CityNews – A former red-shirt leader is recovering in hospital after being wounded in a gun attack at his home in Sankampaeng district on Saturday evening.
The junta’s efforts to promote unity have ended political conflicts in Chiang Mai, says the governor.
Niyom Luangcharoen, also known as DJ Lae, was shot in the arm and leg by an unknown number of assailants. He is the founder of the Daeng Isaan Lanna Chiang Mai group, which he started after leaving the Rak Chiang Mai 51 group of red shirts. He is reportedly in a stable condition and under heavy security at Chiang Mai Hospital.
Police said they found more than 20 used shells from an AK-47 assault rifle at the scene of the attack. Investigation teams will work together to gather evidence for a prosecution.
Police told CityNews that they believe the attack is most likely the result of a personal dispute, but have not ruled out politics as a possible motive. The shooter was probably not a professional hitman as he missed his target many times, police said.
The attack came a day before the army and Chiang Mai governor Suriya Prasartbandit declared that the province was now free of “colour-coded politics”.
“I can now say that Chiang Mai is free of [political] colours. There are no more reds or yellows, only green. It’s green season. I mean the natural green colour, not the military’s green,” Suriya was quoted as saying yesterday.
Political conflicts in Chiang Mai have ended thanks to the junta’s efforts to promote unity, he said.