BREAKING NEWS

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CHIANG MAI & PHUCKET

Terror threat spurs security alert

US consulate in Chiang Mai under close watch

Published: 12 Feb 2013 at 16.22 Online news: Local News
 
The government has ordered that security be beefed up for the US consulate in Chiang Mai following intelligence reports of a potential terrorist attack.

Diplomats and senior officials of nations involved in the 32nd annual Cobra Gold war games kicked off the exercise at a ceremony in Chiang Mai last week.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung says he has received information that al-Qaeda and Salafist terrorists had planned to launch a three-pronged attack on the US consulate in an operation codenamed "Billiard Ball" in the first half of February.

The terrorists, based in Algeria, would be equipped with small arms, grenade launchers and C-4 explosives provided by drug traders who are unhappy with the Chiang Mai consulate's role in drug suppression in the region, he said.

There never has been any such alliance reported in the past.

The US Embassy and Chiang Mai consulate made no unexpected changes to their normal hours or security on Tuesday. There were no plans to close the consulate, diplomats said.

There also was no elevated security level, or notice to US citizens in Thailand - steps that normally take place in case US officials believe there is a threat to any US interests.

Walter Braunohler, US embassy spokesman in Bangkok, said he could not comment on security matters but added that the US consulate in Chiang Mai is open as usual and will take any necessary precautions.

He also thanked the Thai government for its support and cooperation.

Mr Chalerm said latest intelligence reports revealed some members of the terrorist groups had now left Thailand.

It would be difficult for the terrorists to carry out the attacks now that security has been tightened, he said.

Mr Chalerm dismissed any links between these terrorists and insurgents in the far South.

He said he ordered Pol Lt Gen Suthep Dejraksa, the Region 5 Provincial Police chief, to beef up security at the consulate from last Wednesday.

This matter would not affect tourism in Chiang Mai and had nothing to do with the prime minister's scheduled visit to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai from today until Friday, Mr Chalerm said.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Tuesday that she had been briefed on the intelligence reports about the threat and had ordered police to step up security at the consulate.

She said the US embassy had not made any special security requests.

Police armed with HK33 rifles from the provincial police headquarters are reportedly on 24-hour security duty at the consulate.

A checkpoint has been set up in front of the consulate and no vehicles are allowed to park on the road in front of the consulate.

The Cobra Gold joint military exercise, involving troops from several countries including the US, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand, is now being held in Chiang Mai.
It began last Monday and last until next Thursday.

A security source said that members of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), members of a Salafist brigade and al-Qaeda terrorists had sneaked into the country to monitor the US consulate last year.

At least 26 Salafist terrorists were expected to take part in the attack on the US consulate, the source said.

Salafists, often referred to as "ultra-conservative Muslims," adhere to a belief in re-establishing a Muslim caliphate worldwide.
The term is most commonly connect with the Saudi Arabian Wahabi sect.

Another source said police and soldiers in Chiang Mai are tracking down 15 people believed to be members of the Salafist group.

They are identified as Umar Al Khatib, who leads the operation, Burhanidin Jabir (of Eritrean nationality), Taib Kamal (Algerian), Abdalhadi al Tahir (Ethiopian), Yahya Aboulrazak Hamza (Syrian), Abdallah Al Kamil (Syrian), Abdal Baribelhaj (Algerian), Marwan Al Khatib and Umar Shihab (Yemeni), Khalil Al Qwaydir (Jordanian), Abdallah (Palestinian), Abdal Aziz Al Jalai (Sudanese), Harith Yusif (Afghan), Najmudin (Afghan) and Abdal Hakim (Somali).

Pol Lt Gen Suthep said the Provincial Police Region 5 had received information about the 15 suspected terrorists from the Special Branch Police.

Chiang Mai governor Thanin Suphasaen said security agencies are checking hotels to comb through the identities of their guests to see if any of them are suspects, while tight security is being enforced at spots where foreign visitors gather.

Meanwhile, Phuket provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Chote Chawalwiwat said the island province, popular with foreigners, has also gone on the alert following the reports of possible terrorist attacks in Chiang Mai.

Locals and business operators have been asked to keep an eye out for any suspicious people or movements, with security beefed up at Phuket international airport and other checkpoints.

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Chalerm plans to set up new anti-terror center

BANGKOK, 4 April 2013 (NNT) - Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung plans to set up an anti-terror center, following the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s report that Thailand is one of the region’s most vulnerable terrorist targets.

Police Captain Chalerm who oversees national security said the Immigration Bureau needs to implement tougher screening on foreign arrivals as the country’s lax immigration policies and relative freedom has permitted regional terrorist movements to steadily build up influence.

After a meeting with the Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdit, Pol Capt Chalerm said the new command center is poised to tackle violent crimes and international terrorism threats.

The FBI has warned Thailand ranks top of the region as a possible terrorist target and ranks fifth in the world as a possible target for terror attacks.

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2.5 tons of marijuana seized in Nakhonratchasima Province



Nakhonratchasima, 14 June 2013, (NNT)

More than 2.5 tons of marijuana with street value of 50 million baht has been seized in Nakhonratchasima Province.

Police Region 3 and 2, in a joint operation, yesterday apprehended a female Lao national and a male Thai national for possessing several types of processed marijuana.

The two were arrested at the Mekong River bank near Kongjiam District in Ubonratchathani Province while they were unloading the goods from of a boat.

Several other smugglers were able to escape by jumping off the boat and swimming back to Laos.

Initial investigation revealed that the marijuana was to be delivered to Bangkok before being taken to the south.

(NNT)

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Phuket rocked by 5.3 Richter quake



PHUKET: Phuket was shaken by a 5.3 Richter earthquake, situated off Sumatra, Indonesia, at around 6.40am this morning (July 17).

Sant Jantarawong the chief of The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Phuket said there was no tsunami alert for the island at the moment.

He was waiting for further information from the National Disaster Centre.

The quake was felt widely across the island.

More details to come.


Source:The Phuket News

[Oytopikos]

BANGKOK: -- An oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand caused by a pipe leak at an offshore platform yesterday has led to concern about the possible adverse impacts on the environment.

More than 70 tonnes of crude oil spilled into the sea following a leak in a crude-oil pipe at an offshore platform operated by PTT Global Chemical, a subsidiary of national petroleum company PTT.

The spill spread to form a V shape over a distance of 1.5 nautical miles, according to the Navy, which sent out ships and helicopters to help in the containment mission.

In a statement, PTT Global Chemical said the leak of a crude transport pipe with 16-inch diameter took place shortly before 7am at a single-point mooring, about 20 kilometres southeast of the Map Ta Phut deep-sea port in Rayong.

Pratheep Aengchuan, director of the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, said the leak was plugged and booms were used to contain oil spill in the sea.

Booms are temporary floating barriers used to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources, and to help make recovery easier. Booms help to concentrate oil in thicker surface layers so that skimmers, vacuums, or other collection methods could be used more effectively.

He said the relevant agencies were working round the clock to prevent the spill from reaching the shores, which would adversely affect the environment and tourism.

Pollution Control Department director-general Wichien Jungrungruang expressed concern that increasingly stronger winds could obstruct the authorities' efforts to contain the oil slick.

"Strong winds and waves will allow oil slicks to spread to the shores faster. This may affect the ecological system and [seaside] communities," he said.

The Navy and the relevant agencies - including the Pollution Control Department, Harbour Department, and Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand - worked together yesterday in a bid to contain the spill, according to Wichien. Booms were laid out around the spill and an oil skimmer was used to collect the leaked crude, he said.

Asst Prof Thon Thamrongnawasawat, an expert in marine ecology, called for a quick clean-up of the oil spill in the sea, in order to prevent adverse impacts on the environment, which in turn could harm the local tourism industry.

"Oil spill should not be allowed to spread to the shores, or the coastal tourist destinations will be affected. It is more difficult to clean up and there will be more problems when slicks reach the shores," he said.

Puchong Sarittichaikul, director of a local marine resources preservation centre, said that with the winds coming towards Rayong's shores, he was concerned that the floating oil slick could reach the beaches. He said local fishing boats were asked to be on the lookout and inform the authorities when they see oil slick near the shores.
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/All-out-bid-to-contain-spill-30211294.html

[turmeric2u]

Από ότι φαίνεται και στο χάρτη, δυστυχώς θα λερωθούν οι παραλιες στο Rayong ίσως και λίγο το Κοh Samet, δεν επηρεάζονται Pattaya/Jomtien.
Το συμβάν οφείλεται σε κακή συντήρηση των αγωγών, οι επικτατουντες νοτιοδυτικοί άνεμοι δυσχεραίνουν τον αποκλεισμό της πετρελαιοκηλίδας, παρα τις φιλότιμες προσπάθειες των αρχων και της σχετικής εταιρείας που έχει αναλάβει clean-up.

[turmeric2u]

Δυστυχώς όπως το προβλέψαμε, η παραλια Ao Phrao στο πανέμορφο Κοh Samet έχει λερωθεί από την πετρελαιοκηλίδα του αγωγού της PTT Global chemical.
Το ναυτικό είναι παρών όπως και οι εταιρείες clean-up και προσπαθούν να την περιορίσουν.
Αναμένονται μεγάλες αποζημιώσεις από την PTT, είδομεν.

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12 more resorts in Prachin Buri face demolition

Thap Lan National Park has ordered the evacuation of 12 more resorts that are built on the national park's land.

They must be demolished within 60 days, under a court order, the official said.

They have 90 days to appeal the court order, though.

Earlier, the authorities won the court’s approval for the demolition of 50 encroaching reports, and the demolition of 27 is completed.

A total of 434 resorts are charged of encroachment.

August 24, 2013

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PROTEST

Rubber farmers threaten road blockades


Groups warn govt 4 highways will be targeted if price guarantees not met

RANONG: -- Rubber farmers have vowed to block four regional highways on September 3 if the government ignores falling prices for their product.

Bunlert Chancharoen, a protest leader, said yesterday that more than 1,000 rubber farmers from Ranong would join other farmers from the rest of the country in the protest.

Rubber is a major commercial crop of the South, but by failing to shore up rubber prices, Bunlert said, the government has neglected to help farmers.

The government just dismissed the protest of rubber farmers as a political game, he said.

He said his group's complaint to Ranong Governor Cherdsak Champathet had fallen on deaf ears.

Already 20 days had passed beyond the deadline that the farmers set for the government to address their problems, but nothing has been done.

The Democrat MPs representing southern provinces have put together a five-point action plan for the government, including providing rehabilitation funds for rubber farmers injured during the police crackdown on their street protest on Saturday.

The same standard must be applied as was used for the red shirts wounded in political riots, the MPs said.

The group also resolved that Democrat Nipit Intarasombat would provide legal assistance to the rubber farmers charged in connection with the protest.

The MPs also called on the government to accept the farmers' demands and support the farmers' efforts to alleviate their problem.

Rubber farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Cha-uad district continued to block two stretches of Highway 41 with trucks on both lanes and demanded that the agriculture minister meet them to hear their grievances.

The farmers denied that their protest was politically motivated, saying it was purely about falling prices of agricultural commodities like rubber and palm oil.

Provincial police have already sought reinforcements from anti-riot police.

Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong has rejected the demand to buy rubber at Bt120 per kilogram, arguing that the world price was Bt70.

Rubber inventories currently amount to more than 200,000 tonnes.

The government plans to develop integrated rubber plantations, stressing management and marketing, as a solution to the problem of low prices in the long run.

Tree-felling plan

Under the plan, one million farmers must fell rubber trees that are over 25 years old to make them into planks that can be exported. The plan will be forwarded for Cabinet approval soon.

The farmers must accept change and if they hold illegal rallies, they would face the law, Yukol added.

Pol Colonel Bunlert Wongwajjana, deputy chief of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, will today call a meeting of police to draw up a plan to deal with the rallies of rubber farmers.

He said he hopes protest leaders will be satisfied after talking with government representatives on Thursday, and that the rally to block major highways will be called off.

Chuan Chimklang, a leader of rubber farmers in Nakhon Ratchasima, said the farmers were struggling with labour costs due to the Bt300 minimum wage policy, higher fertiliser prices and the rising cost of living.

He said he would be satisfied if the government bought rubber for Bt85-Bt97 per kilogram.


The Nation

[Oytopikos]

Two Chinese men died and three other tourists were injured Wednesday when their speedboat struck an anchored vessel off Pattaya, police said.



The propellor of the speedboat carrying 10 Chinese tourists hit the anchor rope of the other vessel, killing the two men at the scene, said Arun Prompan, commander of tourist police for Chon Buri province.

The accident revived fears over tourist safety in Thailand, which attracted a record 22 million foreign visitors last year.

An American tourist was allegedly stabbed to death in Krabi by three Thai musicians in July after a row during a sing-along with a band in a bar.

Earlier in July an American man was slashed to death by a taxi driver in Bangkok after an apparent argument over the fare.

Meanwhile, China has voiced concern at recent accidents befalling its nationals on snorkelling trips.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand said Chinese tourist arrivals rose by nearly a quarter in the first seven months of this year to 2.7 million.

Bangkokpost

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At least 25 injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a Bangkok-Roi Et tour bus.

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THAI International Airways is investigation into an accident in which its TG 679 skidded off the runway while landing at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday night.

Sorajak Kasemsuvan, THAI president said thirteen passengers suffered minor injuries from the accident that took place at 11.20pm.

The Airbus A330-300 left Guangzhou at 9.25pm local time with 288 passengers and 14 crew member on board.

Sorajak said while the flight was landing and touching the runaway whthe landing gear, making it skid off the runaway.

During the incident, there was some sparks at the base of the right wheel, making it caught fire.

Sorajak said Captain of the flight then managed to control the airplane and ordered evacuation of the passengers through emergency exit.

Any more information, please contact at 02-545-3181.

The Airbus A330-300 involved in the incident was delivered to Thai Airways in March of 1995.

source:The Nation.

[Oytopikos]

BANGKOK, Oct 1 - Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department announced as of today that 23 persons are dead from the floods in 25 of the country's 77 provinces.

Over 2.8 million persons in 810,000 households and more than 200 districts countrywide have been affected by flooding.

About 15,000 persons from 4,400 households in Ubon Ratchathani and Si Sa Ket provinces had to evacuate their homes.

According to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, seven provinces where flooding has lessened are Kanchanaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Kalasin, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phayao, and Mae Hong Son.

In the central province of Ayutthaya, communities along the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak, Lopburi and Noi Rivers in eight districts--Bang Ban, Sena, Phak Hai, Bang sai, Bang Pa-in, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Tha Ruea, and Nakhon Luang--are now flooded.

About 97,000 persons from almost 30,000 households are affected by the floods which are one to two metres deep.

Tha Ruea district is expected to experience another metre of higher water level as a result of Pasak Chonlasit Dam which is speeding up draining water overflowing from its spillway.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department reported that typhoon “Wutip” which arrived across the middle South China Sea made landfall over Hue, Vietnam yesterday and downgraded to tropical storm and tropical depression. It prevailed over Thailand's Nakhon Phanom province this morning and declined to low pressure cell later.

Isolated heavy rain and windy are expected over the eastern and upper northeastern provinces, including Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Kalasin, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Loei, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun. (MCOT online news)

MCOT

[Oytopikos]

Chiang Mai tour bus has crashed into a gorge in Wang Nuea, Phayao killing 20 & seriously injuring 17

[Oytopikos]

BANGKOK (AP) - Thai doctors say the Supreme Patriarch, the head of the country's Buddhist monks, has died. He was 100.

Chulalongkorn Hospital doctors say Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara (SOM-ded PRA YA-na-SUNG-WORN) died Thursday from an infection in his blood vessels.

He was the 19th Supreme Patriarch of Thailand and led the nation's monks since 1989.

The patriarch had battled health problems and had been hospitalized since 2002. He had undergone surgery earlier this month.

His inability to perform his duties in recent years has led to speculation about his successor. A senior Buddhist monk who worked on his behalf since 2004 also died this year.

Thailand is the world's most heavily Buddhist country. More than 90 percent of its 67 million people are members of the religion.

AP