“We will wait for the funerals of the two young boys [sic] to be held, then we will hunt them down,” Region 8 Police Commander Lt Gen Tesa Siriwato told The Phuket News today (Oct 21).
The riot erupted on October 10 after Prathomwat Panarak, 22, and a 17-year-old whose name has been withheld died after a collision with a police car during a high-speed pursuit.
Officers claim they found 50 methamphetamine (ya bah) pills and one kilogramme of kratom, though it was revealed yesterday that blood tests on the remains of the two men found no traces of drugs in their systems. (See story here.)
The Phuket Provincial Court issued 14 more arrest warrants for riot suspects yesterday (Oct 20), bringing the total number of suspects wanted by police to 47.
Gen Tesa said that he believes that some of them may have fled the area, but remains confident with police will arrest – and prosecute – them.
“Most of them are locals. We have clear pictures and some videos of the suspects. No matter where they are, we will find them,” Gen Tesa said.
“The bodies of the two men are being held at Thalang Hospital. The funerals will be held after the Phuket Vegetarian Festival has concluded,” Gen Tesa said.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival will conclude at midnight tonight (Oct 21) with the final mass procession by devotees from many of the Chinese shrines taking part in the festival meeting at Saphan Hin, where a bonfire and fireworks will coincide with a mass blessing burning ceremony.
Acting Thalang District Chief Anirut Bua-on told The Phuket News that he expects the funerals to be held within days.
“Today, October 21, is the last day of the Vegetarian festival, and most funerals in Thailand take within three to seven days to complete,” he said.
Mr Anirut is holding the fort as Acting Thalang District Chief as Veera Kerdsirimongkol, who was Thalang District Chief when the riots occurred on October 10, has been promoted to the post of Vice Governor of Satun province, effective Monday (Oct 19). His successor has yet to be appointed. (See story here.)
Gen Tesa urged all riot suspects to surrender themselves to police before the warrants are served.
“Surrender at the Thalang or any other police station and you will be treated fairly,” he said. “We are all Thai people, we can talk and we want to know the main reason for the riot.
“We would like you to bring yourself in, and you will receive justice. I guarantee it,” he assured.