In the Thai city of Udon Thani, a bustling center in the northeast of the country, a violent event is causing great concern among residents.
Phanomphon, 46, who lives in Mueang district, filed a complaint against her creditor’s daughter after she was brutally attacked in a busy market. The incident, which occurred on September 16, was not without cause and was the explosive end to a years-long struggle.
Phanomphon had borrowed 40,000 baht from Nim, a tea seller, last year out of desperation to cover her ailing brother’s medical expenses. She not only repaid the original amount but also paid 48,000 baht in interest. But Nim made additional claims, claiming that another 40,000 baht in interest was outstanding. Faced with Phanomphon’s refusal to enter into a new loan agreement, Nim was forced to resort to violence and intimidation.
The brutal attack, in which Phanomphon was grabbed by the hair and injured with a hand adorned with rings, shocked the people of Udon Thani. ”I was forced to sign a new loan agreement even though I had already paid everything,” the injured woman said fearfully.
Phanomphon and her children live in constant fear that further attacks could follow. ”I fear for my safety,” she said, appealing to local authorities for protection. In a brave and determined response, Phanomphon turned to the deputy provincial police chief, Chakat Tiamwong.
He promised to do everything possible to put an end to the arbitrariness and bring the perpetrators to justice. Tiamwong explained: ”If the creditor is found guilty, we will take the necessary legal action.”
The encouragement from the police gives Phanomphon hope for a peaceful solution and safety in her community. “I am grateful to the Udon Thani police for their support.
Hopefully our community will soon be safe again,” she concluded optimistically.
This incident not only raises pressing questions about public safety, but also highlights the often dangerous challenges of the credit trade. Udon Thani faces an urgent task of establishing the rule of law and protecting citizens from further abuses. The obsession with unregulated credit and the resulting violence require urgent action from the authorities and the community.
