The activists, dressed in Filipinos’ national costume, gave out mangoes to participants, observers and police.

They said the fruit represented harmony and friendship between Thailand and the Philippines. They said they hoped to convey a friendly message that their calls to end the War on Drugs are in the best interest of the people in both countries and the region.

They said their concerns were based on their report “If you are poor, you are killed: Extrajudicial executions in the Philippines ‘War on Drugs’,” which was published on January 31.

“Based on witness statements and corroborating documents including police reports and other information, Amnesty International concluded that the vast majority of the killings that we investigated appear to have been unlawful extrajudicial executions which were carried out by government order or with its complicity and acquiescence,” Piyanut Kotsan, director of Amnesty International Thailand, said.

He said the AI report has shown that most of those killed are people from poor communities, making what is officially portrayed as the “War on Drugs” a war on the poor.

It has also had a devastating impact on children, who have been killed, harmed during police operations or experienced severe trauma as a result of losing a family member, according to the AI statement.

Piyanut said: “The scales of alleged human rights violations are alarming. We are calling on the government of the Philippines to send a clear message to all law enforcement officials and the public in the Philippines that extrajudicial executions are unacceptable and strictly prohibited at all times.

“We also urge them to prioritise prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all drug related killings, particularly by law enforcement officials. And they must press criminal charges in any cases where investigations uncover sufficient, admissible evidence of responsibility for offences involving human rights violations.”

During the 30th Asean Summit, being held in Manila between April 2629, AI in many countries are also submitting their open letters to the government of Philippines to stop and investigate human rights violations in its war on drugs.

Wicharn Phuviharn went to the government’s public service centre, located opposite Government House, to submit what he called “the document presenting responsibility over the plaque’s removal” to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

He read out the 27-page submission before presenting it at the centre.

Asked where he had placed the removed plaque, he said he had left it nearby but had no idea where was now.

Officers then took him to Dusit Police Station for psychological evaluation and further questioning.

Wissanu said there would be six army chiefs out of 32 members sitting on the so-called super-board, so it could not be said these are too many, and they will help take care every aspect of the country’s security through their experience and knowledge.

In fact, he said, there would be other procedures to help screen the national strategy plans, so it’s not just down to these people or the board to make decisions on the national strategy on their own.

A team from Nong Nuch Tropical Botanical Garden removed 15 trees from the Supreme Court headquarters side and 15 more from the Thammasat University side.

They will be treated at a nursery in Nakhon Nayok and Pathum Thani provinces.

Kampon Tansajja, the manager of the botanical garden, said the tamarinds were trimmed to allow them to grow new branches and to facilitate the move.

The trees were measured, photographed and documented with the removal process proceeding gradually since February to ensure that the trees remained strong enough for the journey. Previously 14 trees were removed and transported to Saraburi province.

After the Royal funeral scheduled in October, the trees will be brought back to Sanam Luang.

Pongpan Siriwat reported to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to deny charges that she was involved in the alleged tour company scam that caused more than Bt60million damages to victims.

She blamed the doctor’s boyfriend Thirayut Burassakan, who has now changed his name to Apiwat Akadej, for the scam.

“I’m not an accomplice. I am hired at Bt30,000 a month to handle administrative tasks such as taking pictures for promotions. I have personally invested Bt1.3million in his business,” she said.

According to Pongpan, Apiwat’s business had existed and generated dividends for investors until recently.

“It’s only lately that he stopped paying me dividends. I have been unable to contact him since late March,” Pongpan said.

She said Apiwat’s girlfriend, Acting Lieutenant Commander Pannarat Chanmanee, had been dating him since late 2014.

“Although her name appeared as a director of his company, she had never run the firm,” Pongpan said.

She said the relationships between Apiwat and Pannarat had turned sour for a while, with him threatening to kill her, prompting Pannarat to flee to Japan.

“But now, I can’t contact her either. Initially, I planned to persuade her to turn herself in,” Pannarat said.

CIB chief Thitiraj Nonghanpitak interrogated Pannarat.

A police officer at Ladprao Police Station told the Thai Human Rights Lawyers (THRL) group that the activist had been detained according to an arrest warrant, adding that he had been taken to the 11th Military Circle, the THRL tweeted on Tuesday.

The group had not been able to contact Ekachai as of press time.

The pro-democracy group Resistant Citizens was scheduled to stage a symbolic demonstration at Victory Monument and march to the 11th Military Circle unless Ekachai was released.

A security agency source said Ekachai had been invited for “a talk to create some mutual understanding” at the military circle as the activist attempted to submit a complaint calling for an investigation regarding the missing plaque.

The source said officers were afraid his actions could create confusion in the public.

The talk would take time and Ekachai would be released if a “mutual understanding” was reached, the source said.

Ekachai has been previously convicted of lese majeste and works on behalf of political prisoners at the newly established association For Friends.

Thai media reported on Saturday that a man attempting to smuggle what is believed to be human sperm out of Thailand to another fertility clinic in neighbouring Laos was arrested recently.

Nithinon Srithaniyanun, the courier, told Thai authorities that he had picked up sperm from four clinics in Bangkok for delivery to another fertility clinic in the Lao capital of Vientiane, Thailand’s The Nation reported, citing the authorities in charge.

Nithinon was earlier arrested by authorities at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge checkpoint in the northeastern Thai province of Nong Khai where he attempted to smuggle six tubes of what is believed to be human sperm stored in a frozen nitrogen tank into Laos.

Dr Chanphomma said the Health Minister Associate Professor Dr Bounkong Syhavong has told officials in charge to inspect the report.

“We have inquired into a consultant of the clinic in question. The consultant denied any involvement by the clinic in illegal action,” he said.

Dr Chanphomma stated that further investigation is being carried out to verify the issue. He stated that there is no a clinic in Laos that is licenced to offer surrogacy services. But many clinics are licenced to offer healthcare services including offering consultations on how couples should prepare themselves and their health as they plan to have a baby.

The Nation reported that the Thai health officials on Friday inspected one of the cited Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics in Bangkok. Deputy director-general of the Health Service Support Department of Thailand Dr Thongchai Keeratihuttayakorn told the Thai media that the Thai fertility clinic had denied any connection with the courier.

The clinic had also given a copy of the clinic’s complaint filed with police against Nithinon to public health authorities. The clinic admitted the human sperm belonged to two of its clients from China and Vietnam who had authorised a person to pick up the sperm but the clinic has no knowledge of the courier and his delivery service, it reported.

Head of Superior ART Centre, Sarayuth Assamakorn said the Chinese and Vietnamese clients had properly obtained the sperm from the centre on April 17 and April 19 respectively by authorising a person to do so.

The foreign clients said they wanted to take the sperm to be used at another fertility clinic, which is the patients’ right, but they were informed in advance that taking sperm out of the country is not legal, Sarayuth told the media.

Thongchai said the courier is guilty under Thai law if the contents inside the frozen nitrogen tank are confirmed to be either sperm, eggs and/or embryos. Second, authorities will find out if there is an agency or intermediary to carry out transactions for these contents and, third, authorities will establish if any clinic is involved in these activities and transactions, and if they are they will be prosecuted under Thai law.

President of Medical Council of Thailand Professor Dr Prasit Wattanapa said if the contents are confirmed to be embryos, doctors who were involved would be guilty under Thai law and their licences could be suspended.

According to the Thai law on assisted reproduction technology, sperm, eggs, and embryos cannot be traded, while violators and smugglers are subject to fines and imprisonment of up to 10 years, The Nation reported.

Thai customs officials said Nithinon had travelled from Thailand to Laos 20 times during July last year and February this year. In addition, he also travelled to Cambodia 24 times from September last year to April this year.