Barkar Nash (Page 970)

SURAT THANI: The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has come up with a plan to support research targeting souvenirs sold in Koh Samui.

Koh Samui is one of the top-tier tourist attractions in the country. In terms of the island’s economy, coconut is considered its main economic crop, with other plants, such as banana, also being a key material for souvenirs.

With this in mind, NRCT executive director Wiparat De-ong said the council has funded two research projects focusing on the island’s souvenir development. One study was conducted by the Faculty of Science and Technology at Thammasat University. The other helped locals with sustainability by creating a Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Centre.

The first study would help lead to better quality souvenirs, she said, while adding to the island’s earnings using scientific and technological knowledge. The second study focused on building a network of souvenir providers on the island, including learning centres that help entrepreneurs display the production process for their souvenirs and exchange knowledge.

The NRCT and its research teams also observed problems which entrepreneurs encounter with product development. Souvenirs which took the interest of researchers included kalamae (a caramel-like sweet) and the question of how to extend its shelf-life packaging; skincare products with coconut, herbal skincare products, and products made from banana fibres, such as handbags, tote bags, and bar soap. The studies aim to boost the island’s economy on the international stage as well as provide a sustainable income to residents.

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Researchers from the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, will introduce AI to improve forensic sciences for sex-related crimes.

The Broadcasting and Telecommunications Research and Development Fund for Public Interest (BTFP) says it has granted a fund for researchers from Mahidol University who aim to revolutionise forensic pathology with AI.

Almost 9,000 rape cases were reported during 2017-2021. Narit Hnoohom, a faculty professor and project leader, said the number of sex-related crimes increases every year while the number of medical workers and forensic scientists is getting smaller.

Police must gather forensic evidence to prove an offender’s guilt. The scarcity of workers in forensic pathology results in delays in completing lab tests. Mr Narit said the AI system can help pathologists detect sperm in samples from 28 sex-related cases per day to 160 cases per day, reducing the average processing time from 17 minutes per case to three minutes per case.

AI technology also can improve the precision of sperm detection up to 97.2%, Mr Narit added. The data fed into AI comes from forensic scientists and forensic pathologists. “The faculty will launch the AI trial version at Siriraj Hospital. In the future, we plan to install the system at the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Central Institute of Forensic Science to help them identify sex offenders,” he said.

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NARATHIWAT: A three-year-old girl was found dead and naked not too far from her home in Muang district on Tuesday, two days after she disappeared.

The decaying body of Norasabeena Naekama was spotted lying near a pond by a local resident who was caring for his cattle on Tuesday morning.

The girl went missing on Sunday evening from her home, where she was playing whole her father sold snacks.

Amran Naekama, the 30-year-old father, said that a customer arrived in a vehicle to buy snacks for 60 baht.

The customer paid with a 1,000-baht banknote and Mr Amran did not have enough change. He said he went to a nearby shop to change the bill into smaller notes.

When he returned, the customer had left. His first reaction was surprise that the man had not waited for his change.

Minutes later he realised that his daughter was missing, and he reported the disappearance to local police.

Police are investigating the death and waiting for an autopsy report from Naradhiwasrajanagarind Hospital.

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The National Health Security Office (NHSO) aims to improve awareness among ethnic minorities and LGBTQIA+ people about their healthcare rights and access to services under its universal healthcare scheme.

One way to achieve this goal of it is to reach out to ethnic minorities and LGBTQIA+ people through groups working to protect their rights and representing them, said Yupadee Sirisinsuk, deputy NHSO secretary-general.

She was speaking at a recent workshop organised for these groups.

Ms Yupadee said the workshop was just the beginning of the NHSO’s efforts to reach out. More forums will be held across the country.

The next step is to turn those who have been trained at these workshops into coordinators in the NHSO’s bid to improve awareness about healthcare rights and access to healthcare services under the scheme, she said.

These coordinators will also give feedback on the needs of these groups, according to Ms Yupadee.

Sumali Tokthong, a coordinator of a transgender health group calling itself Kham Phet Mi Suk (“Happy Transgender People”), said transgender groups had not taken part as much as they should in the NHSO’s civic health network. She welcomed the office’s bid to reach out.

“An important matter for many transgender people is gender reassignment, a medical procedure which still is treated more or less as plastic surgery [which isn’t covered under the scheme],” she said.

Chaiyut Wai-noetlue, a representative of an ethnic minority group called Kaloeng in the northeastern province of Sakon Nakhon, said two key obstacles barring the ethnic people from learning more about their healthcare and gaining proper access to services are they are not registered properly as Thai citizens, and the language barrier.

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YALA: Two police officers were shot and wounded from ambush in Muang district on Tuesday afternoon.

The attack occurred about 12.20pm on Ban Niang – Lam Mai road in tambon Phron.

The two men were returning to Lam Mai police station in a police pickup after completing an assignment. Their vehicle was at a U-turn in front of a parawood factory when people hiding on the roadside opened fire at them.

Pol Lt Col Suthan Kaewkhiri and Pol Sgt Maj Suthipong Sangthong were both wounded by bullets and were later admitted to Yala Hospital.

The pickup’s windshield and rear window were both pierced by bullets.

Police were investigating.

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Crime Suppression Division (CSD) police have filed another charge against the sacked police officer who is the former husband of accused serial poisoner Sararat “Aem” Rangsiwuthaporn.

Pol Col Anek Taosuparp, CSD deputy commander, said he went to Region 7 Provincial Police headquarters in Nakhon Pathom on Tuesday and laid the additional charge against Pol Lt Col Withoon Rangsiwuthaporn.

He was charged with helping a suspect avoid being penalised or to get a lighter penalty by damaging, destroying, concealing or taking away evidence of an alleged crime.

Pol Lt Col Withoon had earlier been charged with receiving stolen property, forgery and using forged official documents.

The additional charge was filed against him after investigators from Ban Pong police station in Ratchaburi province found evidence that after the death of Siriporn “Koy” Khanwong, 32, on April 14, Pol Lt Col  Withoon and Ms Sararat went to visit her ex-husband’s parents in Sukhothai province, after the Songkran Festival.

Ms Sararat took a brandname bag and other property belonging to Siriporn with her to Sukhothai, intending to hide them. She later changed her mind and instead asked Pol Lt Col Withoon’s parents to send them to the officer’s house in Nakhon Pathom.

After receiving the items, Pol Lt Col Withoon took them to Tha Maka district in Kanchanaburi and gave them to Ms Sararat, instead of handing them to police investigating Siriporn’s death.

Ms Sararat then asked her sister-in-law to send the items to a woman called Ms Kaew in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi. Ms Kaew opened the parcel and suspected that the items sent to her might belong to Siriporn. She handed them over to police for examination.

This led to Pol Lt Col Withoon’s being slapped with the additional charge.

Ms Sararat, 36, dubbed “Aem Cyanide”, was arrested on April 25 at the government complex on Chaeng Watthana Road in Bangkok. Her arrest followed a complaint filed by the mother and elder sister of Siriporn.

Siriporn collapsed and died beside the Mae Klong River in Ban Pong district of Ratchaburi, where she had gone with Ms Sararat to release fish for merit-making on April 14. Cyanide was found in her body.

The list of Ms Sararat’s alleged victims has since continued to grow, with many extra charges being filed against her.

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The United Thai Nation Party (UTN) is ready for its role on the opposition benches of the House of Representatives after faring below expectations in Sunday’s general election, deputy leader Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said on Tuesday.

Mr Thanakorn, caretaker PM’s Office minister, said he visited outgoing Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House on Monday to give him his moral support.

Gen Prayut is the UTN’s chief strategist and the party’s candidate for prime minister. Unofficial results show UTN won on 36 House seats – 23 in constituencies and 13 on the party list.

Mr Thanakorn said Gen Prayut appeared to be in high spirits when they met.

Asked whether Gen Prayut would now exit politics, Mr Thanakorn said he believed Gen Prayut would do so once the new government was in place, and take a deserved rest. He had long served his country in many positions. Gen Prayut would remain  in the people’s hearts, Mr Thanakorn said.

“Personally, I think it would be good for him to rest. He has been tied to the job for the past eight years. As for myself, I will remain in politics and will continue to seek his advice,” he said.

Mr Thanakorn said he was not sure if Gen Prayut would resign as the party’s chief strategist.

“The UTN will continue to exist. We have more than 30 MPs and the party leader and secretary-general can  handle the party’s affairs. We can work as part of the opposition, to keep check of the government’s performance. No problem,” he said.

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Move Forward Party list MP-elect Nateepat Kulsetasit has resigned an an MP candidate of the party after police arrested her for drink-driving early Tuesday morning

Ms Nateepat told reporters on Tuesday that she apologised to the public and regretted her actions because she had disappointed people and would not be able to vote for the same-sex marriage legislation that she had pushed for.

She said she had met some friends at around 11pm on Monday and had three or four drinks. She denied she resisted a police request for an alcohol breath test.

It was reported that Ms Nateepat, 46, was stopped at a police checkpoint on Prasert Manukit Road in Lat Phrao district of Bangkok. An alcohol breath test showed she had 66 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood, above the threshold of 50mg.

Move Forward unofficially won 152 House seats including 39 list seats in Sunday’s election and is currently in the process of forming a coalition government. Ms Nateepat was ranked 27th on her party’s roster of 100 list candidates.

Ms Nateepat said she remained a member of the party.

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Srettha Thavisin, a Pheu Thai candidate for prime minister, has called on other parties, particularly Bhumjaithai and the Democrats, to support Pita Limjaroenrat of the Move Forward Party for prime minister and obviate the need for the support of military-appointed senators.

He posted his call on Facebook on Monday after Mr Pita announced he was forming a coalition of six parties, which would now have 310 MPs.

When the joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate is called to elect the prime minister, under the 2017 constitution at least 376 votes are needed for his endorsement. This means Mr Pita would need more votes from other parties or from senators.

Mr Srettha said he hoped all parties would show political spirit and adherance to the people’s voice by voting for Mr Pita.

“I, for one, support Mr Pita of the Move Forward Party to take the position with grace,” he said.

Mr Srettha said Move Forward had grown from 81 MPs in 2019 to 152 in 2023. This showed its policies and deologies had been truly accepted by the people. “This phenomenon is undeniably a great change in Thai society,” he said.

He said many parties, particularly Bhumjaithai and the Democrats, had earlier announced their opposition to the 2017 constitution’s empowering of senators to take part in the vote for the prime minister.

“Now it’s time for you to confirm your stand by voting for Mr Pita to be the 30th prime minister in a true democracy, without having to rely on votes from the 250 senators,” he wrote.

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