Two men have been sentenced to death for the premeditated murder of a man and their attempt to kill another man during a robbery in the Hua Mark area in 1996. Boonsong Nuannim and Chaiya Kaewcharoen, both 25, were condemned to death by the Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Thawil Kaewchao, a vendor, and rob him of his gold necklace and Buddha amulet worth 40,000 baht in front of Ramkhamhaeng University on March 10, 1996. The victim was shot several times by Boonsong and he was also stabbed by Chaiya. To enable their escape, Boonsong also shot Yuthana Prompalad, the victim's friend who had witnessed the murder. The two suspects were arrested on September 22, 1999 but denied all the charges.
Published on Feb 19, 2002
After vowing not to consecrate any more talismans, Luang Phor Khoon Parisutho of Wat Ban Rai in Nakhon Ratchasima said that his temple no longer "had anything" for visitors and he was trying to remain unaffected by the problems there.
Luang Phor Khoon, 79, is a renowned senior monk, and many people believe talismans and amulets consecrated by him protect them from danger.
The monk's nephew Bunriap Janpheng was shot dead last week. Bunriap was a manager of Wat Ban Rai's talisman business. Following the death, Luang Phor Khoon announced that he would no longer consecrate talismans.
Colonel Amnart Amat-ngam, Nakhon Ratchasima's deputy police chief, said that police assumed Bunriap's murder was related to a dispute over a construction project at the temple.
They will be issuing arrest warrants for suspected conspirators in the murder, Amnart said.
Asked if he was afraid that a more violent situation might take place at his temple, Luang Phor Khoon said he would just let everything happen according to the law of karma. "Good will come to the good and bad to the bad," he said.
Published on Feb 27, 2002
Wat Baan Rai's income from the sale of religious amulets and Buddha statues and cash donations has plunged dramatically from between Bt1 million and Bt2 million a day before the middle of 1997 to less than Bt10,000 today, said abbot Luang Phor Khoon Parisuttho.
"Since the economic downturn in mid-1997, Thais have suffered from less spending power and could not afford the sacred amulets and Buddha statues available at the temple," Luang Phor Khoon said.
In October 2000, Luang Phor Koon ordered the prices of Wat Baan Rai amulets cut by 80 per cent, and those of statues by 50 per cent.
The price of silver amulets has dropped from between Bt500 and Bt600 to only Bt100 today, while the price of Khoon Pan Lan silver Buddha statues was slashed by half from Bt2,000 before the economic crisis. "The price reduction for all amulets and statues will give people coming to Wat Baan Rai, whether rich or poor, the same opportunity to get one," the abbot said.
Wat Baan Rai started producing sacred amulets and Buddha statues in 1990. The temple currently has many collections of Luan Phor Khoon amulets and statues, including Sor Kor, Luay Mai Luek, Koo Tam Eng, Lua Kin Lua Chai, Khoon Pan Lan and Khoon Sap Saen Lan. More than 10 million amulets and statues have been produced so far and they have generated more than Bt4 billion in revenue for the temple.
Luang Phor Khoon said the abbot is quite worried about the current economic situation. Just as in Bangkok, many stores in Nakhon Ratchasima have had to shut down. The business atmosphere even in the large cities in the province is not good.
"With the economic recession, many people have less money in their pockets and cannot afford any sacred items and amulets at Wat Baan Rai," a temple official attending to the amulet counter said. "That's why Luang Phor Khoon ordered that the prices of all amulets sold at Wat Baan Rai be reduced by more than half," he said.
Luang Phor Khoon recently announced that he would not produce sacred amulets and Buddha statues anymore.
The officer said the number of visitors to Wat Baan Rai had also dropped dramatically. Buses bringing local and overseas tourists to Wat Baan Rai number about 10 today, compared to more than 70 a day before 1997.
Kampanat Sriaram, the proprietor of Kampanat Prakruang store selling sacred amulets and statues in The Mall Tar Pra shopping centre, said prices of amulets made by other revered and well-known abbots have also declined by more than half.
"I don't think prices will drop further as they've already hit bottom," Kampanat said. "So it's a great time for people with money to buy and collect valuable amulets at a good price."
For example, the price of Luang Phoo Toa's Kring Peng Yong dropped from between Bt170,000 and Bt180,000 during the bubble years to between Bt70,000 and Bt80,000 now, Kampanat said. Luang Phoo Toa's Phra Pid Ta Jumbo One goes for less than Bt100,000 instead of Bt200,000.
Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn
THE NATION
MP Chalerm Yoobamrung plans revenge for his family as he gears up to launch a monthly tabloid, which he says will contain revelations of media corruption and reporters' sexual liaisons.
"The media people have portrayed me and my family members as hateful figures," he said. "It is nothing unusual that I should hit back and unmask these media professionals.
Chalerm insisted that news reports on bar brawls involving his three sons and the alleged murder committed by his fugitive son Duangchalerm were unjustified.
The eldest son, Artharn, is slated to supervise the entertainment section, while the second son, Wanchalerm, will be responsible for the sports section.
If and when the youngest son Duangchalerm clears his name over his alleged killing of a police officer, he is to be appointed as news editor covering Buddhist amulets.