Police general linked to 1976 crackdown commits suicide, leaving note about public transport plans

By JESSADA JANTARAK. 
SUPACHAI PHETTEWEE 
THE NATION 

 

 

A CONTROVERSIAL retired police general jumped to his death at the age of 81 yesterday, leaving a note in which he wrote that he hoped it would be a “useful suicide”.
 

Pol General Salang Bunnag climbed over a fence on the seventh floor of Central Chaengwattana shopping complex in Nonthaburi province and jumped at about 11.30am.

 

“He had battled depression during the past few years,” his son, Pol Lt-Colonel Hemachak Bunnag, an inspector at Bangkok’s Din Daeng Police Station, said. 

 

 On Salang’s body was a suicide note saying that he had carefully contemplated suicide and decided to kill himself in the hope that his death would be useful. In the note, he voiced doubts about plans to develop one-metre, double-track and elevated railways. 

 

 “Push for autobahns,” the note recommended, referring to Europe’s high-speed motorways. 

 

The note urged people to help propagate such ideas. 

 

Salang also wrote to his friends, children and grandchildren asking them not to condemn him for his suicide. 

 

“I would like to apologise to all who love me,” he said. 

 

From the note, it appeared that Salang believed he would only live for less than two years even if he did not commit suicide. 

 

It is unclear whether he had illnesses other than depression. 

 

Born in 1937, Salang graduated from the Royal Police Cadet Academy. After joining the police force, he climbed up the career ladder and became deputy commissioner of the Royal Thai Police.

 

National police commissioner Pol General Chakthip Chaijinda has described Salang as a major contributor to the police force and Thailand. 

 

Salang’s life, however, was not without controversy. He was accused of playing a role in the 1976 massacre of students at Thammasat Univer-sity. 

 

Then in 1996, Salang also reportedly supervised a police operation that ended with the extra-judicial killings of six suspected drug traffickers. 

 

Salang’s family plans to hold his funeral at Tritotsathep Temple. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339655

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-02-26

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“Push for autobahns,” the note recommended, referring to Europe’s high-speed motorways.

Yeah..That's what Thailand really needs lol!.......Secure the No1 spot for road deaths for the next 50 years!

Literally dead set against those trains. 

Suffering from depression, in the end maybe he developed a conscience?

 

"Then in 1996, Salang also reportedly supervised a police operation that ended with the extra-judicial killings of six suspected drug traffickers."

I remember that,it was all on Tv, they brought them out of the swamp in handcuffs,

then took them back again with the pretence of looking for weapons,later you hear

gunshots,and they bring the bodies out again,still cuffed,shot in the head,the Police

said they tried to take gun from officer,he was there orchestrating it all. Karma.?

regards worgeordie

4 hours ago, webfact said:

decided to kill himself in the hope that his death would be useful.

That'll teach 'em.

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

"Then in 1996, Salang also reportedly supervised a police operation that ended with the extra-judicial killings of six suspected drug traffickers."

I remember that,it was all on Tv, they brought them out of the swamp in handcuffs,

then took them back again with the pretence of looking for weapons,later you hear

gunshots,and they bring the bodies out again,still cuffed,shot in the head,the Police

said they tried to take gun from officer,he was there orchestrating it all. Karma.?

regards worgeordie

Yes, there were extra judiciary killings during Chuan’s soft dictatorial rule. 

this man was the one who saved his country from communists in 1976th. without him and others Thailand would be like Laos now -poor, communist and frustrating.

 

rest in peace, great son of Thailand. Thank you from all people who love Thailand as  a free capitalist country.

So this guy commited suicide, not because of remorse for killing people, but because he was in disagreement with some public transport issue!

he killed not just people but communists who created hell on earth in Soviet union, China, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and many other countries.

 

he protected his country from enemies - students brainwashed by Chinese and Vietnamese "cadres".

 

there were not enough people like him in Cambodia in 1975th. that's why Pol Pot managed to take power and kill 30% of the population in 3 years.

19 minutes ago, Matt96 said:

this man was the one who saved his country from communists in 1976th. without him and others Thailand would be like Laos now -poor, communist and frustrating.

 

rest in peace, great son of Thailand. Thank you from all people who love Thailand as  a free capitalist country.

Thailand act like a communist country... Look around ma man!

2 minutes ago, Raymonddiaz said:

Thailand act like a communist country... Look around ma man!

I know very well how it feels to live in a communist country

 

so please tell me what exactly Thai government does as communist butchers?

 

 fights with corruption? makes it easier to start a private enterprise? building infrastructure?   eliminates foreign agents of influence? punish foreign journalists for lie  by order from their masters in the US and EU?

 

first of all, in a communist country citizen would have no possibility to abroad. Do you know what is iron curtain?

 second, their would be no private enterprises, only state owned. then it will so called "class war" purge of all businessmen, monks and priests, previous government officials, foreigners etc.

 

wow. The police is trying to be on the spotlight even to death 

4 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

Literally dead set against those trains. 

 

5 hours ago, worgeordie said:

"Then in 1996, Salang also reportedly supervised a police operation that ended with the extra-judicial killings of six suspected drug traffickers."

I remember that,it was all on Tv, they brought them out of the swamp in handcuffs,

then took them back again with the pretence of looking for weapons,later you hear

gunshots,and they bring the bodies out again,still cuffed,shot in the head,the Police

said they tried to take gun from officer,he was there orchestrating it all. Karma.?

regards worgeordie

 

Wasn't Toxin the big boss at that time ?

During his regime many scapegoats got killed....

kill drug traffickers without trial is a very good thing to do, regardless on whining of international left liberals.

 

got caught with heroin on you? get a bullet!

“Push for autobahns,” the note recommended, referring to Europe’s high-speed motorways.

 

I drive along these "High- speed Motorways" here every day.  They've even got bends, junctions and parked cars and motorcycles on them.  Don't need any more.

4 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Yes, there were extra judiciary killings during Chuan’s soft dictatorial rule. 

Strange that Chuan could wield power in 1996 when he did not come to power until November 1997....Both Baharn Silpa and Chavilt were Prime Ministers in 1996.....Khun Chuan who was Prime Minister 1993 came back into power after the currency crisis in 1977

Edited February 26, 20188 yr by Phuket Stan

A side of me wishes to see a similar pathetic and guilt ridden obituary for wreckers Tony Blair and his mate.

Edited February 26, 20188 yr by Tilacme

9 hours ago, Nasrullah said:

Yeah..That's what Thailand really needs lol!.......Secure the No1 spot for road deaths for the next 50 years!

there are comparatively few deaths on highways

2 hours ago, Matt96 said:

kill drug traffickers without trial is a very good thing to do, regardless on whining of international left liberals.

 

got caught with heroin on you? get a bullet!

Or, get a bullet and then get "caught" with heroin on you, same difference

3 hours ago, HOOD Robin said:

 

Wasn't Toxin the big boss at that time ?

During his regime many scapegoats got killed....

No he wasn't the big boss at that time. You have swallowed the propaganda that attributes all evil in Thailand to Thakin the bogeyman, Do some research. Thaksin is to blame for a lot and deserves credit for a lot as well but he is neither Superman nor Lex Luthor, 

6 hours ago, Matt96 said:

this man was the one who saved his country from communists in 1976th. without him and others Thailand would be like Laos now -poor, communist and frustrating.

 

rest in peace, great son of Thailand. Thank you from all people who love Thailand as  a free capitalist country.

Ha ha...... Whatever you're smoking it's too strong....... Conscience caught up with him........ ?