Woman self-immolates over loan

BANGKOK: -- A 52-year-old woman set herself on fire on Wednesday at a government complaint centre opposite the Government House.

The woman was identified as Sangvien Raksapetch from Lop Buri's Kok Samrong district.

She reportedly came to the centre to follow up her complaint about a Bt400,000 loan that increased to Bt1.5 million plus interest.

She was rushed to the nearby Vajira Hospital and is still in critical condition.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Woman-self-immolates-over-loan-30245517.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-15

Very sad. I thought the govt was supposed to help them?

are the loans regulated for what interest can be charged and rates? could be the wild west with the new credit people are getting and not understanding compound interest or what they are signing up for .

are the loans regulated for what interest can be charged and rates? could be the wild west with the new credit people are getting and not understanding compound interest or what they are signing up for .

I'd say yes... Car loans, housing loans and credit cards. Banks make it easy for them to dig in, and often impossible dig their way out.

A 54-year-old maize farmer from Lopburi province set fire to herself

BANGKOK: -- A 54-year-old maize farmer from Lopburi province set fire to herself inside the office of the government’s complaint centre ,opposite the Government House, after submitting complaint to official and became upset when they couldn’t help solve her problem.

She was heard to have complained “why couldn’t you help me” before taking out a bottle of gasoline from her handbag, poured it on her clothes and lit it afire with a lighter.

The unexpected suicide attempt caused panic among officials who rushed to put out the fire from her body with water.

She was seriously burnt and was admitted to Vajira hospital.

She earlier told authorities that she was cheated by a landlord after she pledged her 14-rai maize farm with a landlord as collateral for 1.5 million baht loan for farming.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/67424/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-15

Maize farmer burns self in Bangkok complaint office after saying landlord cheats her



BANGKOK: -- A 52-year-old maize farmer from Lopburi province set fire to herself inside the office of the government’s complaint centre opposite the Government House after submitting complaint to Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha via complaint and assistance officials.

She was heard to say to a complaint official “why couldn’t you help me” before taking out a bottle of gasoline from her handbag, poured it on her clothes and lit it afire with a lighter.

The farmer was later identified as Sangwien Raksapet, 52, a maize farmer from Khok Samrong district of Lopburi province

The unexpected suicide attempt caused panic among officials who rushed to put out the fire from her body with water.

She was seriously burnt and was admitted to Vajira hospital. Doctors declared her in critical condition

She earlier told authorities that she was cheated by a landlord after she pledged her 14-rai maize farm as collateral with a landlord to borrow money to do maize farming.

But it turned out later she was in a 1.5 million baht loan with the landlord which she said was a fraud.

As an authority was speaking with local authorities on the phone at Khok Samrong district office, seeking more information on her case, she became upset, and was heard to emotionally say “why couldn’t you help me” before taking a bottle from her handbag, poured gasoline on her clothes, and lit it afire with a lighter.

The unexpected suicide attempt caused a panic among officials working in the office. One official managed to grab a water container to put out the fire on her body.

Dusit station police arriving at the scene to investigate also found a knife in her handbag.

She still could not give information as she has serious burns on her body.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/maize-farmer-burns-self-bangkok-complaint-office-saying-landlord-cheats/


-- Thai PBS 2014-10-15

how horrible...

Poor, poor woman.

I hope you make a full recovery soon.

Why herself why not the..... House?

You don't use water to put out a gasoline fire, for one - that exacerbates the problem - again - thick as shit workers.

No foam extingishers in the office, perchance? Edit: First thing I look for when going somewhere inside or to stay is the availability of extinguishers. Rarely do I see a single one. 3rd world country standard - and Thailand reckons it's moving up the ladder? She just lost 5 rungs in the last 3 weeks!!!

What a disaster for a desperate woman.. poor lady. My heart grieves that she was that desperate, and probably the office workers couldn't give a shit, as facebook beckoned and their phones had new LINE messages.

400,000 to 1.5M in extortion from some c........ting ass who needs his ass whipped....... welcome to the LOS; Awful; Completely dreadful.

"She still could not give information as she has serious burns on her body."

What a ridiculous statement above. Heartless or what?

And really, any need for the picture to accompany the rudely written OP?

It's about time some of these reporters went to stay for a week in Wat Raikhing, and had a little think for a while!

It's a horrible picture... and it's the ultimate protest against an indifferent system based on money, rank and patronage. She expected the response that she got and she was prepared for it.

Reminds me of the catalyst for the 'Arab Spring'..we live in hope

Thais cheating Thais what a surprise, there must be a shortage of Farangs in that neck of the woods , I hope she recovers and the prick that ripped her off gets what is coming to him, Maybe this is the only way she could have her case heard, bloody terrible,

I turned on the television when I arrived back in the UK and there are adverts for these so-called 'payday loans' The highest APR? Wonga loans at 4,214% with typical APRs at 3,000%. These are real companies advertising on the TV, not local sharks.... so 10% a month doesn't seem so bad....

Thai woman sets herself on fire over debts: officials
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP |

BANGKOK: -- A Thai woman set herself on fire inside a Bangkok government building Wednesday after she was unable to pay off loans of $46,000, officials said, as household debt in Thailand rises to a record high.

Sangvean Raksapet, 52, from central Lop Buri province, was rushed to hospital with severe burns after she set herself alight in a state-run complaints centre opposite Government House, leaving shocked officials to put out the flames.

"Officials managed to put out the fire... She was under stress due to her huge personal debt," Bangkok police lieutenant Kingpetch Setiya said.

Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister and defence minister, confirmed the incident, saying Sangvean had visited the centre several times seeking help to settle her debts.

"This woman borrowed money from other villagers amounting to around 1.5 million baht ($46,000).. but when the repayment date arrived she had no money," he told AFP.

According to research firm Capital Economics, Thai household debt levels hit record highs of 83 percent of gross domestic product in the second quarter this year, up from 79 percent in the same period in 2013.

The increase "over the past decade has been among the sharpest in the region, and such a rapid build-up raises financial stability risks," said Krystal Tan, an economist at Capital Economics.

Thailand's economy grew 0.9 percent in the second quarter, dodging recession after the military ended months of political deadlock with a coup and promised to unshackle spending.

The ruling junta has pegged its legitimacy to improving the economy after months of political protests froze government spending and battered consumer spending.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-10-15

going by the photo, it looked like a pre-organised set up, with plenty of cowering witnesses (gawkers), and a camera or two set up to capture the action

What an irresponsible 52 year old child! I know 12 year olds with more self accountability than her. I hope they add the damages she caused to her loan bill.

Why in the <deleted> do you moderators admins or whatever the <deleted> you call yourselves allow or put such disrespectable pictures on here? Have some humanity stop this behavior!

Leave the photo... It's a grim reminder of the world that we live in.

going by the photo, it looked like a pre-organised set up, with plenty of cowering witnesses (gawkers), and a camera or two set up to capture the action

She was heard to say to a complaint official “why couldn’t you help me” before taking out a bottle of gasoline from her handbag, poured it on her clothes and lit it afire with a lighter.

I reckon, she had it all planned.

so sad

What an irresponsible 52 year old child! I know 12 year olds with more self accountability than her. I hope they add the damages she caused to her loan bill.

What a sweetheart you are!

This is why I never take out loans.

going by the photo, it looked like a pre-organised set up, with plenty of cowering witnesses (gawkers), and a camera or two set up to capture the action

Right... On to other breaking news. In a preorganized meeting with tifino, Long time Bangkok lush and sometimes errant TV poster 'Local Drunk' has confessed to holding a pale yellow disposable Gillette styled lighter to tifino's bottom with the cog turned turned to high to make him post such rubbish.

The key facts about the loan are not clear:

How long has the loan been outstanding?

***

This is why I never take out loans.

aren't you the lucky one never to have needed one

UPDATE:

Woman recovering from self-immolation at government office
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- The woman who set herself on fire this morning in a government office is now in stable condition, according to Vajira Hospital.

Farmer Sangwien Raksapetch, 54, was recovering from her injuries after reportedly traveling from her home in Lopburi province to seek help from the Office of the Civil Service Commission in the Dusit district with an exploitative creditor.

Sangwien sustained burns to 50 percent of her body, according to Pol-lert Panthanakul, the hospital’s managing director. Damage to her eyes may result in partial or complete blindness, he said. A detailed evaluation of her internal organs will also be performed.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co//2014/10/15/woman-recovering-self-immolation-government-office

-- Coconuts Bangkok 2014-10-15

She had a burning desire to clear that loan.

Sent from my LG-D858

A sick joke from a heartless, sick mind.

She should have just told PM Prayuth.

One of PM Prayuth job (apart from the coup) is to return happiness to Thai people.

She got what she wanted.

A handout.

“ Emergency funds will be given to the her family, and the organization will seek psychological treatment for Sangwien and her family, MThai andINN News reported.”

Sent from my LG-D858

Their was a case around my area. A car dealer borrowed 1.5 million BAHT from a Thai Chinese and the loan became 5 million within two years.

He got himself a gun and shot her 3 times in the chest and her hubby as well. She and her hubby are still on ICU and he is currently out on bail. It is clear that the lady is a loan-shark.

I am sorry but pure and utter stupidity and hand out mentality.

She made a private deal without knowledge and consultation with the lawyers.

Why should government help?