A group of doctors said in a press conference arranged by Agricultural Science Foundation yesterday that paraquat, a widely used herbicide in Thailand, is not harmful to health, unless people directly drank it or bathed in it, and it should be allowed for use in farming.

They also denied that there was a connection between exposure to paraquat and necrotising fasciitis (known as the “flesh-eating disease”), Parkinson’s disease, and slower child development. This is in conflict with earlier medical warnings that found that paraquat exposure and contamination in the environment could lead to these health threats, especially among farmers and pregnant women.

Respiratory diseases expert and member of Royal Society Office Dr Somchai Bavornkitti

Respiratory diseases expert and member of Royal Society Office Dr Somchai Bavornkitti said there was still no reliable scientific proof to confirm a link between paraquat exposure to diseases such as necrotising fasciitis and Parkinson’s, and it was unlikely that paraquat could contaminate the environment, as the substance could be easily neutralised with soil.

“I still cannot see how paraquat can get into your body, as when spraying paraquat in the field, it will diffuse in the air in droplets that are far larger than those able to be inhaled into the lungs,” Somchai said.

He dismissed the claim that paraquat contamination in water contributes to necrosis. If paraquat actually contaminated the water, it would be too attenuated to cause any harm to health, he said.

Somchai said he suspected that patients with necrosis already had cuts or wounds and it was bacteria or parasites in the water that actually caused the infection.

Somchai also mentioned cases where traces of paraquat were found in newborn babies, and claims that the development of children who had a record of exposure to paraquat was slow. He said there had to be more research on this issue to confirm these suspicions and discover how paraquat could enter a mother’s body and be transmitted to the baby in the first place.

“From my point of view, paraquat is safe enough to use and has more benefits than harm, compared to glyphosate (another herbicide), where there is scientific evidence that it can contaminate the environment and cause harm to people’s health. It should be glyphosate that is banned, not paraquat,” he added.

Director of the Emergency Physicians College Dr Surajit Suntorntham

Director of the Emergency Physicians College Dr Surajit Suntorntham said that in emergency medicine, the only sickness and death related to paraquat was in patients who intentionally or unintentionally consumed the herbicide, causing internal-organ failure.

“In term of toxicology, every substance on earth is poisonous, if consumed in enough quantity. For instance, if we drink more than 12 litres of water within 24 hours, we could lose the sodium balance in our bodies and die from hyperhydration,” Surajit said.

“Paraquat is the same. It is no doubt poisonous, but only when someone is exposed to a very high volume of paraquat by eating or skin contact can it cause a health threat. So, we should find better ways to use it safely rather than ban it totally.”

He noted that the United States not only allows the use of paraquat, but has increased the amount of paraquat usage in its agricultural sector without jeopardising the health of it citizens.

Surajit said that the US avoids health risks from paraquat by imposing strict safety regulations. For instance, physical exposure to the substance is reduced by delivering paraquat to famers in ready-to-use packages, so they can spray it onto weeds without having to prepare and dilute the chemical themselves.

“The head of the office has the duty to serve as the secretary to the clergy. It’s not his duty to take action against clergymen,” Charoon Wonnakasinanont said yesterday on behalf of the Network of Buddhists for the Nation’s Power.

He said he would submit a petition to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, asking him to remove Pongporn from the helm of the National Buddhism Office (NBO).

Charoon also called on Pol Maj-General Kamol Rienracha, who heads the police force’s Counter Corruption Division, to take legal action against Pongporn for alleged abuse of authority.

Last week, it was reported that the NBO would sue five senior monks – including three members of the Sangha Supreme Council – for their role in the alleged embezzlement of state funds for temples.

“The allegations against the monks will damage the reputation of the Buddhist clergy. These allegations have threatened one of Thailand’s key institutions,” Charoon said.

He said it was the duty of the Office of the Auditor-General to investigate the use of state funds, not the NBO.

Charoon said he would also file a complaint against Pongporn with the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

“I will give relevant authorities one month to take action. If they do nothing by that time, my network will consider taking further moves,” he said.

Winai Sawekwi, from the same network, said laymen did not have the power to rule over monks.

According to him, the ecclesiastical sector had its own rule and law, namely Dhammavinaya, to handle offenders. “If a monk does wrong, file a complaint with the ruling clergy,” he said.

Winai said his network had to defend the accused monks because the clergymen were not well versed in laws.

He said the NBO should focus its attention on the state officials who offered money to monks.

“State officials submitted money to monks and then asked for some portions back. Why would you blame the monks?” he said.

He said monks across the country were now worried that they would be in trouble just because they received money from the NBO.

Kamol said he would look into the network’s complaints.

The sister-in-law, Nawa Ja-eu, had been accused of abetting a drug crime. She was due for immediate release after being cleared in court.

The verdict for a third defendant Nuan Khampang, who was absent due to a recent stroke, was postponed until May 30.

Nasae and Nuan were arrested on May 28 last year over a drugs allegation. Nawa was apprehended the following day at her home in Chiang Dao district where she was living with relatives, including Chaiyaphum’s mentor, Maitree Chareonsuksakul.

The prosecution claimed that Nuan had contacted Nasae to buy drugs. Nasae allegedly persuaded Nawa to help out by arranging for Chaiyaphum to deliver the narcotics on March 17 last year.

On the way, Chaiyaphum was stopped at the Ban Rin Luang military checkpoint in Chiang Dao to have his car inspected and was shot dead by a military officer, who claimed that 2,800 methamphetamine pills were found in his car and that he had threatened the officers with a hand grenade.

Nasae was given a jail term after she admitted owning the pills in Chaiyaphum’s car although she claimed the teenager as her buyer.

She had also said she didn’t know Nawa, who therefore had nothing to do with her deal, a claim which was in line with Nawa’s testimony.

Lawyer Sumitchai Hattasan said the court hearing into Chaiyaphum’s post mortem report had been completed on March 15 and the court order would be read out on June 6.

They are Lydia Sarunrat Deane, Ungsumalynn “Pattie” Sirapatsakmetha, Chutavuth “March” Pattarakampol, Apisada “Ice” Kruakongka, Virithipa “Woonsen” Pakdeeprasong, Puttichai “DJ Push” Kasetsin and Ornapa “Ma” Krisadee.

National police deputy chief Pol General Weerachai Songmetta said the celebrities’ claims about the products’ beautifying effects made in their “product review” advertisements might be considered for three charges: that they were contained an unfair-to-consumer advertisement message (punishable by up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of Bt300,000), giving false information about food supplement products’ benefits and quality (punishable with three years in jail term and a fine of up to Bt30,000), and illegal advertising of products’ benefits, quality and properties for commercial gain (punishable by a fine of up to Bt5,000).

He urged celebrities, as public figures, to check any goods in detail – especially their legal status – before agreeing to endorse them.

Weerachai said that police on Tuesday searched a factory in Samut Sakhon that reportedly manufactured products for a company, Magic Skin, which was found to have been illegally set up. Chemicals there were collected for testing, he added.

An initial police investigation found that the firm’s products had allegedly illegally used Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hallmarks; that the company allegedly produced substandard products that didn’t really contain sheep placenta as claimed; and that its advertisements were allegedly exaggerated. He cited an initial police probe that found the products were of low cost and the company made more than 100 per cent in profit when sold.

More celebrities – reportedly totalling 56 –  would be summoned gradually later, Weerachai added.

Last week, police searched several factories linked to the firm and brought six suspects, including company owner Wannapa Poungson and her husband/accountant Korn Poungson, into custody, following several consumers’ complaint about the products. The couple’s lawyer insisted they were victims of bullying over a business conflict.

Weerachai said about 200 people had so far filed complaints against “Magic Skin” with the …

The arrest warrant is to ensure he attends court to hear an Appeals Court verdict on multiple appeals against a September 20, 2016, criminal conviction.

Hall was sentenced then to four years’ imprisonment (reduced by one year and suspended for two years) and ordered to pay a fine of Bt200,000 (reduced to Bt150,000) after being convicted on criminal defamation and Computer Crimes Act charges. The conviction is related to a complaint filed by a Thai pineapple company, Natural Fruit Company, in 2013.

The lawsuit is related to Hall’s interviews with workers for a Finnwatch report, published in 2013. The interviewees alleged labour abuse which, when published by Finnwatch, resulted in Natural Fruit’s legal action.

Finnwatch is a non-governmental organisation focused on global corporate responsibility.

Should Hall fail to appear at Bangkok South Criminal Court again on May 31, the Appeals Court verdict may be read in absentia.

“We remain hopeful the Appeals Court will acquit Andy of all these charges. The charges against him stem from his legitimate work as a human rights defender and migrant worker rights activist. He is not a criminal,” said Sonja Vartiala, executive director of Finnwatch.

Hall is no longer resident in Thailand. He said he was not formally summonsed to attend the Court session on Tuesday.

Hall left Thailand shortly after his conviction claiming unbearable judicial harassment when additional criminal charges were filed against him by a chicken farm, Thammakaset Company Ltd, in November 2016.

More celebrities – reportedly totalling 56 – would be summoned gradually later, he added.

Weerachai said the celebrities’ claims about the products’ beautifying effects made in their “product review” advertisements might fall into the category of conspiracy to a crime.

He urged celebrities, as public figures, to check any goods in detail – especially their legal status – before agreeing to endorsing them.

Weerachai said that, on Tuesday afternoon, police would search a factory in Samut Sakhon that reportedly manufactured products for Magic Skin Co Ltd.

Weerachai said that an initial police investigation found that the firm’s products had allegedly illegally used Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hallmarks; that the company allegedly produced substandard products that didn’t really contain sheep placenta as claimed; and that its advertisements were allegedly exaggerated. He cited an initial police probe that found the products were of low cost and the company made more than 100 per cent in profit when sold.

Last week, police searched several factories linked to the firm and brought six suspects, including the company owner Wannapa Poungson and her husband/accountant Korn Poungson, into custody, following several consumers’ complaint about the products. The couple’s lawyer insisted that they were victims of bullying over a business conflict.

Khun Yuam Police Superintendent Pol Col Sombat Supa said Karun, whose body was found on Monday in a creek bed, had died on Saturday, the same day he phoned his wife saying he was being abducted by 10 armed men he’d encountered in Doi Wiang La Forest.

Sombat said Karun was apparently lying to his wife in an attention-seeking bid after they’d had an argument.

His wallet contained Bt2,920 in cash and his phone records showed he has spoken that same day to a local police officer, who told investigators Karun sounded normal and had said nothing about armed men or an abduction.

Department deputy chief Jaresak Nantawong led a search involving five teams of police, forestry and district officials and paramilitary rangers over the weekend and into Monday.

Karun’s body was found in a dry creek bed, two kilometres from the Doi Wiang La Wildlife Conservation Area Office in Khun Yuam district.

Karun, 55, worked for the department’s Forest Products Research Unit in the district.

His funeral was held at Wat Kham Nai.

The cats, that are vaccinated and sterilized, were jointly raised by residents in the community. One female social media user identified by the nickname “Mod”, urged people to adopt the cats as she was afraid they might end up being poisoned and killed.

It was reported that one resident had raised 10 cats that were now up for adoption as she could not take the cats with her to her new location.

Friends on the well-known Facebook page about Thai pet cats, “Toonhua Khong Bao” (facebook.com/kingdomoftigers/), which has more than three million followers, plan to visit the community on Thursday to check on the number of cats that will be left behind and catch them for health screening before finding new homes for them.

The community was vacated and the old wooden houses were demolished as Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans a new public park development.

The North continued to choke in smog, as air pollution level soared in an increasing number of hotspots after the end of the ban on burning.

The level of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5) in many provinces of the northern region, especially in Chiang Mai, continued to rise yesterday to 100 microrams per cubic metre of air by 6am, as measured by the Pollution Control Department (PCD).

The Chiang Mai University’s DustBoy app disclosed that by 10am yesterday, all of its PM2.5 monitoring stations had reported harmful level of air pollution, with four reporting a PM2.5 AQI (Air Quality Index) over 300, or hourly PM2.5 level over 250 micrograms – a level considered “very dangerous to all people’s health”. The four stations with a critical red level of PM2.5 AQI were: Debaratana Hospital in Mae Chaem District, which had PM2.5 AQI at 320; San Kamphaeng Hospital (304); Chom Tong Hospital (331), and Chai Prakan Hospital (317).

Another two stations at Chiang Dao Public Heath Office (280) and Chiang Mai Night Bazaar (202) were reported to have orange levels of PM2.5 AQI or “very harmful to health”. DustBoy’s single PM2.5 monitoring station in Chiang Rai – at Mae Fah Luang University – reported a very harmful level of PM2.5, at 219 as of 10am.

All people within the areas of PM2.5 AQI red and orange zones are warned to avoid all outdoor activities, while sensitive groups of people such as children, the elderly or respiratory disease patients should ensure they remain in clean and air-purified rooms.

The prolonged period of haze problem in the North, which dragged on beyond Songkran Festival, was considered to have been caused by the increasing number of hotspots after the burning ban was ended in most provinces on April 20.

This speculation was confirmed as accurate by data on hotspots from a NOAA satellite, according to the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC). The satellite imagery tracked the increase in the number of hotspots in Thailand increasing from one on April 20 (the final date of the burning ban in Chiang Mai and Lamphun) to 39 the next day and 82 on April 22.

According to the previous records of northern haze, the smog season normally ended after Songkran Festival in mid-April, due to wetter condition from summer storms and the approaching rainy season.

With worsening air pollution lingering longer than expectation, PCD has issued a warning for all related agencies and local authorities in the North to continue to control open burning in their area, especially roadside burning and lighting of fires near or on forestland.

PCD also asked that people refrain from outdoor burning of garbage and leftover materials on their farms to help lower the amount of pollution in the air. It also recommended that people with sensitivity to air pollution wear facemasks at all time when outside.

The department also warned that the air pollution was likely to continue, and even intensify, today. People should strictly avoid burning especially during the night and morning during this period.

Chiang Mai University’s Climate Change Data Centre (CCDC) also reported that NASA, GISTDA, and ASMC satellite data has similarly indicated that the transboundary haze from hotspots outside the country was intensifying the smog problem in Thailand’s North.

CCDC concluded that a large number of hotspots have been documented in Myanmar during the past weekend, with hotspot pollution counts reaching as high as 210, according to ASMC data. The smog from these hotspots is tending to drift toward Thailand due to the westerly wind, said the CCDC.

While visiting the woman at Nopparat Ratchathani Hospital, Weerachai was told that her boyfriend Chaichana Sirichart, the 26-year-old administrator of a currency market or forex (FX) investment-teaching web page, had also inflicted a knife wound to her throat in Sunday’s attack.

Hospital director Dr Somboon Thossaboworn said the victim’s injuries included a swollen face, broken nose, knife wound to the throat, broken right arm, broken left small finger, along with burn wounds and bruises all over her body (including some traces of old wounds) which was believed to come from eight hours of torture before she was finally rescued.

Given the injuries, Weerachai said a previously-filed assault charge would become a charge of aggravated assault leading to serious injury, punishable by six months to 10 years in prison.

The other three already-filed charges would remain the same: illegal detention, violating the computer crime act by inputting images of another person causing her humiliation, and taking methamphetamine.

The woman claims Chaichana attacked her six times throughout their eight-month relationship. Weerachai said Chaichana, undre the influence of illegal drugs, might have hallucinated about the woman’s alleged infidelity.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Area 4 chief Pol Maj-General Theerapong Wongratpitak, who briefly questioned Chaichana at Bung Kum police station, said many people had each paid him Bt15,000 for an FX trading course but had never received tuition and could soon file complaints against him.

Chaichana tearfully expressed his remorse, saying he wanted to apologise to the victim’s parents and wouldn’t have attacked the girlfriend, whom he still loved, if he could turn back time. He claimed he attacked her under the influence of drugs, stress and rage over a dispute over Bt6 million cash plus his accusation that she had affairs with other men.

This contradicted the information given by a source among the victim’s relatives, who refuted speculation on social media that a Bt40 million stock sale might have been at the root of the attack.

The source said this was not true because the victim’s family still supported her expenses and tuition, adding that the woman had told them she wanted to leave Chaichana but they talked her out of it, as they thought he was a good man.

Meanwhile, deputy national police spokesman Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said that committing a public humiliation is punishable by up to one year in prison and/or up to a Bt20,000 fine, while defamation via social media is punishable by up to two years in prison or a maximum fine of Bt200,000. He urged people who came across domestic abuse to call 191 to report the incident immediately so police could act speedily to rescue victims.

On Sunday at 7pm, police responding to a complaint went to a condominium in Nawamin area, where they found Chaichana – who police said appeared high on meth – and negotiated until he released the battered woman. The suspect, nabbed after two hours of negotiations, admitted to having used drugs and said he attacked the victim out of jealousy, police said.

Meanwhile, well-known human rights activist Angkhana Neelaphaijit posted on her Facebook, citing this case as what the #MeToo global social-media movement against sexual harassment and assault was trying to curb. She said this assault and live broadcast signified that the gender-based violence in Thai society was getting worse. She added that in cases of terrorising and humiliating, the victim was often painted as having done something to deserve such treatment.

Angkhana urged society to be responsible and solve this “structural violence” social issue which is too often considered a personal matter in which the victims are left to face the violence alone. She said that jealousy must not be used as a justification to assault women.

She said the sexual violence must not be a negotiable offence, drug abuse must not be an excuse for violence and police must punish wrongdoers.