But unlike most transgender people in Asia, who are left to self-administer hormone supplements, Chalit is being helped by a pioneering clinic.

“I am in the hands of doctors,” said Chalit, who was born female, but identifies as a man.

“I’m not doing it by myself, so it isn’t dangerous,” the software company worker said.

Several days after receiving his first testosterone injection, Chalit returned to get a blood test at Tangerine, the new clinic inside a Red Cross centre in downtown Bangkok.

The centre is a pilot programme that organisers hope could be replicated across Asia.

Its location is no accident — Thailand has a large and visible transgender population and is one of the world’s top destinations for sex-reassignment surgery.

But just like elsewhere in Asia-Pacific, a region home to more than nine million transgender people according UN estimates, long-term care for patients is patchy at best.

The clinic is a rare place providing follow-up treatment, both physical and mental, for those who have undergone sex-reassignment surgeries, procedures where patients are often at risk of infection.

“Most of the centres where the surgery is performed only provide short-term post-surgical care,” explained Nittaya Phanuphak, the head doctor at Tangerine.

– Unregulated hormones –

========================

In Thailand, hormones are commonly purchased on the Internet or in local pharmacies, and administered on advice gleaned from friends or web forums.

Recent university graduate Benyapon Chimsud, who was born a man but identifies as female, said she has been taking hormones for two years.

“I have been taking hormones by myself for two years, I consult with my friends,” to determine the proper doses of contraceptive pills, she explains.

She also gets monthly black market oestrogen injections at a rudimentary neighbourhood clinic.

That leaves her cut off from regulated healthcare, prone to receiving inaccurate medical advice and at risk of over-consuming hormones in a rush to see rapid results.

Chalit, on the other hand, met with a psychiatrist several times before receiving his first injection to prepare for the changes to his body.

“The psychiatrist asked me how long I’ve wanted to be a man, and whether my friends and other people around me would accept it if I changed,” Chalit told AFP.

Now he is getting hormone injections every two weeks.

“The hormones will stop my periods, change my voice, give me a beard and moustache, and develop my muscles,” he said. “All things that will help me no longer be a woman anymore.”

That should insulate him from the dangers of taking the wrong doses of hormones which experts say can lead to liver and cardiovascular problems. HIV is also always a risk if needles are shared.

Rights groups like the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) say this public health issue is largely neglected by the mainstream medical community.

“There are no official guidelines on the administration and monitoring of hormones among trans people,” said Joe Wong of the Asia-Pacific Transgender Network (APTN).

– Discrimination still commonplace –

====================================

Although Thailand can appear tolerant on transgender issues from the outside, many segments of society remain deeply conservative.

The kingdom’s transgenders, often men who become women and are known colloquially as “ladyboys,” are over-represented in the entertainment and sex industries.

Despite high levels of education, many struggle to secure full-time work or prominent positions in the workplace.

Same sex marriage is also still not legally recognised, and up until 2012, transgenders were considered mentally ill by the army.

Tangerine doctor Nittaya says discrimination remains widespread in medical centres, making access to proper healthcare a challenge for many transgenders.

But Chalit is one of a small number of people to have been made aware of the dangers and commitment that comes with long-term hormonal therapy.

Several days after starting his treatment, Chalit, who is considering an operation, got a tattoo of the testosterone molecule on his arm.

“I have to take hormones for the rest of my life,” he said. “This tattoo will also stay with me for the rest of my life.”

– AFP

The body of 36-year-old Khemphetch Chaiyasan was found near his gun and a flashlight in the extensively-damaged plantation.

Villager Damrong Khansamrit said that upon hearing someone scream at the plantation at about 8.30pm on Friday, he and neighbours went to inspect and found Khemphetch being attacked by an elephant that seemed to be in rut (mating season).

Damrong said the animal turned on them so they fled and alerted the authorities, adding that villagers had spotted a herd of elephants intruding on this area twice before.

The victim’s wife Buakham Chaiyasan, 51, told police that Khemphetch went to trap rabbits in a mountain behind the plantation despite her request for him not to go because of the news that several wild elephants were wandering there.

SECURITY at mass-transit systems and key attractions has been stepped up following a US embassy warning that Thailand is among the countries the Islamic State (IS) is targeting. The attractions include department stores and entertainment venues.

Panitan Wattanayagorn, adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, questioned the timing of the warning.

“The US has warned because there is a tendency for the IS to strike in different places but Thailand is not in the context of IS,” Panitan said.

Thailand has been on alert for terrorist attacks since the deadly Ratchaprasong bomb attacks last year, though it was not linked to IS, he said.

“The US was a bit late to warn us. If it had warned us earlier [about the Ratchaprasong bomb attack] we would have addressed the case better,” he said.

He said he was not concerned about security measures at airports. He said border checks and water transport should receive more attention.

The Aranyaprathet border checkpoint has stepped up checks in a bid to prevent IS attackers entering the country.

Officials are strictly checking the passports of tourists entering Thailand through the checkpoint, especially Muslim Cambodians and Muslim Vietnamese.

Joint military and police operations have been deployed to check the Rong Kluea market as well as resorts and guesthouses around the market to ensure they report to officials when foreigners check in.

Anat Arbhabhirama, chairman of the advisory panel to the BTS Skytrain, said the company had always follow-|ed strict security measures.

He said it had invested in security systems such as bomb detectors and increased security manpower.

He said the BTS had 394 security guards carrying out duties daily at 34 train stations, with each station having four to 10 guards and reinforced with two police officers and two sniffer dogs to detect explosives.

He said the BTS had metal detection devices near ticket booths and automatic doors on both sides of the stations.

Random bag checks were carried out in a bid to prevent crimes and sabotage on trains. All stations had CCTV to cover all areas in the stations, train operation control areas, parking and maintenance areas.

Chatchai Praditpong, an adviser to Metropolitan Rapid Transit Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line operator Bangkok Expressway Metro, said he had not confirmed that there was a terrorism threat. He said the train had strict security measures such as baggage checks and scanning passengers with modern devices.

Airport Rail Link has stepped up security by using military and police dogs from the Vet Army’s Disaster Relief Centre in trains and at train stations. Security cameras installed around the stations are checked regularly, it said.

Surapong Laoha-unya, chief executive officer of Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Co Ltd, said he had instructed security guards to check the baggage of passengers at every station.

A source from MBK department store said the mall checked cars and bags of customers. There are more than 400 security cameras inside and outside the mall, the source said.

They include state agencies refraining from intervening in Sangha matters; Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha nominating the acting Supreme Patriarch and Wat Paknam abbot, Somdej Chuang, as Supreme Patriarch; and Buddhism being made the national religion.

Phra Thepwisutthikavi said he had called on Constitution Drafting Committee chairman Meechai Ruchupan to give Buddhism status as the national religion in the new charter.

That did not happen in the first draft of the charter, and Phra Thepwisutthikavi said he would instruct Buddhists to vote against the draft if that was not rectified in the final draft.

He said Thai Buddhism had been weakened in all aspects including its administration and its propagation, unlike other religions that had concrete centres and operated systematically.

He said social trends had also contributed to the weakening of Buddhism in Thailand, such as objections to Buddhist prayer at schools.

This meant Buddhism’s hierarchy must find new ways to promote the religion, such as virtue preaching.

Amnart Buasiri, former chief of the Office of National Buddhism, said the office still had no clear reform plan while Buddha borisat (Buddhist communities) were not strong and state agencies’ Buddhist aspects were done out of a sense of duty, not faith.

Wat Rama 9 Kanchanapisek assistant abbot Phra Ratchayanakavi said the Sangha Supreme Council (SSC) must be reformed to suit the modern age.

However, he said key Buddhists should table their points of concern with the SSC rather than talk to the media.

He said linking Somdej Chuang to the illegal classic Mercedes-Benz scandal and the controversial Wat Phra Dhammakaya aimed to tarnish his reputation and prevent him from heading the SSC.

Phra Thepwisutthikavi said the SSC would discuss any disagreements and reach solutions internally.

He said as a deputy prime minister had offered to mediate in the dispute, the monk group continuing to stir things up should stop doing so – or at least refrain from using the media and state offices to try and gain an advantage.

The senior monks spoke at a Nakhon Pathom seminar on the direction of Buddhism and the current situation the faith faces. The event marked the Makha Bucha Festival.

Meanwhile, Department of Special Investigation chief Colonel Paisit Wongmuang said the agency would not impound the aforementioned Mercedes-Benz during the Makha Bucha holiday unless there was a request to have it seized.

He said that on Tuesday he would appoint a new team to interview Somdej Chuang about the car. The team would be led by Lt-Colonel Anurak Rojananirankij of the Office of Tax Litigation.

An informed source reported that the DSI would submit its findings on the car inquiry to the Customs Department on Friday so a tax assessment could be undertaken and a fine issued.

NOK AIR will ground an additional 20 flights scheduled for service on Tuesday following the abrupt cancellation of 17 flights last Sunday because of a pilot strike, the airline announced yesterday.

The budget airline’s allied carriers will carry passengers booked on cancelled flights, Nok Air chief executive officer Patee Sarasin said in a Facebook message.

Those airlines are Thai Smile Airways, Thai Lion Air and Thai Airways International.

Patee said Nok Air’s passengers did not need to worry.

In a statement released yesterday, the budget airline said it would not operate flights to and from Don MueangInternational Airport in Bangkok as well as to and from Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani, Trang, Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Sakon Nakhon and Khon Kaen provinces.

A Nok Air source described the flight cancellations as a normal practice given the airline was in the process of resolving an internal management problem.

Flight schedules are normally amended or cancelled according to the company’s current resources and capacity, the source added.

The source said the passengers of cancelled flights would be compensated in accordance with Department of Civil Aviation regulations.

Nok Air has started paying |compensation to the passengers affected by last Sunday’s flight |cancellations, the airline said in a statement issued on Friday.

The airline has informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand about the flight cancellations, it said.

Affected passengers are advised to contact the airline’s call centre on 1318 for further information.

More than 3,000 Nok Air passengers were left stranded at airports last Sunday.

Some of the striking pilots are dissatisfied over the airline not passing a new aviation management audit based on European Aviation Safety Agency standards.

In its statement, the airline said it would not comment on an internal human resource issue as it reserves the right to confidentiality and it would not respond to rumours.

Nok Air said it would announce any update on the matter via social media.

Tuesday’s cancelled flights are DD7106 (Don Mueang-Hat Yai); DD7107 (Hat Yai-Don Mueang); DD7818 (Don Mueang-Nakhon Si Thammarat); DD7819 (Nakhon Si Thammarat-Don Mueang); DD7208 (Don Mueang-Surat Thani); DD7209 (Surat Thani-Don Mueang); DD7406 (Don Mueang-Trang); DD7407 (Trang-Don Mueang); DD8414 (Don Mueang-Phitsanulok); DD8415 (Phitsanulok-Don Mueang); DD8718 (Don Mueang-Chiang Rai); DD8719 (Chiang Rai-Don Mueang); DD9214 (Don Mueang-Udon Thani); DD9215 (Udon Thani-Don Mueang); DD9314 (Don Mueang-Ubon Ratchathani); DD9315 (Ubon Ratchathani-Don Mueang); DD9410 (Don Mueang-Sakon Nakhon); DD9411 (Sakon Nakhon-Don Mueang); DD9814 (Don Mueang-Khon Kaen); and DD9815 (Khon Kaen-Don Mueang).

The former guidelines lacked a clear scope and definition for foreign journalists and that reportedly led to “misuse”, with holders of media visas working on unrelated fields, spokesman Sek Wannamethee said.

The move wasn’t suppression of the media or intended to restrict, forbid or limit foreign media, Sek said. As of January, there were over 500 foreigners applying for media visas but less than 10 per cent would be affected.

Photographers working for news agencies registered with a competent agency – either Thai or a foreign government – would not be affected.

People ineligible for a media visa would be advised to apply for another appropriate category and related agencies would be informed of the grace period, as stated in the revised guidelines, he said.

The revision was based on extensive research of media visa requirements from various countries and discussions with related parties including executive members of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand to ensure transparency and a procedure of international standard, he said.

In regard to some foreign photographers being denied media visas, the ministry advised them to apply for other appropriate visas, such as non-immigrant type “B” (for business and work). If they needed to use a media card to work for a news agency, they could apply with the ministry, which would inform related agencies to issue a media card for them, he added.

The new guidelines are due to take effect from March 21.

Meanwhile, former minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul yesterday urged the Foreign Ministry to carefully think about whether it would be better to have foreign journalists reporting news in Thailand freely and without having to hide stories about the lack of democracy.

“Don’t forget that the world these days is borderless, it is difficult to shut people’s eyes and ears,” he said.

“Currently many countries are interested in Thai political changes and foreign investors are following Thailand closely via these foreign media.

“If we only let reporters that write in favour of the government in [and] disregard the honest presentation of facts, it could lead to more harm than good.

“I want the country’s administrators to think it through. Don’t let Thailand be perceived as trying to close the international community’s eyes and ears out of fear that they would know what is going on, because they might not accept us,” he said.

This was because the case’s statute of limitation was 15 years, said deputy police chief General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul yesterday. Srivara said police had enough evidence to prosecute Prawut, who quit the police force in October and disappeared.

Srivara said investigators had reported their results to police chief General Chakthip Chaijinda.

Srivara said the evidence would determine if Prawut faced other charges.

There was evidence that would result in Prawut’s alleged accomplices – civilians and government officers – also being prosecuted, he added.

In a separate case, Srivara said investigators were determining if a retired admiral could be charged under the Computer Act for allegedly spreading misinformation online after he boasted on Line that he could arrange the sale of positions within the police force.

Yet Pinnapa, whose Karen name is “Mue Nor”, says that if she were able to turn back the clock, she would still support her husband Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongchaeron in his decision to try to protect ethnic groups living in Phetchaburi province from allegedly abusive national park officials.

“I would have still done the same thing,” Mue Nor said, despite the difficulties she and her five children have faced since Porlajee went |missing.

The activist was last seen in 2014 with officials of Kaeng Krachan National Park.

His case is considered a forced disappearance by many, and Mue Nor continues to press authorities for help in locating him and investigating if anyone is responsible for his sudden disappearance.

But many of her neighbours disagree, she says. They feel it would be better for her to let things go and focus on being a mother.

“Their reactions make me feel I am all alone,” she said sadly.

Recent developments mean there is also a possibility that Karen-ethnic people will be able to live legally inside Kaeng Krachan National Park, given a plan to register the park as a world heritage site.

But for Mue Nor, Porlajee’s disappearance has turned her life upside down. Aside from issues with her neighbours, she also felt compelled to leave the house she used to share with Porlajee out of safety concerns.

“It sat on a remote corner and was quite far from other houses. That may increase the risks,” the 29-year-old woman said. She also admitted to feeling uncomfortable when meeting strangers and government officials these days.

Emotional impacts aside, the mother now has to work very hard to support her family.

“My husband had always been our family’s breadwinner,” Mue Nor said. With Porlajee by her side, she only needed to raise their five children, do household chores and grow vegetables for the family’s dinner table.

But now Mue Nor has to take on the role of being the family’s sole breadwinner as well as pursuing her husband’s case.

With her mother’s help in taking care of the children, she now leaves the house to work on farmland, while still contacting organisations about Porlajee’s disappearance.

“I am also sewing bags for sale,” she said.

Mue Nor said she hopes all her children will complete at least Mathayom 6 (Grade 12) education. Aware that the goal could be too ambitious given her meagre monthly income of about Bt15,000, she |says she is trying to teach her children to understand that they must work part time to contribute to the family too.

But as Mue Nor continues to do her best to care for her children, she has never stopped waiting for Porlajee to come home.

The audit team, called the “Shrimp Sustainable Supply Chain Task Force”, which started work in December last year, is expected to cover the entire CPF supply chain. Pitipong Dejjarukul, the vice president of CPF’s quality control department, revealed on Wednesday that the results of the audit team should be known in the third quarter of this year. The auditing team was an international organisation, but he declined to disclose their name.

“CPF has established a Shrimp Sustainable Supply Chain Task Force by cooperating with a purchaser and an international organisation to endorse the traceability of the company,” he affirmed.

The auditing team would be concerned with two main points: fishing vessel validity and labour, which were also main concerns mentioned by the EU in their April 2015 warning to Thailand.

The EU said it would give the country six months to tackle its illegal, unregulated fishing practices or face sanctions.

The audit team consists of five people from the international organisation and a translator for migrant workers. However, the team has only been able to check two boats per day, as the auditing process required in-depth and accurate information.

He also said that the audit team would help draft a code of conduct and policy and the results of the draft would be implemented for fishery labour.

Pitipong also revealed information about such measures to improve the company’s traceability as the visit of a naval officer’s team, established to tackle IUU, to the CPF facility in Hatyai district, Songkhla province.

The Songkhla CPF plant produces 20,000 tonnes of aquaculture feed monthly, made up of 10 per cent fish and 90 per cent crops, which are sold to aquaculture farmers in the southern part of Thailand.

CPF confirms that it has complied with the EU’s warning about traceability by using purchasing policies such as: the company will use only legal fish that meets the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation’s (IFFO) standard; the company will only use IFFO supported fish from byproducts (fish remains from other factories) and when catching fish has to comply with an international standard and be able to determine the origin of the products.

Among the fields are interpreting, aircraft maintenance, and Thai food services.

“We are going to identify the indicators in collaboration with Chulalongkorn and Thammasat universities,” TPQI director Veerachai Srikajon said this week.

He said in the process, TPQI and its partners would also gather opinions of entrepreneurs.

He added that the move was in line with the Education Ministry’s policy to have reliable and practical tools for testing the level of English competency.

English is expected to be used more widely in Southeast Asia including Thailand in the near future, as the Aseancommunity comes into being.

Some big conglomerates on Thai soil have already announced plans to use English as the main language for their work communications by 2018.

TPQI president General Lertrat Ratanavanich said when the TPQI and the two universities establish an English-proficiency standard, offices of the Basic Education Commission, the Higher Education Commission and the Vocational Education Commission would have guidelines to help develop their curriculum and tests. Deputy Education Minister Thirakiat Charoense-thasilp believed the move would boost the development of English-language learning/teaching and English-performance evaluations for students at all levels. “Our ministry has made it a key policy to increase Thais’ English capabilities,” he said.