IVT Corporation announced today that it will demonstrate its new mobile health system at GSMA Mobile Asia Congress in Hong Kong on Nov. 18-19, at Booth F08, and CES 2010 in Las Vegas. This system allows medical monitoring from home, reducing risk of diseases and assisting with emergency rescue.
It includes:
1) A device kit with: an S120 mobile phone, wireless blood pressure meter, ECG monitor, oximeter and PSTN access point. Using these, patients measure blood pressure, cardiogram and blood oxygen levels. Vital signs are displayed on the S120 and are automatically added to the patient's health records on a remote server. The test results can be forwarded to a third party via short messages, allowing for easy monitoring by loved ones. The kit is very small and convenient.
2) An online platform has been created (http://www.mhealthservices.com ) where patients' health data is recorded in a database, provides a series of healthcare information, and can be accessed 24/7 by hospitals, emergency centres, or patients and their relatives. A special entry is given to the national emergency centre, so when the centre receives a call, the incoming caller ID provides access to the caller's e-health records, allowing them to provide better services. A similar entry exists for hospitals for a better
understanding of a patient's history.
3) A call centre in China (400-8186-120) provides 24-hour health consultations and assists processing emergency rescue requirements sent by clients.
4) The S120 is the first healthcare mobile phone featuring Fixed-Mobile Convergence. It is bound with a fixed-lined telephone via the wireless PSTN access point and can be used as a cordless phone.
If an accident happens, patients can press the S120's hotkey to connect directly to the emergency centre, to IVT's call centre via a GPRS link in real time, and automatically send a short message to all parties (IVT's call centre, emergency centre and relatives), if indoors, it connects via a PSTN line when the mobile signal is weak and the rescue message will have an indoor location.
IVT is providing mobile health services in China, IVT also exports the complete system worldwide with customizations.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
CIGNA Thailand on target to grow over 80 % this year and aims to be the market leader of affinity marketing of insurance services in Thailand
CIGNA Thailand is upbeat about its bright prospects, following the achievement of the sales growth of over 80 percent year-to-date. This is higher than planned target of the 40 percent annual growth targeted for Y2008-2010, owing to its continued successful implementation of the three-year business plan. As a result, its business partner number has significantly increased while call center seats jumped to 500 at present and is expected to further increase to between 800 seats to 1,000 seats by the end of next year. CIGNA is charging to be the market leader of affinity marketing of insurance services in Thailand within 3 years.
Mr. Gary Wayne Denson, Chief Executive Officer & Country Manager of CIGNA Insurance Public Company (CIPCL) and CIGNA International Marketing (Thailand) Limited (CIMT), affiliate of CIGNA Corporation and CIGNA International, said that during the first nine months of this year CIGNA Insurance Public Company Limited recorded insurance premiums of 214.2 million Baht, jumping 196 per cent from 72.35 million Baht over the same period last year, and surging 81.5 percent from 118 million Baht at the end of last year.
Mr. Denson said that one major contributor to the sales growth is the company’s successful implementation of the three-year business plan, which was announced late last year, and with the focus on differentiating our strategic initiatives to the market.
“Our business model is based on the affinity partnership. Therefore, the growth of our business partner number is very important to the growth of our business. It’s clear that one of our strategies for success is expanding the number of the business partners to as many as we can. We’re proud to say that our business partner number increased by triple from last year, most of which are the country’s leading financial institutions, plus major companies in the telecom, retail, automotive, and IT sectors,” he added.
He said that all the partners have entrusted CIGNA to provide the insurance products to their clients because of the company’s uniqueness in many areas, including its home-grown CVM strategy and legacy system called Customer Value Management (CVM), which enables the company to offer the right products and services to the right customers at the right time via the right channel. In addition, CIGNA has continued to introduce a wide array of the innovative Accidence and Health insurance products to the market. The company is the first insurance company in Thailand to introduce the Dental Protection Plan and the Vision Protection Plan. Moreover, CIGNA has continued to uplift its call center management and Telesales Representative performance to meet the international standard practices and also to comply with the OIC regulations. It has also continued developing multi -channels in order to effectively reach different customer segments. Furthermore, it has dedicatedly improved the excellence of its employees in all areas . All of these are part of its three-year business plan.
Mr. Denson said that CIGNA has strictly followed the strategies of its three-year business plan and achieved many successes this year. For an example, the company becomes the first and only insurance company in Thailand to secure the ISO 27001 certification of the Information Security Management System (ISMS).. This has boosted the level of trust and confidence in the company by its partners, who can be ensured that their customer lists entrusted to CIGNA are highly protected all the times.
Moreover, the deployment of the CVM enables CIGNA to identify the right customer target groups and also know which products in priority order to offer to specific customers. “For an example, if CIGNA has database of 100,000 customers, it does not have to randomly contact all of them as CIGNA can create a data model of 10,000 customers in order to analyze their profile and spending behaviors to find the actionable insight. Then we will apply the insight to the rest of database list. This enables the company to contact only those intending to buy to its products. The result is its ‘response rate to buy’ has kept increasing. It also means that the company’s Telesales Representatives do not have to make calls to all the customers while the customers will not have to pick up the irrelevant unsolicited calls. This practice is the trademark of CIGNA worldwide, including in Thailand, and it explains why CIGNA has earned enthusiastic response from the business partners.” Said Mr. Denson.
As the number of the company’s business partner has increased, the number of the customer lists entrusted to CIGNA has risen accordingly, prompting the company to increase its Telesales Representative number to serve its fast growing business. Currently CIGNA has two call center sites, one in its headquarters in Ploenchit and the other in CM Tower Building, Wong Wian Yai. Both venues feature combined 500 call center seats, an increase from 210 seats earlier this year. The company has a plan to increase the number of the seats to between 800 to 1,000 at the end of next year, in line with the growing business partner number.
CIGNA does not only increase the Telesales Representative number but also uplift its call center management and telesales practices to be complied with international standard and also in compliance with the OIC rules. For an example, they are required to have a license before they are permitted to solicit sales. It is mandatory that they have to make the Welcome Call or the calls to ask for customer’s confirmation of their agreement to buy the insurance plans within seven days after the customers agreed to buy the insurance plans. All of these reflect CIGNA’s strict compliance with all the relevant state regulations, regardless of the incurred additional cost from the practices.
“Due to our various achievements since early this year, CIGNA Thailand can beat the planned target of annual sales growth of 40 per cent for Y2008 -2010. This year we are on target to achieve 80 % sales growth. Moreover, we’re strongly confident that what we’re doing will definitely make us become the market leader of the Accident and Health insurance products and services provider through the telemarketing channel and alternative channels in Thailand within three years,” Mr.Denson concluded.
Mr. Gary Wayne Denson, Chief Executive Officer & Country Manager of CIGNA Insurance Public Company (CIPCL) and CIGNA International Marketing (Thailand) Limited (CIMT), affiliate of CIGNA Corporation and CIGNA International, said that during the first nine months of this year CIGNA Insurance Public Company Limited recorded insurance premiums of 214.2 million Baht, jumping 196 per cent from 72.35 million Baht over the same period last year, and surging 81.5 percent from 118 million Baht at the end of last year.
Mr. Denson said that one major contributor to the sales growth is the company’s successful implementation of the three-year business plan, which was announced late last year, and with the focus on differentiating our strategic initiatives to the market.
“Our business model is based on the affinity partnership. Therefore, the growth of our business partner number is very important to the growth of our business. It’s clear that one of our strategies for success is expanding the number of the business partners to as many as we can. We’re proud to say that our business partner number increased by triple from last year, most of which are the country’s leading financial institutions, plus major companies in the telecom, retail, automotive, and IT sectors,” he added.
He said that all the partners have entrusted CIGNA to provide the insurance products to their clients because of the company’s uniqueness in many areas, including its home-grown CVM strategy and legacy system called Customer Value Management (CVM), which enables the company to offer the right products and services to the right customers at the right time via the right channel. In addition, CIGNA has continued to introduce a wide array of the innovative Accidence and Health insurance products to the market. The company is the first insurance company in Thailand to introduce the Dental Protection Plan and the Vision Protection Plan. Moreover, CIGNA has continued to uplift its call center management and Telesales Representative performance to meet the international standard practices and also to comply with the OIC regulations. It has also continued developing multi -channels in order to effectively reach different customer segments. Furthermore, it has dedicatedly improved the excellence of its employees in all areas . All of these are part of its three-year business plan.
Mr. Denson said that CIGNA has strictly followed the strategies of its three-year business plan and achieved many successes this year. For an example, the company becomes the first and only insurance company in Thailand to secure the ISO 27001 certification of the Information Security Management System (ISMS).. This has boosted the level of trust and confidence in the company by its partners, who can be ensured that their customer lists entrusted to CIGNA are highly protected all the times.
Moreover, the deployment of the CVM enables CIGNA to identify the right customer target groups and also know which products in priority order to offer to specific customers. “For an example, if CIGNA has database of 100,000 customers, it does not have to randomly contact all of them as CIGNA can create a data model of 10,000 customers in order to analyze their profile and spending behaviors to find the actionable insight. Then we will apply the insight to the rest of database list. This enables the company to contact only those intending to buy to its products. The result is its ‘response rate to buy’ has kept increasing. It also means that the company’s Telesales Representatives do not have to make calls to all the customers while the customers will not have to pick up the irrelevant unsolicited calls. This practice is the trademark of CIGNA worldwide, including in Thailand, and it explains why CIGNA has earned enthusiastic response from the business partners.” Said Mr. Denson.
As the number of the company’s business partner has increased, the number of the customer lists entrusted to CIGNA has risen accordingly, prompting the company to increase its Telesales Representative number to serve its fast growing business. Currently CIGNA has two call center sites, one in its headquarters in Ploenchit and the other in CM Tower Building, Wong Wian Yai. Both venues feature combined 500 call center seats, an increase from 210 seats earlier this year. The company has a plan to increase the number of the seats to between 800 to 1,000 at the end of next year, in line with the growing business partner number.
CIGNA does not only increase the Telesales Representative number but also uplift its call center management and telesales practices to be complied with international standard and also in compliance with the OIC rules. For an example, they are required to have a license before they are permitted to solicit sales. It is mandatory that they have to make the Welcome Call or the calls to ask for customer’s confirmation of their agreement to buy the insurance plans within seven days after the customers agreed to buy the insurance plans. All of these reflect CIGNA’s strict compliance with all the relevant state regulations, regardless of the incurred additional cost from the practices.
“Due to our various achievements since early this year, CIGNA Thailand can beat the planned target of annual sales growth of 40 per cent for Y2008 -2010. This year we are on target to achieve 80 % sales growth. Moreover, we’re strongly confident that what we’re doing will definitely make us become the market leader of the Accident and Health insurance products and services provider through the telemarketing channel and alternative channels in Thailand within three years,” Mr.Denson concluded.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
FIRE BLACKENS PTTEP
Analysts bearish on firm and parent; project may be written off
PTT Exploration and Production has managed to squelch the
main fire at its Montara offshore well in the Timor Sea
and plugged the oil and gas leak, but it may end up having to write off the entire Bt20-billion project.
Avin Sony, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities, is particularly bearish on PTTEP.
He wrote in a report on Monday called "Platform Fire Burns Growth" that insurance might not compensate for all of the damage from the fire at the oil rig's platform.
"PTTEP has insurance coverage that allows for US$75 million [Bt2.51 billion] for damage and clean-up per occurrence, $50 million third-party casualty and up to $143 million well-head plat-
form insurance if the plat-form is totally destroyed," he said.
"We believe the total cost for the incident, which is yet to be ascertained, may exceed the insurance cover.
"Nonetheless, in the worst-case scenario, if PTTEP is unable to control the oil spill for the next two months, we believe it may have to write off the whole project. Total write-off cost could mount up to $600 million to $700 million [amounting to B6 per share]. This, in our view, will remain a key overhang on the stock."
PTTEP's shares fell 5.11 per cent yesterday to close at Bt130 on investors' concern over the company's misfortune with its Australian subsidiary. Last month, PTTEP hit a high of Bt164 with market capitalisation reaching more than Bt400 billion.
PTT, the parent of PTTEP, also took a beating yesterday. Its stock price fell 2.15 per cent to Bt228, against a high of Bt277 last month.
Both stocks account for signi-ficant weighting of the
Stock Exchange of Thailand Index.
Brokers said foreign investors have been rushing for the exit, dumping PTTEP by more than Bt10 billion so far. Yesterday, foreign selling continued at Bt2.88 billion, reflecting fears PTTEP might bleed money badly or be hit with environmental lawsuits in its exploration in the Timor Sea.
"The problem is that PTTEP might not lose just $600 million from its investment in the Australian unit from the fire, which has blackened its credibility, but it could lose more money if it
had to take on environmental lawsuits. Chevron faced lawsuits from its oil spill amounting to $20 billion," an observer said.
A Bualuang Securities analyst said in the worst case, PTTEP would shed Bt23 from its stock price as a result of the loss from its Australian drilling unit. That would cut its crude-oil sales 10 per cent to 253,000 barrels per day next year, from an initial projection of 282,000bpd. Its profit will decline 29 per cent this year and 23 per cent next year.
"But we don't think PTTEP will abandon the Australian operation, since it has about 32 million barrels in oil reserves," the analyst said.
In a research note, Ayudhya Securities said if oil production were delayed by 18 months to the third quarter of 2011, PTTEP's net profit would decline Bt37.28 billion, or 14 per cent, next year.
The securities house suspects the fire will also pressure the company's fourth-quarter net profit this year, because the company must book the cost of battling the blaze and massive oil spill.
The brokerage said it was highly possible production could be delayed, because PTTEP had to consider whether damage to the well-head was too great for production to resume.
If so, PTTEP may have to build a new well-head platform to replace the damaged one, which would take at least 18 months.
PTT Exploration and Production has managed to squelch the
main fire at its Montara offshore well in the Timor Sea
and plugged the oil and gas leak, but it may end up having to write off the entire Bt20-billion project.
Avin Sony, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities, is particularly bearish on PTTEP.
He wrote in a report on Monday called "Platform Fire Burns Growth" that insurance might not compensate for all of the damage from the fire at the oil rig's platform.
"PTTEP has insurance coverage that allows for US$75 million [Bt2.51 billion] for damage and clean-up per occurrence, $50 million third-party casualty and up to $143 million well-head plat-
form insurance if the plat-form is totally destroyed," he said.
"We believe the total cost for the incident, which is yet to be ascertained, may exceed the insurance cover.
"Nonetheless, in the worst-case scenario, if PTTEP is unable to control the oil spill for the next two months, we believe it may have to write off the whole project. Total write-off cost could mount up to $600 million to $700 million [amounting to B6 per share]. This, in our view, will remain a key overhang on the stock."
PTTEP's shares fell 5.11 per cent yesterday to close at Bt130 on investors' concern over the company's misfortune with its Australian subsidiary. Last month, PTTEP hit a high of Bt164 with market capitalisation reaching more than Bt400 billion.
PTT, the parent of PTTEP, also took a beating yesterday. Its stock price fell 2.15 per cent to Bt228, against a high of Bt277 last month.
Both stocks account for signi-ficant weighting of the
Stock Exchange of Thailand Index.
Brokers said foreign investors have been rushing for the exit, dumping PTTEP by more than Bt10 billion so far. Yesterday, foreign selling continued at Bt2.88 billion, reflecting fears PTTEP might bleed money badly or be hit with environmental lawsuits in its exploration in the Timor Sea.
"The problem is that PTTEP might not lose just $600 million from its investment in the Australian unit from the fire, which has blackened its credibility, but it could lose more money if it
had to take on environmental lawsuits. Chevron faced lawsuits from its oil spill amounting to $20 billion," an observer said.
A Bualuang Securities analyst said in the worst case, PTTEP would shed Bt23 from its stock price as a result of the loss from its Australian drilling unit. That would cut its crude-oil sales 10 per cent to 253,000 barrels per day next year, from an initial projection of 282,000bpd. Its profit will decline 29 per cent this year and 23 per cent next year.
"But we don't think PTTEP will abandon the Australian operation, since it has about 32 million barrels in oil reserves," the analyst said.
In a research note, Ayudhya Securities said if oil production were delayed by 18 months to the third quarter of 2011, PTTEP's net profit would decline Bt37.28 billion, or 14 per cent, next year.
The securities house suspects the fire will also pressure the company's fourth-quarter net profit this year, because the company must book the cost of battling the blaze and massive oil spill.
The brokerage said it was highly possible production could be delayed, because PTTEP had to consider whether damage to the well-head was too great for production to resume.
If so, PTTEP may have to build a new well-head platform to replace the damaged one, which would take at least 18 months.
STIFFENING RESOLVE, MISSED BIRTHDAY OPPORTUNITY
Two presenters of a saucy late-night TV show are bickering over the right way to refer to the male member in public, in a growing row which started over herbal erection gels.
Piyamas "Boo" Monayakul has warned co-presenter Jutharat "Mor Oiy" Athakorn to watch her words, after bad publicity concerning an erection gel that she promotes started hurting her own sex-aid earnings.Both co-hosts have a hand in the lucrative herbal supplements industry.
Mor Oiy has fallen foul of the law for endorsing an illegal sexual performance gel, which Boo says is having an impact on her own business.
Boo runs a health and cosmetics company which sells the Return Brother erection gel. She said sales have plummeted since drug authorities declared last week that a rival erection gel promoted by Mor Oiy is actually fake.
Mor Oiy promotes the Max Andro for Men erection gel for a Bangkok company which was raided by drugs authorities.
On Sept 18, the Food and Drug Administration raided Property Technology Ltd and Facial and Body Essentials Ltd in the Chatuchak area.Two men were arrested, and 500,000 baht worth of goods seized.
The suspects have been charged with distributing and selling a fake gel, and displaying a bogus label.FDA's deputy secretary-general,Narangsan Peerakij, said he would call in the gel promoter, Mor Oiy, to warn her to be more careful.
Her television co-host Boo says Thais are now confusing the two gels, and that as a result, sales of her product, Return Brother - which she says has drug agency approval - have suffered.
Boo and her business partner in Return2Beauty Ltd, Anan "Uan"Semathong, went before the media holding a tube of Return Brother,and a prosthetic penis.
"In comments on the drug raid,Mor Oiy mentioned the words,'little brother' to refer to the penis.
"Our product goes by a similar name, and Thais are now linking the two. Our income has plunged,"said Boo, who struggled to hold back tears.
"Thais are asking whether Return Brother is fake, and whether a herbal coffee we have launched is actually a sexual enhancement drug in disguise," she complained.
The coffee is aimed at older men,but is not a sex drug, she insists.
"We have worked together for more than a year, and are still friends.But her slip of the tongue has cost us dearly," said Boo.
Boo and Mor Oiy present the Sexy Night show on H Plus Channel, part of Asia Television, where ads for Mor Oiy's gel were also aired.
In response, Mor Oiy said everyone knows that "little brother"(nong chai in Thai) is a veiled reference to the male member. She would keep using it, as there are few better alternatives.
"It's just a misunderstanding,"she said, referring to Boo's warning.
Known for her daring magazine shoots, Mor Oiy posed virtually naked in July for the Thai edition of Penthouse magazine.
"I graduated in nursing, and have examined men's penises for years.The company selling the gel naturally thought of me when it wanted a star to promote it," said Mor Oiy.
However, she denies complicity in any attempt to hoodwink the public."I'm a woman - how would I know if it actually works?"
The model and presenter insists she took proper precautions before agreeing to promote the product."The owner told me it had FDA certification, and showed me the documents," she insisted."I also asked the guys on my television crew.They assured me it did the trick."
As for the drug agency warning,Mor Oiy said she suspects the FDA is merely trying to drum up publicity for itself."I might have to sue. I act as promoter for many products, and this could damage my credibility."
Many happy returns?
Woe betide a man who forgets his former girlfriend's birthday, says playboy model/DJ Pakorn "Dome"Lum, still smarting after his exgirlfriend accused him of having no heart when he failed to send her best wishes on her big day.
Actress Cherman "Ploy"Boonyasak is unhappy Dome forgot her birthday last Tuesday, and has told everybody how she feels.
He did not send her a text message to mark the event, which showed he was selfish and mean, she told reporters. They were also supposed to make merit at a temple, but he did not contact her.
Asked about her remarks, Dome insisted he did not forget, but chose to let Ploy's birthday pass - just as Ploy had chosen to say nothing on his birthday, which fell just three days before.
"I am getting sick of this nonsense," said Dome, fuming at journalists.
"If I was to say that my own birthday fell three days before, and that Ploy let it pass unremarked,what would you say? It would become a bone of contention between us.
"I am now seeing someone else.If I had sent Ploy a birthday message,then you'd start asking howmy new friend felt. I can't win," he said.
Two stars who have fallen out should set an example to the young,and avoid skirmishing in public, he said.
"We have to be able to look each other in the face, even though we are no longer an item."
Ploy and Dome were hailed by the media as a fairy-tale couple.Dome said that despite the exchange over the forgotten birthday, they are still good friends, and are hired to turn up as a couple at industry events.
Sticks and stones
Model Sura "Nicky the Stick"Theerakol has hurt himself in a motorcycle accident, but says his vital parts are still in working order.
"My right elbow is shattered, and I cut my nose, but my nine inches are still intact," said Nicky, referring to the "stick" that gives him his nickname.
"I checked with a male nurse,and he said it's fine."
He was speaking from Piyawet Hospital, where Nicky is recovering after his motorcycle overturned in the Ratchayothin Road area early last Tuesday.
Nicky was heading to the market when the front tyre of his bike burst.
"I came off the bike, which charged on ahead of me. I was spun about,and felt my arm strike the footpath.Then I hit a tree face-on.
"At that moment I thought I would probably not be able to pose nude again, but it turned out to be not so bad," he joked.
"I didn't faint, which is a pity, as it might have dulled the pain," he said."The first person I called, as I propped myself up on the footpath,was a woman friend, as I needed care and attention."
Also known as the "Godfather of Nude" for his revealing photo spreads, Nicky underwent a threehour operation on his elbow, and will wear a cast on his arm for six weeks.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Grammy singer Pichaya "Golf"Nitipaisalkul has severed a tendon in his hand. After he was bandaged up, mum hastened him off to a temple to make merit.
Golf, of the singing duo Golf and Mike, was practising his dance moves in front of a mirror when he whacked it with his right hand, severing a tendon.
The doctor says he will have to wear a plaster cast for a month, but his mum is worried it might herald a spell of further bad luck.
"This is the most serious injury Golf has suffered," said Mrs Prasai."Last time he tore a tendon, this time he has severed it. Who knows what will happen next, so I took him to a temple in Sing Buri to make merit.
"I can't remember the name of the place, but we made a donation for a new Buddha statue, so hopefully that will alleviate any bad luck which follows. I also told him to visit his fortune teller, to see what he has to say," said Mrs Prasai.
Piyamas "Boo" Monayakul has warned co-presenter Jutharat "Mor Oiy" Athakorn to watch her words, after bad publicity concerning an erection gel that she promotes started hurting her own sex-aid earnings.Both co-hosts have a hand in the lucrative herbal supplements industry.
Mor Oiy has fallen foul of the law for endorsing an illegal sexual performance gel, which Boo says is having an impact on her own business.
Boo runs a health and cosmetics company which sells the Return Brother erection gel. She said sales have plummeted since drug authorities declared last week that a rival erection gel promoted by Mor Oiy is actually fake.
Mor Oiy promotes the Max Andro for Men erection gel for a Bangkok company which was raided by drugs authorities.
On Sept 18, the Food and Drug Administration raided Property Technology Ltd and Facial and Body Essentials Ltd in the Chatuchak area.Two men were arrested, and 500,000 baht worth of goods seized.
The suspects have been charged with distributing and selling a fake gel, and displaying a bogus label.FDA's deputy secretary-general,Narangsan Peerakij, said he would call in the gel promoter, Mor Oiy, to warn her to be more careful.
Her television co-host Boo says Thais are now confusing the two gels, and that as a result, sales of her product, Return Brother - which she says has drug agency approval - have suffered.
Boo and her business partner in Return2Beauty Ltd, Anan "Uan"Semathong, went before the media holding a tube of Return Brother,and a prosthetic penis.
"In comments on the drug raid,Mor Oiy mentioned the words,'little brother' to refer to the penis.
"Our product goes by a similar name, and Thais are now linking the two. Our income has plunged,"said Boo, who struggled to hold back tears.
"Thais are asking whether Return Brother is fake, and whether a herbal coffee we have launched is actually a sexual enhancement drug in disguise," she complained.
The coffee is aimed at older men,but is not a sex drug, she insists.
"We have worked together for more than a year, and are still friends.But her slip of the tongue has cost us dearly," said Boo.
Boo and Mor Oiy present the Sexy Night show on H Plus Channel, part of Asia Television, where ads for Mor Oiy's gel were also aired.
In response, Mor Oiy said everyone knows that "little brother"(nong chai in Thai) is a veiled reference to the male member. She would keep using it, as there are few better alternatives.
"It's just a misunderstanding,"she said, referring to Boo's warning.
Known for her daring magazine shoots, Mor Oiy posed virtually naked in July for the Thai edition of Penthouse magazine.
"I graduated in nursing, and have examined men's penises for years.The company selling the gel naturally thought of me when it wanted a star to promote it," said Mor Oiy.
However, she denies complicity in any attempt to hoodwink the public."I'm a woman - how would I know if it actually works?"
The model and presenter insists she took proper precautions before agreeing to promote the product."The owner told me it had FDA certification, and showed me the documents," she insisted."I also asked the guys on my television crew.They assured me it did the trick."
As for the drug agency warning,Mor Oiy said she suspects the FDA is merely trying to drum up publicity for itself."I might have to sue. I act as promoter for many products, and this could damage my credibility."
Many happy returns?
Woe betide a man who forgets his former girlfriend's birthday, says playboy model/DJ Pakorn "Dome"Lum, still smarting after his exgirlfriend accused him of having no heart when he failed to send her best wishes on her big day.
Actress Cherman "Ploy"Boonyasak is unhappy Dome forgot her birthday last Tuesday, and has told everybody how she feels.
He did not send her a text message to mark the event, which showed he was selfish and mean, she told reporters. They were also supposed to make merit at a temple, but he did not contact her.
Asked about her remarks, Dome insisted he did not forget, but chose to let Ploy's birthday pass - just as Ploy had chosen to say nothing on his birthday, which fell just three days before.
"I am getting sick of this nonsense," said Dome, fuming at journalists.
"If I was to say that my own birthday fell three days before, and that Ploy let it pass unremarked,what would you say? It would become a bone of contention between us.
"I am now seeing someone else.If I had sent Ploy a birthday message,then you'd start asking howmy new friend felt. I can't win," he said.
Two stars who have fallen out should set an example to the young,and avoid skirmishing in public, he said.
"We have to be able to look each other in the face, even though we are no longer an item."
Ploy and Dome were hailed by the media as a fairy-tale couple.Dome said that despite the exchange over the forgotten birthday, they are still good friends, and are hired to turn up as a couple at industry events.
Sticks and stones
Model Sura "Nicky the Stick"Theerakol has hurt himself in a motorcycle accident, but says his vital parts are still in working order.
"My right elbow is shattered, and I cut my nose, but my nine inches are still intact," said Nicky, referring to the "stick" that gives him his nickname.
"I checked with a male nurse,and he said it's fine."
He was speaking from Piyawet Hospital, where Nicky is recovering after his motorcycle overturned in the Ratchayothin Road area early last Tuesday.
Nicky was heading to the market when the front tyre of his bike burst.
"I came off the bike, which charged on ahead of me. I was spun about,and felt my arm strike the footpath.Then I hit a tree face-on.
"At that moment I thought I would probably not be able to pose nude again, but it turned out to be not so bad," he joked.
"I didn't faint, which is a pity, as it might have dulled the pain," he said."The first person I called, as I propped myself up on the footpath,was a woman friend, as I needed care and attention."
Also known as the "Godfather of Nude" for his revealing photo spreads, Nicky underwent a threehour operation on his elbow, and will wear a cast on his arm for six weeks.
Mirror, mirror on the wall
Grammy singer Pichaya "Golf"Nitipaisalkul has severed a tendon in his hand. After he was bandaged up, mum hastened him off to a temple to make merit.
Golf, of the singing duo Golf and Mike, was practising his dance moves in front of a mirror when he whacked it with his right hand, severing a tendon.
The doctor says he will have to wear a plaster cast for a month, but his mum is worried it might herald a spell of further bad luck.
"This is the most serious injury Golf has suffered," said Mrs Prasai."Last time he tore a tendon, this time he has severed it. Who knows what will happen next, so I took him to a temple in Sing Buri to make merit.
"I can't remember the name of the place, but we made a donation for a new Buddha statue, so hopefully that will alleviate any bad luck which follows. I also told him to visit his fortune teller, to see what he has to say," said Mrs Prasai.
Magnificent seven
In the most important, most revered event since the invention of the brontosaurus trap,Microsoft shipped the most incredibly fabulous operating system ever made; the release of Windows 7 also spurred a new generation of personal computers of all sizes at prices well below last month's offers.The top reason Windows 7 does not suck: There is no registered website called Windows7Sucks.com
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Kindle e-book reader maker Amazon.com and new Nook e-book reader vendor Barnes and Noble got it on; B&N got great reviews for the "Kindle killer"Nook, with dual screens and touch controls so you can "turn" pages, plays MP3s and allows many non-B&N book formats, although not the Kindle one;Amazon then killed the US version of its Kindle in favour of the international one, reduced its price to $260(8,700 baht), same as the Nook; it's not yet clear what you can get in Thailand with a Nook, but you sure can't (yet) get much, relatively speaking, with a Kindle;but here's the biggest difference so far,which Amazon.com has ignored: the Nook lets you lend e-books to any other Nook owner, just as if they were paper books; the borrowed books expire on the borrower's Nook in two weeks.
Phone maker Nokia of Finland announced it is suing iPhone maker Apple of America for being a copycat; lawyers said they figure Nokia can get at least one, probably two per cent (retail) for every iPhone sold by Steve "President for Life" Jobs and crew via the lawsuit,which sure beats working for it -$6 (200 baht) to $12(400 baht) on 30 million phones sold so far, works out to $400 million or 25 percent of the whole Apple empire profits during the last quarter;there were 10 patent thefts, the Finnish executives said, on everything from moving data to security and encryption.
Nokia of Finland announced that it is one month behind on shipping its new flagship N900 phone, the first to run on Linux software; delay of the $750(25,000 baht) phone had absolutely no part in making Nokia so short that it had to sue Apple, slap yourself for such a thought.
Tim Berners-Lee, who created the World Wide Web, said he had one regret:the double slash that follows the "http:"in standard web addresses; he estimated that 14.2 gazillion users have wasted 48.72 bazillion hours typing those two keystrokes, and he's sorry; of course there's no reason to ever type that, since your browser does it for you when you type "www.bangkokpost.com" but Tim needs to admit he made one error in his lifetime.
The International Telecommunication Union of the United Nations, which doesn't sell any phones or services, announced that there should be a mobile phone charger that will work with any phone; now who would ever have thought of that, without a UN body to wind up a major study on the subject?;the GSM Association estimates that 51,000 tonnes of chargers are made each year in order to keep companies able to have their own unique ones.
The Well, Doh Award of the Week was presented at arm's length to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development; the group's deputy secretary-general Petko Draganov said that developing countries will miss some of the stuff available on the Internet if they don't install more broadband infrastructure; a report that used your tax baht to compile said that quite a few people use mobile phones but companies are more likely to invest in countries with excellent broadband connections; no one ever had thought of this before, right?
Sun Microsystems , as a result of the Oracle takeover, said it will allow 3,000 current workers never to bother coming to work again; Sun referred to the losses as "jobs," not people; now the fourth largest server maker in the world, Sun said it lost $2.2 billion in its last fiscal year; European regulators are holding up approval of the Oracle purchase in the hope of getting some money in exchange for not involving Oracle in court cases.
The multi-gazillionaire and very annoying investor Carl Icahn resigned from the board at Yahoo ; he spun it as a vote of confidence, saying current directors are taking the formerly threatened company seriously; Yahoo reported increased profits but smaller revenues in the third quarter.
The US House of Representatives voted to censure Vietnam for jailing bloggers; the non-binding resolution sponsored by southern California congresswoman Loretta Sanchez said the Internet is "a crucial tool for the citizens of Vietnam to be able to exercise their freedom of expression and association;"Hanoi has recently jailed at least nine activists for up to six years apiece for holding pro-democracy banners. Iran jailed blogger Hossein "Hoder" Derakshan for 10 months - in solitary confinement.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
PTT fails in third bid to plug oil leak
Thailand's PTTEP Australasia yesterday failed in its third bid to plug a leaking rig that has spilled thousands of barrels of crude into seas off Australia,alarming environmentalists.
PTT's exploration and production arm said it had missed its target for a relief well around 2.6km below the seabed for the third time this month and would try again in the coming days.
"The closer we get to the target with each pass the more certain we become of its location," PTTEP Australasia director Jose Martins said.
The leaking wellhead, about 25cm wide, has been gushing off Australia's northwest since Aug 21 with estimates putting discharge at 400 barrels a day.
"Setting up for each pass sequence takes between three and four days,"PTTEP said."Implementing the pass sequence must then be undertaken during daylight hours for safety reasons.
"Once the leaking well is successfully intercepted, heavy mud will be pumped down into the relief well, displacing the oil, gas and water and stopping the flow."
The spill is reportedly Australia's worst since offshore drilling began more than 40 years ago, and ecologists fear the toxic cocktail of oil and dispersant chemicals could threaten marine and coastal species. Australia's's Environment Minister Peter Garrett this week said PTTEP had agreed to pay for environmental monitoring of the area for at least two years. The Safety Authority said the closest oil patches were 160km from the Western Australian coast and about 190km from the Indonesian coast.
PTT's exploration and production arm said it had missed its target for a relief well around 2.6km below the seabed for the third time this month and would try again in the coming days.
"The closer we get to the target with each pass the more certain we become of its location," PTTEP Australasia director Jose Martins said.
The leaking wellhead, about 25cm wide, has been gushing off Australia's northwest since Aug 21 with estimates putting discharge at 400 barrels a day.
"Setting up for each pass sequence takes between three and four days,"PTTEP said."Implementing the pass sequence must then be undertaken during daylight hours for safety reasons.
"Once the leaking well is successfully intercepted, heavy mud will be pumped down into the relief well, displacing the oil, gas and water and stopping the flow."
The spill is reportedly Australia's worst since offshore drilling began more than 40 years ago, and ecologists fear the toxic cocktail of oil and dispersant chemicals could threaten marine and coastal species. Australia's's Environment Minister Peter Garrett this week said PTTEP had agreed to pay for environmental monitoring of the area for at least two years. The Safety Authority said the closest oil patches were 160km from the Western Australian coast and about 190km from the Indonesian coast.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Family electrocuted on rooftop
Police in Florida say a mother, father and 15-year-old son died after being electrocuted while putting up a ham radio antenna at their Palm Bay home.
Authorities say the three were found on the ground not breathing.
The family was attempting to raise the antenna when they lost control of the pole and it hit an overhead power line. The impact sent 13,000 volts of electricity through the pole the three were holding.
Authorities say the three were found on the ground not breathing.
The family was attempting to raise the antenna when they lost control of the pole and it hit an overhead power line. The impact sent 13,000 volts of electricity through the pole the three were holding.
Monday, October 12, 2009
WHO'S TO TAKE BLAME FOR TRAIN ACCIDENT?
The transport minister and SRT governor |share moral responsibility The recent derailment of the Trang-Bangkok train in Prachuap Khiri Khan's Khao Tao station (about 20km south of Hua Hin), which left eight people dead and more than 80 injured, is yet another case, among the many, of the poor service standards of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).
At this stage, all fingers point to the driver Roengsak Panthep. He allegedly jumped the signal and dozed off minutes before the accident.
It is believed the driver had been unwell and taken some medicine before the train went off the rails. Transport Minister Sophon Saram has promised to reveal the result of the investigation by his committee tomorrow.
Eagerly awaiting the result of the probe, the public cannot help but wonder, why is it that we still haven't heard of any offer to resign by either the transport minister or SRT governor Yuthana Thapcharoen?
There was sufficient reason for both to have taken moral responsibility earlier for what was one of the most serious accidents in the history of the SRT.
Clearly both of them have not read recent news reports about some of the good examples set elsewhere by railway chiefs and transport ministers, who resigned to take responsibility for a major railway accident. They did it of their own will, too.
In July, Croatia's Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta resigned after a train accident killed six and injured at least 50. That same month, the managing director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) promptly resigned from his post to take moral responsibility after the collapse of an under-construction bridge that killed five people in the Indian capital.
So far the minister and the governor have only expressed their sorrow and regret for what happened. If the results of the investigation point to human error, the top-ranking officials should still resign from their posts as it is clear that they failed to ensure the safety of hundreds of lives who travelled on that doomed train.
The SRT's ageing fleet has been legendary.
Most of its 256 locomotives are very old, ranging in age from 13 to 45 years. Given the current demand for railway travel, the SRT would ideally need at least 155 locomotives per day in service. In reality, it is already struggling with 137.
Meanwhile, its first class air-con passenger carriages are on average 12 years old, the second-class AC cars, 23-34 years old, and the third-class cars, 27-94 years old. In fact, some of the trains will be a hundred years old very soon.
As for the railroads, only 24 per cent of the network is in a very good condition, 38.6 are deemed in good condition and 28.5 per cent are usable.
What's more, there are 2,449 railway crossings around the country, and 1,009 of which still do not have safety barriers.
Whether or not the SRT is understaffed or overloaded with incompetent staff is debatable. The SRT has 2,200 drivers who handle 200 trains and 2,000 engineers. As it turns out, the SRT's labour union has complained that the present workforce is not sufficient. It is estimated that the SRT needs 300 more drivers and 500 additional engineers.
As a result, most drivers have to subject themselves to double shifts. Worse, the SRT has been forced by a Cabinet resolution on July 28, 1998 to replace only 5 per cent of staff who retire or resign.
There is an endless stream of complaints from train travellers. Toilets on the second-class AC and third-class carriages are dirty and stinking.
Ageing locomotives can still be seen belching black plumes of smoke. Trains hardly run on time during rush hours.
All this adds up to some shocking statistics.
Last year, there were 143 cases of derailment, resulting in five people dead and 17 injured, compared to 111 cases, 71 injured and six dead a year earlier. There is every chance of a similar accident happening again.
All the SRT needs is a complete overhaul. Incompetent staff, no matter who they are, should not be kept on, and old fleet should be replaced with new ones. Above all, concerned parties should consider taking moral responsibility for things gone wrong in their organisation. As it turns out, it's the low-ranking officers who are fired. It's time for a top-down reform at the SRT.
At this stage, all fingers point to the driver Roengsak Panthep. He allegedly jumped the signal and dozed off minutes before the accident.
It is believed the driver had been unwell and taken some medicine before the train went off the rails. Transport Minister Sophon Saram has promised to reveal the result of the investigation by his committee tomorrow.
Eagerly awaiting the result of the probe, the public cannot help but wonder, why is it that we still haven't heard of any offer to resign by either the transport minister or SRT governor Yuthana Thapcharoen?
There was sufficient reason for both to have taken moral responsibility earlier for what was one of the most serious accidents in the history of the SRT.
Clearly both of them have not read recent news reports about some of the good examples set elsewhere by railway chiefs and transport ministers, who resigned to take responsibility for a major railway accident. They did it of their own will, too.
In July, Croatia's Sea, Tourism, Transport and Development Minister Bozidar Kalmeta resigned after a train accident killed six and injured at least 50. That same month, the managing director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) promptly resigned from his post to take moral responsibility after the collapse of an under-construction bridge that killed five people in the Indian capital.
So far the minister and the governor have only expressed their sorrow and regret for what happened. If the results of the investigation point to human error, the top-ranking officials should still resign from their posts as it is clear that they failed to ensure the safety of hundreds of lives who travelled on that doomed train.
The SRT's ageing fleet has been legendary.
Most of its 256 locomotives are very old, ranging in age from 13 to 45 years. Given the current demand for railway travel, the SRT would ideally need at least 155 locomotives per day in service. In reality, it is already struggling with 137.
Meanwhile, its first class air-con passenger carriages are on average 12 years old, the second-class AC cars, 23-34 years old, and the third-class cars, 27-94 years old. In fact, some of the trains will be a hundred years old very soon.
As for the railroads, only 24 per cent of the network is in a very good condition, 38.6 are deemed in good condition and 28.5 per cent are usable.
What's more, there are 2,449 railway crossings around the country, and 1,009 of which still do not have safety barriers.
Whether or not the SRT is understaffed or overloaded with incompetent staff is debatable. The SRT has 2,200 drivers who handle 200 trains and 2,000 engineers. As it turns out, the SRT's labour union has complained that the present workforce is not sufficient. It is estimated that the SRT needs 300 more drivers and 500 additional engineers.
As a result, most drivers have to subject themselves to double shifts. Worse, the SRT has been forced by a Cabinet resolution on July 28, 1998 to replace only 5 per cent of staff who retire or resign.
There is an endless stream of complaints from train travellers. Toilets on the second-class AC and third-class carriages are dirty and stinking.
Ageing locomotives can still be seen belching black plumes of smoke. Trains hardly run on time during rush hours.
All this adds up to some shocking statistics.
Last year, there were 143 cases of derailment, resulting in five people dead and 17 injured, compared to 111 cases, 71 injured and six dead a year earlier. There is every chance of a similar accident happening again.
All the SRT needs is a complete overhaul. Incompetent staff, no matter who they are, should not be kept on, and old fleet should be replaced with new ones. Above all, concerned parties should consider taking moral responsibility for things gone wrong in their organisation. As it turns out, it's the low-ranking officers who are fired. It's time for a top-down reform at the SRT.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
PEACEKEEPERS DIE IN HAITI AIR CRASH
Eleven UN peacekeepers died on Friday when their surveillance plane crashed into a mountainside in Haiti during a routine patrol,UN officials said.
A UN rescue team confirmed there were no survivors among the 11 crew and military personnel on the plane, a Casa 212, when it went down near the town of Fonds-Verrettes, close to the border with the Dominican Republic.
The dead were Uruguayans and Jordanians, UN spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci said.
The cause of the crash was unknown."The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti announces with sadness that a Minustah plane, carrying 11 passengers, including the crew, crashed southeast of the commune of Ganthier,"the United Nations said in a statement.
"The Casa 212 aircraft was making a reconnaissance flight at the time of the accident before hitting a mountainside."
The UN peacekeeping force has been in Haiti since 2004. It consists of about 9,000 troops and police.
Local officials said the plane went down in a remote area near the village of Pays-Pourri in the district of Ganthier,east of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
"It happened shortly before noon. I saw several UN helicopters flying towards the area," Ralph Lapointe, the mayor of Ganthier, said.
A UN rescue team confirmed there were no survivors among the 11 crew and military personnel on the plane, a Casa 212, when it went down near the town of Fonds-Verrettes, close to the border with the Dominican Republic.
The dead were Uruguayans and Jordanians, UN spokeswoman Vannina Maestracci said.
The cause of the crash was unknown."The United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti announces with sadness that a Minustah plane, carrying 11 passengers, including the crew, crashed southeast of the commune of Ganthier,"the United Nations said in a statement.
"The Casa 212 aircraft was making a reconnaissance flight at the time of the accident before hitting a mountainside."
The UN peacekeeping force has been in Haiti since 2004. It consists of about 9,000 troops and police.
Local officials said the plane went down in a remote area near the village of Pays-Pourri in the district of Ganthier,east of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
"It happened shortly before noon. I saw several UN helicopters flying towards the area," Ralph Lapointe, the mayor of Ganthier, said.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Makeover a must for SRT
The State Railway of Thailand has restored some lost confidence in the train service by reaffirming a decision on Wednesday to hire a German concern to run its newly-completed rail link to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The SRT's long-suffering image of a state enterprise monolith saddled with poor service and low safety standards, has taken another beating with the latest train accident in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Wednesday's decision, which runs against the railway union's rigid stance against privatisation, shows the SRT management has finally realised a truth long since revealed to others: that its massive workforce notwithstanding, the state enterprise giant's capability to run a reliable and safe train service is questionable.
For a large number of rail employees, handing the operation of the airport link over to a private firm does not only represent a blow to the SRT's pride, but is also a threat to their job security. The railway's union members went on strike four months ago when the government revealed plans to restructure the state enterprise. The workers saw the plan as a direct threat to their jobs and welfare. The reason why rail unionists have not stirred up any trouble so far this time is probably because they have been assured that the service transfer would only be temporary, and because some union workers may still be busy clearing up the mess caused by the spate of train accidents these past two weeks.
Monday's train derailment in Prachuap Khiri Khan which killed seven and injured 88 others was actually the fifth train accident to occur in two weeks. Just a day before that tragic accident, a freight train loaded with cement derailed in Ayutthaya. That accident was preceded by three other minor derailments - two on the "Death Railway" in Kanchanaburi province and the other on Chua Phloeng Road in Bangkok's Klong Toey area.
As one of Asia's oldest railways, the SRT has lagged behind many others in the region. Much of the malaise contributing to its downfall can be traced to every government's lack of political will in modernising the organisation and the frequent interference in its affairs by corrupt politicians. Military generals and politicians are appointed to sit on the SRT's board as a post-retirement reward - at the agency's expense.
The SRT's generous welfare and employment protection for its staff are also to blame. The progeny of railway employees are granted automatic "inherited rights" to employment. Staff are entitled to a monthly pension payment for life, in addition to a lump sum reward upon retirement.
The result is a state enterprise which is operating with an annual loss of eight billion baht a year and accumulated debts of more than 70 billion baht.
As a business enterprise, the SRT is a failure; as a state enterprise provider of public transport, its safety record and service efficiency have been found wanting. The only reason justifying its existence up till now is that it provides a cheap travelling option for the poor.
Instead of trying to defy a necessary makeover, SRT's executives and their 13,000-strong work force must realise this sad state of affairs cannot be allowed to persist.
The proposal four months ago by the government to restructure the state enterprise - by separating the agency's vast land tracts from the loss-ridden train service for commercial development - needs to be taken up. The unionists seriously must start discussing the plan with the management and stop seeing any change as a threat to their job security and welfare.
The SRT's long-suffering image of a state enterprise monolith saddled with poor service and low safety standards, has taken another beating with the latest train accident in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
Wednesday's decision, which runs against the railway union's rigid stance against privatisation, shows the SRT management has finally realised a truth long since revealed to others: that its massive workforce notwithstanding, the state enterprise giant's capability to run a reliable and safe train service is questionable.
For a large number of rail employees, handing the operation of the airport link over to a private firm does not only represent a blow to the SRT's pride, but is also a threat to their job security. The railway's union members went on strike four months ago when the government revealed plans to restructure the state enterprise. The workers saw the plan as a direct threat to their jobs and welfare. The reason why rail unionists have not stirred up any trouble so far this time is probably because they have been assured that the service transfer would only be temporary, and because some union workers may still be busy clearing up the mess caused by the spate of train accidents these past two weeks.
Monday's train derailment in Prachuap Khiri Khan which killed seven and injured 88 others was actually the fifth train accident to occur in two weeks. Just a day before that tragic accident, a freight train loaded with cement derailed in Ayutthaya. That accident was preceded by three other minor derailments - two on the "Death Railway" in Kanchanaburi province and the other on Chua Phloeng Road in Bangkok's Klong Toey area.
As one of Asia's oldest railways, the SRT has lagged behind many others in the region. Much of the malaise contributing to its downfall can be traced to every government's lack of political will in modernising the organisation and the frequent interference in its affairs by corrupt politicians. Military generals and politicians are appointed to sit on the SRT's board as a post-retirement reward - at the agency's expense.
The SRT's generous welfare and employment protection for its staff are also to blame. The progeny of railway employees are granted automatic "inherited rights" to employment. Staff are entitled to a monthly pension payment for life, in addition to a lump sum reward upon retirement.
The result is a state enterprise which is operating with an annual loss of eight billion baht a year and accumulated debts of more than 70 billion baht.
As a business enterprise, the SRT is a failure; as a state enterprise provider of public transport, its safety record and service efficiency have been found wanting. The only reason justifying its existence up till now is that it provides a cheap travelling option for the poor.
Instead of trying to defy a necessary makeover, SRT's executives and their 13,000-strong work force must realise this sad state of affairs cannot be allowed to persist.
The proposal four months ago by the government to restructure the state enterprise - by separating the agency's vast land tracts from the loss-ridden train service for commercial development - needs to be taken up. The unionists seriously must start discussing the plan with the management and stop seeing any change as a threat to their job security and welfare.
Monday, October 5, 2009
8 killed as train derails
Driver carelessness is suspected as a possible cause of a train derailment at Khao Tao station in Prachuap Khiri Khan which has left eight people dead and another 88 injured.
The Bangkok-bound express train from Trang derailed at Khao Tao station in Hua Hin district at 4.47am yesterday.
It left Trang at 5.20pm on Sunday and was supposed to arrive in Bangkok at 8.25am.
Twelve of 14 carriages on the train left the track, with six of them overturning and one slamming into the ground. Four carriages were badly damaged with the first railway staff car being the worst hit.
The State Railway of Thailand has estimated the damage from one of the deadliest accidents in Thai railway history to be at least 100 million baht.
The train was driven by Roengsak Panthep with Uthai Raksakhet the engineer. Mr Roengsak fled the scene.
Normally, a train has one driver and an assistant who is an engineer.
The SRT said Mr Roengsak failed to slow the train when approaching Khao Tao station to switch over to a second track as the main track was occupied by a southbound freight train.
The northbound train was travelling at 105km/h, too fast to get on to the other track, and that caused the derailment, said PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey, who paid a visit to the scene.
SRT governor Yuthana Thapcharoen,who also rushed to the scene, believed human error was the most likely cause because the driver had ignored an alert from Khao Tao station staff about the parked freight train.
But the SRT governor also did not rule out two other possibilities: poor weather conditions caused by heavy rain and the train's old equipment.
Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum promised to shed light on the cause of the accident in five days.
A high-ranking SRT source suspected the driver might have dozed off before the accident.
The source said Mr Roengsak jumped the light at Wang Phong station, which is eight kilometres south of Khao Tao.
Mr Sathit said Mr Roengsak did not answer a radio call from Wang Phong to alert him of the other train parked on the main track at Khao Tao after seeing his train go through the signal light at Wang Phong.
SRT union leader Sawit Kaeowan said Mr Roengsak might not have been well rested before taking over control of the train at Chumphon station from another driver who was at the controls from Trang.
The labour union blamed shortages for staff being overworked. The SRT has been forced by a cabinet resolution issued on July 28,1998 to replace only 5% of staff who retire or resign.
The SRT has 2,200 drivers who handle 200 trains and 2,000 engineers."The present workforce is not sufficient,"Mr Sawit said.
He said the SRT needed 300 more drivers and 500 additional engineers.
Most drivers end up working double shifts, the union leader said.
More than 100 local rescue workers and soldiers, as well as rescue workers from Bangkok and nearby provinces,were deployed yesterday at the scene to help the victims amid heavy rain.
Rescue workers found six dead women and achild, Kanoklak Thaboonruang, 2. The dead women were identified as Orapin Jaijit, 42,Narueman Nayasunthornkul,50, Wimol Somjing,43, her sister Kalayakorn Somjing, 41, Bowonrat Thivavej, 25, and Sanruethai Nim from Bangkok. The bodies were transported to Hua Hin Hospital.
The eighth victim found later yesterday has yet to be identified, Mr Sathit said.
Six of the injured were foreigners.Most injured had their wounds treated and were discharged from hospital. Twenty-two were admitted to Pran Buri, San Paulo Hua Hin and Hua Hin hospitals.
Cranes were used to move damaged carriages and rescue workers collected passengers' belongings and sent them to Hua Hin and Khao Tao railway stations.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also visited the scene.
He said the southern line service could reopen today after all safety measures had been checked.
The accident caused the cancellation of 28 other passenger trains and five freight trains yesterday.
Terror as safety goes off the rails
To the survivors of yesterday's train crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the relatives of the victims,travel by rail was always regarded as the safest form of transport.Many of them now think otherwise.
Rawicha Seesuk,24, from Trang,boarded the express train on Sunday and took her place in the third car. She said she fell asleep but was roughly woken when the carriage pitched and rolled and the lights went out. In the few seconds that followed, she heard the deafening roar of carriages smashing apart and swiftly ducked down to protect herself.
As the train slammed violently to a stop, she closed her ears to the cries of pain and crawled out of the carriage to safety.
Miss Rawicha always travels by train. But as she relives yesterday's nightmare, Miss Rawicha said she would never board another train.
Suthatip Nualsuma,26, who is seven months pregnant, said she was returning to her hometown in Photharam district of Ratchaburi. As the accident unfolded with terrifying speed, her husband shielded her for protection.
She sustained a wound to her right arm, but doctors confirmed her unborn baby was safe.
OFF THE TRACKS
Khao Tao railway station, where the accident took place, is about 20km south of the resort town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
In the past
Aug 21, 1979: Taling Chan station, Bangkok. The crowded Ratchaburi-Thon Buri train collided with the Bang Sue-Padang Besar train. Fifty-four passengers were killed and more than 50 injured.
Nov 8, 1986: Hua Lamphong terminus An unmanned locomotive ran from the maintenance deport for 15km at a speed of 50km/h before mourting the platform at Hua Lamphong. Five
May 23, 1989: Lampang
A Chiang Mai-Bangkok train derailed and toppled down a cliff in Maei Moh district, killing eight people and injuring 32. The train was speeding.
Jan 14, 2007: Nong Kae, Prachuap Khiri Khan Two trains colled in Hua Hin district Three were Killed and 109 injured.
The Bangkok-bound express train from Trang derailed at Khao Tao station in Hua Hin district at 4.47am yesterday.
It left Trang at 5.20pm on Sunday and was supposed to arrive in Bangkok at 8.25am.
Twelve of 14 carriages on the train left the track, with six of them overturning and one slamming into the ground. Four carriages were badly damaged with the first railway staff car being the worst hit.
The State Railway of Thailand has estimated the damage from one of the deadliest accidents in Thai railway history to be at least 100 million baht.
The train was driven by Roengsak Panthep with Uthai Raksakhet the engineer. Mr Roengsak fled the scene.
Normally, a train has one driver and an assistant who is an engineer.
The SRT said Mr Roengsak failed to slow the train when approaching Khao Tao station to switch over to a second track as the main track was occupied by a southbound freight train.
The northbound train was travelling at 105km/h, too fast to get on to the other track, and that caused the derailment, said PM's Office Minister Sathit Wongnongtoey, who paid a visit to the scene.
SRT governor Yuthana Thapcharoen,who also rushed to the scene, believed human error was the most likely cause because the driver had ignored an alert from Khao Tao station staff about the parked freight train.
But the SRT governor also did not rule out two other possibilities: poor weather conditions caused by heavy rain and the train's old equipment.
Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum promised to shed light on the cause of the accident in five days.
A high-ranking SRT source suspected the driver might have dozed off before the accident.
The source said Mr Roengsak jumped the light at Wang Phong station, which is eight kilometres south of Khao Tao.
Mr Sathit said Mr Roengsak did not answer a radio call from Wang Phong to alert him of the other train parked on the main track at Khao Tao after seeing his train go through the signal light at Wang Phong.
SRT union leader Sawit Kaeowan said Mr Roengsak might not have been well rested before taking over control of the train at Chumphon station from another driver who was at the controls from Trang.
The labour union blamed shortages for staff being overworked. The SRT has been forced by a cabinet resolution issued on July 28,1998 to replace only 5% of staff who retire or resign.
The SRT has 2,200 drivers who handle 200 trains and 2,000 engineers."The present workforce is not sufficient,"Mr Sawit said.
He said the SRT needed 300 more drivers and 500 additional engineers.
Most drivers end up working double shifts, the union leader said.
More than 100 local rescue workers and soldiers, as well as rescue workers from Bangkok and nearby provinces,were deployed yesterday at the scene to help the victims amid heavy rain.
Rescue workers found six dead women and achild, Kanoklak Thaboonruang, 2. The dead women were identified as Orapin Jaijit, 42,Narueman Nayasunthornkul,50, Wimol Somjing,43, her sister Kalayakorn Somjing, 41, Bowonrat Thivavej, 25, and Sanruethai Nim from Bangkok. The bodies were transported to Hua Hin Hospital.
The eighth victim found later yesterday has yet to be identified, Mr Sathit said.
Six of the injured were foreigners.Most injured had their wounds treated and were discharged from hospital. Twenty-two were admitted to Pran Buri, San Paulo Hua Hin and Hua Hin hospitals.
Cranes were used to move damaged carriages and rescue workers collected passengers' belongings and sent them to Hua Hin and Khao Tao railway stations.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva also visited the scene.
He said the southern line service could reopen today after all safety measures had been checked.
The accident caused the cancellation of 28 other passenger trains and five freight trains yesterday.
Terror as safety goes off the rails
To the survivors of yesterday's train crash in Prachuap Khiri Khan and the relatives of the victims,travel by rail was always regarded as the safest form of transport.Many of them now think otherwise.
Rawicha Seesuk,24, from Trang,boarded the express train on Sunday and took her place in the third car. She said she fell asleep but was roughly woken when the carriage pitched and rolled and the lights went out. In the few seconds that followed, she heard the deafening roar of carriages smashing apart and swiftly ducked down to protect herself.
As the train slammed violently to a stop, she closed her ears to the cries of pain and crawled out of the carriage to safety.
Miss Rawicha always travels by train. But as she relives yesterday's nightmare, Miss Rawicha said she would never board another train.
Suthatip Nualsuma,26, who is seven months pregnant, said she was returning to her hometown in Photharam district of Ratchaburi. As the accident unfolded with terrifying speed, her husband shielded her for protection.
She sustained a wound to her right arm, but doctors confirmed her unborn baby was safe.
OFF THE TRACKS
Khao Tao railway station, where the accident took place, is about 20km south of the resort town of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan.
In the past
Aug 21, 1979: Taling Chan station, Bangkok. The crowded Ratchaburi-Thon Buri train collided with the Bang Sue-Padang Besar train. Fifty-four passengers were killed and more than 50 injured.
Nov 8, 1986: Hua Lamphong terminus An unmanned locomotive ran from the maintenance deport for 15km at a speed of 50km/h before mourting the platform at Hua Lamphong. Five
May 23, 1989: Lampang
A Chiang Mai-Bangkok train derailed and toppled down a cliff in Maei Moh district, killing eight people and injuring 32. The train was speeding.
Jan 14, 2007: Nong Kae, Prachuap Khiri Khan Two trains colled in Hua Hin district Three were Killed and 109 injured.
Missing copter's wreckage finally found after 12 years
An army Hor Tor 206 helicopter which went missing 12 years ago has been found in jungle on the ThaiBurmese border in Umphang district.
The bodies of the pilot, Lt Adisak Pongpes, and three crew, Lt Charnvet Kiddee, SM 1 Anek Panchang and Sgt Jessada Thammasorn, have not been found.
A search team from the 4th Infantry Regiment in neighbouring Mae Sot district called an early halt to their recovery operation amid heavy rain after some team members developed a fever.
Phadung Yingphaiboon, commander of the regiment, said the team would go back when the weather improved.
The discovery has put to rest the long-held theory that the helicopter,flying on a patrol mission on Aug 28,1997, had been shot down by the Burmese military, Col Phadung said.Burma asked Thailand to mount the search, because it did not want the shadow of the old claims hanging over it.
Col Phadung said the search team found the helicopter had broken into two. The aircraft must have hit a large tree about 20 metres from where it was found, lost its balance, spun around,and then crashed into another large tree before falling to the ground, he said.
No burn marks were found on the wreckage, he said.
The bodies of the pilot, Lt Adisak Pongpes, and three crew, Lt Charnvet Kiddee, SM 1 Anek Panchang and Sgt Jessada Thammasorn, have not been found.
A search team from the 4th Infantry Regiment in neighbouring Mae Sot district called an early halt to their recovery operation amid heavy rain after some team members developed a fever.
Phadung Yingphaiboon, commander of the regiment, said the team would go back when the weather improved.
The discovery has put to rest the long-held theory that the helicopter,flying on a patrol mission on Aug 28,1997, had been shot down by the Burmese military, Col Phadung said.Burma asked Thailand to mount the search, because it did not want the shadow of the old claims hanging over it.
Col Phadung said the search team found the helicopter had broken into two. The aircraft must have hit a large tree about 20 metres from where it was found, lost its balance, spun around,and then crashed into another large tree before falling to the ground, he said.
No burn marks were found on the wreckage, he said.
Reality TV stunt proves deadly
Investigators are trying to discover how a Pakistani 'challenge-elimination'show on locationin Thailand took such a tragic turn By Erika Fry
The last few minutes of Saad Khan's life played out like a nightmare, or maybe an absurdly-plotted episode of Crime Scene Investigation . The 32-year-old Pakistani banker and father of four died on Aug 19 while trying to swim across a murky,10-metre pond that had been marked by a "No swimming" sign in the grounds of Bangkok's idyllic Rot Fai Park.
Moments before he had been carrying a 7-kilogramme backpack and run through lines of fire. He was surrounded by a set of at least three cameramen, more than 30 cast and crew members and a crowd taking their exercise in the early evening.
Tragically, the cameras only stopped rolling when Khan was dragged from the pond. This was reality TV, and he had drowned.
It took spectators a few minutes to grasp the reality of events - a police investigator estimates it was several minutes before anyone jumped into the pond to try to save Khan, or even noticed he had disappeared below the surface.
There were three other competitors performing the challenge at the same time - a four-phase stunt that involved running between lines of fire, swimming across a pond,climbing a ladder into a tree, and manoeuvering through trees on ropes - and the investigator suspects that it became clear that one participant was missing only after the other three successfully emerged on the bank.
A person who was on the set working with the production team and who requested anonymity estimated that Khan had been underwater for 30 seconds before anyone jumped in."Everything just happened very quickly,"he said, adding that most of the crew was at a distance from the pond. If Khan yelled for help or was visibly struggling, it was not easy to notice.
Despite the efforts of a handful of people and the swift arrival of a rescue service with diving equipment, it took 30 minutes to recover the body, said the investigator.
As required by law in all cases of abnormal death, police are now investigating. The Bang Sue police station investigator who worked on the case expects the office to issue a report on the cause of death in the next few weeks,although he acknowledges there were challenges with the investigation due to the lack of co-operation from the foreign film crew.
The police were not permitted to interview the foreign crew or the Pakistani contestants.Instead they interviewed witnesses from the local film coordinating agency and met with a lawyer and a representative of the foreign crew.
"The contestant, the crew, the tapes," said the officer, are all "gone with the wind".
THE ADVENTURE
Several days before Khan came to Thailand,he told a friend and former colleague, Farrukh Ahmed, that he was going on an "adventure trip" and promised to return with a surprise.
The adventure was to participate in a Pakistani reality game show that was being filmed in Thailand.
The show, which channelled Amazing Race ,Survivor , and maybe a little America's Next Top Model , did not stray far from the typical elimination-challenge formula.
People who worked on the production said contestants lived together in a house on the outskirts of Bangkok, and prior to the incident at Suan Rot Fai, their number had been whittled down in nine episodes of game show stunts which ranged from ATV racing in Saraburi to going on a Bangkok shopping spree.
Khan had been eliminated in the fourth episode of the show - according to one account for failing to throw a ball in a basket while walking on a block of ice - but he had been invited to participate in the challenge at Rot Fai Park to win a place in the next and final episode, a jungle survival game. In the time between shows, he had been secreted away in a Bangkok hotel.
More unusual was the impetus for the show's creation.
The show, which had a working title of Clear Man and has since been cancelled, was sponsored by Unilever and intended as a marketing platform for the company's Clear brand shampoo.
Unilever Pakistan's spokesperson, Fareshteh Aslam, explained:"The concept was to identify a challenger who would stand for all the values of a typical Clear Man ."The reality show was a "third party production".
Mindshare Pakistan, the media agency which handled the production and the brand activation,"outsourced various responsibilities to SeeMe Productions, Pakistan, Working Heads, India and Benetone, Thailand for logistics and production," said Ms Aslam.
Though she denied Unilever's responsibility for the incident, Ms Aslam said the company has been in close touch with Khan's family since and is working to provide compensation for them.
She also said that Unilever had initiated an internal review of third-party processes to minimise the risk of such tragedies in the future.
So how did Saad Khan come to be in Thailand? And how did a man die under the gaze of cameras and a sizeable crowd of spectators?
Thailand is a regional hub for film production. While the industry has been weakened somewhat in recent years by the unstable political climate - Nicholas Cage famously fled with his family to Korea during production of Bangkok Dangerous when the September 2006 coup happened - Thailand is considered a desirable place to produce films because of the value, the variety of locales and the capable and affordable production crews.
The Thailand Film Office (TFO), under the Office of TourismDevelopment, has also done much to promote and facilitate foreign filmmaking in Thailand. The TFO monitors foreign productions fairly closely.
The organisation's website states that foreign filmmakers are required to hire a local coordinator who is officially registered with the TFO.
Local coordinators represent the filmmaker in obtaining necessary permits and "any matter arising both during and after the completion of shooting in Thailand".
In applying for a shooting permit, the local coordinator must submit a thorough account of the production which includes, among many other materials, translated-into-Thai copies of intentions, proposed sets, schedules,budgets, scripts and crew member lists. Plans can be amended, but changes must be cleared by the TFO.
Despite the volume of materials that must be submitted, the TFO approves things fairly quickly - a matter of days for advertisements,several weeks for feature productions. They screen most carefully for content that would dishonour the monarchy or the nation, or might threaten national security.
Beyond the vetting of productions, the TFO requires that a monitoring officer, at a price of 2,000 baht per day, be present during all filming. As explained on the TFO website:"Filming is not allowed, under any circumstances, without acknowledgement of the monitoring officer."
The TFO also mandates that local coordinators obtain any additional permits for shooting, such as those needed to film in parks or at historic sites. An agreement to honour these rules is signed by the local coordinator and the foreign producer.
The local coordinator for the Clear Man reality show was Benetone Films, a full-service production house with offices on Sukhumvit Road. Benetone is one of Thailand's largest local coordinators and a leading coordinator for Indian productions.
While Benetone had received a three-week shooting permit from the TFO for the reality game show, the show had not been scheduled to film in Rot Fai Park that day. According to the TFO's Ubolwan Sucharitakul, the office had been told that the production would be rehearsing.
Accordingly, the TFO did not have a monitoring officer on the set.
Ms Ubolwan says Benetone sent a letter to the TFO following the incident, explaining again that they had merely been rehearsing that day in Suan Rot Fai. The letter also cited Khan's "lack of readiness and rest", as a probable cause for the accident and acknowledged they did not have adequate safety equipment, she said.
Ms Ubolwan said that in response the TFO sent a warning letter to Benetone, asking them to take more care with regard to safety at future shoots and requiring them to submit safety plans for future productions. She also acknowledged there is an ongoing police investigation into the incident.
When asked about the filming that had been done at Rot Fai Park, Ms Ubolwan said:"We were told they were rehearsing. We were told there were no tapes."
While this was Benetone's story to the TFO, few others have been given this version of events. The person involved with the pro-duction did not dispute the fact that they were shooting, and the police investigator says there were at least three cameras filming that day.
Ms Aslam also acknowledged that Khan died while the show was being filmed. She had been told that police had confiscated the tapes.
The day before the incident, Benetone also informed Jumpot Sirawateharin, the head groundskeeper at Rot Fai Park, that they planned to film the next day. Mr Jumpot says the company brought equipment into the park at 5am on Aug 19.
As required by the park, Benetone had applied for a permit to film there and Mr Jumpot said his office had no problem approving the request."There are film shoots here almost every day. It seemed like any other game show," he said.
In its application, Benetone sought approval to film contestants who "run around and climb ropes. They said they would run laps around the pond - not swim in it", said Mr Jumpot, shaking his head.
"They did not have a permit to swim in the pond, and we would never allow one. Signs are posted near all of the park's ponds that say no swimming. It's not safe, and it's not allowed - those ponds are there for aesthetic and practical reasons, to water the plants."
While Mr Jumpot's office approves production requests, it has a staff of only four people, and they assume shoots are being watched by the TFO-provided monitoring officer.
He has also grown accustomed to the daily traffic of film sets, and says aside from their tendency to smoke and to block the bike paths, he has little trouble with them.
At 6pm that evening, not long after the incident, he heard that a man had drowned in one of the park's ponds.
"'PRE-TESTED FOR SAFETY"
There are varying accounts of Khan's drowning, and how well prepared the production companies were for such an incident. According to the person working on the pro-duction, life jackets had been prepared for the shoot and there was an ambulance on the set.
The police investigator says no one wore life vests as it was a rule of the challenge, set by the Indian production company which was responsible for generating all content and developing the stunts.
Ms Aslam says the challenge was pre-tested for safety by crew members who were wearing 12kg backpacks. Though it was widely reported Khan was wearing a 7kg backpack in the water, witnesses dispute this and say he only ran with the pack.
While Khan's death was certainly the most significant safety lapse on set, it was not the only one. According to the person working on the production, one contestant suffered a shoulder injury while riding in an ATV for a challenge shot in Saraburi, while three members of the cast and crew were treated at hospitals on Aug 19- two after falling out of trees and one after fainting from the stress of the drowning.
When asked who is usually responsible for providing safety, Ms Ubolwan said "the local coordinator. Before we issue a permit, there is an agreement signed. There is an understanding. While safety provisions are not explicit, there is a general idea - they know".She added that had a monitoring officer been present, they would have required more safety provisions.
The Thai producers - each seasoned in producing reality game shows for international networks and large companies - expressed a sense of shared disbelief at the Clear Man incident.
Pom Pongsapipatt, an independent producer who has produced reality game shows in Thailand for American networks, remembers seeing a news report on television and thinking that was her "worst nightmare".
At the same time, reflecting on the many safety precautions she takes on her shows,she found it hard to fathom that such an accident could happen. She said contestants are never allowed near water, let alone in it without life vests.
"You never say no to a safety budget. You cut budgets on food." She said her own sets typically have a doctor, a nurse and ambulance on standby, and additional provisions as suited to the locations, such as snake serum or professional divers.
She added that foreign companies often bring their own safety team, whose responsibility is to be thinking ahead and looking ahead for things that could be issues.
When asked if there is a set policy on stopping the shooting for the sake of saving a contestant that may be in trouble, she said no, because as long as you have good preproduction, it will never come to that.
Tom Waller, whose company served as the local coordinating agency for Survivor Philippines , also spoke of the meticulous planning and abundant safety precautions involved in such shows.
He recalled that he once had to evacuate a group from a camp in Koh Tao because the snakes and scorpions in the area posed too much of a risk.
Both he and Ms Pom spoke of the fine balance that needs be met in order to provide both safe and compelling television.
"The idea is that you put these contestants in harms way to a certain extent, but obviously there's a level of safety to which you must adhere."
He also said the incident does not reflect the safety standards of the film industry in Thailand .
"Obviously, the stunt went very wrong.Safety standards are always being challenged by time and money," said Mr Waller.
Cautioning that he does not know the circumstances in this case, Mr Waller also spoke of the pressure for local coordinators and crews to deliver what their clients want.
"Crews know their job is on the line, they can't destroy the shot. Their job is to listen to the director. In this case, they were going to lose the shot or the guy.
"Unfortunately, the director didn't call it right here."
Indeed, money may have been an issue.Those that I spoke with who worked on the production talked of the foreign producer's desire to cut costs whenever and however possible.
Ms Pom also spoke of the potential challenge for local coordinators - they are hired by foreign companies to coordinate and support them, but at the same time the local coordinators technically employ the foreign producers because they obtain their work permits and become legally responsible for them.
Those involved with the Clear Man fiasco seem to have learned from it.
"This was a big lesson for us. We thought we had enough safety equipment, we didn't think there were risks that day - we were wrong," said the person who had worked on the show.
Ms Ubolwan said the TFO may look more closely at future safety plans, though she says most foreign productions are well prepared.
Whether they'll go after those who violate safety standards, as zealously as they pursue those who tarnish the national image, will be something to watch in the future.
Two weeks ago, the TFO announced plans to prosecute Black Sheep Productions, the local coordinator which produced Big Trouble in Thailand , a reality series chronicling Thai tourism scams for a British television channel.
A representative from the TFO explained the company had broken various film laws by sending film out of the country without proper screening and by tarnishing the reputation of Thailand.
They're probably not alone.Benetone Films declined to comment for this story.
The last few minutes of Saad Khan's life played out like a nightmare, or maybe an absurdly-plotted episode of Crime Scene Investigation . The 32-year-old Pakistani banker and father of four died on Aug 19 while trying to swim across a murky,10-metre pond that had been marked by a "No swimming" sign in the grounds of Bangkok's idyllic Rot Fai Park.
Moments before he had been carrying a 7-kilogramme backpack and run through lines of fire. He was surrounded by a set of at least three cameramen, more than 30 cast and crew members and a crowd taking their exercise in the early evening.
Tragically, the cameras only stopped rolling when Khan was dragged from the pond. This was reality TV, and he had drowned.
It took spectators a few minutes to grasp the reality of events - a police investigator estimates it was several minutes before anyone jumped into the pond to try to save Khan, or even noticed he had disappeared below the surface.
There were three other competitors performing the challenge at the same time - a four-phase stunt that involved running between lines of fire, swimming across a pond,climbing a ladder into a tree, and manoeuvering through trees on ropes - and the investigator suspects that it became clear that one participant was missing only after the other three successfully emerged on the bank.
A person who was on the set working with the production team and who requested anonymity estimated that Khan had been underwater for 30 seconds before anyone jumped in."Everything just happened very quickly,"he said, adding that most of the crew was at a distance from the pond. If Khan yelled for help or was visibly struggling, it was not easy to notice.
Despite the efforts of a handful of people and the swift arrival of a rescue service with diving equipment, it took 30 minutes to recover the body, said the investigator.
As required by law in all cases of abnormal death, police are now investigating. The Bang Sue police station investigator who worked on the case expects the office to issue a report on the cause of death in the next few weeks,although he acknowledges there were challenges with the investigation due to the lack of co-operation from the foreign film crew.
The police were not permitted to interview the foreign crew or the Pakistani contestants.Instead they interviewed witnesses from the local film coordinating agency and met with a lawyer and a representative of the foreign crew.
"The contestant, the crew, the tapes," said the officer, are all "gone with the wind".
THE ADVENTURE
Several days before Khan came to Thailand,he told a friend and former colleague, Farrukh Ahmed, that he was going on an "adventure trip" and promised to return with a surprise.
The adventure was to participate in a Pakistani reality game show that was being filmed in Thailand.
The show, which channelled Amazing Race ,Survivor , and maybe a little America's Next Top Model , did not stray far from the typical elimination-challenge formula.
People who worked on the production said contestants lived together in a house on the outskirts of Bangkok, and prior to the incident at Suan Rot Fai, their number had been whittled down in nine episodes of game show stunts which ranged from ATV racing in Saraburi to going on a Bangkok shopping spree.
Khan had been eliminated in the fourth episode of the show - according to one account for failing to throw a ball in a basket while walking on a block of ice - but he had been invited to participate in the challenge at Rot Fai Park to win a place in the next and final episode, a jungle survival game. In the time between shows, he had been secreted away in a Bangkok hotel.
More unusual was the impetus for the show's creation.
The show, which had a working title of Clear Man and has since been cancelled, was sponsored by Unilever and intended as a marketing platform for the company's Clear brand shampoo.
Unilever Pakistan's spokesperson, Fareshteh Aslam, explained:"The concept was to identify a challenger who would stand for all the values of a typical Clear Man ."The reality show was a "third party production".
Mindshare Pakistan, the media agency which handled the production and the brand activation,"outsourced various responsibilities to SeeMe Productions, Pakistan, Working Heads, India and Benetone, Thailand for logistics and production," said Ms Aslam.
Though she denied Unilever's responsibility for the incident, Ms Aslam said the company has been in close touch with Khan's family since and is working to provide compensation for them.
She also said that Unilever had initiated an internal review of third-party processes to minimise the risk of such tragedies in the future.
So how did Saad Khan come to be in Thailand? And how did a man die under the gaze of cameras and a sizeable crowd of spectators?
Thailand is a regional hub for film production. While the industry has been weakened somewhat in recent years by the unstable political climate - Nicholas Cage famously fled with his family to Korea during production of Bangkok Dangerous when the September 2006 coup happened - Thailand is considered a desirable place to produce films because of the value, the variety of locales and the capable and affordable production crews.
The Thailand Film Office (TFO), under the Office of TourismDevelopment, has also done much to promote and facilitate foreign filmmaking in Thailand. The TFO monitors foreign productions fairly closely.
The organisation's website states that foreign filmmakers are required to hire a local coordinator who is officially registered with the TFO.
Local coordinators represent the filmmaker in obtaining necessary permits and "any matter arising both during and after the completion of shooting in Thailand".
In applying for a shooting permit, the local coordinator must submit a thorough account of the production which includes, among many other materials, translated-into-Thai copies of intentions, proposed sets, schedules,budgets, scripts and crew member lists. Plans can be amended, but changes must be cleared by the TFO.
Despite the volume of materials that must be submitted, the TFO approves things fairly quickly - a matter of days for advertisements,several weeks for feature productions. They screen most carefully for content that would dishonour the monarchy or the nation, or might threaten national security.
Beyond the vetting of productions, the TFO requires that a monitoring officer, at a price of 2,000 baht per day, be present during all filming. As explained on the TFO website:"Filming is not allowed, under any circumstances, without acknowledgement of the monitoring officer."
The TFO also mandates that local coordinators obtain any additional permits for shooting, such as those needed to film in parks or at historic sites. An agreement to honour these rules is signed by the local coordinator and the foreign producer.
The local coordinator for the Clear Man reality show was Benetone Films, a full-service production house with offices on Sukhumvit Road. Benetone is one of Thailand's largest local coordinators and a leading coordinator for Indian productions.
While Benetone had received a three-week shooting permit from the TFO for the reality game show, the show had not been scheduled to film in Rot Fai Park that day. According to the TFO's Ubolwan Sucharitakul, the office had been told that the production would be rehearsing.
Accordingly, the TFO did not have a monitoring officer on the set.
Ms Ubolwan says Benetone sent a letter to the TFO following the incident, explaining again that they had merely been rehearsing that day in Suan Rot Fai. The letter also cited Khan's "lack of readiness and rest", as a probable cause for the accident and acknowledged they did not have adequate safety equipment, she said.
Ms Ubolwan said that in response the TFO sent a warning letter to Benetone, asking them to take more care with regard to safety at future shoots and requiring them to submit safety plans for future productions. She also acknowledged there is an ongoing police investigation into the incident.
When asked about the filming that had been done at Rot Fai Park, Ms Ubolwan said:"We were told they were rehearsing. We were told there were no tapes."
While this was Benetone's story to the TFO, few others have been given this version of events. The person involved with the pro-duction did not dispute the fact that they were shooting, and the police investigator says there were at least three cameras filming that day.
Ms Aslam also acknowledged that Khan died while the show was being filmed. She had been told that police had confiscated the tapes.
The day before the incident, Benetone also informed Jumpot Sirawateharin, the head groundskeeper at Rot Fai Park, that they planned to film the next day. Mr Jumpot says the company brought equipment into the park at 5am on Aug 19.
As required by the park, Benetone had applied for a permit to film there and Mr Jumpot said his office had no problem approving the request."There are film shoots here almost every day. It seemed like any other game show," he said.
In its application, Benetone sought approval to film contestants who "run around and climb ropes. They said they would run laps around the pond - not swim in it", said Mr Jumpot, shaking his head.
"They did not have a permit to swim in the pond, and we would never allow one. Signs are posted near all of the park's ponds that say no swimming. It's not safe, and it's not allowed - those ponds are there for aesthetic and practical reasons, to water the plants."
While Mr Jumpot's office approves production requests, it has a staff of only four people, and they assume shoots are being watched by the TFO-provided monitoring officer.
He has also grown accustomed to the daily traffic of film sets, and says aside from their tendency to smoke and to block the bike paths, he has little trouble with them.
At 6pm that evening, not long after the incident, he heard that a man had drowned in one of the park's ponds.
"'PRE-TESTED FOR SAFETY"
There are varying accounts of Khan's drowning, and how well prepared the production companies were for such an incident. According to the person working on the pro-duction, life jackets had been prepared for the shoot and there was an ambulance on the set.
The police investigator says no one wore life vests as it was a rule of the challenge, set by the Indian production company which was responsible for generating all content and developing the stunts.
Ms Aslam says the challenge was pre-tested for safety by crew members who were wearing 12kg backpacks. Though it was widely reported Khan was wearing a 7kg backpack in the water, witnesses dispute this and say he only ran with the pack.
While Khan's death was certainly the most significant safety lapse on set, it was not the only one. According to the person working on the production, one contestant suffered a shoulder injury while riding in an ATV for a challenge shot in Saraburi, while three members of the cast and crew were treated at hospitals on Aug 19- two after falling out of trees and one after fainting from the stress of the drowning.
When asked who is usually responsible for providing safety, Ms Ubolwan said "the local coordinator. Before we issue a permit, there is an agreement signed. There is an understanding. While safety provisions are not explicit, there is a general idea - they know".She added that had a monitoring officer been present, they would have required more safety provisions.
The Thai producers - each seasoned in producing reality game shows for international networks and large companies - expressed a sense of shared disbelief at the Clear Man incident.
Pom Pongsapipatt, an independent producer who has produced reality game shows in Thailand for American networks, remembers seeing a news report on television and thinking that was her "worst nightmare".
At the same time, reflecting on the many safety precautions she takes on her shows,she found it hard to fathom that such an accident could happen. She said contestants are never allowed near water, let alone in it without life vests.
"You never say no to a safety budget. You cut budgets on food." She said her own sets typically have a doctor, a nurse and ambulance on standby, and additional provisions as suited to the locations, such as snake serum or professional divers.
She added that foreign companies often bring their own safety team, whose responsibility is to be thinking ahead and looking ahead for things that could be issues.
When asked if there is a set policy on stopping the shooting for the sake of saving a contestant that may be in trouble, she said no, because as long as you have good preproduction, it will never come to that.
Tom Waller, whose company served as the local coordinating agency for Survivor Philippines , also spoke of the meticulous planning and abundant safety precautions involved in such shows.
He recalled that he once had to evacuate a group from a camp in Koh Tao because the snakes and scorpions in the area posed too much of a risk.
Both he and Ms Pom spoke of the fine balance that needs be met in order to provide both safe and compelling television.
"The idea is that you put these contestants in harms way to a certain extent, but obviously there's a level of safety to which you must adhere."
He also said the incident does not reflect the safety standards of the film industry in Thailand .
"Obviously, the stunt went very wrong.Safety standards are always being challenged by time and money," said Mr Waller.
Cautioning that he does not know the circumstances in this case, Mr Waller also spoke of the pressure for local coordinators and crews to deliver what their clients want.
"Crews know their job is on the line, they can't destroy the shot. Their job is to listen to the director. In this case, they were going to lose the shot or the guy.
"Unfortunately, the director didn't call it right here."
Indeed, money may have been an issue.Those that I spoke with who worked on the production talked of the foreign producer's desire to cut costs whenever and however possible.
Ms Pom also spoke of the potential challenge for local coordinators - they are hired by foreign companies to coordinate and support them, but at the same time the local coordinators technically employ the foreign producers because they obtain their work permits and become legally responsible for them.
Those involved with the Clear Man fiasco seem to have learned from it.
"This was a big lesson for us. We thought we had enough safety equipment, we didn't think there were risks that day - we were wrong," said the person who had worked on the show.
Ms Ubolwan said the TFO may look more closely at future safety plans, though she says most foreign productions are well prepared.
Whether they'll go after those who violate safety standards, as zealously as they pursue those who tarnish the national image, will be something to watch in the future.
Two weeks ago, the TFO announced plans to prosecute Black Sheep Productions, the local coordinator which produced Big Trouble in Thailand , a reality series chronicling Thai tourism scams for a British television channel.
A representative from the TFO explained the company had broken various film laws by sending film out of the country without proper screening and by tarnishing the reputation of Thailand.
They're probably not alone.Benetone Films declined to comment for this story.
Ketsana floods wash thousands out of homes, worse on way
Many provinces remained submerged yesterday as humanitarian aid trickled to thousands of marooned and homeless residents left uprooted by the heavy downpours of Typhoon Ketsana.
The North and the Northeast are the worst-hit areas after a weekend of heavy rain with thousands of houses and thousands of rai of farmland flooded.
Affected families have been living on relief supplies.
Ketsana's lingering effects were most widespread in the northern province of Tak, where about 1,700 families in nine villages in tambon Mae Tuen of Mae Ramat district were cut off from the outside world after a bridge collapsed,preventing troops from reaching them with emergency help.
Many provinces in the north, northeastern and southern regions have experienced flooding after heavy rains.
Despite official efforts to pump out floodwater from the affected areas, the water levels in some areas are not receding but are actually rising, and rains show no signs of letting up, officials said yesterday.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has told agencies to rush relief aid to victims in hard-hit provinces.
He plans to visit the worst-hit areas to give moral support and make sure help is reaching the affected people.
The prime minister has ordered irrigation officials to monitor water levels in the dams and reservoirs as they could overflow as weather conditions are expected to worsen in the next few days.
Mr Abhisit said Thailand was also sending aid to the Philippines and Indonesia, which were heavily hit by the typhoon and an earthquake.
Rice, medical supplies and electricity generators has been flown to Indonesia and would be sent to the Philippines as well, he said.
In Tak, where residents were cut off from the outside world, the bridge over the Mae Tuen River collapsed under the force of the flash flood. It is the main transport route out of the tambon.
A temporary bridge could not be built immediately due to the high water level of the river, leaving the military rescue teams unable to get into the flooded villages to extend help.
In Sam Ngao district, about 400 houses were submerged after the Wang River burst its banks. Residents and farm animals have been either evacuated or moved to higher ground.
In the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum, motorists were yesterday warned about possible landslides along the Nakhon Sawan-Chaiyaphum Road.
About 500 houses in Phakdi Chumphon district and another 1,000 in Kaset Sombun and Phu Khieo districts were flooded. In some areas, the water is three metres high.
The overflowing Lam Pa Thao Dam has flooded Muang district where the floodwater in some spots is almost half a metre deep.
Residents of the central province of Ayutthaya are also assessing the flood damage to their houses and land.
About 1,000 homes require extensive repair work as a result of flooding in the rice-producing district of Sena.
In Phetchabun, more than 5,000 rai of farmland in Nong Phai district has been swamped.
Meanwhile,13 Thai crew members who survived after their fishing boat capsized in Malaysian waters on Friday returned to Pattani yesterday.
Another 13 are still missing.According to reports, waves as high as three to five metres hit the boat, the Pornpitsanu 91 , which had 26 crewmen on board when it had left Pattani to receive fish from another trawler anchored in Malaysian waters.
The North and the Northeast are the worst-hit areas after a weekend of heavy rain with thousands of houses and thousands of rai of farmland flooded.
Affected families have been living on relief supplies.
Ketsana's lingering effects were most widespread in the northern province of Tak, where about 1,700 families in nine villages in tambon Mae Tuen of Mae Ramat district were cut off from the outside world after a bridge collapsed,preventing troops from reaching them with emergency help.
Many provinces in the north, northeastern and southern regions have experienced flooding after heavy rains.
Despite official efforts to pump out floodwater from the affected areas, the water levels in some areas are not receding but are actually rising, and rains show no signs of letting up, officials said yesterday.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has told agencies to rush relief aid to victims in hard-hit provinces.
He plans to visit the worst-hit areas to give moral support and make sure help is reaching the affected people.
The prime minister has ordered irrigation officials to monitor water levels in the dams and reservoirs as they could overflow as weather conditions are expected to worsen in the next few days.
Mr Abhisit said Thailand was also sending aid to the Philippines and Indonesia, which were heavily hit by the typhoon and an earthquake.
Rice, medical supplies and electricity generators has been flown to Indonesia and would be sent to the Philippines as well, he said.
In Tak, where residents were cut off from the outside world, the bridge over the Mae Tuen River collapsed under the force of the flash flood. It is the main transport route out of the tambon.
A temporary bridge could not be built immediately due to the high water level of the river, leaving the military rescue teams unable to get into the flooded villages to extend help.
In Sam Ngao district, about 400 houses were submerged after the Wang River burst its banks. Residents and farm animals have been either evacuated or moved to higher ground.
In the northeastern province of Chaiyaphum, motorists were yesterday warned about possible landslides along the Nakhon Sawan-Chaiyaphum Road.
About 500 houses in Phakdi Chumphon district and another 1,000 in Kaset Sombun and Phu Khieo districts were flooded. In some areas, the water is three metres high.
The overflowing Lam Pa Thao Dam has flooded Muang district where the floodwater in some spots is almost half a metre deep.
Residents of the central province of Ayutthaya are also assessing the flood damage to their houses and land.
About 1,000 homes require extensive repair work as a result of flooding in the rice-producing district of Sena.
In Phetchabun, more than 5,000 rai of farmland in Nong Phai district has been swamped.
Meanwhile,13 Thai crew members who survived after their fishing boat capsized in Malaysian waters on Friday returned to Pattani yesterday.
Another 13 are still missing.According to reports, waves as high as three to five metres hit the boat, the Pornpitsanu 91 , which had 26 crewmen on board when it had left Pattani to receive fish from another trawler anchored in Malaysian waters.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Pub fire blamed on firework
A police investigation has concluded the Santika pub fire was sparked by a firework that ignited a flammable ceiling.
A firework was lit as part of stage effects shortly after the turn of the 2009 new year.
The fire spread so quickly that within about two minutes the crowded pub was completely in flames, Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Likit Klinauan yesterday said after a high-level police meeting to conclude the cause of the inferno.
Pol Maj Gen Likit cited the explana-tion of an expert from the Royal Thai Army Chemical Department on how a firework works before a final conclusion was made.
Witnesses at the pub said they saw Sarawut Ariya, lead singer of the band Burn, holding a firework on the stage before the fire erupted.
"We will meet the team investigating the disaster again before forwarding our findings to the court by the end of the month," Pol Maj Gen Likit said.
The tragedy left 66 people dead and scores of other revellers injured.
A firework was lit as part of stage effects shortly after the turn of the 2009 new year.
The fire spread so quickly that within about two minutes the crowded pub was completely in flames, Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief Likit Klinauan yesterday said after a high-level police meeting to conclude the cause of the inferno.
Pol Maj Gen Likit cited the explana-tion of an expert from the Royal Thai Army Chemical Department on how a firework works before a final conclusion was made.
Witnesses at the pub said they saw Sarawut Ariya, lead singer of the band Burn, holding a firework on the stage before the fire erupted.
"We will meet the team investigating the disaster again before forwarding our findings to the court by the end of the month," Pol Maj Gen Likit said.
The tragedy left 66 people dead and scores of other revellers injured.
Famed "Shin-chan" cartoonist dies in fall
Tributes poured in yesterday for Japanese cartoonist Yoshito Usui after confirmation the bruised body of a man found on a mountain was that of the creator of the popular Crayon Shin-chan series.
Usui, 51, who was popular worldwide among manga enthusiasts, disappeared on Sept 11 after he went hiking on his own on a mountain range straddling Gunma and Nagano prefectures, north of Tokyo.
A body was found on Saturday by a fellow hiker and his family late Sunday confirmed it was Usui,a recluse who was married with two daughters.
The indications are he fell and there was no suggestion of suicide, police
and reports said.
His death dampened celebration yesterday on the Respect for the Aged holiday in Kas-
kabe, a suburban city
outside Tokyo which has become wellknown nationally as the place where the ca-
toonist lived and set
the Crayon Shin-chan story.
"I'm deeply depressed to hear the
unfortunate news. I pray his soul rests in peace with citizens here," Kasukabe mayor Ryozo Ishikawa said by telephone.
"I saw many sorrowful citizens today as 'Shin-chan' is definitely a Kasukabe kid. We hope 'Shin-chan', a byword for cheerfulness, will keep staying here with his family," he said.
Usui made his debut as a manga author in 1987 and sprang to prominence in the 1990s with Crayon Shin-chan ,which features the daily life of Shinnosuke, a mischievous five-year-old boy.
The series ran regularly in a magazine and later was made into a book and animation version.
"We had been praying for Mr Usui's safety with his family but now feel the utmost regret over how things have turned out. We are in a big shock,"Futabasha, the publishing house of Crayon Shin-chan , said in a statement.His books have been translated in 14 countries and the animated version has been aired in 30 countries.
Usui, 51, who was popular worldwide among manga enthusiasts, disappeared on Sept 11 after he went hiking on his own on a mountain range straddling Gunma and Nagano prefectures, north of Tokyo.
A body was found on Saturday by a fellow hiker and his family late Sunday confirmed it was Usui,a recluse who was married with two daughters.
The indications are he fell and there was no suggestion of suicide, police
and reports said.
His death dampened celebration yesterday on the Respect for the Aged holiday in Kas-
kabe, a suburban city
outside Tokyo which has become wellknown nationally as the place where the ca-
toonist lived and set
the Crayon Shin-chan story.
"I'm deeply depressed to hear the
unfortunate news. I pray his soul rests in peace with citizens here," Kasukabe mayor Ryozo Ishikawa said by telephone.
"I saw many sorrowful citizens today as 'Shin-chan' is definitely a Kasukabe kid. We hope 'Shin-chan', a byword for cheerfulness, will keep staying here with his family," he said.
Usui made his debut as a manga author in 1987 and sprang to prominence in the 1990s with Crayon Shin-chan ,which features the daily life of Shinnosuke, a mischievous five-year-old boy.
The series ran regularly in a magazine and later was made into a book and animation version.
"We had been praying for Mr Usui's safety with his family but now feel the utmost regret over how things have turned out. We are in a big shock,"Futabasha, the publishing house of Crayon Shin-chan , said in a statement.His books have been translated in 14 countries and the animated version has been aired in 30 countries.
Blackhawk helicopter crashes at US base
The US military says a Blackhawk helicopter has crashed at a US base in Iraq, killing 1 service member and wounding 12 others.
The military says the helicopter went down on Saturday night at the Balad Air Base, 80km north of Baghdad. It says the cause of the crash is unknown and under investigation.
The name of the service member killed is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. With Saturday's death, at least 4,345 members of the US military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003.
Balad Air Base is home to about 20,000 US forces. It provides air power, logistics and counterterrorism support, as well as training for Iraqi security forces.
Meanwhile, in Kirkuk, Iraqi soldiers arrested three smugglers who were trying to sell artefacts from the Sumerian era,the earliest known human civilisation that existed in southern Mesopotamia from about 8,000 years ago.
Undercover agents posed as buyers for the artefacts on Saturday, according to the army chief of Kirkuk province.
The eight artefacts included a clay bust of what is believed to be a Sumerian king, a small jar and stamps from the royal Sumerian court.
The smugglers wanted $160,000(5.4 million baht) for all eight pieces. Iraq is struggling to recover ancient treasures stolen in a massive looting spree in Baghdad, sparked by the US-led invasion six-and-a-half years ago.
The military says the helicopter went down on Saturday night at the Balad Air Base, 80km north of Baghdad. It says the cause of the crash is unknown and under investigation.
The name of the service member killed is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. With Saturday's death, at least 4,345 members of the US military have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003.
Balad Air Base is home to about 20,000 US forces. It provides air power, logistics and counterterrorism support, as well as training for Iraqi security forces.
Meanwhile, in Kirkuk, Iraqi soldiers arrested three smugglers who were trying to sell artefacts from the Sumerian era,the earliest known human civilisation that existed in southern Mesopotamia from about 8,000 years ago.
Undercover agents posed as buyers for the artefacts on Saturday, according to the army chief of Kirkuk province.
The eight artefacts included a clay bust of what is believed to be a Sumerian king, a small jar and stamps from the royal Sumerian court.
The smugglers wanted $160,000(5.4 million baht) for all eight pieces. Iraq is struggling to recover ancient treasures stolen in a massive looting spree in Baghdad, sparked by the US-led invasion six-and-a-half years ago.
Monday, September 21, 2009
PARENTS OF PHUKET CRASH VICTIMS WARN ABOUT AIRLINES
The parents of two Britons who died in a plane crash in Thailand warned other travellers on Wednesday of the dangers of flying on airlines blacklisted in Europe.
Alex Collins and Bethan Jones, both 22, were killed when a plane operated by budget airline One-Two-Go crashed on approach to landing in Phuket exactly two years ago, killing 90 passengers and crew.
In a joint anniversary statement, Jean and Steve Jones and Margaret and Richard Collins said: "No parent should ever have to go through the nightmare of losing a child in such a devastating way.
"We firmly believe this accident was preventable. The European Commission absolutely did the right thing in naming and shaming One-Two-Go Airlines," they added.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, added One-Two-Go to its blacklist of airlines banned from the 27-nation EU after the crash, although it has since been removed.
But the parents of Collins and Jones said others should be made aware of the dangers of blacklisted airlines.
"Our message to families is very clear: at all costs do not fly on any airline that has been on the EU blacklist, or is associated with an airline that has been named or shamed.
"Very few people are aware of this EU blacklist and we want to raise awareness of its imporatance, and the fact that it has, and will save lives.
The EU blacklist is dominated by African airlines, but also includes a few in Asia and former Soviet states.
Alex Collins and Bethan Jones, both 22, were killed when a plane operated by budget airline One-Two-Go crashed on approach to landing in Phuket exactly two years ago, killing 90 passengers and crew.
In a joint anniversary statement, Jean and Steve Jones and Margaret and Richard Collins said: "No parent should ever have to go through the nightmare of losing a child in such a devastating way.
"We firmly believe this accident was preventable. The European Commission absolutely did the right thing in naming and shaming One-Two-Go Airlines," they added.
The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, added One-Two-Go to its blacklist of airlines banned from the 27-nation EU after the crash, although it has since been removed.
But the parents of Collins and Jones said others should be made aware of the dangers of blacklisted airlines.
"Our message to families is very clear: at all costs do not fly on any airline that has been on the EU blacklist, or is associated with an airline that has been named or shamed.
"Very few people are aware of this EU blacklist and we want to raise awareness of its imporatance, and the fact that it has, and will save lives.
The EU blacklist is dominated by African airlines, but also includes a few in Asia and former Soviet states.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Migrants killed by smugglers in Gulf of Aden
Sixteen migrants died and 49 others are missing and feared dead while making a perilous voyage in smuggling boats across the Gulf of Aden, the UN refugee agency said yesterday.
Of the dead,11 suffocated, three were fatally beaten by smugglers and two drowned in three separate incidents that occurred in the last 48 hours, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. At least two of the boats had set off from Somalia, but the migrants included non-Somalis, it added.
Conflict, famine and drought have pushed thousands of people to attempt the risky sea voyage.
This year alone, 860 boats carrying 43,586 people have attempted the crossing and 273 migrants have drowned or are presumed dead, said the UNHCR.
In the latest tragedies, survivors from one boat said passengers were "repeatedly beaten and threatened by the smugglers during the journey".
In another boat, smugglers beat three people to death while 10 died from asphyxiation. An 11th migrant suffocated on another vessel.
Of the dead,11 suffocated, three were fatally beaten by smugglers and two drowned in three separate incidents that occurred in the last 48 hours, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said. At least two of the boats had set off from Somalia, but the migrants included non-Somalis, it added.
Conflict, famine and drought have pushed thousands of people to attempt the risky sea voyage.
This year alone, 860 boats carrying 43,586 people have attempted the crossing and 273 migrants have drowned or are presumed dead, said the UNHCR.
In the latest tragedies, survivors from one boat said passengers were "repeatedly beaten and threatened by the smugglers during the journey".
In another boat, smugglers beat three people to death while 10 died from asphyxiation. An 11th migrant suffocated on another vessel.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Huge fire kills 38 at Kazakhstan drug treatment centre
Thirty-eight people were killed yesterday when a fire ripped through a drugs treatment facility in a city outside Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty, emergency officials said.
There was no information on what caused the fire, which began at roughly 5.30am in Taldykorgan, but officials said the blaze spread rapidly because firefighters were not informed quickly enough.
"According to tentative data,38 people were killed, of which 36 were patients and two were medical personnel," the Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement.
"The cause for the rapid spread of the fire was that the fire services received the announcement too late."
Rescuers were able to save 40 patients and medical staff, the ministry said, while firefighters took hours to extinguish the blaze, which spread out over an area of almost 650 square metres.
Prime Minister Karim Masimov immediately called for the creation of a commission to investigate the cause of the fire, according to a statement on the government's main web portal.
"The country's prime minister has entrusted the commission with carefully investigating the cause of this tragedy,and taking exhaustive measures to render assistance to the victims," it said. The high-level commission will be lead by Vice-Prime Minister Serik Akhmedov.
Deadly fires are common in the former Soviet Union, with retirement homes and other state-run facilities particularly prone to such accidents. In 2006, 45 women were killed when a fire erupted at a drugs treatment clinic in Moscow.The women had been trapped behind locked doors and barred windows.
There was no information on what caused the fire, which began at roughly 5.30am in Taldykorgan, but officials said the blaze spread rapidly because firefighters were not informed quickly enough.
"According to tentative data,38 people were killed, of which 36 were patients and two were medical personnel," the Kazakh Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement.
"The cause for the rapid spread of the fire was that the fire services received the announcement too late."
Rescuers were able to save 40 patients and medical staff, the ministry said, while firefighters took hours to extinguish the blaze, which spread out over an area of almost 650 square metres.
Prime Minister Karim Masimov immediately called for the creation of a commission to investigate the cause of the fire, according to a statement on the government's main web portal.
"The country's prime minister has entrusted the commission with carefully investigating the cause of this tragedy,and taking exhaustive measures to render assistance to the victims," it said. The high-level commission will be lead by Vice-Prime Minister Serik Akhmedov.
Deadly fires are common in the former Soviet Union, with retirement homes and other state-run facilities particularly prone to such accidents. In 2006, 45 women were killed when a fire erupted at a drugs treatment clinic in Moscow.The women had been trapped behind locked doors and barred windows.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Bus crash kills five kindergarten children
A kindergarten bus plunged into a stream in central China, killing five children and hurting three others, a state news agency reported yesterday.
The bus, carrying 11 children all under five, crashed after the driver lost control as he drove between their village to a kindergarten near Dengzhou city in Henan province on Tuesday morning,the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Eight of the 11 children were taken to hospitals in Dengzhou, where five died from injuries and three remained in stable condition, Xinhua said. The report said the driver was in police custody, but gave no details as to how he lost control of the bus. China has launched a crackdown to curb traffic violations ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the communist republic on Oct 1.
The bus, carrying 11 children all under five, crashed after the driver lost control as he drove between their village to a kindergarten near Dengzhou city in Henan province on Tuesday morning,the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Eight of the 11 children were taken to hospitals in Dengzhou, where five died from injuries and three remained in stable condition, Xinhua said. The report said the driver was in police custody, but gave no details as to how he lost control of the bus. China has launched a crackdown to curb traffic violations ahead of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the communist republic on Oct 1.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Australian teen solo sailor crashes into ship
Crashing a tiny yacht into a massive bulk carrier would seem to be more than just a setback to most people,but not to an Australian teenager seeking to become the youngest woman to sail solo around the world.
Jessica Watson, 16, was conducting sea trials in her 10-metre yacht when the collision with the ship occurred in the early hours of yesterday on her first night at sea.
"The whole incident gives me confi-dence - wow, I can actually handle this," Ms Watson said."It could have happened to anyone. I'm unlucky I suppose, but you also learn from it."
The mast and deck of Ms Watson's pink-hulled yacht were damaged but she made it safely back to land.
Investigations were under way to determine why the bulk carrier did not stop, maritime authorities said, but it appeared likely the massive ship had not even seen Ms Watson's boat.
Jessica Watson, 16, was conducting sea trials in her 10-metre yacht when the collision with the ship occurred in the early hours of yesterday on her first night at sea.
"The whole incident gives me confi-dence - wow, I can actually handle this," Ms Watson said."It could have happened to anyone. I'm unlucky I suppose, but you also learn from it."
The mast and deck of Ms Watson's pink-hulled yacht were damaged but she made it safely back to land.
Investigations were under way to determine why the bulk carrier did not stop, maritime authorities said, but it appeared likely the massive ship had not even seen Ms Watson's boat.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Coal mine blast kills at least 35
At least 35 people were killed and 44 others were trapped yesterday after a gas explosion at a coal mine in central China.
A total of 93 people were working in the mine in Pingdingshan city in Henan province when the blast took place in the early morning, the State Administration of Work Safety said on its website.Fourteen were able to escape, it said.
Production was suspended at all of the city's 157 mines pending a "safety overhaul", the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The explosion came just a few days after Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang called on authorities to improve safety in the country's coal mines, in particular to prevent gas blast accidents, according to remarks published by Xinhua.
Mr Zhang and State Administration of Work Safety chief Luo Lin were dispatched to the scene to oversee the rescue operation and investigation, the agency said.
The mine's owners have been placed under police surveillance and its bank account frozen, according to Xinhua.
Xinhua reported that a preliminary investigation had shown illegal mining was to blame for the accident.
Meanwhile, in the troubled city of Urumqi, three buildings owned by the family of exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer will be demolished, Xinhua news agency said, as the Chinese government attempts to reassert control over the ethnically-divided city.
The government ordered shops and businesses in central Urumqi to close early on Monday, giving rise to a wave of rumours of new unrest among citizens panicked by mysterious needle attacks.
Police received another 77 reports of needle attacks between Sunday evening and Monday evening. A Han Chinese crowd also assaulted an Uighur on Monday after another alleged needle attack.
Thousands of Han Chinese demonstrated in Urumqi last week, calling for the ouster of regional party secretary Wang Lequan for failing to ensure their safety and for not moving fast enough on trials for Uighur rioters.
A total of 93 people were working in the mine in Pingdingshan city in Henan province when the blast took place in the early morning, the State Administration of Work Safety said on its website.Fourteen were able to escape, it said.
Production was suspended at all of the city's 157 mines pending a "safety overhaul", the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The explosion came just a few days after Vice-Premier Zhang Dejiang called on authorities to improve safety in the country's coal mines, in particular to prevent gas blast accidents, according to remarks published by Xinhua.
Mr Zhang and State Administration of Work Safety chief Luo Lin were dispatched to the scene to oversee the rescue operation and investigation, the agency said.
The mine's owners have been placed under police surveillance and its bank account frozen, according to Xinhua.
Xinhua reported that a preliminary investigation had shown illegal mining was to blame for the accident.
Meanwhile, in the troubled city of Urumqi, three buildings owned by the family of exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer will be demolished, Xinhua news agency said, as the Chinese government attempts to reassert control over the ethnically-divided city.
The government ordered shops and businesses in central Urumqi to close early on Monday, giving rise to a wave of rumours of new unrest among citizens panicked by mysterious needle attacks.
Police received another 77 reports of needle attacks between Sunday evening and Monday evening. A Han Chinese crowd also assaulted an Uighur on Monday after another alleged needle attack.
Thousands of Han Chinese demonstrated in Urumqi last week, calling for the ouster of regional party secretary Wang Lequan for failing to ensure their safety and for not moving fast enough on trials for Uighur rioters.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Overcoming the odds
With determination, courage - and help from society - teenager Natida Chaiyasit won't |let a dreadful acid accident three years ago define the rest of her life
As Natida Chaiyasit's life was falling apart from a horrendous acid accident three years ago, society came to her rescue.
Even complete strangers did not leave Natida alone in her plight. They have given her help, moral support and at least Bt500,000. Through those caring hearts, Natida is rebuilding her life.
Natida, whose nickname is "Mam", was just 13 years old when a bottle of acid exploded in her face.
On that fateful day, Natida's aunt asked her to buy a bottle of acid for the family's rubber plantation.
How it happened
"I took my motorbike and bought the acid and an energy drink and put them in a plastic bag. My younger brother was holding the bag but he wanted to get off to see a friend, so then I balanced the bag on my knee with one hand and drove my bike with the other," said the girl.
"As I was driving, the two bottles knocked together and shattered. The energy drink reacted with the acid, and that made everything explode in my face. I was knocked out. My aunt heard my bike crash and came rushing out. She drove me to my mum's house but she didn't know what to do.
"My grandfather had an old truck so he tried to take me to hospital, but it ran out of petrol after one kilometre. Luckily some rescue people were nearby and they took me to the nearest hospital."
Nurses helped cool the burns before transferring her to another hospital, where Natida regained consciousness.
"When I woke up I couldn't see anything as they'd wrapped bandages around my face. I felt hot and numb," Natida said.
She remained in hospital for 12 days and then faced the first of more than 20 operations. Doctors made her face swollen so they could use some of the excess skin to rebuild her features.
Horrifically scarred
Mam remembers seeing her face for the first time after the accident: she held a mirror up and instantly burst into tears as she realised her once-pretty face had been horrifically scarred.
"It was terrible. I was with my mum and we both cried a lot. She held me and told me it didn't matter how I looked, she still loved me."
Indeed, there were many problems to overcome. At night she was covered by a mosquito net so insects would not attack the dead skin. Her mouth was so badly burned she could only eat small pieces of food with a spoon. And on the first day of her returning to school, she felt shame when other children made fun of her appearance.
However, teachers gathered students together and told them not to tease Natida.
Society chips in
The principal and the village leader also decided to launch an appeal to help pay for her hospital fees. As the family lived within the Khao Chamao National Park, the village leader placed a donation box near the entrance. One group heard about Natida and decided to e-mail everyone they knew. Soon the e-mail was being sent all around Thailand and kind-hearted strangers were sending donations.
Before long, Bt500,000 was raised. Extra help came from Bangkok's Yanhee Hospital: it agreed to waive all future operation fees, expected to reach around Bt1 million.
Doctors are confident they can restore 70 per cent of Natida's face.
"I feel very happy so many people have helped me. I have many friends in my village and we play badminton and sing songs all the time. If people do stare at me I don't care, I can't change what has happened."
Natida plans to study at university and eventually become a computer programmer.
As Natida Chaiyasit's life was falling apart from a horrendous acid accident three years ago, society came to her rescue.
Even complete strangers did not leave Natida alone in her plight. They have given her help, moral support and at least Bt500,000. Through those caring hearts, Natida is rebuilding her life.
Natida, whose nickname is "Mam", was just 13 years old when a bottle of acid exploded in her face.
On that fateful day, Natida's aunt asked her to buy a bottle of acid for the family's rubber plantation.
How it happened
"I took my motorbike and bought the acid and an energy drink and put them in a plastic bag. My younger brother was holding the bag but he wanted to get off to see a friend, so then I balanced the bag on my knee with one hand and drove my bike with the other," said the girl.
"As I was driving, the two bottles knocked together and shattered. The energy drink reacted with the acid, and that made everything explode in my face. I was knocked out. My aunt heard my bike crash and came rushing out. She drove me to my mum's house but she didn't know what to do.
"My grandfather had an old truck so he tried to take me to hospital, but it ran out of petrol after one kilometre. Luckily some rescue people were nearby and they took me to the nearest hospital."
Nurses helped cool the burns before transferring her to another hospital, where Natida regained consciousness.
"When I woke up I couldn't see anything as they'd wrapped bandages around my face. I felt hot and numb," Natida said.
She remained in hospital for 12 days and then faced the first of more than 20 operations. Doctors made her face swollen so they could use some of the excess skin to rebuild her features.
Horrifically scarred
Mam remembers seeing her face for the first time after the accident: she held a mirror up and instantly burst into tears as she realised her once-pretty face had been horrifically scarred.
"It was terrible. I was with my mum and we both cried a lot. She held me and told me it didn't matter how I looked, she still loved me."
Indeed, there were many problems to overcome. At night she was covered by a mosquito net so insects would not attack the dead skin. Her mouth was so badly burned she could only eat small pieces of food with a spoon. And on the first day of her returning to school, she felt shame when other children made fun of her appearance.
However, teachers gathered students together and told them not to tease Natida.
Society chips in
The principal and the village leader also decided to launch an appeal to help pay for her hospital fees. As the family lived within the Khao Chamao National Park, the village leader placed a donation box near the entrance. One group heard about Natida and decided to e-mail everyone they knew. Soon the e-mail was being sent all around Thailand and kind-hearted strangers were sending donations.
Before long, Bt500,000 was raised. Extra help came from Bangkok's Yanhee Hospital: it agreed to waive all future operation fees, expected to reach around Bt1 million.
Doctors are confident they can restore 70 per cent of Natida's face.
"I feel very happy so many people have helped me. I have many friends in my village and we play badminton and sing songs all the time. If people do stare at me I don't care, I can't change what has happened."
Natida plans to study at university and eventually become a computer programmer.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tourist ferry capsizes killing 15 Bulgarians
An ageing tourist boat sank suddenly in Macedonia's popular Lake Ohrid on Saturday, killing 15 Bulgarians as survivors clung to wooden planks and buoys.
The Iliden was 200m from shore when it apparently capsized into the deepest lake in the region - famous for its turquoise waters - at around 11am near a campsite outside Ohrid city.
"More than 70 passengers were on the boat," Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said."Fifteen perished, four seriously injured were taken to hospital in Ohrid and about 50 survivors are at a local hotel."
The captain of the Iliden was among the dead, Mr Jankulovska said.
"The boat swerved sharply and capsized. It started to sink instantly," a survivor identified as Ivan told Bulgarian national radio."People grabbed wooden planks and life buoys, but there were not enough buoys and not enough life saving jackets for everybody."
He said he held on to a wooden plank while his wife and three other women stayed afloat with a buoy.
Bulgarian officials blamed overcrowding as the likely cause of the disaster.The government has declared a national day of mourning for today.
The Iliden was 200m from shore when it apparently capsized into the deepest lake in the region - famous for its turquoise waters - at around 11am near a campsite outside Ohrid city.
"More than 70 passengers were on the boat," Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska said."Fifteen perished, four seriously injured were taken to hospital in Ohrid and about 50 survivors are at a local hotel."
The captain of the Iliden was among the dead, Mr Jankulovska said.
"The boat swerved sharply and capsized. It started to sink instantly," a survivor identified as Ivan told Bulgarian national radio."People grabbed wooden planks and life buoys, but there were not enough buoys and not enough life saving jackets for everybody."
He said he held on to a wooden plank while his wife and three other women stayed afloat with a buoy.
Bulgarian officials blamed overcrowding as the likely cause of the disaster.The government has declared a national day of mourning for today.
Friday, September 4, 2009
US ORDERS SENSORS REPLACED ON AIRBUS PLANES
US airlines must now replace speed probes built by France's Thales on some of their Airbus planes, amid fears the instruments contributed to the crash of an Air France jet in June.
The US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) order, which affects Airbus A330 and A340 jets, was published on Wednesday and takes effect on Tuesday.
The FAA has given US carriers until January to replace the sensors, also known as pitots, with new ones built by the US firm Goodrich.
"We have reviewed numerous airspeed anomalies recently reported and we have determined that an unsafe condition exists," the FAA decision read.
Investigators believe false data from speed monitors could have contributed to the June I crash of Flight 447 in the Atlantic that killed all 228 people on board, the worst disaster in Air France's 75-year history.
The French accident investigation agency BEA confirmed that the older version of the Thales speed monitors gave false airspeed data to the cockpit of the flight from Rio to Paris before it plunged into the ocean.
The BEA has said the faulty sensors were a contributing factor but not the cause of the crash, which was yet to be explained.
Meanwhile, Air France KLM plans to train pilots on how to respond if an aircraft's speed probes, or pitot, fail to function and give incoherent speed readings, the airline's biggest union in France said.
The US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) order, which affects Airbus A330 and A340 jets, was published on Wednesday and takes effect on Tuesday.
The FAA has given US carriers until January to replace the sensors, also known as pitots, with new ones built by the US firm Goodrich.
"We have reviewed numerous airspeed anomalies recently reported and we have determined that an unsafe condition exists," the FAA decision read.
Investigators believe false data from speed monitors could have contributed to the June I crash of Flight 447 in the Atlantic that killed all 228 people on board, the worst disaster in Air France's 75-year history.
The French accident investigation agency BEA confirmed that the older version of the Thales speed monitors gave false airspeed data to the cockpit of the flight from Rio to Paris before it plunged into the ocean.
The BEA has said the faulty sensors were a contributing factor but not the cause of the crash, which was yet to be explained.
Meanwhile, Air France KLM plans to train pilots on how to respond if an aircraft's speed probes, or pitot, fail to function and give incoherent speed readings, the airline's biggest union in France said.
Helicopter carrying chief minister disappears
A helicopter carrying a powerful south Indian politician disappeared yesterday over an area held by Maoist rebels, triggering a huge land-and-air search, officials said.
Indian air force aircraft joined the hunt for Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state,when his helicopter lost radio contact after it took off from the state capital Hyderabad, a military spokesman said.
"Right now we can only pray," Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in the national capital New Delhi.
Police, backed by paramilitary troopers, were on their way to join the search for Mr Reddy's aircraft which was believed to have crashed, he said.
Mr Reddy, who belongs to India's ruling Congress Party, had been leading a vigorous military campaign to smash strongholds of outlawed Maoist rebels who dominate wide swathes of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Indian air force aircraft joined the hunt for Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state,when his helicopter lost radio contact after it took off from the state capital Hyderabad, a military spokesman said.
"Right now we can only pray," Indian Home Minister P. Chidambaram said in the national capital New Delhi.
Police, backed by paramilitary troopers, were on their way to join the search for Mr Reddy's aircraft which was believed to have crashed, he said.
Mr Reddy, who belongs to India's ruling Congress Party, had been leading a vigorous military campaign to smash strongholds of outlawed Maoist rebels who dominate wide swathes of coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Santika probe nears an end
The police expect to wrap up their investigation this week into the Santika pub inferno.
Pol Maj Gen Likhit Lin-ouan, the deputy city police commissioner heading the team investigating the fire at Santika pub on Soi Ekamai in the first few minutes of Jan 1,2009, said officers would question another five or six witnesses, including those injured in the fire, before submitting their report to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Video footage of the incident would be shown to witnesses to help police verify the facts, he said, after calling a meeting with his team to discuss the progress of their inquiries.
The blaze, which erupted as revellers celebrated the New Year, killed 66 people and injured hundreds of others.
A police team has been sent to track down Suriya Ritrabue, the managing director of White and Brothers, the pub operator, who is still on the run,Pol Maj Gen Likhit said.
Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat yesterday said teams had been set up in Bangkok and other provinces to inspect safety measures at pubs and night entertainment venues.
There were six teams in Bangkok and 11 others in the provinces, said the deputy minister after chairing a meeting with a ministry panel inspecting pubs and entertainment venues.
He said the teams had been set up to prevent a recurrence of the Santika fire. Fire drills were held yesterday at two major pubs in Bangkok.
Mr Boonjong said the teams would not arrest anybody during their inspections. They would educate operators and visitors about safety measures and insurance policies.
He said operators of entertainment venues would be required to take out public liability insurance.
The ministry had reached a conclusion on the public liability insurance fees, which would vary depending on the size and type of business, Mr Boonjong said.
Entertainment venues required to take out insurance cover would include those with dance shows, which would pay 10,000 baht a year; venues with food and alcohol served by staff (8,000 baht); massage parlours (10,000 baht),venues with an area of up to 300 square metres and selling food and alcohol (8,000 baht); and venues with an area of more than 300sqm (10,000 baht).
He said the insurance cover would provide at least 100,000 baht a person to a third party in case of death or complete disability and medical coverage of at least 100,000 baht a person to the injured. Outlets would also be required to take out insurance of at least 5 million baht covering patrons' personal property.
More than 30 insurance firms have shown an interest in providing coverage which would cover fires, bombs and building collapse, he said.
Pol Maj Gen Likhit Lin-ouan, the deputy city police commissioner heading the team investigating the fire at Santika pub on Soi Ekamai in the first few minutes of Jan 1,2009, said officers would question another five or six witnesses, including those injured in the fire, before submitting their report to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Video footage of the incident would be shown to witnesses to help police verify the facts, he said, after calling a meeting with his team to discuss the progress of their inquiries.
The blaze, which erupted as revellers celebrated the New Year, killed 66 people and injured hundreds of others.
A police team has been sent to track down Suriya Ritrabue, the managing director of White and Brothers, the pub operator, who is still on the run,Pol Maj Gen Likhit said.
Deputy Interior Minister Boonjong Wongtrairat yesterday said teams had been set up in Bangkok and other provinces to inspect safety measures at pubs and night entertainment venues.
There were six teams in Bangkok and 11 others in the provinces, said the deputy minister after chairing a meeting with a ministry panel inspecting pubs and entertainment venues.
He said the teams had been set up to prevent a recurrence of the Santika fire. Fire drills were held yesterday at two major pubs in Bangkok.
Mr Boonjong said the teams would not arrest anybody during their inspections. They would educate operators and visitors about safety measures and insurance policies.
He said operators of entertainment venues would be required to take out public liability insurance.
The ministry had reached a conclusion on the public liability insurance fees, which would vary depending on the size and type of business, Mr Boonjong said.
Entertainment venues required to take out insurance cover would include those with dance shows, which would pay 10,000 baht a year; venues with food and alcohol served by staff (8,000 baht); massage parlours (10,000 baht),venues with an area of up to 300 square metres and selling food and alcohol (8,000 baht); and venues with an area of more than 300sqm (10,000 baht).
He said the insurance cover would provide at least 100,000 baht a person to a third party in case of death or complete disability and medical coverage of at least 100,000 baht a person to the injured. Outlets would also be required to take out insurance of at least 5 million baht covering patrons' personal property.
More than 30 insurance firms have shown an interest in providing coverage which would cover fires, bombs and building collapse, he said.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Publican offers 30,000 baht
The owner of the Santika pub - which erupted into a deadly inferno in the first few seconds of this year - has told a court he could offer just 30,000 baht in compensation to relatives of the dead and to surviving victims.
The blaze killed 66 people and injured hundreds. The offer was part of a second round of court settlement talks between pub owner and operator Suriya Ritrabue and the victims at Phra Khanong Provincial Court yesterday.
A lawyer representing Mr Suriya told complainants the pub owner had no more money to pay compensation.
Families affected by the Santika fire have filed seven civil suits against Mr Suriya demanding compensation totalling 105.7 million baht.
But the initial court settlement process was required before civil suits could begin.
The lawyer said the pub owner could not afford to pay more than his offer but a victim who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the management and business partners of the pub should share responsibility to compensate fire victims.
Chairat Saeng-arun, who is an adviser to the Foundation for Consumers that has supported the Santika fire victims'fight for compensation, said the pub owner would be given one last chance to make an acceptable offer in the next court settlement negotiation set for Nov 25.
If the talks fail again, victims and relatives of the dead would launch legal proceedings against the 33 Santika pub management members and business partners who should be held responsible for the consequences of the fire, Mr Chairat said.
More than eight months after the inferno, no victims have received compensation. Forty more complaints have been lodged against the pub operator.
The blaze killed 66 people and injured hundreds. The offer was part of a second round of court settlement talks between pub owner and operator Suriya Ritrabue and the victims at Phra Khanong Provincial Court yesterday.
A lawyer representing Mr Suriya told complainants the pub owner had no more money to pay compensation.
Families affected by the Santika fire have filed seven civil suits against Mr Suriya demanding compensation totalling 105.7 million baht.
But the initial court settlement process was required before civil suits could begin.
The lawyer said the pub owner could not afford to pay more than his offer but a victim who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the management and business partners of the pub should share responsibility to compensate fire victims.
Chairat Saeng-arun, who is an adviser to the Foundation for Consumers that has supported the Santika fire victims'fight for compensation, said the pub owner would be given one last chance to make an acceptable offer in the next court settlement negotiation set for Nov 25.
If the talks fail again, victims and relatives of the dead would launch legal proceedings against the 33 Santika pub management members and business partners who should be held responsible for the consequences of the fire, Mr Chairat said.
More than eight months after the inferno, no victims have received compensation. Forty more complaints have been lodged against the pub operator.
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