Chiang Rai News
Single Visa Proposed for “Five Chiang Cities” at Mobile Cabinet Meeting in Chiang Rai
CHIANG RAI – At a Mobile cabinet meeting held in Chiang Rai, Tourism officials said a plan for a single visa for “Five Chiang Cities” will be proposed to spur tourism among four countries in the Mekong Region and add quality tourists to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces of Thailand.
Ahead of a mobile cabinet meeting in Chiang Rai and Lampang that is expected to be held soon, both government and private agencies in Chiang Rai have stepped up to discuss the scheme, which started about two decades ago to link these cities and promote tourism.
The five Chiang cities in the scheme comprise Thailand’s Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces, Myanmar’s Chiang Tung (Keng Tung) in Shan State, China’s Jinghong (Chiang Rung) in the Tai Lue Xishuangbanna region of Yunnan and Laos’ Chiang Thong (Xieng Thong) aka Luang Prabang.
President of the Association of Northern Tourism Federations, Kitti Tissakul, said Thailand will reap the rewards from the scheme because Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai can benefit from the flow of Chinese tourists who are visiting the other 3 cities, especially from Jinhong; as well as South Korean, Japanese, and French tourists who visit Luang Prabang.
With a single visa in place, tourists are more likely to cross over to the two Thai provinces under the scheme.
“Also, it will add approximately 10% or more than 2 million tourists annually,” Mr Kitti said.
With about 14 million foreign tourists visiting Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai alone each year, increasing the number in the five cities to 30 million is within reach.
“A single visa is the key,” he said.
The policy was initiated a while back by the Chiang Rai Chamber of Commerce, and private and public sectors to promote Thai tourism using the strength of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai’s international airports.
While the Asean regional bloc has its vision of a single visa in the same manner as the European Schengen Visa, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai should be used as pilot areas under the law, to test one-stop services and a single visa policy, he said.
He said representatives from the four countries agree that border control is one obstacle to the growth in tourism in the Mekong region, and that they want to push the discussion of a one-stop service and a single visa to an Asean intergovernmental platform such as the Asean Summit, in which they look forward to discussing the matter.
Meanwhile, he acknowledges security concerns, especially relating to transnational crimes, but says the opportunities outweigh the challenges.
“These challenges can be addressed while we forge ahead with the project,” he said.
Challenges can also be addressed using a single database shared by all four countries to alleviate the security concerns, he said.
Sert Chaiyananta, head of Chiang Rai’s tourism and sports office, said Chiang Rai is a strategic province connecting to the five Chiang cities which are interwoven through cultural ties and unique identities.
The scheme will play to the development of quality tourism that stays true to the roots and identities of the five cities, which are reflected through food, culture, and its people, said Mr Sert.
Mr Sert said Chiang Mai has evidence of prosperity both at present and from the past, and the province’s food and arts scene is booming, he said.
Chiang Tung’s Buddhist legacy can be seen through architecture, while Chiang Thong is known for its nature and people. Chiang Rung has clear connections with Thailand as evidenced by the similar language, Mr Sert said.
“What is important now is to come up with a plan and sell it to global market,” he said.
Chiang Rai governor Prajon Pratsakul said number of tourists to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai rose by 31.51% over the past year and the number is on the rise.
He said transportation in and between the five cities are quite developed. Chiang Rai and Chiang Tung have an agreement allowing inter-city commuting, while eight airlines service Myanmar’s Tachileik airport.
The construction of a new bridge across the Mekong in China and the high-speed train project linking Xishuangbanna with Myanmar and Laos will create more network, on top of existing connections, to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, he said.
By Chinnapat Chaimon and Patpon Sabpaitoon
The 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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