Chiang Rai News
Yingluck Defies Junta with Selfie and Smiles Facebook Tour
Yingluck Shinawatra made a stop at a snack shop as part of Yingluck’s ‘fighting with smiles’ tour in the northern Thai province of Lampang Sunday. – Photo Christophe Archambault AFP
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PHRAE – On a “fighting with smiles” tour by ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra, selfies and symbols are the weapons of choice, showing adoring fans her family are still in Thailand’s treacherous political game — despite being hemmed in by the junta.
But in a very Thai take on politics, each act on her tour is suffused with meaning, from ringing the “Bell of Freedom” at a Buddhist temple to speaking in the local dialect.
And the party faithful are lapping it up.
In Phrae, a lush, mountainous province in the Thai north a few hundred kilometres from the Shinawatra clan’s hometown, Yingluck was mobbed by legions of selfie-taking fans at every stop on Saturday — many wearing the ’Red Shirts’ synonomous with her family.
There were tears, cheers and red roses given by supporters, many of whom ascribed their affection to Yingluck’s feminine qualities in a land where politics is broadly dominated by blustering middle-aged men.
“She’s beautiful and she has a good heart. I’m so happy to see her, hug her and take photos with her,” said Siriporn Thammawongsa, 59, at a lunch stop.
“I love how she managed the country as prime minister. If she can run the country again, it will go a long way,” she added.
But that is not on the cards anytime soon.
’Not a political moment’
Yingluck was retroactively impeached after the May 22, 2014, coup and is banned from politics for five years.
She could be jailed for a decade if an ongoing negligence trial over a costly rice subsidy policy that funnelled cash to the Shinawatra’s poor farming base rules against her.
A new junta-scripted constitution will also straitjacket any politicians that emerge from future elections.
It is going before the Thai public in an August 7 referendum, although campaigning against it is banned in the bitterly divided country.
In that context Yingluck’s “yim su” tour — or fighting with smiles, as her aides dub it — carries a message of defiance to the hard-pressed northern portion of the country.
Not that she can admit it.
“No, this not a political moment,” the ex-premier told reporters after a blitz of photos with the party faithful at an ornate rural temple.
“I have been banned from politics for five years. All I can do is help the people in the ways I can, like this tour to promote the culture and travel.”
The wealthy Shinawatra family mop up votes in the northern portion of Thailand. Their parties have won every election since 2001.
That infuriates the Bangkok-based establishment, with its deep military and judicial ties, and arch-royalist southern supporters, who accuse the family of poisoning Thai politics with nepotism and populist policies such as the rice scheme.
’Looks like peace’
They have hit back hard.
Billionaire ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra — Yingluck’s elder brother — was booted by office in a 2006 coup and later convicted of graft, a charge that has seen him live in self-exile since 2008.
Two proxy premiers were taken out by the courts. Then in 2010 protests by the Shinawatra-aligned ’Red Shirts’ against an appointed government were suppressed by the army, leaving more than 90 dead and over a thousand injured in downtown Bangkok.
Yingluck won an election the following year, but was ousted by the courts in early May 2014, and the rest of her administration was swept out by a coup a fortnight later.
The family and their Peau Thai party are now circling the wagons.
Yingluck, initially derided by critics as a political lightweight and a patsy premier for her exiled brother, is eyeing the long game as the Thai junta fumbles the economy and riles the public with curbs on freedom.
“The country looks like it is at peace, but they don’t know what the people really think,” she said.
Ex-MPs travelling with Yingluck say her political travails have brought a new steeliness to match the polite public demeanour of Thailand’s first female prime minister.
They hope those attributes will help bridge the kingdom’s caustic political divide, which is worsened by uncertainty over the future once the reign of the country’s ailing 88-year-old monarch ends.
“I have followed her since day one,” said ex-lawmaker Khattiya Sawasdipol.
“She has changed a lot. To stand in her shoes is not easy, but she does it and it gives us all strength.”
– AFP
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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