South-East Asia (Page 1,556)

Pheu Thai ‘trying its best’ to overcome political hurdles

The Pheu Thai Party, now leading the formation of a new coalition government, has admitted the mission represents a major political crisis which the party is trying its best to overcome.

The crisis stems from the time limit of the government’s formation, legal limits associated with the constitution, the country’s problematic governing structure and persistent conflicts among different groups, said Pheu Thai deputy leader Phumtham Wechayachai yesterday.

“The situation makes government formation no easy job and we, as the leading party, need to be firm on our stance and leadership, otherwise we will never be able to deal efficiently with the differences among coalition partners and lead the country out of this crisis,” he said.

Thailand, its people and political landscape have changed dramatically over the past eight to nine years, as a result of various internal and external factors, he said.

Under the circumstances, Pheu Thai is now committed to implementing those policies promised to voters in the May 14 election for the betterment of the country while leading the new government, he said.

“We’re not making our problems the country’s problems or protecting our own interests over public interests,” he said.

And as Pheu Thai is working on a rather realistic yet gentle approach to defusing the political crisis, it calls for more cooperation from all sides concerned and hopes for the best, he said.

Even before the second prime ministerial vote, initially set for Friday, was adjourned, Pheu Thai was confident it had mustered enough support for its prime ministerial candidate, said party secretary-general Prasert Chantararuangthong.

The postponement of the vote now means the party will have more time to ensure the new coalition government it is forming will have greater stability, he said.

Asked if former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s postponement of his announced return, originally planned for next Wednesday, to Thailand would complicate Pheu Thai’s bid to form the new government, Mr Prasert said Thaksin returning or not has nothing to do with the party’s affairs. Thaksin said his doctors have called him in for a medical check-up.

According to a source, Pheu Thai, after breaking away from the Move Forward Party (MFP) with whom it hoped to form a governing coalition, is now in a real dilemma as to how to avoid losing support from voters if it sides instead with those parties currently in the caretaker government, seen by some as the conservative camp.

If Pheu Thai decides not to include the Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) and United Thai Nation Party (UTN) in its coalition to avoid being perceived by some sides as switching from the pro-democracy camp to the conservative one, it will likely secure at most only 263 out of the 500 House seats, said the source.

However, if Pheu Thai opts to include the PPRP and the UTN in its coalition, the total number of MPs in the new coalition will come to 310, meaning it will only require 66 votes from senators in the next PM vote, said the source.

A Pheu Thai source said the party is still negotiating with senators whose votes are needed and could help the party win the PM vote without having to side with the PPRP and UTN, regarded by some as military parties in disguise and a potentially undesirable coalition partner.

The final decision thus depends on how many senator votes Pheu Thai has in hand before the next vote, said the source, adding the party listens to public opinion as to who should and should not be in the new coalition.

The owners of a fireworks warehouse in Narathiwat that exploded last weekend and killed 12 people turned themselves in to police yesterday, according to a local source.

The couple, identified as Sompong Napol, 42, and Piyanuch Puengwirawat, 42, crossed the border from Malaysia via the Sadao checkpoint after police issued warrants for their arrest in connection with the July 29 explosion in tambon Muno in Sungai Kolok district.

The explosion killed 12 people, injured 121 and damaged 292 houses.

According to the source, the couple, whose business was allegedly backed by local politicians, were escorted to Muno police station for questioning after their detention was recorded at Sadao station.

They will face charges including negligence causing death, and importing and selling fireworks without a licence, which is a violation of the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Fireworks Act.

SURAT THANI: A Spanish chef has admitted to killing his Colombian lover and dismembering the body before dumping the pieces in a landfill on Koh Phangan and in the sea, police say.

Sancho: Initially denied the charges

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was taken to Koh Phangan police station on Friday for questioning over the disappearance of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, a Colombian national, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The suspect initially denied any involvement but later admitted to the act following intense questioning by police yesterday, the source said.

The suspect is a well-known chef in his home country, police said, adding he has a YouTube channel. Meanwhile, the victim operated a successful plastic surgery clinic in Monteria, Colombia.

Police found more evidence of human traces during a search of a hotel room believed to be the scene where the killing took place, Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, said yesterday.

Forensic officers collected samples of hair, fat and tissue from the room’s drain pipes and sent them for testing in Yala, Pol Lt Gen Surapong said, adding the results are expected today.

A police examination of security videos from various sites on the island linked Mr Sancho to the case, the commander said. The Spaniard was the last person seen with the victim, he said, adding officers gathered evidence before seeking a warrant to arrest the suspect.

Relatives of the victim told investigators that he had been in a relationship with Mr Sancho for more than one year. “We do not yet know the motive for the murder. We initially believe it might stem from a fit of jealousy,” said Pol Lt Gen Surapong.

The Ministry of Public Health plans to open one dental hospital in each of the 77 provinces to enable core access to oral healthcare, especially those living upcountry.

Speaking at a seminar, Dr Opas Kankawinpong, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said the country does not have enough dentists to serve the population of 70 million people.

He said people should see a dentist twice a year. For those 70 million, it means people need access to dental services at least 140 million times per year.

“At present, the dental services can cater for only 10 million visits a year, about 7.1% of the 140 million visits needed to provide proper dental coverage.

“The ministry commits to taking care of people’s health in all dimensions — including their oral health. We need to increase the number of dentists and add more dental facilities so people have better access to treatment,” he said.

He said the number of dentists employed at state-owned hospitals is about 6,000. On average, about 800 students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in dentistry each year. But only a quarter of them end up working in the state-run sector.

“We aim to provide 100 million dental health sessions to people within 10 years. If we do not change anything, this goal will take 50 years, instead of 10,” he said, adding that one solution is to have more dental hospitals.

He said the ministry will upgrade the dental health bureau in state-owned hospitals nationwide so they can be classed as dental hospitals.

By the end of this year, 39 hospitals will turn their dental health departments into dental hospitals, including Buddhachinaraj Hospital in Phitsanulok, Lam Luk Ka Hospital in Pathum Thani and Than To Hospital in Yala.

The ministry aims to have one dental hospital in every province by next year, he said.

The ministry will work with the Budget Bureau and the National Health Security Office on a budget for building dental hospitals nationwide. These hospitals will also provide career growth opportunities for dentists to run and manage specialised hospitals.

Caretaker PM to have a big say in coming armed forces reshuffle as new government still weeks away

The armed forces will continue to lead in “protecting the country”, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Saturday when asked about the state of military stability amid rising political tensions.

Thailand is facing rising political tensions as attempts to form a government drag on, nearly three months since the May 14 election. There have been fears that a conflict between pro-democracy and pro-military camps may result in military intervention.

Gen Prayut, the caretaker prime minister and defence minister, is waiting to hand over power to the next government after his party and others allied with it were soundly beaten at the polls.

When asked if he had concerns about the future of the armed forces amid new political turmoil, he said that as long as there are still younger soldiers in the ranks and laws that affirm the importance of the armed forces, there is nothing for him to worry about.

“The armed forces aren’t left to work alone,” he said.

For the rest of his term, Gen Prayut said he would do his best to perform his duty as prime minister and defence minister until the next government takes over.

Asked if he would work behind the scenes and observe political developments from a distance after handing over power, he waved the question away and said: “We’re not there just yet.”

Gen Prayut was speaking after attending a ceremony on Saturday at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok to mark the 136th anniversary of its establishment.

An alumnus of Class 23 at the academy, he was seen talking with some senators who are also alumni.

Army chief Gen Narongpan Jittkaewtae was also seen talking to Gen Prayut for about 30 minutes at the event.

Gen Narongpan declined to comment when asked whether he had discussed with Gen Prayut the army’s reshuffle plan. No meeting has been held to formally discuss the annual reshuffle so far, he said, refusing to elaborate.

The leaders of the three armed forces and the chief of the Thai defence forces will all reach mandatory retirement at the end of September.

This year’s shake-up, however, will not be forwarded to the cabinet for approval.

Instead, the appointments of military top brass will be considered under the 2008 Defence Ministry Administration Act in which a seven-member panel chaired by Gen Prayut, in his capacity as caretaker PM and defence minister, will review the reshuffle list and submit it to the prime minister to be sent for royal approval.

Gen Prayut has reportedly asked the outgoing military leaders to hand in the list by the middle of this month so that it can be finalised the same week.

It is widely speculated that Gen Prayut, who announced in early July his decision to wash his hands of politics nine years after seizing power in a coup, will place his trusted men in top positions in his final act as prime minister before a new government assumes power, tentatively in late August or early September.

Dismembered body parts found in dump on Full Moon party island after slaying of Colombian plastic surgeon

SURAT THANI: A Spanish chef has admitted to killing his Colombian surgeon lover and dismembering his body before dumping parts in a landfill on Koh Phangan and his head and other parts in the sea, police say.

Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29, was taken to the Koh Phangan police station on Friday for questioning in connection with the disappearance of Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44, a Colombian national. He initially denied any involvement but eventually admitted to the act after intensive questioning by police, said a source familiar with the investigation.

The suspect is the son of the Spanish actor Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and actress Silvia Bronchalo. A well-known chef in his home country, he also has a YouTube channel. The victim operated a successful plastic surgery clinic in Monteria, Colombia.

Police found more evidence believed to be human body parts after searching a hotel room believed to be the place where the killing took place, Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, said on Saturday.

Forensic officers collected samples of hair, fat and tissue from the room’s drain and sent them for forensic testing in Yala. The results would be known on Sunday, said Pol Lt Gen Surapong.

A police examination of security video from various places on the island famed for its Full Moon parties showed Mr Sancho was linked to the case, the commander said.

The Spanish man was the last person seen with the victim before the human body parts were found. Officers were gathering evidence to seek a court warrant for the arrest of Mr Sancho, said Pol Lt Gen Surapong.

Mr Sancho had gone to the Koh Phangan police station on Thursday night to report that Mr Arrieta was missing. This came after news spread that some human body parts had been found.

Trash collectors on Thursday discovered body parts, including a sawed-off pelvis and intestines weighing around five kilogrammes, inside a fertiliser sack at a garbage dump in Moo 4 of Koh Phangan.

More body parts were found on Friday in a black plastic bag at the same location. The bag contained two legs, a black T-shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of red boxer shorts. (Story continues below)

The suspect: Spanish chef Daniel Sancho Bronchalo, 29. (Photo: danisanchobanus Instagram)

The victim: Colombian plastic surgeon Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, 44. (Photo: dredwinarrietacirujanoplastico Instagram)

Pol Lt Gen Surapong said relatives of Arrieta told investigators that he had been in a relationship with Mr Sancho for more than one year.

The pair had gone to Koh Phangan in Surat Thani to attend a Full Moon party. When Arrieta’s relatives were unable to contact him, they contacted Mr Sancho but the Spanish man said he hadn’t seen him yet.

The relatives then contacted the tourist police to inspect the hotel room the victim had booked, but there were no traces of him. They later learned that Mr Sancho had checked in at the hotel alone and later checked out before the victim arrived.

“We do not yet know the motive for the murder. We initially believe it might stem from a fit of jealousy,” said Pol Lt Gen Surapong.

“The investigation found that Daniel Sancho had prepared thoroughly by buying other items for concealing the body. After being detained for immigration offences and having his visa revoked, he showed clear signs of stress, but still refused to confess.

“I have instructed police to closely monitor him for fear that he might resort to commit suicide.”

Pol Col Panya Nirattimanon, chief of the Koh Phangan police station, said on Saturday that Mr Sancho looked stressed and did not sleep after he was taken on Friday for questioning in connection with the disappearance of the Colombian national.

A police source said that during questioning, Mr Sancho told investigators that he had taken Arrieta to his room. He claimed the man wanted to have sex with him, but he refused.

In a fit of anger, he punched his friend, causing the victim to fall and lose consciousness after hitting his head on a bathtub. Mr Sancho subsequently decided to cut the body into 14 pieces and put some parts into a travel bag. He also put some parts into plastic bags and dumped them in a garbage bin.

He took the travel bag to dump in the sea at Salad beach near his hotel. After that he returned to his room and checked out at 9am on Thursday.

He later went to a Full Moon party with two women he knew at the hotel. After returning from the party, he went to the police station where he filed a missing person report that his Colombian friend had disappeared.

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