The Argentinean film XXY was awarded the Bangkok Film Festival's top prize, the Golden Kinnaree, on Saturday. The jury prize was won by China's Lost in Beijing, while James Lee's Before We Fall in Love Again won a separate all-Asian competition. Attendance was up at the Friday and Saturday screenings, and seminars conducted on such issues as piracy and censorship were well attended, despite remarks by panelists that some observers described as "pedantic." The censorship discussion on Saturday began with a film montage of comments on the issue from young people, ending with one young man denouncing dictatorship - and being cut off. Meanwhile, the head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said Sunday that while the TAT is pleased with the results of this year's festival, it will need support from other government agencies to mount a large-scale film festival again next year. IMDB News
The military junta is deploying at least 1,400 soldiers around Bangkok this weekend to reinforce security amid fears of fresh violence during anti-coup protests. Bangkok will be divided into 14 zones, with at least 100 soldiers deployed in each. Thailand's junta chief, General Sonthi Boonyaratglin, ordered the deployment to back up police after an anti-coup protest last Sunday turned violent with more than 100 injured in clashes with police. The soldiers will deploy from Saturday through Tuesday, as Thailand observes a long weekend for a Buddhist holiday, but that period could be extended further, according to a junta spokesman. The announcement of the deployment came one day after nine protest leaders were arrested over clashes with police that took place earlier in the week.AFP
Retuers
Thai police have arrested three Indian nationals on charges of holding an Indian garment exporter hostage for a 25 million baht ransom. Police rescued the 40-year-old Narendra Dev Pandey on Wednesday from a house in Nonthaburi province. Pandey, who suffered broken ribs, was taken to Police General Hospital for treatment. He was kidnapped Sunday. The alleged kidnappers were identified as former Kolkata Police officer Avinas Pandey, Indrajeet Kumar Pandey and Jai Prakash Tiwari. A Thai suspect, Naturja Thongthai was also arrested in the case. Police found 2.1 million baht in cash at the Nonthaburi house where the suspects were arrested and evidence that suggested they had kidnapped other Indian businessmen for ransom in the past.
The Times of India
The Times of India