Anything & Everything About Thailand

[taurus75]

Katherine Horton (left) and Ruth Adams on their final day on Lamai beach (PA Photo)

[taurus75]

Protesters punch suspects in Thai rape, murder case

AP , BANGKOK
Wednesday, Jan 11, 2006

Hundreds of residents of a Thai resort island angrily protested the killing of a British tourist, with some waving wooden clubs as police escorted the two Thai suspects back to the scene of the crime yesterday.

Besieged by protesters, police were forced to cancel a planned re-enactment of the murder of Katherine Horton, a 21-year-old student from Wales, whose battered body was found the morning of Jan. 2 by a jet skier in the Gulf of Thailand.

Two Thai fisherman confessed on Monday to killing Horton, who was vacationing on the island of Koh Samui, and DNA tests indicate the suspects raped the victim, police said.

Under questioning, the fishermen told police they spotted Horton while she was walking alone on a beach talking on her cellphone.

One of the men, Bualoi Posit, 23, told police he grabbed Horton's arms, while the other man, Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, confessed to hitting her several times with a stick before they raped her and then threw her body into the sea, police said.

Shocking brutality

The brutality of the crime has shocked this Southeast Asian nation, which makes billions of dollars a year from its tourism industry.

National police spokesman Lieutenant-General Ayiravid Subarnbhesaj said that residents and shop owners on Koh Samui "hate the suspects for causing severe damage to the reputation of the country."

Police had initially planned to re-enact the crime on Monday but were thwarted by a crowd of hundreds.

Some protesters broke through a police barrier and began punching the suspects, said Ayiravid. A similar scene greeted police yesterday morning.

"We had to cancel plans to re-enact the crime for fear of violence," he said.

Police want to stage a run-through of the crime to back up the suspects' confessions.

Police said that despite the DNA findings, Wichai denies having raped the victim.

If convicted of murder, the two men could face the death penalty.

Damage to tourism

The arrests on Monday followed an unusual public appeal last week by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to find the killers, saying that the slaying hurt the country's image and could damage its tourism industry, already suffering a downturn from last year's tsunami and the bird flu scare.

"I feel somewhat relieved that police have made the arrests," Thaksin told reporters yesterday, calling for stern punishment if the men are found guilty.

"I hope the family [of Horton] feels a little better, because we are doing our best," Thaksin said.

[taurus75]

Backpacker murder: Two face court
Press Association
Tuesday January 10, 2006 7:04 PM

The two men accused of raping and murdering British backpacker Katherine Horton are due to appear before a court in Thailand, the Foreign Office said.

Bualoi Posit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, will appear in court for the first time since being arrested and charged on Monday.

The hearing will be held 10 days before consular staff at the British Embassy in Thailand had initially predicted.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Consular staff are under the impression that the hearing is to set a date for trial.

"Under Thai law, the prosecution have 84 days from the point of arrest to get their case together for the trial to begin."

Detectives working on the case came under intense pressure from the country's Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, to catch the killers.

Mr Shinawatra called for Posit and Somkhaoyai to be executed if found guilty.

Police say fishermen Posit and Somkhaoyai confessed to killing Miss Horton, from Thornhill, Cardiff, on the evening of New Year's Day. Posit also admits rape.

DNA tests suggest the two men raped the Reading University student following a savage attack using a wooden stick, although Somkhaoyai denies rape.

[taurus75]

Thai murder trial to be accelerated
Press Association
Wednesday January 11, 2006 10:59 AM


The trial of two Thai fishermen who allegedly raped and killed British student Katherine Horton will be accelerated to restore Thailand's tarnished reputation.

Police in Thailand said that the process of filing the case normally takes a few months - with a trial lasting about a year.

But the trial is now expected to begin next week.

"In this case we appeal (to the court) to expedite the trial because it involves the country's reputation," said police Maj Gen. Asawin Khawanmuang, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police's investigation department.

He said police planned to file the case on Friday against the fishermen alleged to have raped and murdered Katherine, a 21-year-old student from Wales, who was holidaying on the island of Koh Samui. The trial is expected to begin on Monday.

The pair accused of killing the University of Reading student are reported to have appeared at a brief hearing in Thailand.

Bualoi Posit, 23, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, were said to have appeared in court for the first time since being arrested and charged on Monday.

During the hearing at Suritani on the Thai mainland, the two fishermen signed their names and were taken to Suritani provincial prison, the BBC's website reported.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "Under Thai law, the prosecution have 84 days from the point of arrest to get their case together for the trial to begin."

Detectives working on the case came under intense pressure from the country's prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, to catch the killers. He has called for Posit and Somkhaoyai to be executed if found guilty.

[taurus75]

Thai terrorists 'target resorts'
Natalie O'Brien
January 11, 2006
JEMAAH Islamiah-linked terrorists in southern Thailand are believed to be planning to transform their insurgency from attacks against the Thai state to bombings of Western tourists.

US terrorism expert Zachary Abuza has told The Australian that the Muslim insurgency could spread from the hinterland to beach resorts, such as Phuket, frequented by Western tourists.

Dr Abuza will tell the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok tonight there are also reasons to believe that JI may become involved in such a plan being hatched by Thai insurgents.

The two-year insurgency, which has killed more than a thousand people, has until this point been dominated by attacks against symbols of the Thai state, such as police stations, and dominant religion, such as Buddhist temples.

Attacks against Western tourists would mark a turning point in Thailand's war on terror, and Dr Abuza said the shift could be being driven by JI's sense of Islamist obligation to join battle with fellow Muslims.

"An attack on an out-of-area soft target is being considered as an option. They have not ruled it out," he said yesterday. "They would target Phuket because, like Bali, it is a soft target that would severely impact the economy and drive away foreigners in droves."

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued general travel warnings for Thailand, advising travellers to "exercise a high degree of caution ... because of the high threat of terrorist attack".

"We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including places frequented by foreigners," the DFAT website warns. But the threats have been more specific, with past intelligence acknowledging that the areas of Phuket, Pattong Pattaya, Bangkok and the island of Samui could be targeted.

Another terrorism expert, Rohan Gunaratna, also warned this week that terrorists were likely to attack Bangkok within the year.

Neil Fergus, the chief executive of Intelligence Risks, said tourist spots including beach resorts had been broadly considered as targets, but Bangkok remained the biggest problem.

Although security in Thailand has been dramatically improved in many areas, Mr Fergus said it would be difficult for any authority to protect expatriate and bar areas frequented by tourists.

In the past 10 days, 19 people - five of them policemen - have been killed in attacks in southern Thailand.

While a raid by militants two years ago on a weapons depot in Narathiwat province is generally regarded as the start of the Muslim insurgency, Dr Abuza said the violence had been spreading, albeit slowly, for several years.

Dr Abuza said that while Thai authorities claimed to have arrested 190 insurgents responsible for conducting or planning operations in the past two years, very few of the insurgency's leaders had been picked up.

The Government has also consistently denied the trouble is part of any international terrorist network or that JI is involved.

Dr Abuza has warned that there are insurgent leaders who want to take terrorism to the next level, and they could be helped by JI or whatever form al-Qa'ida might take, by attacking places such as Bangkok or Phuket.

[U-Need]

By TAKASHI EBUCHI, The Asahi Shimbun

BANGKOK--Its name translates into "golden land."

The country's political and aviation leaders hope Suvarnabhumi Airport, with a name chosen by Thailand's beloved King Bhumibol, will bring prosperity and the world to its doorstep.

Bangkok's new international airport is nearing the final stages of construction. Set to open in summer, hopes are high that the airport will heighten Thailand's international presence.

It is also likely to spur fierce competition for passengers among Asia's busy air hubs.

The last of several major Asian airport developments begun in the past decade, Suvarnabhumi covers 3,200 hectares, more than three times the land area of Japan's Narita International Airport.

Asia has seen a string of airport expansion projects, starting with Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture in 1994.

Next up were Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport in 1998, Shanghai's Pudong International Airport in 1999, Seoul's Incheon International Airport in 2001 and Chubu Centrair International Airport in Aichi Prefecture in February 2005.

The new Thai airport is about 25 kilometers east of downtown Bangkok. Construction of two runways and terminal buildings is nearly completed, while cargo facilities are still being built.

Dubbed the "Pride of Thailand" on publicity banners, the airport boasts features that could indeed make it No. 1 worldwide.

Its control tower will rise 132 meters, the highest in the world. The airport will also have a passenger terminal floor space of 560,000 square meters in total, the world's largest.

"There are some items that have been purposely made the No. 1 in the world although it wasn't necessary from a functional viewpoint," said a source involved with its construction.

Two runways--one is 4,000 meters and the other 3,700 meters--are already in place, while the foundation for a third is being prepared.

When it opens, the airport will have a capacity for 45 million passengers annually, which is 1.5 times more than Narita and 2.6 times more than Chubu. It is expected to reach that peak load by 2008.

Eventually, the airport will likely handle about 100 million passengers, for which it will need a fourth runway.

Fueling such confident projections is Thailand's strong economic growth. Since 2002, the country's GDP has climbed at 4-7 percent annually, the second-fastest growth rate in Asia after China's.

Both passenger and cargo volumes at Bangkok's existing Don Muang Airport are on the rise. In 2004, 37.96 million passengers moved through Don Muang, 25 percent more than in the previous year.

That placed the airport in the top spot among Asia's international hubs.

Demand for aviation centers is growing throughout the region. Of the world's top 50 airports in 2004, 10 air centers saw more than 20 percent year-on-year growth in passenger numbers. Of those, nine are in Asia.

+++yo's Haneda, a domestic flight hub, handles the most passengers, with 62.29 million passing through in 2004.

Don Muang, at 37.96 million passengers, comes in a distant second, followed by Hong Kong with 36.71 million, Beijing with 34.88 million and Narita with 31.05 million.

Things could change. While Haneda saw a slight year-on-year drop of 0.9 percent in passenger volume from 2003, the other four had double-digit growth.

In addition to Don Muang's 25.8-percent passenger growth, other busy airports were Hong Kong with 35.5 percent, Beijing with 43.2 percent and Narita with 17.0 percent.

The Thai government eventually intends to use Don Muang primarily as an air force base, shifting the bulk of civil aviation functions to Suvarnabhumi.

"Bangkok has the advantage of being at the center of an aviation network linking Europe with Asia and Oceania," the Thai aviation authority said.

The new airport will extend the city's lead over its Asian rivals and consolidate its position as the region's central hub

[U-Need]

MCOT BANGKOK, Jan 11 (TNA) - Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has dismissed any suggestion that he is preparing to step down, saying that he intends to stay in office until his term ends in 2009.

Mr. Thaksin was elected last year with an increased parliamentary majority for a second, four-year term, but his government has been coming under increasing opposition criticism over a range of political and economic issues.

Addressing leading business executives, the prime minister confirmed he would continue to work for the national interest over the next few years and had no intention of dissolving parliament early.

He would only begin to consider the election campaign in the second half of 2008, and the next general election would not be held until April, 2009.

The prime minister assured his business audience of the government’s political stability, saying it had the overwhelming support of Thai Rak Thai MPs in the House of Representatives. Mr. Thaksin expressed his determination not to be moved by political critics and allegations against his government, and under no circumstances would he step down or dissolve the House.

The prime minister quoted visiting leading economist Dr. Jim Walker as suggesting that he should only be concentrating on his work, and ignore the critics.

Meanwhile, the prime minister argued the country’s economic condition remained healthy, with ample foreign reserves and controllable foreign debts.

Mr. Thaksin dismissed allegations the government was broke after substantial sums had been withdrawn from state coffers.

On the contrary, he said, all financial and treasury affairs had been strictly controlled to ensure they stayed within bounds.

[U-Need]

AFP BANGKOK Wednesday January 11, 2006 11:40 - (SA)- Thailand and China are set to release an herbal drug which they claim can strengthen the immune systems of people with HIV and help control the virus, Thai health authorities said.

The drug, called SH Instant, combines three medicinal herbs from China and two from Thailand and is the result of a six-year, 80 million baht (two million dollar) research project, according to the Medical Science Department of Thailand's public health ministry.

The drug combines the Chinese herbs yingchen, huangqi and ganchao with pluak rak mon (part of the mulberry root) and dok kham foi (extracted from safflowers).

"Based on our research, the herbal product SH Instant will effectively enhance immunity against HIV infection and will also create immunity in cases of drug-resistant HIV," the department's deputy chief Pongpan Wongmanee said in a statement.

Researchers based their findings on a study of 60 patients, which found that the 40 taking the drug fared better in fighting the virus than the 20 who did not.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 11 January 2006 :-

Rumours spread of 'days of danger' ( 10 to 29 January 2006 )
Deputy Prime Minister Chidchai Vanasatidya has dismissed rumours that further violence would occur in the three southernmost border provinces during a period of so-called "19 days of danger" coinciding with the Chinese New Year holidays.

Pol Gen Chidchai, who also is justice minister, said he had instructed authorities in the South, especially Narathiwat Provincial Police commander Pol Maj-GenYongyudh Charoenwanich, to stay on alert during the approaching Chinese New Year holidays because of rumours that violence will take place between Jan 10 and Jan 29 in the border region.

The deputy prime minister, scheduled to revisit the southern border provinces on Friday, assured the public that no critical action would take place during that period as has been speculated.

Interior Minister Kongsak Wanthana dismissed speculation that RKK or Runda Kumpulan Kecil, an armed group of Muslim insurgents thought to be specially-trained in Indonesia, had plotted further action during the days leading up to Chinese New Year.

Air Chief Marshal Kongsak said he had not been informed of any movement by the group -- which is suspected both of receiving specialised military training in Indonesia and of being implicated in the slaying of a Buddhist monk at Wat Prompasit in Pattani last year.

The interior minister asked the authorities--including the Ninth Provincial Police--to step up security measures throughout the region. He said the Thai authorities would not only have heightened security measures against possible insurgency during such holidays as the Chinese New Year but also during other times.

The authorities will adhere to the rule of law and continue to provide assistance for Southern villagers in a bid to keep them from being misled by the insurgents, he said. - TNA

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 11 January 2006 :-

PM: Horton's killers must be put to death : Briton's murder 'hurts Thailand's reputation'

By Bangkok Post and AFP


Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday called for the execution of two fishermen if they are convicted of the rape and murder of a British tourist on Koh Samui.

"They must be sentenced to the harshest possible punishment," Mr Thaksin told reporters in the northeastern town of Loei where he was travelling.

"They have caused serious damage to our country's reputation. By giving them the maximum sentence, it will give remedy to the relatives and the British government and show that we are taking the case seriously," he said.

He expressed confidence the government's efforts to mete out justice would soothe the victim's grief-stricken family. The prime minister also warned police not to target anyone as scapegoats for the murder.

Police prepared their case for prosecutors after the two men were charged Monday with the Jan 1 rape and murder of 21-year-old Katherine Horton.

Horton's body was found on Jan 2 in the sea off Koh Samui in Surat Thani. She was visiting the country on a short vacation before her final university exams in Britain.

Yesterday, police flew the two suspects, Bualoi Phothisit, 23, an Ubon Ratchathani native, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, of Nakhon Si Thammarat, by helicopter from Koh Samui to Surat Thani police station for interrogation.

A planned re-enactment was cancelled for the second time yesterday and the suspects' detention location and all legal proceedings were transferred from Koh Samui to the provincial police station because of fears that angry crowds on Koh Samui might attack the men if they remained on the island. The suspects had donned police uniforms to evade the attention of locals.

"There were hundreds of Samui residents who rallied and denounced the suspects, whom they said had damaged the island's reputation," Pol Maj-Gen Santhan Chayanond, deputy chief of Provincial Police Bureau 8, said.

"So for the sake of the suspects' safety and to let them to fight for justice in court, we decided to cancel the reenactment."

Bualoi confessed to the murder and rape charges but Wichai denied he had raped Horton.

Still, police said they were confident they had enough evidence to charge the Nakhon Si Thammarat man with rape and murder.

"Even though Wichai confessed to hurting the victim and denied a rape charge, we have clear and sufficient evidence to nail him," said Pol Maj-Gen Santhan.

The case will be forwarded to the public attorney who will recommend whether to indict the suspects before the Surat Thani court on Friday.

To prevent any more such cases, the police officer said he was looking to propose the establishment of one more police station on Koh Samui to better maintain peace and order.

Amnuay Dejchana, owner of the New Hut Bungalow where Horton last stayed, said he felt relieved that the suspects had been caught.

His bungalow has seen occupancy rates tumble since news of the murder spread.

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said in Loei he was ready to visit Horton's family in Wales if the opportunity permitted.

The Foreign Ministry would keep in touch with the British embassy and the Hortons in case the family had any questions about the investigation.

Mr Kantathi said the murder reflected badly on Thailand's reputation.

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My Comments : It is legally WRONG for PM Thaksin to call for the execution of the two suspects, if found guilty, as this amounts to inteference in the judicial process and he is telling the Judge what sentence to pass. It is up to the Judge to weigh the gravity of the crime and to hand out the appropriate sentence - whether it is the death sentence, life imprisonment or XXX years in prison.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 11 January 2006 :-

PM: Horton's killers must be put to death : Briton's murder 'hurts Thailand's reputation'

By Bangkok Post and AFP


Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday called for the execution of two fishermen if they are convicted of the rape and murder of a British tourist on Koh Samui.

"They must be sentenced to the harshest possible punishment," Mr Thaksin told reporters in the northeastern town of Loei where he was travelling.

"They have caused serious damage to our country's reputation. By giving them the maximum sentence, it will give remedy to the relatives and the British government and show that we are taking the case seriously," he said.

He expressed confidence the government's efforts to mete out justice would soothe the victim's grief-stricken family. The prime minister also warned police not to target anyone as scapegoats for the murder.

Police prepared their case for prosecutors after the two men were charged Monday with the Jan 1 rape and murder of 21-year-old Katherine Horton.

Horton's body was found on Jan 2 in the sea off Koh Samui in Surat Thani. She was visiting the country on a short vacation before her final university exams in Britain.

Yesterday, police flew the two suspects, Bualoi Phothisit, 23, an Ubon Ratchathani native, and Wichai Somkhaoyai, 24, of Nakhon Si Thammarat, by helicopter from Koh Samui to Surat Thani police station for interrogation.

A planned re-enactment was cancelled for the second time yesterday and the suspects' detention location and all legal proceedings were transferred from Koh Samui to the provincial police station because of fears that angry crowds on Koh Samui might attack the men if they remained on the island. The suspects had donned police uniforms to evade the attention of locals.

"There were hundreds of Samui residents who rallied and denounced the suspects, whom they said had damaged the island's reputation," Pol Maj-Gen Santhan Chayanond, deputy chief of Provincial Police Bureau 8, said.

"So for the sake of the suspects' safety and to let them to fight for justice in court, we decided to cancel the reenactment."

Bualoi confessed to the murder and rape charges but Wichai denied he had raped Horton.

Still, police said they were confident they had enough evidence to charge the Nakhon Si Thammarat man with rape and murder.

"Even though Wichai confessed to hurting the victim and denied a rape charge, we have clear and sufficient evidence to nail him," said Pol Maj-Gen Santhan.

The case will be forwarded to the public attorney who will recommend whether to indict the suspects before the Surat Thani court on Friday.

To prevent any more such cases, the police officer said he was looking to propose the establishment of one more police station on Koh Samui to better maintain peace and order.

Amnuay Dejchana, owner of the New Hut Bungalow where Horton last stayed, said he felt relieved that the suspects had been caught.

His bungalow has seen occupancy rates tumble since news of the murder spread.

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said in Loei he was ready to visit Horton's family in Wales if the opportunity permitted.

The Foreign Ministry would keep in touch with the British embassy and the Hortons in case the family had any questions about the investigation.

Mr Kantathi said the murder reflected badly on Thailand's reputation.

__________________________________________________ ___________________________________________

My Comments : It is legally WRONG for PM Thaksin to call for the execution of the two suspects, if found guilty, as this amounts to inteference in the judicial process and he is telling the Judge what sentence to pass. It is up to the Judge to weigh the gravity of the crime and to hand out the appropriate sentence - whether it is the death sentence, life imprisonment or XXX years in prison.

[KatoeyLover69]

Oops ............ sorry, double postings !!!

[KatoeyLover69]

Oops......... Sorry, double postings !!!

[pomrakthai]

Originally Posted by KatoeyLover69

Report from Bangkok Post dated Wednesday 11 January 2006 :-

PM: Horton's killers must be put to death : Briton's murder 'hurts Thailand's reputation'


My Comments : It is legally WRONG for PM Thaksin to call for the execution of the two suspects, if found guilty, as this amounts to inteference in the judicial process and he is telling the Judge what sentence to pass. It is up to the Judge to weigh the gravity of the crime and to hand out the appropriate sentence - whether it is the death sentence, life imprisonment or XXX years in prison.

Wah...Bro KTL not only disgruntled with POMRAKTHAI, but now gets angry with Taksin who is the head of THAIRAKTHAI party

Ya, tend to agree with you on "interference of judicial process that could cause a "miscarriage" of justice. But, in this part of the world...the bench could be "emotionally" involved in such a case as they are also human and fully aware of the bigger picture that the Thai economy is at stake due to this adverse publicity. people in authority could exercise some muscles to influence the outcome of the judgement, by just commenting not amounting to recommending.

The "YB factor " is stronger than the "CB" factor. [CB stands for Common Bum, not C*** Bye]

It is not nice to be a "whistle blower" [better get others to blow...oops pardon the pun]

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from The Nation dated Thursday 12 January 2006 :-

Police to check if accused fishermen raped another Brit

Police are investigating whether two fishermen charged with raping and killing Welsh student Katherine Horton on New Year’s Day sexually assaulted another foreign tourist on Koh Samui. The other woman, aged 26 and also from Britain, lodged a complaint with police in October about an assault that took place on Samui Island during a vacation with her family.

Two attackers, who have not been identified, raped her at a restaurant.

The victim later spoke to many media outlets in Britain in a bid to demand justice.

Horton was attacked at the end of popular Lamai beach, beaten to death and her body dumped in the sea.

Two fishermen – Bualoy Posit, 23, and Wichai Som Khaoyai, 24 – were arrested for raping and killing her.

Police said the suspects had confessed to the crime.

They are now in custody awaiting trial.

Police, meanwhile, plan to question five more witnesses in regard to the Horton case.

Provincial Police Region 8 deputy commissioner Maj General Santhan Chayanont said yesterday photos of Bualoy and Wichai would be sent to the other rape victim.

“If she identifies them as her attackers, they will be prosecuted for both cases,” he said.

Koh Samui police super-intendent Colonel Arkom Saisamai said hair belonging to the October attackers was collected.

“We can conduct tests to determine whether two cases are linked,” he said.

Arkom, who has worked on Samui Island for 10 years, said local people were angry about the brutal attack on Horton.

Chairman of the Surat Thani Fishermen’s Associa-tion, Anan Chusak, said Horton’s murder had damaged the image of fishermen as well as the country.

“The owners of fishery businesses must screen their workers more carefully,” he said.

Thai Fishery Association Secretary-General Surapol Seeprasert said representatives of his group had already met with the heads of marine police and the Customs Department to lay down measures to prevent fishermen from committing crimes.

“Also, we will ask all entrepreneurs in fishery businesses to monitor the behaviour of their fishermen,” he said.