Thailand

The big comeback for Big Joke?

Published

9 months ago

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

The big comeback for Big Joke? | Thaiger

Former police poster boy and Thai immigration Chief, Surachat Hakparn, aka. “Big Joke” says he wants to return to police duties and “come back in from the cold”.. He participated in 2 hours of prayers at the Wat Bueng Kradan in Phitsanulok city in Central Thailand, praying for a return to his roles in the Thai police force.

At the height of his fame he was “Maj. Gen. Surachat Hakparn, Immigration Chief”. Having political leaders like Deputy PM Prawit Wongsuwan on his side, he seemed to have his rise to the top of Thailand’s police force assured. He appeared at every major drug bust, anytime errant foreigners were rounded up he’d be there too. He was the hot tip to take over the top job of the Thai police force.

Surachat was in the news just about every other day during 2017 and 2018 and then in April 2019 he was abruptly sidelined from police duties to a desk job at Police HQ in Bangkok. Not long after he took an extended overseas trip.

Then, after he’d quietly returned earlier this year, came the bizarre shooting of his car, a white Lexus, parked out the front of a massage shop in Silom. Surachet was allegedly getting a massage in the spa when the two suspects fired at his car in a drive-by. The two were captured on CCTV but were both wearing full-face helmets making ID impossible.

The former Thai immigration denied that the incident, where gunshots were fired into his car, was a staged stunt. He addressed a media scrum, a situation he’d been in before many times, speculating that the shooting incident was linked to the Immigration Bureau’s controversial procurement procedures for its biometrics and smart car projects.

In a written statement, whilst still heading up the immigration police in 2019, Surachat urged national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda to consider cancelling the projects. The projects, together worth 2 billion baht and which have since gone ahead, involved the purchase of biometric equipment to scan faces and fingerprints of passengers at Thailand’s six major airports. At the time Surachat cited long delays and questioned the equipment’s efficacy as reasons for wanting to cancel the project.

Clearly he’d stepped on some very big toes.

Surachat says the incident neither intimidated him nor dissuaded him from talking to the anti-graft agency about his claims of mis-steps in the procurement processes of the Immigration ID equipment. At the time he warned the national police chief Chakthip to take responsibility if police could not find the men who shot at his car.

And that, was that.

Since then Surachat has laid low and been largely silent after the government publicly warned him not to bring “disgrace” to the bureaucracy (apparently they can achieve that perfectly well without him).

Back at the temple yesterday, Surachate prayed to various Buddha images as well as statues of King Naresuan, King Ekathotsarot, and Lady Suphankanlaya. He also released birds, fish, and turtles at the temple to make merit.

There has been no comment from police officials about any return to the police force of the former pin-up boy and gang-buster.

The big comeback for Big Joke? | News by Thaiger

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Insurgency

Former negotiator says peace in Thailand’s deep south can be reached with ongoing discussions

Published

6 hours ago

Monday, April 26, 2021

Thaiger

A roadside bomb attack in Yala last month / Photo via Facebook/ศูนย์แม่หลวง ปัตตานี

With the ongoing violence from the religious separatist insurgency in Thailand’s deep south, a former member of the Thai negotiating team says the discussions between the government and Malay-Muslim dissidents need to continue to bring peace and unity.

The Southern provinces Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat near Malaysia have been plagued with violence for years. Since the separatist movement in Thailand’s deep south re-emerged in 2004, there have been 7,224 deaths and 13,427 injuries linked to the conflict from early 2004 to February 2021, according to the Deep South Watch Database.

Just last night, a 31 year old police officer in Yala was killed in an explosion after suspected militants threw a pipe bomb at a police observation post in the Raman district. Another officer, who is 29 years old, was injured in the blast.

Saturday morning in Pattani, 3 family members driving through the area were attacked by suspected insurgents. Shots were fired at the family’s car and a bullet hit the driver’s head, killing him. Reports say the attackers then poured petrol on the vehicle and set it on fire. One family member was able to flee the scene before the car erupted in flames.

Former deputy permanent-secretary for defence, Nipat Thonglek, who had served as an appointed member of the Thai negotiating team, says he’s optimistic about the process of achieving peace in the South. He says there must be ongoing discussions to reach resolutions and agreements.

“From my experience when I had the opportunity to attend meetings with these dissidents….. all want to see their people in the deep South enjoy a good quality of life and strong health so they will be better able to spend their lives normally… They want to see their children have a better education and their people get the sleep they need each night and have enough food to eat.”

In the past, Nipat had negotiated with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, an Islamic organisation in the area known as the leader of the Southern Thailand insurgency, to set up safety zones that were free from violence for 15 days. He says his work in the past set the basis for the government’s current plan to declare safety zones.

“I see the number of attacks and casualties is falling when compared with past years.”

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Pattaya

German and Thai arrested for allegedly selling methamphetamine to undercover officer

Published

9 hours ago

Monday, April 26, 2021

Thaiger

Narcotics suppression police arrested a German man and a Thai national in Pattaya for allegedly selling crystal methamphetamine. An undercover police officer had transferred money to 59 year old Claus Mike Haberstroh’s bank account and went by a home in the tambon Nong Prue to pick up the drugs.

The suspects allegedly handed the undercover agent 39.16 grammes of crystal methamphetamine. Claus and 29 year old Panadchai “Po Po” Noo-chit, who is a transgender woman, were arrested on charges of illegal drug possession with intent to sell. Officers also confiscated assets valued at around 300,000 baht.

Claus, a former lorry driver from Germany, moved to Pattaya for his retirement. Reports say he met Po Po at a night venue after moving to Thailand and they started selling methamphetamine together.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Crime

28 people arrested at private villa parties in Pattaya for violating disease control orders

Published

12 hours ago

Monday, April 26, 2021

Thaiger

Photo via Facebook/ ที่ว่าการอำเภอบางละมุง

Private parties at luxury pool villas in a Pattaya neighbourhood were raided by police last night and 28 people were arrested. Around 50 officers from the Banglamung district and Chon Buri stations were called to the area after neighbours complained that the parties could potentially lead to the spread Covid-19. A birthday party for an English teacher was hosted at one of the villas while another party was going on across the street.

Reports say those at the parties violated Thailand’s Emergency Decree which was imposed last year to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. Partygoers were not wearing masks or social distancing. Many of those arrested are foreign nationals including 13 people from the Philipinnes, 6 people from Russia, 2 people from France, 1 person from the UK, 1 person from Canada, 1 person from Albania, and 1 person from Cambodia. The other 3 people are from Thailand.

Pattaya News says many of the foreigners were “shocked” by the raid. Apparently, they tried to convince the police that they weren’t breaking the law because the event was private. Under the emergency order, all gatherings that risk the spread of Covid-19 are prohibited.

The partygoers face charges for violating the Emergency Decree and Communicable Disease Act. Police did not report on any additional charges the partygoers or hosts may face.

SOURCE: Pattaya News