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Chiang Mai businessman robbed and murdered
Saksit Meesubkwang
On May 30, Pol. Col. Pongrit Boonliang, superintendent of Mae Taeng Police
Station was notified that a man had been killed and the body burned. The
grisly find was discovered in a longan orchard, 30 meters away from a street
at Baan Hua Lung, in Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai.
Forensic police believed that the man had been killed elsewhere before being
brought to the orchard by at least three men. The corpse could not be
identified initially, and was lying with the arms bound behind his back
before being incinerated by four tires covered in oil. The victim was
wearing black Levi’s jeans and Hush puppies pants; and wearing a Harley
Motorcycle bracelet. There was an orange colored crash helmet lying nearby
but there was no sign of any fighting.
Later, it was learned the dead man was named Seksan Sukasame, 46, a member
of a Harley Davison group and an owner of Bua Luang Tour located on
Chareunmuang Road, in Muang, Chiang Mai. The company serves to provide tour
groups and distributes Harley Davison spares.
Police have traced his movements and at 2 p.m. on May 29, he called a person
on his cell phone and was heard saying “Lets meet in a half hour.”
Following this he rode his Harley from the shop and informed others that he
was going to Phayao. The motorcycle has not been found at this stage.
Investigation police from Mae Taeng Police Station are cooperating with
Chiang Mai province investigation team to pursue the murderers and hopefully
bring them swiftly to justice.
Underground electricity work causing above-ground anger
Two years is too long, say residents
Workers
on Thapae Road, a sluggish process.
Saksit Meesubkwang
Many Chiang Mai residents have told Chiangmai Mail that they were fed up
with the sluggish construction on Thapae Road being carried out by Chiang
Mai Municipality, now for almost two years. They have to face the daily
inconvenience on this route caused by the holes and blockages, and no
warning signs of the hazards. In addition, the dust caused by the
road-works, especially during the day, seriously affects the breathing of
residents and tourists alike.
It is the Municipality’s intention to place the electricity system
underground to do away with the unsightly poles but the process has been
ongoing since December, 2004.
Residents living along both sides of the route complained that they also
have to bear with the noise pollution at night because the construction
workers labor at night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Buildings and temples nearby
were also suffering damage with many showing signs of cracking.
One more problem is that the drains are blocked so there is no means of
water drainage, and this causes many problems to people living in that area.
Phra Kroo Manoon Thammaporn Thanongkaro, abbot of Wat Mahawan said that the
temple was seriously affected by the construction with several cracks now
showing in the pagoda. He has appealed to several organizations but so far
has been ignored.Phoonsawat Worawan, Chiang Mai deputy mayor attempted to
explain that the unfinished footpath construction was because Chiang Mai
city was 700 years old, so it had several forms of soil making the digging
process difficult. Sometimes, ancient artefacts such as elephant bones and
ancient wall remains hindered the digging process. As for time of work, it
was necessary to work at night time so as not to disrupt the traffic during
day time.
Another reason for sluggish pace of working is that several organizations
have to cooperate to carry out the work but if any one organization is
delayed, it affects the progress of other organizations.
Chiang Mai human trafficking study
 Julia
Ormond, UNODC Good will Ambassador for the Abolition of Slavery and
Trafficking presented a souvenir to Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai Governor.
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Julia Ormond, UNODC Good Will Ambassador for the Abolition of Slavery and
Trafficking visited Chiang Mai Children’s Rights Protection Coordination
Center on May 23 to observe the efforts being made to prevent human
trafficking.
Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai Governor and staff welcomed her visit to exchange
points of view about human trafficking prevention and learn about the role,
duty, and significance of the center.
The Chiang Mai Children’s Rights Protection Coordination Center had a
strong role to play in this field in the Northern region. This center
operated as a base to coordinate the efforts being made against human
trafficking both domestically and internationally. Human trafficking was
being regarded as crime against humanity, and the government supported the
establishment of the human trafficking protection and suppression center in
the country, provinces, and in international countries.
Chiang Mai had made an MoU about coordinating the efforts of the
organizations involved with helping women and children who are the victims
of human trafficking in the nine upper Northern provinces. There are several
international organizations active in the field; such as the International
Labor Organization, the International Program for the Elimination of Child
Labor (ILO/IPEC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); all of
which offer their skills and knowledge to assist Thailand in suppressing the
activities of these dealers in human misery
Julia observed the center’s operating process in tackling these problems
and freely offered her expertise and practical knowledge gained from years
of working for the UN to add to the efficiency of the center’s operation.
She also expressed her admiration for the stance taken by the Thai
government against human trafficking. However, she made suggestions for
actions to solve three separate issues; first born registration, nationality
naturalization, and children’s education which UNODC is always willing to
support if the Thai government requests assistance.
500 people call for resignation of Mae Sai district chief officer
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
500 people in Tambon Mae Sai, Chiang Rai led by Prachan Saenthilert and
Wisanu Ammarat, have asked Nopporn Tonrap, Deputy Chiang Rai Governor, if
there had been any progress after they had called for the expulsion of
Chusak Uppanant, Mae Sai district chief officer, and Charn Laithong, Land
officer of Mae Sai district, and Chalermwut Nakhatiwong, Mae Sai senior
assistant district chief officer.
Local people were dissatisfied with the way land title deeds had not been
issued to about 700 families who had lived in the area of the Thai-Burmese
border for more than 70 years.
On November 18, 2005, there was a meeting of an administrative committee of
MPs who decided to give the land to local people as their place of
residence. A sub-committee was formed to inspect the situation and report to
the Chiang Rai Governor with in 30 days. However, there has been no progress
in this matter on behalf of the local people, but in a nearby area which is
owned by a financial backer, there was a land title deed issued almost
immediately which caused deep dissatisfaction to the local people.
Wisanu, another local leader said that he had received numerous complaints
from about 3,000 alien people that there was an officer collecting 5,000
baht each from hill tribes people for issuing ID cards. It was believed that
the Mae Sai district chief officer was part of this scam.
The Deputy Chiang Rai Governor received the local people’s complaints and
appointed an inspection committee to look into the matter and promised to
inform the demonstrators of the outcome as soon as it was known.
NARKN claims Thailand and USA looking at N. Korean abductions
 Tomoharu
Ebihara, NARKN coordinator with a picture of Anocha Panjoi, the Thai woman
abducted 28 years ago.
Nopniwat
Krailerg
Tomoharu Ebihara, Japanese Department lecturer at Payap University, on
behalf of the chairman of National Association for the Rescue of Japanese
Kidnapped by North Korea NARKN (or Sukuu Kai) reported the progress on the
case of Anocha Panjoi, resident of San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai who had been
abducted in Macao in 1978.
She was mentioned in the book To Tell The Truth written by Charles Robert
Jenkins, American soldier who deserted and went to North Korea for 40 years.
This book was written after the Japanese government helped Japanese citizens
from North Korean return home.
Tomoharu revealed that in mid-May, Dr. Kantathi Suphamongkhon, Thailand’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs traveled to Japan, and met Shinzo Abe,
secretary-general of Japan and Taro Aso, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the
issue concerning Anocha was mentioned.
The Thai minister had already met representatives of NARKN, who said that
the Thai government was concerned about security of Anocha, a Thai citizen.
The Thai government believed that she is still alive in North Korea and
Thailand will contact North Korea directly because both countries have a
good relationship.
Tomoharu added that American government is also interested in this case. On
April 23-24, representatives of families who were abducted to North Korea
traveled to Washington DC to meet a board of committees and MPs, talking
about the abduction to North Korea and two of these met President George W
Bush.
Tomoharu told Chiangmai Mail that there have been many people
abducted to North Korea including 100 South Koreans, 16 Japanese (certified
as disappeared by the Japanese government), but one NGO claimed there were
almost 100 Japanese abducted to North Korea. Other nationalities included
people from Thailand, Macao, Malaysia, Romania, Italy and Lebanon.
It was asserted that these people were forced to train spies by teaching
ways of talking, eating, manner and national characteristics, to allow North
Korea to send spies to different countries and used the abducted person’s
passport for them.
Third Army Region asked to reconsider new road construction
Nopniwat Krailerg
A meeting has taken place between a concerned group of Chiang Mai residents
from the Khon Hak Chiang Mai Alliance led by Prof. Chaloempol Sampetch,
Chiang Mai University and Maj. Gen. Supha-aksorn Sangpakul, Commander of the
33rd Army Circle, as the
representative of Third Army Region. The Khon Hak Alliance requested that
the army reject the plan to build road number 121 from the 700 Year
Anniversary Stadium to Mae Rim.
Prof. Sampetch said that the Khon Hak Chiang Mai Alliance is made up of many
caring people in the Northern region, established to look after the
interests of the community. He found that the plan to construct the 10.5 km
road by the Department of Highways required the cooperation of the military.
The Department of Highways had held an auction to find private sector
contractors to construct the road in September 2005, and set the budget for
this construction to be 513,129,170 baht.
Khon Hak Chiang Mai Alliance considers that the road construction would
destroy ecologically sensitive forest area which is an important part of
Suthep-Pui National Park. This area is considered to be one of the few
richly diverse forests in Chiang Mai.
Maj. Gen. Supha-aksorn replied that the army also disagreed with this
project because they preferred to conserve the area for the use of soldiers
to be a training area for shooting, battle strategies, and for security. The
Army proposed that the Department of Highways should consider moving the
road construction area to be far away from the military area; and this is
being considered.
It also sounds as if the general public should stay away from the area too!
Japanese government donates 1.7 million baht for hill tribe school construction
 Katsuhiro
Shinohara, Consul-General of Japan (left) and Somsak Compong, Director of
Banmai School (right) jointly signed the funding contract.
Preeyanoot Jittawong
The Japanaese government, under its Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human
Security Projects Scheme (GGP), has promised to provide 1.7 million baht for
construction of a school building for hill tribe children in Mae Hong Son.
On May 25, 2006, Katsuhiro Shinohara, the Consul-General for Japan in Chiang
Mai and Somsak Compong, Director of Banmai School, jointly signed the
funding contract for this project at the Japanese Consulate in Chiang Mai.
The Banmai School in Muang district of Mae Hong Son is an elementary school
and has established a kindergarten as an annex to provide education for hill
tribe children with limited opportunities. The number of pupils at the
school has increased by 50 percent in the ten years to 2005, and there are
now 153 pupils. Although the school needs eight classrooms, two for the
kindergarten and six for the elementary school, there are only five in the
present building, resulting in the fact that the library and the laboratory
also have to be used as classrooms.
In response to the request from Banmai School, the Japanese government will
bear the cost of construction cost of the new school building to supplement
the presently inadequate classroom space. By utilizing the GGP, the Japanese
government is pleased to provide assistance that will improve the
educational opportunities and living conditions of the hill tribe children.
Thai women duped into serving as prostitutes in Italy
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
Two Thai women were deceived when they were offered work as a housemaid,
masseuse and laundry worker but were forced to serve as prostitutes in
Italy.
Orachorn Ratanamanee, head officer of Chiang Mai Employment Office disclosed
that the Department of Employment had been informed that Bua-ngern Saisim
and Apiruedi Pongprom had jointly offered Thai women the opportunity to work
in Italy. They were offered jobs such as laundry worker, masseuse and
housemaid, and each woman paid 104,000 baht. To raise this amount of cash
they pledged the title deeds to their houses valued at 500,000 baht.
They eventually arrived in Italy but did not get the jobs they were
promised, because Wattana Taweesupt, the husband of Apiruedi told them the
only job available was to work as a prostitute. They informed the Department
of Employment of the situation and asked for their money back.
After checking the background of Bua-ngern Saisim and Apiruedi Pongprom, it
soon became apparent that neither of them had authorization from the
Department of Employment to provide jobs overseas for Thai citizens. By
doing so, they contravened the Employment Act 1985, and have been charged
with illegally inducing people to work overseas. The two offenders and
Wattana were arrested in Kantharom in Sri Saket province; and remanded in
police custody to face legal proceedings.
The Chiang Mai Employment Office has continually warned and job-seekers not
to trust any agent who claimed they could find jobs in Italy for them.
Anyone offered such employment should immediately inform Chiang Mai City
Hall by telephoning 053-112742-6 # 18 on weekdays.
A conference to cope with flooding
But is it too little too late?
Nopniwat Krailerg
On May 25, Theerawat Tangpanit, deputy director-general of the Department of
Irrigation presided over a conference attended by governors and other
representatives of concerned organizations of the eight upper Northern
provinces. The meeting was held at Chiang Mai First Irrigation Office and
discussed how to cope with flooding because the Northern Meteorological
Center and Hydrology and Water Management Center for the Upper North Region,
Chiang Mai reported that the volume of water this year would be higher than
usual.
Suwat Tantipat, Chiang Mai governor said that Chiang Mai province would
rapidly prepare adequate measures to prevent flooding in every district,
including quickly dredging the main waterways and streams.
Direk Konkleep, Mae Hong Son governor said that the province would
immediately provide plans to cope with flooding because there are 450
villages located in flood areas at the foot of hills and 198 of these are
particularly prone to flooding. Last year, the Pai River burst its banks but
a budget for dredging has yet to be authorized. However, the province has
tried to dredge the Pai River to hold as much water as possible.
Off-road rescuers ended up needing rescue!
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
14 people from an off-road team nearly died after getting bogged down in
wild forest in the Phrae-Phayao area. They had gone into the forest to
provide help to unfortunate people who had lost their homes in the recent
floods but were unable to return along the same route due to a wrecked
bridge. Luckily, they were able to radio for help and contacted a disaster
prevention volunteer group who were able to provide them with fuel and
rations.
Boonsingha Warinrak, president of Phayao PAO, received the distress call
from Komsan Santhep, president of the Lampang Off-road club requesting help
because there were 14 club members and seven off-road vehicles stuck in Mae
Yom forest, Phrae. Boonsingha responded swiftly to the radio message and
immediately brought a rescue team to provide help to the stranded
off-roaders.
The rescue team entered the forest with great difficulty because the
distance between Baan Bor Ton conservation office and San Pae was nearly 10
km, all of it steep terrain that the heavy rains had turned to a sea of mud.
The rescue team had to enter the forest on foot for almost two km and the
route was made hazardous by the Mae Poong stream, which was in spate and two
meters above its normal level. The rescue team had to build a temporary
bridge to deliver water, food, fuel, and engine parts to the stranded
off-roaders.
The President of the Lampang Off-road club said that the club’s members
had tried to provide help to local people who were short of food and
clothes. However, on the way there, it rained heavily, rendering the return
route to Phrae inaccessible. They decided to enter the forest at Chiang Muan
district, Phayao. Unfortunately, on the way, the leading vehicle skidded
into a deep stream beside the route. They were unable to get out of that
area and were forced to radio for assistance.
Chiang Mai is ready to prevent the Ping River flooding
Nopniwat Krailerg
Many organizations in Chiang Mai have indicated their readiness to help
build a wall to prevent flooding of the Ping River at risky points and stand
ready to support and reduce losses in flooding situations.
Chiang Mai Municipality, led by Boonlert Buranupakorn, Chiang Mai Mayor,
together with every available military unit in Chiang Mai area led by Maj.
Gen. Supha-aksorn Sangprakun, Commissioner of 33rd
Army Circle and around 300 people from every community in Chiang Mai
Municipality created a plan for flood prevention by filling sandbags to be
ready in high-risk locations. The plan has already started in three areas;
behind the Chiang Mai Provincial Electricity Authority, behind the municipal
flats, and in front of the municipal flats.
The Chiang Mai Mayor said that last year Chiang Mai faced the problem of
flooding many times, which caused severe damage to many areas of the city.
This year, if there is heavy rainfall in the Lower Northern provinces,
Chiang Mai will once again face the risk of flooding. This preparation is
aimed at reducing losses if a flood eventuates.
Tobacco Free Days
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Central Airport Plaza department store together with the Office of Narcotic
Control Board (ONCB): Region 5 and Mag Media have launched a campaign to
encourage people to stop smoking by arranging a “Tobacco Free Days” from
May 27 - June 4 at Junction X, G floor, Central Airport Plaza.
Students’
exhibition area.
The World Health Organization (WHO) designated May 31 every year to be Stop
Smoking Day. 2006 is the 17th and the title of this year’s campaign is
“Health Professionals and Tobacco Control.”
During the tobacco free days there will be a competition for stopping
smoking in a 3-dimensional style from Prathom to Mathayom (College – High
School) level; a country music dancers contest, a talk show from Mathayom
level on the topic of “Tobacco Free Day”, and a skills contest.
There will also be a health consultion service and booths which provide
suggestions for quitting smoking and an exhibition demonstrating the
disadvantages of cigarette smoking including giving guidance for solving
smoking problems from the 10th
Public Health Center, ONCB: Region 5, Public Health Office, McCormick
Hospital, and the Friend’s Corner from the Department of Mental Health.
With Thailand’s youth and women taking up smoking in large numbers,
anything to halt this progression is to be applauded.
World Vision Foundation helps children and families
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
The heavy downpour of a few days ago caused sudden flooding in many areas of
Muang district, Sungmen district, Denchai district and Phrae district;
severely damaging houses and destroying agricultural crops. Several bridges
were swept away and many road-links were severed, including the Phrae –
Uttaradit Road which is still inaccessible.
World Vision Foundation coordinated with Phrae Provincial Office of
Prevention and Relief of Public Disaster, police officers, military
officers, and rescue organizations to move people to safe places. World
Vision also brought 166 survival sacks; each containing 30 bottles of
drinking water, 10 packs of instant noodles, 1 candle, and a lighter for 166
families.
Chamlong Khammoon, operations director of the Northern rescue effort said
that World Vision Foundation had provided drinking water which is an
essential commodity at this time because all the local people’s wells have
been contaminated in the flood.
World Vision Foundation had assigned officers to monitor and follow the
situation in every province, with orders to provide immediate help to
children and families, following an announcement by the Department of
Meteorology that there might be sudden flooding in high-risk areas of eight
lower Northern provinces.
Inthakin City Pillar veneration ceremony 2006
Preeyanoot Jittawong
Wat Chedi Luang Worawiharn in cooperation with Chiang Mai Municipality
organized the ceremony to venerate the Inthakin City Pillar at Wat Chedi
Luang.
The annual Inthakin City Pillar ceremony began by parading the Fonesaenha
Buddha image that is kept in Wat Chang Taem, together with flags and drums
carried by groups of government officials, students and local residents. The
parade went from Wat Chedi Luang, along Rachadamnern, Chang Moi and Thapae
roads and back to Wat Chedi Luang. While parading the Fonesaenha Buddha
image, it was raining at all the time and Lanna people believe that was a
lucky sign that the city would be peaceful. In the afternoon, the Inthakin
City Pillar veneration took place offering residents the opportunity to make
merit by pouring water over the Buddha image and covering it with gold, as
well as presenting flowers for the Inthakin Pillar. This ceremony attracted
many residents as it does every year.
The Inthakin City Pillar was made by King Meng Rai when he first built
Chiang Mai city in 1296 and it is now situated in front of Wat Chedi Luang.
The Pillar is inside a small Thai style church and made from a giant tree,
fixed underground. The ceremony is organized every year and residents both
young and old bring along flowers, joss sticks, herbal water and fragrant
water in containers to worship the pillar at Wat Chedi Luang. There are
several other merit making activities including pouring water over the
Fonesaenha Buddha image and blessing the city by 108 monks simultaneously
conducting this ceremony at ten separate points in Chiang Mai.
Counterfeit credit card culprits caught in Chiang Mai
Saksit Meesubkwang
Wong Kwok Pang Christ, 32, a Hong Kong citizen and his companion known as
Sanya Donchai, 29, a Thai citizen, were charged with using a fake electronic
credit card. Eighteen counterfeit Krung Thai Bank credit cards were
discovered and confiscated by the Chiang Mai Provincial Police investigation
officers.
 Wong
Kwok Pang Christ, 32, Hong Kong citizen (2nd
left) and Sanya Donchai, 29, Thai citizen (right) arrested by investigation
officers of Chiang Mai Provincial Police.
The police learnt in the beginning of May of the use of fake credit cards in
Muang, Chiang Mai which, when used, left no account information as do
genuine credit cards. Police asked for participation from shops throughout
Chiang Mai that if these cards were found, the police should be immediately
apprised.
On May 20, the police heard from VT Telecom in Kad Suan Kaew Department
Store, located on Huay Kaew Road in Muang, Chiang Mai that a Hong Kong
Chinese man had used a fake credit card. Officers surrounded the area and
the two men were arrested. Seventeen more cards were found on the two
offenders. Cards were Visa Card type, and there were different amounts of
money in each card; all card names were foreign.
The police said that this gang was a part of an international gang causing
much damage to finance institutions. Other alliances are being pursued and
will be prosecuted.
Drunk driver escapes on the Mae Rim Road
 The
wrecked vehicle - the result of drink driving.
Nopniwat Krailerg
At 3 a.m. on May 28, police officers were informed by local people that
there had been an accident on the Chiang Mai-Mae Rim Road, in front of 99
Orchid Farm. A car had skidded off the road and the occupant was reported to
be injured.
At the accident scene the front of the car was underwater in the canal. The
driver was injured and trapped in the car. Local people had however
extricated the injured driver from the wrecked car and administered
first-aid before sending him to the hospital.
The driver was later identified as Sanchakorn Papuan, 23, a resident of San
Pa Tong who ran a small bar near Wat Jed Yowd. After he regained
consciousness, he said that he had been drinking with his friends at his bar
until he was inebriated. After he had closed his bar, he drove from the city
of Chiang Mai to drop off his girlfriend at Mae Rim. On the way back, he was
driving too fast and lost control, hitting an electricity pole and ending up
in the canal. His girlfriend should be a little more careful with whom she
gets a lift home in future.
Lamphun police superintendent gets football foul
Saksit Meesubkwang
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, the commissioner of Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5 said that with the World Cup due to start in June,
the Royal Thai Police had been instructed to watch out for football gambling
in the Northern region. He had in fact even created a special task force
with the sole purpose of suppressing the illegal gambling for the duration
of the competition.
Pol.
Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, the commissioner of Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5.
The police have already compiled a blacklist of 120 agents who have
previously been involved in gambling in the eight upper-Northern provinces
and most of these are in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang and Lamphun. The
commissioner stressed all area police commanders to take good care of their
own area, and if police from other areas detect the occurrence of gambling
in that area, the commanding officer responsible for that area will be
punished.
He apparently means it, after reassigning Pol. Col. Sirote Phakphitcharuen,
the superintendent of Muang Lamphun Police Station to temporarily work with
the Provincial Police Bureau Region 5 for 30 days. He had also set up a
committee to see if Muang Lamphun station’s police officers had turned a
blind eye to football gambling.
Two police hero’s bodies returned to Chiang Mai
Saksit Meesubkwang
The bodies of Pol. Sen. Sgt. Maj. Supoj Suwanapasit, 49, and Pol. Sen. Sgt.
Maj. Pradit Techa, 47, of Border Patrol Police Troop 334 of Border Patrol
Police Headquarter 33 returned to Chiang Mai. They had been killed in action
whilst on duty in the Deep South.
The
bereaved relatives waiting for the coffins.
The bodies were taken to Wat Arun Niwas at Tambon Rim Tai in Mae Rim, Chiang
Mai for a Buddhist religious funeral ceremony, which was attended by Pol.
Lt. Gen. Panupong Singhara Na Ayuthaya, the commissioner of Provincial
Police Bureau Region 5.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panupong said it was a great loss to the police force to lose
these gallant officers after they were sent to Grong Pinang in Yala on March
29, 2006 to help control the violence in the Deep South. They were shot by
terrorists on May 23 in the market in Grong Pinang, Yala. They will be
posthumously promoted to two higher positions of police rank as they
sacrificed their lives in the course of doing their duty.
Woman commits suicide at Nhong Hor shooting gallery
Chiangmai Mail Reporters
A 42 year old woman has apparently committed suicide after being unable to
resolve a conflict with a female friend.
Police officers were called to the Nhong Hor shooting gallery, Chiang Mai
where the body was found. There was a bullet hole at her right temple and
she was still holding a .38 caliber pistol in her right hand, which was
resting in her lap.
The victim was identified as Amporn Boonthaphruek, 42, a resident of Muang
district, Chiang Mai who worked as a ticket cashier at the Gymkhana Golf
Course on Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road. Officers also found several .38 bullet
casings on the ground, and there were numerous bullet holes in the target at
which she had been firing.
From their enquiries the officers found that the woman had come to the
shooting gallery in the late morning. She purchased 60 .38 caliber bullets
for shooting practice. She then talked to someone on the phone for a while,
after which she began firing.
When the range staff came to check her scores, they discovered she had
turned the weapon on herself. Shooting gallery staff said that they had
never seen the woman before; and she gave no indication of her intentions
prior to committing suicide.
After making enquiries among the woman’s acquaintances, it appeared that
she had been under stress. It was thought that she might have gone to the
shooting gallery as a means of relieving her stress, but in a fit of
depression, she committed suicide. The police were able to trace the call
she made immediately prior to the shooting and found the call was made to a
woman friend, to whom she had spoken about the problems they were having in
their relationship. Unfortunately, the problems were not resolved, so she
committed suicide.
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