Barkar Nash (Page 936)

A torpedo tube and several life rafts on the frigate HTMS Naresuan were damaged by an incident at Map Taphut boat pier last Wednesday, a navy source said.

The accident occurred on July 26 while HTMS Naresuan was docking, the source said but gave no further details.

HTMS Naresuan was built in China and was commissioned nearly 30 years ago. The ship and crew were taking part in Naval Security Port and Ship Map Taphut Exercise 2023 (Nasmex 2023) held from July 25-27 at Map Taphut industrial port in Muang district, Rayong province.

The accident damaged one of the three tubes of a torpedo launcher, along with several life rafts. The damage was estimated at 100 million baht to repair, the source said.

The Royal Thai Fleet has begun an inquiry into the costly incident.

CHIANG MAI: A 25-year-old Japanese woman was found dead on Monday morning with a mobile phone charging cable around her neck in a hotel room where she stayed with her husband.

Local police were informed of the discovery of her body about 10am by Parc Borough hotel on Mahidol Road in Muang district.

Police said the couple checked in at the hotel two days ago after arriving from Bangkok.

Her husband said it was her choice to visit the northern province.  

He allegedly told police he woke up about 3.40am and noticed his wife was not beside him. He assumed she had gone to the toilet and went back to sleep.

When he awoke again later on Monday morning he found his wife was dead in the toilet with a phone charging cable wrapped around her neck.

Police were continuing their investigation.

The expansion of Krabi airport to handle up to 8 million passengers per year is expected to be completed in late 2024 and the new facilities to open for service in 2025, the Department of Airports said.

The project includes construction of a third passenger terminal and improvements to the two existing terminals and car park building, at a projected cost of 2.923 billion baht. The work is now 87.52% completed, the department’s statement issued on Monday said.

Construction of a taxiway and upgrading of the airport electrical system is 58.20% completed.

The entire project is expected to be completed in late 2024 and open for service in 2025.

After the completion, the three passenger terminals will be connected and have a total space of 68,000 square metres and able to accommodate more passengers – up from the current 1,500 per hour, or 4 million per year, to 3,000 per hour or 8 million per year, the statement said.

The car park building can take up to 2,000 cars.

From October 2022-June 2023, Krabi airport handled 1.69 million passengers – 1.37 million domestic and 318,550 international travellers.

By the end of September 2023, the number of passengers passing through the airport is expected to be 1.79 million – 1.43 million domestic and 359,561 international travellers, the department said.

The Krabi airport development project is part of a national strategy to expand infrastructure and enhance the country’s economic growth and competitiveness.

SAMUT PRAKAN: A 23-year-old man has been arrested after a woman neighbour was beaten to death by a man wielding two hammers and then sexually mutilated with a knife.

Police detained Khajondet Jampathong on Sunday while he was seated in front of Charoenchai Condo 2 building on Soi Sri Boonruang 2 Road in tambon Thepharak of Muang district.

A 59-year-old woman who lived in a neighbourig flat, Jitra Chantharunai, was dead at the scene. She had been savagely attacked about 11.30am.

Police pieced the story together from a surveillance camera recording that showed part of the attack and witness accounts. They said Jitra was a municipal street cleaner. On Sunday she had been at a drinking party with other neighbours at a local grocery store before walking to Mr Khajondet’s room.

The two had talked and then argued for a while, and then she fell to the ground. A man approached her and hit her on the head repeatedly with two hammers. He then dragged her to an empty parking space, took off her trousers and used a knife to cut out her genitals, which he laid beside the body.

The killer then he stood up and stared at the body. Police reached the scene shortly after. At the scene, police found a 25-centimetre-long kitchen knife, a claw hammer with a broken handle and a sledge hammer.

Village headman Chamlong Phumphan said the suspect, Mr Khajondet, had finished his air force service as a private a month ago. The man had returned and stayed with his father in the same building. He often talked to himself.

Mr Chamlong also said the slain woman was drunk when the two argued.

Her son Damrongsak Sakaew was in shock. He said his mother had never had any dispute with her killer. 

Chiang Mai graduate grateful for Post’s support

Chainarong Maneewong, 23, intends to pursue a career in teaching after completing his university education thanks to a scholarship he received from the Bangkok Post Foundation.

Graduating in Thai language from Chiang Mai University’s faculty of education in April, he now wants to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a teacher at a school in his home province of Chiang Mai.

He said he intends to apply his knowledge as a teacher to educate needy children and find scholarships to support their education so they can also make their dreams come true.

His father made a living driving a red taxi pickup truck and his mother works as a shop assistant at a jewellery shop in the northern province. ”My father earned about 15,000 baht a month while my mother received a monthly salary of 10,000 baht.

“My father died when I was 17-18 so my mother had to take care of my elder brother and me alone,” Mr Chainarong said.

”After finishing high school at Mathayom 6 level, my brother ended his education. He chose to find work to earn money to help my mother support my own education.

”I came top in the Thai University Centre Admission System (TCAS) exams for Chiang Mai University’s faculty of education. I want to become a teacher of Thai language,” he said.

Upon his admission to the university, he looked for a scholarship and university officials suggested he apply for one with the Bangkok Post Foundation.

Shortly after application, foundation officials came to interview him and his mother before agreeing to sponsor his five-year education programme.

”The foundation gives me 60,000 baht each year to pay my education fees, my dormitory rent and my personal expenses.” he said, adding he also performs Thai traditional music in public places in downtown Chiang Mai on weekends to earn extra.

”My friends and I belong to the university’s Thai traditional music club and we play in walking streets in central Chiang Mai at the weekend. We earn about 4,000 baht a month,” he said.

”That is enough for our personal expenses. We don’t drink or smoke and don’t visit pubs so we don’t waste money on such activities,” he said.

Mr Chainarong said he is grateful for the financial assistance he received from the Bangkok Post Foundation.

”Foundation officials coordinate with the university in terms of screening students who apply and following up on scholarship recipients to keep track of how they are doing,” he said.

”I once asked the foundation whether it was possible to change faculty and the foundation said it was willing to help coordinate with other faculties,” he said.

”Some scholarships are only granted on a yearly basis so recipients may worry about the prospects of securing future funds.

”But the Bangkok Post Foundation supports our education until we graduate. Without such worries, students can concentrate fully on their studies. It is a decent foundation. It also provides career counselling,” he said.

Mr Chainarong said he took the TOEIC and is now applying for a teaching job at a local school under the Office of the Basic Education Commission, in Chiang Mai.

”I am proud of myself after graduating thanks to a scholarship from the Bangkok Post Foundation. My family is also proud of me. I want to give back to society by becoming a teacher to help other children enjoy a bright future.

”I am also keen to be part of efforts to set up an education fund to offer scholarships to students to help ease their families’ financial burdens so they can focus fully on their studies,” Mr Chainarong said.

In addition to supporting schools affected by natural disasters, the Bangkok Post Foundation has sponsored the education of several hundred needy students since its inception.

Established in 1982 with an initial funding of 500,000 baht provided by the Post Publishing Company Limited, the foundation’s main objective was to give children from poor families the same opportunity to attend school as other Thai children.

The foundation has so far awarded about 3,900 scholarships and seen 750 needy students, including orphans and children with disabilities, graduate from universities and vocational colleges thanks to its financial support.

Nevertheless, in order to continue to pursue its original goal providing assistance to those who need it most, additional funds and more donations are needed to ensure that future recipients can continue to enjoy the same assurances.

Pheu Thai PM choice set for Friday vote

The election-winning Move Forward Party (MFP) has dismissed speculation it will be excluded from a new government led by Pheu Thai, the party that came second, insisting that unity among the eight prospective coalition parties remains intact.

According to sources, the latest possible configuration of a new government has emerged, still comprising the original coalition allies but with the Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana parties also invited to join. The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) would remain excluded.

In this scenario, Srettha Thavisin, a PM candidate of Pheu Thai, would be nominated for the upcoming vote in parliament on Friday.

With the support of 71 MPs from Bhumjaithai and 10 from Chartthaipattana as well as the 312 MPs from the original eight-party bloc, Mr Srettha would get 393 votes which would be more than enough to see him become the next prime minister.

Under the constitution, a PM candidate needs the support of at least half of the 750 members of both the lower and upper chambers of parliament, or 376 votes in total.

However, observers believe that if Bhumjaithai, which is at odds with the MFP, joined the coalition, the MFP would decide to break away from the bloc and become the opposition but would still vote for the PM candidate from Pheu Thai.

The MFP has previously filed complaints against cabinet ministers from Bhumjaithai, accusing them in a no-confidence debate of corruption, while Bhumjaithai has made it clear it will not join a government if the MFP is part of it, citing the MFP’s bid to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law.

However, if the MFP pulls out of the coalition, Pheu Thai may again invite the PPRP, as well as the Democrat Party and the UTN to join the coalition, according to observers.

That said, Rangsiman Rome, MFP list MP and spokesman, downplayed a report that Pheu Thai would let Bhumjaithai take charge of forming a government without the MFP but with the UTN and PPRP asked to take part.

Mr Rangsiman said Bhumjaithai did not win the most seats in parliament and lacked the legitimacy to form a government.

“If Bhumjathai can form a government, this will deviate from normal circumstances…If we discussed politics on the basis of the people’s wishes, Bhumjaithai would not have a chance [of forming a government],” he said.

Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MFP list MP, also posted on Facebook that he did not believe a rumour that Pheu Thai would boot the MFP out of the coalition, saying it was meant to undermine the trust and unity among the eight parties.

“I don’t believe that Pheu Thai would force the MFP into the opposition bloc along with the UTN and the PPRP, and forge an alliance with Bhumjaithai, the Democrats, Prachachart, Chartthaipattana and other parties to form a government with a combined 262 members of parliament just to get support from the senators.”

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong said on Sunday the coalition allies will discuss their stance ahead of the PM vote on Friday.

Wisut Chai-narun, a Pheu Thai MP for Phayao, said Mr Srettha is expected to be nominated for the vote and likely to get enough support to become prime minister.

Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha previously said parliament would convene on Aug 4, but whether the new vote for a prime minister takes place that day will depend on a decision by the Constitutional Court the day before.

The court will announce if it is to accept a petition regarding the rejected renomination of MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister. If accepted, the vote will not occur until the court’s ruling, Mr Wan said.

Plankton bloom pose no harm to humans

CHON BURI: Wastewater discharged from Koh Lan is the major cause of the plankton bloom that turned the sea smelly and green, said the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) on Sunday.

The DMCR inspection at Ta Waen Beach on Koh Lan came after the Facebook page “We Love Pattaya” posted pictures of unusually green seawater around the popular island, which is located 7 kilometres off the coast of Pattaya Beach.

According to DMCR deputy director Apichai Aekwanakul, the phenomenon was first spotted on Saturday and authorities advised against swimming due to the reduced visibility.

Mr Apichai said that the colour change is caused by Noctiluca scintillans, a phytoplankton that is non-toxic and normally found in an annual bloom along the eastern seaboard.

Continuous wastewater discharging into the sea on Koh Lan is believed to be the primary cause, he said.

Mr Apichai explained that the bloom tended to be stronger in the rainy season as downpours tend to wash nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater into the aquatic system and cause excessive growth of the plankton, leading to the green colour and unpleasant odour.

The DMCR and related agencies will investigate and conduct further research possible health problems and the need for warnings to be issued, he said.

The plankton bloom, along with the off-season spawning of leatherback turtles in Phuket, are both oceanic phenomena that lecturer Thon Thamrongnawasawat from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Fisheries suggested those interested in the environment keep an eye on closely.

According to a post made on his Facebook page, both are symptomatic of changes to the marine environment caused by natural fluctuations and human activity.

Regarding the plankton bloom, Mr Thon said that it was abnormal to see the phenomenon during the period when the impact of El Nino is about to intensify.

Normally a decline in rainfall would lower the chances of plankton bloom occurring, according to Mr Thon, yet the opposite has been observed this year, especially along the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in the upper part of the Gulf of Thailand.

This abnormality is becoming more frequent due to global “boiling”, as defined by the United Nations recently, and Mr Thon added that the plankton bloom might affect tourism, especially in high season.

Pheu Thai PM choice set for Friday vote

The Move Forward Party (MFP) has dismissed speculation it will be excluded from a new government led by the Pheu Thai Party, insisting that unity among the eight prospective coalition parties remains intact.

According to sources, the latest possible configuration of a new government has emerged, still comprising the original coalition allies but with the Bhumjaithai and Chartthaipattana parties also invited to join. The Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and the United Thai Nation Party (UTN) would remain excluded.

In this scenario, Srettha Thavisin, a PM candidate of Pheu Thai, would be nominated for the upcoming vote in parliament on Friday.

With the support of 71 MPs from Bhumjaithai and 10 from Chartthaipattana as well as the 312 MPs from the original eight-party bloc, Mr Srettha would get 393 votes which would be more than enough to see him become the next prime minister.

Under the constitution, a PM candidate needs the support of at least half of the 750 members of both the lower and upper chambers of parliament, or 376 votes in total.

However, observers believe that if Bhumjaithai, which is at odds with the MFP, joined the coalition, the MFP would decide to break away from the bloc and become the opposition but would still vote for the PM candidate from Pheu Thai.

The MFP has previously filed complaints against cabinet ministers from Bhumjaithai, accusing them in a no-confidence debate of corruption, while Bhumjaithai has made it clear it will not join a government if the MFP is part of it, citing the MFP’s bid to amend Section 112 of the Criminal Code, or the lese majeste law.

However, if the MFP pulls out of the coalition, Pheu Thai may again invite the PPRP, as well as the Democrat Party and the UTN to join the coalition, according to observers.

That said, Rangsiman Rome, MFP list MP and spokesman, downplayed a report that Pheu Thai would let Bhumjaithai take charge of forming a government without the MFP but with the UTN and PPRP asked to take part.

Mr Rangsiman said Bhumjaithai did not win the most seats in parliament and lacked the legitimacy to form a government.

“If Bhumjathai can form a government, this will deviate from normal circumstances…If we discussed politics on the basis of the people’s wishes, Bhumjaithai would not have a chance [of forming a government],” he said.

Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MFP list MP, also posted on Facebook that he did not believe a rumour that Pheu Thai would boot the MFP out of the coalition, saying it was meant to undermine the trust and unity among the eight parties.

“I don’t believe that Pheu Thai would force the MFP into the opposition bloc along with the UTN and the PPRP, and forge an alliance with Bhumjaithai, the Democrats, Prachachart, Chartthaipattana and other parties to form a government with a combined 262 members of parliament just to get support from the senators.”

Meanwhile, Pheu Thai secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong said on Sunday the coalition allies will discuss their stance ahead of the PM vote on Friday.

Wisut Chai-narun, a Pheu Thai MP for Phayao, said Mr Srettha is expected to be nominated for the vote and likely to get enough support to become prime minister.

Parliament president Wan Muhamad Noor Matha previously said parliament would convene on Aug 4, but whether the new vote for a prime minister takes place that day will depend on a decision by the Constitutional Court the day before.

The court will announce if it is to accept a petition regarding the rejected renomination of MFP leader Pita Limjaroenrat as prime minister. If accepted, the vote will not occur until the court’s ruling, Mr Wan said.