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Ugandan King visits Chiang Mai and admires royal projects
Nopniwat Krailerg
The Kubaga of Buganda HM Ronald Muwenda Mutebi (the king)
visited Thailand privately for the first time August 25 to September 5. The
King visited his friend, HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn in Bangkok,
whom he had not met for more than 40 years. Both studied in England in 1966.
The king then visited the Royal Chitralada Project,
Bangsai Arts and Crafts Training Center in Ayuthaya, Phra Kaew Temple in
Bangkok and Saraburi. Later, the king visited Chiang Mai on September 2-4
and was welcomed by Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai governor at the airport and
taken to the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel.
This visit was made because recently the Thai government
organized a Thailand Distribution Center in Uganda and they gave the king
the idea to visit Thailand and his old friend. The visit was arranged by
James Mulwana, honorable consul of Thailand in Uganda and Boonjaroen
Manoburachailert, MD of C.C.S. Advance Tech Co., Ltd., a Thai businessman in
Uganda.
Having arrived Chiang Mai, the king and his retinue
visited Phra Thad Doi Suthep Temple and Doi Inthanon Royal Initiative
Project, where the temperature was similar to Uganda the whole year (20
degrees Celsius). The Ugandan king admired the Thai king’s
accomplishments, especially the royal project to improve highland
agriculture and other developments, not only planting technique, but
supporting markets and packaging that brought sufficient income for the
people.
The Kubaga also visited Huay Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center in
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai. He commented that Thai’s forest revival management
was impressive because of an appropriate planting system that resulted in
boundary forests. He said that some knowledge learned from Thailand could be
applied in Uganda to improve agriculture and forests and he was well pleased
with this visit. The king also said he appreciated the hospitality of Thai
citizens and government.
German sentenced to death for murder
Nopniwat Krailerg
Gordon Adrian Koschwitz, 34, a German living in Chiang
Mai for five years, was arrested and charged with killing Raphael Bauman,
33, his Swiss friend who lived in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai. He was
remanded in prison, but claimed he was not guilty.
 Gordon
Adrian Koschwitz, 34, charged with murder. (File photo Chiangmai Mail)
However, on August 31 he was sentenced to death by the
Chiang Mai Provincial Court. The prosecuting attorney presented documents
and proof from the Forensic Medicine Institute, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai
Hospital, indicating that the offender had used a blunt instrument to
beat his friend to death.
The defendant’s denial of guilt was insufficient to sway the court
and he was given the death penalty. However, he has the right to appeal
to the Appeals Court within 30 days. Meanwhile, he has taken up residence
at Chiang Mai Central Prison.
Thai and Singapore PMs meet and discuss development
Saksit Meesubkwang
The third Thailand-Singapore Prime Ministerial Retreat
was held in Chiang Mai September 2-3 between PM Thaksin Shinawatra and Lee
Hsien Loong, Singapore’s PM. The ministers of commerce of both countries
and other concerned officers also attended.
 Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, left, shakes hand with his Thai counterpart
Thaksin Shinawatra during a meeting in Chiang Mai. (AP Photo/Wichai Trapew)
Under discussion was the Regional Agreement on Combating
Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia-ReCAAP. Both countries’
ministers of foreign affairs had previously signed an agreement to cooperate
on ReCAAP with Singapore as the depositary state.
An information sharing center in Singapore would be a
bridge to exchange and share information between both countries. In this
way, Asian forces would be used to suppress piracy and both countries would
participate in extraditing criminals.
The ReCAAP agreement was signed on February 28, 2005. At
present, Singapore, Japan and Laos have a ratified the contract, Cambodia
has already signed but has necessary processes to fulfill, while Malaysia is
considering it.
After the meeting, PM Thaksin Shinawatra said that both
countries had discussed and agreed on one-use visas; educational technology,
in which Singapore was in advance of Thailand; both countries would
encourage investors to purchase stock through their respective stock
markets; and public health cooperation to set up a central vaccine store to
deal with bird flu disease.
The ministers of transport consulted about transit network system
development and logistics in this region. It was agreed that Thailand could
learn transportation system management from Singapore, whose management
system is effective. As Thailand is an entrep๔t for the distribution
of goods and products to other countries in the region, Thailand and
Singapore would cooperate to develop a transport system.
School bus safety training
Saksit Meesubkwang
Chiang
Mai Provincial Transport Office headed by Autsathai Rattanadilok Na Phuket,
head of Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office trains administrators of
education institutes throughout Chiang Mai.
The Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office has organized
training for school administrators in Chiang Mai to save energy and reduce
traffic jams. Each school bus will be forced to install two lights on the
roof and turn them on at all times students are in the vehicle, as a safety
procedure.
Advice on traffic rules and manners to school bus drivers was given. Each
trainee would receive a certificate and the know-how to drive safely on the
road.
Deputy mayor despairs deterioration in Lanna culture
Nopniwat
Krailerg
Chiang Mai Deputy Mayor Pornchai Jitnavasathien
believes that the lifestyle of the people of Chiang Mai is
deteriorating due to the growing economy and new technology, causing
them to neglect the Lanna lifestyle.
“To revive and conserve Buddhism, Chiang Mai
municipality is to organize an activity to present breakfast for monks
every morning from 6-7 a.m. at the Three Kings’ Monument courtyard.
This program will start on September 16 and the municipality invites
merchants to sell food at reasonable prices in the area to make it
convenient for those presenting food for merit and safe for monks.”
42,000 alien workers seeking work permits in Chiang Mai
Nopniwat Krailerg
Orachorn Ratanamanee, head of Chiang Mai Employment
Office disclosed that after Ministry of Labor had extended the time to apply
for work permits to August 31, only 42,000 alien workers applied, which was
less than the previous year when the number was 48,000.
After September 1, alien workers who did not have work
permits had to leave the kingdom and all concerned authorities such as
soldiers, immigration police, area police and administrative officers would
check and arrest illegal alien workers.
The Chiang Mai Employment Office warned all employers
hiring alien workers who did not hold work permits that they risked
prosecution.
Mae Hong Son expects tourists will continue to visit
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Wisoot Buachoom, head of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Mae Hong Son province, said that even though the tourism business
was affected by the recent flooding, mountain torrents and mudslides, these
did not endanger tourists and it was believed that Pai district would still
attract visitors in the high season from November on.
“Mae Hong Son is to open a tourism festival in November
at the time the Mexican Sunflowers bloom at Doi Mae Oo Kho in Khun Yuam. Mae
Hong Son will cooperate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to link the
Mexican Sunflower festival of Mae Hong Song to the Loy Krathong festival of
Tak as an attraction for tourists,” he said.
The route starts in Tak from Mae Sod, Mae Ramad passing
Moei River to Tha Song Yang in Tak to Sop Moei, Mae Sariang and Khun Yuam to
Doi Mae Oo Kho in Mae Hong Son to see around 500 rai of Mexican Sunflowers.
Chiang Mai municipality to improve abattoirs
Nopniwat Krailerg
 Chiang
Mai Deputy Mayor Wipawan Woraputipong
The Department of Local Administration has selected
Chiang Mai and Udon Thani municipalities to be pilot municipalities to
improve the standard of their abattoirs. A 2006 budget of 380 million baht
per each will be set aside for this.
Chiang Mai municipality will supply 20% of the budget and
the remainder will come from the Department of Local Administration.
Wipawan Woraputipong, deputy mayor of Chiang Mai said
there are 200 abattoirs throughout the country and 90% of them are not up to
standard. The abattoir improvement plan was to assure consumers, especially
pork consumers, that the 800 pigs slaughtered daily in the municipality
abattoirs were safe.
Wipawan Woraputipong, who is responsible for public
health, revealed that public health problems, especially contagious diseases
from animals to humans need to be urgently solved and the government is
promoting a Thai policy, “Thai kitchen to world kitchen” and “Healthy
Thailand”. Therefore every kind of food production has to pass GMP (Good
Manufacturing Practice).
It has been discovered that 50% of the pork sold in the
municipality area is not processed in official abattoirs. The municipality
would cooperate with police to suppress the sources of uncontrolled pork.
In future the municipality would allow the private sector to bid for
these abattoirs to provide revenue for the municipality, as private
organizations tended to be more efficient than government controlled
operations. Pig excrement would also be treated to use the gas recovered.
A seven month old serow has a hernia operation at Chiang Mai Zoo
Nopniwat Krailerg
A Chiang Mai Zoo veterinarian team operated on a serow
(Naemorhedus sumatraensis) named Mon, aged seven months which had a hernia
afflicting its left testicle that began to swell. Ten experts attended the
operation, which took two hours. A serow is similar to a goat with a short
body and long legs.
Vet. Somchai Chotapisitkul, head of Chiang Mai Zoo
veterinarians said that the condition may be caused by heredity. This was
first time the operation was conducted at Chiang Mai Zoo and the animal
survived and is now healthy.
It will be allowed to recuperate for two weeks before
being released back to its companions and, hopefully, one day to service the
dams of its herd.
Chiang Mai mass transport system to go into service, perhaps in October?
Nopniwat Krailerg
Chiang
Mai municipality buses that have been parked at the office for three months
will make their debut on October 1.
Chiangmai Mail has been
reporting on the long awaited mass transport system for which Chiang Mai
citizens have been clamouring. It was believed that the planned service had
come to fruition recently, when Chiang Mai municipality purchased 26 air
conditioned buses for 62 million baht, but these have been parked for almost
three months while the Nakorn Lanna Transport Cooperatives, who represent
the red mini buses, resisted their introduction.
Releasing the municipality buses has been postponed
several times; nevertheless, Pornchai Jitnavasathien, deputy mayor of Chiang
Mai revealed to Chiangmai Mail on August 30 that a formal bus service
would definitely start on October 1, 2005 and all staff is ready.
In the meantime, Singhkham Nunti, the president of the
Nakorn Lanna Transport Cooperatives said that the cooperatives were
satisfied with the agreement to allow 100 red mini buses to run on two
routes. These red mini buses would have a sticker at the front showing they
were vehicles running on permanent routes but could run on any other routes
after 9 p.m.
After so many broken promises, it is unlikely there will be people
standing queuing on October 1.
Merchants at Night Bazaar claim government has not helped them
Saksit Meesubkwang
Discounted
goods: “Flood Sale, 20 percent off”.
On September 1, Sitthichai Techajongjintanakarn, managing
director of Chiang Mai Night Bazaar Co., Ltd. and 200 merchants from the
Night Bazaar gathered to complain about the floods of August 14 - 16.
Sitthichai said that many merchants at the Night Bazaar
had their stock destroyed but the government did not offer any help, even
though the vendors pay several hundred thousand baht a year in taxes. He
added that the goods were valued at almost 100 million baht, especially
goods stored underground, most of which were wood carvings, silk, pictures
and handicrafts, all hand made.
 Sitthichai
Techajongjintanakarn (right), managing director of Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
Co., Ltd. and Monchai Satapornchaipanit at the press conference concerning
flood damage.
These flood damaged products are now offered at special
prices that will continue up till September 15. They are in good shape but
just have some stains. 20 - 90 percent discount is being offered to clear
out old stock.
Merchants also complained about municipal vehicles driving on flooded
roads and damaging the sandbag levees holding back the water from
underground storage areas, but Chiang Mai Municipality denied having any of
its vehicles in the area on those days.
Government should limit orchards and buildings along Mae Ping River to avoid future floods
Saksit Meesubkwang
 Nikhom
Phutta, coordinator of Wildlife Fund Thailand.
The coordinating committees of Northern NGOs in
association with the Wildlife Fund of Thailand (under the Royal Patronage of
HM the Queen) held a press conference on “What we could learn from
flooding in Chiang Mai” to analyze the cause of flooding in the north,
affects and method of resolving the problems.
Nikhom Phutta, coordinator of the Wildlife Fund Thailand
said that the volume of rain was 200.3 millimeters, which quickly flowed
from several river basins causing flooding in Chiang Mai and the north.
Government organizations concerned should solve flooding
at the river source by limiting agri-business orchards, and buildings along
riversides should be removed even if the owners are government officials or
politicians, without any exception.
Recently, around 200 villagers in Muang and Saraphi
districts, Chiang Mai who used the waters of Payakham Dam gathered to show
their disagreement with the PM’s plan to remove the dam from the Mae Ping
River. The PM claimed it was obstructing the river and causing floods in
Chiang Mai and would construct other dams instead.
Somboon Boonchu, vice president of Payakham Dam users
said that it was around three meters lower than the river level and not the
cause of flooding. This dam distributed water to farms over almost 40,000
rai during drought periods, so many did not agree with its replacement by
mobile dams. Moreover, residents were not notified about the process and
only learned about the plan recently when equipment from the department
concerned arrived to remove the dam. This incensed them and made them more
determined to resist.
Meanwhile the president said that the real reason for removing this dam
was to adjust the flow of the Mae Ping River to be convenient for boating
and light and sound shows in the middle of the river to support tourism
attractions at Wiang Kum Kam. It was such kinds of blatant support for
profiteers and politicians that made citizens aware of the real motives of
the present government.
Car burns on Huay Kaew Road at midnight
Nopniwat Krailerg
 The
burning car photographed from a nearby condominium (photo courtesy of John
Moore)
A car exploded in front of a commercial college on Huay
Kaew Rd. at Tambon Chang Puek in Muang, Chiang Mai, and it took 30 minutes
to extinguish the fire.
The car was a black Nissan Cefiro and it seemed to have
been modified.
Thanapon Lerdrasameethad, 20, living in Pasang, Lamphun,
the student who owned the car, said that he was driving to a house on Huay
Kaew Rd. when it suddenly stopped. He stepped on the clutch for a while and
the car started again. He continued driving for a minute but heard an
explosion and saw fire at back of the car. He leapt out of the vehicle and
informed the police.
Thanapon said that this car had just been modified with
new 2,500 cc. engine and other new equipment only two days previously.
Following drivers said they saw oil stains along the road before the
incident and it was concluded that the modifications were the cause. The
damage was estimated at 300,000 baht.
An offender steals police vehicle and 10,000 baht
Nopniwat Krailerg
 Chondan
Khamtarn, left alone in a policeman’s car whilst the cop went to arrest
someone else, made his getaway in the officer’s car, leaving a fair share
of egg on the arresting officer’s face.
Investigation police of Chang Puek Police Station tempted
to purchase drugs from a drug dealer called Chondan Khamtarn, 21, a Chiang
Rai resident living in a View Doi residence at Tambon Chang Puek in Muang,
Chiang Mai on September 1. The officers discovered 10 ya ba pills and at
that time a call came from a client asking Chondan to sell drugs to him - so
the officers planned to arrest that client also.
When the police left their vehicle to arrest the client,
Thaweepan Eaksuwan, in front of a bank opposite Lanna Golf course, Chondan,
who had foolishly been left in the vehicle alone, took advantage of the
resulting fracas and drove off in the police car, along with 10,000 baht and
a cell phone left in the vehicle. The officers raced after him, but it not
being a movie, could not catch up so they had to be satisfied with the 10 ya
ba pills that were found on Thaweepan.
Later, Pol. Col. Chamnan Ruadreuw, deputy commander of
Chiang Mai Provincial Police assigned officers to urgently pursue Chondan.
Not long after that, Chondan kindly called to inform the police he had left
the vehicle at Baan Mae Takrai Village in Doi Saket.
On September 5, Chondan was arrested at his house in
Chiang Rai and he confessed that he had fled to a forest for two days before
returning to Chiang Rai. He claimed that he had not taken the 10,000 baht
left in the vehicle.
Pol. Col. Chamnan said that allowing Chondan to flee in the police car
was the officer’s mistake and has now warned others to be less careless of
vehicles and prisoners entrusted to their care.
Special number plates available in September
Nopniwat Krailerg
Chiang Mai Provincial Transport Office is to organize a
tender system for license plates on September 26-27 at the Empress Hotel,
Chiang Mai.
A tender submitted for Kor Yor license plates that was
organized previously brought in revenue of over 22 million baht for a road
safety promotion. Revenue received from license plate tenders throughout the
country in June 2005 stood at 684 million baht.
It is thought that license plates in groups of like or
consecutive numbers imply wealth and advancement.
Long Neck Karen to be repatriated because of alleged exploitation in Thailand
Mae Hong Son governor denies claims
Saksit Meesubkwang
Maka, president of the Assembly of Ladies of Kaya State,
Burma revealed that Karen Kaya (Red Star Troops) who lived in Kaya State, an
autonomous region of Burma, were given a budget to rebuild their city and
would find a method to repatriate 500 long neck Karen tribesmen from Mae
Hong Son, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.
Baan
Huay Due, on the way to long neck Karen tribesmen’s village in Mae Hong
Son.
The Assembly of Ladies of Kaya State took this action
after receiving a petition from long neck Karen in Thailand claiming that
they were being taken advantage of by tour agents and businessmen who
presented them to foreign tourists and, by this process, the exploiters
could earn 3-5 million baht each month. There were between five to eight
tour agents taking visitors to see long neck Karen but each family received
only 3,000 baht per month.
Maka added that these people lived in a limited area and
could, therefore, live only in small huts. Consequently, the Assembly of
Ladies of Kaya State would find methods to return all these people from Baan
Seu Tao and Baan Nam Piang Din in Mae Hong Son and some more in Chiang Mai
and Chiang Rai back to their hometown in Burma to live, as there was
sufficient public water, electricity and other amenities.
Sirion Rangsiritanon, manager of Mae Hong Son TN Tour
Company agreed that it would be good for the long neck Karen to return to
Burma to live in their hometown. These people had initially lived at Baan
Pha Hom Nam, on the Burmese side but later moved to Mae Hong Son because of
battles along the border and later spread into several areas.
A representative of long neck Karen said that they wanted
to go back to Burma because they wished to live according to their lifestyle
and work to earn their living and not be put on show for curious, oddity
seeking tourists. He said that they wore copper rings on their necks not for
amazing tourists but because it was their tradition that had been maintained
for a long time.
 Long
neck Karen people live in small huts covering an area not over 30 square
meters in Mae Hong Son.
This brought an angry response from Supoj Laowansiri, the
Mae Hong Son governor, who said there was no Assembly of Ladies of Kaya
State presenting a request to repatriate long neck Karen people to Burma.
The Karen were under the jurisdiction of Thai law and Mae Hong Son, and
several processes were needed if some group would like to relocate these
people.
As far as being taken advantage of by tour agents and
business entrepreneurs, he believed that this was not true because the
province had sent officers and policemen to take care of them. Their
residences were built keeping members of each family together and hygienic
restrooms were provided as well. These conditions were better than their
hometown. However, he did say that some long neck Karens were taken from
Myanmar by entrepreneurs to live in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, but they were
out of the responsibility of Mae Hong Son province and he did not know how
they lived.
Agents defraud workers of 15 million baht
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
The Department of Employment learned from 11 workers that
they were deceived by Thanet Somjai, Sakonrat Chaisuree and others, who
persuaded them they could work for hotels in Korea.
They claimed that the workers would receive 30,000 baht
per month but they would charge each 143,000 baht and the gullible workers
paid, but could not be sent to Korea as promised.
Sakonrat was arrested after the Department of Employment
had informed officers of Bangplee Police Station, Samutprakan, but the other
offenders had fled.
Chiang Mai Employment Office warns all who wish to work
abroad to fully investigate anyone claiming to offer jobs abroad and to
check carefully all information about working overseas or ask for more
information from Chiang Mai Employment Office at Chiang Mai City Hall or by
phone 0 5311 2742 and 0 5311 2744-6.
Two youngsters arrested with 2,000 ya ba pills
Nopniwat Krailerg
On September 6, investigation officers of Chang Puek
Police Station learned from sources that two young men staying in Namfone
residence at Tambon Patan, Chiang Mai, acted as if they were drug dealers
distributing drugs to youths in Chiang Mai. Therefore, the officers set up a
“sting” operation to purchase drug from them.
 Keng
“Sakchai” Saeyang, 18, and Pong “Anusorn” Wongsawichai, 21, were
arrested after selling drugs to undercover cops.
At the appointed scene, Keng “Sakchai” Saeyang, 18,
resident at Tambon Muang Na in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai sold speed to a client
- an officer in plain clothes. Other officers immediately arrested him and
confiscated 1,000 ya ba pills found in his trousers pocket.
He was sent to a police station and gently questioned until police
learned that more speed had been left with his friend, Pong “Anusorn”
Wongsawichai, 21, living in Samoeng. Later, police went to Anusorn’s
residence and he was also arrested when they discovered 1,000 speed pills
there.
Criminal lady slips up by visiting Chang Puek Police Station
Nopniwat Krailerg
A thief known as Plernthip, or Kay Duangtham, 21,
nonchalantly visited Chang Puek Police Station, Chiang Mai on an errand and
police, realizing that there was warrant out on her, promptly arrested her
and threw her into cells.
 Plernthip,
or Kay Duangtham, 21, was arrested after walking into the police station.
Plernthip, a Bangkok resident who lived in Chiang Mai and
stayed at the Royal Grand Hill Hotel on Chotana Rd. Chiang Mai, often
befriended wealthy gentlemen and persuaded them to have dinner and enjoy the
nightlife with her. She would then snatch the possessions of those besotted
dupes and flee.
Several victims had informed the police. Most of the events took place in
Chiang Mai; therefore the court, unbeknownst to her, issued a warrant for
her arrest.
University student admits to brutal murder
Nopniwat Krailerg
Kwanchai Mekkit, 19, studying in a university in Chiang
Mai, strangled his girlfriend, Waraporn Maneedaeng, 19, in a dormitory on
August 27.
Both were Phrae residents and Kwanchai admitted that he
had arranged a romantic assignation with his girlfriend but, because of a
passionate disagreement, he became angry and strangled her. He took her body
on her motorcycle and burned it under a bridge at Baan Maesa, in Lamphun. He
then parked the motorcycle at Chiang Mai domestic bus station before
returning to his residence.
The police connected him to the crime and he was arrested
and charged with murder with intent and concealment of the body to escape
justice.
He re-enacted the crime at the scene on Nimmanahaeminda
Road in Soi 2, Tambon Suthep in Muang, Chiang Mai.
Two men arrested on the way to a drug drop
Nopniwat Krailerg
On August 23, Praiwan Mookam, 21, and Komsan
Kraichiangkam, 18, riding a motorcycle, were stopped by task force officers
at Kang Pantao checkpoint. The officers found nothing at first but the two
men appeared so nervous that the police repeated their search and discovered
drugs secreted in their underwear.
Orange WY ya ba was found hidden in Praiwan’s briefs.
The two youths admitted that they had bought the pills from Pa (last name
unknown), a Lahu tribesman living at Baan Huay San, Chiang Mai. They were
hired for 5,000 baht to carry the drugs to a client waiting in the parking
lot of a department store on Huay Kaew Road. The drugs were seized and they
were sent to Chiang Dao Police Station for prosecution.
Whether the awaiting clients or the man named Pa were
apprehended is unknown at the time of going to press.
Police nab pirate selling Tom Yum Goong movie
But no word on the supplier
Nopniwat Krailerg
Following the success of the film “Tom Yum Goong”,
VCD shops selling the movie were searched after representatives of the
production company complained about pirated VCDs being on sale. Some shop
owners admitted that they ordered the movie from Bangkok.
On September 2, Samran Aranmee, 53, informed officers of
Chom Thong Police Station, Chiang Mai on behalf of Mongkol Film Company that
several shops and vendor stands were selling VCDs of “Tom Yum Goong” and
“7 Prajanban” movies that were the copyright of the company. He had
purchased these pirated VCD movies at the Friday Meeting Market in Chom
Thong and took them as evidence.
Police arrested a shop owner, Surat Sriton, a Bangkok
resident. He had sold 80 Tom Yum Goong VCDs and 22 of 7 Prajanban.
Surat said that initially he sold only overseas movies
but this time, as many clients asked about “Tom Yum Goong” he therefore
decided to sell Thai movies for the first time. It was ordered from Bangkok
and he transferred money to the agent’s bank account. He will be
prosecuted for copyright piracy. There was no word about the source in
Bangkok.
Chinese Haw tribesmen open a drug den
But police close it
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
A gang of four Chinese Haw serving students working from
a house distributing drugs was arrested. Ya ba, heroin, cannabis and
equipment used for drug taking were seized.
Officers broke into a rented house at Tambon Pong-ngam
after learning that it was a drug den. At the scene, the officers smelled ya
ba smoke and found four men, Aseung Saepo, 30, Chinese Haw tribesman;
Pongthep Dedkid, 23, Wirapong Yodmahawan, 24, and Sakda Thamrongdusit, 48,
all living at Baan Nai, Tambon Baan Pong in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. 156 ya ba
pills and some tubes of heroin, dry cannabis and drug taking equipment were
also discovered and seized.
The house was rented by Aseung Saepo to be used as a drug
den. Aseung purchased ‘speed’ from Burma and distributed it through
Pongthep, also persuading customers to take drugs at the house. Wirapong and
Sakda were just clients taking drugs at the scene.
This gang served mostly teenagers as purchasing on the
street was risky. After purchasing drugs, the customers were also able to
take drugs using their supplied equipment.
Forensics prove two foreigners died of an overdose of drugs
Nopniwat Krailerg
We have previously reported the case of two foreigners,
Charles Clayton Burgess, 38, and Sturgess, 41, who were found dead on August
8, 2005 in Boom Bim beer bar on Loy Khro Rd. Chiang Mai. Many beer bottles
and paper with traces of white powder were discovered by their bodies.
Burgess had, apparently, invited Sturgess and his
girlfriend to join a party at the beer bar and they drank the whole night.
The two men were found dead the next morning and the woman had passed out.
On September 5, Pol. Lt. Col. Boonlert Chantanudej
disclosed that heroin was found in their tracheas, plus cannabis and another
kind of drug.
The cause of their deaths was determined as from the
drugs they had taken. The embassies of the countries concerned have been
informed.
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