Shooting Shocks Thailand: Former MP Guns Down Provincial Official
A 71-year-old former Thai MP shot a government official in Nonthaburi Province on Monday (10/08). After the shooting, he phoned a live YouTube broadcast to tell viewers what he had done.
The shooter is Chalong Reawraeng, who previously served as an MP for Nonthaburi Province. He has been arrested by police following the shooting.
The person shot by Chalong is Thongchai Yenprasert, head of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.
Thongchai is now being treated in hospital along with his driver, who was also shot. Some reports say they “suffered serious injuries”.
This incident occurred three days after a shooting by a student in the same province. Seven people died in that shooting at a school in Nonthaburi.
As of the time this report was broadcast, there has been no official statement from police on whether the two attacks are connected.
What is the suspect’s background?
The suspected shooter, Chalong Reawraeng, served as an MP for three terms, most recently under the Pheu Thai Party.
The 71-year-old earned the nickname “cobra”, a Thai term for politicians who defy the party line.
He received the nickname because in 1997 he voted for a prime ministerial candidate from another party.
Chalong had stood for parliament in the most recent election under the ruling Bhumjaithai Party, but failed to win a seat.
Who is the victim?
Thongchai Yenprasert is a former police officer who currently serves as the top official at the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation.
The 71-year-old joined the police force in 1984 and served as deputy chief and chief of several district police stations in Nonthaburi, on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Thongchai was appointed head of the provincial body in 2004.
Reported to a YouTube live stream
Chalong stated that he had carried out the attack by phone to a well-known political commentator, who was at the time conducting a live broadcast on YouTube.
The person he contacted was former journalist Anchalee Paireerak. She appeared to answer the phone in the middle of her programme.
“I will call you back… Oh, something big has happened? Go ahead, what is it?” she said.
Viewers could not hear what the caller said next, but Anchalee appeared to react with shock.
“Did he die? Did he die? You shot him in the head? You have to wait there until the police come,” she said.
“Don’t go anywhere,” Anchalee said.
Chalong’s motive for the shooting is not yet known.
The former MP told reporters upon his arrest that he was upset “because Thongchai did not grant his request”.