IN BRIEF
MURDER-SUICIDE
Businessman kills wife, self; son in ICU after being shot in the head
A businessman yesterday killed himself after shooting his wife dead and critically wounding his son in an apparent murder-suicide in his luxury condominium unit in Bangkok's Sathorn district, likely out of stress prompted by huge business losses, police said.Wirat Laosirichon and his wife, Phuangjan, were found dead in their room in their condominium unit yesterday morning. Son Janewit, a master's degree student at Chulalongkorn University's Sasin Institute, survived but is in critical condition. Police said initial information suggested the suicide might have been prompted by stress from Wirat's huge losses in a new cylinder-making plant and his original condominium project. JAPAN FTA Academics protest to government Academics are expected to stop helping the government in protest at Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's signing of the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement, a Rangsit University law lecturer said yesterday. Sattra Toaon said the signing of the agreement showed the government was no longer listening to the people. The agreement will only benefit some people, not the majority of the country, he added. "The government set up the principle of transparency but has now violated its own rule with the signing of an agreement with international obligations. This has made many academics voluntarily working for the government feel uncomfortable. And I don't want to work with the government any more," Sattra said. LESE MAJESTE Sulak asks that charges be dropped Social critic Sulak Sivaraksa urged the government to drop two charges of lese majeste against him as promised. Sulak said he happened to meet Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont on March 28 and was told he need not worry about the cases, which he claimed were lodged against him by police officers close to deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra. "The prime minister said 'don't worry, everything will be resolved'," Sulak said. However, to his surprise, Chana Songkram police informed him on Wednesday that unless he presented himself at the station soon, they would seek a court warrant for his arrest. "They still insist they will issue an arrest warrant," he told The Nation. "I urge [the authorities] to clear the air." POLITICAL ACTIVIES TRT seeks nod for public meetings Thai Rak Thai Party leader Chaturon Chaisang has asked the Council for National Security (CNS) to allow it to hold political activities, the CNS spokesman said yesterday. Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Chaturon passed a letter to CNS chief General Sonthi Boonyaratglin appealing for permission for his party to hold public meetings and select party executives. The junta has banned political activities. Sansern said the CNS would consider the matter next Tuesday.
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