Thai Policeman Kills Six Fellow Officers After Drinking Session

[webfact]

Thai policeman kills six fellow officers

BANGKOK, December 27, 2011 (AFP) - A policeman in southern Thailand shot dead six fellow officers before turning the gun on himself after a drinking session in a police canteen turned sour, local police said Tuesday.

The incident, which also left one policeman severely wounded, took place late on Monday in a border patrol police camp in Phatthalung province, some 840 kilometres (520 miles) south of the capital Bangkok.

"Seven men were found dead including the gunman and one man has critical injuries," Phatthalung police investigator Lieutenant Colonel Prasit Singhapol told AFP by phone.

Prasit said the motive was still unknown but the eight men had been drinking together in the canteen where six of the bodies were found.

"At this stage we think it's a personal conflict," he said.

The gunman's body was found some 200 metres (yards) from the scene after he killed himself with the same assault rifle he used against his colleagues, Prasit said.

Police were unable to confirm local media reports that the group was celebrating the promotions of some of the men.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-12-27

[ratcatcher]

How tragic and what a waste of life. R.I.P.

[hehehoho]

Behind every smile is an angry Thai.

Seems like many of them wear brown uniforms.

Thinking back to the Royal Thai Police officers who executed the backpacker in Pai, the one who executed two of them in Kanchanaburi, the one who cut off the arms of that karaoke girl, the one who executed another cop and his wife at a roadstop.... etc etc.

[animatic]

Behind every smile is an angry Thai.

Seems like many of them wear brown uniforms.

Thinking back to the Royal Thai Police officers who executed the backpacker in Pai, the one who executed two of them in Kanchanaburi, the one who cut off the arms of that karaoke girl, the one who executed another cop and his wife at a roadstop.... etc etc.

They are not allowed in the culture to show anger, so it stays bottled up till they get drunk, and that is the only time they are forgiving for showing negative emotions. That said some bottle up way to much, and have access to lethal weapons, like this BiB and the assault weapon.

Loss of face, pent up anger, weapons and alcohol are very dangerous combined in this culture.

Edited December 27, 2011 by animatic

[Kilgore Trout]

Darwin's theory in action.

[geriatrickid]

I am heartened to see that at least this did not involve a drunken police officer assaulting a civilian or driving drunk and running down someone.

[hehehoho]

Behind every smile is an angry Thai.

Seems like many of them wear brown uniforms.

Thinking back to the Royal Thai Police officers who executed the backpacker in Pai, the one who executed two of them in Kanchanaburi, the one who cut off the arms of that karaoke girl, the one who executed another cop and his wife at a roadstop.... etc etc.

They are not allowed in the culture to show anger, so it stays bottled up till they get drunk, and that is the only time they are forgiving for showing negative emotions. That said some bottle up way to much, and have access to lethal weapons, like this BiB and the assault weapon.

Loss of face, pent up anger, weapons and alcohol are very dangerous combined in this culture.

I agree completely.

And believe it is the case with all who are conditioned under Thai culture, and are forced to totally repress anger and negative emotions, especially in a hierarchical society where those below you are likely to be treated like crap.

Edited December 27, 2011 by hehehoho

[mallyrd]

It doesn't make it any better does it. What of the families of slain policemen.

RIP to all of them.

I am heartened to see that at least this did not involve a drunken police officer assaulting a civilian or driving drunk and running down someone.

[theanimaster]

Tragic, but this doesn't happen in Thailand only ... but let's see what the Thai bashers have to say...

[hehehoho]

I am heartened to see that at least this did not involve a drunken police officer assaulting a civilian or driving drunk and running down someone.

Isn't the 'running someone down' a Thai Army Officer speciality?

[phutoie2]

Covered on channel 7 morning news today - not good!, plus quite a bit of coverage of a road rage incident in heavy traffic - someone pissed off and firing a gun at another vehicle. Police have it on the camera's.

[terryp]

sad but this is reality in Thailand almost all the Police believe they are the law..not there to uphold it

This will not be the last time as it is a built into the culture and Guns in the hands of immature childlike imbeciles does not help

[laurentbkk]

Thats what happend after so much drinks ..... guns are not safe in the wrong hands and too often are used for personal vendetta. We dont know what happen in that case ...women , money , gambling etc ..... oh well it happen anywhere but too often here .

[bangkokrick]

Very sad case. Just goes to show drink and guns don't mix.

[tragickingdom]

A personal conflict or suicide with a bag over your head, are all investigated the same if Thai police is involved.

[SGD]

If you have spent time in Thailand you are not amazed at actions such as this. You become somewhat desensitised. Sad but true.

[chooka]

Tragic story and my condolences to the families.

What on earth are they doing drinking alcohol on Police premises even if they were off duty? We are subject to drug and alcohol testing, randomly and we definately cannot have any alcohol on the premises, even unopened.

Edited December 27, 2011 by chooka

[elcent]

I think it needs more investigations. Hope the one who survived in critical condition can shed some more light into it. It is also possible that there was someone else involved. As it says, at this stage of investigation. So it's not the final conclusion yet.

Edited December 27, 2011 by elcent

[Just1Voice]

think of the tragedy that will now have to be dealt with by the families of the 6 he killed, and his own as well.

[LTGTR]

Gee,I'm 60 and can't ever remember it happening here.Please,regale me where else it happens.

Tragic, but this doesn't happen in Thailand only ... but let's see what the Thai bashers have to say...

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I'm pretty certain the police investigation, like so many before it, will judge the cause of the deaths to be suicide...in this case... group suicide...

After all, the police do have quite a bit of expertise in that area.

[VictorOne]

Behind every smile is an angry Thai.

Seems like many of them wear brown uniforms.

Thinking back to the Royal Thai Police officers who executed the backpacker in Pai, the one who executed two of them in Kanchanaburi, the one who cut off the arms of that karaoke girl, the one who executed another cop and his wife at a roadstop.... etc etc.

They are not allowed in the culture to show anger, so it stays bottled up till they get drunk, and that is the only time they are forgiving for showing negative emotions. That said some bottle up way to much, and have access to lethal weapons, like this BiB and the assault weapon.

Loss of face, pent up anger, weapons and alcohol are very dangerous combined in this culture.

At least it they haven't found that they all commited suicide.

[Briggsy]

Tragic story and my condolences to the families.

What on earth are they doing drinking alcohol on Police premises even if they were off duty? We are subject to drug and alcohol testing, randomly and we definately cannot have any alcohol on the premises, even unopened.

I assume you are being ironic here.

Pissed up cops on duty, in uniform and carrying their gun are a common sight in every small town in Thailand.

[oevna]

Thai policeman kills six fellow officers

BANGKOK, December 27, 2011 (AFP) - A policeman in southern Thailand shot dead six fellow officers before turning the gun on himself after a drinking session in a police canteen turned sour, local police said Tuesday.

Alcohol is served at a police canteen? Astounding.

[BookMan]

Hard to believe it could happen

[chooka]

Gee,I'm 60 and can't ever remember it happening here.Please,regale me where else it happens.

Tragic, but this doesn't happen in Thailand only ... but let's see what the Thai bashers have to say...

Wasn't there an incident in Hua Hin or somewhere where a drunken police sergeant shot a male and female tourists and then another incident in Pai where a drunken Police officer shot a and killed a couple of tourists also. I think they were both written off as accidents but still drunken police with guns.

[Orion76]

What on earth are they doing drinking alcohol on Police premises even if they were off duty? We are subject to drug and alcohol testing, randomly and we definately cannot have any alcohol on the premises, even unopened.

It's almost rude not to bring a bottle of whiskey as a gift, if you have to meet a high ranking police official.

[Richard Hall]

No need for the usual TIT blaming. Booze and arms ain't a match. Never and nowhere.

[MEL1]

Of course it happens here. It's just not been reported much, in the past.

People, especially prominent businessmen, get shot, maimed, killed often. It is hush-hushed to save the quiet face of LOS.

Only, last year, was I teaching at a top International School where we had 2, (yes, two) fathers shot; and they were indeed top businessmen.

One was killed outright, the other ended up with no legs and in a wheel chair, and us left to deal with and console the G11/12 daughters of these upstanding men!

(separate incidents, by the way)

The list is endless. When it's a copper, it makes news for the families of the deceased, purely for spread knowledge and recompensation for spouses.

As a previous poster commented, 'we do know this goes on, but heads down and no knowledge, and about business as usual' - in not so many words.

Farang knows nothing - for sure........

-mel.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Hard to believe it could happen

I think you need to catch up on your Thailand police related reading a bit more...

In fact, not hard to believe at all.