News Desk

Myanmar: Sacked – Top general accused of involvement in Rohingya crackdown

Published

1 year ago

June 26, 2018

The Thaiger & The Nation

Myanmar: Sacked – Top general accused of involvement in Rohingya crackdown | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Major General Maung Maung Soe amd defacto Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi

Myanmar is accused of a crackdown in Rakhine state that has, so far, forced 700,000 Rohingya to flee. The UN and major western powers describe the crackdown as “ethnic cleansing”.

In response, Myanmar’s military now says it’s sacked a top general who was named in fresh EU sanctions against security officials accused of serious rights violations in the Rohingya crisis, including killings and sexual violence.

The Nation is reporting that Myanmar’s leaders have come under fire for taking little punitive action against the military, which has maintained its troops were responding to attacks by Rohingya militant. But the military said in a Facebook post that Major General Maung Maung Soe, the former head of the western command in Rakhine, had been “purged” for poor performance.

The announcement came after the EU said he was among seven security officials hit with travel bans and asset freezes, but Myanmar did not link his sacking to the new sanctions. The Facebook post said Maung Maung Soe was first ‘reassigned’ last November, and that his removal from his position in the western command was to “inspect his responsibility over his weakness while working for Rakhine state stability”.

Maung Maung Soe was also the target of US sanctions last year over the Rohingya crisis. The statement added that Lieutenant General Aung Kyaw Zaw – commander of the bureau of special operations and also on the EU list – was permitted to resign in May for health reasons and “weakness in serving duty”.

The EU said the individuals were targeted because of their “involvement in or association with atrocities and serious human rights violations committed against the Rohingya population in Rakhine state in the second half of 2017.”

“These violations include unlawful killings, sexual violence and the systematic burning of Rohingya houses and buildings.”

Most Rohingya refugees have settled in squalid camps in neighbouring Bangladesh and say they are too afraid to return to Myanmar though both countries have signed a repatriation deal.

SOURCE: The Nation

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Bangkok

Weather warning for summer storms in upper Thailand

Published

7 months ago

March 30, 2019

The Thaiger

The Thai Meteorological Department has announced weather warnings for potential summer storms in upper Thailand.

They say a high-pressure system from China will extend to, and meet, the hot weather over upper Thailand.

“From March 31 – April 3, outbreaks of summer thunderstorms will be likely in the upper country.”

Thunderstorms, gusty winds and hail are possible, first in the Northeast region and then East, Central and the Northern regions.

“Please stay safe from the severe conditions by keeping away from open areas, big trees and unsecured billboards whilst storms are brewing. Farmers are advised to prepare for crop damage.”

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News Desk

Pattaya’s “sex gurus” ordered to remain in detention as they continue fight

Published

1 year ago

July 23, 2018

The Thaiger

Ten Russian self-appraised ‘sex gurus’ at the centre of a sex-techniques course held in Pattaya in February have been ordered to remain in detention by the Pattaya Court.

The Thai News Agency are reporting that eight of the ten involved in offering the course appeared in court at the end of last week. The Court asked if they admitted their crimes – they all denied it. The eight also informed the Court that they had instructed lawyers to fight their cases. They were then taken back to jail to await their next day in court.

One person is charged with overstay, three with illegal entry and all ten, “working without a work permit”.

They were arrested on February 26 in a Pattaya Sai 2 Road hotel where they were allegedly conducting courses on sex techniques to 43 Russians who had paid 20,000 baht each.

The group were led by 35 year old “Alex Leslie” and “Nastya Rubka”. Nasty (aka Anastasia Vashukevich) later tried to trade her freedom for information about meddling in the US elections claiming she had connections with Russian oligarchs.

The location of Alex and Nastya is not mentioned in the TNA story but they are understood to remain in detention in Bangkok whilst investigations in to their claims continues.

SOURCE: Thai News Agency

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Chiang Rai

“Not for sale at any price” – Mu Pa Academy VP

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2018

The Thaiger

In the wake of 13 of their young footballers being rescued from the Tham Luang caves, TNA reports that some of the world’s biggest football clubs are showing interest in actually buying the Mu Pa football academy.

But the club’s vice president and manager Kittipong Intaechai says, despite the interest, his club is not for sale at any price.

Mr Intaechai notes the purpose of the academy is to help improve the lives of local boys in Chiang Rai through playing football, not to make money. Mr Intaechai is also warning the public about buying ‘Wild Boar’ souvenirs. In the aftermath of the rescue many souvenirs have been created that include the logo and name of the Wild Boar team.

“These have not been produced by the club but instead by people hoping to cash in on the back of the success of the rescue operation.”

While none of the clubs supposedly interested in buying the Wild Boars were named in the TNA report, teams from the around the world have offered support and gifts to the boys following their rescue from the cave.

German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich recently sent well wishes to the boys along with 13 replica jerseys which have ‘Moopa Academy’ printed on the back.

Manchester United previously invited the boys to their Old Trafford stadium and Carrington training base, while Portugal’s Benfica has also offered the boys an all expenses paid trip to train at its academy in Seixal, near Lisbon.