Prison fugitives still hiding in Thailand

Prison fugitives still hiding in Thailand

(BangkokPost.com) – Narathiwat governor Karan Supakitwilekakarn believes the six fugitives who escaped from a prison in Narathiwat Province did not manage to slip out of the country and are still in hiding.

Mr Karan said authorities are now inspecting the homes of relatives and friends of all the suspects.

“We don’t think they’ve been able to get far. But to be on the safe side, I have already urged co-operation from Malaysian authorities in case they re-surface there,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Bureau in Narathiwat Province clarified the incident, saying the fugitives did not break out from their prison cell as reported. In fact, they had been held inside a makeshift cell behind a building used to interrogate suspects.

An investigation is being carried out to determine whether prison officials had been cautious or whether they had played a part in facilitating the escape.

11:00 Jan 14, 2008


Arrest warrants to be issued for NLA protesters

(BangkokPost.com) – Deputy Metropolitan Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Jate Mongkolhattee is confident that arrest warrants will be issued for at least six rally-goers who stormed parliament on December 12, 2007 by the end of today.

A meeting has been scheduled Monday morning to discuss the case in which more than 400 people, led by leading activist and former senator Jon Ungphakorn, forced an abrupt adjournment of a National Legislative assembly session debating human rights legislation.

The group insisted the NLA was issuing too many laws which threatened to violate human rights and harm democracy. The bills were related to internal security, community forests, water resources management, alcohol advertising controls, broadcasting, privatization of state enterprises and autonomy of universities.

09:59 Jan 14, 2008


Yala bomb hoax causes panic

(BangkokPost.com) – Fake bombs were discovered by patrol officials on roads in Yala province’s Muang and Raman districts.

Bomb experts, who were immediately called to the scene, fired on the suspected bomb devices with M-16 rifles, only to discover later that the bombs were not genuine and were part of an ongoing operation to create a disturbance.

In a separate incident, authorities in Yala province reported arson attacks on public phone booths in Yaha district and Raman districts early this morning.

The attacks have affected several local phone lines.

09:30 Jan 14, 2008


PPP set for victory in by-elections

(BangkokPost.com) – Despite a low voter turnout of just 40 percent at the by-elections in Nakhon Ratchasima province, People Power party (PPP) members managed to sweep all three contested seats in constituency 3 of the northeastern province on Sunday.

According to unofficial results, Boonlert Krutkoontod received the highest number of votes followed by Prasert Chantarawongthong who came in third place. In at third place was Linda Chertchai. All three ran under the PPP banner.

08:47 Jan 14, 2008