Asia (Page 2,784)

Phetchaburi: The Defence Ministry remains committed to promoting cooperation among the armies of Asean members while also focusing on neutrality in a time of external pressures.

The message was part of the speech by the Defence Minister, Sutin Klungsang, given at the opening ceremony of the 24th Asean Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (Acamm) at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin in Cha-am district yesterday.

The summit also included not only the Acamm but also the 11th Asean Army Sergeant Majors Annual Meeting (Asmam).

The 31st Asean Armies Rifle Meet (Aarm), the region’s annual rifle, pistol, and machine gun competition, was also held on this occasion.

Acamm, Asmam, and Aarm are important contributors to stability in the region, as nations need to rely on each other’s armed forces.

Cooperation among Asean member states’ armed forces has been exhibited particularly during times of crises, but also during normal situations.

Mr Sutin said the aim of the event was designed to prepare the forces for future cooperation against possible external threats such as natural disasters, cyber warfare or transborder human trafficking.

Mr Sutin also said that having policies to promote sustainable security in Asean, especially what he called a “strategic trust”, should be a joint effort among members, with the Thai government also prioritising security development along the border to support trade.

When asked if Asean should remain neutral in regional conflicts, he said: “Certainly.” Asean should remain neutral despite pressures from big power players. He said it is a challenge, but Asean must stick together and have the same stance.

The Acamm, Asmam, and Aarm events are joined by representatives of 10 countries, including Myanmar.

The government has praised a teacher at a primary school in Chaiyaphum whose quick thinking helped save around 100 young students from an intruder who attacked the school during the morning assembly on Wednesday.

Deputy government spokeswoman, Kenika Ounjit, yesterday said Thawatchai Duangtham deserves praise for his courage and dedication to the students of Ban Namphu Hinlard School in Khon San district.

“He protected the students and fought off the deranged intruder, which resulted in injuries to his arms and hands,” she said.

“Without him, more students and staff could be affected [by the incident].”

The 32-year-old physical education teacher said the intruder arrived at the school on a motorcycle, wielding a machete, at the end of the morning assembly.

As the man began charging towards the students, Mr Thawatchai said he sprang into action and told the students to flee into the school’s buildings. When he realised two students weren’t going to make it to safety, he stood between the attacker and the children.

The intruder then tried to slash him with the machete but missed, Mr Thawatchai said, adding he sustained minor injuries to his right hand and elbow.

Nearby villagers shouted at the attacker from the school’s fences, and he escaped on his motorcycle, the teacher said.

“I was afraid and felt sorry for the children because they were crying, screaming and running in all directions,” the teacher said.

Sombat Traisak, acting governor, said there are more than 500 people with psychological issues in Chaiyaphum, and officials will look for suspects by reviewing the hospital’s medical records.

BMA wants to spend money elsewhere

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will urge the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA) to take full responsibility for investing in three new monorail and light rail transit projects worth more than 150 billion baht in total, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said yesterday.

He added that BMA wanted to spend the budget on other urgent projects, such as improving people’s quality of life and education.

Moreover, the BMA believed the government had set aside some of its fiscal budget for railway projects in the capital, as the government had prioritised such investments recently.

“There are many things that [the BMA] needs to do. With that said, transferring those projects to the MRTA is a better choice,” said Mr Chadchart.

Mr Chadchart had high hopes for seamless railway development by the MRTA as it could be beneficial for commuters. Many railway lines that are under the care of the BMA had an interchange with those under the MRTA, including the operational Yellow and Orange lines as well as the recently premiered Pink Line.

With that said, the BMA planned to transfer three future projects — the Grey monorail line connecting Watcharapol to Thong Lor, the Silver Line, which is a light rail transit system linking Bang Na to Suvarnabhumi airport, and the BTS Green Line extensions from Bang Wa to Taling Chan — to the MRTA.

The BMA had finished the research and development phase on the Grey and Silver lines. All of those planned to use the public-private partnership (PPP) investment method with 30-year concession contracts and are expected to seek approval by this year.

The Green Line extensions, in the meantime, are now undergoing their research and development phase after the study on investment value was done earlier, said Mr Chadchart.

However, the BMA will pass the proposal to the Commission for the Management of Road Traffic, chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, as this required a policy-level discussion between the Interior Ministry and Transport Ministry. The MRTA will have full responsibility for investment plans and contract management after the commission approves the proposal, said Mr Chadchart.

Meanwhile, Atiphu Jittanukrao, deputy director-general of the Department of Rail Transport, said that the department is planning to propose a zone fare for electric train services in Bangkok.

According to Mr Atiphu, the rate will start at 20 baht in the primary zone, namely the Blue Line before rising by five baht in other zones.

Chiang Mai airport yesterday announced changes to 160 flights from Nov 27-28 for the Loy Krathong festival.

Wisut Khamyod, airport deputy director, said the changes comprise 101 cancelled and 59 rescheduled flights, accounting for 47% of normal flights. Of the 101 cancellations, 77 were domestic flights, and 24 were international. Rescheduled flights include 51 domestic and eight international flights.

Mr Wisut said the cancellations and rescheduled flights are unlikely to disrupt air services for travellers, as airlines have informed passengers well in advance, allowing them to plan their trips accordingly.

During the festival, the airport will step up security within the terminal and surrounding areas. Vehicles entering the airport and travellers’ belongings will be randomly checked per international standards. Parking in front of the terminal will be prohibited.

Travellers are advised to leave for the airport early before their departures as traffic is expected to be heavy during the festival, he said.

Moreover, the airport has sent a letter to public and private organisations, local administrations, temples, educational institutes and communities in the air safety zone to remind them of a provincial announcement on safety measures.

The announcement prohibits the flying of lanterns, balloons, makeshift rockets, drones and other objects within the aviation safety zone of the airport. The zone covers a 4.6-kilometre area on both sides of the runway and a distance of 18.5km between both ends of the runway on Nov 27-28.

Airborne lanterns are banned in six districts of the province. The ban covers Muang, Hang Dong, Saraphi (tambons Khua Mung, Don Kaew, Tha Wang Tan, Nong Phueng and Sansai), Mae Rim (tambons Don Kaew, Rim Tai, Mae Sa, Muang Kaew and Rim Nuea), Sansai (tambon Nong Han) and San Pa Tong (tambon Tung Tom).

Phuket: Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officials have seized two luxurious resorts in the island province worth one billion baht from an online gambling network.

Two villas on Nai Han Beach in tambon Rawai of Muang district reportedly belong to a man called Pakphum, whose last name was withheld, who serves as an executive of Ufa Bet, an online gambling website known to be one of Thailand’s three biggest gambling networks.

Ufa Bet’s online sites have been suspended due to illegal activities.

The DSI said that Ufa Bet has a large network of affiliates supervised by high-ranking police officers, including “Inspector Sua”, a former policeman accused of involvement in a multi-billion-baht gambling operation.

The DSI said Ufa Bet has run a chain of online gambling activities connected to another online betting network called Pannarong that has expanded into neighbouring countries.

Reports said that Mr Pakphum, 29, oversees about 80 mule accounts used to receive money from gamblers. About 50 of the accounts are registered by migrant workers who were hired to open the accounts or sold existing ones. The remaining 30 mule accounts are under Thai names. Some accounts reportedly had over one billion baht in circulation.

Mr Pakphum was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport on Nov 4. He had initially denied the allegations only to reverse his statement later to admit to his involvement in the gambling website operation due to strong evidence.

DSI director-general Pol Maj Suriya Singhakamol said that Mr Pakphum’s associates had told police the owner of Ufa Bet is Mr Pakphum’s older brother, Phuchit, who had fled the country over a year ago.

Also, Mr Pakphum has his younger sister, identified only as Pornpatsa, serving as an executive of the gambling network.

It was reported Mr Pakphum had acquired a licence to operate gambling websites from a world-class casino network.

The Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB) yesterday arrested another suspect believed to be involved in the recent Klong Toey shooting that killed a teacher and a vocational student.

Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thamsuthee, head of the MPB’s Investigation Division, said the suspect, Thanapat Ketchart, 23, was arrested at the Susco gas station on Tiwanon Road in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi and was sent to a police station for interrogation.

Earlier this week, eight people were detained for questioning over their alleged involvement in the Nov 11 fatal shooting in Klong Toey, police said.

The arrests came almost two weeks after the incident near the Sacred Heart Convent School on Sunthon Kosa Road, where a group of men opened fire at a group of students amid an argument. One shot missed the intended target and struck Sirada Sinprasert, a 45-year-old teacher queuing up to use a bank’s ATM on Sunthon Kosa Road.

Sirada, who taught at the school, died at the scene, while Thanasorn Hongsawat, 19, the target, was severely wounded and died later in hospital. Police identified five suspects in the shooting and obtained warrants for their arrests.

Pol Col Thammasak Sarabun, superintendent of Thung Maha Mek Police Station, said that the students linked to the shooting are supported by over 10 senior students who acquired weapons for them, secured them bail money and hired a lawyer to represent them.

Police found that the gang consists of about 84 members who mainly communicate through a confidential Line group chat.

Akkhapol Sirimekhanont, 22, and Thanakorn, 18, the suspected gunmen, were remanded in the Criminal Court’s custody yesterday. They have been charged with colluding to murder and illegal possession of firearms.

Release of Thai hostages not settled

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has not confirmed whether Thai workers will be among the first 50 hostages to be released from the custody of Hamas after Israel agreed to a prisoner exchange.

Ministry spokeswoman Kanchana Patarachoke said the ministry had not received information regarding the release of Thai hostages in Gaza.

She said that there is only one woman among the Thai hostages, citing information from the Thai embassy in Tel Aviv. She denied rumours that the woman is pregnant.

“The Thai embassy in Tel Aviv has been following the situation regarding the Thai hostages,” she said. “We also sought clarification from the woman’s family, and they confirmed that the woman is not pregnant.”

At a press conference at the Iranian embassy in Bangkok, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Bagheri Kani discussed the situation in the Middle East.

He was on a two-day visit to Thailand to promote bilateral ties. The visit ended yesterday.

When asked about whether Thai hostages will be released, he said Tehran has been in touch with their “friends” in Hamas since the war between the Palestinian group and Israel broke out on Oct 7.

“Regarding the issue related to hostages, including Thai nationals, the reply we received from the resistance movement is that as long as this war persists and prevails, there is no possibility of releasing the prisoners of war,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of Thai hostages being freed, he said Iran cannot access information from the Gaza Strip as communication was cut so it was necessary to check for information with Israel.

When asked about Israel’s condemnation of Iran for its role in this war, he said Iran would continue to support any movement that serves the rights of people in the world, including Palestinians.

After more than six weeks of war, Israel and Hamas on Wednesday announced there would be a brief ceasefire to allow the release of 50 hostages — women and children — in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and other detainees in Israeli jails.

The hostages were seized from homes along the Israeli border, as well as military bases and a large outdoor music festival. A total of 240 foreigners from 40 countries were taken, including 26 Thais.

The immigration police have arrested six foreign suspects in three separate cases involving visa fraud, overstaying and operating illegal money transaction services.

Pol Lt Gen Itthipol Itthisaranachai, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau (IB), yesterday also told a press conference that some of the suspects are awaiting deportation to their home countries to face prosecution.

The first case involves four Pakistanis who allegedly committed visa fraud. They were named as Ammad Hussain, Muhammad Yaseen, Shakeel Liaqat and Irfan Hussain.

Pol Lt Gen Itthipol said that the IB had an undercover operative contact Ammad Hussain to apply for a Schengen visa. He was told that the process costs €7,000 euros or roughly 267,000 baht.

The IB later contacted the Italian embassy and found that the visa process was a fraud, resulting in the arrest of the four Pakistanis at their apartment in Bang Kapi district.

The second case was an Italian robbery suspect called Adriano Corrado, 63, who had overstayed his retirement visa in Thailand. Pol Lt Gen Itthipol said that the National Central Bureau in Rome, Italy, had contacted the IB’s Division of Foreign Affairs to apprehend a missing suspect who had been issued an arrest warrant in Italy.

In June 2012, Mr Corrado allegedly burgled the home of a disabled couple and stole €28,000, or 1.07 million baht in cash, along with other valuables.

Mr Corrado later entered Thailand in February 2020 and was granted a retirement visa until January 2023. Officers found he had lived in an apartment in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri.

He was sent to Pattaya Police for further legal proceedings, said Pol Lt Gen Itthipol.

The third case involved a Russian suspect, Nikolai Shtanko, who allegedly operated an illegal money transaction service for foreigners.

Mr Shtanko was arrested in tambon Wang Prachan in Khuan Don district of Satun province. Police also found that he had overstayed his visa in Thailand and had been issued a Red Notice by Interpol.

From Oct 2018 to July 2020, Mr Shtanko was allegedly involved in a criminal ring in Russia and operated an illegal transaction service for money launderers. The transactions were reportedly worth over 1.6 billion baht.

Meanwhile, the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) yesterday announced the arrest of two Korean suspects, Park Kyungjun and Park Jongmin, for allegedly operating an online gambling website which was based in a neighbouring country.

They were staying in Thailand, and their gambling website reportedly sees over six billion baht in cash flow.