Gunmen attack temple crowd, kill 2

**StrontiumDog** · 18-07-2011, 11:51 AM

Bangkok Post : Gunmen attack temple crowd, kill 2

Gunmen attack temple crowd, kill 2

Published: 18/07/2011 at 10:36 AM
Online news:

A five-year-old girl and a state official were killed and 11 other people wounded when a group of gunmen fired into a crowd at an annual temple festival in Surat Thani on Monday morning.

Police said at least six gunmen fired from 11mm handguns and more than 10 spent bullet shells were found at the scene.

Pornicha Thammasangwan, the five-year-old girl, died on her way to the hospital.

Songwut Noppakhun, an official of the Surat Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation, was killed during the shooting.

Police suspected the attack stemmed from either local political or personal conflict.

**StrontiumDog** · 18-07-2011, 11:53 AM

Yet another truly horrific crime. One of so many now. I presume the politician was the target, but why fire into a crowd...? And 6 shooters? It is like a scene out of some mafia movie.

RIP the local politician.

But a child. A 5 year old. So very sad. Heart broken parents. Such misery.

Another innocent victim. RIP little one.

**Bettyboo** · 18-07-2011, 12:08 PM

Fuked up society, that's for sure... Awful goings on... What kind of scum behave in this manner???

**harrybarracuda** · 18-07-2011, 12:47 PM

SIX gunmen? Fucking hell, they wanted to make a statement, didn't they?

**drawp** · 18-07-2011, 01:15 PM

Six men to kill one guy... at a temple of all places? How can these goons and the people that hired them sleep at night?

**Tom Sawyer** · 18-07-2011, 01:43 PM

From Bangkok Pundit: (refers to the byelection a couple of years ago)

The Bangkok Post:

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban is shrugging off the defeat of his cousin in a local election “as nothing to worry about” ahead of a by-election in Surat Thani.
The defeat of Damrong Thaugsuban to former constitution drafter Montri Petkhum in a poll on Sunday to elect the new head of the provincial administration organisation calls into question whether a Democrat victory is now guaranteed in the Aug 30 by-election.
The unofficial election result released yesterday showed Mr Montri with 113,340 votes, 1,564 more than Mr Damrong.
The turnout was 48% of eligible voters, and the number of no-votes was as high as 19,583, or 8.7% of votes, the highest number in the province’s election history.
Mr Suthep yesterday dismissed the Sunday poll as an unreliable indicator of things to come.
“If a man with the Thaugsuban surname is fielded in an election, it does not always mean he is representing the Thaugsuban family or the Democrat Party,” Mr Suthep said.
A party source said Mr Damrong lost the contest because Pinya Chuayplod, a political rival of Mr Suthep, had helped campaign for Mr Montri.

BP: So what was Montri affiliated? At the time, BP assumed it was a Democrat rival, but Sanitsuda opined yesterday:

“People desperately want change,” said Taweesak Sukarat, a civil society leader. “The problems are getting intolerable and the people are resentful at being taken for granted by the politicians who think they can just run our town any way they want by continuing their political dynasty.”
This yearning for change is vibrating across the country, he said. “And the defeat of the political dynasty here should serve as a wake-up call for politicians elsewhere.”
Despite promises from the incoming PAO boss, the Surat civic and grassroots groups remain cautious. For right after his victory, it was revealed that he enjoys close links with the Puea Thai Party, the resurrection of Thaksin Shinawatra’s Thai Rak Thai.

BP: So was this known beforehand? A Puea Thai-linked candidate defeated a member of the Theptuak clan? Of course now, Suthep is forewarned of the risk, but still this is a bit of a warning to establishment political families although Thailand that you won’t always win. A number of political families have faced stunning defeats – the Banharn clan are a noticeable except, but there is a reason for that.

**Tom Sawyer** · 18-07-2011, 01:45 PM

Sounds like the gunmen missed their intended target. Can't imagine the PAO official was the target. Perhaps one of the 11 wounded? Interesting to know who was there..

**Sailing into trouble** · 18-07-2011, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

But a child. A 5 year old. So very sad. Heart broken parents. Such misery.

Another innocent victim. RIP little one.

As a parent,............. You said it pal.

**kmart** · 18-07-2011, 04:12 PM

Surat Thani is where a lot of this nation's lovely hitmen originate.

**StrontiumDog** · 19-07-2011, 01:35 AM

Hunt for 4-5 on 'hit team' who killed Surat politician

Hunt for 4-5 on 'hit team' who killed Surat politician

By Suwannee Bantisak
The Nation
Surat Thani
Published on July 19, 2011

Police have set up a special taskforce to hunt down gunmen involved in the fatal shooting of a high-profile local politician in Surat Thani late on Sunday night.

"The team has already been dispatched to gather intelligence in target areas. But we cannot disclose details," Kanchanadit Police Station superintendent Colonel Jamnote Kaewkhao said yesterday.

According to an informed source, the team has already obtained information about the gunmen and reported they are now hiding in Don Sak district close to the provincial border with Nakhon Si Thammarat.

"Four or five men might have been involved," Jamnote said, "It's a blatant crime."

The attack took place at a temple festival in Kanchanadit district at about 11pm on Sunday.

Surat Thani Provincial Administrative Organisation councillor Songwut Noppakhun, 52, was presenting awards to performers on stage when he was shot in the head.

Witnesses said two men went on to the stage during the award presentation and one suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Songwut.

After the shooting, an exchange of gunfire erupted between Songwut's supporters and his attackers, which saw many bystanders hit by a hail the bullets. A five-year-old girl, Pornpatcha Thamsangwan, was also killed during the wild shootout.

Both Songwut and the young girl succumbed to their injuries at Surat Thani Hospital.

Songwut's nine-year-old daughter, Wilasinee Noppakhun, was among 10 others injured.

Police say there were three possible motives behind the slaying: personal conflict, a political conflict, or a business conflict.

Songwut had been a key canvasser for Pheu Thai Party in Surat Thani. His elder brother Charnyut Noppakhun ran for an MP seat in the July 3 election under the Pheu Thai banner.

"Songwut was very straightforward. He was not afraid of mafia-style figures," Charnyut said of his brother.

Songwut also played a key role against the spread of drugs and the exploitation of natural resources, he said.

Another source said Songwut was close to local people and state officials.

"But he had run into conflict with an influential figure lately. So, he was on alert at all the times but still faced this attack," the source said.

**Sailing into trouble** · 19-07-2011, 04:22 AM

Mother of God. This is like the biker and drug wars in Vancouver and Montreal. People have no remorse or care about human life. What a sad reflection on humanity.

**Tom Sawyer** · 19-07-2011, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Witnesses said two men went on to the stage during the award presentation and one suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Songwut.

After the shooting, an exchange of gunfire erupted between Songwut's supporters and his attackers, which saw many bystanders hit by a hail the bullets. A five-year-old girl, Pornpatcha Thamsangwan, was also killed during the wild shootout.

So not quite the story originally reported. They didn't spray bullets at the crowd. They whaked the guy on the stage and then the Dems (armed) supporters let rip and of course the assassins fired back.

No excuses for anyone.. but the guys who fired at them on the stage are just as likely to be guilty for the rest of the casualties in their determination to kill the attackers.

**StrontiumDog** · 20-07-2011, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Witnesses said two men went on to the stage during the award presentation and one suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Songwut.

After the shooting, an exchange of gunfire erupted between Songwut's supporters and his attackers, which saw many bystanders hit by a hail the bullets. A five-year-old girl, Pornpatcha Thamsangwan, was also killed during the wild shootout.

So not quite the story originally reported. They didn't spray bullets at the crowd. They whaked the guy on the stage and then the Dems (armed) supporters let rip and of course the assassins fired back.

Dem's?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Hunt for 4-5 on 'hit team' who killed Surat politician

Songwut had been a key canvasser for Pheu Thai Party in Surat Thani. His elder brother Charnyut Noppakhun ran for an MP seat in the July 3 election under the Pheu Thai banner.

**StrontiumDog** · 20-07-2011, 10:29 AM

Bangkok Post : Assassination 'not related to July election'

Assassination 'not related to July election'

Published: 20/07/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: News

Police have ruled out election-related violence as a motive behind the assassination of a Surat Thani local politician.

National police chief Wichean Potephosree yesterday said initial investigations had found the assassination on Monday of Songwut Noppakhun, 52, a member of the Surat Thani provincial administrative organisation, could have resulted from a conflict with local politicians.

There were no connections between the killing and political violence stemming from the July 3 general election, Pol Gen Wichean said.

He said it was found Songwut had been in conflict with a group of political rivals in the local area since 2008.

Pol Gen Wichean said Pol Lt Gen Korkiat Wongworachart, chief of Provincial Police Region 8, had been ordered to follow up on the case closely.

Police said three assassins who were mingling at a school event inside Wat Thanon Suwanpradit in Kanchanadit district in Surat Thani shot and killed Songwut Noppakhun, 52, a member of the provincial administrative organisation.

Songwut's bodyguards fired back and a gunfight ensued.

Two more gunmen waiting outside the temple opened fire on the crowd of schoolchildren and their parents, apparently to create a diversion to allow the assassins to escape.

A five-year-old girl, Pornnatcha Thammasangwan, was also killed and 13 others injured in the shooting.

The girl was hit by a stray bullet and died of her injuries on the way to hospital.

Songwut's nine-year-old daughter, Wilasinee, and two other children were also injured in the gunfight.

Police found more than 10 spent bullet shells at the scene.

Songwut was a younger brother of election candidate Charnyuth, who contested the July polls in Surat Thani's Constituency 2 for the Pheu Thai Party.

The veteran politician is thought to have had a recent business conflict with an influential figure.

**Tom Sawyer** · 20-07-2011, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Witnesses said two men went on to the stage during the award presentation and one suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Songwut.

After the shooting, an exchange of gunfire erupted between Songwut's supporters and his attackers, which saw many bystanders hit by a hail the bullets. A five-year-old girl, Pornpatcha Thamsangwan, was also killed during the wild shootout.

So not quite the story originally reported. They didn't spray bullets at the crowd. They whaked the guy on the stage and then the Dems (armed) supporters let rip and of course the assassins fired back.

Dem's?

Originally Posted by StrontiumDog

Hunt for 4-5 on 'hit team' who killed Surat politician

Songwut had been a key canvasser for Pheu Thai Party in Surat Thani. His elder brother Charnyut Noppakhun ran for an MP seat in the July 3 election under the Pheu Thai banner.

Check out who rules the province SD. For goodness sake, must you only rely on pasting news clippings? At least Google or something, ok? There are dynasty families there from the House to the Senate. Do some homework.

**socal** · 20-07-2011, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Fuked up society, that's for sure... Awful goings on... What kind of scum behave in this manner???

muslim scum does.

And like usual, that socialist puke striumdog mentions nothing of muslims

**socal** · 20-07-2011, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

Sounds like the gunmen missed their intended target. Can't imagine the PAO official was the target. Perhaps one of the 11 wounded? Interesting to know who was there..

muslims.....

**Tom Sawyer** · 20-07-2011, 10:14 PM

^
In Surat Thani?

**socal** · 20-07-2011, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Tom Sawyer

^
In Surat Thani?

Yeah why not ? They get around

**Tom Sawyer** · 20-07-2011, 10:24 PM

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