“Chalong bomber’ still at large

PHUKET CITY A high-level provincial panel investigating last month’s bomb attacks on three new homes off Chao Fa East Rd and a land dispute in the area has made little progress, despite the Governor’s insistence that those responsible be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, home construction continues in the area, part of which may be protected mangrove forest.

Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Pol Lt Col Suwat Kaewprom said that police have prepared a list of key witnesses and have substantial physical evidence, including the fingerprints and a police sketch of the suspected bomber.

The suspect remains at large however, Col Suwat told other members of the Phuket Provincial Security Committee at the group’s monthly meeting at the Thavorn Grand Plaza Hotel yesterday.

Noting that the three damaged homes were being repaired and that construction of another new home had begun, he urged fellow panel members to move as quickly as possible in ruling on the status of the land, which is subject to an ownership dispute.

Committee member Muang District Chief Wirawat Janpen said that his office had conducted a survey that found 123 families living on the land in dispute.

It would take about two more weeks for the panel to conclude whether or not some of the land occupied is mangrove forest, he said.

Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit urged all committee members to conclude their parts of the investigation as soon as possible, saying that encroachment issues are one of the island’s most pressing problems.