Chiang Rai News
Chiang Khong’s “New Town” Known as a Ghost Town by Locals
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Chiang Khong’s main streets are empty despite new economic zone.
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CHIANG RAI – The freshly painted welcome signs at Chiang Khong market are conspicuous, greeting visitors as they cross the border from Laos.
Few arrive however, and behind the signs they see only shuttered shops and scattered clothing sellers.
The “New Town”, as some business operators called it after the opening of the fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River in 2013, is now known as a ghost town by locals.
Once a bustling trade development area, the market located just a kilometer from the bridge, has been a flop and doesn’t seem to be able to attract tourists.
A shopkeeper, who asked Bangkok Post reporter Paritta Wangkiat to be identified only as Daeng, recalled busy days as hundreds of visitors dropped by to shop at the market, prior to the official opening of the bridge in late 2013.
“Now there are only big trucks passing by,” she said.
But there is a chance the market could be resurrected, after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s government announced Chiang Rai would be the location for the second phase of the Special Economic Zones, set to be launched this year.
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The price of land in three targeted districts — Chiang Khong, Mae Sai and Chiang Saen — abruptly doubled.
The government has proposed the economic zones could host agriculture and fishery, handicrafts, medical equipment and logistics businesses.
Businesses located in the zones will earn privileges in the first five to 10 years of investment, including exemption of corporate income tax and import duties for raw materials, deductions of up to half of utility bills and transport costs, and permission to employ unskilled foreign workers.
Some locals have doubts about their town becoming a part of an SEZ, sensing deja vu. Their experience shows the winners of such grand developments are the big Thai and Chinese companies who use the town and bridge as a connection to China.
“Cross-border trade negotiations brought together major merchants to increase their opportunities,” said Sanguan Sonklinsakul, vice-president of the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce. “Local people have little access to this trade benefit. They can’t compete with the big investors.”
Chiang Khong Immigration checkpoint at the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge
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Mr Sanguan said he has seen local people hurt by national border trade policies that do not include them.
Looking at plots along the border, many Chinese-backed banana farms have sprung up, with countless water pumps dotted along the river banks. Bags of Thai chemical fertilizers are seen occasionally. The bananas are exported to China.
With the signing of the 1993 “Rectangle Economy” agreement, China, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand joined together to strengthen economic opportunities. It was that agreement which resulted in the bridge’s opening in 2013 — and expectation of an economic boom soared in Chiang Khong district when construction of the bridge began. Land speculation was rampant.
China blasted submerged rocks upstream in its Mekong territory in 2001 to cater for commercial vessels, and is now pushing Laos to agree to further clearance. The Xayaburi Dam, potentially a source of border industrialization, is now under construction in Laos, despite widespread protests.
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Fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge that links Chiang Khong to Huay Xai town
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In recent years, many bilingual signs in Thai and Chinese have popped up near the fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge that links Chiang Khong to Huay Xai town. Convoys of trucks loaded with all sorts of commodities cross the bridge into Laos each day. Many are headed for China.
Chiang Rai governor Pongsak Wangsamer said Chinese companies are interested in the SEZ. One company, Muang Ngeun Development, wants to develop an industrial estate on 1,500 rai that covers almost half of a wetland forest in Ban Boon Reung Moo 2. This has prompted local protests.
“The forest is meaningful to us,” said Karuna Orpanya, 54, a Ban Boon Rueng resident. “It produces food for locals as well as retains water to help mitigate seasonal flooding.”
“The SEZ is a ‘pret-a-porter’ policy which ignores local context,” said Decharut Sukkumnoed, a lecturer at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Economics.
A valuation of Chiang Rai’s agriculture sector, he said, shows Chiang Khong has potential to grow sustainably as a farming city. Its value rose from five billion baht in 2000 to 30 billion baht in 2012.
He suggested government focus on creating a healthy environment by preserving forests and water resources.
By Paritta Wangkiat – Bangkok Post
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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