Chiang Rai News
Schools Still Out in Chiang Rai Two Months after Quake
A classroom at Pong Phrae Witthaya after the earthquake struck in May.
CHIANG RAI – Two months after the trail of destruction left by one of the country’s worst earthquake disasters, their are still classrooms of remote schools in Chiang Rai where students are forced to have their lessons in tents.
Buildings in nine schools across three battered districts of Mae Lao, Mae Suai and Phan display jagged and dangerous cracks and are barely standing. Close by, students struggle to learn history and maths in tents donated by local authorities.
Damage at Phan Pittayakom School in Chiang Rai’s Phan District
The students, many of them from poor families, have no idea how long they will have to sit outside in the makeshift classrooms. The delay in getting new classrooms is creating desperation.
Their plight has been witnessed by millions around the country, including a group of leading architects and engineers who have made it their mission to rebuild the schools and ensure the buildings are jolt-resistant.
The group has enthusiastically joined in the reconstruction project which is also tackling quake-ravaged homes and temples in Chiang Rai.
The aftermath of the 6.3-magnitude earthquake and its aftershocks left behind caved-in roads and crumbling buildings and Buddhist temples. Villagers are also in urgent need of housing.
Students continue to be deprived of classrooms with the new school term already started.
“Soon after the earthquake, we came up with the idea to help out,” said Vipavee Kunavichayanont, a representative of Design for Disasters (D4D), a non-profit research and design organisation whose mission is to create liveable habitats in natural disaster prone areas. The organisation provides core assistance in the rebuilding work.
The work involves designing and constructing new buildings at nine affected schools using materials that are readily available in the communities, environmentally friendly and which, most of important of all, can tolerate tremors.
Ms Vipavee said the group plans to offer similar help to other affected schools in the province.
The project is named “Earthquake Recovery Project: Reconstruction of Houses, Temples and Schools Affected by the Earthquake in Chiang Rai”. It was launched in collaboration with the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA), the Engineering Institute of Thailand, the Consulting Engineers Association of Thailand and the Thai Contractors Association. The Lanna Architect Committee of local designers and architects is also taking part in the project although it is focusing more on the restoration of ruined temples.
As the earthquake struck with varying magnitudes in different parts of the upper North, one architect has been assigned per locality to come up with a blueprint to suit each of the nine schools, Ms Vipavee said.
The ceiling of a classroom at Thung Fah Pha School after being hit by the earthquake in May.
The nine schools which come under the jurisdiction of the Chiang Rai education office are Baan Ta Hor, Than Thong Wittaya, Nong Bau, Baan Thung Fah Pha, Baan Pa Ko Dam Community, Pong Prae Wittaya, Baan Doi Chang, Baan Huai San Yao and Phan Tambon Administrative Organisation.
Two temples also require immediate restoration: Wat Donk Ma Feang and Wat Mai La Or Naram.
The nine architects got together through their own connections and not with the help of the authorities. They estimate the cost of rebuilding each school will be 1.5 to 2 million baht in materials and labour. The architects have received donations of construction materials from leading manufacturers around the country. D4D continues to raise funds for the rest of the project.
Guided by humanitarianism and the desire to help those in distress, the group designs and rebuilds the schools free of charge.
“It is our duty to use professional knowledge and potential to get experts and volunteers to join in and make this project successful,” Pichai Wongwaisayawan, president of the architects’ association, said.
“We are looking out for our country’s safety, not only for these people,” said Suttisak Soralump, vice-president and chairperson, foreign affairs committee, the Engineering Institute of Thailand.
Baan Doi Chang School students concentrate hard in the noisy canteen used as a temporary classroom.
The old school buildings will be demolished and new ones erected on the same ground. The design work was completed two weeks ago and construction started last week.
Pol Lt Col Bundit Pradabsook, vice-president of the ASA, said rebuilding of the schools was a priority with long-term safety in mind. The group aims to finish the work in two to three months.
Suriya Umpansiriratana, an architect from WallAsia, said the group wants to get the schools up and running again as quickly as possible with the design geared toward making the buildings quake proof while blending in with the environment.
They will also be expected to fulfil local needs. This includes having at least four classrooms, toilets, lockers, shelves and school grounds as a basic requirement. The building materials would mostly consist of wood and metals.
Their building ideas derived from similar structures seen in earthquake-prone countries such as Indonesia.
Natural resources are plentiful in Chiang Rai and will be used as building materials. Bamboo grown locally will form an integral part of the design and construction as it is sturdy and long-lasting.
The wood, flexible and well-suited to the environment, is processed to make it last up to 30 years.
The group has decided not to use a modernist look or concept for the buildings as out of place for the area.
Jun Sekino, of Junsekino Architect and Design Co Ltd, said the essential idea is to create an easily developed design around the children and teachers.
“In the future they will be able to modify the functions of the buildings as they want. For example, they can merge two classrooms into one by removing a partition or they can renovate the buildings’ walls themselves,” he said.
ML Varudh Varavarn, of Vin Varavarn Architects Ltd, stressed it was necessary to construct the buildings with minimal materials that will respect nature and avoid the cutting down of trees.
“We have designed these buildings to withstand a maximum 7.0-magnitude earthquake,” Mr Suttisak said.
The sponsors of the project include Siam Cement Group, Viva Board, Siam City Cement Public Co Ltd and Bangkok Airways.
As for the wrecked homes, Mr Pichai said the groups would develop prototype houses with the help of local residents who will be enlisted to participate in the construction so that they can gain knowledge about housing construction which might be useful to them in the future.
Pol Lt Col Bundit said there were about 100 temples and 1,000 houses destroyed or partially destroyed in the earthquake.
By Robin Phanphensophon
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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