Chiang Rai News

Chiang Rai and The “New” Golden Triangle

The Golden Triangle (สามเหลี่ยมทองคำ Saam Liam Thong Kham) is in Chiang Rai Province, in the far north of Thailand. The English name comes from the meeting of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand here, but to the locals it’s Sop Ruak, since this is where the Mekong meets the Ruak River.

CHIANGRAI– It wasn’t that long ago that throughout Southeast Asia the term Golden Triangle was associated with just one thing: opium trafficking. For those fighting the illegal operations, it geographically referred to that area of northernmost Thailand where that country borders Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the west and Laos on the east.

Map or Triangle

From the poppy fields of Burma, Thailand and Laos, the drug, often converted into heroin, was moved overland through hidden jungle trails, then down the Mekong River, often aboard speedy little power boats, into northern Thailand. From there it was secretly transported down the length of the country to Bangkok to be smuggled abroad. For the drug lords in control, it was a very lucrative business. For those fighting them, it was a deadly war.

Today, the Golden Triangle still flourishes but, at least in Thailand, for a much different reason. It’s now one of Thailand’s hottest destinations. Thanks to some vigorous police and military enforcement action by the Thai government, along with a major program to get local farmers to produce cash crops instead of cultivating poppy, the drug smugglers are mostly gone from this area.

With increased security and a major improvement in roads and other infrastructure, came developers who invested millions of dollars to clear raw land and put in luxury resorts that attract well-heeled visitors from all over the world.

Located in or near the provincial cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai now are high-end getaways that offer guests accommodations and amenities that rival any five star hotels in Bangkok or in Thailand’s southern beach resorts cities of Phuket or Pattaya or its offshore island luxury resorts. These include the Four Seasons Tented Camp on a bluff overlooking the Ruak River and just opposite Myanmar. Don’t let the name fool you; the “tents” are steel framed, fully furnished, air conditioned, even WiFi enabled. Supplementing such luxury resorts are many more modest guesthouses that are popular with back packers and other budget travelers.

Thailand, Laos, Burma

All provide European and North American visitors the opportunity to admire the scenery, enjoy the distinctive North Thailand cuisine, feel the warmth of the Thai people — and, for those seeking a bit more adventure, to have an elephant encounter. At several resorts in the area, elephants mainly rescued from the streets of Bangkok where they were ill treated and often injured, are cared for under a Thai government initiative.

Funding to support these animals, however, comes mainly from donations by visitors, from the resorts themselves, and through various “adoption” programs. In return, the elephants “earn” their support by being part of various travel packages resorts offer to their guests. In some cases, visitors simply go off for a ride into the jungle for a few hours. But offered, too, are full-scale programs allowing visitors learn now only to ride their elephant, but care for them and become “instant mahouts.”

Perhaps the most extensive of these programs is found at the luxurious Anantara Golden Triangle Resort near the provincial town of Chiang Saen. John Edwards Roberts is the Director of Elephants and Conservation Activities who oversees a community of 56 elephant aides to care for the animals and conduct informal riding lessons for fascinated visitors.

John Edwards Roberts is the Director of Elephants and Conservation Activities who oversees a community of 56 elephant aides to care for the animals and conduct informal riding lessons for fascinated visitors.

The staff includes young volunteer veterinary students and the mahouts who were often the original owners of the rescued elephants. While the resort supports the elephants, the mahouts retain their ownership.Their families live in their own little village at the elephant camp. Roberts is also head of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Currently, the Anantara Resort cares for about two dozen Asian elephants, all but one are females that range from 2 ½ to 3 tons in weight.

As something of a surprise treat for visitors, a baby elephant is brought around during the breakfast hours right out onto the restaurant’s patio. There it becomes an immediate “photo op” for excited guests.

Regardless of their budgets, visitors to the northernmost tip of Thailand will find in the Golden Triangle a fascinating and “different” Thailand.

Scenes of ethereal beauty are at every turn. In the very early morning hours, mists rise from the Mai Sai River framing the thick jungles that blanket the mountains in nearby Myanmar. Farmers, many from the distinctive ethnic hill tribes, work the neat flatlands that gave rise to the area’s ancient name “Land of a million rice fields.” Towns throughout the area bustle with activity as open-air markets attract locals to shop for daily necessities as well as the latest electronic gadgets.

Formal diplomatic relations between the U.S., Myanmar and Laos ordinarily make regular travel to these two countries quite difficult for Americans. Both governments still prefer to keep most foreigners out except in controlled circumstances. Still, in the Golden Triangle things are strangely enough less restrictive.

Sop Ruak – Golden Triangle

The town of Mai Sai promotes itself as something of an unofficial Golden Triangle capital and offers a formal point of entry into Myanmar from Thailand. Each day a steam stream of Thais pass through a customs and immigration gate on their side of the river and walk across a bridge into Myanmar, mainly to shop there for locally produced goods, including jade jewelry and imports from China, mainly electronics. For their part, Burmese come south into Thailand to shop.

Americans can, for a $5 fee, get a day pass into Myanmar at the same border offices.

It’s even easier to get into Laos, a Communist country that is otherwise difficult for Americans to enter. One of the major tourist attractions there is a boat ride on the Mekong that includes crossing over to the little village of Pak Bang in the People’s Republic of Laos.

In a tiny market village there, visitors can buy a variety of locally made handicrafts and, for those with a strong stomach, bottles of whisky in which snakes and ugly insects float. A post office permit’s the visitor to mail home a card bearing Lao stamps. One more chance to top the neighbors back home.

Northern Thailand needs a map.

Yet to be determined is future access to a casino in Laos just opposite Thailand. Since gambling is against the law in Thailand, it’s quite obviously that the Lao business plan is to attract Thais across the river to their establishment. Whether arrangements will be made to accommodate other foreigners remains to be seen.

Similarly, a lavish hotel casino has been built on the banks of the Mekong in Myanmar, just over its border with Thailand. While patrons generally come in via the formal border crossing, boat landings at the complex suggest that prospective Thai gamblers can hop a water taxi and, in a couple minutes, be at the gaming tables. Then, if very lucky, this could be a real “Golden” Triangle.

by Norman Sklarewitz

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.