Laotian royal couple from Fairview slain in northern Thailand

by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
published January 18, 2006 10:52 am


BANGKOK, Thailand

We knew a Lao American who was also shot to death there about 18 months ago. I doubt ther wa any connection, it is believed the guy we knew owed money to the local mafia and didn't pay. Who knows it certainly didn't make any headlines. Another guy who was a friend of his was also shot to death a few months later.

Both of this guys were hustlers and always scrounging and scheming for money, nothin big time, both reportly were heavy into gambling.

I see nothing to indicate any connection, just thought I would share it.

Izzix was there meant to be a weblink to the TV News item in your posting? If so, I would appreciate having a look at the video.

thanks

Rj

From The Nation

Accused assassins claim Laos paid them

Two suspected gunmen arrested on Wednesday in connection with a host of political killings in the Northeast said they were hired by a neighbouring country to kill Lao dissidents in Thailand, police said yesterday.

The pair confessed they had killed 17 people here, including Lao-American social activists Anouvong and Oulayvanh Sethathirath, who were shot at a monastery in Nong Khai on January 18. The couple lived recently in North Carolina, where they were known as Philip and Ashley McRowan. They claimed to be descendants of King Xay Sethathirath, the founder of Vientiane.

Gunmen Arthit Klinchan and Suwat Suthang - dubbed "the butchers of Mekong" - said they were paid Bt100,000 by unknown agents from the neighbouring country for each of their victims, the Central Investigation Bureau Deputy Commander, Police Maj-General Assawin Kwanmuang, said.

Lao Ambassador to Thailand Hiem Phommachanh rejected the stunning allegations last night, saying his government had nothing to do with the murders in Thailand.

"We don't know about these assassinations and consider the matter as internal affairs of Thailand, which Laos will not intervene in," Hiem said in a phone interview.

The two suspects were arrested in Udon Thani as police hunted the killers of Sukan Techakampu, an ex-captain in the former Lao regime and his wife Chantorn, Assawin said.

Three gunmen, who killed Sukan and his wife in Ubon Ratchathani on May 11, abandoned their car after a road accident not far from the crime scene, he said.

Officials found pictures of Anouvong and Oulayvanh - the American couple shot at Nong Khai - in the car that led to the gunmen's arrest. A third alleged accomplice, Sombat Permpanya, was still at large, Assawin said.

However, US-based Radio Free Asia reported differently yesterday. It said Suwat was arrested shortly after the murder of Sukan after being injured in the accident. He was granted bail and tipped police off about his colleagues.

Sombat and Arthit later turned themselves in to police in Nong Khai and requested protection due to fears they would be killed by the mastermind to kept them quiet, RFA quoted their lawyer as saying.

Members of the anti-Lao government movement have been killed consistently since 2001 and Thai authorities have been unable to arrest any suspects in connection with those murders. Many assassinations have been linked to the group that raided a border checkpoint in southern Laos six years ago.

Ex-captain Sukan was an associate of Anouvong and also a close friend of Sisouk Sayaseng, a suspected leader of the attack on the Vang Tao checkpoint in Laos' Champasak province in July 2000. Sisouk was shot by two masked gunmen at his home in Ubon's Sirindhorn district in November 2003.

Supalak Ganjanakhundee

The Nation

The guy who intruduced me to my wife wa killed in Nong Kia about two years ago. In his home definelty a hit, two in the chest one in the head. In and out quckly.

Why this article made me think of that wa the guy had worked for the CIA during Vietnam. They arrranged for him to go to America, he returened ere with a disablity retirement as an American citizen. His family was just acroos the border, he woiuld visit form time to time but would never stay very long. His money would go much further in Loa the Thailand, married to a Loa klady and two childern,

He would jut say he mihgt be killed if he lived there. He was killed then a fwe months later a guy he ha inroduced me to a Tuk Tuk driver wa killed in like fashion.

The guy was a real hustler so there could have been many other motivating factors in his death. But I have no idea, I don't think he was oppoing the Lao government at the time of his death. Nor do I enviion him a having much plotical power.