PHUKET: Two assassinations in two days and a terrorist security alert have led Phuket's governor to call for extra checkpoints and a review of gun ownership across the island.
Governor Tri Augkaradacha has asked Phuket's new police commander to order all of Phuket's eight police stations to establish checkpoints for weapons especially.
Major General Chonsit Wadhnawarangkun's arrival on Phuket just before New Year has coincided with last week's ferocious axe attack in a Phuket City pub on resort owner Vorasit ''Wan'' Issara, who happened to be accompanied by a friend, Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner.
This week has been marred by the professional hit-man assassination of corruption-exposing journalist Wisut ''Ae'' Tangwittayaporn on Thursday in daylight in Phuket's main thoroughfare.
A second assassination connected to a land dispute followed last night, with 21 shots being pumped into Kalim man Jakkrit Nutad before his two killers - like the previous day's murderers - fled on a motorcycle.
With the two slayings comes a terrorist security alert prompted by the US Embassy and the Israeli government, warning of a possible attack on tourists in Bangkok.
Phuket's Governor Tri, in the eye of a storm of killings and terrorism alarms on Thailand's best-known tropical holiday island, called for police and administrators to react to catch the killers and quell the sense of alarm.
He urged Major General Chonsit to establish checkpoints for guns immediately and to gear up the northern Tachatchai checkpoint - where all vehicles leading onto Phuket pass - to be more thorough in assessments of risky-looking arrivals.
The directors of all three Phuket districts - Amphur, Thalang and Kathu - have been told to quickly present lists of all the legal weapons on Phuket in cooperation with police.
The Interior Ministry ordered a thorough crackdown on the hours of opening of all night venues on Phuket and on weapons and under-age employees after the attempt to kill Khun Wan last Wednesday morning.
Now two murders in quick succession and the perceived terrorist threat - aimed at tourists in Bangkok, according to the US embassy - has Phuket's Governor Tri reacting to prevent more catastrophes.
''Phuket is an international tourist destination and people come from all over the world,'' he said. ''We obviously have to be careful.''
He called on resort and accommodation managements to alert police at the slightest sign of anything that appeared in any way to be suspicious.
Israelis, believed to be the prime target of the terrorist threat, enjoy holidays on Phuket as well as in Bangkok.
Thai authorities, never as alarmed as US officials were about the threat, said this evening that one suspect was in custody and a second man was being sought.
The ''real and credible'' threat of a bombing in Bangkok that the US feared the men posed had been thwarted, according to National Police Chief General Priewpan Damapong.
Governor Tri Augkaradacha has asked Phuket's new police commander to order all of Phuket's eight police stations to establish checkpoints for weapons especially.
Major General Chonsit Wadhnawarangkun's arrival on Phuket just before New Year has coincided with last week's ferocious axe attack in a Phuket City pub on resort owner Vorasit ''Wan'' Issara, who happened to be accompanied by a friend, Hollywood actor Jeremy Renner.
This week has been marred by the professional hit-man assassination of corruption-exposing journalist Wisut ''Ae'' Tangwittayaporn on Thursday in daylight in Phuket's main thoroughfare.
A second assassination connected to a land dispute followed last night, with 21 shots being pumped into Kalim man Jakkrit Nutad before his two killers - like the previous day's murderers - fled on a motorcycle.
With the two slayings comes a terrorist security alert prompted by the US Embassy and the Israeli government, warning of a possible attack on tourists in Bangkok.
Phuket's Governor Tri, in the eye of a storm of killings and terrorism alarms on Thailand's best-known tropical holiday island, called for police and administrators to react to catch the killers and quell the sense of alarm.
He urged Major General Chonsit to establish checkpoints for guns immediately and to gear up the northern Tachatchai checkpoint - where all vehicles leading onto Phuket pass - to be more thorough in assessments of risky-looking arrivals.
The directors of all three Phuket districts - Amphur, Thalang and Kathu - have been told to quickly present lists of all the legal weapons on Phuket in cooperation with police.
The Interior Ministry ordered a thorough crackdown on the hours of opening of all night venues on Phuket and on weapons and under-age employees after the attempt to kill Khun Wan last Wednesday morning.
Now two murders in quick succession and the perceived terrorist threat - aimed at tourists in Bangkok, according to the US embassy - has Phuket's Governor Tri reacting to prevent more catastrophes.
''Phuket is an international tourist destination and people come from all over the world,'' he said. ''We obviously have to be careful.''
He called on resort and accommodation managements to alert police at the slightest sign of anything that appeared in any way to be suspicious.
Israelis, believed to be the prime target of the terrorist threat, enjoy holidays on Phuket as well as in Bangkok.
Thai authorities, never as alarmed as US officials were about the threat, said this evening that one suspect was in custody and a second man was being sought.
The ''real and credible'' threat of a bombing in Bangkok that the US feared the men posed had been thwarted, according to National Police Chief General Priewpan Damapong.
"...21 shots being pumped into..." That is basically a message/warning to everyone who knew the victim and his activities.
Posted by Relic on January 14, 2012 19:56