Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej leaves hospital after a "Significant Recovery"

Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej left Bangkok's Siriraj hospital for the palace yesterday after 3 weeks of treatment. He was admitted with a blood clot in his brain and a colon infection.
Wearing a pink shirt and blazer, the world's longest reigning monarch abandoned his wheelchair and walked slowly with the help of a walker, talking a bit with well-wishers at hospital.
The Committee of Royal Physicians said: "The king has now recovered, his blood pressure in normal, his colon has recovered and there is no longer a shortage of blood flow to the brain."
The hugely influential monarch also thanked all of the millions of Thais as well as diplomats, expatriates, foreign dignitaries, monks and priest who have expressed their concern over his health and wished him a prompt recovery.
A majestic royal barge procession, took place to celebrate the coming 80th birthday on december 5 and in which his majesty would normally ride, sailed along Bangkok's Chao Phraya river without him on monday morning.

Vico the pedophile denies obvious facts

A police officer said on tuesday that Christopher Paul Neil has denied charges that he rapped young boy in Thailand.
A judge in the Bangkok Criminal Court signed an order to extend his detention to 12 days, and could move later to keep him incarcerated up to 84 days. After the closed-door hearing, the suspect was imprisoned at the Bangkok Remand Prison.
A canadian journalist allowed to speak to Neil, who is quoted as repeating his denials and saying he doesn't think the evidence against him would hold up in a Canadian court. Then the journalist reported that the pedophile doesn't want to be extradited to Canada. He said: "A person like me would not survive long in a Canadian jail".
Neil's family wrote an e-mail to the Bangkok Criminal Court in which they explained: "We will do everything we can to support him during this troubling time in his life. We are all in agreement that he should be extradited to Canada to face these allegations."
Neil have to face to several charges including sexual abuse of a child under 15, illegal detention, and taking a child under 15 without parental consent with the intent to molest and restraint of freedom. If he found guilty, he could spend up to 40 years in jail.

Warning over salmon dish

Unconscious vendor market in Bangkok has been selling meat of the deadly fugu (puffer fish) disguised as salmon.
Over the last 2 years 15 people have died and more than 120 were hospitalised after eating what they thought was salmon, only to uncover later but it was too late, that the fish they bought at markets as faux salmon was really the highly-poisonous meat from the puffer fish reported by Doctor Narin Hiransuthikul at Bangkok's Chulalonkorn University Hospital. The problem was brought to light following a report five years ago. Eating the fish can cause paralysis, vomiting, heart failure and often the death. Although it was forbidden, fugu continues to be sold lot at restaurants and markets.
Fugu is a fish which contains deadly poison in the organs, generally in liver and intestines. In spite of the risk, fugu dishes remain as special feasts in Japan. Even this fish is considered as a great delicacy.
Since fugu's poison can lead to instantaneous deaths of diners, only licensed cooks are allowed to prepare it. You must have special knowledge and diploma about fugu to be licensed. Poisonous parts of fugu differ on the variety of fugu. Because of the strict control, the number of deaths dropped.
As a warning to anyone travelling in Thailand, it's probably best to not buy salmon on the market or order in the restaurant.

Ukraine President wrote a letter to the Majesty the King of Thailand in order to pardon a drug dealer

Last week Ukraine's President asked the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, to pardon a Ukrainian woman arrested for heroin possession. Viktoria Mamontova was charged in 2000 to belong to an international drug trafficking network. 1 kg (2.2 pounds) of heroin was found in his room in Bangkok. Sentenced to death first, the death penalty was replaced by 33 years and six months in prison.
She was the first Ukrainian citizen to be sentenced to death abroad following Ukraine's proclamation of independence in 1991.
Ukraine's president ,Viktor Yushchenko wrote in a letter to his majesty the king : “I am sure that a positive resolution of this issue will once again demonstrate your great wisdom and adherence to the high principles of humanism, Your Majesty, as well as the mutual confidence and respect that characterize relations between our countries”.

24th Universiade 2007 opened

The Summer Universiade was attributed to Bangkok at the Executive Committee Meeting in Trieste, on January 14th, 2003.
Thai Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn declared open the 24th World University Games at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok on wednesday evening.
The king, who will celebrate his 80th birthday at the beginning of december, comes by it honestly, having won a gold medal in sailing in 1967 at the Southeast Asian Games.
The University Games assume greater importance for the record 8.000 to 9.000 athletes from more than 150 countries who will be competing.
Athletes during the 11-day event will compete in water polo, swimming, diving, fencing, soccer, gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), volleyball, badminton, golf, softball, taekwondo, rifle shooting, judo, table tennis, tennis and basketball.
Other bidding cities for the 2007 Summer Universiade were Saskatoon (CAN), which withdrew its bid, Poznan (POL), Kaohsiung (TPE) and Monterrey (MEX).
Tickets for Universiade 2007 are available at any Post Offices in Bangkok.
Day Pass and football ticket, 50 Bahts (This is a daily pass ticket that you can see all sport events)

For more information contact organizer :
Executive office of the 24th Universiade Bangkok 2007
Tel. 02-610 5499 (10 automatic lines)
E-mail : info@bangkok2007.com
URL : www.bangkok2007.com

Thai cops fear "Hello Kitty" punishment !

The Japanese animation character "Hello Kitty" has found a new job in the Thai police department. Policemen who break or bend the rules in Thailand will be required to dress in a pink "Hello Kitty" suit.
Pongpat Chayaphan, the chief of the Crime Suppression Division in Bangkok, who instituted the new humiliation a couple of days said : "Simple warnings no longer work". And he added : "This new twist is expected to make them feel guilt and shame and prevent them from repeating the offense, no matter how minor. Kitty is a cute icon for young girls. It's not something macho police officers want covering their biceps".
If the "Hello Kitty" punishment doesn't work, a panel comprising 18 warrant officers will decide on an appropriate punishment, which could be standing guard, or detention.
The cartoon character Hello Kitty was first created by Japanese company Sanrio in 1974.
The lovely cat has been popular for years with children and young women.

9 leaders of Bangkok anti-coup demonstration ordered jailed

Thailand's prime minister said saturday that political tensions in Bangkok will likely ease after the arrests of leaders of an anti-government protest that turned violent and resulted several hundreds of injuries.
Bangkok police chief Adisorn Nonsee said the courts had been asked to issue arrest warrants for the leaders of the Democratic Alliance Against Dictatorship (DAAD), as the protest movement calls itself.
Nine leaders of an anti-government demonstrators were jailed charging with organising an illegal demonstration, instigating unrest and obstructing police.
Police proceeded to take them into custody and asked the court to approve their detention pending more investigations.
Most of the suspects are senior members of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's disbanded Thai Rak Thai party.
Jakrapob Penkhair, a former Thaksin spokesman, refused to acknowledge the court decision, saying: "There is no justice in this country."
Another protest leader, Jatuporn Phromphan, declared "We are ready to be in jail so as to show that we have been tricked by the court to come and then fall into the police's trap".
The former National Security Council head, Prasong Soonsiri, told yesterday :"The situation has turned increasingly violent because there is still a lot of financial support (from Thaksin) coming in through various networks to make political changes because he is being prosecuted for several corruption charges".
Police carried one protest leader, former judge Manit Jitchanklab, out in his chair after he refused to leave the courtroom.
The nine prisoners are Veera Musigapong, Jatuporn Phromphan, Jakrapob Penkair, Natawut Saikua, Weng Tojirakarn, Wiputalaeng Patanapu-mithai, Manit Jitchanklab, Apiwan Wiriyachai and Jaran Ditapichai.
More than 1.500 soldiers are deployed around Thailand’s capital to reinforce security amid fears of fresh violence during anti-coup demonstration, a junta spokesman said today.

Bangkok police arrest 7 anti-coup demonstrators

More than 6.000 demonstrators opposed to Thailand's military-installed government clashed with police Sunday evening in the most violent protest since a military coup ousted the country's elected government in 2006 september.
The protesters, mainly supporters of Thailand's ousted prime minister, staged a rally outside the home of Prem Tinsulanonda, chief adviser to King Bhumibol Adulyadej, accusing him of masterminding the coup last September that ousted government chief Thaksin Shinawatra.
Thousands of protesters and police officers squared off Sunday in the Thai capital, leaving 150 officers and 80 demonstrators injured. Three police officers were severely injured, said Adisorn Nonsee a police commandant.
Bangkok's Narenthorn emergency center said 109 people had received treatment for mostly minor injuries, including 79 police.
The clash came when police tried to disperse the crowd, the protesters hurled rocks, bottles and other objects at them. But the most serious fighting occurred when the police tried to detain protest leaders as they spoke from a makeshift stage on top of a truck.
Thai police arrested seven protesters.
Authorities today confined any protests or rallies to approved areas and banned street marches.
Police have video and other evidence that those detained were involved in “attacking police and damaging public property” declared Adisorn Nonsee, and he added : “We have been very patient in the past. But last night, the protesters reached an unacceptable point”.
The suspects were charged with "causing chaos, obstructing the work of authorities, and damage of state property, and they include a
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Protest leader, Noparut Worachitwutikul said to the local press : “This is not the end, and we will continue to fight for the return of democracy”.

Thai court to hear Thaksin case

Thailand's exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra moved a step closer to facing corruption charges on thursday.
Thailand's Supreme Court decided to accept a suit filed against the ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman.
He is charged with corruption, conflict of interest and dereliction of duty for personal gain in the case, involving a plot of land in central Bangkok valued at $24.5 million. His wife, Pojamarn, also is named in the case.
"The judges have agreed to accept the case put forward by prosecutors. The first hearing will be on August 14," declared Tonglor Chomngarm, head of a panel of nine Supreme Court judges who will hear the case.
The suit submitted by Office of the Attorney General filed corruption charges against the couple, the first time criminal charges have ever been filed against a former premier in the kingdom.
Noppadol Pattama, Thaksin's lawyer said : "I fear that my client will not get a fair trial because the judicial system in Thailand has been interfered with by some powerful groups, and I also fear for his safety".
Last week Thaksin said he would only return to Thailand to face corruption charges if he could be sure of a fair trial.
If convicted, the couple could be jailed for up to 13 years and face a fine.