Violence Mars Thai Olympic Gold Party

[george]

Violence Mars Thai Olympic Celebration

BANGKOK: -- A fatal shooting and an unseemly spat between soft drink companies has marred the hometown celebration for a weightlifter who became the first Thai woman to win an Olympic gold medal.

A gang brawl led to the shooting at a victory party hosted Tuesday night at the home of the parents of Udomporn Polsak in the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima province, police said Wednesday.

Further dampening the spirits of the Olympian's family was bickering between distributors of Coca Cola and Pepsi, who both staked claims to give away their drinks in front of the family house.

About 500 people, including village officials, neighbors and relatives, were celebrating Udomporn's victory Sunday in the 117-pound (53 kg) class when shooting broke out.

Police said the slain man, 21-year-old Boy Jonkoh, was a distant relative of the gold medalist, who was still in Athens.

"There were two groups of teenagers involved in a brawl during a concert in front of the house, before the suspect pulled out a gun and began shooting," said police Lt. Col. Kuankit Chuanchit.

Chuanchit said the alleged shooter, 19-year-old Worayuth Wonsantia, has been charged with murder. Six other youths arrested in the fracas face lesser charges, he said.

The violence rattled Udomporn's mother Sasithorn, who on Wednesday ordered the local distributors of Coca Cola and Pepsi to dismantle stands they had set up in the street in front of their house.

Both companies claimed a special right to be there but complied with her wishes.

"The owners of the house said they do not want to have any more trouble and ordered us to take down our tent and signboards," said a field manager for Coca Cola who gave his name only as Supoj.

"The house owner did not talk about sponsorship or anything. She just said that there was trouble last night and one person died in a shooting at the party, so they don't want more trouble."

Tai Wongsanga, the regional manager for Coca Cola distributor Thai Namthip, said the company had the right to set up a stand in front of the house "because Coke is the main sponsor for the Olympics."

His counterpart at Pepsi, Suthiwong Arbhathorn, countered that his firm had an equal right to be there as a proud local company keen to show its appreciation of Udomporn.

Officials and sponsors have promised jobs and handsome financial rewards for the 23-year-old weightlifter.

--AP 2004-08-18