Northern Thailand

Checkpoints Initiated in Northern Thailand to Thwart African Swine Flu

“Charoen Pokphand Foods, has joined with rivals Betagro and Thai Food to raise funds for 50 government-manned checkpoints along Thailand’s northern borders to protect against the feared African Swine Flu”

Thailand’s pork industry has started to take policing into its own hand over African Swine Flu. Three of Thailand’s biggest pork companies are teaming up with the government forces to police the country’s borders. In a desperate effort to protect the Nations pork industry from the African Swine Flu from bordering Myanmar.

Charoen Pokphand Foods, has joined with rivals Betagro and Thai Food to raise funds for 50 government-manned checkpoints along northern borders. The three companies together account for as much of 80% of Thai pork production. The unusual private-public initiative is in part due to the lack of available state funds.

The checkpoints will be manned by authorities from Thailand’s Agriculture Ministry, Interior Ministry and the Royal Thai Army. Surachai Sutthitham, president of Swine Raisers Association of Thailand told the Nikkei that the checkpoints will be equipped with antiseptic sprays to douse down all trucks that carry livestock including cattle, poultry and all feed before they can enter Thailand.

Agriculture Ministry Must Make Official Statements

The three companies declined to give further details on how much they have jointly invested in securing the the northern borders. Saying it is a sensitive issue that should be released by the government. The Agriculture Ministry has not made any official statements.

“It is a progressive reaction from those private firms that realized that they need to do something very fast and carefully to protect themselves as well as to protect the reputation of the country as a world food exporter,” said Livestock Development Department Director General Sorawit Thanito.

Thailand has been in tenterhooks since the outbreak of African Swine Fever in neighboring countries a year ago. This fear intensified in September. Dead pigs were found drifting along the Ruak river at the border of Thailand’s Chiang Rai Province and Myanmar. The World Organization for Animal Heath declared Myanmar as being infected with the disease in August.

Pigs Culled in Chiang Rai Over African Swine Flu Fears

More than 200 pigs have already culled in three districts in Chiang Rai province over fears of African swine flu contamination. Thailand has banned all pork products from neighboring Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar from entering its country.

The Thai government is meeting in early October to discuss ways to contain the disease and prevent it from spreading to Northern Thailand.

Although 80% of Thai pigs are raised in tightly controlled farms by the three companies. There are still nearly 200,000 small farmers that need to be closely monitored the Ministry of Agriculture said.

As part of the new initiative, all pigs within 5 km of infected ones will be killed. The pig farmers will be given compensation of 70% of the market price. This compensation will come from funds raised by the three companies.

If only one small farm was infected, it could destroy all of the pork supply chain. The infection could lead to a domino-collapse of the Thai food industry.

Thailand is the biggest pork supplier for the Mekong region.

Thai pork is also in demand in China, where many pigs have been slaughtered after contracting African Swine Fever. Thai pork exports to Hong Kong surged more than 60% to 985 tons in the first half of this year. The Swine Raisers’ Association of Thailand forecast that pork exports to Hong Kong could reach 2,500 tons this year.

Thailand produces 1.5-1.7 million tons of pork annually from 20-23 million pigs.

Source: Nikkei Asian Review

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.

After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.

After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.

This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.

Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.

The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.

According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.

Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.

Tourists Tubing on Pai River

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.

Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.

When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.

The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.

Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.

She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.

The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.

Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.

According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.

Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.

Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.

A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.

The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.

Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.

Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.