Pakjira Janyong, Delada Haeng-thanirames and Pann Yodwongkong – all Mathayom 2 pupils at Wisutrangsi School in Kanchanaburi – said it was common for Thai youngsters to spend the break in tutoring classes. The three friends came to Bangkok, a hub of tutoring schools, as it is “a constructive way to spend free time”.

“It’s not like we only study – we can spend after-class time in activities such as visiting learning centres,” Pakjira said. They also assess what they have learnt as they are registered at various schools in different subjects according to each individual’s interest. Finding themselves as roommates for this break, they agreed it was an experience to boost life skills such as how to take care of themselves and be responsible.

Pongpak Trisang, a Mathayom 4 student at St Gabriel’s College in Bangkok, said he attended tutoring classes for subjects he wants to learn more about, like biology and chemistry. He studies one subject a day for up to three hours, but has also found time to attend a Dhamma camp, do some exercise, and join family trips.

Kesaraporn Rujayakornkul, a Mathayom 2 student at Samsen Wittayalai School, studies science and maths every afternoon this break because her parents want her to be a doctor. She is keen prepare for the Mathayom 4 entrance exam at the prestigious Triam Udom Suksa School.

Pimchanok Jenkosol, who attends Silpakorn University’s Demonstration School in Nakhon Pathom, said she joined tutoring classes for better understanding of subjects, learning techniques and fun as most tutoring classes were not boring and even made young people enjoy learning.

She planned leisure activities such as going to malls with her friends, learning music and art, or visiting attractions with family or friends.

“School break is a time of freedom to learn about interesting skills or visit places to open up your world,” she said, urging parents to support their kids to join activities they want to do – rather than what parents want them to do.

Pantaree Jirachotikul, a Mathayom 2 pupil at Satriwithaya School, attends tutoring in English, physics and chemistry from 8am till 3pm to prepare for the Mathayom 4 entrance exam. She wants to be a doctor like her dad.

Besides gaining knowledge in these subjects, she also got to make friends from other schools, she said.

Housewife Karuna Pitiwiwat, whose two children study at Chula-longkorn University Demonstration Secondary School, said parents had to keep up with their children’s expenses, including tutoring and extra-curricular fees, while also making time to take care of them, especially those poised to study higher education.

“We have to prepare our kids to have competitive skills in the ever-changing world and let their potential be fully realised,” she said.

Nakhon Si Thammarat rubber tapper Thitipa Pikhro, who earns Bt15,000 a month while her truck-driver husband Luan Phrakaew earns up to Bt30,000, said their two elder sons stopped after graduating from Mathayom 6 to let their youngest brother to study at a higher level.

Being among the top 10 in his class, Meen, who is studying Mathayom 5 at Bangkok’s Debsirin School, was supported by his family to study hard for a good future, so tutoring classes were deemed necessary.

Meen can visit his family for 10 days after which he must attend tutoring. His father gave him Bt6,000 to rent an apartment near the school, Bt4,000 for expenses and Bt10,000 for tutors’ fees.

Chawannat Niponkij, who was waiting for her Prathom 6 student son at a tutoring school, said classes during the break would help him revise lessons and improve his learning skills.

More than three-fourths of the 1,276 respondents – 76 per cent – believed political and personal factors were at play in the controversial raid by troops and police on a Pathum Thani house formerly occupied by Wuttipong, who is believed to have fled to Laos.

Over 74 per cent of the respondents also said the raid reflected the persistent political divide while another 37.6 per cent said it would affect the government’s ongoing reconciliation efforts.

Meanwhile, deputy chief of the Department of Special Investigation Pol Colonel Songsak Raksaksakul said the agency would meet this week to discuss the Wuttipong case as some weapons had been linked to a violent political demonstration in 2010.

Nine suspects, including Wuttipong, face multiple criminal charges, including terrorism.

The Criminal Court rejected their bail applications. Eight of the suspects are detained at Bangkok Remand Prison, while Wuttipong remains at large.

Thai authorities are attempting to secure Wuttipong’s extradition in cooperation with Lao authorities.

Efforts for extradition

Amnaj Chotichai, head of the Office of the Attorney-General’s unit in charge of overseas affairs, said authorities were working on the extradition case. Thai authorities would have to state explicitly that the case was not politically motivated, but rather a criminal and terrorist investigation, to satisfy extradition requirements under a bilateral treaty.

At this stage, the DSI and other authorities are preparing the case for the Attorney-General to forward it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that Laotian authorities |can review the Thai extradition request.

However, Amnaj said the final decision on extradition rested with the neighbouring country.

Surachai Sae Dan, leader of the Daeng Siam group who is exiled in Vientiane, said in a YouTube radio broadcast on Saturday that Thai military leaders had negotiated with Laotian counterparts several times on extradition of fugitive offenders of the Thai less majeste law, but there had been no progress because Laos has no such legislation.

Surachai said the Wuttipong case could be seen as a criminal and terrorist act, so Wuttipong and some associates were recently told to leave Laos to ease political pressures.

THE SAVE Andaman from Coal Network has demanded that |authorities do not use today’s public forums to legitimise construction of coal-fired power plants in the South.

The network issued a statement yesterday amid concerns that the forums – which will take place simultaneously in Songkhla, Krabi and Surat Thani – may be dominated by a single point of view.

“We disagree with how the forums will be staged as they look set to supply just one side of the information to the audience,” the statement said.

Prasitchai Nu-nuan, a leader of the network, said the forums apparently would be mostly dedicated to advocacy of the coal-fired plants.

“In the morning, the Energy Ministry, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand [Egat] and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will take the stage. They are keen to support setting up more coal-fired power plants,” Prasitchai said.

The afternoon time slots will be shared among people supporting and opposing the power plants, he said, adding that at least 70 per cent of the forum’s presentations would be in favour of power-plant construction.

“Representatives from the government agencies will try to communicate |to provincial governors, district chiefs and kamnans in the South that the region is going to be subject to blackouts if new coal-fired power plants are not constructed,” |he said.

A committee appointed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) is responsible for organising three public forums in the South today reportedly to promote public understanding on the South’s energy situation.

The move, however, is widely seen as efforts to counter local residents’ opposition against the plans to build new plants in the South.

“I don’t have any hope in the forums. But I will join a forum because I will be given five to 10 minutes to air my views,” Chana Hospital’s director Dr Supat Hasuwannakit said yesterday. The hospital director has long fought against a plan to build another coal-fired power plant in Songkhla’s Thepha district.

He said he suspected that the forums were being held to help the government and Egat garner support for their plans after efforts hit a dead end in the face of local residents’ staunch opposition.

Assoc Prof Dr Somporn Chuai-aree, a lecturer at the Prince of Songkla University, said although the South’s power demand was higher than supply, the difference was manageable so there was no need to build new coal-fired plants.

“The difference between demand and supply is just 300 megawatts. But the two coal-fired power plants planned will have the capacity of 2,800MW,” he said.

Prasart Meetam, an academic specialising in energy, said authorities should have started with small-group discussions first if they were sincere about listening to people’s opinions.

“Let’s debate the pros and cons in detail before you go to such big forums,” he said.

The Save Andaman from Coal Network said in its statement |yesterday that the government |had better promote renewable |energy.

Prasitchai said conflicts in the South would be aggravated if the authorities did not listen to local people and environmentalists.

“Any move to arrange the up-coming forums in a way that endorses the planned coal-fired power plants will only sow seeds of |conflicts,” he said.

Army chief General Chalermchai Sittisart, who chairs the NCPO-appointed committee, has said opinions gathered at the forum would be forwarded to the NCPO.

Supat said his worst fear was that the NCPO would use the findings from the public forums as reasons to approve the construction of new power plants by invoking the all-powerful Article 44 of the interim constitution.

BOX

Forums on energy dilemma in Surat, Krabi, Songkhla

-Surat Thani forum

Venue: Diamond Plaza Hotel

Up to 960 participants from Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces

–Krabi forum

Venue: Maritime Park and Spa Resort

Up to 980 participants from Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket and Trang provinces

-Songkhla forum

Venue: Prince of Songkhla University

Up to 1,060 participants form Phatthalung, Songkhla, Satun, Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces

Students and alumni joined the centenary celebrations between 5.30pm and 9pm and pay homage to the late monarch for his contributions to the university’s advancement. The Princess who was an alumnus chaired the activities.

The activities was held on the grounds in front of the King Rama V and King Rama VI statues. Those attending the event received an exclusive 100th anniversary pin as a memento.

Businessman Piyawat Chanthorn, 21, said he did not even know that the bike, which had a starting price of Bt650,000, belonged to Akarakit.

Piyawat said he bought the bike for his brother, who has a passion for BMW machines.

“The winning price is about Bt100,000 cheaper than in the market. It’s worth the price as the general condition of it looks new, although the mileage is already 9,000 kilometres,” he said.

“I felt stunned to learn that Akarakit was the previous owner. I have heard about the case from the media, but I felt nothing about that as I bid because I wanted to get the bike and the price was within my limit.”

The bike was among the items that went under the hammer at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board on Sunday. They had been seized during raids by officials investigating drug-related cases.

Akarakit has been linked to Laotian drug kingpin Xaysana Keopimpha, who is now in police custody. Akarakit denies knowing Xaysana.

A Bt20-million Lamborghini sports car that previously belonged to Akarakit was offered at a starting price of Bt12 million, but attracted no bids.

Potential bidders for the supercar may have been put off by having to deposit 25 per cent of the starting price, or Bt3 million. This and other unsold items will be put up for auction at a later sale.

In Lampang’s Mae Moh district, the amount of PM10 hovered around 129 micrograms per cubic metre of air. In Mae Hong Son’s Muang district, the PM10 amount was at 125 micrograms.

Safety standards specify 120 micrograms or less.

While the department did not find serious air pollution in other northern provinces, its director-general Jatuporn Buruspat admitted that spraying water in Chiang Mai province had affected air monitoring in the area.

“We have already raised the issue with the Interior Ministry. We are told staff are now barred from spraying water near air-quality monitoring stations,” Jatuporn said.

Various authorities have sprayed water as a means to fight smog but if air-quality monitoring stations are affected by the water, the information gathered may not reflect actual situation.

The alms-giving took place in front of the university auditorium hall. The princess is an alumnus of the university.

Chulalongkorn University, one of the country’s most prestigious higher-education institutions, is organising several activities to mark its centenary.

DSI deputy chief Pol Colonel Songsak Raksaksakul said on Sunday the agency will meet this week to discuss the case of Wuttipong “Ko Tee” Kottham-makhun and his associates who are accused of possessing military weapons and criminal association.

Police last weekend announced the discovery of the weapons found in a building linked to Wuttipong in Pathum Thani.

The DSI has taken over the case from the police, as several weapons found involved a violent demonstration in 2010, which was investigated by the agency.

The DSI on Saturday charged the nine suspects with several offences including terrorism.

The Criminal Court rejected their bail applications. The suspects are currently detained at Bangkok Remand Prison.

During the Earth Hour campaign from 8.30pm and 9.30pm, participants around the world switched off their lights in a bid to fight climate change. On Saturday night, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and relevant agencies turned off lights at key landmarks such as the Stupa of Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), the Rama VIII Bridge, the Asiatique, the Giant Swing and the Baiyoke Tower. Many Bangkok residents also joined the Earth Hour activities.

The Metropolitan Electricity Authority announced the results of the campaign at the end of the Hour.

According to the Authority, the reduction in power consumption of 1,953 megawatts translated into savings of Bt7.68 million.