Three More Provinces Security Hot Spots: Thailand Election

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Phuket, Ratchaburi and Mae Hong Son have been declared "hot spots" in addition to 10 other provinces, including Bangkok, that are under heightened police security during the runup to the July 3 election.

Career gunmen are active in all 13 provinces and local candidates have asked for police protection, said Pol MajGeneral Suphisal Phakdeenaruenart, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, which is tasked with monitoring and taking action against hitmen.

In Kamphaeng Phet, which is not on the hotspot list, police reported movements of three gunmen from outside the province. Candidates campaigning in Khlong Khlung, Khlong Lan and Pang Sila Thong districts are seeking protection from police and complaining about intimidation by rival parties.

Police across the country have increased operations and arrested people involved in general crime and in activities suspected of leading to political violence. In Trang, police arrested 19 people suspected of various crimes in a series of raids that yielded a large number of handguns and illegal narcotics.

Krabi police arrested people wanted in 65 cases, 50 of which were drugrelated, and seized 29 handguns after conducting numerous raids. A large number of police calendars consisting of mugshots of 75 mostwanted hitmen were distributed in the 13 provinces and elsewhere. Two of the suspects recently surrendered to police.

In Samut Songkhram, CSD officers raided the homes of three people, all of whom were related. One was a local politician in Lat Yai subdistrict. Officers seized a large number of handguns and ammunition along with documents related to illegal loans and underground lottery operations.

One of the men, Theeraphong Srikamnerd, 37, was serving a suspended prison term for unauthorised possession of firearms. He was recently acquitted of an attempted murder six years ago.

Vandalism of election banners and billboards is spreading in areas outside Bangkok, with only some of the culprits arrested. The latest cases as of yesterday were reported in Krabi and Kamphaeng Phet.