NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: Political discussions can get slightly heated the aworld over, but in Thailand few provinces are extra famend for fiery political debate than Nakhon Sri Thammarat, where previously shut friendships have been recognized to fall to pieces over political disagreement.
In the most recent case, nevertheless, the controversy turned fatal.
In the early hours of November eight, Wichan Santiwarakul, 31, a member of Bang Nop Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) was shot multiple occasions at the funeral of Khim Meenuan, 70, in Village 4 Tambon Bang Bon Hua Sai District around 1 am. He died on route to Hua Sai hospital.
The explanation for his murder? Having the temerity to suggest to fellow mourners that People Power Party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej wouldn’t dare appear in a televised debate alongside Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva.
Witnesses told police that following the funeral rites, visitors, together with many local politicians, sat all the means down to eat and drink. They additionally started watching a televised debate among leaders of a few of the Kingdom’s distinguished political parties. Among those collaborating was K. Abhisit. Marked by his absence was, K. Samak, self-confessed nominee of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.
After a good quantity of ingesting, the guests began to discuss the performance of the various party leaders. Witnesses reported that K. Wichan, a staunch Democrat, started to taunt his good friend Thepnimit “Yai Thep” Khongjan, 31. Yai Thep, Chief of Tambon Bang Nop Village 1 and a PPP supporter, was pressured to endure K. Wichan’s costs that K. Samak dared not face K. Abhisit in a reside TV debate.
Enraged by the slur on the very man charged with preserving the spirit of Thai Rak Thai alive, Yai Thep pulled out his .38 pistol and unleashed a fusillade of fireplace at K. Wichan, hitting him in the left temple, neck and shoulder.
An eyewitness, who requested not to be named, told reporters, “After the ceremonies have been done, the visitors, together with many village chiefs and OrBorTor members watched the get together leaders debate about numerous points on Modernine TV. As it received late and the visitors received drunk, they began to discuss politics. K. Light , a big fan of K. Abhisit, mocked K. Samak, saying that he didn’t dare come and share his opinions with the leaders of all the other events.
“This riled Thepnimit, who had been drinking closely and was already struggling to manage himself. Thepnimit went on the assault, defending K. Samak. He then pulled out a pistol and shot K. Wichan repeatedly until he fell off his chair and collapsed on the floor. Thepnimit then ran to his car and sped away,” the witness mentioned.
Col Athip Nakhomnee, Investigating Officer at Bang Nop Tambon Police Station, said that K. Wichan and Thepnimit had been close associates who had gone to highschool together and lived in close by villages. Before the incident they had been chatting and consuming fortunately collectively. The downside began once they turned to debate politics, Col Athip added..