Northern Thailand

Thai PM Uses Article 44 to Suspend Top Chiang Mai Official

Boonlert Buranupakorn started work as the new president of the Chiang Mai Administrative Organization Office after being certified by the Office of Election Commission in 2012

Boonlert Buranupakorn (center) started work as the new president of the Chiang Mai Administrative Organization Office after being certified by the Office of Election Commission in 2012

CHIANG MAI – The political temperature has risen further in Northern Thailand after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha exercised the power of Article 44 to suspend Boonlert Buranupakorn, president of the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation, from duty yesterday.

The move was believed to be the result of raids on local government offices in Chiang Mai and a company owned by the family of a well-known politician on Saturday, during which security officers found copies of letters “distorting” the draft charter content.

PM uses Article 44 to speed up inquiry into Buranupakorn Family, Pheu Thai politicians

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The Royal Gazette yesterday published the National Council for Peace and Order chief’s order announcing the fifth list of officials facing investigation.

“Security officials have found that state officials at some local administrative organisations may have committed offences related to the referendum law and the matter must be handled urgently to prevent it from disturbing peace and order or incurring damage to the state,” the statement said.

Law enforcement officials converge at Chiang Mai Tusnaporn Co, one of the six targets raided on Saturday, in the hunt for ‘distorted’ documents.

Boonlert, who is on an overseas trip, is suspended from duty without pay until the order is revoked. The order also said that officials should expedite the probe and report to the prime minister if they find that Boonlert is innocent.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan said he had ordered the chief of Provincial Police Region 5 to issue arrest warrants for “five big politicians” if they are found to be linked to the allegedly distorted charter draft letters found in Northern provinces.

“We will take action in accordance with the evidence. I do not know if the evidence links to national politicians,” Prawit said.

Meanwhile, police in Chiang Mai have not concluded that the Buranupakorn family is behind distribution of the letters, which were found in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Lampang.

Police are trying to find other people who are involved.

Provincial Police Region 5 Commissioner Pol Lt-General Thanitsak Theerasawat said they would gather evidence to ensure the cases were handled in accordance with due process.

“We will take action against those involved from the lower levels to the masterminds. Right now we have found three groups involved including the masterminds, publishers and those who delivered the documents,” he said.

Police have also identified suspects who deposited the documents in post boxes in Chiang Mai after they inspected fingerprints left on the envelopes, checked security cameras and identified several people who allegedly carried out the act. Police, military officers and local officials are searching for the suspects in Lamphun and Lampang.

Thanitsak said some evidence linked close aides of the “famous” family to the “distorted” charter letters, but police still have to collect more evidence before pressing charges.

Meanwhile, Thassani Buranupa-korn, a former Pheu Thai Chiang Mai MP, met police after officials raided her house and company.

She has not been charged with a crime.

Police said four of the people arrested were all from the same group, which allegedly put the documents in envelopes and delivered them.

Wissarut Kunanitisarn, who has been charged with delivering the letters, has sought a temporarily release on bail and will apparently become a witness in the case after he voluntarily applied to join a witness protection programme.

The fifth suspect, Samart Kwanchai, who allegedly distributed 407 leaflets with the message “Damn Dictatorship and Long Live Democracy, August 7 Vote No”, was not from the same group, according to police. Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) chairman Meechai Ruchupan expressed concern that opponents of the draft may resort to “dirty tactics” 10 days before the referendum.

“They have staged such campaigns even before we finished the draft.

“We think it is not fair to distort content of the draft to mislead the public. They have dirty minds to cheat the public,” he said.

Meechai said the CDC was working to the best of its ability and hoped people would pass the draft, adding he would rather not evaluate his work.

“We drafted the charter with an honest intention to steer the country on a peaceful path,” he said.

Meechai said a statement circulating in public – “If you want ‘Lung Tu’ [Prayut] to stay in power, vote down the draft” – was causing a misunderstanding.

“This is misleading because if the charter draft is rejected, ‘Lung Tu’ will leave faster because people will rally to oust him. If the charter draft is rejected, the reform procedures will be in disarray,” Meechai said.

Source: The Nation, Bangkok Post

Northern Thailand

Tubers on Pai River Draw Anger Over Inappropriate Behavior

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

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Girl 16 Arrested in Thailand for Defaming Royalty on Facebook

Northern Thailand

Pregnant Woman Goes Psycho Stabs Family Members in Phayao

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 was stabbed thirteen times and her daughter twice

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.

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Phayao Gets City-Class Air Purification Tower for Air Pollution

Northern Thailand

Train Crashes into Pickup Killing 5 in Phitchit Province

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.