Paibul Boontod

Timeline

• 18 November 2001 — Paibul Boontod shot rival journalists at a floating restaurant in Mukdahan and then shot himself in the forehead; three journalists died and three other journalists and a lawyer were wounded.

The offence

On 18 November 2001, Paibul Boontod, a journalist in Thailand, sprayed rival reporters with bullets over allegations of bribe-taking, killing three before ending his own life with a bullet in the forehead. Three other journalists and a lawyer were wounded in the shooting on a floating restaurant in Mukdahan, 400 miles northeast of Bangkok.

Paibul Boontod burst into the restaurant and fired his gun at his fellow reporters, then shot himself in the head with the last bullet.

The incident occurred at a restaurant where representatives of two journalists’ groups in conflict were trying to resolve their disagreements, after a report caused a rift between two groups of journalists in the province.

People

Paibul Boontod was the president of the Mukdahan provincial journalists' association. He worked as a correspondent for Thai Rath and Channel 7, and he was also described as a correspondent with the newspaper Thairath and president of the Journalists’ Association in the province on the border with Vietnam.

Suchart Chanchanawiwat was an editor of Chao Mukdahan, a local biweekly newspaper, and was one of the dead men.

Setha Sareerawat was a reporter for Naew Na newspaper and Channel 3 television, and was one of the dead men.

Somboon Saenwiset worked for Daily News, and was one of the dead men.

A lawyer was wounded in the shooting.

Paibul Boontod’s victims included rival reporters; representatives of two journalists’ groups in conflict had been trying to resolve their disagreements at the restaurant.

Investigation

An 11mm pistol was found by the side of Paibul Boontod. Police found the weapon next to him.

Arrest

Paibul Boontod was identified as the gunman.

Trial

No trial information was provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing information was provided.

Appeals

No appeals information was provided.

Outcome

Paibul Boontod died after shooting himself in the forehead with the last bullet. Three journalists died, and three other journalists and a lawyer were wounded.

The report that had published articles accusing an unidentified group of local journalists of bribe-taking and extortion caused conflict between two groups of journalists in the province, leading to the meeting at the restaurant where the shooting took place.

Reports suggested that Suchart Chanchanawiwat was killed for his writings.

Background

Suchart Chanchanawiwat was an editor of Chao Mukdahan, a local biweekly newspaper that had published several articles accusing an unidentified group of local journalists of bribe-taking and extortion.

Paibul Boontod had been implicated in several articles published in Chao Mukdahan in bribery and embezzlement affairs involving the Association’s management. Tracts had circulated the week before the incident where each of the two groups of journalists accused the other.

Other details

A quote was included from Police Captain Sombat Sripon, a provincial police officer: Police Captain Sombat Sripon told The Associated Press: “An 11mm pistol was found by the side of the attacker, Paibul Boontod, 58, president of the Mukdahan provincial journalists' association.” The other quote attributed to Police Captain Sombat Sripon was: Police Captain Sombat Sripon told The Associated Press: “Three other journalists and a lawyer were wounded in the shooting, on a floating restaurant, late Sunday, in Mukdahan, northeast of Bangkok.”