CHIANG RAI:-- Smog levels soar in Phayao; plane delayed by poor visibility in Lampang
Six province in the Upper North were covered by unsafe levels of haze, the Pollution Control Department reported yesterday.
Air in the provinces contained fine particles beyond the acceptable level of 120 micrograms per cubic metre (mg/m3). The latest reading of particulate matter of up to 10 micrometres (PM10) in the province of Phayao was as high as 237 mg/m3, the agency warned.
Lampang had poor visibility of just 800 metres yesterday morning due to dust levels of 200 mg/m3.This caused the air traffic control tower there to order a Bangkok Airways Bangkok-Lampang flight to circle the airport until visibility improved to 1,000 metres before landing, creating a one-hour delay.
The air-quality testing point at Yupparaj School in downtown Chiang Mai reported a level of 128 mg/m3. A level of 173 was reported at Lampang's city shrine; while a station at Tambon Tha Si Health Promotion Hospital reported 207; and Mae Moh waterworks authority office reported 210.
Chiang Rai reported 152 mg/m3, Nan reported 152 and Phrae reported 233. In the region, only Mae Hong Son reported a safe level of 112.
Chief of Chiang Mai's environmental office 1 Apiwat Kunarak said the overall fine-particle dust situation was bad this year and might prove to be worse than 2007 for eight northern provinces in the long term. Some places had already endured seven or eight days of unsafe fine-particle dust - compared to two or three days of unsafe readings at most places in 2007.
Apiwat said the situation was the result of people continuing to disregard authorities' request to stop outdoor burning, especially farmers clearing fields.
Chiang Mai Public Health deputy official Dr Surasing Wisarutrat said officials had asked schools not to make students line up outdoors for the morning flag-raising routine and would issue a formal letter tomorrow seeking their cooperation.
Some 50,000 facemasks were also dispatched to 25 district hospitals for distribution to respiratory patients, he said.
Chiang Rai Governor Thanin Supasaen invoked the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007's Article 15, concerning forest-fire control and prevention, to require farmers near forests to ask permission from their kamnan, or village headman, before burning grass or farm waste and to build firebreaks. Lamphun Governor Surachai Khan-arsa instructed officials and local administrative bodies in Li, Thung Hua Chang, Ban Hong, Pa Sang, Mae Tha, Ban Thi, Wiang Nong Long and Muang districts to send 200 water trucks to spray all roads up to 10 times a day. Lamphun was recording 2,500-3,000 respiratory patients a day.
Tak's Mae Sot and other border districts were covered with fine-particle dust created by outdoor burning in Thailand and Burma, causing eye irritation for some people, while motorists had to drive cautiously due to poor visibility. Flights operated as normal, although some planes had to circle several times before landing due to poor visibility
BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Post Company has tightened security to inspect all parcels and prevent possible bomb attacks.Thailand Post Company Managing Director Anusra Chittmittrapap says the company has tightened security in response to the recent triple blasts that rocked Soi Sukhumwit 71 in Bangkok last week.Anusra said the company has imposed a blanket inspection of all parcels sent from overseas as well as domestic parcels. Officials are also recording the senders' names and addresses.She said in the event that suspicious parcels are found, the company will coordinate with security agencies to inspect them with a bomb inspector device.Moreover, she reported that about 2 million parcels are sent and received domestically, and 60 percent of these are sent through the Express Mail Service or EMS. Meanwhile, approximately 76,000 parcels are sent from overseas to Thailand per month, and 49,000 of them are sent via EMS.Anusra added that Thailand Post has signed a contract with IMPACT Exhibition Management Company to offer logistics services to facilitate those entrepreneurs who will rent display booths at the exhibition. The company will transport their products as well as provide a warehouse to store them during the exhibition.Thailand Post pointed out that its service will help lessen the burden on entrepreneurs and reduce the amount of cargo at the exhibition site. Approximately two million baht is expected to be generated in the first three months after the service resumes.Moreover, the company's turn over this year is anticipated to stand at 2 to 3 billion baht. As for the fast approaching ASEAN Economic Community or AEC in 2015, Thailand Post has educated its employees regarding the matter and has already set a development plan in place.
BANGKOK: -- An HIV-positive taxi driver has been arrested for robbing and raping many of his passengers in Bangkok.Kaew Sangmuang, 43, claimed he had used condoms every time he had sex because he did not want to spread the deadly virus.Police yesterday urged victims to come forward and contact Phraya Thai Police Station.Kaew was arrested on Saturday after he stole a computer notebook from a regular customer and demanded Bt6,000 from a woman to return it. In response to her complaint, police arrested Kaew as soon as he showed up at a superstore in Lat Phrao, where his victim pretended to give him the money.A search of his cab uncovered national identity cards for nine of his victims and 22 SIM cards.Cornered by the evidence, Kaew confessed he had raped many passengers aged between 18 and 22 years old. He had also robbed or stolen items from other passengers.To date, at least seven victims have lodged complaints against him."I pretended to have love interest in them and promised to give them some money. Then, I brought them to hotels to have sex after which I would steal their belongings. I also raped some passengers," he said.Kaew said he sometimes tricked passengers into leaving the cab to help withdraw cash from his bank account via an ATM."I promised to wait in the cab. But after they got out, I sped away with their belongings," he said.Last October, a woman lodged a complaint against Kaew with Lat Phrao Police accusing him of stealing her handbag, with Bt1,000 in cash and a cell-phone in it.On December 14 last year, another woman lodged a complaint against him with Bang Chan Police accusing him of stealing Bt5,000 in cash, a gold necklace, an iPhone, and her handbag.On December 26, another victim filed a complaint with Beung Kum Police accusing Kaew of stealing Bt500 in cash, an ATM card, and a cell-phone from her.Three days later, another victim told Hua Mark Police Kaew stole Bt10,000 in cash, a Blackberry cell-phone, and three passbooks from her. On January 22, another victim complained to Min Buri Police that Kaew stole her Blackberry and Bt5,000 in cash.And on February 10, two dumb women lodged complaints at Lat Phrao Police saying that he raped and robbed them.
BANGKOK, Feb 13 - Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) on Sunday reported that 135,445 persons were arrested on drug-related charges over the past four months as part of the government's illicit drug suppression policy.The ONCB reported the arrests accounted for 35 percent of the government's target, which came under the "War on Drugs" policy.Between September 11, 2011 and Jan 31, 2012, 135,445 suspects were arrested in 141,031 drug-related cases. Among them, 21,064 were considered "important" cases.16 millions methamphetamine pills, 600 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as "ice"), 200 kilogrammes of heroin, 3,000 kilogrammes of marijuana and four million pseudoephedrine pills were seized, with a total street value of about Bt600 million.1,527 drug cases resulted in asset freeze of involved persons, according to the anti-narcotics office.The ONCB said Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, in his capacity as Director of the National Command Center for Drugs (NCCD), is scheduled to chair a meeting on Monday to summarize the government's drug crackdown in the last four months and lay out new measures for the second phase of operations.Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm earlier pledged that the drug problem was on the national agenda and that relevant authorities would be able to make considerable advances in the “War on Drugs” within one year.
Police to round up under-18s found in public places after 10pm
BANGKOK: -- With the festival of love nearly upon us, police are asking for parental cooperation in not letting those under the age of 18 wander outside after 10pm on Valentine’s Day.Royal Thai Police spokesman Maj-General Piya Uthayo yesterday said the national police chief was worried about youths acting inappropriately, taking drugs or engaging in other forms of vice on the day, hence police would be dispatched to patrol public parks, theatres, karaoke bars, night venues, dormitories, apartments and hotels.In particular, they ask for parents to keep their youths at home after 10pm on February 14.If police find anyone under 18 outside after this time, they will be brought to police stations for their parents to pick them up, he added.Intending also to ask night-entertainment venues not to allow the under-aged to enter their premises, with the concomittant risk that they could engage in sexual activity, police will ensure the venues do not stay open later than what the law allows, or else they could face temporary closure, Piya said.Police will also punish shops that sell alcohol to under-aged persons, and will set up checkpoints to stop drunk and/or reckless riders.Moreover, they will seek the public's cooperation, especially women, who are asked not to wear racy clothes or high-value ornaments, which could put them at risk because criminals will take advantage of large crowds on the day.Meanwhile, Wat Pa Salawan in Nakhon Ratchasima's Muang district is inviting 1,000 couples to pray overnight on Tuesday.Deputy abbot Phra Maha Jirawat Jirawattano said the temple was trying to turn the occasion away from one of notoriety, with teenagers having sex and spending superfluously, by promoting moral values and merit-making instead.Prayers, mediation, love-related sermons and a discussion will be held from 6pm to 1.30am. For details and to reserve a place, call (044) 277255.Muang Nakhon Ratchasima district and The Mall Nakhon Ratchasima will also host a Valentine's Day celebration by having 55 couples register their marriages, with each couple receiving Bt200,000 in life insurance and a pair of kissing fish.Chon Buri's Sattahip district chief Chaicharn Eiamcharoen has invited Thai and foreign couples to register their marriages on the back of an elephant in the beautiful gardens of Suan Nong Nuch Pattaya. One hundred couples are expected to attend this annual activity, which will involve Suan Nong Nuch's 42 elephants.Meanwhile, the price of Valentine's Day's symbolic flower, the rose, faces a hike to Bt25-Bt30 per Grade-A long-stemmed flower, while general rose prices have increased from Bt1 to Bt5 per stem, said Chiang Mai Rose Growers' Group chairman Uthit Anuwat.In Ranong's Muang district, vendors have seen prices soar from Bt1-Bt2 to Bt7-Bt8 for small roses, and from Bt6-Bt7 to Bt15-Bt18 for big roses.Reports of a shortage due to high demand for event decoration and Valentine gifts resulted in the district's vendors ordering roses early this month and keeping them in a freezer room or icy water.
BANGKOK, February 6, 2012 (AFP) - Thai police busted a grisly exotic wildlife slaughterhouse in Bangkok when officers caught four men in the act of chopping up a tiger in a residential home, officials said Monday.Elephant, zebra, wildebeest and lion remains were also found at the suburban property as well as meat kept in a refrigerator that police and wildlife activists said was likely to be destined for human consumption."We assume that the meat is from tigers because we found tiger skin and heads. From what I've seen, I think it's two tigers," Thai Nature Crime Police Commander, Police Colonel Norasak Hemnithi, told AFP.He said police arrested seven men and are hunting another, believed to be the owner of an exotic animal restaurant in Bangkok, which has operated in the capital for a decade."We believe that this butchers house is mainly to provide orders for the restaurant, but those arrested said they sometimes shipped meat and stuffed animals to China," he added.Wildlife anti-trafficking group Freeland, which often works with the Thai police on operations, said local police chanced on the gruesome scene after encountering a man whose hands were covered in blood in Bangkok's Yannawa district."Police escorted the man back to a residential building and discovered four others in the midst of chopping up a 400 kilogramme (880 pound) male tiger," the group said.Freeland director Steven Galster said the group believes some of the animals were "bred in, or laundered through, private zoos in Thailand".Norasak said he thought the tigers might have been from the wild, but other animals could have been from private zoos.The arrested men could face four years in jail for the illegal processing of wild and protected animals, he added.Thailand, a hub of international smuggling, is one of just 13 countries hosting fragile tiger populations. Worldwide, numbers are estimated to have fallen to only 3,200 tigers from approximately 100,000 a century ago.
BANGKOK, 4 February 2012 (NNT) – The Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that the United States revoked the terrorism alert in Thailand. Nine countries still warn their citizens of possible terrorist attacks.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday met with the ambassadors of more than 40 countries to explain the terror alert issued by the United States on 13 January. Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Sihasak Phuangketkeow said he had ensured the envoys that Thailand was not negligent in tackling possible violence. More stringent security measures will be urgently implemented to restore confidence, he added.A Lebanese suspect alleged of being a member of Hezbollah was arrested in Bangkok on the same day that the U.S. first issued the warning. The U.S. is among the ten countries that revoked the terror alert; the others include China, Israel, Greece, Germany, France, Norway, Brazil, the Netherlands and Denmark. The nine countries which have not yet lifted their warnings include the U.K., Australia, Austria, Taiwan, South Korea, Italy, Japan, Romania and Canada. Japan said it needed official confirmation from Thailand before deciding whether to cancel the terror alert.The permanent secretary urged the nine countries to reconsider their travel advisories based on the current situation in Thailand and the Thai government’s handling of the matter.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australia is preparing to revoke the alert while the U.K. has made clear that it cannot do so since the warning is aimed at informing citizens.
BANGKOK: -- National Police chief Pol General Priewpan Damapong yesterday proposed the construction of a prison on an island, especially for drug dealers as it would be easier to control and prevent them from continuing their drug dealing from behind bars.Priewpan said he was discussing his idea with senior officials. The facility should be equipped with a phone signal blocking system. He revealed the idea during a press conference yesterday about three suspects in Pattani's Sai Buri district who were arrested in Samut Sakhon's Muang district. About 373,800 yaba tablets, five kilograms of crystal meth and 120 kratom leaves were seized from them.Meanwhile, police will seek arrest warrants for two or three more suspects after Major Piyanat Ketchamrat, an official at the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army who has been accused of being involved in drug crimes, reportedly confessed and implicated a few others.Narcotics Suppression Bureau deputy chief Pol Maj-General Charnwet Sesawet said Major Piyanat had confessed to transporting the drugs and also gave other useful information. Police would secure arrest warrants for two or three others whom he had implicated for transporting drugs in the Northern and Central regions. Charnwet declined to give details.He said Sgt-Major 1st class Venus Sijai, another accused official from the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army, was still hiding in Thailand. Police would soon bring to court Major Piyanat, who reportedly had faced asset seizure in 2009 due to his involvement in drug crimes, and seek his detention on the charge of possessing drugs.Pol Lt-General Wanthip Wongwai, the Region 3 Army commander, said that an initial probe by his office found that Major Piyanat had been arrested in 2009 in a drug case by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Bt3 million worth of his assets were seized. However, the ONCB failed to report the matter to the Engineering Battalion of the Region 3 Army. As a result, Major Piyanat was able to continue working there. He said the Army would wait for the legal procedure to complete its course before taking action against Major Piyanat.Police yesterday also brought Piyanat's accuser, Nipon Kanchat, to the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court and sought a 12-day detention until February 7, while objecting to his bail on the ground that he was a flight risk. Nipon was arrested for allegedly storing billions of baht worth of narcotics at a Pathum Thani house he rented from a Thai actress.Nipon's implication of a drug inmate in the Bang Kwang Prison led to a search of the prison cell on Thursday but no illegal things were found except a cellphone. The justice minister's secretary, Thirachai Wutthitham, said the ministry would probe further as some drug inmates were found to have 80 bank accounts. They also planned to have the Department of Special Investigation, the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Office and the ONCB send special task force units to search drug inmates' cells in future.As drug suspects often implicate inmates, ONCB chief Adul Saengsingkaew said he would next week discuss possible solutions with the Corrections Department and the Royal Thai Police, including blocking phone signals at prisons.Meanwhile, Nakhon Sawan's Paknam Pho police officers engaged in a gunfight with a drug gang yesterday morning. One suspect was shot dead, two suspects were captured and two others fled the scene. The gang members, on two motorcycles, who were about to deliver 500 yaba tablets and 16 grams of ice to a customer, ran into a police truck, fled to a dead-end soi and fired at the police, according to provincial police chief Pol Maj-General Chantawit Ramasut.In Phattalung's Ta Mot district, three drug suspects were arrested in a sting operation yesterday. Police seized 539 yaba tablets, 10 grams of ice, 200 bottles of cough syrup and kratom leaves.In Khon Kaen's Muang district, police arrested a 30-year-old man while waiting to deliver 2,400 yaba tablets to a customer at 2.30am yesterday. He confessed to buying the drug from a Laotian.In Bangkok, a team of 120 police officers yesterday raided five communities in Tao Poon and Bang Sue areas at 5.30am and arrested 14 drug suspects. They seized some yaba, crystal meth and drug-taking tools. The raids targeted the drug ring of Somchai "Ae Leuk" Iampaijit, a drug suspect who was shot dead earlier this week in a gunfight with police in Nonthaburi.
