Chiang Rai News
Smog Shrouds North Thailand – TTR Weekly Report
CHIANGRAI – A smog covering most of northern Thailand will stop the annual exodus of Songkran holiday makers in its tracks unless nature comes to the rescue.
Northern provinces are in the grip of a health threatening smog caused by the wholesale burning of paddy fields and forests across the Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
Water is sprayed to reduce haze in Chiang Rai CityProvincial governors say they are speeding up efforts to fight the haze and are closely monitoring burning activities, but on the ground scenes in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Chiang Rai provinces are identical to last year when thousands of residents had to seek hospital treatment to combat respiratory ailments.
There is no evidence of a rapid response or the enforcement of measures neatly written on government memos.
Authorities in the northern provinces know they are about to lose billions in tourism revenue when the Songkran holiday makers learn the truth and head elsewhere for the five-day break. Short of a rain making miracle, they will book their holidays at beach resorts or provinces that are not cloaked in smog.
Chiang Mai deputy governor, Adisorn Kamnerdsiri, said that the average dust particle level has reduced, but remained higher than the safety limit.
These comments fly in the face of that facts residents encounter on the ground. The level of microgrammes per cubic metre are over 200 in both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and as high as 350 in Mae Hong Son. On a typical day in Bangkok the reading is 50 to 60 at the Dusit Thani intersection on Silom Road.
According to the Pollution Control Department’s chart the danger level starts at 100 and is tagged unhealthy. The zone 200 to 300 is described as very unhealthy. Mae Hong Son is in the red zone, 300 to 500, described as hazardous to health.
On Monday 0900, the level of dust particles was measured at 193 microgrammes per cubic metre at The Provincial Hall in Chiang Mai town and 202 microgrammes per cubic metre at Yupparaj Wittayalai School in Chiang Mai.
Travel to North Thailand is not advised this week if for no other reason that its an uncomfortable, stifling experience and the natural beauty of the region is hidden.These levels are seriously unhealthy causing respiratory infections, smarting eyes, coughs and headaches.
At least one international school issued a written warning to parents noting the figures had gone into the orange area that requires students to remain indoors in air-conditioned class rooms.
Officials are deliberately talking down the risks to save tourism, claiming a reading of 120 is within the safe zone, while the PCD clearly sets the threshold at 100.
TTR Weekly has an editorial office in Chiang Rai and a sales office in Chiang Mai, so the visible impact and health risks are clearly evident in both locations to this publication without having to quote a well-meaning government official. A hill range 500 to 600 metres high less than 2 km from the TTR Weekly Chiang Rai base is no longer visible. The entire hilly landscape is lost in the smog. That has been the case since Sunday.
Local residents continued to light fires along the highway 1152 that leads to Chiang Khong at 0600 this morning despite a standing order that bans all fires including the burning of garbage.
Chiang Rai’s tourism’s appeal is a mix of cultural attractions, religious landmarks, its artists and the natural beauty of its mountain scenery and environment. For two years in a row the haze has turned into a province wide disaster that presents a serious risk to health and commercial well-being.
Around 180 km south, Chiang Mai’s deputy governor warns: “If the situation becomes a crisis, it will threaten the health of local residents as well as the tourism industry which generates major income for the province.
“If the smog worsens from now to the Songkran festival, some tourists may head to other provinces instead of Chiang Mai,” he told local media.
Shoring up tourism is more important to provincial officials than facing the facts that provinces in the North failed to deal with the annual smog in the same manner central plain governors failed to deal with flood warnings in 2011.
Provincial authorities claim to be spraying water mist into the air to increase humidity and remove some dust particles from the air. However, helicopters and small planes are grounded because the smog reduces flight visibility.
Travel to North Thailand is not advised this week if for no other reason that its an uncomfortable, stifling experience and the natural beauty of the region is hidden. The smog is evident in Phrae and thickens in Lampang and Phayao extending to the entire far north including Nan, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.
Officials said earlier there were 80 dangerous days, 21 January to 10 April, but until last week most provinces were clear of smog. That situation ended last week and from there on conditions have worsened.
Residents hope the annual rain that usually hits the north around Songkran (mid-April) will clear the smog. However, the weather forecast is for an unusually dry festival week and the long-term impact of the El Nino phenomenon will also reduce the chances of rain.
The smog will once more shake the tourism and hotel business of North Thailand as tour operators correctly redirect bookings to smog- free destinations in Thailand to meet client concerns.
While provincial officials say they are armed and ready to fight smog, only mother nature can save the north from suffering massive health costs and tourism revenue losses. If it rains over the next two weeks, the north gets bailed out. If not, no matter what provincial governors say both domestic and international travelers will head to the beach where a fresh sea breeze will keep pollution levels in the safe 0 to 30 zone. – by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit TTR Weekly
The average dust level Particulate Matter (PM10) and air quality index (AQJ) on 25 March at 0900
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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