News
Six buildings demolished for encroaching national park land on Phi Phi

A hundred officers from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, police, military and Office of Forestry demolished houses and shops located next to the national park booth. The team expect the full demolition to take 3 days.
“It started in 2014 when the officers discovered the land encroachment. The man who claims to own the land, Aran Rothakan, has been charged for encroachment on national park land and was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 6,000 Baht fine.
As he confessed his punishment was reduced to 3 months and a 3,000 Baht fine. Because he has never had any criminal record and the encroachment is only 0-0-50 rai, he received a suspension of sentence for two years and has been ordered to move out,” said Chief of National Park Unit of Protected Areas Regional Office 5, Opat Nuanmangso.
“Since them, the national park officers attached an eviction notice as a part of the demolition process according to the section 22. The estimated national loss for this encroachment is 800,000 Baht.
“There are still many pieces of encroached land on Phi Phi Island and many of them are under investigation on the Nor Sor 3 land paper or prosecution process. Phi Phi Island land is a valuable resource to Thailand and attracts a lot of encroachers.”
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World
Thai chef pleads for justice after child kills her cat in New York park

A Thai-born chef, who now lives in New York, has launched a social media campaign calling for justice for her pet cat after the feline was attacked and killed by a child. Suchanan “Rung” Aksornnan says she was walking her cats, Ponzu and Kimchi, along with her dog, Tofu, and parakeet, Mango, in a Brooklyn park, when a boy ran towards her and grabbed Ponzu’s leash with such force that the cat, who suffers with a heart condition, flew into the air before hitting the ground. The boy then proceeded to drag the cat several metres, with the animal later dying of his injuries.
It’s understood Suchanan confronted the boy and his family but received no apology. The child’s family, understood to be Puerto Rican nationals, have defended the boy, saying Suchanan shouldn’t have been walking her cat in a public place. The confrontation became physical, with Suchanan slapped in the face, strangled, and kicked, according to the Coconuts report. Her boyfriend’s nose was also broken before passers-by came to their rescue.
Police have now arrested a 42 year old woman named as Evelyn Serrano, who has been charged with assault. Suchanan says she too has visited the police station to provide additional information and the Thai consulate has been in touch to offer assistance. Meanwhile, news of the cat’s death has gone viral on social media, with #justiceforponzo trending on Instagram, where Ponzu had over 38,000 followers.
Suchanan owns an Asian-fusion restaurant in Brooklyn. She was born in Chiang Mai and moved to the US with her family at the age of 15.
SOURCE: Coconuts
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Indonesia
Search continues for missing Indonesian submarine with 53 crew on board

Officials in Indonesia are continuing to search for a submarine that disappeared while on a routine exercise on Wednesday, with 53 crew members on board. The Indonesian military has issued a warning about unverified information and speculation after the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine went missing. It’s understood the vessel is expected to run out of oxygen within hours.
Military spokesman Achmad Riad addressed a press conference yesterday, in which he confirmed that contact was lost with the submarine as it was undertaking a torpedo exercise about 95 kilometres off the coast of Bali.
“The last communication with KRI Nanggala was at 4:25am when the drill commander was authorising a torpedo launch, that’s when communication with Nanggala was cut off.”
According to a Coconuts report, there has been some speculation, some of it by officials, that there may have been an electrical failure during the submarine’s descent and that water pressure may have caused damage to the fuel tank. Achmad won’t be drawn further on the reports, saying the military is waiting for more information.
On board the missing vessel are 49 crew members, the submarine’s commander, and 3 arsenal personnel. The German-built submarine is one of 5 that belong to the Indonesian navy. A number of other countries, including Singapore and Australia, are assisting in the search.
SOURCE: Coconuts
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Covid UPDATE: 2,070 new infections reported today

Reports on Thai media and announcements on social media say 2,070 new Covid-19 cases and 4 coronavirus-related deaths were confirmed today, raising the total number of cases since the outbreak on April 1 to 21,230 and this month’s Covid death toll to 27.
The reported number is the highest daily total ever reported in Thailand.
The numbers are unofficial and have been reported on Thai news outlets, shared on LINE messaging chats and posted by local expat blogger Richard Barrow. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration will have more information in their official daily briefing which starts at 11:30am.
There are now 15,642 people being treated in hospitals for Covid-19, including 352 people who are in critical condition with with “severe pneumonia”. 91 Covid patients are on ventilators. Another 4,231 people with Covid-19 are in field hospitals.
The CCSA will give an update today with more information and an official report.

Daily new Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of 22 April 2021, according to Worldometers.

Active Covid-19 cases in Thailand as of 22 April 2021, according to Worldometers.
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