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Temporary police traffic checkpoints banned
THE NATION October 9, 2015

The use of temporary police checkpoints when looking for traffic violators is now banned nationwide unless they meet stringent criteria.

Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said a checkpoint must be supervised by a police inspector or a higher-ranking officer and be marked with clear signs. Police supervisors must know checkpoint locations and their purposes, he said.

Prawut said he would propose the installation of traffic cameras as a replacement for the temporary checkpoints in three months. He will also propose that the one-year validity of traffic tickets be extended to three years.

The public had called for the temporary checkpoints to be scrapped, saying they were randomly set up so officers could earn a percentage of the fines.

 

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Erawan Bomb blast
Suspect was promised trip to Turkey for planting bomb

Writers: JESSADA JANTARAK, JITRAPORN SENWONG & JIRASAK WONGJANKHAM
THE NATION October 9, 2015

Says he was told to attack busy shrine, hopes confession will win leniency

A PRIME suspect in the Erawan Shrine bomb attack has told his lawyer that he was promised an opportunity to travel to Turkey if he planted the bomb as near to the crowded religious site as possible. Bilal Mohammed, previously identified as Adem Karadag, spoke to his lawyer Chuchart Kanphai in English yesterday.

The attack took place on August 17, killing 20 people and injuring more than 100 others.

The following day, another blast near the Sathorn pier did not cause any casualties. Ongoing investigations suggest the two blasts were related. "Bilal is aware that his alleged crime carries a heavy penalty and hopes his confession will entitle him to leniency," Chuchart said after visiting his client at a temporary prison inside a military base.

Chuchart said Bilal has reiterated that he is an Uighur but has refused to specify his hometown in China out of concern his relatives and friends may be affected. "His family is in Turkey. So, he wanted to go to Turkey too," Chuchart said.

He said Bilal stood by his previous statement that he did not know any other suspects wanted in the case except Abdullah Abdullahman, who allegedly told him to plant the bag containing the explosives and provided him with a wig in a bid to disguise himself.

"Bilal received the order [to carry out the attack] from Abdullah on August 16," he said. "Abdullah had promised to help him travel to Malaysia and further to Turkey after he carried out his order." Chuchart said Bilal did not know the extent of the destruction his action had caused because he did not have access to TV.

"When I showed him the pictures of the attack, he appeared crestfallen and feels guilty," the lawyer said. Chuchart said he planned to visit Bilal again in two weeks. Bilal and Mieraili Yusufu are the only suspects in detention in Thailand. Several other suspects remain on the run.

Police spokesman Lt-General Prawut Thavornsiri said the investigation report for the prosecution of Bilal and Mieraili should be concluded within 24 days.

Prawut disclosed that police will ask the Foreign Ministry to invite officials from the Turkish embassy to discuss the case. "For instance, we have to check passports involved in the case and locate where [suspects] Wanna Suansan and Emrah Davutoglu are," he said. Emrah is a Turkish national married to Wanna, a Thai.

A Turkish man was intercepted at the Nong Khai immigration checkpoint yesterday because he looks like a man wanted in the bombings. The 37-year-old denied any wrongdoing. He said he had lived with his family in Khon Kaen.

The authorities are investigating.

 

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Seafood spared swim in Koh Samui ferry dock collapse
9 Oct 2015 WRITER: SUPAPONG CHAOLAN

A heavy truck nearly plunged into the sea at a Seatran Ferry port on Koh Samui island, Surat Thani, early Friday. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)

A fortuitously parked ferry was the only thing that stopped a truck carrying 24 tonnes of seafood from plunging into the sea after a boat ramp collapsed Friday on Koh Samui. The steel beams on one of two ramps at the Seatran Ferry Co terminal broke at about 5am as the ten-wheeled Pornpisanu Co truck was rolling across it to a ferry bound for Don Sak district in mainland Surat Thani province.

(Photo by Supapong Chaolan)

Its seafood cargo worth, about 1 million baht, was destined for Samut Sakhon province. Seatran manager Sompong Sandee said the incident happened after about 20 other vehicles had traversed the ramp onto the vessel.
As the ramp collapsed, the seafood truck slid down toward the water, but the ferry's hull stopped it from returning the fish to the sea. No one was injured in the incident.

Mr Sompong said his company would quickly retrieve the truck and repair the ramp and passenger services could continue at another ramp, he said.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/724984/seafood-spared-swim-in-koh-samui-ferry-dock-collapse.

 

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Ocean heatwave harming world's coral reefs
Coral 'bleaching' observed in many areas worldwide
• 9 Oct 2015 • WRITER: REUTERS

This photo provided by the XL Catlin Seaview Survey, taken in February, shows coral after bleaching in American Samoa, when the XL Catlin Seaview Survey responded to a NOAA coral bleaching alert. Devastating bleaching of colourful coral is spreading into a rare worldwide crisis, scientists announced, predicting it will likely get worse.
(AP photo)

OSLO -- Coral reefs are suffering a severe underwater heatwave this year for the third time on record, including a mysterious warm patch in the Pacific known as "The Blob", scientists say. The bout of record high temperatures in parts of the oceans, stoked by climate change, is expected to kill more than 12,000 square kilometres of reefs, or about 5% of the global total, they said Thursday.

The experts, including the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said similar alerts about damage to reefs had been issued only in 2010 and 1998, both extremely warm years. Corals, tiny creatures which build stony skeletons, eject the colourful algae they live with when under stress. That bleaches the reefs -- some corals can bounce back when temperatures fall but many die from long-lasting whitening.

Corals are nurseries for many species of fish and provide livelihoods for millions of people. They also are a major draw of scuba divers in places such as Thailand. "This is the third time we've had a global bleaching event," Mark Eakin, coordinator at NOAA's Coral Reef Watch, told Reuters, saying experts would have spotted such wide damage to reefs even decades ago when monitoring was less thorough.

"2015 has now seen coral bleaching occurring in reefs in the northern Pacific, Indian, equatorial Pacific, and western Atlantic Oceans," the alert said.

This undated file photo released by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority shows a bleached section of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. (AFP photo)

A vast mass of warm water known as "The Blob" in the north eastern Pacific has harmed corals, including in Hawaii, it said. "It is not well understood how much of 'The Blob' is related to climate change ... It's still a bit of a mystery," Mr Eakin said.

All three global alerts -- in 1998, 2010 and 2015 -- have coincided with El Nino events, which warm the eastern tropical Pacific and can disrupt weather worldwide, compounding the impact of climate change. On land, the "equivalent would be tropical forests turning white ... and then dying," said Richard Vevers, executive director of XL Catlin Seaview Survey, which also contributed to the report.

"The last two events have gone virtually unnoticed," he told Reuters of the bleachings in 2010 and 1998. The University of Queensland and Reef Check were also involved in the surveys.

Mr Eakin said countries could help by reducing stresses on reefs such as over-fishing and pollution. Nearly 200 governments will meet in Paris from Nov 30 to Dec 11 to address the wider problem of climate change.

 

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Flood alert for 10 provinces
10 Oct 2015 WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

A trailer truck navigates a flooded road in Rayong province on Oct 6. (Bangkok Post photo)

People in 10 eastern and Central Plains provinces have been told to prepare for heavy rain and possible forest runoff and landslides this weekend.
Heavy rain had intensified this week and brought floods to 10 districts in four provinces — Rayong, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri and Lop Buri, said Chatchai Phromlert, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

Soldiers and officials from other agencies had been mobilised to help drain floodwater from the affected areas, he said on Saturday. He warned that heavy rain accumulation might cause river overflows, forest runoff and possible landslides in high-risk areas in 10 provinces in the Central and Eastern regions.

The 10 provinces are: Saraburi & Lop Buri in the Central region and Chanthaburi, Trat, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Prachin Buri & Sa Kaeo in the East.

He asked provincial officials to be on full alert to deal with possible emergencies. Rapid deployment teams and necessary equipment will be put on standby to help affected residents.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/725512/runoff-alert-in-10-provinces.

 

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Vendors fight market closure
10 Oct 2015 | WRITER: SUPOJ WANCHAROEN

First it was Khlong Lot. Then came Tha Tian and Tha Chang. Bo Bae and Khlong Thom markets followed. Now it's time for Saphan Lek Market to go under City Hall's clean-up campaign to
return the pavements and public areas to pedestrians.

Saphan Lek Market is the latest target for City Hall in cleaning up public areas. About 500 vendors will be banned and illegal trading stalls at the market bulldozed. The area will be turned into a new tourist attraction. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Nestled along Khlong Ong Ang near Damrongsathit Bridge (better known as Saphan Lek) that links Phra Nakhon and Samphanthawong districts, Saphan Lek Market has been in operation for more than 30 years, offering a wide range of products from toys to electrical appliances and food served up by hundreds of traders.

On Sept 28, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) used the 1959 Revolution Order number 44 to ban vendors and stalls trading illegally to improve the city's scenery and rejuvenate the waterways, creating new attractions for tourists.
Facing the threat of being forced out of business, about 500 street vendors at the thriving Saphan Lek Market have called on the BMA to review its decision to push them from the neighbourhood, saying it is their only source of income.

But the BMA is unrelenting. The vendors, it says, have taken control of space reserved for the public and illegally built trading booths over Khlong Ong Ang near the market which is registered as a historic site by the Fine Arts Department.

The public area along the canal, which covers about 500 metres, used to be an open space of between seven and eight metres wide until it was taken over by stalls and booths, narrowing the area on which to walk to just one metre.

The vendors and their illegal structures have been given until Monday to move out. If they fail to do so, the BMA will use its own crews to sweep through the area by Oct 20, knocking down and taking away everything they find. The BMA has prepared a new trading zone for the vendors at Khlong Thom Centre, a market at the old southern bus terminal behind Pata Pinklao, or Talat Tha Din Daeng.

The council's action has filled the vendors with dismay, with many claiming they were not officially informed of the city’s plan to clean up the area until Sept 28. A game shop owner, who only wanted to be known as Berm, said all vendors were officially informed of the order on Sept 28 when officials put up a huge sign advising of the removal of their trading stalls.
Mr Berm said the game shop was the only source of income for his family.

He said he would have to talk with the other vendors to decide what to do about the situation. A BMA source said the Bangkok Market Office had kept vendors informed about its plans. Between 2004 and 2008, it had helped to direct their move out of the market under orders from former Bangkok governor Apirak Kosayodhin. But watch vendor Chanya Surawutnak said the deadline was too tight and stressful.

She demanded that the BMA allow vendors to get involved in its development plan and to set up talks between vendors and authorities to find a solution. “Saphan Lek Market is a unique market. Hundreds of vendors are trying to make a living here," Ms Chanya said. She admitted the market had encroached on the canal but was not blocking the walkway. Khlong Ong Ang also was not being used for the city's drainage system.

The watch vendor also dismissed claims that Saphan Lek Market was a leading source of illegal products.
"We only sell legal products. The market has a safe environment for people to shop," Ms Chanya said.
Saphan Lek Market was originally a food centre, said vendor Chaiwat Putphanasab, 50. Boonthayalak Co had been granted a concession from the Bangkok Market Office, which manages markets in the city, to construct a building near Khlong Ong Ang which was then leased to vendors.

However, the concession was reportedly terminated many years ago, but vendors, most of whom are sub-tenants, continued to trade at the market. Mr Chaiwat was extremely angry about the enforcement of the city regulation as he had just moved his stall from Khlong Thom Market which has been cleaned up under the same campaign, backed by the National Council for Peace and Order.
Meeboon Thanachotkasemsuk, a resident, said vendors and officials should hold talks to find a constructive solution. He said he feels well-disposed towards the city’s clean-up and restoration plans but officials needed to ensure they do not harm people’s livelihoods.

Saphan Lek Market is full of unique characteristics and a culture that entices both local and foreign shoppers, Mr Meeboon said. He said there had been speculation that a real estate developer wanted to buy the plot of land from the BMA and turn it into a huge market, leased to vendors. Toy vendor Samran Duangla said she was willing to cooperate with the city’s plan and relocate to the new area provided by officials.

But vendors at the new markets reported a sharp drop in sales as only a handful of shoppers went there, she said.
Ms Samran demanded that city officials make a concerted study of shoppers’ behaviour and come up with more practical options for vendors. Location is one of the most important factors in doing business in the city, noted Ms Samran, who has run her business at the market for over three decades.

"It's a shock to hear Saphan Lek Market is to be razed," said Sri-arn, who gave only his first name. The market’s strength lies in its quality game repair shops and unique lines of products, he said. It is famous for all types of products from CDs, watches and toys to home equipment. "The market is the only place that has game repair shops.

People from the provinces go to the place to have their games repaired," Mr Sri-arn said. Two school boys, Mark and Oam, from Wat Rajabopit School, said the market is their hangout spot where they can find new games and toys at affordable prices.
"It’s heartbreaking to hear that the market will have to torn down. We love the market," said Oam, adding it is only a few minutes' walk from his school.

A BMA official puts up a sign on Sept 28 informing vendors that Saphan Lek Market will be knocked down. 
Pawat Laopaisarntaksin


http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/725256/vendors-fight-market-closure.

 

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Cement truck brings down 43 power poles in Samut Prakan

The Nation October 10, 2015

At 8pm on Thursday night, a cement truck got caught on electricity wires in Samut Prakan's Muang district and brought down 43 power poles, which hit three cars and left a man seriously injured.
The poles fell like dominoes on either side of Phuttaraksa Road for a kilometre and half, some landing on two pickup trucks and a six-wheeler.

Police found the CPAC cement truck parked about 500 metres from the damaged cars. The driver, Worrawut Phanitchkul, 25, has been taken in for interrogation and will face legal action. A wide area in the district was still plunged in darkness as of press time, though the Metropolitan Electricity Authority reckoned electricity would be restored by midnight yesterday.

A passer-by was seriously injured from electrocution, while an old woman sustained injuries when she fainted. They are both being treated at the Bang Na General Hospital.

The road is open to traffic.

 

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Sexual harassment is not the new norm
11 Oct 2015 NEWSPAPER SECTION: NEWS

Once again, the State Railway of Thailand is attracting attention for all the wrong reasons after another case of sexual assault against a young passenger. A 15-year-old girl alleged a ticket officer harassed her and assaulted her, although she managed to raise the alarm before her attacker grabbed her phone.

The case revived memories of last year's shocking rape and murder of Nong Kaem, 13, whose body was thrown from a train. However, the Sept 23 attack only made headlines briefly before it was knocked off the front pages of Thai-language newspapers for an even more heinous sex crime involving a minor. A baby aged only one year and eight months was sexually abused by her stepfather, and the little girl later died in hospital.

But all too quickly, that story also disappeared from public attention. It is tragic to see sexual harassment and abuse almost daily in the media. Yet, for all the painful examples we hear about, there are few real discussions about the causes or ideas on how to fix the problem.
These stories are treated as routine crime news, without examining the violation of victims' rights and the social tolerance of sex crimes. A recent case of a former primary school teacher in Uttaradit province who was caught abusing his students shows his community may have chosen to tolerate the sexual abuse to save themselves from embarrassment.

The teacher was caught sexually abusing more than 20 primary school students in 2002. He left the school two years later. It is not clear why he was not charged back then, but he became a local vendor after quitting his teaching job. He was finally arrested last month after some of the photographs he took of his victims turned up on an internet porn site.
But his arrest only happened when the photos of the abused students were noticed by officers from the US Homeland Security office, who notified Thai authorities, according to local media. The fact this man was only apprehended because people in the United States saw the child porn pictures he took 12 years ago says it all.

This incident highlights the different levels of tolerance between two societies. Twelve years ago, the perpetrator was able to get away with abusing his students. But when officials in the US raised the matter with Thai authorities, something was finally done.
The frequency of sexual abuse in Thailand is cause for alarm and it happens so often that it is disturbingly close to being seen as normal. Incidents are being reported in the media almost daily and with a degree of indifference.

The level of acceptance towards sexual abuse and harassment in society has resulted in Thailand becoming a country with one of the worst rates of physical assaults in the world. In 2013, a United Nations agency ranked Thailand 26th in a field of 75 countries with the highest rate of physical assaults, and seventh in a field of 71 countries with cases of sexual violence. In 2011, the Women Against Abuse Foundation reported there were 158 news items on sexual violence in the Thai press that year, 112 stories on rape cases, 17 on gang rapes, 14 on attempted rapes, 12 on harassment and three on youths being abducted.

But in reality, the real number of cases of sexual violence is much higher because it is estimated that less than half of the victims report their cases to authorities or go to the police. This can be attributed to various reasons, but often it is because of social perceptions that stigmatise victims of sexual crimes. There is evidence of this in the findings of a survey by the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development in 2010.

After surveying women in Nan and Khon Kaen, the report came to three conclusions about Thai women’s perceptions of sexual violence and why some think it is acceptable.
First, vulnerable groups of women tend to see themselves as being dependent in a male-dominated society.
Second, culture and tradition transcend gender equality.
And third, some victims tolerate sexual abuse or are forced to consent — they don’t have the knowledge necessary to protect their rights.

The danger is that once people assume that harassment or abuse is simply something that most people have to experience, no one will speak out against it. News items in the media about girls being sexually abused could soon become the norm for viewers who watch with indifference.

We should feel anger, not apathy, when we learn about these incidents. It will be a sad day for Thailand if people watching the news see sexual crimes as something that simply takes place every day. Instead we must look at what has happened to our attitudes and our communities to allow this to go on.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/725704/sexual-harassment-is-not-the-new-norm.

 

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Senaste insatta artikeln är upp för fritt talande, i min mening är den både vidrig i handling och ärekränkande över människans handlande mot och över kvinnans integritet..

 

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Phuket calm after riot

THE NATION October 12, 2015

Burnt vehicles and shattered windows are seen at Thalang Police Station yesterday following the riot on Saturday night.

Dozens of cars burnt out and Thalang police station damaged after mob protested over a hot pursuit that led to death of two young men

TENSION between police and local residents in Phuket province that escalated into a riot at a local police station yesterday appeared to ease, after an inquiry panel was formed to look into the death of two young men during a police hot pursuit on Saturday.

Police representatives met with families and relatives of Pathomwat Panarak, 22 and a 17-year-old teen, whose name was withheld, at a school yesterday with a military officer as a mediator. The meeting was held under a tense environment as supporters of the pair gathered around the venue occasionally booing and jeering.

The meeting was held after local residents, including families of both victims, rallied in front of Thalang police station, angry over the death of the pair. They claimed police used excessive action on the young victims - who allegedly refused to be searched and rode off on a motorbike near a police checkpoint - without solid evidence.

Dozens of vehicles parked before the police station were burnt and police buildings damaged during the clash that involved hundreds of residents and officials on Saturday night and early yesterday. Four police involved in the case were transferred out of the area at about midnight on Saturday.

Suksri Kaentakian, mother of the teenage victim, said if her son was involved in drugs, her family would certainly be very rich. "Police involved in the death of my son should be sacked from the service and face legal action like ordinary people. I cannot accept that the incident came to the end after concerned police were transferred out of the area."

Thaweesit Panarak, father of the 22-year-old, wept and said he had only one son. He admitted that his son used to use crystal meth or 'Ice' and was in jail. "I don't think that my son would have had narcotics, as I believe he did not want to go back to jail again."

However what the police had done was considered excessive. "It is not acceptable that my son and his friend had to end their lives this way. When police conducted the hunt, they had no evidence in hand that they had narcotics," the father said.

Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada said after a committee would be set up to investigate the case and a fund set up to help the victims' families. At 3pm, protesters demanded that police discuss the case and bring the officers responsible for the pursuit to talk with them. However police did not heed their demand.

The situation escalated in the evening when the protesters threw sticks and stones into the station, then hurled Molotov cocktails that burnt vehicles at the station. The protesters were angered by the police's claim that they found 50 pills of amphetamine and one kilogram of kratom leaves in the young men's bags.

The tension seemed to decrease at 3am after the intervention of Major General Theenachat Jinda-ngen, chief of Military Circle 41, came to stop the protest. After talks, they agreed to attend the meeting yesterday at Wat Bandon School. The protest dispersed at about 3.30am, ending a 12-hour stand-off.

The Phuket governor said preliminary agreements were made at the meeting to set up an inquiry between police and local authorities to investigate the case, and set up a fund for the men's families. "The case will be investigated without any bias and will bring justice to both sides," he said.

Damage to the police station was yet to be calculated, but all windows in the three-storey police building were shattered, while the fence and signpost outside were wrecked and some 27 vehicles belonging to the authorities and private owners were burnt. Fourteen police officers suffered minor injuries.

The riot also forced the road outside the station to be closed, which affected transport to Phuket Airport. Officials at the airport said 35 people missed their flights and nine planes were delayed on Saturday night.

Police spokesman Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri said National Police Chief General Chakthip Chaijinda had ordered police to investigate the case in a straightforward manner to bring justice to everyone and ordered the officers responsible to get people to understand the situation, so tension was relieved.

"The next thing we'll do is investigate the police who were responsible for the chase - and if they were really excessive [in their actions], they will be punished and aid given to the teenagers' relatives," he said. He said police, doctors, local authorities and soldiers would conduct the autopsies, which would be done as soon as possible, so results could be known within seven days.

The prime minister expressed sympathy to the families of the deceased.



How the Thalang riot unfolded



October 10

11.20am: Two young men die after being chased on their motorcycle by Phuket's Thalang police.

1pm: Thalang police inform the public that they found 50 amphetamine pills and one kilogram of kratom leaves in the young men's bags

3pm: Relatives and friends of the teenagers gather in front of Thalang Police Station and demand its chief tell the truth and bring the four officers responsible for the chase before the public.

4.30pm: Around 100 people protest in front of the police station.

6.30pm: The protesters close the road in front of the station after the authorities fail to provide them with a good answer.

8pm: A suspected gunshot is heard and leads the protesters to believe the police fired at them, so they besiege the police station.

9.30pm: The situation gets worse. The protesters throw sticks, stones and eggs at the station.

10.30pm: The protesters start to set fire to police vehicles and other cars parked at the station.

11.25pm: Thalang police ask for and receive reinforcements but they still cannot control the situation.



October 11

00.00: The four police officers involved in the deadly chase are ordered out of the station, while the reinforcement force is asked to help other staff trapped inside the station.

3am: Maj-General Theenachat Jinda-ngen, the Military Circle 41 commander, and a group of soldiers negotiate with the protesters and ask them to stop the protest.

3.30am: The protesters agree to disperse and have further talks with the authorities at 9am at Wat Bandon School.

9am: The talks between the relatives of the dead man and teenager, police and the military start.

11am: It is decided a joint committee will be established to investigate the deaths, with a fund to be set up for the young men's families.

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Ericsson aims to lead world in IoT and 5G network development

Writer: Asina Pornwasin
The Nation October 7, 2015

Urges regulators to do their jobs and make more spectrum available
Ericsson wants to be a world leader in the Internet of Things (IoT) as it strives to develop the 5G network and enhance LTE, the company's senior vice president has said.

Arun Bansal, who is also head of Business Unit Radio at Ericsson, said the company is accelerating IoT growth on existing LTE and GSM networks to ensure a global foundation for a vast range of new consumer, industry and government applications, from smart cities to connected farms.

Internet of Things is a sub-set of 5G, he said, and the 5G network will enable people-to-people communication as well as IoT communication and connectivity.

"We need more spectrum. Spectrum is a natural resource and regulators need to do their job. They need to allocate resources, which is the spectrum, to operators that can invest to give the right usage and the right quality of services to users. Regulators should facilitate," said Bansal.

"The spectrum is needed for operators to give not only the best effort service, but also the quality of service. And with the vision of Thailand to become a digital country, operators need spectrum to provide better connectivity. Auctions are the only answer. Spectrum is the key [element] for the development of the nation both for job creation and the digital Thailand vision," he said.

Meanwhile, Camilla Vautier, president and country manager of Ericsson Thailand, said another key driver of IoT in Thailand is urbanization. From the company's portfolio perspective, it is striving to develop its portfolios to support society to become more digital. In Southeast Asia, Thailand is one of the top markets where Ericsson sees a lot of investment potential.

Bansal reiterated that its customers can invest when the spectrum is available to develop the digitalization of Thailand. And then the company can develop the products to support different needs. "For example, IoT has two use-cases, for rural applications like sensors, and in urbanization for applications like connected cars. IoT standardization is all about all the parts in the IoT ecosystem from sensors to networks," Bansal said.

Technology is not just hi-tech and high cost, he said, it also drives down the cost to make IoT devices more affordable. Ericsson is working with leading ecosystem players to address the cost, coverage and battery life issues that have hindered broader mass uptake of IoT applications.

Bansal said the company spends US$2.5 billion (Bt91.05 billion) a year in research and development. The company has cleared a budget to spend on three areas: 5G, to speed up the network performance; the standardisation of IoT and MTC; and the development of products.

He said Ericsson is very involved in IoT for standardisation of infrastructure. The company recently launched its Ericsson Networks Software 16B software to support low-cost devices, extend battery life, improve deep indoor and rural coverage, and offer service prioritization.

Ericsson plays a role in all levels of IoT transformation, from rollout to enterprise and business processes, platforms and cloud and radio connectivity. The company's plan is to address these challenges with a targeted new suite of software upgrades and ecosystem advances that will accelerate the uptake of IoT for the benefit of both industry and consumers.

Bansal said the future growth will come from Asia. Almost 3.5 billion of the world's 7 billion population live in Asia, which is a huge market for Ericsson. Within Asia, Thailand is a very important market for Ericsson as well.

Most of the population is young, he said. In Thailand and the rest of Asia, the average age is much lower than the average age in Europe. The future of innovation and application, usage of mobile broadband and mobile data will be driven by this market.

However, infrastructure in Asian countries, except a few countries like Singapore, is not very developed.

"With the GDP growth forecast, we believe in our vision of a network society. Everything will benefit from connectivity. We will see technologies being used in totally different ways in this part of the world. We will see smart meters and connected cars, but infrastructure is needed to get the GDP growth. It requires so much investment that no country can afford it without ICT help. We will ICT being used in this part of the world, besides consumers, in totally different ways," Bansal said.

 

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Yingluck: PM's order for her to pay over rice losses not legal
THE NATION October 12, 2015

(photo by Bangkok Post.)
Ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra Monday urged Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha not to issue an administrative order to make her pay compensation for state losses over the rice-pledging scheme.

She said such an order was against the rule of law since the court had yet to rule on a criminal case against her.

She said Prayut's legal specialists had "adopted a legal technique" to seek compensation by having the PM issue an administrative order without seeking Cabinet approval to make individuals pay compensation, like an order to seize assets. This was to avoid hefty court fees when filing a civil suit, she said.

She called on Prayut to opt for court procedures to seek civil liability, since the court was regarded as a justice channel.

"For issuing this administrative order, it is like you exercise your power like a court issues a verdict as you incriminate individuals who must pay compensation over the rice pledging scheme - even though the Supreme Court has yet to rule on a criminal trial. This is a grave violation against the rule of law,'' she said.

 

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Suu Kyi warns of election-day riots
Eleven Myanmar October 12, 2015

Aung San Suu Kyi campaigns in Hmawbi on October 11. (Myo Min Htet/EMG)

Aung San Suu Kyi, the chair of the National League for Democracy (NLD), warned voters of the potential of intentionally orchestrated riots on the election day.

Suu Kyi told a campaign rally in Hmawbi, Yangon Region: "People need to be alert on election day. There may be those of intentionally orchestrating riots. To hold the election peacefully is of great importance for all of us. Let me warn you.

"The election is close. All of us should tranquilly move in a particular direction towards the election.

"Most people know the importance of the election. I want the people to realise this point. Elections are essential in all democratic systems. You understand that the election is about choosing people capable of leading a new government," Suu Kyi said.

She said the election would totally eliminate a system of government where leaders sought opportunities but shunned responsibility. Only with the support of the people, could the system be changed, Suu Kyi said.

"The NLD was established for national reconciliation. The system will have to be changed. When we become a government, how considerate we are will reflect our reputation," the Nobel Laureate said.

"No one needs to worry that the NLD will become a government. Unjust opportunities must be surrendered. The NLD does not bear grudge against those wishing to live peacefully. The NLD has no principle of revenge. Past events are the lessons we will have to take," Suu Kyi said.

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Arrest warrant for Thaksin in army slander case
12 Oct 2015 WRITER: ONLINE REPORTERS

Fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra was met by supporters when he arrived to address Lao businessmen at a hotel in Vientiane in April 2012. (Bangkok Post file photo)

The Criminal Court on Monday issued a warrant for the arrest of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he failed to show up for the first hearing in a defamation case filed against him by the army.
The case was filed by Maj Gen Sarayuth Klinmahom, director of the Office of the Judge-Advocate of the Royal Thai Army.

Thaksin is accused of defaming the army during interviews in South Korea from May 19-22. The interviews were
posted on YouTube and other online media. In his interviews Thaksin falsely accused the army, portraying it as a "dreadful institution" and a danger to the nation, according to the lawsuit. The court accepted the lawsuit for further proceedings and set Oct 12 for him to show up for witness examination.

His lawyer testified to the court this morning that his client could not be present since he is in political exile, residing in a foreign country. The court found Thaksin had intention to evade the lawsuit and issued a warrant for his arrest.

The statute of limitations in the case is 10 years. In 2008, Thaksin was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison by the Supreme Court’s Division for Holders of Political Positions for abuse of power in the sale of state land to his then-wife when he was prime minister.

He fled Thailand before being sentenced and has since lived in self-exile abroad.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/726952/arrest-warrant-for-thaksin-in-army-slander-case.

 

[EV]

Kjartan Sekkingstad från Sotra Norge kidnappade från en månad sen , 56 åringen kidnappades i
Filipinerna tillsammans med två kanadiska turister och en filipinsk kvinna .
Kjartan Sekkingstad har en båthamn och Hotell på Filipinerna

www.bt.no/nyheter/utenriks/kjartan-sekkingstad-fra-sotra-kidnappet-3444075.html

 

[EV]

Islamistiska gruppen Abu Sayyat har postat ett foto av fyra gisslan som de tog förra månaden , bland
den norska Kjartan Sekkingstad

www.bt.no/nyheter/utenriks/Abu-Sayyaf-viser-bilder-av-norsk-gissel-3458226.html

 

[gunnarg]

Islamistiska gruppen Abu Sayyat har postat ett foto av fyra gisslan som de tog förra månaden , bland
den norska Kjartan Sekkingstad

www.bt.no/nyheter/utenriks/Abu-Sayyaf-viser-bilder-av-norsk-gissel-3458226.html

Vad har detta med Thailand eller Sverige att göra?

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Panda Lin Hui likely to give birth in the next 3-4 days
October 13, 2015

Chiang Mai Zoo panda Lin Hui will likely give birth in the next 3-4 days, judging by changes in her behavior, said the research team.

October 13 marks the 114th day after the giant panda from Sichuan underwent an artificial insemination. The research team has closely monitored Lin Hui after changes in behavior have been detected recently. According to the Chiang Mai Zoo director, Niphon Wichairat, Lin Hui has in the past few days been surveying for herself a nesting ground, eating less food and sleeping for longer stretches.

The team has, therefore, concluded that she should be giving birth in the next 3-4 days.

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Thailand celebrates Chinese vegetarian festival
October 13, 2015

A seller prepares vegetarian food as Chinese Vegetarian Festival starts Tuesday.//Anant Chantarasoot

Thailand on Tuesday starts celebrating the first day of the Chinese vegetarian festival. Shrines in every province in the country have raised lantern poles to signify the beginning of this year's vegetarian festival.

In Phuket province, Phuket governor Jamleran Tipayapongtada this morning chaired the lantern pole raising ceremony at Phuket's Jui Tui Shrine, with both locals and tourists donning white to participate in the ceremony. A ceremony to invite gods to the shrine was also conducted the night before.

The same ceremony was carried out in Kiew Oong Aiu Shrine in Trang province, where attendants raised the lantern pole and invoked emperor gods to signify the start of the province's vegetarian festival. In Ranong province, Thais of Chinese descent wearing white also attended the province's ceremonies, which included fireworks and participation by 19 Buddhist schools.

In Songkla province, various temples and shrines handed out free vegetarian food, while the province's Supasarnrangsan road was lined with vegetarian food stalls. In Ubon Ratchathani, thousands of people wearing white attended a prayer ceremony for His Majesty the King.

In Nakhon Pathom province, Thais of Chinese ancestry held a parade along Phra Phathom Chedi road to invoke the emperor gods, giving residents an opportunity to pay their respect and join in on festivities. In Chaing Mai province, residents flocked to vegetarian food stalls, especially in the province's Thanin market, where a variety of vegetarian food was sold at affordable prices.

 

[JBK.Ltd.]

Yingluck claim to go ahead, PM says
Writer: WASAMON AUDJARINT THE NATION October 13, 2015

PRIME MINISTER Prayut Chan-o-cha insists that his government will go ahead with a civil compensation claim against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra to recover losses from her government's rice-pledging farm subsidy programme.

However, Yingluck has written open letters to Prayut and Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong asking for fairness in the Bt500-billion compensation case, which she insisted was unlawful because administrative laws do not cover members of Parliament and the Cabinet.

In her letters she also urged Prayut to review the civil compensation claim filed with the Administrative Court against her, to which the PM responded Tuesday by saying: "We can't just skip laws." Yingluck is facing a civil compensation claim under the Act on Liability for Wrongful Act of Officials BE 2539.

Prayut has also said he would enforce his absolute power under Article 44 in this case, as it will only make matters more complicated.

"This is an administrative matter. If [Yingluck] wants, she can appeal to the Administrative Court.

"It is clearly written in the law that the PM and ministers are covered," Prayut said, responding to Yingluck's argument that administrative measures can only apply to the prime minister's subordinates.