Angry mahout assaults elephant tusk thieves

AYUTTYAYA: -- A prime suspect in the elephant tusk theft in Ayutthaya was bodily assaulted by an angry mahout as three suspects were brought to reenact their crime Friday for the second time after yesterday’s cancellation due to threat by mahouts and residents.

Police brought the suspects to reenact how they poisoned and cut the tusks of the 50-year-old elephant “Plai Khlao” in Ayutthaya.

More than 100 police officers were called in to guard Mr Panya Srijamdee, Mr Manote Dokmaikaew and Narongrit Srichamdee to an elephant corral in Suan Prik sub-district to re-enact their crime

However they confronted again with angry local residents and mahouts.

Mr Laithongrien Meepan, a mahout and an owner of an elephant camp in Ayutthaya, bodily assault one of the suspects, prompting the police to bring all the suspects back to police vehicles.

The police then found themselves surrounded by the angry mob and two bull elephants. They had to negotiate with representatives of angry crowd before they were able to leave the scene safely.

Later the reenactment was conducted hastily as the police feared the mahout would return with their elephants to lynch the three suspects.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/angry-mahout-assaults-elephant-tusk-thieves/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=angry-mahout-assaults-elephant-tusk-thieves

-- Thai PBS 2014-07-18

Let them save Thailand some money and do as they want with the men.

"the police feared the mahout would return with their elephants to lynch the three suspects."

Yee haa! Welcome to Dodge City!

Well done Mr Meepan.

If found guilty and jailed, will they face poor treatment by the inmates?

I hope the end users (of the poached ivory ) will also be tracked down, and dealt with.

In a land where the elephant has an almost iconic and revered status ( becoming forgotten ) is is good to see the mahouts showing thier feelings and these butchers can thank their lucky stars they have got the protection of the police.

In days gone by theyd have probably been under the feet of an elephant by now with chests caved in and squashed flat.

I wish I had been there. Good on them

Well done Mr Meepan.

If found guilty and jailed, will they face poor treatment by the inmates?

I hope the end users (of the poached ivory ) will also be tracked down, and dealt with.

The police recovered the tusks at the perpetrator's home. But if you are referring to the person who requested and offered, in advance, to buy the tusks, then, yes, they should suffer the same fate as those who killed and mutilated the elephant.

Unfortunately, there is little doubt that the mahouts didn't act this way out of empathy for the elephant, but because they were upset at having their property damaged.

The relation between mahouts and elephants is that of masters and slaves,

Mahouts and tusk thieves are of the same breed.

What beats me is why do these people commit such crimes for perhaps a modest sum of money knowing full well that their lives are going to be ruined if they get caught?

Surely the risks involved for these evil deeds cannot be worth it. The same applies to drug mules and other such high risk criminal acts for payments of modest sums of money.

Can someone explain the logic behind this, please?

Unfortunately, there is little doubt that the mahouts didn't act this way out of empathy for the elephant, but because they were upset at having their property damaged.

The relation between mahouts and elephants is that of masters and slaves,

Mahouts and tusk thieves are of the same breed.

Absolutely spot on, my thoughts exactly.

It`s their livelihoods they are concerned about not the elephant`s suffering and welfare.

Thailand police have to stop this re-enactment of crime circus. There will be lynching and a riot some day soon, if they don't stop the spectacle. Rather they should try interrogation and follow up busts of Thai Mr. Bigs, middlemen, and Thai merchants and bankers in and running the network of illegal wildlife trade.

What is the point of these re-enactments? Anyone know?

What is the point of these re-enactments? Anyone know?

I am curious.....if they act out their crime, it reinforces the idea that they are guilty, doesn't it?

Somebody that was wrongly accused would not be able to act out the crime, especially if certain details were left out ....

I suppose...

Wait until they get to prison..... The Elephant is the National Symbol.

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What is the point of these re-enactments? Anyone know?

Thai police justification for their salary and benefits?

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What is the point of these re-enactments? Anyone know?

Thai police justification for their salary and benefits?

Total crap.

These crime re-enactments are to make the perpetrators face up to what they have done and in some cases have to come head on with their victims. It is also a way of publicly shaming these people, the principle of losing face that to Thai people is the ultimate embarrassment.

One has to understand Thai culture and attitudes to realise the purpose of these re-enactments that obviously you do not.

Would love to see these guys tied to and quartered by a couple of these wonderful beasts.

What beats me is why do these people commit such crimes for perhaps a modest sum of money knowing full well that their lives are going to be ruined if they get caught?

Surely the risks involved for these evil deeds cannot be worth it. The same applies to drug mules and other such high risk criminal acts for payments of modest sums of money.

Can someone explain the logic behind this, please?

Logic in Thailand? You are very hopeful.

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"the police feared the mahout would return with their elephants to lynch the three suspects."

Yee haa! Welcome to Dodge City!

No need for lynch ropes, just let the elephants crush the perps.

What beats me is why do these people commit such crimes for perhaps a modest sum of money knowing full well that their lives are going to be ruined if they get caught?

Surely the risks involved for these evil deeds cannot be worth it. The same applies to drug mules and other such high risk criminal acts for payments of modest sums of money.

Can someone explain the logic behind this, please?

Greed + Ignorance + Stupidity

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If Thailand had a justice system that would actually punish perps instead of doling out 500 baht fines, then maybe there would be less lynch attempts.

Fit to be buried in Kee-Chang.

They had to negotiate with representatives of angry crowd before they were able to leave the scene safely.

this has to be one of the times i tip my hat to the thais, they certainly do take matters into their own hands,albeit in groups.

if they were half smart they should have negotiated the safety of the 100 police in exchange for the perps, that would seem the only real justice you will find in thailand

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In a land where the elephant has an almost iconic and revered status ( becoming forgotten ) is is good to see the mahouts showing thier feelings and these butchers can thank their lucky stars they have got the protection of the police.

In days gone by theyd have probably been under the feet of an elephant by now with chests caved in and squashed flat.

chests caved in and squashed flat. Great imagery...a gruesome word picture...just what those insensitive thieves deserve...well said...

What beats me is why do these people commit such crimes for perhaps a modest sum of money knowing full well that their lives are going to be ruined if they get caught?

Surely the risks involved for these evil deeds cannot be worth it. The same applies to drug mules and other such high risk criminal acts for payments of modest sums of money.

Can someone explain the logic behind this, please?

Logic, come on now, you need something between the ears before any thinking capability is possible.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

What is the point of these re-enactments? Anyone know?

Thai police justification for their salary and benefits?

Total crap.

These crime re-enactments are to make the perpetrators face up to what they have done and in some cases have to come head on with their victims. It is also a way of publicly shaming these people, the principle of losing face that to Thai people is the ultimate embarrassment.

One has to understand Thai culture and attitudes to realise the purpose of these re-enactments that obviously you do not.

Thanks for clarifying that Beetlejuice,

I've been here 12 years and all the time i thought it was just a stunt for the press or maybe to get a little more detail for the case against them. What you say makes total sense and I'll view these differently from now on.

I wish I had been there. Good on them

Yes, Bravo ... assuming they captured the right bad guys ... not just for the punishment of those caught, since what they did can never be undone, but maybe anyone else thinking of doing something like this will be frightened by what happened and change his plans.

What beats me is why do these people commit such crimes for perhaps a modest sum of money knowing full well that their lives are going to be ruined if they get caught?

Surely the risks involved for these evil deeds cannot be worth it. The same applies to drug mules and other such high risk criminal acts for payments of modest sums of money.

Can someone explain the logic behind this, please?

You can do this it's easy, no one ever gets caught, no one. We can help you make a fortune, we have people on the inside no need to worry, you'l be fine. And if something goes wrong we'll look after you, you can trust us for sure!!

Wait until they get to prison..... The Elephant is the National Symbol.

That's true, but why are they almost extinct in the wild....revered yes, but mainly for the money, you don't see any plans to reintroduce them to the wild.