In a shocking incident, the director-general of the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand was allegedly shot dead by a Songkhla Zoo staff on Saturday, while he was investigating the case of a missing albino barking deer.
The organisation’s board chairman, Chawalit Chukhajorn, told Issara News Agency about the alleged murder of Suriya Saengpong.
Suriya was promoted to the director-general post in August this year.
The staffer who allegedly shot dead Suriya was reported to have later shot himself in his room at the zoo.
Thedeerwent missing in February this year. Chawalit set up an investigation committee to look into the case after Songkhla Zoo’s director claimed the deer had been swallowed by a python.
Si Racha district officials visited Bankaokansong School in Chonburi province on Friday after photos of a school student eating his lunch with his bare hands went viral.
Officials found that spoons were not being provided to students. On some days, students needed to buy it from a former teacher. However, spoons the students used on Friday were given free of charge.
The students also told the officials that the toilets of their school were dirty and in need of repairs, and the water was contaminated as a result some students did not dare to drink the water.
The permanent secretary of Si Racha district said that concerned persons would meet on October 5 to find solutions to the school’s problems.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Saturday reported eight new cases in state quarantine.
Two people had come from India, one from the United Arab Emirates, one from Russia, three from the US, and one from Pakistan.
The total number of confirmed cases in Thailand increased to 3,583 (645 in state quarantine), of whom 138 are in hospital, 3,386 have recovered and been discharged, and 59 have died.
According to Worldometer, as of 9am on Saturday, the total number of confirmed cases increased to 34.8 million (up by 316,256 over a 24-hour period), 25.89 million have recovered, 66,287 are in a serious condition, and 1.03 million have died (increasing by 5,603).
Thailand ranks 138th for most cases in the world, while the US has the most number with 7.54 million, followed by India 6.47 million, Brazil 4.88 million, Russia 1.19 million and Colombia 841,531.
The leader of the Free People group, Arnon Nampa, has asked people to join in large numbers the protest scheduled for October 14 at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument, saying it was not enough to only realise the problems facing the country.
On Saturday, the leader of the pro-democracy group posted on his Facebook page that officials have tried to confiscate books carrying his speeches. Also, those who recorded his speeches have been intimidated by officials.
“The trampled hope of old generations has been revived by the younger generations that has decide to fight the injustice,” he said.
Lawyer Arnon said he was not sure what would represent victory for his group. “Maybe it is the PM’s resignation, or amendment of the Constitution,” he added.
Arnon also said that it was not enough to only realise the country’s problems; people must come out to fight for their cause.
He asked people to join the protest on October 14 in large numbers, adding a small gathering would hurt their interests but a large turnout could help end dictatorship in Thailand.
The Metropolitan Police Bureau will implement the directives issued by new National Police chief Pol General Suwat Jangyodsuk to help reform the operation of police officers nationwide, Bureau chief Pol Lt-General Pakkapong Pongpetra said on Friday.
“One of the policies is to cancel all kinds of police and security checkpoints, including alcohol testing checkpoints from now until further notice,” he said.
“The National Police chief wants to make the operation of these checkpoints as transparent as possible. From now on, there will be no testing of urine on the roadside. Suspects in driving under the influence (DUI) cases must undergo alcohol testing at hospitals to ensure that there is no foul play.”
Suwat has also ordered the installation of 5,000 CCTV cameras in Bangkok within four months to ensure people’s safety through a comprehensive surveillance network, as well as to crack down on gambling dens and online gambling websites.
The assistant governor of the Mass Rapid Transit Authority (MRTA), Wittaya Panmongkol, on Friday visited the Skywalk that connects Phahon Yothin Station to Ha Yaek Lat Phrao Station to check the readiness and test run the system before its official opening on Monday.
“The Skywalk is 300 metres long and connects Chaloem Ratchamongkhon Line (MRT Blue Line) at Phahon Yothin Station and BTS Sukhumvit Line (BTS Green Line) at Ha Yaek Lat Phrao Station,” he said.
“It will provide a convenient walkway for users of both train systems as well as general pedestrians and help reduce traffic congestion in the areas.”
The MRT Blue Line is 48km long with 38 stations, starting from Lak Song and terminating at Tha Phra.
The BTS Green Line is a 19km extension section of BTS Sukhumvit Line that runs from Mo Chit Station to Khu Khot Station, with 16 stations.
For more information on services of MRTA, contact 0-2716-4044 or visit www.mrta.co.th
The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has agreed to issue a red notice to member countries to track down Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidhya, wanted in a hit-and-run case.
Interpol has notified the Foreign Affairs Division, Royal Thai Police, about the red alert, a news source said on Friday.
On September 18, the Office of the Attorney-General announced that prosecutors had decided to indict Vorayuth on charges of using cocaine and reckless driving causing death.
Vorayuth, the scion of a billionaire family, hit the headlines recently when CNN reported in August that prosecutors had dropped the last charge against him in the hit-and-run case that killed a policeman riding a bike eight years ago.
The source explained that a red notice means if Vorayuth enters countries that are members of Interpol, they will alert the Royal Thai Police of his location. However, the notice has no mandatory condition, as the decision to notify Thai authorities depends on the country’s discretion. “Furthermore, the Thai government has notified Interpol that Vorayuth is holding a Thai passport, which will prompt the member countries to check for Thai passport holders only. This means if he uses other passports, he could slip through the screening system,” the source added.
Showers continue across the country with isolated heavy rains over some parts, the Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday, as a monsoon trough lies across the lower North, the Central, the lower Northeast and the East, while the moderate southwest monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf.
People in risky areas should beware of the severe weather conditions, the department said.
Moderate winds and waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf are likely to rise more than two metres high in thundershowers. All ships should proceed with caution and keep off thundershowers, the department said.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
North: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 60 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 24-26 degrees Celsius, maximum 33-35°C.
Northeast: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 24-25°C, maximum 32-34°C.
Central: Cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 24-25°C, maximum 33-35°C.
East: Cloudy with thundershowers in 80 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 24-26°C, maximum 30-34°C; waves 1-2 metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas; minimum temperature 23-25°C, maximum 32-34°C; waves 1-2 metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 23-24°C, maximum 31-33°C; waves two metres high and over two metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 70 per cent of the areas and isolated heavy rain; minimum temperature 24-25°C, maximum 33-35°C.
The “Bad Student” group held rallies outside prominent schools in Bangkok on Friday as promised to demand that Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan step down for failing to do anything about teachers raising their hand on students.
This protest was sparked by the recent case of a kindergarten teacher physically assaulting her students in private school in Nonthaburi. The ministry and its executives have become a subject of ridicule and criticism on social media after the abuse of kindergartners in Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek School made the headlines last week.
The protesters started off by arriving at Samsen Wittayalai School on a six-wheeler before heading to other well-known institutions like Triam Udom Suksa, Debsirin and Wat Ratchabophit schools.
Protest leaders delivered a speech every time the truck was parked outside one of these schools.
Though the protesters did not show up at the Education Ministry at 5pm as scheduled, observers believe they may arrive later in the evening.
Coverage on Facebook Live showed that as of press time, the students were parked outside Wat Ratchbophit School.
The ruling Palang Pracharath Party is seeking a suitably qualified candidate for the Bangkok governor election, to compete against former Pheu Thai leader Chadchart Sittipunt.
Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan, who leads Palang Pracharath, will hold a meeting on the Bangkok election next week, his party deputy Buddhipongse Punnakanta said on Friday.
The party is now considering whether to register its contender as a Palang Pracharath
candidate or an independent, said Buddhipongse, who is also Digital Economy and Society minister.
Asked about speculation that former national police chief Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda will be chosen as the party’s candidate, he said the final decision would be made by Prawit.
Buddhipongse said he was confident that the chosen Palang Pracharath candidate would be able to solve Bangkokians’ problems effectively.
Suriya Saengpong 
Arnon Nampa 
Buddhipongse Punnakanta 
