thani has been targeted as a role model for the approach
:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/413631/udd-hub-to-be-unity-model.
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Woman involved in loansharking activities busted by Udon Thani police
UDON THANI, 23 June 2014 (NNT) - Police in Udon Thani province have arrested a middle-aged woman who runs an illegal automobile pawn shop that charges unusually high interest rates.
40 year-old Jintana Wongchari has been apprehended by the Udon Thani Provincial Police for charging her clients at least 20 percent interest per month, which is beyond the rate specified by the law. According to police, Ms. Jintara also did not have a valid license to operate this pawn shop.
For this reason, they’ve confiscated at least two automobiles, 123 motorbikes, several car keys, and other related documents found under her possession.
Investigations reveal that many of cars in her pawn shop were illegal. Some of these cars were also stolen by somebody else and then resold here.
Among the cars that were confiscated, at least 50 of them were cars under finance, 51 of them were privately-owned cars, and 22 of them were still pending investigation.
-- NNT 2014-06-23
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FIRE AT TOP WORLD SUPERMARKET
Top World inferno causes over 100 million baht
(http://s28.postimg.org/mni5pe49p/TOP_WORLD_IN_FIRE.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
UDON THANI: A landmark supermarket which had been in business for 20 years in Udon Thani province has become a legend now after it caught fire and completely burned to the ground.
The fire occurred at about 1.00 a.m. Thursday at Top World supermarket, which comprised one 3- storey and 4-storey buildings connected to each other.
The fire started at the fourth floor of the warehouse building where lots of plastic, paper and mosquito spray cans were kept.
There were sporadic explosions during the fire while more than 20 fire engines sprayed water to stop it from spreading to other building in the compound.
But some witnesses said the fire started from an office room on the ground floor.
It took firemen until this morning before the fire was kept under control.
The supermarket owner said his property which include buildings and goods in warehouses worth more than 100 million baht.
The cause of fire is under investigation by forensic police.
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Old 'GI City' now a major hub in Northeast
From being known as a "GI City" due to the US Airforce base that was once there, Udon Thani has transformed from a simple peaceful town into a leading hub in the Northeast, buzzing with businesses catering to investors, locals, and traders from neighbouring provinces and nearby Laos. As urbanised as any other major Thai city, Udon is flooded with brand-name goods and malls and people there, especially teenagers, have leisure choices equal to those of their peers in Bangkok.
A 17-year-old high school student, "Pop", said that rapid development had vastly improved Udon. "If I want to go eat, shop and do things it is very convenient," she said. "We can just hop on motorbikes and go to malls without asking to be driven there by our parents."
The pressure on the wallets of the youngsters, however, balances out this convenience.
"Now we have plenty of choices but we don't have enough money to buy them," complained Pop. "We have to spend carefully as the earnings of our parents and the money they give to us remains the same. Sometimes we just hang out in malls without buying anything."
Aum, a graduate from Udon Thani Rajabhat University, said that more people are spending their leisure time clubbing or watching football matches and drinking at pubs.
As he prefers shopping, he admitted that his personal expenses are high because he buys tempting, and often unnecessary, things. He claimed that crime has become more of an issue as people were robbing and stealing in order to get the things they want. Heavy traffic has also become a problem as more locals take to their vehicles to get places. The roads are also packed with visitors from nearby provinces and from Laos. Fortunately the jams only occur at certain periods of day and cannot be compared to the ones in Bangkok.
"Udon Thani used to be a peaceful place and people were not so selfish," said Aum. "The appearance of all these malls and condos have changed that. People feel pressure to dress more fashionably and spend more money at malls such as Central Plaza and UD Town, which are both beautifully decorated and offer brand-name goods."
Aum's fellow-student Thanyalak Woranoi, 24, said the city has become a real hub for entertainment. The two main malls often host events and there are many restaurants where she and her friends can go and split the bill. "Before our choices were limited to Nong Prachak and parks where we eat picnic-style or ride bicycles together," she said.
Although Udon Thani is now more urbanised, people are still kind and welcoming, hence many visitors from Laos liked to visit and make large purchases, she said.
A Laotian tourist, identified only as Noi, said she liked to shop at air-conditioned Udon Thani malls because of the large selection of products.
In addition to shopping, Udon Thani is a favourite destination for Laotians seeking medical treatment due to its profusion of trustworthy private hospitals.
Meanwhile, those with money to spare can also take advantage of the many services from Udon Thani International Airport, including flights to Phuket, Koh Samui or even South Korea.
The Nation
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"SHOPPER'S PARADISE"
Udon Thani: Already considered a "shopper's paradise", Udon Thani is becoming more like Bangkok with retail areas and new condominiums changing lifestyles to suit emerging trends.
"Udon Thani is considered a shopping paradise because the goods on offer are of premium quality and vary in grade-levels.
This has enticed people from neighboring countries to come and shop because the goods are of no less quality than that of Bangkok," Sawat Teeraratnukulchai, chairman of the local Chamber of Commerce said.
Many projects have opened in Udon Thani to include retail stores like Central Plaza, open-air malls like UD Town, as well as hotels, condo blocks and wholesale stores.
Condominiums in particular, Sawat said, would completely alter the way locals live.
These projects were not yet complete and there was a large number of reservations for new condos.
He said the new projects in Udon Thani would change locals - make them more like city residents and economically improve society, so it was similar to the capital.
This was because locals would have to adjust to the current situation and the fact land prices have become much more expensive.
But compared to Bangkok, Udon does not have problems in terms of traffic.
"People who live in condos bought them in the hope of being closer to their workplace or shopping districts. Some buy them as second homes," he said.
Unlike Bangkokians, who wish to avoid traffic by buying condos located next to the Skytrain, locals in Udon buy them for other reasons.
"… because they want to follow trends of the new generation. Some still have to drive to work or some just walk to their offices. Others buy them for their children.
"In the case of foreigners, they buy condos as places for vacationing because neighboring countries like Lao PDR often use the international airport at Udon Thani.
"When they come here, these people do not need to stay in hotels but are able to move into their condos, which are much more comfortable, cheaper and safer."
Because locals were not afraid to spend money - for shopping, dining or and traveling - lifestyles had changed greatly.
Apichart Sinthuma, a manager of CP Land, said that "Kalpapruek Condominium" would be the first group to complete condos in the area.
He also revealed that the reason why many foreigners were buying condos in Udon Thani was because of its growing economy - believing that Udon was a port city in the northeast which would grow even more after the opening of the AEC, as it connects to neighboring states such as Laos, Vietnam, and China.
the nation (19-07 2014)
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Udon Thani has been taking steps to prepare for the possibility of an Ebola infection
Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatchwela from Udon Thani Public Health Department, gave an opening speech on “Preparation for an Ebola Infection in Udon Thani” at a conference with 450 participants from all related departments.
Jeerapa Wattanakool, head of the Disease Control Unit of Udon Thani Public Health, mentioned that the world has found 3,967 people infected by Ebola and the disease has already killed over 2,105 people. However, no report of any infection in Thailand has ever been confirmed.
However, there are risks for Thai people traveling to infected areas in Africa and also the possibility of infected people traveling to Thailand, which could lead to transmission of the disease. Were that the case, a plan would be needed to manage an emergency situation with the most efficiency in every possible way, added Dr. Somchaichote Piyawatchwela. -
http://thainews.prd.go.th
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Udon Thani has won renewed fame, to add to its notoriety when CNN proclaimed the city's Bua Dang the second strangest lake in the world. This time, the region has staged the largest Thai dance, held to pay homage to Krom Luang Prajak Silapakom on January 18th, 2014. The huge occasion was attended by over 20,000 participants, thousands of whom joined a mass Thai dance. The Guinness Book of World Records has now confirmed it was the largest Thai dance, beating the previous record set in Chonburi, with 5,121 participants.
Mr. Seni Jitkasem, the Governor of Udon Thani, revealed that on January 18th, they organized an event to celebrate the 121st year of Udon Thani's founding, and to pay homage to Krom Luang Prajak Silapakom, who established the city. Thousands of people participated on the day as members of the audience or as dancers in the event at Krom Luang Prajak Silapakom Ground, in front of the Rajabhat Udon Thani University. Representatives of the Guinness Book of World Records were present as well. 5,121 participants were expected to join the dance; however, the number increased to 5,255. Participants in the dance had to wear the same traditional costume and dance in the same traditional pattern.
The Udon Thani Governor has confirmed the good news saying that on August 11th, 2014, the Guinness World Records confirmed that the January 18th dance achieved a record for the largest Thai dance in the world, consisting of 5,255 participants.
http://www.pattayamail.com/news/the-guinness-book-of-world-records-confirms-udon-thani-breaks-record-of-world-largest-traditional-dance-40802#sthash.hMHA5jUm.dpuf
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Udon Thani Vice Governor has presided over the opening ceremony of ‘2014 To Be Number One Camp: the lecturer training course’ which was attended by six associated authorities from 20 districts, such as administrative personnel, community developers, teachers, police, and public health authorities.
The government has raised the prevention of narcotic use to the national agenda and launched measures to resolve drug problems and treat drug addicts.
Udon Thani has reported 400,000 drug addicts under treatment in 2014, and 3,232 narcotic cases. There were 2,076 drug users from October 2013 to September 2014 which was an increase on the preceding years.
The lecturer training course in Udon Thani was conducted by public health institutes and other organizations integrated by the government to train authorities about narcotic treatments for drug users, while focusing on operation quality not quantity. -
http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC5709090010008#sthash.zFYJ2nKA.dpuf
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Weeks after police released an 80-year-old man accused of raping three minors and pimping them out to six other senior men, authorities re-arrested him and others after the victims’ families took their story to the press.
Udon Thani police announced yesterday the arrests of Somdee Nam-asa, 80, and five other men aged 60 to 72 for raping three teen girls aged 12, 13 and 15.
One other senior man reportedly fled and has gone to ground in Bangkok.
The three victims, who are cousins, were taken to the police by their mothers on Sept. 9 to accuse Somdee, their neighbor, of raping them several times since March and threatening to kill them if they told anyone.
Somdee then started selling the girls to other senior men in the area for a THB500 commission while he would bribe the victims with THB200 to 400 cash each time.
The victims were sent for a physical examination while Somdee was arrested three days later before released on bail – only to return the village and threaten the victims anew.
Living in fear, the mothers took the story to the Thai Radio Center and Damrongdhama Center, a rights organization, prompting the arrest of six other old men. Four of the men confessed of buying sexual services from the the victims, but claimed they couldn’t “get it up” in the end.
Despite the old men’s protestations of innocence through impotence, Police said they’ll go forward collecting evidence to prosecute them, Thairath reported.
“Whether they were willing or not, it is still illegal,” police said. “Threatening the family of the victims will be also included in the prosecution. Police will gather evidence and witnesses to prosecute these men. Even though they denied the charges.”
http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/10/03/7-senior-men-rape-3-teens
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Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula on Friday recommended that container yards help develop the northeastern province of Udon Thani into a trade centre for the Northeast.
The deputy prime minister, who supervises economic affairs, was in Udon Thani to open a finance exposition. There he said that he saw the future of Udon Thani as more than a location for industrial estates. The province could become the centre of the region because a double-tracked railroad would reach it in the future, he said
If Udon Thani had an intermodal yard where freight containers can be shifted between trains and trucks quickly, the province could become a trade centre, he said.
If that happened, people of Udon Thani could make their livings from trade and the value of trade in the province would outnumber the value of local industries, MR Pridiyathorn said
Udon Thani governor Nopawat Singsakda said the gross domestic product of Udon Thani amounted to 94 billion baht yearly, the third-highest GDP among northeastern provinces after Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen, and the 25th biggest GDP among all provinces in the country.
The per-capita annual income in Udon Thani was 75,000 baht and it was likely to increase steadily due to the growth of trade, investment, production and service businesses in the province, the governor said. The per capita income of northeasterners stood at 48,000 baht per year, he said.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/438124/deputy-pm-sees-udon-as-trade-hub.
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UDON THANI, 18 October 2014 (NNT) – Mr. Noppawat Singhsakda, , the Governor of Udon Thani yesterday welcomed a Chinese delegation led by Chinese Ambassador to Thailand Ning Fu Kui, during which they discussed wide ranging issues, particularly economic cooperation.
The Chinese ambassador informed the governor of the Chinese government’s interest to boost economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Thailand. He said his visit was also to gain first-hand information on the construction of a rail route between Bangkok and Nong Khai which China is pushing for.
The provincial governor on this occasion urged Chinese investment in agricultural processing plants in the province which has a wide range of produce such as rice, cassava, cane and rubber.
The ambassador said he would convey the information to the Chinese private sector and also invited the Udon Thani Governor and officials to visit China to observe its agricultural processing industry. -
http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNPOL5710180010008#sthash.bD44EVz5.dpuf
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Six members of an alleged loan-sharking gang were were arrested in separate raids in Udon Thani on Wednesday.
A joint police-military squad captured Thawatchai Paengpeng and Wutthichai Daengna in tambon Ban Chan district following complaints that they were charging exorbitant interest rates and intimidating borrowers who failed to pay up daily, police said.
Officers took the two suspects to a rented room on Soi Nong Tu in Muang district, which allegedly served as the gang's office. Four more gang members were arrested there: Sanya Thongpa, Chatkaew Ormala, Padungsil Huaythaisong and Suthat Hommuangyoo.
Investigators seized loan contracts, 65,000 baht in cash, six mobile phones, 34 boxes of name cards, 29 ledgers, a car and four motorcycles.
Police said the suspects confessed they had worked for a loan shark in the Central Plains to providing illegal loans to customers, with a monthly interest rate of 20% for loans between 1,000 and 10,000 baht.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/439002/6-busted-in-loan-shark-raids
Police said each collector received a monthly salary of 7,000 baht. They were asked to collect at least 40,000 baht a day. Name cards were handed out to potential debtors in markets and villages. Those who wanted to borrow money had to give the gang copies of their ID cards and home registration and they had to sign a loan contract with one person acting as a loan guarantor. The suspects said they would ride motorcycles to collect debts plus interest from debtors. They were detained for further legal action.
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I'm not dead yet: Grandma returns to life at funeral
By Coconuts Bangkok
UDON THANI: -- A 95-year-old woman rose from the dead at her funeral in Udon Thani on Wednesday.
An elderly woman identified as Tieb Boongate reportedly died Tuesday of old age at a Bangkok hospital, but as her relatives clasped her hands to say goodbye at the funeral, they felt a pulse on her wrist.
Fortunately for Tieb, she’d instructed her family not to use embalming fluid to preserve her body after she died.
Her family told the press they were sure grandma was dead as her body was hard and cold, but at the funeral it started to feel warm as if she was sleeping.
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UDON THANI, 2 November 2014 - The Minister of Interior and the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment visited the Sustainable Irrigation Management Project site in Udon Thani to develop positive working conditions and to improve the quality of life for farmers.
The Minister of Interior Gen. Anupong Paochinda, along with Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Gen. Daopong Rattanasuwan and the Secretary-General of the Royal Initiative Discovery Foundation M.R. Disnadda Diskul today observed the work of the Sustainable Irrigation Management Project site in Nong Wua So district, Udon Thani province.
The governor of Udon Thani Noppawat Singhasakda welcomed the ministers and their followers and led them to observe the integrated farming model and the community enterprise of the Ban Khok Lam - Sang Aram rice mill.
The integrated farming model is a farm designed with soil rehabilitation which is used to create soil more suitable for cultivation of different kinds of plants.
Another project the ministers visited was the Sustainable Irrigation Management Project of the Huay Klai reservoir, a royal project which is the model of the Royal Initiative Discovery Foundation.
This Irrigation Management Project is a water management project by the water users. The project helped in increasing the water reserve capacity in the reservoir network (Ang-Poung).
The Irrigation Management Project also established three funds for farmers, the fund for pig farming, the fund for animal medicines, and the fund for cattle farming. These funds are intended to alleviate the costs for farmers which would in turn benefit the local communities in Udon Thani.
http://www.pattayamail.com/news/ministers-visited-irrigation-management-site-in-udon-thani-42486#sthash.yMTyHOGB.dpuf
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13-year-old girl drown when boats capsize in Udon Thani lake
A 13-year-old girl drowned Thursday night when she and 13 others took three small boats to float their krathong on a small lake of their village in Udon Thani's Muang district.
Police said the accident happened at 9 pm.
The three boats were tied together and when one of them capsized the two others sank. The body of Songsiri Pithak was retrieved some 15 minutes after the accident.
The Nation
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To Laos, by way of Isaan
UDON THANI: -- The tourism sector gears up for the Asean Economic Community with a package that takes in attractions on both sides of the Mekong
Ask any tourist who has spent time in Thailand's Northeast and he or she will without doubt speak fondly of Udon Thani.
One of the four major cities in the region, Udon Thani isn't merely famous for the archaeological site of Ban Chiang - always a hit with visitors - but also for one of the world's strangest lakes, Nong Harn.
Located about 45 kilometres from the city, Nong Harn has won praise from travel websites around the world and indeed this year was ranked the world's second strangest lake after Jellyfish Lake in Palau by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Known locally as Talay Bua Daeng, literally "the sea of red lotuses", the yearly sprouting of thousands of red flowers covers the entire 22,500-rai of the lake from October to March. It's even pretty without the blossoms, with boats taking tourists to admire the gorgeous scenery all year round.
Now the lake is being promoted in a new package that also takes in Nong Khai and Vientiane.
"This new Thailand-Laos package is a real bargain as it draws on the competence of several hotels and a guaranteed tour agency, thus ensuring convenience and safety," says Tanakorn Weerachatyanukul, president of the Udon Thani Tourist Business Association.
"Most Thai tourists travel to Udon Thani to make merit. Now, we are encouraging them to do more than spend time at the temples and also experience the forest, the scenery along the Mekong River and the laid-back lifestyle of the Lao capital.
"We know from a survey conducted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand that more than 200,000 Vietnamese come to this region every year. They travel by car through Laos then visit Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani. They are not really temple-goers - to them Buddhism in more in the mind - but they love Ban Chiang and Ban Lung Ho as well as the region's superb restaurants and nightlife," Tanakorn explains.
"The Laotians are here all the time; I think they consider Udon Thani province as the outskirts of their own country! The distances are nothing. It is just 40km from Udon to Nong Bua Lamphu, 70km to Sakon Nakhon's Sawang Daen Din district and 75km to Vientiane.
"A visit can be educational too. The Ricefields Hotel just outside Ban Chiang is currently hosting a group of American students who are here to learn about rice cultivation and farming," he concludes.
A popular meditation venue, Wat Pa Phu Kon is once of the first stops on the package tour. Completed in 2013, the blue-roofed temple sits on top of a hill amid unspoilt forest and is home to Phra Phuttha Saiyat Lokkanat Satsada Maha Muni, which at 20-metres-long, is the biggest marble reclining Buddha in the world.
From there, it's just a short car trip to the river. There, a boat awaits to take visitors along the Mekong to important sites in Thailand and Laos. The first stop is Phon Phisai, right on the border between the two countries. It will serve as a permanent checkpoint when the Asean Economic Community (AEC) gets underway next year.
Located in Nong Khai province, Phon Phisai was originally known as Pak Huay Luang and is home to several important temples. Wat Luang Phisai Jitiyaram, which was built in 1915, boasts a standing Buddha while Wat Rai Nong Plong has a 40-metre-long reclining Buddha. The Naga structure at Wat Thai is said to mark the entrance to the serpent deity's underwater cave and is several stories high.
Another interesting spot is the Phu Foi Lom Ecotourism Project, where visitors are invited to learn about the environment. There's also a chance to do hiking and bicycling.
Phu Foi Lom is named after the lichen that once carpeted the dense forest but has become scarce with the deterioration in the forest's fertility. The forest is also home to a prehistoric park displaying life-size sculptures of the dinosaurs that once roamed the region.
Another must-see in Udon Thani is Kham Chanod. Located at Wat Sirisuttho in Wang Thong district, it sits on the banks of a lake is said to be another home of the great Naga.
The area is also supposedly haunted by Phi Jang Nang, the ghost associated with outdoor cinemas. Legend has it that the spirit entered the area while outdoor cinema company Jamjan was screening a comedy and reduced the audience to absolute silence. When the screening was over, the site became a cemetery.
While Vietnamese visitors might prefer to give the temples a miss, they flock in the hundreds to Thai Puan Ethnic House in Ban Chiang for Isaan food and performances of folk music and dance.
Once known as Thai Puan, the Ban Chiang community prides itself on its ancestry and is happy to dress in the traditional costumes associated with this group.
The last day of the package tour is spent in Vientiane with brief stops at Wat Si Muang, the golden stupa of Pha That Luang and the Patuxai war monument.
_ The three-day, two-night package of Udon Thani, Nong Khai and Vientiane is priced at Bt4,990, excluding airfare to Udon Thani. It's available at tour agencies.
-- The Nation 2014-11-08
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UDON THANI: -- A 25-year-old German man was admitted to the ICU after he was allegedly attacked by drunk teenagers in Udon Thani who wanted to imitate the brutal murder of two Briton tourists on Koh Tao island in September.
Police say the German man was sitting with two Thai friends near a park in Udon Thani's Muang District in the early morning of 15 November when three Thai teenagers suddenly attacked him with a garden hoe.
The man is now being treated for severe injuries in the ICU at Udon Thani Hospital. Medical workers say he suffered wounds on his face and skull that required immediate operation. According to a doctor at the hospital, there's only "50-50" percent chance that he will survive.
The attack also left one of the German's friends with a broken arm, police say.
Police have arrested three suspects, two 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old, in connection with the crime.
Pol.Col. Surin Chaichomphu, deputy commander of Udon Thani Police, announced the arrests of the two men, named Thanakorn Khusuwan and Surachet Sripolmuang, at the press conference yesterday. The third suspect, nicknamed Wuth, was not present at the press conference because he is a minor.
According to Pol.Col. Surin, both men confessed to assaulting the German man.
-- Khaosod English 2014-11-17
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THE NATIONAL Legislative Assembly yesterday approved the Culture Ministry's proposal to nominate Udon Thani's Phu Phra Bat Park as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha asked me what the benefits were for the historical park to be granted World Heritage Site status," Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat told reporters. "It will definitely benefit the country, because not only will it make us proud of our nation, we will also earn respect from other nations. Also it will boost tourism and increase the earnings of locals.
"Plus, if there is a natural disaster, we will get funding from Unesco to restore the area, as we did when the Ayutthaya historical park was flooded," he said.
Situated in Ban Phue district, the park features ruins and objects dating back to prehistoric times as well as to the Dvaravati, Lopburi, and Lan Xang periods.
The Culture Ministry will submit the nomination to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's World Heritage head office in Paris on Sunday, before preparing for the final presentation on December 1. Unesco will announce its decision on June 1 next year.
The Culture Ministry will also add the 700-year-old town of Chiang Mai to the "tentative list" for Unesco's World Heritage Site status.
The capital of the Lanna empire offers art and culture and is filled with historical architecture.
The Nation
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Thailand-Australia Sugar Dialogue in Udon Thani
The Nation
Sugar millers in Thailand and Australia, the world's second and third largest sugar exporters, will convene a meeting in Udon Thani, where they will exchange view on latest market movements and non-tariff barriers.
Attending the 8th Thailand-Australia Sugar Dialogue will also be representatives of sugar cane farmers and the Commerce Ministry’s External Trade Department. It is scheduled for February 4-6. Raw sugar export from Thailand to Australia is now subjected to zero tariff. Thailand is obligated to reduce the tariff rate to zero per cent within 2020.
Sirivuthi Siamphakdee, a representative of Thai sugar millers, noted that Australia is also committed to share its experiences on quality enhancement.
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ALLEGED MASTERMIND AND AIDE ARRESTED AFTER CONFESSIONS BY GUNMAN, DRIVER
THE chairman of a private hospital in Udon Thani was arrested late |yesterday over his alleged role as the mastermind behind the murder of a revered Udon Thani monk early this month, a police source said.
Another man was arrested for allegedly identifying the monk for the gunman to shoot.
The two men have been identified as Banjerd Chatphaithoon, the chairman of Ek Udon Hospital, and Bunnag Hongsakham, a driver with an irrigation office.
Both men have been charged with premeditated murder for their alleged roles in the killing of Phra Bundit Supanditto on March 1 at Wat Ban Pa Seesiad, where he was the abbot.
Assistant Royal Thai Police chief Lt-General Panya Mamen earlier hinted at the identities of Banjerd and Bunnag after they were implicated in the crime through the confession of Pol Sr Sgt-Major Charnchai Soisangwan, who was apprehended this week after fleeing to Laos. Panya said Charnchai admitted to receiving Bt300,000 from the mastermind to co-ordinate the shooting, and paying Bt50,000 to the gunman, janitor |Panja Chareesaen.
In his statement quoted by a number of senior police investigators, Charnchai said he had tracked the monk on a daily basis for quite some time before he drove Panja to Wat Pa Seesiad.
Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thawornsiri said that the mastermind was being closely |monitored by undercover police.
Panya said that Panja was feeling very guilty for shooting such a |highly-respected monk and had |volunteered additional details to police while also showing them |evidence he had hidden.
The evidence allegedly included the headwear he wore during the shooting of the monk from the roof of a pickup truck driven by Charnchai.
Panja and Charnchai are in the military custody under martial law.
Charnchai is being questioned by military interrogators and his re-enactment of the alleged crimes will be conducted after he is handed over to police.
Prawut said it was not immediately clear whether the two suspects were linked with any senior policemen. "But all suspects and policemen found linked to the murder will be caught and prosecuted," he added.
Meanwhile, at a police facility in Khon Kaen villagers who were |followers of the late monk gave flower bouquets to police investigators as a token of appreciation.
The Nation
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JAPAN – Air Force physician Lt. Col. Mark A. Anderson in Kadena, Japan, is accused of raping a 21-year-old Thai woman while his unit took part in an exercise last year in Udon Thani, Thailand, Air Force Times has learned.
Lt. Col. Mark A. Anderson is the 353rd Special Operations Group surgeon general and operations support medical flight commander. He is not in pre-trial confinement because he is not considered a flight risk, according to information obtained by Air Force Times.
Anderson, who is married, is charged with sexual assault causing bodily harm, adultery and failing to obey a lawful order. He is accused of binding the woman’s wrists and holding her down, according to Anderson’s charge sheet.
The 353rd Special Operations Group took part in Exercise Teak Torch with members of the Royal Thai Air Force from Jan. 27 to Feb. 7 of 2014.
The charge sheet alleges Anderson sexually assaulted the Thai woman on two occasions between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7 of 2014. He is also charged with adultery and unlawfully having guests in his government billeting between Jan. 20 and Feb. 24 of 2014.
During an Article 32 hearing at Kadena Air Base in December, one witness testified that airmen in Anderson’s unit routinely disregard rules and standards during temporary duty assignments and that womanizing and partying is accepted as part of the culture, Air Force Times has learned.
Anderson’s court-martial is slated for June 8 at Kadena. He has not seen patients since the investigation started.
Air Force Times’ attempts to reach Anderson for comment through 18th Wing public affairs were unsuccessful.
During the exercise in Thailand, airmen with the 353rd Special Operations Group trained with Thai airmen for combat casualty evacuation and casualty care, Anderson is quoted as saying in a Feb. 20, 2014, Air Force news release.
“They trained us on local plants and snakes as well as their experiences in flood relief,” he said in the story. “Our Thai counterparts were actively engaged and extremely motivated, which made for a productive exchange.”
“We made new friends,” Anderson also said. “We were able to participate in several events outside of training as well, which solidified long lasting friendships.”
http://www.chiangraitimes.com/us-air-force-doctor-charged-with-raping-thai-woman-in-udon-thani.html
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Police investigators will conclude their probe of the March 1 murder of revered Udon Thani monk Phra Bundit Supanditto for submission to public prosecutors in one month, Pol Colonel Akkaradet Pimonsri, acting Crime Suppression Division chief, said yesterday.
Following the investigators' meeting yesterday, Akkaradet told reporters that police had interviewed 55 witnesses and compiled 1,449 pages of evidence.
Hence, they should conclude the case in one month against the four suspects: Pol Sr Sgt-Major Charnchai Soisangwan, Ek Udon Hospital chairman Banjerd Chatphaithoon, janitor and gunman Panja Chareesaen and accomplice Bunnag Hongsakham.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/crime/police-investigators-end-monk-murder-probe-one-month#sthash.bRqa4fIk.dpuf
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UDON THANI, 9 April 2015 – 19 Local Administrative Organizations in Udon Thani are urged to take care of the safety features of railroad crossings in the province to prevent the accident during Songkran holidays.
The Governor of Udon Thani Noppawat Singsakda has inspected the province's safety and accident prevention measures for railroad crossing in the Nong Khon Kwang subdistrict of Mueang Udon Thani district. This railroad crossing was the location of a fatal accident that happened during the previous New Year holiday.
After his observation, he praised the Ban Chan and Nong Khon Kwang subdistrict municipalities' accomplishments for improving the safety instruments at this crossing.
Provincial staff will be stationed at this level crossing during 9-16 April 2015 to provide assistance and assure the safety to the traffic crossing the railway. Information on the train timetable from the Nong Khon Kwang railway station will also be provided.
There are 59 railroad crossings in Udon Thani province under the supervision of 19 Local Administrative Organizations. Only 15 of the crossings are equipped with barriers, while the rest are awaiting equipment from the State Railway of Thailand, thus temporary safety solutions are required.
- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/udon-thani-continues-safety-upgrade-for-railroad-crossings-46252#sthash.TrwHOnOv.dpuf
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The fine art of cultural preservation Borvornvate Rungrujee hopes Phu Phrabat Historical Park will be the first of many new World Heritage Sites in Thailand
http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/social-and-lifestyle/530243/the-fine-art-of-cultural-preservation.
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A MONK in Udon Thani has been arrested for allegedly stealing a corpse from a local cemetery and chopping off the head of another corpse for black magic purposes.
Pol Colonel Nawara Jannawan, chief of police at Prachak Sinlapakhom district, said Friday that the monk denied the allegation but confessed to visiting the two graves at Ban None Sa cemetery to allegedly "extract lottery numbers".
The monk, based in Buri Ram, is in police detention pending questioning by a deputy national police chief.
The Nation
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Six Thai policemen and three Thai civilians have been arrested for allegedly collaborating to extort money from a Lao family after making false drug charge against the mother and the son of the family.
The arrest against the nine suspects was made by over 60 Nong Khai police and immigration officers led by Nong Khai Police chief Pol Maj Gen Churat Pan-ngao.
The six policemen came from Udon Thani but they arrested the Lao mother and son in Nong Khai and they allegedly had the mother call her husband and daughter to bring cash of Bt2 million to them in exchange for their release.
The arrest was made at 7 pm at the car park of Wat Chan Samakkhi near the Thai-Lao Friendship border checkpoint in Mueang district.
The six policemen were identified as Pol Capt Surapat Pensri, Pol Lt Pirapong Tripong, Pol Sub-Lt Somdej Sukrom, Pol Senior Sgt Maj Pakorn Sukprasert, Pol Senior Sgt Chainarong Ordee, and Pol Senior Sgt Maj Weerawat Tanuchon.
The three civilians were identified as Tawatchai Tipsupha, Tee Arjsuwan, and Patcharamai Promwitchalai.
Churat planned the arrest after Duangkham Tanthakaew, 60, and Puangmalee, 20, sought his help.
The daughter told police that her mother, Buachan Tanthakaew, 55, and her brother, Ponsawan, 14, were arrested by the group of policemen on charges of being involved with a drug trafficking ring.
Duangkham said her mother called her that the policemen wanted Bt2 million in exchange for the release.
Churat had Duangkham callled one of the policemen, saying she was willing to pay only Bt300,000. The suspects were rounded up when they turned up for money.
Buachan told police after her rescue that she and her son visited Nong Khai to buy goods but a Lao man called her, saying someone would ask her to carry something for him.
She agreed to take an envelop from the person but while she was about to exit the country at the checkpoint, the group of policemen and turned up and searched the enveloped and found Bt60,000 in cash. They alleged that the money came from drug selling and arrested her and her son.
The six policemen have been fired to pave way for both legal and disciplinary investigations.
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His Majesty the King saw to it that Rajaprajanugroh Foundation officials yesterday delivered relief bags to 420 families affected by summer storms in Udon Thani's Nong Han district.
Since February 16, a total of 2,920 families in 20 districts of this north-eastern province have been affected by summer storms, and the province has spent its emergency budget to help the affected.
An additional 225 households were affected by summer storms from May 5-9 in Nong Han, Thung Fon, Bang Dung, Nam Som, Sri That and Muahg districts.
http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/thai-king-ensures-relief-storm-victims#sthash.af7CKEYc.dpuf
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UDON THANI – A 41-year-old Norwegian National has been found hanging inside a hotel room in Udon Thani’s Muang district late Wednesday night.
The body of the Norwegian national, whose name is being withheld, was found on the third floor of a hotel on Phornniyom Road in tambon Mak Kheng around 9.30pm, Pol Lt Col Withoon Srichai, a police investigator at Muang police station, said.
The man’s head was covered with a white T-shirt and he was wearing only green underwear. He had apparently used a rope to hang himself from the refrigerator’s handle. There were no signs of struggle, Thai media reported on Thursday.
His Thai wife, identified only as Picha, 44, told police she worked at a laundry shop in Muang district and had been with her Norwegian husband for about one year. He often complained of acute headaches and sought treatment several times, but his illness could not be cured, said Ms Picha.
When he developed the acute headache, he often fastened a rope or piece of cloth around his head or neck, she said. He told her the pain eased when he did this. She had tried in vain to stop him from doing it.
She went to work on Wednesday morning as normal while her husband was still sleeping in the hotel room. When she returned from work that night, she was shocked to see her husband hang himself to death.
Pol Lt Col Withoon said the Norwegian had been staying in the hotel with Ms Picha for about 3 months. Doctors said the man had died at least 5 hours before his death was reported.
Authorities believed stress caused by illness might have driven him to take his own life. They were in touch with the Norwegian embassy.
– Bangkok Post, Bangkok Coconuts, Sanook
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Udon Thani:- A farang driver was killed Saturday evening when his pickup truck crashed into the rear of a trailer truck in Udon Thani’s Nong Harn district.
Pol Lt Krissada Chanon, an office on duty of the Nong Harn police station was informed at 7:30 pm that a fatal accident occurred at the kilometer marker No 20 in Ban Phone-ngarm village in Tambon Phone-ngarm.
Krissada rushed to the scene with rescuers from the Methatham Udon Thani and rescuers of Nong Harn highway unit.
They found a black Toyota Vigo with Udon Thani license plate that has crashed into the rear of a trailer truck. Its front was dissolved because of the impact.
The officials found a body of the pickup driver, who was a foreigner, trapped behind the wheel. They had to use tools to remove the body.
Krissada said the farang was identified only as Edward. His surname and nationality was not known.
The trailer truck drive, Somjit Phuehikewa, 46, was waiting for police at the scene.
Somjit told police that he was heading to Udon Thani and he stopped his truck on the roadside at the spot to rest.
Somjit said the pickup that was speeding behind him crashed into the rear at full speed.
Police said further investigation would be carried out to determine the cause of the accident.
The body of the farang was sent to the Nong Harn Hospital pending contracts by his relatives. So far, police did not know where he lived, Krissasda added. He urged anyone with information about the killed driver to inform police about his identity.
https://www.thairath.co.th/content/500715
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Three persons were killed and 29 others, including seven students, were hurt when a Chiang Mai-bound tour bus slammed into a school van, another vehicle and three houses in Lampang province early today. The bus travelling from Udon Thani to Chiang Mai crashed head-on into the school van and a passenger sedan stopped at a red light at Den Chai intersection
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/574379/1-dead-29-hurt-in-lampang-bus-crash.
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Pheu Thai Party members had unexpected guests joining their meeting in Udon Thani province on Wednesday as they were mapping out plans to fight impeachment bids against them.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/574715/security-authorities-join-pheu-thai-talks.
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Pheu Thai Party members had unexpected guests joining their meeting in Udon Thani province on Wednesday as they were mapping out plans to fight impeachment bids against them.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/574715/security-authorities-join-pheu-thai-talks.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda warned governors and local officials on Friday they would be punished if they allowed any more political meetings in their jurisdictions.
The reminder came after the Pheu Thai Party held a meeting in Udon Thani on Wednesday without alerting authorities. Pheu Thai key member Chusak Sirinin said authorities weren't informed because meeting was organised to prepare former MPs for impeachment bids by the National Legislative Assembly.
Pheu Thai decided to cancel talks in Roi Et and Ubon Ratchathani this week after police, soldiers and ministry officials demanded to attend the gathering in Udon Thani.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/576787/anupong-warns-governors-over-political-talks.
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A 23-year-old groom-to-be’s happy day turned into a nightmare when he arrested at his fiancée’s house hours before their wedding for stealing 100,000 baht from his boss to pay for her dowry.
Piyarat Khuleedee, an employee of an Udon Thani superstore, was shocked when uninvited guests in brown turned up with employer Suchart Surawanvijit at his 17-year-old future wife's house in Bung Kan province today with wrist bracelets, not rings.
Police took from him 31,800 baht cash, three gold necklaces and a handbag.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/576875/stealing-for-sin-sot-groom-locked-up-at-altar
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Director-General of the Employment Department Sumet Mahosot is to have a meeting with Amnon Ben Ami, Director-General of Population Immigration and Border Authority (PIBA) of Israel and his delegation on Monday in order to discuss working conditions for Thai workers in Israel.
Gists of tomorrow’s meeting will be on the development of Thai workers’ quality of life and working conditions ranging from health care, control of drug abuse to Israel’s new tax laws which impose higher tax on Thai workers.
The Israeli delegates have requested to observe Thailand’s procedures of selecting Thai workers for overseas jobs such as the checking of physical fitness at hospital. They will also visit families of Thai workers from Udon Thani who are now under hiring contract in Israel.
In the workers’ hometown, Israeli delegates intend to collect information about the sudden unexpected death syndrome which usually happens with Thai labor. For families of workers who have died in accidents in Israel, PIBA will discuss their rights and benefits after deaths with their families. -
http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC5805310010057#sthash.eg9TVKyf.dpuf
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Udon Thani factory operators face legal action over water pollution
The Nation June 5, 2015 1:00 am
The operators of two Udon Thani factories are facing legal action for allegedly causing water pollution that killed scores of fish in a canal in Muang and Kud Chap districts over a five-day period in April.
Following a meeting yesterday between officials and the factories' representatives, Udon Thani Deputy Governor Chaichan Eium-charoen said the evidence gathered by state agencies clearly showed what caused the water pollution.
As such, Chaichan said the meeting was held so the accused could be informed about the impact of the pollution and explain themselves.
After the damage assessment and further evidence was gathered, district chiefs would be assigned to proceed with legal actions, he said, adding that further details would be announced next week.
A provincial natural resource and environment official Apichai Jiansirikul said the water pollution was caused by wastewater leaking from two factories.
A tapioca powder factory was accused of releasing wastewater into a connecting canal and has been temporarily closed pending improvements, he said.
The rubber wood processing factory was accused of pumping wastewater into nearby rubber plantations, which posed the risk of wastewater leaking into natural water sources, he said, adding that the cumulative organic matters could result to the fish deaths.
The fish deaths and the Fishery Act violation, the latter a criminal offence, could result in six months to five years in prison and/or a fine of Bt10,000 to Bt100,000.
The tapioca powder factory's representatives admitted to releasing wastewater prior to the fish deaths and agreed to join the canal rehabilitation efforts.
The rubber wood processing factory maintained it did not release wastewater and promised to make improvements to prevent further leakage.
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PRECURSOR DRUGS / ECSTASY TABLETS
Friday 12 June 2015
Udon Thani bust leads to three gang arrests
Police torch 16 tonnes of ecstasy precursors
(http://s17.postimg.org/xjrkj05en/PRECURSOR_DRUGS.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
Workers at the Bangpoo Industrial Estate in Samut Prakan prepare to incinerate 16 tonnes of isosafrole and safrole chemicals, precursor drugs for the production of more than 20 million ecstasy tablets
A total of 16 tonnes of the chemicals isosafrole and safrole, which are used as precursors to make ecstasy, were incinerated on Thursday in Samut Prakan province.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) set fire to the seized chemicals, which could have produced more than 20 million ecstasy tablets, at the Bangpoo Industrial Estate.
The incineration process was presided over by Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya.
Permpong Chaovalit, secretary-general of the ONCB, said the Khlong Yai police station in Trat province had kept the the chemicals in storage since 2008 to use as evidence against suspects in several cases. But they can now be destroyed, and that way they will not be used in illegal activities, Mr Permpong said.
This is only the second time that caches of isosafrole and safrole have been incinerated in Thailand. In September 2010, around 50.4 tonnes of the chemicals — which would have produced more than 63 million ecstacy tablets — were burned, he said.
Gen Paiboon said the key to tackling drug trafficking efficiently is to stop it at the point of production. More stringent measures must be taken to stop precursor chemicals from being transported to to narcotics-producing countries, he said, adding Thailand is a major transit point for drug-trafficking rings in neighbouring countries.
The ONCB plans to call a meeting with precursor-producing countries in the region to exchange information about the drug trafficking situation in each country and boost joint efforts to crack down on precursor production.
Meanwhile, three drug suspects alleged to be members of the "Dew Kalasin" drug trafficking network were arrested in Udon Thani yesterday.
The suspects were identified as Attachai Phuden, 34, Sirisak Thippayarat, 19, and Thawatchai Payakchon, 22.
Police found on them 36 speed pills, 49,600 baht in cash, a 9mm pistol and fifty 9mm bullets, which have been impounded, officers said. Police also seized three of their vehicles including a Chevrolet, a BMW and a Honda.
Pol Col Nattakhet Hamkhamhai, deputy chief of Udon Thani provincial police, said officers received a tip-off about the drug gang.
Police then posed as clients to purchase illegal drugs and nabbed Mr. Sirisak.
Mr Sirisak's statement led to the arrest of the two other suspects, Mr Attachai and Mr Thawatcha, who had recently been freed after serving jail terms for drug offences in Kalasin.
Mr Attachai allegedly told police he had obtained the speed pills from two men, Tuan and Bew, who he said were drug dealers in Laos.
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UDON THANI, 16 June 2015, (NNT) - Udon Thani Vice Governor Narong Pola-aid yesterday inspected the province’s programs to help local farmers in Wangsammor District find supplementary income during this year's drought season.
According to district officials, there are eight governmental projects that employ farmers from six sub-districts affected by drought.
These projects include the construction of water reservoirs, flood barriers, wells, freshwater aquaculture, irrigation centers, a farmer's market, a rice mill, and a learning center.
The eight projects have disbursed 3.2 million baht or 53 percent of their six-million-baht budget, a portion of which is spent to hire the local drought-affected farmers. -
http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNEVN5806160010006#sthash.7HpPLiJn.dpuf
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NLA to visit Loey & Udon Thani on Jun 20-21
Wednesday, 17 June 2015 By NNT
BANGKOK, 16 June 2015 - The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) will visit Loei and Udon Thani provinces on June 20-21 to study their plans to expand its airport as a regional customs and tourism hub.
The event was planned by the Secretariat of the Senate, which also intends on developing a customs and bypass route in Loei, as well as addressing traffic problems in Udon Thani.
The Secretariat has invited the residents of both provinces to a public hearing, in order for the NLA to take stakeholder opinions into consideration.
- See more at: http://www.pattayamail.com/news/nla-to-visit-loey-udon-thani-on-jun-20-21-48083#sthash.upQN6Bpf.dpuf
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Udon Thani to host festival to boost regional economy
A regional festival will be held at Thung Sri Muang Park in the northeastern province of Udon Thani from July 1-5.
The provincial administration said the fair is in line with government policy to promote the Kingdom as an ASEAN hub for transportation services and tourism investments. The event will prepare Udon Thani for the advent of the ASEAN Economic Community.
The festival will be conducted in a massive air-conditioned pavilion tent. More than 300 local entrepreneurs are expected to participate in the event. These operators will have a chance to network with their counterparts from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Famous goods and food from the nation’s four regions will be available for event-goers. The fair would provide an additional distribution channel for small and medium-sized enterprises, increase their competitiveness, and promote the local economy and regional economic cooperation.
http://www.pattayamail.com/business/udon-thani-to-host-festival-to-boost-regional-economy-48295#sthash.9io97DGK.dpuf
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(http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t217/apteraplayer/30263082-01_big.jpg)
Udon Thani organises the sixth edition of its annual cycling event
NOW IN ITS sixth year, last Saturday's "Udon Go Green" |eco-friendly cycling event attracted more than 300 bikers to Udon Thani, one of the four major cities in Thailand's Northeast.
Participants, who included the W2 women's cycling team and the Udon Thani Cycling Association, met up at UD Town, the premium-lifestyle community shopping centre, early in the morning for the event, which took them into town as well into the surrounding countryside.
The trip, on the theme "Pun Pan Rak(s)" also marked World Environment Day, which aims to raise global awareness of the importance of taking positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet.
Narong Polla-iad, vice governor of Udon Thani Province, presided over the launch of this sixth eco-friendly cycling event, together with Tanakorn Weerachatyanukul, Udon Plaza's chief executive and president of the Udon Thani Tourism Business Association. As part of the ceremony, 15 bicycles were presented to Thairath Witthaya School.
The cyclists, with Tanakorn and Narong in the lead, then headed to the Chao Pu-Ya Chinese Spirit Shrine where they paid their respects to the images of the Chinese gods.
That done, they rode 16 kilometres to the First Infantry Battalion's 13th Infantry Regiment, Ramasoon Military Base, formerly known as the Phraya Sunthorn Thamthada Army Camp. A further 20 bicycles were presented to the soldiers.
The military base is home to two historical places of interest. One is an old theatre and the other is a radar station that served Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The biggest of its era, it features 48 radar trackers as well as a 10-kilometre long underground tunnel.
The army is currently working with the Udon Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation to develop the radar station into a tourist site.
The cyclists then made their way to Ban Chiang Wae School 21 km away, where another 15 bicycles were presented and participants were entertained by shows from the students and the winning team from the UD Town break-beat contest.
A stop was also made at Talay Bua Daeng (Red Lotus Sea) where cyclists tossed lotus rhizomes into the water.
With the activities for the day now over, cyclists were given the choice of riding back to town or travelling in the vans laid on for the purpose.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/The-greening-of-Isaan-30263082.html
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Over 200 people gathered on an Udon Thani sugarcane farm Thursday to watch a mysterious red fireball which has been sighted in the sky every night for two weeks.
“Chaweewan,” the plantation owner, said she first noticed a red spark, which looks about the size of a coconut in the sky, two weeks ago. After that, the red spot is in the sky appeared every night, at the same spot at 9pm. Gathering to watch it has become a community event, and it’s said the plantation is the best place to view it.
Locals who stopped by to see the fireball were divided into two different groups: Those divining it for winning lottery numbers and those who don’t.
Visitor Peemapon Unjittikul told reporters when that when he zooms into the red dot with his camera, he sees a woman’s face. He believes it’s definitely a Krasue-type ghost.
Krasue is woman ghost who consists of a head that floats around dragging her internal organs, according to The Coconuts Bangkok Ghost Guide.
However, some argue it’s probably just a light from a drone helicopter, according to Home News.
Jupiter and Venus are also prominent fixtures in the night sky during June and July, but we’re not astronomers or anything and much prefer a world of disemboweled ghosts.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/06/29/it-came-udon-thani-mysterious-red-sky-coconut-draws-crowds
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UDON THANI, 7 July 2015 (NNT) – The regulation process of foreign workers from neighbouring countries in Udon Thani has now reached 94 percent completion, according to the province's Vice Governor.
The Vice Governor of Udon Thani Chaichan Chaichan Eium-charoen today revealed the outcome of the One Stop Service Immigrant Workers Registration Center, operating from 1 April to 30 June 2015, saying that the center successfully provided permit card renewals and issued working permits to 1,506 foreign workers. This is considered a 94 percent completion for the entire immigrant workers residing in the province.
Officials tallied out the nationalities of the workers receiving services. 96 had been categorized as Burmese, 1,219 have been identified as Laotian while another 191 were Cambodian.
The Udon Thani Vice Governor said that all employers are required to proceed through all the required procedures when employing immigrants. Any employment without work permits will result in a 10,000 - 100,000 baht fine, while employers can also be subject to a 10,000 baht fine if their employee’s work permit employment details does not contain matching information with the officials'.
Employers are able to seek advice or address any of their concerns regarding the employment of migrant workers at the Udon Thani Provincial Employment Office. -
See more at: http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC5807070010063#sthash.btpBmYnw.dpuf
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UDON THANI: — UDON THANITHE HEARTS of so many locals in Udon Thani’s Prachaksinlapakhom district are heavy because of the pending project to launch mining operations in their hometown area.
They are seriously worried about possible pollution and adverse impacts on their health.
“To tell the truth, I don’t believe in the environmental impact assessment [EIA],” Manee Boonrawd said, speaking as a leader of a movement opposing the potash-mining plan.
She said Asia Pacific Potash Corp (APPC), which was taken over by Italian Thai Development in 2006, claimed its EIA had won approval in 2000, but some academics later told locals that many parts of the said EIA violated the principles of such impact assessments.
“So, I think that even if the EIA process is completed, problems will arise,” said Manee, who is now in her late 60s.
She has already been fighting against the project to start the potash-mining operation in her hometown for about 14 years.
Inspired by Manee, locals in Prachaksinlapakhom’s Tambon Huai Sam Phad and Tambon Na Muang have joined forces in expressing a firm stance against potash mining.
Due to their strong opposition, a consulting firm hired by APPC has to date been unable to arrange serious meetings with locals in the area – known as “Prachakhom” – which is required by law.
Such meetings have already taken place in nearby tambons that the potash-mining project will also cover.
The project, if given the green light, will cover 26,446 rai (4,230 hectares) of land in Udon Thani province. Requiring a budget of more than Bt30 billion, the project will have a maximum capacity of 2 million tonnes of potash a year.
APPC is confident that increasingly advanced technology and well-prepared measures mean the mining operations will benefit both the local economy and the national economy without posing any significant threat.
Manee remains sceptical, however, because she is well aware that some pieces of information can be withheld. She said she also could not read seven English-language books that the company had given to her.
“During the past 14 years, I’ve seen a lot,” she said.
She added that some people had advised her to watch out, as her activities against such a big project might turn her into a target for attack.
“I’m not afraid of death. I am just worried that if I stop fighting against this potash-mining project, I won’t be able to die with peace of mind,” she explained.
According to her, APPC has tried to offer Bt1,000 in compensation for every rai damaged by its mining operations, if any.
“I won’t accept that,” Manee said.
Late last month, senior local officials, representatives of local residents and APPC, military officers and police convened a meeting in a bid to address conflicts or concerns arising out of the mining project.
So far, however, the company and the locals seem to have different ideas on what they agreed to do. For example, while locals’ representatives believe APPC will not carry out any activity related to the “Prachakhom” until a well-rounded academic forum takes place for all stakeholders to express their opinions on the mining operations, the firm insists otherwise.
“The firm recently told me that it has not agreed to any such thing,” said Somporn Phengkham of Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute.
She has been working with locals in closely examining the project. From her examination, she has noticed that APPC does not provide clear assurances as to how it will |really deal with mullock, a waste rock by-product from the planned |operations.
“We are worried about the development of related industries,” she said.
Somporn added that APPC had initially said its mining operations might cause land to subside by between just 7 and 10 centimetres.
Major subsidence expected
“But now it says the subsidence may be to the tune of 40 centimetres,” she complained.
She also pointed out that while APPC had promised to provide insurance for locals, it planned to submit insurance certificates to the Primary Industries and Mines Department and it would be the duty of locals to prove any damages if they wanted to claim financial compensation.
“Who will pay for expenses related to the proving process?” she said.
Somporn insisted APPC should clearly identify the measures it would use to prevent any adverse impacts on local people from the mining operations.
“What will it do if their health is endangered?” she said.
In her view, locals should get well-rounded information on the project, and not just information on how good the project would be.
Santipap Siriwattanapibula from Udon Thani Rajabhat University said APPC must explain clearly how the potash-mining project would be worth all the risks.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Locals-up-in-arms-over-potash-mine-30264311.html
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(July 14), the three women seen in the photos and the event’s organiser were summoned to Mueang Udon Thani Police Station to hear their charges. The women, who are in their early 20s, have been charged with indecent exposure, while the party’s organiser has been charged with selling alcohol without permission.
The models confessed to stripping in front of the guests during the party at Milin Water Park and Restaurant on March 27. They were fined B2,500 each by the police.
The organiser, Chaiya Saenboon, said he hired seven models from Bangkok to wear swim suits and entertain guests at the party, but did not order the models to take off their bathing suits.
"The organisers did not tell them to show their breasts," Chaiya said at the police station. "I think it may be drunkenness that drove them to do that. Or they may have wanted tips."
One of the models, who calls herself 'Guitar,' told police officers that she and her two colleagues were urged by the guests to expose themselves in exchange for tip money. She added that they were intoxicated at the time.
"Everyone of us accepts the fault for our inappropriate action," said Guitar. "We would like to apologise."
http://www.thephuketnews.com/topless-pool-party-models-fined-53211.php#sthash.x96Pdpr8.dpuf
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A 19-year-old man suspected of stealing a massive collection of women's panties and raping people’s chickens for a year has been arrested, police said yesterday.
The panties stealer-slash-chicken rapist, only identified as "Nathee," was taken into custody recently after one woman filed a report that someone broke into her house in Udon Thani’s Chiang Pin district and stole 10 sets of underwear and her mobile phone last month.
Police tracked down Nathee and found two sacks loaded with women's underwear at his home.
After he was arrested, almost 100 women in the district came forward to admit their delicates had also been stolen.
Police say that Nathee told them he’s been stealing women’s underwear for more than a year by creeping up on their clothing racks at night.
Elaborating further on the depths of his compulsion, he reportedly told them how far he was willing to go.
Nathee said if the underwear was still in the washing machine, he would just turn the thing off and fish around for them soggy undies.
If the homeowner was away, Nathee would also steal their valuables and trade them to finance his porn and glue collection.
If they had any chickens, Nathee would rape them.
Huff the glue, get a good buzz going, fish out some panties, turn on the porn and then go steal more of it all. Sounds like quite a life for all but the chicken-fucking.
Nathee will be prosecuted for theft, Sanook reported.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/07/16/man-steals-all-womens-panties-and-rapes-their-chickens
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Senior Monk in Udon Thani Caught with Female Student
He claimed the student was a girlfriend of his son, who was a military conscript in Chon Buri
UDON THANI – Phra Pongpan Wisuttho a senior monk at Wat Yothanimit at Ban Dong Wat has left the monk-hood in disgrace after a 19 year old girl was found in his monastic room in the early hours of Thursday.
Police went to Wat Yothanimit at Ban Dong Wat community on Thaharn Road in tambon Mak Khaeng following a complaint that Phra Pongpan Wisuttho often took young women into his room to sleep with him.
Local residents accompanied police to inspect his room and when they arrived at the monk’s living quarters they found his room was locked, but the light was still turned on. Shortly afterwards the light was switched off. Police knocked on the door and waited until Phra Pongpan emerged some time later.
Inside the room they found a frightened 19-year-old woman, a student at a vocational college in the province, Khaosod Online reported on Thursday.
Police took the monk and the woman to Muang district police station for questioning.
Phra Pongpan, 55, told police he was a sergeant major in the military before entering the monk-hood. He had stayed at the temple for 16 years, since 1999, and had been appointed secretary to the tambon Na Kha chief monk, he said.
He claimed the student was a girlfriend of his son, who was a military conscript in Chon Buri. His son was the jealous type and had often quarreled with her. The young woman had come to consult him and asked to stay in his room. She always went to college in the morning, the monk said.
He insisted he had not had sex with her, but admitted he acted improperly in allowing her to stay in his room.
The monk said he would voluntarily leave the monk-hood if local people saw his actions as being wrong, said Pol Lt Col Charnarong Makpisut, the Muang district police chief.
The young woman also denied being sexually involved with the monk. She said she only came to consult him as her boyfriend had other girls. Her house was far away so she asked to sleep in his room.
She asked for leniency, saying she was still studying and did not want to have a record for allegedly sleeping in the monk’s room. She was later released.
Police said local residents complained the monk often took young women to his room at night and that they left before dawn. Most of the visitors were students.
http://www.chiangraitimes.com/senior-monk-in-udon-thani-caught-with-female-student.html
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UDON THANI: — UDON THANITHE HEARTS of so many locals in Udon Thani’s Prachaksinlapakhom district are heavy because of the pending project to launch mining operations in their hometown area.
They are seriously worried about possible pollution and adverse impacts on their health.
“To tell the truth, I don’t believe in the environmental impact assessment [EIA],” Manee Boonrawd said, speaking as a leader of a movement opposing the potash-mining plan.
She said Asia Pacific Potash Corp (APPC), which was taken over by Italian Thai Development in 2006, claimed its EIA had won approval in 2000, but some academics later told locals that many parts of the said EIA violated the principles of such impact assessments.
“So, I think that even if the EIA process is completed, problems will arise,” said Manee, who is now in her late 60s.
She has already been fighting against the project to start the potash-mining operation in her hometown for about 14 years.
Inspired by Manee, locals in Prachaksinlapakhom’s Tambon Huai Sam Phad and Tambon Na Muang have joined forces in expressing a firm stance against potash mining.
Due to their strong opposition, a consulting firm hired by APPC has to date been unable to arrange serious meetings with locals in the area – known as “Prachakhom” – which is required by law.
Such meetings have already taken place in nearby tambons that the potash-mining project will also cover.
The project, if given the green light, will cover 26,446 rai (4,230 hectares) of land in Udon Thani province. Requiring a budget of more than Bt30 billion, the project will have a maximum capacity of 2 million tonnes of potash a year.
APPC is confident that increasingly advanced technology and well-prepared measures mean the mining operations will benefit both the local economy and the national economy without posing any significant threat.
Manee remains sceptical, however, because she is well aware that some pieces of information can be withheld. She said she also could not read seven English-language books that the company had given to her.
“During the past 14 years, I’ve seen a lot,” she said.
She added that some people had advised her to watch out, as her activities against such a big project might turn her into a target for attack.
“I’m not afraid of death. I am just worried that if I stop fighting against this potash-mining project, I won’t be able to die with peace of mind,” she explained.
According to her, APPC has tried to offer Bt1,000 in compensation for every rai damaged by its mining operations, if any.
“I won’t accept that,” Manee said.
Late last month, senior local officials, representatives of local residents and APPC, military officers and police convened a meeting in a bid to address conflicts or concerns arising out of the mining project.
So far, however, the company and the locals seem to have different ideas on what they agreed to do. For example, while locals’ representatives believe APPC will not carry out any activity related to the “Prachakhom” until a well-rounded academic forum takes place for all stakeholders to express their opinions on the mining operations, the firm insists otherwise.
“The firm recently told me that it has not agreed to any such thing,” said Somporn Phengkham of Chulalongkorn University’s Social Research Institute.
She has been working with locals in closely examining the project. From her examination, she has noticed that APPC does not provide clear assurances as to how it will |really deal with mullock, a waste rock by-product from the planned |operations.
“We are worried about the development of related industries,” she said.
Somporn added that APPC had initially said its mining operations might cause land to subside by between just 7 and 10 centimetres.
Major subsidence expected
“But now it says the subsidence may be to the tune of 40 centimetres,” she complained.
She also pointed out that while APPC had promised to provide insurance for locals, it planned to submit insurance certificates to the Primary Industries and Mines Department and it would be the duty of locals to prove any damages if they wanted to claim financial compensation.
“Who will pay for expenses related to the proving process?” she said.
Somporn insisted APPC should clearly identify the measures it would use to prevent any adverse impacts on local people from the mining operations.
“What will it do if their health is endangered?” she said.
In her view, locals should get well-rounded information on the project, and not just information on how good the project would be.
Santipap Siriwattanapibula from Udon Thani Rajabhat University said APPC must explain clearly how the potash-mining project would be worth all the risks.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Locals-up-in-arms-over-potash-mine-30264311.html
Meeting set for mid-Aug on fighting potash mining
ACTIVISTS and affected villagers will meet in mid-August to take a stand against potash mining and related industries in the Northeast, before they file a formal petition to the government, a prominent activist said yesterday.
Meanwhile, many private mining companies are going ahead with applying for potash-mining permits and special licences covering 3.5 million rai (560,000 hectares) in the region. Some have already been granted special licences.
Decha Kambaomuang of the Isaan Rights and Liberty Centre said the residents from the 10 northeastern provinces where the mining would take place would also attend the meeting next month.
Expressing concern that no public participation or gathering of public opinions had taken place before permits and special licences were granted, Decha added that the "Prachakhom" opinion-gathering events hosted by some projects did not require attendees' votes. This worried villagers because most mining areas were within communities, hence hastily approving licences and hosting Prachakhom events just for the sake of it could lead to subsequent impacts on community and environment, he said.
Somporn Phengkham of Chulalongkorn University's Social Research Institute said an academic forum on a potash mine in Udon Thani's Muang and Prachaksinlapakhom districts would be held late next month to listen to people's concerns about possible impacts from mining activities and related industries.
Separately, Suwit Kularbwong, secretary-general of the Isaan NGO Coordinating Committee, called on the government last Saturday to prioritise people's rights and freedoms. Urging the government to conduct careful studies and assess alternatives in developing the region, |Suwit also said the environmental health impact assessment (EHIA) reports should employ clear standards and the government should be able to tell the public, especially those in the Northeast, about their benefits.
"State agencies such as the Industry Ministry shouldn't act as if they are middlemen to sell the country's assets to foreigners, as most mining companies applying for permits are Chinese or others' nominees," Suwit said. "People's participation, rights and freedoms are a bigger issue here."
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula confirmed in the "Return of Happiness" TV show last Friday that there were 400 billion tonnes of potash-ore deposits in the Northeast - possibly Asia's or even the world's largest source of the mineral.
Hence, he said, it could serve as a foundation for new industry and suggested that the government would press ahead with its plan to open up potash-mining industry as part of a strategy to stimulate the economy.
Recently, the Industry Ministry via the Department of Primary Industries and Mines promoted potash mining in the Northeast by working toward issuing patent permits and special licences covering 3.5 million rai in total.
A patent permit was granted to Asean Potash Mining for a 9,700-rai mine in Chaiyaphum's Bamnet Narong district, which was expected to start producing potash fertilisers by 2019.
Two more companies were awaiting patent permits. Thai Cali Co, whose application for a 9,005-rai mine in Nakhon Ratchasima province has been approved by the Mineral Act committee, is now awaiting a final green light from the Industry Ministry.
Asia Pacific Potash Corporation's application for four plots covering 26,446 rai in Udon Thani province is awaiting approval by the Udon Thani Industry Office and the completion of mandatory meetings with locals.
Five companies have already been granted special licences, while 34 other companies are still applying for them. While most special-licence holders are in the process of preparing to survey the area, Rongpang Mining Co has already drilled three mineral-survey pits.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Meeting-set-for-mid-Aug-on-fighting-potash-mining-30264947.html
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UDON THANI, 22 July 2015 (NNT) - Udon Thani Province is urgently looking into debts of 2,644 local farmers with a combined value of THB462m in response to Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha’s policy to prevent farmers from losing rights over their agricultural lands to capitalists or creditors.
Deputy Governor of Udon Thani Adul Chantanapum said that Udon Thani’s Office of Agriculture and Cooperatives will map out action plan for the purpose. The Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) will tackle unconventional loans. Meanwhile, the Legal Execution Department cooperates with the Department of Rights and Liberties Protection and the Dhamrongdham Center in dealing with unfair loans on behalf of farmers.
It is expected that the officials involved will complete action plans involving debt negotiations for all indebted farmers by the end of 31st August 2015.
The Deputy Governor also said that provincial authorities have been ordered to begin negotiating process with creditors for all debtors by prioritizing the urgency of those cases. Both debtors and creditors in all cases will be treated with fairness. Indebted farmers with a successful debt negotiation will gain financial assistance from the BAAC. -
http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNOHT5807220010005#sthash.yqY0JJby.dpuf
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UDON THANI, 4 August 2015 (NNT) - Thailand’s northeastern province of Udon Thani held an annual aviation emergency response exercise or U-EMEX 2015 to ensure that its provincial airport have all staff, equipment and systems ready for any kind of emergency, Director of the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Sarawut Palawat revealed during the exercise.
The exercise involved a mock-up accident in which an airplane experienced a mechanical problem at the front wheels while landing in the airport. The wheels’ failure made the plane skid off runway, causing an oil leakage that finally led to a big blast.
The exercise was conducted strictly in line with Thailand’s national emergency plan 2015 and the safety standards of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The drill embraced not only outdoor training but also involved all working groups in the emergency response system, making it a full-scale exercise from tabletop to every specific task force. In this year’s exercise, four rescuers of Laos’s national rescue team also came to observe and joined the activity in Udon Thani.
: http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNPOL5808040010010#sthash.GSuqjMy0.dpuf
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Five bankrupt cops sacked, more likely says top brass
The Nation August 7, 2015 1:00 am
Five police officers in Udon Thani who were declared bankrupt by the court were dismissed from the civil service. More than 100 police officers from various provinces including, Maha Sarakham, might face a similar fate due to overwhelming debts, said Provincial Police Region 4 commissioner Police Lieutenant General Boonlert Jaipradit.
Boonlert yesterday presided over a meeting of related officers and bank representatives about the issue of indebted police officers.
The region's 13,000 police officers owed a total of Bt9 billion to the Government Saving Bank. More than 2,500 officers who owe Bt2 billion have fallen behind with their repayments, he said.
Thanks to a regional project to help the officers negotiate their debts with the bank, 1,100 such officers who owed Bt900 million settled their affairs, while 1,200 officers who owed Bt1 billion were in the process of negotiating, he said.
However, 600 officers were sued for bankruptcy.
"Yesterday, we saw five Udon Thani police officers dismissed from work because their bankruptcy cases were finalised. About 100 more might be next," he added.
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A 31-year-old nurse accused of swindling more than 4 million baht from people in Udon Thani was detained by police in Bangkok’s Bangkok Noi district on Wednesday.
Malisa Srinanam was apprehended by Crime Suppression Division and Bangkok Noi police in front of Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
She was named in an arrest warrant issued by an Udon Thani court, accused of colluding with her ex-boyfriend in duping people to invest in selling medical equipment, Pol Lt Col Torsak Panklinput, a CSD investigator, said on Wednesday
The pair had opened a business, Malisa Technology Co, in Udon Thani’s Ban Dung district and persuaded people to invest in medical equipment, with a promise of a dividend of 10% on the investment money,...
http://bangkokpost.com/news/general/653188/nurse-arrested-on-swindling-charge
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Jail for child sex offender expelled from Thailand
A former Weston-super-Mare man expelled from Thailand to face child sexual abuse charges has been jailed for 15 and a half years.
Robert David Hastings, 62, who was living in the Thai city of Udon Thani at the time of his arrest, was convicted of 10 counts of indecent assault and three counts of indecency with a child following a short trial at Bristol Crown Court last month.
He was sentenced at the same court earlier today (14/8).
The offences were all committed in the 1990s in the Weston-super-Mare area against a vulnerable girl, who was aged between four and nine years old at the time.
The victim contacted police in February 2011 and was able to give a video statement the following month.
Further enquiries found Hastings had been living in Thailand since 2005 and so work began on carrying out a full and thorough investigation which would lead to his expulsion.
Hastings was arrested by Thai police in November 2014 and taken to the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok. He was expelled back to the UK in February 2015 following the conclusion of the police investigation.
Acting Det Sgt Martin Davies, of Bristol Investigations, said: “Robert Hastings is a deceptive and cruel sexual offender who took advantage of a vulnerable child and subjected her to some truly awful offences.
“When he was arrested by Thai police in November 2014 he told the media he was happy to return to the UK as “he’d done nothing wrong”.
“Members of the jury were able to see through his lies and convicted him of 13 serious sexual offences.
“I have tremendous admiration for the victim for finding the courage to report these crimes to us, and then being able to endure the long wait while the expulsion and judicial processes progressed.
“She has shown unwavering support of the investigation and I hope this conclusion will help her to find some form of closure.
“We’re extremely grateful to all the agencies both here and in Thailand involved in arresting and bringing Hastings back to the UK to face trial, especially the National Crime Agency, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Crown Prosecution Service.”
Rachael Scott, head of the CPS South West Complex Casework Unit said: “The CPS worked closely with Avon and Somerset police and other partner agencies to bring this case before the court. This conviction and today’s sentence highlight our combined commitment to bringing sexual offenders to justice.
“We have a dedicated team of specialist lawyers who review rape and other serious sexual offences working alongside police investigators on these highly sensitive cases. I would like to reassure anyone who has suffered at the hands of a sexual offender that the CPS will always seek to prosecute where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so, no matter how long ago the offences were committed or where in the world they are now hiding.
“Robert Hastings was unable to evade justice and will now have to face the consequences of his crimes.”
https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/newsroom/jail-for-child-sex-offender-expelled-from-thailand/
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Thieves targeted foreigners' homes in Northeast
Two members of a gang of burglars targeting houses of foreign residents in the Northeast have been arrested and some of the 10 million baht of loot recovered, in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Bua Yai district.
Pradit Chainok, 28, and his brother Prasopchok, 26, both Bua Yai residents, were detained and presented at a press conference at the Provincial Police Region 4 office on Friday.
The two brothers looked for their victims at Udon Thani airport, targeting foreigners with Thai wives, said Pol Lt Gen Boonlert Jaipradit, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 4.
The suspects then followed the chosen victims to their houses and waited for an opportunity to break in and steal whatever valuables they could make off with, Thai media reported.
http://bangkokpost.com/news/general/656088/thieves-targeted-foreigners-homes-in-northeast.
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A man arrested with 3 million baht worth of marijuana in Udon Thani has told police that he agreed to smuggle the drugs because he needed the money for his wedding.
Pongpan Walasud, 26, a resident of Bung Kan province, was apprehended after local police and border patrol officers searched a car parked at a petrol station in Muang district of the northeastern province on Friday evening. Inside the Toyota Camry sedan, which had a Bangkok licence plate, they found five fertiliser sacks containing 297 bars of compressed marijuana, each weighing a kilogramme.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/673504/pot-smuggler-labour-of-love.
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DR KANGWAN WONGRAT-SAMEETUAN, director of Namsom District Hospital in Udon Thani province, has been named the "Best Rural Doctor of 2014" for encouraging new physicians to use their knowledge to help the grassroots, especially in rural areas.
"I was very glad when I successfully entered Siriraj Medical School, then I was very proud when I graduated and this time I'm very proud and glad that I'm rewarded with the best rural doctor prize," he said yesterday.
"I will continue my duty as a rural doctor until my retirement," he said.
Mahidol University's Medical School at Siriraj Hospital hosted the 41st ceremony, bestowing the prize to Kangwan for his contribution to the rural hospital in the Northeast for 31 years.
At the press conference, Kangwan said he wants to use his medical knowledge to benefit the people and wants new doctors to follow the will of the father of Thai modern medicine, Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, to contribute their skills to the masses.
He said he wanted to become a rural doctor after he graduated. When he was posted to Namsom District Hospital 31 years ago, the district was mostly undeveloped and the danger of the communist insurgency was ever present.
"At that time, the hospital had only 10 beds and the lack of medical staff and equipment was a major concern, but now the area has already developed and more people reside in the district. The hospital now has 60 beds," he said.
"We are now facing new problems of hospital management, as the hospital is larger and the people are now suffering more from chronic diseases such as diabetes due to the change of lifestyles.
"These are the challenges that we are trying to tackle," he added.
Dr Prasit Watanapa, director of Siriraj Medical School, said he was pleased to present the prize to Kangwan because he had seen Kangwan's good work at Namsom District Hospital and his contribution to healthcare development in the rural area.
"Doctors like Kangwan are very important to our country. Doctors who give up their comfortable lives to help the people in rural areas set an example for others," he said.
Dr Samut Zhongwisan, chairman of the rural doctor prize committee, said there were 15 nominees and the committee had visited their hospitals to talk with staff and patients and monitor the hospitals' operation to find the finest practitioner for this prize.
"We judged on the experience of each doctor, healthcare management, interpersonal relations, academic knowledge, leadership and creativity for doing good things for the people. A nominee is not required to be a Siriraj Medical School alumnus," he said.
It was hard to choose the award winner, as all candidates had excellent performance.
The winner would hopefully inspire and act as a role model for rural doctors across the country, he added.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Udon-Thani-hospital-chief-named-best-rural-doctor-30268096.html
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BANGKOK (AP) — More than 100 students and villagers crowded into a northeast Thailand college forum to hear about American gas companies conducting drilling operations in their region. A lieutenant colonel and dozens of soldiers and police officers followed them in.
The armed police began photographing members of the crowd, a menacing move in a country now run by a military junta that bars protests and routinely cracks down on dissenters. Some in the audience had already viewed the military as part of the problem, since months earlier they had forced demonstrators to make way for drilling equipment.
"With soldiers in the meeting room we were scared because we could not criticize the state officers who protect the company," said Chainarong Sretthachau, a professor who organized the May event at Mahasarakham University. "If I did not agree, they would not allow us to organize the conference."
Villagers in the northeast provinces of Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Kalasin are trying to stop the drilling operations by American company APICO and its subsidiary Tatex Thailand.
Opponents of the operations describe them as fracking, or hydraulic fracturing. The technique requires high-pressure injection of water, chemicals and sand to crack shale rock and allow gas to seep out, but has been criticized for causing water pollution and even triggering small earthquakes. Fracking has boosted fuel production in the U.S. and elsewhere while meeting increasing opposition from affected communities.
APICO has said it is not fracking in the Southeast Asian country, though documents relating to its work say fracking was at least attempted there and describe wastewater ponds that are consistent with fracking operations. The Thai government says fracking is going on in the country's shale-rich northeast but would not say precisely where.
In any case, the drilling will apparently continue. Earlier this year, Thailand's Office of the Ombudsman dismissed a complaint that the country's National Human Rights Commission had filed on the villagers' behalf. The ombudsman's office, which investigates allegations of government wrongdoing and can refer cases to Thai courts, did not return phone calls or emails and provided no explanation for the dismissal.
More than 200 residents in communities near well sites have complained to the human rights commission about skin and respiratory problems and six have been hospitalized, according to commission member Nirun Pitakwatchara. Videos of farmland posted to Facebook and other sites allege that rubber trees and other agriculture have been damaged by associated airborne chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gases. Chainarong said that locals in one village near a gas operation report that their water has become brown and unusable.
Phuthon Anochadech, a villager whose rubber trees are near APICO's operation in Udon Thani, said that when drilling began two years ago, "It smelled so bad, we couldn't breathe."
He said in a telephone interview that he lost nearly 1 million baht ($28,000) that year because his trees produced little, and his worker quit because the fracking work was making him sick.
"Before all this, he was a healthy man, but during that time, he had to take allergy pills every day, his eyes were always watering from the haze until he couldn't do it anymore and he quit," Phuthon said. "He said he would die if he stayed."
Phuthon himself suffered from rashes and breathing problems, and he said his crops continue to suffer. He said APICO offered him compensation that does not begin to cover his losses.
Nirun said the human rights commission and the government had struck an agreement in early February to hold a forum for local stakeholders before drilling began, but the agreement was ignored. He said APICO officials "aren't announcing to the people about projects and exploration."
APICO is a privately held company incorporated in Delaware but based in Bangkok. It referred questions to its CEO, Dwight Johnson, who did not return repeated phone calls and emails from The Associated Press seeking comment.
The commission has been meeting with local communities for the past year and hosted a June meeting attended by 400 people. In total, petitions from eight communities in eight different provinces were filed against oil and gas exploration with the commission.
"We accumulated every single case and it boiled down to just one problem, which is granting concessions for natural resources should go through the legal process of environmental impact studies," said Kraisak Choonhavan, an adviser to the commission.
While APICO and Tatex have filed formal environmental impact assessments, Thailand's Environment Act requires that activities in the EIA be carried out only when locals are informed at least 15 days in advance. Chainarong said that according to residents, APICO obtained signatures granting consent to drill by giving away T-shirts, bags and nail cutters to villagers and making them sign for the items.
Phuthon, the rubber farmer, said that at the beginning of the drilling operation, APICO held an "educational session" telling residents the work would bring "jobs, ease of transport and civilization to the village." He said they offered souvenirs — "cheap things which cost less than 100 baht ($2.77)" — and asked people to sign their names as proof of receiving them. He said he took nothing.
The drilling dispute is taking place around the Dong Mun gas field, which covers 31.9 square kilometers (12.3 square miles) and has expected gas reserves of 96 billion cubic feet, enough to power about a million homes for a year.
In February, demonstrators from the town of Ban Na Dun in Khon Kaen blocked APICO's equipment from being transported to a drilling site, but soldiers, police and masked guards made them clear the road.
"I understand them, the villagers, when they said educated people took advantage of them," said Lt. Col. Napasit Pongwarapisarn, the provincial military chief of staff who attended the university conference. "I sympathized with them but what can the military do? Everything was signed. Military and police have to do it. We follow orders."
In late April, the group Stop Fracking Thailand staged a protest outside the U.S. Embassy demanding that American oil companies leave Thailand. In response, APICO representatives denied the use of fracking in northeastern Thailand.
However, Coastal Energy Company, a Cayman Islands-based company that owns a 39 percent stake in APICO, announced hydraulic fracturing tests at the northeastern APICO-operated gas fields in 2009 and 2010. Those tests were unsuccessful, and the company did not specify whether subsequent successful drilling involved fracking. Coastal Energy is now a subsidiary of Compania Espanola de Petroleos SA, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi government.
The EIAs for APICO and Tatex Thailand do not specify if the companies are using hydraulic fracturing but do detail onsite chemical wastewater ponds containing toxic materials such as arsenic, which are characteristic of fracking operations.
Phumee Srisuwon, director of Mineral Fuels Management Bureau for Thailand's Ministry of Energy, said fracking techniques have been used on a limited basis by state-owned energy company PTTEP, which has partnerships with APICO. He said those wells are in the northeast but would not say whether they are the same ones villagers are protesting.
He said fracking is "still in the early stage in Thailand."
APICO released a statement in early March saying that its obligations, including hosting meetings with locals in the affected areas, were met, and that the company's concession through the Thai government is legal.
Natural gas powers 75 percent of Thailand's electric power plants, and foreign companies account for more than half of the natural gas produced within the country. All the gas is sold back to the state, said Witoon Kaoaien, chief production supervisor for PTTEP.
Foreign companies are conducting both inland and offshore fracking operations in Thailand. Coastal Energy Company began using offshore hydraulic fracturing techniques in the southern province of Songkhla in 2013, according to its annual report.
Chevron uses seawater injection techniques at wells in the Gulf of Thailand's Pattani Basin. A 2011 research paper from the International Petroleum Technology Conference, authored by a Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production team, mentions Chevron Thailand's use of "prolonged hydro-fracturing" in this area, noting that the method fractures rock by injecting water, but differs from conventional hydraulic fracturing in that the cooling of the rock causes the fracturing, rather than high water pressure.
"Chevron does not apply hydraulic fracturing technology in Thailand," company spokeswoman Saransri Prawatpattanakul said in an emailed response to questions from the AP.
Many Thais have questioned the government's continued pursuit of fossil fuels, but it is risky to challenge military leaders who have maintained full control since a May 2014 coup.
Before the May conference, Chainarong said he was summoned to Maha Sarakham's city hall by Lt. Col. Napasit to sign an agreement forbidding criticism of Thailand's military government and allowing the officers to attend.
Napasit said in a telephone interview that the military and police had been invited to the conference. He described the document-signing as a normal procedure under the military government.
The lieutenant colonel was the last speaker at the forum. When he took the microphone, attendees rose from their seats and walked out.
http://news.yahoo.com/thai-villagers-gas-drilling-sickens-them-ruins-crops-080608120.html
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Firm closer to applying for mining licence amid local uproar
Seksanti Kanlayanawisut
The Nation September 16, 2015 1:00 am
As Udon Thani environmentalists expressed their objection to a public meeting on mining concessions being held at a military camp, Asia Pacific Potash Corporation (APPC) was one step closer to applying for the mining licence.
APPC executive Woravudh Hiranyapaisansakul said yesterday's public meeting in Non Sung district brought the company closer to applying for a mining licence.
Mining firms are required to have such meetings, or "Prachakhom Mooban", so they can explain their operations to the villagers and hear what the locals have to say. The information is gathered by the Industry Ministry, which uses it to consider if it should grant the licence.
Woravudh made it clear that such meetings weren't held to ask for approval for the mine construction. After the village headman submits the meeting report to 15 villages in two sub-districts, the local bodies can hold a meeting in which administrators offer opinions. The information that is submitted to the provincial industrial office is passed pass on to the ministry. Then the minister orders the office to organise a public hearing for the whole province, he added.
However, environmentalists yesterday alleged that the public meeting had been arranged in such a way as to facilitate capitalists to get mining concession as fast as possible.
Manee Boonrod, a member of the Udon Thani environmentalist group, said she received a letter on September 10 to attend the meeting on the potash mining concession in Udon Thani. She said the meeting should not have been held at the military camp, more than 10 kilometres away from communities. The heavy military presence at the site implied that the government did not want public participation and wanted to award the concession to the private sector as fast as possible. She said the regulations state that the public meeting must be carried out at Tambon Huaysampad or Tambon Namuang in Prachaksilapakom district.
She said her group vowed to fight against injustice and the lack of transparency in the mining concession.
NGO Cord's secretary-general Suwit Kularbwong said the potash mining is a large development project that will have a significant impact to the environment. The government should not rush to give a concession without public participation.
"The Prachakhom Mooban was carried out without justice and the villagers are likely to face problems as a result," he said.
Rajabhat University lecturer Santipap Siriwattanapaiboon said the Department of Primary Industries and Mines had amended relevant laws in March, which stated that voting in public hearings on projects under the responsibility of the department was not needed.
"This is to facilitate the mining concession without taking into account public participation. The fact that it was held at a military camp means it should not be called a public hearing,"’ he said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Firm-closer-to-applying-for-mining-licence-amid-lo-30268882.html
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UDON THANI:– An Australian man spent a night in the cells after going on a drunken rampage in Udon Thani.
Jason Mark Walsh, 38, had to be restrained by officers after becoming violent following an argument with his girlfriend and her family.
According to Thai news site Khaosod, Mr Walsh had been persuaded to travel to Udon Thani to the visit the family of his girlfriend, who he had met approximately one month earlier in the popular resort of Pattaya.
Apparently, Mr Walsh and his girlfriend were going to announce their plans to get married to his her parents and the rest of the family.
However, several hours after arriving at the family home, it is alleged that a now drunk Mr Walsh got involved in an argument with his girlfriend and other family members, which resulted in Mr Walsh leaving the family home and returning to the B2 Boutique Hotel in Udon Thani town centre.
Upon his return to the hotel, the report in Khaosod states that Mr Walsh became aggressive towards a group of local teenagers and hotel staff, before the police were called.
As the fracas continued, it is alleged that Mr Walsh started shouting abuse and spitting at the first police officers to arrive at the scene.
Finally, Mr Walsh had to be restrained by six police officers before being taken to the local police station, where officers thought it was best for Mr Walsh to spend a night in the cells and sober up.
Mr Walsh was released without the charge the following day.
The story was originally reported by Khaosod on 14 September.
Source: Khaosod
(http://s4.postimg.org/fl5otmsjh/image.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
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Udon Thani airport has reopened its recently renovated passenger terminal, according to a National News Bureau of Thailand report.
Officials said the airport, technically designated an international gateway, has upgraded its terminal to prepare for the introduction of the ASEAN Economic Community.
The airport has no international flights, although buses run from the airport to the border with Laos at Nong Khai where travellers connect with a bus to Vientiane Laos.
It is the only connection the airport has with the ASEAN Economic Community member countries.
Minister of Transport Akom Termpittayapisit presided over the opening ceremony, Sunday. The renovation was carried out under the supervision of the Department of Civil Aviation.
The terminal covers an area of 8,536 square metres, with a capacity of handling up to 400 passengers per hour.
The renovated building, when combined with the existing passenger terminal, can handle up to 1,200 passengers per hour.
Officials expect more travellers to travel between Vientiane, the capital of Lao and Nong Khai, a border town around 80 km north of Udon Thani. From there they can take a mini-bus to connect with flights from Udon Thani.
Currently, Udon Thani International Airport is served by five domestic airlines that offer 48 round-trip flights daily from Bangkok(DMK). Around 1.4 million passengers use the airport annually.
http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2015/09/udon-opens-airport-terminal/
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Warrants issued for arrest of two skull thieves
The Nation September 23, 2015 4:25 pm
The Udon Thani Provincial Court Wednesday approved arrest warrants for two shamans who allegedly stole a skull from a graveyard for amulet making.
"We will track them down," Udon Thani Police Station's superintendent Pol Colonel Wit Muttasin said, "Their crime has emotionally devastated the victim's family".
Wanted in this case are Narong Phumphuchit and Arthit Kongkarian, both 35. Being natives of the Udon Thani province, they have now gone into hiding.
Their accomplice, Bangorn Srinanam, was arrested on September 15.
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A young married mother and her lover have been arrested in Udon Thani over the death of her 20-month-old daughter, who was sexually abused, police said on Wednesday.
The 23-year-old woman, whose name was withheld, and her lover identified only as Nopparat, 22, were arrested separately in Phen district of Udon Thani on Wednesday.
The arrests followed a complaint by relatives that a girl one year and eight months old had been sexually abused and later died at a hospital in Nong Khai in the early hours of Wednesday.
:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/713176/married-mother-lover-arrested-over-sexual-abuse-of-baby.
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Potash mining still boiling issue despite councillors’ votes
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation
UDON THANI: — LOCALS IN two tambons of Udon Thani’s Prachaksinlapakhom district continue to oppose a project to launch potash-mining operations in their hometown, even after their local administrative bodies had voted on the issue.
These two tambons are Huai Sam Phad and Na Muang.
On September 25, Tambon Huai Sam Phad Administrative Organisation voted against the project, while the Tambon Na Muang Administrative Organisation voted for it.
Opponents of the project in Tambon Huai Sam Phad remain active because they want to make sure potash mining will not take place in their hometown. Opponents of the project in Tambon Na Muang, meanwhile, have planned to petition the Udon Thani Administrative Court over allegations that public forums on the project were not properly organised.
Asia Pacific Potash Corp (APPC) plans to launch mining operations in five tambons of Udon Thani’s Prachaksinlapakhom district, including Huai Sam Phad and Na Muang.
Manee Boonrawd, who has long fought against the project, submitted a letter directly to Udon Thani’s industry chief Thanawat Lert-sukhon this week asking that the APPC project exclude Tambon Huai Sam Phad from its operation.
“Locals are worried the project will endanger their environment, health and way of life,” she said. “By majority vote, our councillors have disapproved the project”.
Of 25 councillors of Tambon Huai Sam Phad administrative organisation, 12 voted “no” to the APPC mining project while nine voted “yes”. Four councillors abstained. Thanawat said he would inform the Industry Ministry of the local people’s wishes.
For about 14 years, a large number of locals in Tambon Na Muang have fought against the mining project alongside the like-minded in Tambon Huai Sam Phad.
However, when the decisive voting was held on September 25, 13 councillors of Tambon Na Muang administrative organisation approved the project. Six others disapproved while seven abstained.
Udon Thani environment conservation group secretary Decha Khambaomuang said one public forum on the project took place at night and lacked a quorum,
“How can it be used for [supporting]the project?” he asked.
He said the report prepared by the APPC for its potash-mining project must be illegal because it was based on an inappropriately organised public forum.
“We will ask the court to invalidate the report,” Decha said.
He said locals would not accept the mining operations in tambon Na Muang because the site was near community zones, schools, colleges, and medical facilities.
On Decha’s proposal, Thanawat said Industry Minister Atchaka Sibunruang would look into this project and make a decision.
“If she disapproves the project, it will be scrapped. But if she approves the project, a public hearing will be held in Udon Thani to listen to the opinions of locals again,” Thanawat said.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Potash-mining-still-boiling-issue-despite-councill-30270417.html
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Australian pedophile arrested in Udon Thani
BANGKOK:– A convicted pedophile who had been found guilty of sexually abusing two children in Australia has been arrested in Udon Thani.
Trevor Yardley, 71, was previously jailed for seven years in relation to his crime and was arrested following a tip off from police in Australia who asked Thai authorities to locate Yardley after they noticed he had started transferring money from his bank account in Australia to an account in Thailand.
Yardley was arrested at the home of his Thai wife and is accused of entering Thailand illegally after being found without a valid entry stamp in his passport, Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn told a press briefing on Sunday.
Pervert Yardley will now be deported back to Australia.
During the briefing, Pol Lt Gen Nathathorn also announced the arrest of two Russian men who were wanted in connection with crimes in their home country.
Source: VoiceTV
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Udon Thani to gain from border trade
http://aec-square.com/
A new Chinatown, Prime Square, is being developed in Udon Thani province to cash in on the growing border trade between Thailand and Laos as well as Vietnam.
The implementation of the Asean Economic Community at the end of this year is expected to attract more visitors and workers into Udon Thani to the benefit of the local economy.
Somprasong Panjalak, chairman of Prime Road Group, the developer of Prime Square Udon Thani, says the company has set aside an investment budget of Bt1 billion for the construction of commercial properties with a Chinese theme. The buildings will have a total of 230 units.
Udon Thani is one of three provinces selected as major gateways for border trading with neighbouring countries.
"Udon Thani has had one of the fastest-growing provincial economies in the Northeast region over last three to five years. The province is expected to grow further in the long term thanks to the high-speed-rail system, industrial estates, and residences," he said.
Somprasong is jointly investing with a partner in their first property development. They both have been running solar power plants in Thailand, Japan, and other countries before entering commercial property development.
The investors are renting a plot of land from the State Railway of Thailand for the project.
The developers put the value of border trade between Thailand and Laos at more than Bt100 billion. Udon Thani enjoys nearly half of this total.
Half of the buildings in the project are planned for sale to investors in Udon Thani, 30 per cent to investors from other provinces, and 20 per cent to investors from neighbouring countries, particularly Laos.
Somprasong said the company also planned to develop commercial projects in Bangkok, Chon Buri and Phuket.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Udon-Thani-to-gain-from-border-trade-30273791.html
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Udon Thani’s Ban Phue district police chief was immediately transferred to an inactive post at the provincial police office after the raid of three karaoke bars on Tuesday where 16 Laotian women, some of them underaged, were found to be working in the premises.
Pol Maj-Gen Phirapong Wongsamarn, the provincial police commander, ordered the removal of Pol Col Pornchai Boonrod from Ban Phue police station. He was replaced by Pol Col Promnatthakhet Hamkampai.
A special task force of the Local Administration Department raided the three karaoke bars in the district under the jurisdiction of Ban Phue police which were suspected of being involved in prostitution.
Sixteen Laotian women were found in the three bars and some of them were believed to be underaged although their ID cards show they are over 18.
Five people, including a Laotian, were arrested by the raiding tem. They were later charged with human trafficking.
Authorities said some of the women thought to be underaged would be sent for medical tests to determine their actual ages.
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"FREEZING" TEMPERATURES in the NORTHEAST
(http://s12.postimg.org/lsijkv0ml/CLOCK_TOWER_at_23_00.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
The Clock Tower in Udon Thani City recorded 09 Degree Celsius last night (24 January 2016) at 23:00 hours.
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Police have arrested five teenage boys for having allegedly attacked and robbed farang tourists in Udon Thani.
Udon Thani police chief Pol Maj Gen Pirapong Wongsamarn siad the teenagers are between 13 to 17 years old.
The police chief said the boys admitted that they selected elderly farang tourists and attacked and robbed them like in the violent GTA racing game.
Pirapong said the gang robbed a German tourist at 2:30 pm at park in Udon Thani downtown on Wednesday and robbed a British tourist at 10 pm behind a temple on the same day.
The Nation
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Meet Opal Philaiwan, Thailand’s next gift to the world
They used to make fun of Philaiwan “Opal” Phimphoolad’s grand ambition
Not bloody likely for a girl from Udon Thani with a dark complexion and a flat nose, they snickered.
You know where this story's going, though. Opal, now 22 and a third-year law student at Thammasat University, is sharing the runways with the most famous of Thailand's supermodels and is in demand among European photographers working in the Kingdom.
"I've always been self-conscious about my looks, which are typically Isaan - the low bridge on my nose and the square face - which don't match the ideal in Thai feminine beauty, so I had no confidence at all," says Opal.
But then one day at a promotional event in a Bangkok department store she met Rojjana "Yui" Phetkanha, who in her time was perhaps the most successful Thai model of them all - "our own Chanel Girl", they called her. Yui was on the cover of international Vogue, for Heaven's sake. And Yui came from Isaan too.
"I was totally stunned when I first saw her," Opal says. "My hair stood on end! She had the same facial features as me and she'd become a successful international model. So she sealed my inspiration to become a model. Without her I wouldn't have come this far."
Her dream reinvigorated, Opal entered a slew of "you-too-could-be-a-model" contests and even some beauty pageants - but most of the time got bounced out in the first round.
"It was really hard getting to this stage," she admits. "I'm tall enough, but people kept saying I couldn't be a model because I look 'too rustic'. My worst experience was when a famous commentator scolded me onstage, saying I looked like a country katoey." Other folks calling "termite face" didn't help either, of course.
"But all the harsh criticism just drove me on and brought the best out of me. If I'd accepted what they said, I'd have tossed aside my dreams. But I stood my ground, refusing to let the harsh words ruin my self-respect. If I had let the criticism destroy my dreams, I wouldn't be who I am now.
"I believe everyone has an inner strength and his or her own charm, some unique potential. We simply have to find a way to boost it. I just pushed myself harder to develop my skills and my modelling qualities."
Opal says she was frequently advised to have cosmetic surgery on her face and take concoctions that claim to lighten the skin. "I just kept saying 'no'. I want to show the world my unique facial features. I'm proud of my authentic look, which is getting rare in Thailand these days."
She's certainly come a long way from the days she went around hunched over so she wouldn't loom over her school friends. Having managed to straighten out that towering 175cm frame, she's got great posture and has the walk and the poses down pat.
"I'm still studying, so I have to juggle my time between my textbooks and my fitness regimen," she says. With Yui in mind, Opal plans to distribute her portfolio around Europe in the hopes of working there and - who knows - maybe becoming the next "Face of Asia".
(http://s14.postimg.org/ln9gmols1/30279753_01_big.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/life/Meet-Opal-Philaiwan-Thailands-next-gift-to-the-wor-30279753.html
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BANGKOK, 4 March 2016 (NNT) – Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha will visit Udon Thani province in the middle of this month to observe the drought situation.
According to Interior Minister Gen Anupong Paochinda, the Prime Minister will visit Udon Thani on March 18. He is also scheduled to chair a meeting of the joint public-private committee to be briefed on the water crisis, before traveling to the Northeast.
The Office of the Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, decides the locations that Gen Prayut will visit during his trip to address the ongoing problem. The Interior Minister has insisted that the premier’s trip was not politically motivated.
Gen Prayut expressed concerns over the drought crisis. He urged everyone to use water wisely, as water reserves are in decline. The premier cited the need for farmers to adapt to the current climate and said they should accept any consequences of attempting to cultivate rice out of season.
To prevent future water shortages, Gen Prayut instructed relevant agencies to dredge waterways to boost storage capacity when the rainy season arrives.
— NNT 2016-03-04
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The Biggles Big Band
The Biggles Big Band from Amsterdam in Udon Thani
(http://s23.postimg.org/op00h7tyj/JAZZ_UDON_THANI.jpg) (http://postimage.org/)
There is a one-day Jazz fest in Soi 1 in UD Town on Saturday, 19 March.
It features the Biggles Big Band from Amsterdam, and starts at 7pm.
The concert is free, but there is limited space.
To be sure of getting a seat, call the number on the poster and reserve a ticket.
Tickets can then be collected between 5.30 and 6.30pm.
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HUMAN BONES FOUND in UDON THANI FOREST
15 piles of human bones found in Udon Thani forest
(http://thumb.ibb.co/eZxidv/UDON_THANI_FOREST.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eZxidv)
Authorities inspect human bones found in a forest in Udon Thani on Thursday. (Udon Thani governor Chayawut Chanthorn’s Facebook page)
UDON THANI : 21 April 2016
Fifteen piles of what are believed to be human bones have been found in a forest in Ban Phue district.
Daily News Online reported Thursday that the remains were found at the foot of a mountain near Ban Khon Bon Wiang Chai village in tambon Nong Waeng.
The bones in eight of the 15 piles were each a nearly complete human skeleton, while those in the other seven were varied and incomplete.
Also found at the scene were scraps of burned auto tires and petrol bottles, suggesting the bones were of humans burned with a tire while in a sitting position.
Pol Lt Col Boonlert Jaipradit, chief of the Region 4 Provincial Police, led his deputy and officers to investigate Thursday morning.
Udon Thani governor Chayawut Chanthorn confirmed the find on Facebook.
The bones were found only after bushes covering them were razed by a wildfire.
The governor said the bones were discovered two days ago about 300 metres from the Ban Phue-Kut Chap Road by reporters from Channel 9 who were in the area working on two other crime stories.
Mr Chayawut said provincial police had launched an investigation into the grisly find, speculating that a number Udon Thani officials could be involved.
"I would like to assure the people of Udon Thani that I, the regional police chief, and commander of the 24th Army Circle will closely work together to bring the culprits in this case to justice," the governor wrote.
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POLICE refused yesterday to rule out that human remains found in a forest area in Udon Thani province could be linked to crimes perpetrated by government officials or police.
"We will have to investigate further before we can determine any link. At this point, we have not ruled out any possibility," the National Police Office's deputy government spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said.
Police identified 23 sites as possible crime scenes in a degraded forest area in Ban Phue district last week, with bones being retrieved from at least eight of the areas. Forensic tests are being conducted to verify if all of the bones are human.
"Results should come out in two weeks," Krissana said.
Deputy National Police General Chalermkiat Srivorakan took a helicopter ride to the forest area yesterday to verify reports that several human victims may have been killed and their bodies burnt there.
The Nation
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(NNT) - Udon Thani administration is to hold a competition to select the province's best OTOP items, on May 10-12 at Hotel Udon Thani.
Government officials in Udon Thani recently met to discuss the details of the contest, which include criteria, scope, and approach for selecting the best One Tambon One Product goods.
The event is part of the Ministry of Interior's OTOP Product Champion campaign that ranks OTOP items. The qualified products would be further developed, promoted, data-based, publicized and marketed on local and international markets.
The organizers set May 6 - 10 as the period for participants to register their products, saying that the qualified items must be products from 2014-2015 made in Udon Thani's 20 districts. The last day for submitting the samples is May 10 and the screening process will be done from May 10 - 12.
The winning products will be eligible to compete at a national level - See more at: http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5905050010005#sthash.nUBc9zQL.dpuf
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DNA test results of human remains found in Udon Thani ready
THE NATION May 5, 2016 1:00 am
THE DNA test results of human remains found at one of 23 spots in the degraded forest of Udon Thani’s Ban Phue district have been released and are pending comparison with the 31 relatives of missing persons, deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said yesterday.
The move followed the discovery in April of skeletons - many with signs of burning - in the forest located between Pa Som, Sangkhom and Ban Phue. It is suspected that these people were burned on piles of rubber tyres in an attempt to cover up the murders.
Citing confirmation from Pol Maj-General Pornchai Sutheerakun, chief of the Institute of Forensic Medicine, that the DNA test results have been completed, Krissana however declined to elaborate on details such as the sex of the victims. He said it would be dependent on comparison with 31 relatives who have come forward with reports of missing persons.
Should the DNA samples match, police will go ahead with issuing summonses and arrest warrants, he said, adding that forensic tests in other spots should be completed by this month's end.
Krissana affirmed that Provincial Police Region 4 and Udon Thani police investigators were working on hunting down the suspects linked to this site, but he could not reveal who the police had talked to, as it could affect the ongoing investigation.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the case was the Royal Thai Police's responsibility and nobody had asked for the Department of Special Investigation to look into cases linked to that site yet. In Udon Thani, eight relatives of missing persons yesterday submitted their DNA samples via buccal swabs or swabs from the inside of their cheeks. They included Rayong resident Saisamorn Chidcheua whose younger brother Natthaporn has been missing in Udon Thani since 2002 and local woman Saowalak Khachamit whose older brother was abducted by three men claiming to be police in December 2008.
Meanwhile, Udon Thani police chief Pol Maj-General Peerapong Wongsaman said that so far, police had sent DNA samples of 14 relatives to the Institute of Forensic Medicine on Tuesday. As for the recent transfer of three local police officers pending disciplinary probe, Peerapong said the order had been issued in a bid to ease witnesses' worries so they could cooperate with investigators, and to prevent the tampering with evidence. The transfer order came after Dara Pasai, 60, claimed to have been kidnapped last year by four strangers, who took him to the site where the skeletons were later found, and extorted Bt260,000 from him. Some of the accused abductors were said to be policemen.
Peerapong said the transferred policemen had not yet been found guilty of any wrongdoing.
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Murder suspect arrested over Udon Thani bones
UDON THANI: The investigation into the piles of human bones found in a forest in Udon Thani has taken a big step forward with the arrest of a man for the murder of a woman whose remains were found in the same area.
homicide, death, police,
Boonna Thong-ngam is the first suspect arrested since 23 piles of burned human bones were found in a forest in Ban Phue district in Udon Thani beginning on April 21 this year.
Mr Boonna was captured at his home in Ban Phue district in Udon Thani and charged with murdering Bang-orn Thong-on. Police did not say when the 57-year-old man was arrested. He was taken to a media briefing at the provincial police office in Muang district yesterday (May 16).
An arrest warrant has also been obtained for former policeman Pramote Buppasri in the same case, deputy police chief Gen Chalermkiat Sriworakhan said.
Pramote, who was formerly stationed at Ban Phue police station, is serving life imprisonment at Khlong Phai prison in Nakhon Ratchasima after being convicted in another murder case.
Mr Boonna admitted that he and former Sr Sgt Maj Pramote killed Bang-orn and took her body into the forest in Pramote’s pickup truck, where she was burned in a pyre of three rubber tyres, according to police.
Mr Boonna told reporters that the murder stemmed from a dispute over money between Bang-orn and Pramote. The victim refused to lend money to the former policeman. The two took her cash and gold ornaments after the murder, and he was given B14,000 in cash by Pramote, he said.
Read more at http://www.thephuketnews.com/murder-suspect-arrested-over-udon-thani-bones-57459.php#FDISX6LyfCFUR4Vj.99
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UDON THANI, 19 May 2016, (NNT) - Udon Thani Hospital is encouraging its staffers to use hand fans instead of air conditioners and electric fans to conserve energy, as part of the government's energy conservation policy.
The hospital's director, Dr. Thammanoon Wisittanawat, personally distributed hand fans to doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other employees, while urging them to minimize the use of air conditioners, electric fans, water and fuel. He said the move would instill a mentality of energy conservation among the staffers.
The hospital is also set to reduce energy consumption by 10% within the next three years.
Udon Thani Hospital usually spends 4.3 million baht per month on electric bill. However, the campaign could reduce the electricity bill to as low as 400,000 - 500,000 baht per month.
- See more at: http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNSOC5905190010013#sthash.zyCBe6jW.dpuf
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UDON THANI, 27 May 2016, (NNT) - The northeastern province of Udon Thani is commemorating its 123rd anniversary of the city's establishment by holding a product fair entitled "the Best of Udon Thani."
The event, which is also coincided with the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, is being held from now until May 30 on the first floor of Central Plaza Udon Thani.
The fair is the first of the government's program to promote investment in several provinces, beginning with Udon Thani before moving to Chiang Mai, Songkhla, Surat Thani and Rayong. The sixth and final event will return to be held at Udon Thani in August.
According to the Udon Thani Commerce Office, the event showcases products and shows inspired by local wisdom, such as pottery-making and cloth-weaving demonstrations. The office said activities will be held to promote tourism and local culture on every day of the event.
Meanwhile, the Udon Thani Culture Office is also organizing an exhibition and trivia competitions about the history of the province.
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Udon Thani case spurs Zika scare
The Nation May 29, 2016 8:35 pm
HEALTH authorities are trying to prevent more Zika virus cases after a worker from Udon Thani tested positive to the disease.
The worker has already left Thailand for work in Taiwan, where his infection was detected earlier this month.
His five family members in Udon Thani's Sang Com district have been put under medical surveillance.
"We have to monitor them for 28 days," the provincial public health chief Dr Mit Prasannakarn said Sunday.
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A Laotian man and his Thai accomplice were arrested at the parking lot of a shopping mall in Udon Thani’s Muang district with 7 kilograms of heroin hidden in boxes of kitchenware that were to be mailed to Australia.
Narcotics Suppression Bureau chief Pol Lt-Colonel Rewat Klinkesorn told the press that Laos national Boualapha Simoukda, 47, and Khajorn-amartAmatiyakul, 54, were nabbed and the heroin, plus Bt12,861 in cash and three cellphones confiscated.
The arrest came after police got a tip-off that a Laotian driving a certain car had smuggled drugs into the country, which were to be sent off to Australia.
Upon spotting the car, police followed it to a UPS office a parcel delivery service company in tambon Ban Luam. While one team of officers found 3.5kg of heroin inside the parcel the duo posted, another team followed them and upon arrest, found another 3.5kg of heroin inside the car.
The two men maintained their innocence claiming they had been hired to drop off the box without knowing what was inside. They were initially charged with smuggling heroin and possessing the drug with the intention to sell.
The Nation
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UDON THANI AIRPORT
The Department of Airports will sign an agreement with energy giant PTT Plc to allow the energy company to manage passenger terminals and car parks of the department's airports for commercial purposes.
The Udon Thani airport has been selected for development as a business model for other airports, said Chula Sukmanop, director-general of the department.
The department and the PTT will sign a memorandum of understanding on Aug 8 to implement the pilot project at Udon Thani airport over a period of three years, Mr Chula said.
The project will help streamline the airports' terminals and car park management in preparation for the Universal Security Program (USAP) inspection by the International Civil Aviation Organization, he said.
Aside from improving the management of the passenger terminal for commercial purposes, the PTT will also develop the airports' car parks, increase security, and improve the efficiency of parking fee collection, he said.
The project, particularly the car park development, should take shape before New Year when passenger traffic at Udon Thani airport is expected to peak, he said.
The car park of the Udon Thani airport will grow to accommodate up to 500 cars after it is fully developed in the pilot phase, he said, adding the facility may be expanded further in the second phase.
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THE NATION July 30, 2016 1:00 am
POLICE arrested a woman over her alleged involvement in a “romance scam” that duped an Udon Thani woman out of Bt980,000.
Soithipwan Orimobi, 36, who was wanted on charges of fraud and entering false information into a computer, was presented to the press yesterday along with her mobile phone, passport and money-transaction documents.
Pol Colonel Chawit Srijan, deputy chief of Udon Thani police, said "romance scam" gangs duped women using Thai accomplices by promising them marriages to foreign men. The women would send money to the people they thought they were in a relationship with after being presented with various needs for the money.
The Udon Thani victim had been wooed since October last year via Facebook by a person claiming to be a wealthy foreigner until she fell in love and wired the Bt980,000 in eight instalments. The victim filed a complaint in April, resulting in a police probe that identified eight individuals who opened bank accounts in exchange for up to Bt10,000 each.
The eight people implicated Soithipwan, who has lived with her Nigerian husband in Malaysia for the past three years. Police arrested her when she recently visited home town, Sukhothai. She reportedly confessed to using other people's photos from dating websites to open fake Facebook pages to dupe Thai women. She typed messages to them in Thai and a translating program turned them into English.
Soithipwan claimed she was not the mastermind behind the scam - someone living in Malaysia plotted it.
Tourist Police deputy commander 2 Lt-Colonel Yutthapong Mekyamnapa said many romance-scam gangs targeted Thai women, resulting in the loss of hundreds of million of baht.
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Burglars steal 100,000 baht of goods from house of German woman in Udon Thani
UDON THANI: — Police in Udon were called to a house in the Nong Bua area of Udon on Thursday after a burglary by cool thieves.
The Thai owner of the house – Willota Kepler, 47 – was away in Germany visiting her husband, reported Thairath.
A man and his wife from Yala were looking after the property for the owner and had just popped out. On return they found that a window had been forced.
Items in a display cabinet and three rings, a bracelet, some cash, a TV and a camera had been taken. The total value was in the region of 100,000 baht.
Jakraphan Phuangsawat, 52, said that they always looked after the house every year that Willota was away and nothing like this had happened before.
Neighbors said they saw two youths who arrived on a Honda Scoopy motorcycle carrying out a TV but thought it was just relatives.
Source: Thairath
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UDON PLAZA Co, operator of the UD Town shopping complex in Udon Thani, yesterday revealed a plan to invest more than Bt800 million in its first major revamp in eight years of business.
The revamp will consist of a major facelift of the shopping mall as well as repositioning of the UD brand to target more premium shoppers.
The aim is to appeal to people in the province who are more sophisticated and demanding, said Tanakorn Weerachatyanukul, president and chief executive of Udon Plaza.
He said the company had acquired the 21,000-square-metre Nevada complex, located on a 6-rai (1-hectare) plot near UD Town mall, in March for Bt370 million.
Apart from the UD Decentia project, a new mall set to open early next year, the company will spend another Bt350 million on a facelift of the UD Bazaar area.
Tanakorn said another Bt100 million would be spent by the company to facelift and provide new services in the UD Town area to help shoppers experience greater convenience. The name of UD Town will be changed to UD Denair.
(http://thumb.ibb.co/d8E1gF/30293273_01_big.jpg) (http://ibb.co/d8E1gF)
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/UD-Town-shopping-complex-set-for-Bt800m-revamp-30293273.html
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Police hunt for Uighur escapee widens
The Nation
One of the 10 Uighur-Turkish suspects who broke out of the Nong Khai Immigration Centre’s detention facility is still on the run and the authorities have expanded their search to Udon Thani province.
Based on a tip-off, police believe that Rachit Hachim, 22, might have left Nong Khai province and made his way along a train track to nearby Udon Thani.
Locals around Na Phu Train Station in Udon Thani's Phen district said they noticed a foreigner wearing a cap in a pavilion along the tracks on Monday night.
Rachit was among the 10 foreign suspects who broke out of the Nong Khai Immigration Centre early on Monday morning. Authorities have recaptured nine.
The inmates said Rachit led the jailbreak.
"People alerted the police after seeing news reports about a foreign suspect on the run," Pol Lt-Colonel Amarin Yooyen, an inspector at the Udon Thani Tourism Office, said yesterday.
A source said Rachit could speak Thai fluently because he has lived here for several years before being nabbed for illegal entry in July.
"Police are now looking for him at train stations and bus terminals," the source added.
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=295546713955070
Thai grannies settle their argument the old school Muay Thai way
When you're done exchanging words, maybe a good old fashioned boxing match is the answer to settling a dispute.
These Thai women from Udon Thani are in their 70s, but gamely participated in a sparring match, watched by an enthusiastic crowd of villagers.
According to Yahoo7, the bickering grannies are friends, but decided to settle an argument the Muay Thai way, balanced on a bamboo pole suspended over a river.
One of the two loses her balance quite soon into the start of the match, but refuses to let go, and spends the rest of the fight taking swings at her opponent while hanging upside down.
The loser of the match looked pretty disgruntled at the end.
The incident took place a couple of years ago, but the video recently resurfaced and went viral after Thai posters on Facebook started circulating it again.
Commenters on Facebook said they found the match amusing. Siripanya Noiy said: "I miss my grandmother...very cute."
Nong Nongza said: "Both of them are so strong!"
Sutee Plumwieng said: "A fun way to take the edge off."
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Udon Thani police are warning people to be on the lookout for fake change after a 7-Eleven in Muang district filed a police report when they recently received THB3,000 worth of fake THB10 coins.
Apparently, the convenience store got all 300 fake coins from a single female customer who asked to trade the coins in for notes.
A staff member at the 7-Eleven told officers that the woman, who appeared to be between 30 and 35 years old, visited the store on Thursday with the THB10 coins separated into 30 plastic baggies.
The staffer noted that the store was busy and employees didn’t look at the coins carefully and just handed over the THB3,000 to her. To be fair, they probably weren’t expecting to see fake versions of such a low denomination of money.
Later, when they had a chance to look at the coins, they realized that the coins were not genuine, reported Thai PBS.
This crime leads to lots of other questions. The printing of fake banknotes only requires a printing press. But the creation of fake coins would require more sophisticated machinery as well as more expensive creation materials, such as metals.
Additionally, if the coin itself can only be passed for THB10, it would need to cost significantly less to make it. And, if the forger is selling the coins to clients, he would need to turn a profit while still keeping the price significantly below THB10 per piece.
Superintendent of Muang district police, Pol. Col. Poomwit Wechkama, said that people could easily tell which coins are fake if they were paying attention. The fake coins weigh less than the genuine versions and the middle of the coin, which should be brass, is simply painted in a brass shade.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/12/23/wtf-news-there-are-fake-10-baht-coins-circulating-udon-thani
(http://preview.ibb.co/drT0bF/10baht.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iFXRGF)
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Udon Thani Municipality has located the man who gave their famous rubber ducks yantra tattoos, and his guardians were sent to do an apologetic wai on his behalf since he’s mentally ill.
The official Facebook page of Udon Thani Municipality posted photos of Auntie Komkai and Uncle Amnuay doing a wai to the camera with the caption: “They’d like to apologize to fans of the ducks for their nephew’s action.”
Second from the left is Mayor Ittipol Triwatsuwan, who held a fluffy plush duck in his hands at the meeting. The humorous mayor has previously said that he would reward anyone who could help him locate the vandal with a dish of spicy duck salad.
The vandal, only identified as 30-year-old Uthit, is being treated for mental illness. His aunt and uncle promised to pay more attention to him and make sure he stays away from the famous ducks.
http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2017/01/13/man-who-gave-udon-duck-yantra-tattoo-sends-his-aunt-and-uncle-apologize
(http://preview.ibb.co/mZqadv/duck_7.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hSvmka)
(http://preview.ibb.co/mJcMJv/duck_6.jpg) (http://ibb.co/eafadv)
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Rich guy gives away 2 million baht cash to the poor
January 27, 2017
(http://preview.ibb.co/cF2oWF/RICH_GUY_in_UDON.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fCVxQa)
A wealthy man in Udon Thani spent this morning handing out envelopes of cash, totaling THB2 million, to help those who live hand-to-mouth.
Preecha Chairat, who owns several businesses in Udon Thani, wanted to make merit on the occasion of Chinese New Year, but instead of handing his money to temples, Preecha handed out 10,000 envelopes containing THB200 cash each this morning.
(http://preview.ibb.co/h1Jj5a/RICH_GUY_in_UDON_1.jpg)[/url]
Preecha said he has been doing this for over 30 years.
He first started handing out the ang pao to his employees, and after that, he would give the red envelope to anyone who queued up because helping people makes him happy, Sanook reported: http://news.sanook.com/2159546/
(http://preview.ibb.co/cd5gka/RICH_GUY_in_UDON_2.jpg) (http://ibb.co/gOZJWF)
Thai-Chinese families commonly make merit on the day of the Chinese New Year to mark the start of a fresh new year.
Preecha owns Rerm Udom sugar factory, Preecha Market, Baan Chiang Hotel, and Intergame Sports Club, which are all located in Udon Thani.
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A former police worker plummeted to his death from a fourth floor flat while reportedly urinating from the balcony after a night out.
Stuart Railton, 54, returned to his apartment after visiting his favourite karaoke bar in Udon Thani, northern Thailand, in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
The former accountant for the Lancashire Constabulary is believed to have lost his balance while trying to urinate and plunged over the railing of the balcony, which was littered with empty beer bottles. .
Security guards at the 'Top Mansion' apartment block heard a loud thud after he plunged from his room. His body was found at 4.45am local time.
Police searched the room and discovered empty beer bottles, two bottles of 'unknown medicine' and a pool of urine on the balcony.
Security guard Pichit Burawad, 44, said: 'We heard a loud noise and thought a signboard had fallen off.
'On the ground of the parking area, we found the body of a foreigner.'
Forensic officers found Stuart in a pool of blood while police who checked the room said there was no sign of a struggle.
They said he suffered a fractured skull, neck, and left arm.
Mr Railton had moved to the country a year ago after leaving Lancashire Constabulary, according to his Linkedin profile
He had returned to his apartment after visiting his favourite karaoke bar in Udon Thani, northern Thailand, in the early hours of Wednesday morning
Pol Lt Ginyotin Sapsin, from Mueang Udon Thani Provincial Police Station, said that they had questioned staff who told them that Stuart regularly visited the karaoke bar.
He added: 'On the day of the incident, Mr Railton came back alone from the bar at around 03:20 and went up to his room as usual.
'We inspected room 420 on the fourth floor where Mr Railton had been staying.
'We believe that the deceased was drunk and fell while he was urinating on or from the balcony.'
Police (pictured) searched the room and discovered empty beer bottles, two bottles of 'unknown medicine' and a pool of urine on the balcony
Police (pictured) searched the room and discovered empty beer bottles, two bottles of 'unknown medicine' and a pool of urine on the balcony
(http://image.ibb.co/egkEBF/3_E53_B8_B600000578_0_image_a_51_1489667406383.jpg) (http://imgbb.com/)
Pol Lt Ginyotin said that two bottles of the unknown medicine collected from the fridge had been taken for examination.
He added: 'We're going to send the bottles to the lab to determine what kind of medicine it contains.'
Stuart describes himself as an accountant who worked in various finance departments at Lancashire Constabulary between November 1998 and December 2015.
He wrote on LinkedIn that he was 'seeking permanent or contract work in Thailand' and he had previously taken 'voluntary redundancy'.
dailymail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4320020/Man-falls-apartment-urinating-balcony.html#ixzz4bekQhjZV)
(http://image.ibb.co/iCfsyv/3_E53_B8_B200000578_0_image_m_54_1489667461358.jpg) (http://imgbb.com/)
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Udon Thani coffee shop business looks to expand in Northeast
AFTER ITS INITIAL success generating annual sales of Bt12 million from two coffee shops in Udon Thani province, Dose Company plans to find partners for the opening of two branches in other provinces in the Northeastern region next year.
This will boost its annual sales growth into double digits, the company’s managing director and owner Naowarat Khuwachanakul said in an interview with The Nation.
Naowarat, now 35, got into the coffee-shop business three years ago after she learned the business in Sydney, Australia, from 2008 to 2014.
“After I gradated with a bachelor’s degree in food technology from Mahasarakham University, I worked in an agriculture firm for three years and saved up about Bt300,000 before resigning from the company and going to Sydney to study English,” she said.
Besides her studies, Naowarat gained experience working at a restaurant in Sydney and also learned to be a barista.
She then joined the barista staff at Dose Espresso Sydney for two years before deciding to come back to her home town, Udon Thani, and open a Dose Espresso outlet in Muang district, with money from her savings and her family fund worth a total of Bt1.5 million.
“I asked Sam, who owned Dose Espresso Coffee Sydney, if I could open a Dose Espresso Coffee shop in my home town in Thailand or not. He said yes and also supported my [business] by providing raw materials and a coffee menu for my branch,” she said.
In its first year of operation in 2014, Dose Espresso Coffee Udon Thani generated an average of Bt300,000 a month in income. Then the business grew strongly enough to open a second branch that has 100 seats, also in Muang district, in 2015.
The first branch has only 30 seats.
Thanks to repeat business from loyal customers and a growing clientele as they recommended Dose Espresso to their friends and family, monthly revenue grew to Bt1 million a month, or Bt12 million a year, Naowarat said.
She said she added new items to the menu every week and also had special events for her customers. The menu items were made from quality coffee beans, some of them a mix of imported and local raw materials.
Dose Espresso Coffee Udon Thani also roasts its own coffee beans so its beverages are fresh.
“I am concerned about quality, and that is the main reason for my success since opening in 2014.
“I also plan to open shops in other northeastern provinces,” she said.
The Nation (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/corporate/30311656)
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Officials were stunned to discover that one-fifth of the military draft candidates who reported in Muang district on Friday tested positive for drugs.
A total of 495 men aged 21 from six tambons reported for the annual draft, held in a hall at the CentralPlaza Udonthani shopping centre on Friday. The process included physical examinations and urine tests for drugs, and 97 men or 20% tested positive.
The 20% figure is shocking. In fact, urine tests (at previous draft assemblies) have found drug users every day but the number was not as high as today's," Muang Udon Thani district chief Wacharin Sutalawadee said.
Those who tested positive, regardless of whether they ended up being drafted or not, would be sent for drug rehabilitation later, he said.
"From now on, officials must watch out in targeted villages and drug abusers must be brought to rehabilitation soon," Mr Wacharin said.
Bangkokpost (http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1228843/draft-day-drug-shocker)
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The Udon Thani police chief is incensed following comments made on Facebook regarding the ongoing row over riding in pick-ups.
And in a latest development the chief also intends to get even with people who posted comments using foul language.
He said that it was inappropriate to refer to him and his men using words associated with a man’s genitalia.
Pheerapong Wongsaman saw red when a Facebook user called “Jaturong Bunyang” put a picture of the chief next to a checkpoint photo claiming that fines of 20,000 to 60,000 baht were being issued under Article 44 for illegal riding in a pick-up.
He was called evil and his resignation was demanded with the poster saying: “it’s worse than you thought. Resign now! Villagers are suffering. How is this serving the public good?”
Pheerapong was annoyed also that so many people clicked like but he was really miffed by the comments that followed the post that went online last week.
So yesterday he went to the tech police arm of the force to have “Jaturong” arrested and see what he could do about bringing others to book.
Pheerapong said that the reality was that his men had had a “softly, softly” approach to the pick-up seating issue just warning people first and not issuing any fines. This had begun on April 5th but the defamatory post came out on the 6th and it was untrue and damaging to the good name of himself and the force.
You have to have some sympathy with the police in this one. They have a job to do and their job is to enforce the law. They can obviously use their “discretion”, as in drink-driving but they don’t make the laws.
Also, using bad language on social media is totally unnecessary. If you need to resort to that to put over your point of view, then maybe you should keep your views to yourself.
Thai rath
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Two people were killed after thunderstorms hit two districts in Udon Thani province on Sunday evening.
Authorities said the first victim was a resident of Ban Thom Pa Kham village in tambon Thom Na Ngam, Ban Non Sa-ard district.
Police said Ratree Udonkhet, 49, was killed when a house pole fell on her after a tree was topped by a storm and fell onto her house.
Siriroj Phume, 24, was electrocuted after he tried to help a villager who was rendered unconscious by short circuit caused when a storm topped an electricity pole onto a road.
None Sa-ard district chief Chatchawal Pathanon said the storms in his district damaged 186 houses.
Τhe Nation (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30313202)
Muang Udon Thani district chief Natthapol Withi said 104 houses in four tambon were damaged in his district.
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UDON THANI — A man was charged with filing a false police report Friday for trying to fool his wife into thinking he had been robbed after using the money to treat his secret lover.
Teerapong, 33, whose family name was withheld by police, called the 191 emergency hotline to report he had been robbed Friday in Udon Thani province.
Teerapong then proceeded to the Udon Thani city police station and filed a complaint. According to the man, six young men on three motorbikes came after him and forced him to stop his motorbike. The man said he was allegedly hit on the head with a glass bottle before the men made away with 17,300 baht in cash, his mobile phone, Buddhist amulets and his identity card.
Police found something was amiss upon examining his head and finding no trace of bruises or injuries.
After further interrogation, Teerapong confessed to having made the story up because he had used his hard-earned money to fete his secret lover but was fearful his wife would have beat him if she found out.
“The suspect was more fearful of his wife than police,” said police Col. Chawit Srichan, deputy head of Udon Thani Police. “We would like to plead people not to file false complaints.”
Chawit added that out of 900 to 1,000 calls each day in Udon Thani, police only an average of 15 are true complaints.
If found guilty, Teerapong faces up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of 6,000 baht under Article 173 of the Criminal Code.
(http://preview.ibb.co/e772gQ/83342_696x388.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fX0cFk)
khaosod (http://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2017/05/07/man-lies-police-stolen-money-treating-lover-evade-wife/)
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Gustatory bonanza UD Food Station returns for its third year to UD Town, the open-air mall in Udon Thani, serving up delicious dishes from Friday (May 26) until June 4 at 11am.
A collaboration between the mall, Pepsi and Chang, the 2017 edition will see more than 20 leading restaurants from around the country cooking up a storm. They include Wattana Phanich, a restaurant on Bangkok’s Soi Ekamai that’s famous for its beef and goat noodles; Baan Ming Phochana, also from Bangkok, which is bringing its pork satay with peanut sauce; Kanom Cheen Kru Yod from Nakhon Ratchasima, which is known for delicious rice noodles in fish curry sauce with vegetables; and Chok Kuaichap Tomsen Batkhio in Khon Kaen with rice porridge.
A caravan of food trucks will also be parked up, among then Tam Ka Teaw located in Bang Khaen in Bangkok and more than 50 food and dessert booths will be offering local treats.
The food fair is open daily until 9pm
The Nation
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A Buddhist man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into the living quarters of monks in 82 temples in Udon Thani and stealing amulets, cash and valuables over 11 months.
Khammual Sitabutr, 41, was arrested at 10 am on Thursday while he was allegedly selling amulets he had stolen from temples.
He was arrested in Ban Na-aeng village in Tambon Nikhom Songkroh in Udon Thani’s Mueang district, Udon Thani police chief Pol Maj Gen Pirapong Wongsaman told a press conference on Friday.
Police seized two motorcycles without licence plate, three mobile phones, a notebook computer, and 200 Buddha amulets.
Pirapong said Udon Thani police conducted an investigation after a monk of Wat Pa Samakkhitham Bamphenphol in Mueag district filed a complaint that someone broke into his living quarters while he was collecting alms.
The monk, Phra Poonsawat, said he lost 70 amulets worth about Bt200,000.
Pirapong quoted Khammual as saying that he was released from jail in July after being convicted of stealing from a temple in 2013.
Khammual told police he was unemployed so he stole two motorcycles to use as vehicles to steal from temples. He said he broke into the living quarters of monks and also stole from donation boxes. He chose the timing when monks left the temple to collect alms.
Pirapong said during the past 11 months, Khammual had stolen from 59 temples in Mueang district, five in Nong Han district, five in Nong Wua Sor district, two in Kudjub district, three in Kukaew district, five in Phen district and three in Prachak Silapakhom district.
The Nation
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Thai Soldier Shoots and Kills his Wife and then Accidentally Kills Himself in Makro Store in North Eastern Thailand
Rescue workers frantically try to resuscitate the shooting victim in the Makro super market
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UDON THANI – Police in Udon Thani have reported that a Thai soldier has shot and killed his wife in a packed department store after they argued about his alleged adultery, police said on Friday.
When police arrived at the the scene they found 41- year-old Sgt-Major 1st class Pichet Chumboonchoo, lying dead on the floor of Makro supermarket with chest wounds, five meters from his wife, 40-year-old Sirinporn Chumboonchoo, who had been shot three times in the back.
A 9mm automatic pistol and some bullets were also found at the scene.
Security guards at the scene attempted CPR on Ms.Sirinporn however it was in vein as she was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital.
Her seven-year-old niece and a 32-year-old store clerk also required treatment for injuries, as both were shot in the ankle.
The shooting sparked chaotic scenes in the store as staff pushed trolleys to help take the injured to ambulances.
Pol Col Poomiwit Wetchkama said on Friday they had interviewed Sirinporn’s relatives, who believed the Kanchanaburi-based soldier had got into an argument with his wife after she accused him of committing adultery with another woman.
Ms. Sirinporn had then left him to live with her relatives in Udon Thani. Pichet followed her to ask for a reconciliation but she turned him down and had recently told her husband she wanted a divorce.
Witnesses said that Pichet had shot himself in the chest accidentally after he encountered some problems with his gun.
The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Thursday passed amendments to the firearms law which ban foreigners living in Thailand from having and using guns.
The violent gun death rate in Thailand is more than TWICE as high as that of the United States, according to a US network of public radio broadcasters.
NPR ran the data from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation after the recent mass shootings in California, and found Thailand had 7.48 violent gun deaths per 100,000 people in 2013.
That’s over twice the gun death rate in the US, which had 3.55 deaths per 100,000 people in the same year.
Thailand also has the highest gun death rate in Asia, the data shows.
http://www.chiangraitimes.com/thai-soldier-shoots-and-kills-his-wife-and-then-accidentally-kills-himself-in-makro-store-in-north-eastern-thailand.html
https://www.facebook.com/153202745063697/videos/471465536570748/?hc_ref=ARTN1HJuGogrpZGyka6rGrn9pwHOvZEFlQBv1vArUo4I96pJAT8jjDrhmBeKLQgdOkI&fref=nf
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A man who allegedly shot dead a 16-year old Thai boxer told the police after his arrest that he mistook the victim as a rival whom he engaged in fist fight at a recent temple fair in Nong Harn district of Udon Thani.
The victim, Nanthapong Rakfa who was known in the Thai boxing circle as Meesap Tor Itthiporn, was shot dead on the night of March 19 beside the wall of Wat Po Sri in Tambon Ban Chiang, Nong Harn district.
Police rounded up nine suspects aged from 17-21 the following day, but one of them, a 21-year old man, admitted to the police that he was the shooter because he thought the victim was a rival against whom he had a fight with at a recent temple fair.
The suspected shooter said that as he was leaving the temple fair on Monday night he saw the victim riding on a motorcycle and ordered the latter to stop. Then he beat him up before shooting him.
Police searched the suspect’s house and found two home-made guns and three motorcycles.
The victim’s grandmother, Mrs Ladda Klommit, told the media at the funeral rite that Nanthapong started boxing at the age of nine and was admitted into a boxing camp in Udon Thani. He received a boxing bronze from the National Youth Sports Competition last year before turning pro as a Thai boxer.
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/man-admits-mistakenly-shot-dead-young-boxer/
(http://preview.ibb.co/iwqNjc/boxer1.jpg) (http://ibb.co/hegjxx)
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The Tourist Police Bureau have appealed for public help in locating a little blond foreign girl and her mother.
The Udon branch of the TPB in Thailand's north east issued the urgent request on Facebook after they said that the mother and daughter had had travel problems and other unspecified difficulties.
People with information were urged to call 1155 or the officer directly involved on the case who is Pol Lt Somjet Thambutr on 089 993 6263.
Udon police station can also be called on 042 328 189.
No names, nationalities or other details have been provided.
(https://image.ibb.co/gpQGfd/tp_jpg_41502e7317c5c43255e4a72e8c0666fe.jpg) (https://imgbb.com/)
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UDON THANI ACCIDENT
14 April 2022
A car crashed into a power pole on the island in the middle of the road at around 03:00 a.m.
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(https://i.ibb.co/9HsTkpD/UDON-ACCIDENT-2-S-1491203.jpg) (https://ibb.co/RTz0kgF)
Police Chief Trisatit Phubangsang, Senator of Investigation, Muang Udon Thani Police Station, was informed by Rom Pho Thong Radio Center.
1. A car crashed into a power pole on the island in the middle of the road.
Mittraphap Road (outbound) in front of VT Ham Nguyen and went to check the scene.
Found a white sedan brand Toyota CHR registration number 8 kg 5066 Bangkok in the driver's seat found Police Chief Tri Suksun Suetsahakarn, Detective Senator, Kumpawapi Police Station, Udon Thani Province (Address 68/1 Municipality 9, Warin Chamrap, Warin Chamrap, Udon Thani Police Station). Ubon Ratchathani (died at the scene).
2. Air Sergeant Major Nattarada Surasen Address 553/915 Desatungka Road, Sikan, Don Mueang, Bangkok (in the front seat next to the driver)
The incident occurred on Mittraphap Road (outbound) in front of VT Ham Nguyen. T.Ban Chan Muang, Udon Thani On April 14, 2022 at approximately 3:00 a.m.
According to the date of the incident, he went to the scene and asked the surrounding witnesses to know that the car, the sedan, registration number 8 kg 5066, with Police Chief Trisuksan, was driving, and air sergeant Major Nattarada (seated in the driver's side seat) had left Udon Thani town to go to Kumphawapi District.
When we arrived at the scene, Mittraphap Road (outbound) crashed into a power pole on the island in the middle of the road.
This caused the car to overturn, causing the death of Police Chief Trisan Suebsahakarn at the scene and Air Sergeant Major Nattarada Surasen was injured and taken to Bangkok Hospital Udon.
Police Chief Trisatit Phubangsang, Senator of Investigation, Udon Thani Police Department, went to the scene, photographed the scene, wrote a crime scene map with the forensic medical examiner, according to the coroner's case 279/2022, and will continue to investigate.