The Songkran holiday period could be wet in more ways than one – the meteorological office has issued a severe storm warning for the entire upper area of the country from today until Tuesday.

The north, Isaan, eastern seaboard and central regions including Bangkok and surrounding areas could all be hit.

Met office director Phuwiang Prakhammin warned of rain storms, thunder and lightning, high winds and some areas affected by hail.

People were warned to avoid open spaces, not to stand under trees as it is a lightning strike hazard and be careful of unstable advertising hoardings.

Farmers were warned about protecting their livestock and crops.

These are the provinces that are affected:

Northeast: Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Khon Kaen, Chaiyaphum, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani

Northern region: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Lampang, Tak, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Phichit and Phetchabun

Central: Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Suphanburi, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Bangkok.

East : Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Nayok, Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat

Source: Daily News

Senior Thai policemen spoke to the press yesterday after a 26 year old German tourist was raped and murdered on a hillside in Koh Si Chang Chonburi.

Chilling CCTV pictures showed the victim out for a mid afternoon ride on a rented motorcycle.

Now it has emerged that she was still not dead after a frenzied attack by some stone steps leading up the hillside.

She was battered again after being dragged still alive for 50 meters in an effort to hide the crime.

An impromptu re-enactment with a stand-in was conducted at police HQ.

National deputy police chief Pol Gen Chalermkiat Srivorakan spoke at the press briefing along with the chief of the Region 2 police and the chief of the Chonburi force.

Chalermkiat announced the arrest of 23 year old Ronakorn of Tha Thewawong district who has admitted to rape and murder.

Chalermkiat said the crime happened about 3pm on Sunday afternoon. The body was found by a member of the public. A man was seen coming down from the hill with blood on his clothes.

He was found outside his house nearby and was seen to have wounds on his body. He allowed officers into his house. Behind the house bloodstained clothing was found and he readily admitted what he had done.

He said he had seen the victim riding a motorcycle while he was high on methamphetamine or “ice” and he felt the need for sex.

He approached her and offered sex but she did not say anything and drove off. He followed her to the hillside where he raped her. He then hit her repeatedly in the face and in the back of the head with a rock.

Bloodstains were found on a stone path leading up to the top of the hill.

She was still not dead and he dragged her 50 meters off the path where he continued to bludgeon her until she was dead. Then he covered her body with stones, rocks and bracken in an effort to conceal the crime.

He tested positive for drugs in a test at his house and this was confirmed with a further test at Koh Si Chang hospital.

Ronakorn has been charged with rape, murder and concealment of a corpse and was detained by the Koh Si Chang police.

Source: Sanook

A supporter shows his love at a Friday news conference for a cannabis festival next month in Buriram province.

BURIRAM — From the land of football and Formula 1 comes a new pro-cannabis festival featuring everything from music and art installations to educational workshops and vendors.

Set to run three days at the F1 speedway in Buriram, “Pan Ram” (“Buriram Species,” sort of) expects to draw more than 20,000 daily attendees to celebrate cannabis culture at the dawn of the legalization age.

Behind the event is former political powerbroker Newin Chidchob, the man revered locally for delivering a world-class football stadium and race circuit to what had been a neglected and impoverished rural province. Several years into retirement from politics, 60-year-old Newin, now president of Buriram United FC, is throwing the weed party along with several pro-marijuana advocates. Not coincidentally, promotion of cannabis as a cash crop is one of the central policies of the party he founded, Bhumjaithai.

At a Friday press conference at The Street Ratchada in Bangkok to talk about the fest, Newin showed up with allies such as Buriram Gov. Theerawat Wutthikun and Prapat Panyachatrak, chairman of National Farmers Council.

The festival, a first for the northeastern region, aims to promote awareness and understanding of the plant which has been illegal since the Narcotics Act of 1979.

“Marijuana is like a genie kept in the lamp a long time, and now it’s out,” Prapat said. “It’s our chance now to make use of it.”

More than a mind-altering drug, Newin said he regards marijuana as a “nation-altering plant,” given that legalization will lead to saving lives and creating economic value.

Bhumjaithai has campaigned on allowing every household to grow six marijuana plants which could be sold to authorized agencies, something it says would generate over 420,000 baht per year per family.

“If we can push for this to make our people’s lives a little better, why not do it?” Newin said.

Heading the project is his daughter, Chidchanok “Nan” Chidchob. She said the three-day festival will welcome cannabis activists to lead talks and Rangsit University professors to host educational workshops on medical marijuana.

Nan said Tuesday that the event’s goal is to push for marijuana liberation and give everyone a “full-immersion experience” that covers all of marijuana’s benefits – economic, medical and recreational.

Well-known hip-hop acts and rappers such as Joey Boy, Thaitanium and Twopee will be those among music playing three stages alongside art installations, food stalls and handcraft vendors popping up in the open-air venue.

Pan Ram will run April 19-21 at the Chang International Circuit. The Formula 1 track is located in Buriram city, about 400 kilometers from Bangkok.

Newin Chidchob sports his Party Party T-shirt making light of his life after national politics. Photo: Uncle Newin / Facebook

Tickets are 420 baht per day, and 1,000 baht for all three days. More details will be announced at a later date.

Those bringing valid medical certificates for one of the conditions that can now be legally treated with cannabis can enter free of charge.

Pan Ram is Thailand’s second pro-cannabis festival.

In Bangkok, advocacy group Highland is hosting its fifth such event on the same day. The 5th Thailand 420 will take place on April 20 at Runway 3119, a night market near Suvarnabhumi International Airport in the capital’s Lat Krabang district.

As marijuana decriminalization spreads worldwide, April 20 or Weed Day has become celebrated globally with events embracing cannabis culture.

khaosodenglish.com

Thai media reported that the Toyota Fortuner that slammed into a line of motorbikes injuring many people yesterday was driven by a British man. 

Sanook and The Pattaya News said in stories that he was arrested by police and tested for alcohol. The news media said that he appeared drunk.

They also both reported that he has a prosthetic left arm..

Some 15 bikes were damaged and the back of a song thaew was also damaged in the accident around 11 am Tuesday.

A 60 year old female tourist, a 65 year old male tourist and a 40-45 year old Thai man were reportedly injured at the scene.

Reports suggested that the Fortuner arrived at speed and hit a bike coming out of a bank near the end of Soi 13/3 on Beach Road. Losing control the Fortuner then collided with a song thaew and plowed into the line of bikes.

Sources: Sanook

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The owner of a pack of dogs that savagely attacked a three year old in Sri Racha has said he has run out of money. He has already paid over 100,000 baht for the victim’s treatment. 

Little Namning was left seriously injured in hospital after he fell over and was mauled by Praphan Phromprasert’s ten dogs.

He is a 52 year old motorcycle taxi driver.

He at first took responsibility by paying a 50,000 baht deposit to the hospital from his savings. He then borrowed 50,000 baht more.

Then he said he had to find 10,300 baht to complete the bill.

The mother of the victim was now demanding that he keep paying for wound washing on a daily basis. Patsana, 41, also said she has had to stop work to care for her child.

Praphan says he has run out of money.

Patsana has gone to the police to seek their advice.

The cops plan to get them both in to resolve the matter.

Source: Daily News

 

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