Northern Thailand
Thai Social Media Reacts to Senior Officials Actions During Tham Luang Cave Rescue
CHIANG RAI – Over the past week of frantic efforts to locate the missing 12 school footballers and their coach in Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai, many of the participants in the unfolding story have been portrayed on social media as either heroes or villains.
According to the Bangkok Post, Deputy national police chief Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, for example, has come under fire after being caught in some video clips showing an apparently fastidious adherence to protocol.
Angry netizens lambasted Pol Gen Srivara for seemingly making life more difficult for the rescue workers in the clips which were widely shared on social media.
Left to Right : Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn,Wirachai Songmetta,Srivara Rangsibrahmanakul,Chakthip Chaijinda
In one clip, Pol Gen Srivara was shown demanding to see a drone that was used to search the cave before asking his subordinate: “Is there an operating licence? [for the drone] If not, you might be punished.”
He was also criticised for saying those responsible for implementing the idea of using a drone should consult the laws concerned before proceeding, as well as questioning why no one told the parents of the missing youths to formally lodge a complaint with police so they are fully protected under the law.
Following the huge wave of criticism directed against him, Pol Gen Srivara defended himself in an interview on Friday, saying he hadn’t done anything wrong and had only tried to set a good example of how state officials should conduct themselves in a crisis.
State officials are required to follow strict protocols otherwise their departments are not eligible for the disbursement of state budget for the work they have done, he said, adding that disaster mitigation doesn’t override other laws.
“If the rest of the society believes I have not carried out my duties correctly, I apologise. However, I have done nothing wrong, and only tried to be professional as I am the one who must give out the instructions,” he said.
But to Wibulthon Kamolnaruemeth and many social media users, the way Pol Gen Srivara has been seen behaving in those clips justifies their calls for him to be removed from his position.
Mr Wibulthon, a Bangkok resident, on Friday night posted on Facebook calling on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to consider dismissing Pol Gen Srivara from his job. He also asked those who agreed with him to comment in support. The post got more than 400,000 likes and received more than 192,000 comments as of press time yesterday.
Reaction to Pol Gen Srivara’s much-criticised role in the rescue operation was in stark contrast to those officials hailed by the netizens as heroes of the hour.
Among them is national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda who was captured in some pictures, which also went viral, travelling on foot uphill across difficult terrain to where his team had abseiled down a shaft to lower food, drink and other necessary items.
Similar praise was directed at deputy police chief, Wirachai Songmetta, who climbed Doi Pha Mee with another police team to reach the other end of the cave network.
Meanwhile, another official to have received the backing of social media users is Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn, whose leadership and decisiveness in the operation at the cave have been evident.
The public’s respect for these officials has been reflected in the number of times their biographies and careers have been detailed both online and in print.
Pol Gen Chakthip’s shaft exploration operation made headlines in both mainstream and online media. These reports were accompanied by accounts of his impressive track record.
He has been lauded as a successful crime suppression officer who played an important role in several incidents including negotiating the release of hostages taken during a jailbreak staged by several Myanmar inmates at Samut Sakhon prison in 2000.
During his time as a deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol Gen Chakthip was dubbed the “tear gas gentleman” when he led a police operation to disperse a group from the People’s Alliance for Democracy outside parliament and was seen taking off his own shirt to provide first aid to an injured protester.
The motto with which he goes about his duties also won the hearts of the watching public: “As a commander, be a fertiliser not an insecticide. Make your subordinates grow wherever you go, and don’t let them die.”
Mr Narongsak, meanwhile, earned praise for being a man of his word as well as sacrificing his time and energy throughout the duration of the crisis after saying he was treating the missing 13 people as if they were his own family and pledging do whatever it takes to find them.
“Some asked me why I have to always be here … well, it’s like when we feel we’re losing a fight and if the commander-in-chief isn’t there, who will be willing to fight on?” he was quoted as saying.
Source: Bangkok Post
The Governor of Mae Hong Son province in northern Thailand has sought stricter rules for tourist tubing on the Pai River, following allegations of tourists sneaking into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police reports and considerable criticism online.
After a resort owner in Pai protested about the existing situation of tubing activities along the Pai River, the Governor became aware of the matter. According to the accusations, wine and beer are discreetly offered to tourists while disguised in plastic water bottles to prevent detection.
After their tubing adventures, these tourists, both men and women, would walk around Pai town in their swimsuits. Men often wear one pair of swim briefs, but most women wear two-piece swimsuits or bikinis.
This behavior was considered derogatory to local culture. Recently, there were instances of tourists slipping into resort areas to engage in sexual activities, which prompted police investigations and considerable online criticism.
Following the complaint, provincial governor Chuchip Pongchai requested a meeting of the police and allied authorities on July 16 to explore further tourism restrictions.
The province already restricts the selling of alcohol to tourists who go tubing, which involves floating down a river on inner tubes made of rubber tires. Most people observe the guidelines, but others, including some store owners, break them by concealing the alcohol by pouring it in water bottles.
According to TNA, Pai is one of Northern Thailand’s most popular tourist spots, attracting 40,000 visitors each year and strengthening Thailand’s economy.
Tubing in the Pai River has become a favorite activity among foreigners. However, the governor stated that the attitude of some tourists has jeopardised the province’s image.
Tourists Tubing on Pai River
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Police in northern Thailand’s Phayao province have arrested a 40-year-old pregnant mother for attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm.
Phayao Police report they were called after a woman and her daughter had been stabbed and beaten by a family member to a house number 206, Soi 7, Village No. 3, Ban San Nong Niao Subdistrict. Tom, Mueang District.
When officers arrived they found Ms. Chayada Chaiyawan, age 45, and her daughter Ms. Patida Chaiyawan, age 19, with injuries to their bodies and heads. Blood was spread all over the bedroom, and they found Mrs. Sakulkarn, aged 40 years, who was a relative living next door, tied up.
The police then transported all of them to Phayao Hospital for treatment. Ms. Chayada was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice. Both also sustained head injuries, according to Phayao police.
Ms. Chayada told police the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. She was sleeping in the room with her young son, when she heard someone opened the bedroom door. She said at that time it was still dark and all she saw a shadow of a person lifting what she though was a hammer.
She said the got up and fought until she fell after being hit in the head and stabbed with a knife, in fear for her life she screamed for her daughter to come and help. When the daughter entered the room the assailant proceeded to hit her in the head and stabbed her also.
The assailant ran out of the room and was immediately restrained by a neighbour who heard the screaming and ran into the house to help. Mrs. Sakulkarn who was 7 months pregnant was tied up and police and rescue workers were called to the scene. The neighbour told police that all the time they were waiting for the police.
Police said Mrs. Sakulkarn is being held in Hospital and is under psychiatric care. Ms. Chayada and her daughter were treated for their injuries and sent home.
According to Thai Media, Police said charges of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to create bodily harm will be filed against Mrs. Sakulkarn after she is released from Hospital.
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Five people were killed and two others badly injured when a pickup truck was hit by a north-bound train at an unguarded railway crossing in Phitchit province on Monday evening.
Phitchit police reported the horrific crash occurred around 6 pm at Moo 1 village in tambon Pak Thang of Muang district of Phitchit.
Police said the 201 passenger train from Bangkok to Phitsanulok approached the crossing, which was unguarded and had no safety barriers.
A four-door pickup truck plates drove across the tracks and into the path of oncoming the train which was was unable to stop or slowdown in time to avoid hitting the pickup truck.
The force of the crash drove the pickup about 30 metres down the railway crossing and off to the side. All passengers on the pickup were thrown from the vehicle.
Three women passengers died immediately and two more passengers died later at Phichit Hospital. Two others including the driver of the pickup were seriously injured.
Police investigators said truck driver Pratya Khongthat, 40, was taking relatives, including a 14-yea-old girl, to a funeral at Wat Ratchangkhwan in tambon Pak Thang, approximately one kilometer from the accident scene.
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