Chiang Rai News

Chaing Rai Public Health Chief and a Team of Psychiatrists Visit Quake Victims Mae Lao District

Students in Chiang Rai start day one of school term in makeshift classrooms

CHIANG RAI – Public health chief for Chiang Rai, Dr Chamnan Hansuttivejkul, and a team of psychiatrists paid a visit to quake victims in Mae Lao district and found several suffering from psychological illnesses, mostly from depression due to lack of sleep.

Office of the Basic Education Commission (Obec) secretary-general Apichart Jeerawuth said a total of 61 schools were damaged by the quake. A budget of 500 million baht is expected to be allocated to cover the repairs and rebuilding.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn expressed her concern over the students’ health in the high heat

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn expressed her concern over the students’ health in the high heat.

The Princess suggested Obec build a temporary shelter with a high ceiling, allowing for better ventilation.

Meanwhile The Department of Mineral Resources has reported that aftershocks will continue to rock the north of Thailand until early next month, since the 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Chiang Rai’s Phan district on May 5th, 2014

The aftershocks are common and caused by plate movement, said Suwit Kosuwan, director of Active Fault Research Division.

He explained that a large number of shakes detected after the 6.3-magnitude earthquake is normal when an area has experienced a large-scale earthquake.

People will probably feel a series of light shakes until next month. After that, the situation should return to normal.

But aftershocks less than magnitude 3 on the Richter scale will continue for the next five months.

According to the department, more than 1,000 aftershocks were detected after May 5. However, only 169 were felt by people.

People can only feel it if it is higher than magnitude 3 on the Richter scale.

At Thanthong Witthaya School in quake-rattled Mae Lao district, classes were being held in the space under the old school building.

“Please do not panic. We have found nothing unusual with this earthquake,” he said.

“At the 6.3-magnitude level, a long series of aftershocks is normal,” he said, adding that the aftershocks are a way to rebalance the fault line after a big movement in the earth’s plates.

The department said the magnitude 5 shake in Mae Lao district on Monday was only an aftershock.

People living in the North, especially in Chiang Rai province continue to experience minor shakes every day, and some can’t sleep at home due to the fear of another earthquake.

The epicenter of the 6.3-magnitude quake was previously reported to be from Phayao fault line in Chiang Rai’s Phan district.

But the latest information showed the epicentre was actually detected in Mae Lao.

Meanwhile, Penneung Warnitchai of the Asian Institute of Technology, who is an expert on earthquakes, said the 6.3-magnitude earthquake wasn’t the highest recorded in Thailand.

Click to Image Enlarge

In 1935, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit Nan province.

“Strong earthquakes are not uncommon for Thailand. We should know there are other fault lines in the North that might generate an earthquake between 6.6 and 6.8 on the Richter scale,” he said.

“But the chance is slim, as the country is not located in an earthquake zone. It would be unlikely to happen, but it can still happen.”

Mr Penneung said most people focus on the earthquakes along the fault line approved by the Department of Mineral Resources, but there are many “blind” fault lines under the earth, which could produce a 6.5-quake on the Richter scale.

Unfortunately, those blind fault lines are everywhere in the North and can’t be detected.

But the fact is that they are still active and could cause just as much damage as the main fault lines, he said.

Chiang Rai News

Chiang Rai Man Kills Woman’s Infant Daughter When She Refuses His Sexual Advances

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 News

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

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. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

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.

Pol. Gen. Kittirat Panphet, Deputy Commander and Director of the Police Crime Suppression Division

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/

Chiang Rai 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.