Mayor Wipot remained under 24-hour police guard in Bangkok Hospital Phuket on Monday evening. Police are checking theories that his attempted assassination was either over politics or personal relationships.


AN OUT-OF-TOWN mayor visiting Phuket narrowly escaped assassination in a lunchtime shootout at a Phuket City market today. The mayor's bodyguard shot back, and a family in a passing car had their windscreen shattered by a bullet in the hot exchange of fire.

Police are tonight hunting the would-be assassin, who wore a full-face helmet and escaped on a motorcycle. The drama took place near the downtown Kaset Market, popular for food and shopping at the nearby Robinson department store.

Injured in the volley fired by the shooter were Wipot Thinphang, 64, and his female travelling companion, Kamolporn Learsakul, 35. Both were in Bangkok Hospital Phuket this evening.

The driver of the other car, Prathurng Wangsai, 42, was shot through the shoulder, treated and discharged. His wife, Ausa Wanggsai, 32, and children Panusorn, seven, and Napatsorn, five, were covered in shattered glass as the bullet passed through the windscreen, but unhurt.

The family, out for a drive at lunchtime, unknowingly found themselves close to what appears to be a personal and dangerous political dispute. Phuket City police have managed to establish that the Khun Wipot, Mayor of the Ao Luk district of Krabi, which includes the tourist departure point of Ao nang and the holiday island of Phi Phi, had come to Phuket to enable his friend, Khun Kamolporn, to have acupuncture treatment for a complaint.

At the market, the mayor alighted from the front passenger side of his Toyota Fortuner to buy some CDs at the market and was almost back inside the vehicle when the gunman pulled alongside and opened fire.

The mayor had been sitting alongside driver Sompong Wattanasaringman, with Khun Kamolporn in the back alongside bodyguard Sophon Patisankorn.

Khun Wipot was hit in the left arm and leg by two shots, both of which passed through his limbs. Khun Kamolpon was hit in the foot by a shot that also exited. In a neighboring car, Khun Prathurng was also hit. Bodyguard Khun Sophon also fired at the departing would-be assassins, but they appeared to have escaped.

Khun Wipot told police that an election was drawing close in Ao Luk. Two years ago, he had been shot in an assassination attempt that left him in intensive care. Police have yet to determine who was responsible for that murder bid.

Mayor Wipot is planning to stand for reelection in December.