Chiang Rai News
Thai Pro-Government ‘Red Shirts’ Threaten to Rise up if Election is Scrapped
Protesters criticised a ruling by the constitutional court earlier in the day that the February 2 polls could legally be postponed, in the face of an election boycott by anti-government demonstrators and their occupation of parts of Bangkok, which has lasted nearly a fortnight.
The Chiang Rai red shirts’ anger is a taster of a conflict likely in southeast Asia’s second-largest economy should the election be derailed or the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, prime minister, be ousted by the courts or the military.
“We have been fighting for democracy for many years,” said Chirachot Phumisitpong, deputy leader of one of Chiang Rai’s main red-shirt groups. “If the other side [stages] a revolution and the troops come out, we will fight.”
Many Thais are bracing themselves for a tumultuous week as a trial of strength that began on the streets of Bangkok more than two months ago builds to an election the government is determined to hold and the opposition “yellow shirts” movement, led by Suthep Thaugsuban, is desperate to stop.
The battle is perhaps the most dangerous explosion yet of a long-running power struggle between supporters and opponents of Ms Yingluck’s brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a former prime minister whose ousting in a 2006 military coup triggered the creation of the red-shirt movement.
Thawatchai Thongnak, a redshirt artist, is one of many people – on both sides and none – who fear for the future of Thailand. “We will have to have a civil war,” he said gloomily.
Government loyalists gathered as Chiang Rai’s early evening traffic thundered past their camp, which is carved out from the highway by a corral of traffic cones implanted with red flags billowing in the winter breeze. If that was one riposte to the occupation of a string of Bangkok highways by opposition demonstrators, then the large poster declaring “We don’t want the Suthep regime” – echoing opposition denunciations of “the Thaksin regime” – was another.
Demonstrators lit candles as a speaker on the makeshift stage led them in a chant of “Election!” and denounced the opposition’s plan to suspend parliamentary rule and install an appointed council of undefined “good people” instead.
“We want elections on February 2,” he called out, as protesters planted their candles in a line on the tarmac. “We don’t want Suthep’s cronies.”
These roadside red shirts are part of a network of loyalist groups across the country who are growing increasingly angry after holding back from confrontation as part of a government effort to avoid provoking violence and a possible military coup.
Chiang Rai, a tourist centre that is a gateway to the “golden triangle” where the Thai, Myanmar and Laos borders meet, is firmly in the government’s mainly rural northern heartland – and is just two hours down the road from Chiang Mai, ancestral home of Mr Thaksin and Ms Yingluck. Pro-Thaksin parties have won every Thai election since 2001, thanks to the appeal in the north in particular of policies such as cheap healthcare and rice farming subsidies.
Both reds and yellows say they use only peaceful protest but some members of both have also been involved violence. This week, Kwanchai Praipana, a red-shirt leader in the north-eastern town of Udon Thani, was shot and wounded in an apparent assassination attempt.
If that has spooked fellow reds, so have the actions of some supposedly independent state institutions they see as biased against them. The Chiang Rai reds attacked Friday’s constitutional court ruling that it was possible to postpone the February 2 poll if the government and the country’s election commission agreed to do so. The election commission has called for the vote to be delayed until May but Ms Yingluck said she would press ahead with the original date after opposition leaders rebuffed her offer of talks on a postponement.
Red shirts around the country are due to hold rallies on January 29, one of several potential flashpoints during a week that will be a big test of both sides’ credibility, relative strength – and restraint.
“It’s incredibly frustrating,” said Amnaj Rattanasuwan, a Chiang Rai red-shirt accountant. “We really want to fight. Many people feel that way.” – ByMichael Peel in Chiang Rai
Michael Peel is a British journalist. He has written for various publications including Granta, New Republic, New Statesman and London Review of Books. He is currently middle east correspondent of the Financial Times.
Police in Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai Province have arrested a 50 year old man after the threatened to rape a 20 year-old woman and the proceeded to murder her 2 and half month old baby.
Police with doctors from Wiang Kaen Hospital and the Chao Luang Wiang Kaen Welfare Association were summoned to the scene of the incident to a 2-story cement house, Village No. 2, Tha Kham Subdistrict, Wiang Kaen District of Chiang Rai
On arrival they found Ms. Chanikarn, age 20, in a state of distress crying uncontrollably beside her 2 and a half month baby girl (Linlada) that was dead on the floor.
After calming Ms. Chanikarn, the child’s mother, said that at approximately 2:30 p.m she was out to collect diapers that had been dried in front of the house, while her 2 and a half month old daughter was sleep on the ground floor of the house.
She said she was suddenly approached by a Mr. Lee, about 40 years old, who lived on the opposite side of the road. He came towards her and grabbed her arm and threatened her saying if she didn’t sleeping with him he will go and kill his daughter.
Miss Chanikan refused and ran away, then Mr. Lee then walked into the house and grabbed Ms. Linlada’s leg, smashing the child’s head against the cement floor of the house. The infant died immediately.
Mr. Lee then just walked away and returned to his own home, leaving Miss Chanikan and her dead baby.
When police went to Mr. Lee’s home he immediately confessed killing the infant and was taken to Wiang Kaen Police Station for further questioning. Under caution he told police that he was sexually attracted to Miss Chanikan‘s and when her husband leave for work he took the opportunity to approach her.
He said when he saw her husband leave he crossed that road and found Miss Chanikan in the yard alone, he then threatened her to sleep with him, saying he would kill her child if she didn’t have sex with him. However when she refused he flew into a fit of rage walked into her home and murdered he baby. He said he was out of control with rage.
After killing the infant he walk across the street to his home and waited for the police to arrive. The police have charged him with premeditated murder and attempted rape. He is being held without bail at the local remand center.
Meanwhile, Miss Chanikan and her family were preparing a religious burial ceremony for the child.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
CHIANG RAI: Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.
On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.
His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.
Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, Assigned Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai Pitanilabut, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Police/Deputy Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division, has launched the operation ‘Bombing the Thieves’ Bridge’ in collaboration with the CAT Office, G., mobile phone network operators AIS DTAC TRUE NT, and local security agencies to cut the mobile phone signal and WiFi internet that criminals illegally use to deceive Thai citizens.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai stated that they will begin pressing the first action of the ‘Explosion of Thieves’ Bridge’ in Chiang Rai Province toward the thieves’ base of operations in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The territory surrounding King Roman in Laos. King Roman is now a full-service entertainment destination with an airport that welcomes travelers from Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, he explained.
According to Pol. Lt. Gen. Thatchai, this operation will have no influence on honest people along the Thai border, and it will only target cyber criminals.
They will also increase the arrest and prosecution of unlawful service towers, such as SIM booths, which allow gangs register SIM cards to swindle the people. Dealing with criminal organizations of foreigners and Thais who band together to deceive and damage Thais.
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) suspended more than three million SIM cards on July 16 because the holders had not verified their identities with their mobile phone operators by the deadline, in accordance with the NBTC’s measures to combat alleged fraudsters’ mule accounts.
The names of the holders of 80 million mobile phone numbers used for mobile banking transactions did not match the names associated with the mobile banking accounts.
The NBTC would require mobile phone companies to authenticate SIM card holders and the names of their mobile banking accounts. The verification procedure is expected to be completed by the end of September this year.
In addition, the NBTC and Royal Thai Police have collaborated to combat illegal telecom towers throughout the country’s borders, disconnecting signals at 465 places, altering antenna direction at 470 towers, and dismantling antennas at 179 locations.
They are certain that the move will disrupt contact center gangs and other types of technology-based crime.
Other Chiang Rai News:
Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/
Police in Mae Chan, Chiang Rai, shot and killed a 28-year-old man who allegedly attacked a police officer with a machete. The officer was slashed in the right leg with the machete.
According to police, the culprit, known only as Mr. Toon, had been harassing local villagers in Mae Chan district, Chiang Rai, threatening them with a knife and using violet insults.
The village headman arrived on the scene to try to calm Mr. Toon, but he was shouting hysterically and taking swipes at him with the machete, so he contacted the police.
When the responding officer arrived at the site about 9 p.m., he attempted to calm the man, but he instead assaulted the officer, slashing his right leg with the machete. In self-defense, the cop had to fire his gun at Mr. Toon, striking him in the chest.
Mr. Toon and the policeman were taken to Mae Chan Hospital, where Mr. Toon died of a gunshot wound. Pol Sgt. Sutthikiat Phanomphraisakul was released from the hospital after receiving numerous stitches for his injuries.
Local police received a tip around 9.30 p.m. yesterday that a guy was causing mayhem in the village. When authorities arrived, they discovered 28-year-old Toon strolling along a public road, holding a large knife and threatening people. Mae Chan district officials attempted to contain the incident.
During a search of Mr. Toon’s home, authorities discovered methamphetamine consumption equipment. Locals told authorities that the man was addicted to Yaba (Methamphetamine) and an alcoholic.
The authorities are conducting an inquiry to determine Toon’s motivations and whether any underlying issues contributed to his violent outburst.
Other related news:
Chiang Mai Police Offer Cash Reward After Officer Killed
https://www.chiangraitimes.com/crime/chiang-mai-police-offer-reward/
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