INBrief

Wat loses land in court

NONTHABURI :The provincial court yesterday ruled against the Wat Suan Kaew Foundation in a dispute over a 10-million-baht block of land in Bang Yai district.

The court revoked the foundation's ownership of the one-rai plot it purchased from Wantana Suksamroeng, a custodian who attempted to exploit a land law loophole to claim ownership.

An occupant is allowed to claim ownership after making use of a plot of land for more than 30 years without any protest from its owner.

However, Chamnong Hirunpradit, the heir of a landowner sued Ms Wantana and the foundation in 2003 for illegal occupation of the land. The court ruled in favour of the plaintiff and ordered the foundation to return the land to its original owner.

Mechai in anti-Aids drive

HEALTH :Mechai Veravaidya, known as "Mr Condom", has been chosen to drive a new HIV/Aids prevention campaign.

He was appointed by the National Aids Committee to run the sub-panel on Aids prevention to promote condom use among teenagers at risk of infection.

Mr Meechai, chairman of the Population and Community Development Association, pioneered a 100% condom use project among sex workers when Thailand was first hit by the HIV/Aids in the mid-1980s. He said yesterday the project would be revived.

A recent survey showed about 67% of 6,000 respondents aged 18-19 did not use condoms when having sex.

Mekong accident kills 2

CHIANG RAI :Two people were feared dead yesterday after a boat they were in capsized in the Mekong river in Chiang Khong district, police said.

Prem Wongchai, 27, and Avuth Namsue, 23, were missing after their boat to Laos sank. Four other passengers and the boat operator swam to safety.

The passengers reportedly wanted to inspect an old oil tanker on the Lao side of the river.

Bangkok Post
Tuesday April 03, 2007