Southern Thailand

A Resolute Denial Clouds Thailand Blast Probes

Grieving relatives gather around the body of a four-year-old girl during funeral preparations after she and her father were killed by a blast in front of a school.PHOTO: AFP

SOUTHERN THAILAND – Bombs go off with mind-numbing regularity in Thailand’s southern border provinces. They are placed in motorcycles, trucks and under rail tracks.

Most are detonated more to shock than kill – unless you happen to be a soldier, policeman, or someone deemed by separatist insurgents to have acted against the interests of the Malay-Muslim majority there.

Yet last week, four-year-old Mitra Wohbah and her father died when a bomb went off in front of her school. It triggered a stronger than usual outcry from locals, having come after a relative drop in civilian casualties in the longstanding conflict that has claimed more than 6,000 lives so far.

Most attacks in the “deep south”, which includes the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and a part of Songhkhla, go unclaimed. But a member of a key insurgent group, Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), reportedly told online news portal Bernar News on the same day that it was responsible for the attack, saying it was a mistake.

More surprisingly, this person from a BRN combat unit called Runda Kumpulan Kecil went on to claim that it was also responsible for the coordinated bombings and arson in tourist districts across seven Thai provinces outside the restive region on August 11 and 12. They wanted to make a point about the stagnant peace talks in the south, he said.

Unlike the southern insurgency – which attracts little public attention – that series of attacks cross “upper south” provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Trang, Phuket, Surat Thani, Phangnga, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat sent shockwaves through Thailand because it took place in high profile tourist districts like Hua Hin, which is home to the royal family’s summer palace. Four people were killed, and over 30 injured.

Almost immediately after those tourist district blasts, the police denied their links to the southern insurgency. There was speculation that the insurgents had been “hired” by anti-government elements to do the job.

Even on Tuesday (Sept 13) – after police had already issued six warrants of arrest for suspects, all from the deep south – key officials continued casting doubt on the possibility that southern insurgents could have orchestrated the August attacks.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said: “I don’t see any potential (threat) from them. If we drag that (BRN) name in, wouldn’t it risk other countries’ intervention?”

There’s a specific logic to this stance, analysts tell me. It helps to downplay the southern insurgency.

“Admitting that the series of bombings in the Upper South is the work of the BRN would amount to admitting the failure of security operation in the Deep South,” says independent analyst Rungrawee Chalermsripinyorat. “The Thai state has repeatedly denied the existence of any armed groups in southern Thailand, including the BRN, fearing that the situation will be regarded as non-international armed conflict as defined under the international humanitarian law.”

This could attract more attention and “provide more justification for international intervention”, she says.

Mr Matthew Wheeler of the International Crisis Group says that senior junta officials and military officers “have expressed their concern about ‘elevating’ the insurgents, or raising their status by recognising them as counterparts in a peace-dialogue process”.

“They fear that this could open the door to similar claims by other disaffected groups in Thailand, or even international intervention leading to a referendum on Patani independence and eventual partition of the country.”

The deep south was part of the Patani sultanate until about a century ago.

Bangkok is now a planning a small “front command Cabinet” for the deep south, to be led by a deputy prime minister and senior members of the military and civil service, said Gen Prayut on Tuesday (Sept 13). He has not explained how this would gel with existing military-heavy governing structures in the deep south.

But with the messages from the capital more driven by ideology than evidence, the outcome of investigations into these recent blasts could remain fuzzy for some time.

By Tan Hui Yee – Thailand Correspondent- STRAITSTIMES

Southern Thailand

Tourists Rescued After Longboat Sinks in Rough Seas Off the Phi Phi Islands

Two tourists and a Thai longboat operator were safely rescued after their boat capsized in stormy seas in the Phi Phi islands off Krabi province on late Sunday. The incident happened in Ao Nang bay at about 11am.

A speedboat owned by Narayana Marine spotted the capsized longboat and was able to provided assistance. Two Chinese tourists, one a young girl, a Thai tourist and the longboat operator were rescued.

A rescuer from the speedboat jumped into the rough seas and swam to the tourist clinging to the capsized longboat and gave them life vests. They were then hauled by rope to the safety of speedboat. The rescuers said the young Chinese girl was severely traumatized.

The tourists were taken to Phuket where they received medical treatment and then released. The Thai longboat operator is facing charges for unsafe operation of a boat and for not having the required life safety equipment.

According to the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, safety briefings should be given to tourists before they depart on tours, and that visitors follow their own common sense, avoiding boats that are overcrowded and badly maintained.

On average, 20 people die in boat accidents each year, many of them due to badly maintained speedboats that shuttle tourists between the islands along the coast. They are frequently overcrowded and staffed poorly trained operators and crew.

The agencies in charge of regulating safety and licensing tourist boats, such as the Maritime Police, are frequently understaffed, with inadequate resources.

Tourists Being Rescued in the Phi Phi Islands

Many Tourists Choosing to Explore Thailand with a Campervan

Many Tourists Choosing to Explore Thailand with a Campervan

News

Phuket Lifeguards Report Three Tourist Drownings in Two Days

Lifeguards in Phuket caution swimmers: File Image

Authorities on Thailand’s resort island of Phuket report an American man and a Thai woman were found dead on Mai Khao beach on Monday, and a Russian man drowned off Phuket’s Surin beach on Sunday.

According to Police, local villagers alerted authorities that two bodies had washed ashore on a beach in Thalang district.

Phuket police identified the deceased American man as Mr. James Newman, 45, the Thai woman as identified as Ms. Waranya, 49, a nurse from Surin. The police officer also did not reveal the relationship between the two.

Investigators discovered no evidence of violence against them, he added. According to preliminary findings, they booked into a hotel in Mai Khao on Sunday.

Phuket police believe the two were swimming when one was washed away from the beach by the strong tide while the other attempted to help but was unsuccessful. The victims bodies were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for autopsies.

Mr. Newman became the second American to drown is Phuket in less than two weeks. Last Tuesday, Mr. James Du Bois was discovered washed ashore at Nai Harn Beach in Muang District (main city) of Phuket.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Russian Mr.Apostolov Aleksei, 64, drowned near Surin Beach in Thalang. Police stated that there were no traces of violence on Aleksei’s body. The Russian man had stayed in a condominium in Tha Lang. His body was also taken to the Vachira Phuket Hospital.

tourists phuket

Tourists Drowning in Phuket

Lifeguards in Phuket have cautioned beach goers to be extremely wary of rough seas and posted red flags on sites deemed hazardous for swimmers. Phuket, a renowned tourist destination in Thailand, has had a disturbing number of drowning deaths. This tropical paradise, famous for its beautiful beaches, draws millions of visitors each year.

But the attraction of its clear waters conceals major perils. Many vacationers overlook the power of rip tides and the unpredictable weather patterns. Lifeguards do their best, but they are frequently understaffed. Warning signs and flags are often ignored or misunderstood, resulting in tragic incidents. The lack of awareness and respect for the ocean’s power is a major contributing element.

Poor swimming ability and alcohol consumption can add to the problem. Local governments have worked to improve safety measures, but the answer lies in better education and tougher enforcement.

Tourists must accept personal responsibility for their safety and obey all cautions. Every drowning death in Phuket serves as a sharp warning that nature’s beauty may suddenly become lethal if not treated with caution and respect.

Crime

Authorities in Phuket Arrest 98 Foreigners in Company Nominee Crackdown

Phuket Police question a Thai woman: Post Image

The Central Investigation Bureau police detained over 90 Russians in Phuket, Thailand during a crackdown on nominee companies, with assets valued at more than 1.5 billion baht taken.

Part of the operation, Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Pol Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej said on Friday, police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD) searched accounting and real estate companies in the island province.

There are currently charges pending against 135 people and 96 juristic people.

Pol Gen Jirabhop stated of the people, 37 Thais served as nominees for foreign firms and 98 foreign nationals, the majority of them being Russians. The people were subsequently released on bond.

The foreign suspects were accused of operating companies by eschewing or breaking the law, and of having Thais or other non-foreign nationals assist or co-run companies that foreigners were not authorized to operate.

Pol Gen Jirabhop charged the Thai suspects with providing assistance or support to foreign nationals operating enterprises without the necessary legal authorization.

Russian businesses Phuket

Land and Assets in Phuket

Along with 196 passports, 108 work permits, documents pertaining to the formation of 800 companies, 1,601 company stamps, four electronic devices, and other items, seized during the crackdown were 225 bank accounts with 319 million baht in circulation, 245 land documents.

Including those for 96 condominium units worth about 1 billion baht and 43 title deeds covering 24 rai of land worth about 200 million baht. Police estimated the assets taken were worth more than 1.5 billion baht.

When locals protested to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin that foreign nationals—mostly Russians—had been operating enterprises and purchasing a lot of residential properties and land plots at astronomically high rates, the police operation was started.

According to Pol Gen Jirabhop, one of the activities that cost Thais jobs and harmed the economy was the operation of tour-related companies owned by foreign nationals.

The prime minister next gave acting national police commander Kitrat Panphet instructions to designate the appropriate agencies to look into the matter.

An inquiry by the CIB’s ECSD later revealed that, since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in early 2022, 59,717 Russian nationals had entered Phuket. They reported an incredibly high 1,603 new company registrations in the province.

ECSD commander Pol Maj Gen Phutthidet Boonkraphue cited instances of companies involving a single foreign woman, solely named Iana, 45.

She was discovered to be an executive and shareholder in nine companies, with a 38 million baht total registered capital: seven real estate companies, one service company, and one tour company.

Corruption Phuket

Fake Company Nominees

The chief of ECSD said that the firms were occupying three opulent apartment and condominium developments valued at more than 900 million baht.

The detectives discovered that Ms. Iana was nominated by a Thai woman going by the name Trithip. Additionally discovered to be nominees for 272 companies were Ms. Trithip and other Thai citizens. There were Thai shareholders solely in 142, and both Thai and international shareholders were present in the others.

Later, Pol Maj Gen Phutthidet stated, the detectives collected evidence to ask the court for permission to arrest people engaged in nominee businesses.

Ms. Trithip acknowledged under inquiry that she was employed to act as a nominee for 30,000 to 50,000 baht each company.

Pol Maj Gen Phutthidet reported that 85 foreign nationals had already received summonses from the investigators to answer allegations of exploiting Thai nominees. He said that the probe is being continued.

Russians looking for sun and water have come to love Phuket. The island’s mild weather and laid-back way of life appeal to many. Russian visitors and residents can be seen frequently taking advantage of the lively nightlife and stunning beaches.

Some of them have even launched their own companies, which boosts the local economy. Growing Russian population in Phuket is fostering a little but active cross-cultural interaction. Even though Phuket is far from home, its kind people and wide range of activities provide them comfort.

Source: Bangkok Post