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Chiang Mai suffers third flooding of this year and Mae Ping River water level is highest in 40 years
Chiangmai Mail Reporter
Chiang Mai residents faced flooding for the third time
this year when tropical storm Damray raised the water level in the Mae Ping
River, but although many areas were inundated residents had plenty of
practice in avoiding flood waters and they moved their belongings in good
time.
Chiang
Mai governor and president of Chiang Mai Red Cross Suwat and Onnatda
Tantipat rush to aid victims at a rescue point in Chiang Mai municipality
stadium.
The two previous episodes had occurred on August 14-16
and September 20. Damray blew in on September 28, dumping heavy rain on
Chiang Dao, Wiang Haeng and Mae Taeng. Water in the Mae Ping River rose and
made its way toward the city.
Chiang
Mai Red Cross officers deliver residents with necessary belongings.
At 9.00 p.m. irrigation officers advised that water had
to be released from the dam into the Mae Taeng River and that from there
water would combine in the Mae Ping and reach the city within seven or eight
hours.
Grocery
at Wat Ket area is flooded on the first day because of its location next to
the Mae Ping River.
Water level at the Nawarat Bridge P1 measure center at
11.00 p.m. on September 28 stood at 3.36 meters. It was at 4.25 meters at
9.00 a.m. on the next day, by 12.30 p.m. it was at 4.50 meters and
eventually reached 4.94 meters. That was the highest level that had occurred
in 40 years, beating the August 14 level of 4.90 meters.
33rd
Border Patrol Police officers fill sand in sacks.
The waters were still rising at 8-10 centimeters per
hour. Flooding occurred in the Night Bazaar, and at Chang Klan,
Charoenprathed and Chiang Mai-Lamphun roads including Nong Hoi, Pa Phrao Nok
and Padad communities. Chiang Mai Land and Baan Wiang Thong villages were
covered to Jaruenrat and Kaew Nawarat roads, Prince Royal College, McCormick
Hospital and Chiang Mai train station, the latter causing Chiang Mai-Bangkok
passengers to take a train from Lamphun.
Flooding
situation at Waroros Market.
Chiang Mai municipality had raised the level of the walls
along the Mae Ping River banks to a height of five meters in places but the
water was still too much in volume and flow, and the walls were breached.
Water
level in Mae Ping River at Roma 9 Bridge.
Several schools had to announce they were closing, even
though it was the final examination period. However, several sectors such as
Chiang Mai municipality, Kawila military camp, Territorial Defense
Volunteers, border patrol police, students and Chiang Mai PAO provided
vehicles, boats and food to rescue and help victims. Additionally, the
municipality had set up a rescue point at gymnasium 3, Chiang Mai
municipality stadium.
Flower
market beside Mae Ping River is flooded.
Flood waters remained for three days in the city area of
Chiang Mai but eventually the waters dried and life returned to normal.
Damray caused flooding and damage in many other places.
The Angkhang meteorological center in Fang measured rain volume at 200
millimeters, and mountain torrents and water flowing from creeks in high
lands settled in lower areas such as Phrao district.
The US
Consulate’s dock at 1 p.m. on Friday.
Phrao was cut off from the city and eight tambons were
flooded. A bridge near Wat Doi Mae Pang was damaged and officials set up a
Barry bridge as a temporary measure. Two people were reported as dead.
Huay Mae Pra Jum reservoir at Tambon Mae Haw Phra in Mae
Taeng was breached and water flooded nearby areas to depths of 50 cm. A
bridge at kilometer 17 of highway number 1323 was destroyed.
The Jedi
in front of the US Consulate General.
Pathrawan Sadudee, head of Chiang Mai Provincial Office
of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said that an initial survey had
revealed, six districts and two sub-districts, namely Phrao, Mae Ai, Chiang
Dao, Mae Taeng, Wiang Haeng, Fang, Mae On and Doi Lo had been flooded.
Severe damage was caused to 1,722 households and 2,100 rai of farm land.
There were two deaths in Phrao, one in Chiang Dao and one in Mae Taeng.
The
Pizza Company on Chang Klan Road.
Chiang Mai province and other sectors presented aid packages, food and
drink to flooded victims and ACM Kongsak Wanthana, minister of interior also
presented aid packages to residents in Phrao.
North adds up the cost of storm damage
Nopniwat Krailerg
Chiang Mai and the other Northern areas have been
adding up the damage caused by flooding and landslides during the recent
tropical storms.
Pathrawan Sadudee, head of Chiang Mai Provincial
Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation concluded that there were 10
districts affected by flooding on September 27 to October 1, 2005.
Most of these districts have twice in recent weeks
endured severe flood damage. In Wiang Haeng, farms, livestock and
households sustained damage totaling 1,186,000 baht, Chai Prakan damage
was costed at 765,500 baht, Mae Rim 27,500 baht, Saraphi 8,462,000 baht,
Mae Taeng 7,521,232 baht, and Hang Dong 300,000 baht.
Damage in San Sai was costed at 162,729 baht, and in
Samoeng 1,820,000 baht. The districts most affected were Phrao, where the
storms caused 30,210,000 baht of damage, and San Kamphaeng, where surveys
have revealed damage at 50,456,661 baht.
Chiang Mai municipality and Muang district are
currently being surveyed. Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chiang Mai mayor, said
that after the province had endured flooding on three separate occasions,
the economic area in the city might be footing a bill of 2,000 million
baht. It was, Boonlert said, the worst damage suffered by Chiang Mai for
many years.
30 more products put on watch list after prices escalate
Chiangmai Mail Reporter
Thirty products whose prices are deemed to have risen in
an unreasonable manner in recent months have been put on the Department of
Internal Trade watch list.
Every
day used products that are kept an eye on and not to be allowed to increase
prices.
Siriphon Yodmuang, director general of the
department, disclosed that the prices of some products had increased
unreasonably over the past two to three months. Close attention is therefore
being paid to 30 products, which were put on the existing watch list of 120
other products on October 1.
Fresh foods listed are noodle string, white shrimp, Nile
Tilapia fish and steamed mackerel, food and drink consisting of chocolate
flavor drink, artificial cream, oyster sauce, instant food ingredient,
instant coffee, tapioca and salt.
Everyday products are skin lotion and cream, hair color
solution, hair conditioner, roll on, facing foam and shoe wax. In the
electrical equipment category, vacuum cleaners and hair driers are now on
the list.
Transport related products are brake discs and motor oil
filters, construction supplies are gypsum, hot corridor plate, stone, sand
and mixed concrete, and general products are foam for food containers, cell
phone batteries, tin covered iron plate and chromium covered iron plate.
If a price change has to be made to any of these products a case has to
be presented to the Department of Internal Trade.
Flooding and high winds cause death and destruction in the North
Chiangmai Mail Reporter
Tropical storm Damray caused severe flooding in several
Northern provinces, cutting roads, damaging bridges, and causing the deaths
of 10 people.
Heavy rain and wind in Wiang Chiang Rung sub-district,
Chiang Rai blew trees down and damaged about a thousand households, while
500 households at Tambon Thung Kaw and along the Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai route
were flooded.
A further 500 households at Tambon Mae Phrik in Mae Suai
were flooded by mountain torrents and water from Huay Law creek overflowed
and inundated the area to depths of 50 cm, preventing traffic access.
Uthai Luechai, Mae Suai district chief together with
Chiang Rai PAO administrators helped rescue residents and presented aid
packages to them.
The river at Nang Kaew mountain flooded Tambon Ngiew,
Tambon Wiang and Wiang Pa Pao municipality area, causing difficulties to 400
households. A landslide obstructed the Chiang Rai-Chiang Mai Road in the
area of the Mae Tho sentry box, and it was three hours before the road was
clear again. After a night of heavy rain, water from the Mae Kok and Mae Lao
rivers flooded areas in Chiang Rai municipality but the water quickly
dispersed.
In Lampang, Sanlek Khamjai, head of the Office of
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, said that Damray had caused heavy rain,
with mountain torrents and flooding in Wang Nua, Jae Hom and Muang Pan
districts. Two villages, Baan Na Ngam and Baan Na Mai at Tambon Muang Mai in
Jae Hom were quickly flooded. Ten lives were lost, including those of a
teacher and two students.
In the meantime, water was increasing in the Soi River, a
branch of Wang River, and later flooded households and the fresh market to a
depth of 2 meters. In Jae Hom municipality a bridge on the Muang Pan-Jae Hom
Road was damaged and could not be used by road transport. Lampang governor
Amornthad Niratisayakul led a team of Civil Defense Volunteers to rescue
victims in these areas. Six dead bodies were found.
In Mae Son Hong, Kasidit Wattanasupt, head of Mae Hong
Provincial Highway Office ordered excavators out to move a landslide from
highway number 1095 at Baan Mae Na Tueng. A bridge at Baan Mae Oom Ong at Km
137+314 between Pang Mapha and Pai district was broken and became impassable
to vehicles.
In Pai district, Mae Hong Son, head of Mae Hong Son
Provincial Prevention Thinnakorn Chaidee directed Territorial Defense
Volunteers to rescue residents from the rising water levels in the Pai River
and the flooding at Tambon Wiang Tai. They were moved to another area.
Damaged Mae Hong Son link due to reopen in January
Residents hoarding fuel oil
Saksit
Meesubkwang
Mae Hong Son’s governor has said repairs to the highway
routes linking Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai will be finished in the beginning
of next year.
Chiang
Mai-Mae Hong Son Road at the areas of Baan Pha Bong in Khun Yuam and Muang,
Mae Hong Son was badly damaged in the flooding.
Highways number 108 and 1095 were cut by mountain
torrents, affecting amongst other road traffic the trucks delivering fuel
oil to Mae Hong Son. The Provincial Highway Office set up a Barry bridge as
a temporary measure, and meanwhile work is proceeding on reconstruction.
Governor Supoj Laowansiri said the works are scheduled to
be completed by January. Mae Hong Son residents are however worried that
another storm could cause more flooding and wash away the temporary
structures. Consequently they have begun hoarding fuel oil, increasing the
prices twofold.
Suppliers and distributors are struggling to meet the demand by bringing
in extra deliveries from Chiang Mai.
Dams to be built to resolve the flooding problem
Nopniwat Krailerg
Small dams will be built to the north of Chiang Mai to
prevent future flooding, following a recent commitment by Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra to solve the problem on a long-term basis.
To protect the key economic region of Chiang Mai it will
be necessary to construct two small dams. These would each have a capacity
of 50-60 million cubic meters. Riverbanks would also need to be raised.
Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop has visited the
North to survey the flooding situation and he stressed the importance of
finding a method to prevent the disaster recurring. Having visited Lampang,
he then arrived in Chiang Mai and consulted with the provincial officials at
a meeting at Chiang Mai Air Traffic Control office.
Suwat said the damage in Lampang was caused because of
the Gew Loam dam being unable to contain such a high level of water. The
water had to be released and it caused floods up to 3 meters deep in the
municipality area. Four reservoirs would therefore be constructed and the
height of the Wang riverbanks increased to prevent this happening again.
In Mae Hong Son, the main cause of the damage was through
landslides, and more trees needed to be planted along with the building of
extra reservoir capacity.
Suwat has assigned deputy minister of interior Sermsak
Pongpanit to oversee the projects.
200mn baht allocated to upgrade water supply system
Preeyanoot Jittawong
The Provincial Waterworks Authority has authorized a
budget of 200 million baht to improve Chiang Mai’s public water supplies,
with work projected to be complete by April 2007. The improvements are
designed to support public demand for the next 10 years.
Thamasak Thiansawat, director of the Provincial
Waterworks Authority Regional Office 9 in Chiang Mai said that the bidding
for the work had been by electronic tender. Srikonkit Co., Ltd. had
subsequently been awarded the contract with a bid of 244.97 million baht,
and has designed a construction schedule that will be completed over a
590-day period.
The project is designed to increase the output of water
and upgrade the pumping capacity at Mae Rim, Baan Taw and Umong.
Pipes distributing water along several routes such as
Chiang Mai-Doi Saket Road (left lane), Mae Rim-Maejo Road (right lane) and
Chiang Mai-Hang Dong Road (left lane) will have their capacity increased,
which is likely to cause traffic problems during the works period.
Chiang Mai Provincial Public Water office will answer questions by phone
at 0 5325 2155, 0 5323 3477, Mae Rim Public Water office at 0 5329 7776, 0
5329 7253 and Provincial Waterworks Authority Regional Office 9, Chiang Mai
at 0 5335 2012-17.
San Kamphaeng has to pay 3.4mn baht to a resident whose home was destroyed by faulty dam
By Nopniwat Krailerg
A resident of Tambon Chae Chang in San Kamphaeng has
successfully sued the authorities after her house was destroyed in floods
caused when a faulty dam broke.
Buaphan Khamwongpin, 72, sued San Kamphaeng TAO, the
mayor Winit Kongbunthiam, the deputy mayor for public works Suthep Panyakaew
and Sathid Lerdsuwan, public works officer, saying they acted with
carelessness that led to losses.
Mae On dam was breached on August 12, 2001 and Baan Pa
Pai village at Tambon Chae Chang in San Kamphaeng was flooded, demolishing
Buaphan’s house. The event occurred, Buaphan said, because the dam was
constructed in the wrong way and in an inappropriate area.
The case went to the Supreme Court which ruled that San Kamphaeng TAO pay
a fine of 3,403,850 baht to Buaphan and that if the payment was delayed she
could claim interest at 550 baht per day.
US officials visit refuge set up by police for women and children
Saksit Meesubkwang
A delegation of American officials from the US Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and the US Consulate in Chiang Mai visited senior police
officers on September 29 to view progress on the suppression of human
trafficking in the region.
Officials
of US Minister of Foreign Affairs and Us Consulate in Chiang Mai listen to
the report of the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5.
Senior advisor to the US Under Secretary of State for
Global Affairs Dr. Laura Lederer, coordinator to the US Center Mark Taylor,
primary secretary of the US Embassy in Thailand Michael Heath and two
officials of the US Consulate in Chiang Mai, John Spykerman and Abhijat
Buddhawongse, visited the center that has been established for children and
women by Provincial Police Bureau Region 5.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Suwat Kruengkrai, deputy commissioner of
Provincial Police Bureau Region 5, along with the bureau’s investigation
superintendent Pol. Col. Sarawut Jantharaprasert and Pol. Col. Montree
Sanbunyanon, Mae Rim Police Station superintendent. welcomed the five
officials.
This center was set up as government and police
initiative three months ago. Suwat said that every police station was on
alert to pursue and suppress human trafficking but the process had not
always been effective. Consequently Provincial Police Bureau Region 5
established the center. After a three-month period it has proved successful
and the project will continue.
Dr. Lederer said that the US Minister of Foreign Affairs maintains a very
close watch on human trafficking in Asia. They were very much aware of the
problems in the North and had therefore arranged the visit through the US
Consulate in Chiang Mai. Dr. Lederer said the group was impressed with the
workings of the Thai police here and that it would set a good example for
other police forces in different regions.
Pha Muang Task Force has four more provinces attached to its area
of responsibility
Nopniwat Krailerg and
Saksit Meesubkwang.
Pha Muang Task Force has had its area of responsibility
greatly enlarged, adding to its existing areas of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
another four provinces, namely Phayao, Nan, Uttaradith and Phitsanulok,
thereby making the force responsible for Burmese and Laotian borders.
 Maj.
Gen. Pairat Thongjaktu, commissioner of Pha Muang Task Force.
Maj. Gen. Pairat Thongjaktu, commissioner of Pha Muang
Task Force, announced the changes at a press conference held at Chiang Mai
700 Year Anniversary Stadium on October 2.
One of the force’s accomplishments has been to build up
a good relationship with neighboring countries, he said. Therefore, the
troops had been completely impartial when dealing with drug suppression, no
matter the nationality of the offenders.
One important thing along the border is to implement the
rules fairly and equally, regardless of race or religion, so that everyone
can see the actions are just,” he said.
“Difficulties do sometimes occur in different area due
to different languages and cultures, but Pha Muang Task Force will always
try to deal with it.
Even though the Pha Muang Task Force now has more responsibilities in
taking care of more provinces, the policies will remain the same said the
commissioner.
Governor checks tourist facilities
for start of Mexican Sunflower season
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Mae Hong Son governor Direk Konkleep and a team visited
Doi Mae Oo Kho in Khun Yuam, the biggest area in Thailand for Mexican
Sunflowers, to check on the readiness of local organizations and facilities
for the start of the season, at the beginning of November.
Mexican
Sunflowers in Doi Mae Oo Kho last year.
The governor has assigned Sumrit Sawamipak, Khun Yuam
district chief to organize facilities for tourists to camp nearby, and to
construct toilets, parking lots and food outlets at Doi Mae Oo Kho to serve
visitors. The works are due to be completed before November 1.
Concern has been expressed about areas damaged by
mountain torrents and how this would affect tourism, but the governor said
there was not going to be any detrimental effect. Mae Hong Son Provincial
Highway Office had repaired two highways number 108 and 1095 to enter Mae
Hong Son and all works will be complete in time for the start of the season.
Mexican Sunflowers in Doi Mae Oo Kho are ready to blossom in November but
some tourists in previous years have expressed disappointment that they
could not camp on the mountain. The decision was therefore taken that this
year camping will be allowed and that facilities would be provided.
Police set up service points for residents and tourists
Nopniwat Krailerg
A pilot project to set up police service centers in busy
public areas has been launched in Chiang Mai by Provincial Police Bureau
Region 5.
Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara na Ayuthaya
on October 3 presided over the opening ceremony of the first police service
point at the ground floor of Kad Suan Kaew Department Store. The intention,
he said, is to make the police services more accessible to the public. A
police public relations team will also be available for local community
matters.
The next step, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong said, is to set up
service points at other busy areas or tourism sites. Five will open
simultaneously at Kad Suan Kaew, Central Airport Plaza, Carrefour, Lotus
Khamthiang branch and at Walking Street.
The main business of the service points is expected to be
dispensing advice on lost documentation and small private matters, attending
to local disturbances, and handling petty fines.
Other provinces are expected to follow suit with service
centers of their own.
Burmese officials replaced by party workers in run-up to election
Saksit Meesubkwang
Heads of areas in the north of the Shan State in Burma
have been dismissed and new officials appointed to prepare for an election
due next year.
A source in Shan State reported on September 29 that
Burmese officials had dismissed some heads of areas from their posts,
proclaiming that this process was to prepare for the government to collect
information for the referendum draft.
The newly appointed heads will attend a conference to be
organized in October in La Siew city concerning the new policies.
Three areas, namely Muang, Nam Kham and Kod Khai in Moo
Jae province already have new heads while La Siew, Jok Mae and Koon Long
provinces are still searching.
A businessman in Moo Jae province said that the old area
heads were probably dismissed from their posts to make way for canvassers
supporting the government line. He added that he was sure the government
would again win the election due to the important opposition such as Aung
San Suu Kyi, head of NLD party and Chao Khun Thun Oo, head of SNLD party
being under tight government supervision.
The Burmese government will hold their last assembly at the end of this
year.
Burmese troops seize 70 Red Wah transferring heroin into Thailand
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Burmese soldiers have seized 70 Red Wah personnel who
were in the act of packing 90 kg of heroin into bags ready for transfer into
Thailand.
The military force was patrolling near the border at Baan
Muang Toom and Baan Muang Kan next to the Sai River, only a kilometer away
from Baan Payaprai at Tambon Terdthai in Mae Fa Luang district, Chiang Rai.
The incident took place on October 3, when 100 Burmese
soldiers descended on the Red Wah camp.
Sources reported that the armed officers surrounded the
Red Wah people and that 70 were arrested. The heroin was being packed into
90 plastic bags, each bag weighing a kilogram. Those arrested were sent to a
military camp in Muang Toom.
The drugs were being moved from a Red Wah factory located near the
border. The group was known to have transferred narcotics into Thailand on
previous occasions.
Killer high on ya ba shoots wealthy businessman
Saksit Meesubkwang
A well-known Mae Sod businessman was shot dead after
leaving a noodle shop, and police say his killer was high on ya ba.
Officers from Mae Sod Police Station were called out on
September 29 to a shooting that had taken place in Soi Wat Don Kaew on
Inthornkiri Road. At the scene they found the body of Choopong or Tantai
Thawee-apiruedeewong, 51. He was wearing a red-white shirt, black trousers
and sneakers, and had been shot in the head and back.
His killer was later identified as Thanaklit
Saengmuang-in, who had fled the scene of the shooting in a gray-black pickup
with a Bangkok license plate. A squad of some 50 police officers followed
the murderer and caught him in front of the Nissan showroom, when his car
went out of control and fell into a wayside ditch. Thanaklit tried to flee
on foot but was apprehended. Police said he appeared to be intoxicated on ya
ba.
Choopong had eaten a meal of noodles and was crossing the
street when Thanaklit shot him. Originally of Burmese nationality, Choopong
had taken Thai citizenship. He was a well known jewelry businessman and was
reputedly very wealthy.
Although his killer is said to have acted under the
influence of drugs, speculation is that there was a deeper reason for the
murder.
Almost 1,600 illicit CDs found during crackdown
Nopniwat Krailerg
Chiang Mai police searching retail and rental outlets
have uncovered almost 1,600 illicit CDs.
A squad of officers from Muang Chiang Mai Police Station
led by station superintendent Pol. Col. Prayad Bunsri and equipped with
warrants from Chiang Mai Provincial Court searched 11 VCD rental and
distribution shops in the area. Chonticha Suriya, 23, owner of Kad Kom VCD
at Tambon Hai Ya was arrested for being in possession of three obscene VCDs.
The other 10 shops were charged with having pirated CDs.
The crackdown was ordered when police learned that rental
and distribution shops were dealing in obscene CDs and that many of the
customers were young people. Pol. Col. Prayad said the police will continue
to monitor the situation.
Things that go bump in the night
Mysterious case of the porn movies shown on the closed TV channel
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Pornographic movies are being broadcast on Channel 11 in
Chiang Rai from a mysterious source that cannot be traced.
Chiang Rai Provincial Public Relations Office asked
police to take action after customers in Kotam Phochana restaurant and
households in the area saw the movie appear between the hours of 2.00-3.00
a.m. on September 29.
Pratinan Weeramanurak, head of Channel 11, said the
signal was not sent by the station. Besides, the station had stopped
transmitting programs at that time. Pratinan said it might be another
business owner near the Kotam Phochana using a wireless VDO system that
would have a 100-meter broadcasting ability. Other sets in the area could
pick up the transmission.
Pratyaporn Songrod, head of Chiang Rai Provincial Public
Relation Office, said that she had asked police to pursue the source of the
signal and to prosecute the offender.
The owner of Kotam Phochana restaurant said he had seen
porn movies on Channel 11 up to five times over the past 10 days and every
time they had appeared around 2.10 to 3.30 a.m.
Pratinan added that this may have occurred because of a
low quality VCD player that did not have a suppression system and which
could spread its signal to a nearby TV set that was turned on.
Police patrol online games shops and beer bars to curb teenage drinking and time wasting
Nopniwat Krailerg
Online games shops and beer bars in Chiang Mai are being
searched by police to crack down on the consumption of alcohol by those
under the legal age and also to encourage youngsters not to waste valuable
study time by playing games on the internet.
The surveillance is part of national government policy,
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra having recently directed provincial
governors and police commissioners to work in tandem and help the nation’s
youth to stay out of trouble.
Pol. Lt.
Gen. Panupong Singhara na Ayuthaya, commissioner of the Provincial Police
Bureau Region 5 checks in Ozone Net and found many youngsters playing online
games.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara na Ayuthaya, commissioner
of the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5 and both Chiang Mai Provincial
Police deputy commanders Pol. Col. Atthakit Kornthong and Pol. Col. Chamnan
Ruadreuw together with about 30 officers from Chang Puek and Muang police
stations set out at 10.00 pm on October 2 to patrol the city’s online game
shops, small amusement places and beer bars.
First stop was Ozone Net in front of the former
Mahanakorn Theater at Tambon Chang Puek. This shop has some 60 computers
with an internet connection and online games software, and around 50 youths
between the ages of 16 and 20 were using the facilities.
 Pol.
Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara na Ayuthaya, commissioner of the Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5 questions a youngster who is a client of a beer bar
in Santitham area.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong questioned one 16-year-old who said
he had been playing online games for six hours. The commissioner warned the
owner not to allow youngsters to play for a long time, especially students
who skipped classes.
After that, the squad of officers checked venues in Soi
Tewan in the Santitham area, visiting about 10 premises.
Most of these outlets were screening overseas football
matches, and many young people were found cheering their teams on. A few
owners were charged with serving alcohol to youths under the age of 20.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong said there was plenty of evidence to show that a
large number of young people waste a good deal of time in games venues and
bars. Police he said will continue their policy of checking, but they did
not have the resources to monitor every venue and that a degree of
responsibility rested with the owners and the liquor licensing authorities
to ensure that no underage drinking took place.
Soldier on way to court martial jumps from police pickup
Nopniwat Krailerg and
Saksit Meesubkwang
A soldier on his way to a court martial over drug dealing
charges jumped from the police pickup that was transporting him but was
quickly recaptured.
 Pvt.
Songkiart, drug offender after being rearrested.
Songkiart Ponjira, age 22, a private at the Pichit
Preechakorn army camp in Chiang Dao, was being escorted to Kawila military
camp in Chiang Mai on September 27.
As the pickup paused at a red light in front of the Rim
Ping Condominium on Jaruenrat Road, about 500 meters from its destination,
Songkiart jumped from the back of the vehicle and fled.
Officers from Mae Ping, Chang Puek and Muang police
stations set off in pursuit and within 10 minutes found the fugitive near
Wat Sri Khong. Songkiart said he had climbed over a fence to hide in the
temple grounds. Although handcuffed he had managed to separate the cuffs
from the iron bar in the truck, and had seized the first chance he had to
escape.
Police confirmed that Songkiart had been left on his own in the back of
the pickup, saying that the police escorting officer had sat in front with
the driver because the documents relating to the case were also there.
Battery thieves charged
Police uncover security guard scam at CMU
Nopniwat Krailerg
Employees of an electric vehicle company in cahoots with
security guards at Chiang Mai University conspired to steal electric vehicle
batteries worth in total 1.3 million baht.
Officers of Phuping Police Station have arrested Phanu
Sitthisin, 45, and Jetsadaporn Phetprapai, 28, both officers of Electric
Vehicles (Thailand) Co., Ltd, and CMU security guards Yongyut Panya-uthai,
35, and Khamtan Supa, 45.
Seized as evidence were a white Mazda pickup, five copies
of a product list and nine electric vehicle batteries.
Electric Vehicles (Thailand) Co services electric vehicles in the
university. Company representative Surasawadee Chairat had informed Phuping
Police Station that 306 electric vehicle batteries valued at 1,300,000 baht
had disappeared. Police investigated and learned that Phanu and Jetsadaporn
had in association with Yongyut and Khamtan stolen them at the beginning of
September and had planned to split the proceeds. The charges include theft
and receiving of stolen property.
Three ya ba dealers found hanged in prison cell
Nopniwat Krailerg
Three ya ba dealers hanged themselves with shoelaces in a
cell at Muang Lamphun Police Station out of fear of recriminations from the
Wei Hseuh-kang narcotics network.
The men were identified as Phalekwa or Pao Chophattakam,
24, and Phajansuk Onjong, 19, both of Omkoi, Chiang Mai, and Boochu Sijipat,
23, of Muang, Lamphun.
Police had arrested the three while they were
transferring drugs in front of a garage on the Lamphun-Pasang Road in Muang,
Lamphun. They were found to have 1,700 ya ba pills in their possession.
The men were dealers operating with the Wei Hseuh-kang network. Police
say that when they were arrested the three had asked to be shot because they
would be hunted down by the drug gang, no matter where they were. They later
hanged themselves simultaneously.
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