Chiang Rai News
Chinese Motorhomes Spark Frustration in Northern Thailand
Chinese drive motorhomes to Thailand to do away with the need to use local accommodation.
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CHIANG RAI – The border town of Chiang Khong sits on the edge of Thailand, separated from Laos by the Mekong River.
Each year, thousands of Chinese vehicles pass through, some carrying produce trucked through Laos. Then there are Chinese tourists, conspicuous in their left-hand-drive sport utility vehicles as they traverse northern Thailand’s mountainous attractions.
This year, there has been a new sight: Chinese Campervans aka Motorhomes
Dozens of these mobile homes arrived during the Chinese New Year tourism crush last month.
They stirred up debate on Thai social media after pictures of them parked in seemingly inappropriate places like temples and curbsides were circulated online.
Thai tourist policeman Kitidesh Tajiwongsuriyakool with a photo of a campervan that was driven by a young Chinese couple travelling with their child through Chiang Mai last month
For locals already frustrated with the boorish behaviour of Chinese tourists, the appearance of these campervans has only fanned the disapproval.
Although new campervan spaces have been built in some national parks, they were not ready for use last month.
In that month alone, 4,757 Chinese-registered cars entered the country through Chiang Khong, five times the January figure. According to Chiang Khong Customs House, the Chinese cars made up three-quarters of all cars entering Thailand from that checkpoint last month.
“They parked everywhere,” said Major-General Pongsak Chuasomboon, the deputy commissioner of police in the northernmost provinces. “They even parked by a police kiosk because they wanted to be safe.”
He added, however, that the campervan drivers were polite and compliant when asked to move their vehicles.
But the arrival of the campervans has brought on safety concerns, given the lax rules that already govern foreign vehicles in Thailand.
Apart from documentation fees, Chinese motorists need only sit through a video introduction lasting no more than 20 minutes and buy third-party insurance covering only injury or death, to be able to drive in the country.
As a result, Thai motorists involved in accidents with Chinese vehicles find it difficult to claim damages, says Manop Sae-jia, the president of a tour guide association called Care Lanna Guide Community based in neighbouring Chiang Mai province.
Chiang Mai, whose capital city is a five-hour drive from Chiang Khong, has had a prickly relationship with Chinese tourists. While the province surged in popularity after the hit 2012 Chinese comedy Lost in Thailand, it is grappling with traffic hazards caused by young Chinese tourists riding rented motorcycles recklessly through its streets.
In 2014, Chinese tourists were caught in Chiang Mai University dressed in its student uniform as part of an elaborate costume play, while others reportedly sneaked into the classrooms to take pictures.
With the arrival of campervans, some locals wonder if traffic woes will worsen without any compensating revenue for hotels and restaurants.
Pornchai Jitnavasathien, the president of the Tourism Council of Chiang Mai, dismisses these fears.
“People think that those who come in campervans are poor,” he said. “But they pay gasoline, gasoline tax, (and) they probably buy more coffee and shop a lot before going home.” Such tourists “come for adventure”, he added.
There were no campervans in sight when The Straits Times visited Chiang Mai and neighbouring Chiang Rai province last week.
But tourist policeman Kitidesh Tajiwongsuriyakool – who last month chatted, dined and played music with some campervan users who had parked at Chiang Mai’s Doi Suthep-Pui National Park – had only fond memories.
“They were very respectful, very lovely,” says the gregarious senior sergeant-major, who moonlights as a tour guide.
The young couple he met, who were travelling with a child, had parked their campervan near the national park toilet and explored the surroundings during the day.
One night after work, the policeman grabbed his saeng, a traditional string instrument, and brought along some homemade spicy buffalo salad for an impromptu party with the Chinese family by their van.
“I told them: ’You might get a stomachache if you eat my food.’ But they ate it anyway.”
The couple cooked some tofu and soup dishes, he said, and they jammed into the night – the husband with his guitar, and the policeman on his saeng.
Chinese tourists interviewed said the image of bad Chinese motorists was probably exaggerated.
“Thai drivers are not that much better than Chinese ones,” Zhang Li, 65, told The Straits Times before riding his rented motorcycle up Doi Suthep with his wife.
“We are from Suzhou, and the city has banned motorcycles. So we come here to relive our younger days.”
There is no question of shutting out motor traffic from China. Tourism accounts for about 10 per cent of Thailand’s gross domestic product, and the Chinese form the largest group of visitors.
The Thai authorities plan instead to tighten regulations for foreign vehicles in the coming months, possibly making motorists buy more comprehensive insurance to protect all parties in case of accidents.
The Tourism Council of Chiang Mai’s Pornchai suggests campervans be prohibited from areas like hospitals, temples and police stations but be allowed to park in hotel compounds, which could offer cleaning and other services for a fee.
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation says there are now campervan parking facilities with water and power supply, as well as sanitary facilities, in five national parks around the kingdom: Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima province; Hat Wanakon in Prachuap Khiri Khan; Thung Salaeng Luang in Phitsanulok; Mae Moei in Tak; and Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai.
They are not in use yet. Once opened, users will be charged about 500 baht (S$20) a night.
Such developments will be good news to independent tourists like Sun Feng, 34, who arrived at Chiang Khong in a mud-splattered Toyota Prado on March 4 after driving through Laos.
He had driven all the way from the eastern Chinese province of Shandong, and planned to drive to the seaside district of Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
“There are so many Chinese people all over the place, it’s like a Chinese province,” he quipped. “It doesn’t feel like a fresh (adventure) any more.”
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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