Thread: Taxi driver in coup protest hangs himself "for democracy"

Taxi driver in coup protest hangs himself "for democracy"

The taxi driver who protested against the coup by slamming his taxi into a tank at the Royal Plaza last month killed himself by hanging himself from a pedetrian overbridge in an apparent protest against the military coup.

Pol Col Phaisarn Kojasup, commander of Bang Sue police station, said Nuamthong Praiwal, 60, was found hung from a rail of the pedestrian flyover on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Highway in front of Thai Rath newspaper head office.


A passer-by spotted the body and informed police at 20 minutes after midnight.

A handwritten note was found near the body, saying the death was to protest against a spokesman of the Council for National Security for saying he had no ideology in his earlier protest against the coup.

"I am a taxi driver who has sacrificed himself for democracy," his note said.

Phaisarn said the surrounding evidences indicated that the man committed suicide.

Nuamthong made headlines on September 30 when he slammed his taxi into a tank at the Royal Plaza at 6 am. He spray painted his purple taxi with the words, "Destroy the country" and "Suicide".

He suffered broken ribs at that time.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he was saddened by the death but doubted there would be any copycat suicide bids.

"We can talk to find ways to solve our problem and explain the reasons" for the coup, he told reporters.
On September 30, Nuamthong spray-painted his purple taxi with the words "Destroy the country" and "Suicide" before slamming his vehicle into a tank at the Royal Plaza in central Bangkok.

This guy was one nut, what good does his death do? What is so wrong with this country one would even consider a suicide protest? The man was obvously unstable, I hope there was no family relying on him for their support. Poor family.

'I'm proud of my husband,' says taxi wife

The wife of a taxi driver who hanged himself this morning to show his opposition to the Sept 19 military coup said she was proud, and believed her husband sacrificed his life in a patriotic act.

"I'm very sad to have lost the leader of the family," said Boonchu Praiwan. "I never thought he would be this courageous. I'm very proud of him. He died for the nation."

Her husband Nuamthong had rammed his taxi into a tank on Sept 30 to protest the military coup. This morning, he hanged himself on a pedestrian overpass near the Thai Rath newspaper office in northern Bangkok. Police said there were no signs of foul play.

Mrs Boonchu said her husband showed no unusual behaviour that made her suspect suicide, after returning from the hospital after crashing into the tank..

Nuanmthong broke his ribs when he rammed his cab into the tank on duty on a Bangkok street corner. He wrecked the taxi and did not return to driving. Mrs Boonchu said he stayed home and helped her with chores until this morning.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said he did not expect to see any copy cat from the case. He urged the public to speak out if they faced problems.

"If we base actions on reality, every problem can be solved," he said

i'm wondering if the man might not have had a terminal illness.
and decided to go out spectacularly.

The taxi owner probably demanded payment for his bent taxi... headcase didn't have the dosh & so figured he'd go out in style... well, sort of...

fuck him,we farangs dont give a flying fuck, he was probably one of these wankers who repeated "500 baht special massage" when we needed to go about our business instead.

No great loss

all things being equal, you have to appreciate the commitment

A real swinger!