Police vow to catch killer of conservationist monk

CHIANG MAI: -- Police in Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai today requested two weeks to capture the killer of a leading environmentalist monk.

Phra Supoj Suvajo was brutally stabbed to death last Friday at the Mettadhamma Forest Sanctuary in Chiang Mai's Fang district, allegedly over a land dispute.

According to local monks, the 39 year-old monk was helping villagers protect a 700-rai track of land which local businessmen hoped to gain control of.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanuphong Singra Na Ayuttha, Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5, told reporters today that the police were now collecting evidence, and were treating the land dispute allegations seriously.

But he warned that the case would have to be investigated thoroughly, and that a quick arrest could result in the wrong person being captured, or the case collapsing due to lack of evidence.

The police have interviewed four suspects in connection with the case, all of them local residents.

Today Justice Minister Suwat Liptapanlop ordered the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to help investigate the case, out of recognition of the distrust felt by the area's residents towards the local police.

--TNA 2005-06-21

It all sounds so familiar, tell every one what they are doing and set a two week deadline, giving anyone involved time pay off/threaten witnesses,arrange alibi's, change their Identity, sort out some cash and Run.

TIT

Exactly!

Chiang Mai people know who did this: a local politician. He hasn't got any influence within the power circles of BK and as this story is big in Thailand there will be lots of powerful crooks... sorry, senior politicians from BK using their power/infuence to catch the local politician to show how jing jai they are about fighting crime.

Makes sense? Does in Thailand!!!