Among other incidents, a junior cadet student was forced to drink water until he died, officers were gunned down for unfortunate love affairs, and two models were allegedly involved in a fight.

Veenarat Laohapakakul

The two most unnerving cases for me, though, are the shooting spree that took place near Thai Market in Pathum Thani and the alleged drunken brawl involving police officers and the mayor of Samut Prakan municipality. The impact that these two cases have is far greater than the persons or victims involved directly in the incidents.

The shoot-out between the gunman and officers near Thai Market in Pathum Thani before dawn on Wednesday resulted in the death of a police officer and two civilians, while several others were injured. The two-hour gunfight ended when the gunman was fatally shot.

Is this the beginning of Virginia Tech-style shootings in Thailand? Should laws on gun issuance be amended in any way? And what can be done to cut off access to guns on the black market, which accounts for most of the weapons used in criminal offences?

The gunman was identified as 21-year-old Kiartipong Meksawat. He armed himself with an AK47 assault rifle, a knife and bomb-assembling tools. A search of his apartment in the Lat Prao area found two fully loaded AK47s, 35 rounds for .22mm handguns, three knives and a samurai sword as well as gun magazines and violent computer games.

Even though Kiartipong's motive is still unclear and police have not ruled out the possibility of his involvement in a gang of thieves, the one striking similarity he shared with Virginia Tech's Cho Seung-hui was that he was also a loner.

Police said the gunman lived alone, didn't have friends and didn't work or study. His background also presents an interesting contradiction. He was fond of reading gun magazines and playing violent computer games, but at the same time he enjoyed meditation and visiting temples.

How can people's mental and emotional health be better taken care of? Does Kiartipong's case reflect the increasing isolation that some urban residents might be feeling these days? And more importantly, how can we be sure of our safety once we walk out of the house?

The other case that warrants attention is the scuffle between police officers and Samut Prakan municipality mayor Chonsawas Asavahame. He has been charged on various counts, including illegal detention and failing to submit to a sobriety test.

The most depressing part of this whole story is that a certain responsible officer downplayed the issue, saying it was only a minor offence and simply a mistake anyone could have made.

Of course, anyone can make mistakes but for an elected official to be accused of flaunting his power and influence, let alone ordering his men to physically attack a police officer, is a serious transgression.

It should be viewed as such in order to ensure equal treatment and justice for all. No one is above the law, especially if the person is an elected official who must have known better.

But again, cases of rank-and-file officers up against the rich and powerful are nothing new, and if history has taught us anything it's possible this case might somehow end quietly, with only lenient punishment levied on the wrongdoer.

It's true that Thai politicians commit nastier acts, like corruption and other scandals, but law and order must be upheld in all cases. Refusing a sobriety test and being involved in a drunken brawl with policemen cannot be taken lightly.

It's a shame that Police Corporal Prarob Saengnil received a death threat. He is the type of officer Thailand needs - daring enough to stand up for what is right and not being afraid of influential figures.

A good sign, though, is the outpouring of support for officer Prarob, both from fellow officers and the general public, especially Samut Prakan residents. It clearly demonstrates how disgusted a great number of us are with those who think they are endowed with special privileges.

Only when every citizen respects the law as well as understands their rights and responsibilities can society progress.

Only then, can we be assured to live in a civilised society in which no one would dare utter the pathetic line "Don't you know who my father is?"