Sep 13 (23 hours ago)

JANJIRA PONGRAI
THE NATION September 14, 2013 1:00 am

TWO FOREST rangers were killed and two others seriously injured in the
latest fierce gun battle in Tak with a group of tiger hunters.

The latest loss has raised the number of casualties among men hired to
protect against wildlife poaching and tree cutting. Since 2009, 42 forest
rangers have been killed on duty and 48 others injured, 22 of them
seriously, according to statistics from the National Park, Wildlife and
Plant Conservation Department.

The hunters were believed to be members of a Hmong hilltribe gang active in
the Thungyai Naresuan and Huai Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuaries in Tak’s
Umphang district.

The fatal armed clash took place on Thursday night in the eastern section of
Thungyai Naresuan. The forest rangers, assisted by soldiers and local
administrative officials, had followed the hunters since Monday after the
carcass of a boar was found in the forest, according to the department’s
deputy director-general, Theerapat Prayurasiddhi. He said the carcass of the
boar, killed by poisoning, was believed to be used as bait by the tiger
hunters.

Theerapat said the hunters opened fire first and a gunfight ensued. Four
forest rangers were seriously injured in the clash and were sent to Tak’s
Mae Sot Hospital. Two of them were pronounced dead – Boonsri Inthapanya, 51,
and Anthong Ngamying, 22. The injured rangers were identified as Piriya
Khaoluang, 35, and Sanan Ongkarn, 54.

One hunter was shot dead during the gunfight. His identity remained unknown.

The hunters, believed to number five, were heavily |armed with AK-47 assault
|rifles and carbine automatic rifles. Four other hunters managed to flee the
scene, and some of them were believed to have suffered injuries, according
to Theerapat. He expressed his condolences to family members of the slain
rangers, adding that they would get “full assistance” from the department.

The senior official also said the department had begun implementing a policy
of buying life-insurance policies for its forest rangers, as part of
increased employment benefits.

The department has about 20,000 forest rangers.

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ttle-with-tiger-30214823.html