Three shot dead in oil palm farming conflict in Krabi

[webfact]

Three shot dead in oil palm farming conflict in Krabi

KRABI: -- Three persons, including a police officer, were shot dead yesterday at an oil palm plantation in Krabi province.

Three others were also injured in the shooting which happened at Tambon Putiew in Khao Phanom district.

The killed officer was identified as Pol Sub Lt Prasit Suwanmarn, an investigation officer at Thungsong police station in Nakhon Si Thammarat. The others were a former village headman Virasak Kuakaeo, and Preecha Kuadam.

The former headman died, holding a 11 mm pistol in hand, while two others lying dead near two pickup trucks fixed with bullet windshields.

The plantation is in the disputed area where a company rented from the Forestry Department to do palm oil industry was engaged in legal dispute with the new company which has taken over the area.

The plantation covers a vast area of over 9,000 rai.

According to a survivor Mr Chaiyut Rodkaew, they drove into the palm plantation in two pickup trucks with a court notice to inform a new occupant of the plantation Mr Sompong Singchoo to leave the place after the latter lost a court case to occupy the plantation.

But as the officer and two other colleagues came out of the truck, a group of five men opened fire at them with shotguns and pistols, killing them on the spot.

Mr Chaiyut said the gunmen also fired at his truck, bursting the tyres, but he decided to drive off the area and managed to escape and alert the police.

He said his company was granted concession to do palm farming in the area but concession had just expired in September this year.

As talk was still underway with the Forestry Department to extend the concession, a new company came in and occupied the plantation, he said.

The police believed business conflict and are still hunting for the group of gunmen first question and trial.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/three-shot-dead-in-oil-palm-farming-conflict-in-krabi


-- Thai PBS 2015-12-17

[webfact]

Three shot dead in Krabi palm plantation dispute, four arrested
Eakkapop Thongtub


Krabi Police attend the scene of the shooting.

KRABI: -- Four men were arrested in Khao Panom, Krabi yesterday (Dec 16) following the fatal shooting of three men including a police officer from Thungsong at a disputed palm oil plantation. The three were shot dead when they attempted to deliver an eviction notice to the plantation owner.

Khao Panom Police Chief Col Chalit Kaewyarat yesterday presented Somsak Songrit, 43, from Songkhla; Suraphol Wichaidit, 53, from Krabi; Chatchai Yoydam, 31, from Krabi and Dolwalad Rakrit, 41, from Pattalung who are believed responsible for the shootings.

Police seized from the four one shotgun, two 9mm pistols, one 11mm pistol and bullet.

“The four suspects were interrogated by Deputy Commander of Police Region 8 and they admitted to shooting the men. However, they said they done so in self defence because the group had come to the area a number of times previously threatening to shoot them.

“Today they came so they said they had to react,” said Col Chalit.

Khao Panom Police Lt Col Khajit Kongprab was notified of the shooting at a palm oil plantation in Moo 4 Prutaew subdistrict in Khao Panom at 3pm on Tuesday.

Police arrived at the plantation with rescue workers and a medical unit from Krabi Hospital to find three bodies lying on the ground.

The deceased were identified as Pol Lt Payaprasit Suwannamal, a deputy inspector of Thungsong Police in Nakorn Sri Thammarat; 57-year-old Weerasak Kuerkaew who was still holding an 11mm pistol and was the former village headman of Moo 6 Papayom sub district in Pattalung, and Preecha Kuerdam, 44, also from Pattalung.

The men had all been shot several times in the head and body.

One injured man, named as Pongmit Kalong, had been shot once in the leg and was taken to Krabi hospital.

Forensic police collected more than 30 bullet tips from .38 and 11mm weapons, and two pickup trucks parked at the site were covered in bullet holes.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/three-shot-dead-in-krabi-palm-plantation-dispute-four-arrested-55436.php


-- Phuket News 2015-12-17

[condo bought]

BCRT

Business Conflict Resolution Thailand.

[Lampang2]

If that won't end the lease, nothing will.

[clockman]

A business plan, in Thailand. Is called a revolver!

[StasD]

like in Russia in 199X.

[Always18]

Thai S.O.P.................shoot the messenger.

[lust]

Thai S.O.P.................shoot the messenger.

This is Sparta.

[Doc46]

That solved one problem but created an other big one

[trainman34014]

The usual 'Thainess' approach.....if you can't get your own way then start shooting people dead. Consequence just doesn't enter their feeble minds !

[bheard]

RIP to those dead in another senseless killing.

If ever there was a 'shoot the messenger' case, then this is it . . .

[oldsailor35]

And someone told me that there is no money in Palm Oil ?

Edited December 17, 2015 by oldsailor35

[cornishcarlos]

And someone told me that there is no money in Palm Oil ?

Not in your wife's Dads 10 rai but 9000 rai is a whole different ball game !!!!

[ggt]

Getting in the final word...shooting people dead over a dispute...wild, wild, Thailand...

[SOTIRIOS]

.....9000 rai.....

...big money....

...add murder....

...will the army step in to 'uphold justice'.....

....or will we never hear any more on the subject....for 'unknown reasons'....

[Supaluke]

Not much surprises me in Thailand any more, but I must say, this incident raised an eyebrow.

Rule of Law.

Rule of the Court.

Rule of the Gun.

[WaiLai]

Getting in the final word...shooting people dead over a dispute...wild, wild, Thailand...

“Today they came so they said they had to react,”

Yes, we all have to react.

I'm going to start collecting these ripe examples of Thai "logic" and see if they work for me in times requiring reaction.

[grumpyoldman]

Would be tough to pin this one on the nearest Myanmar laborers.