Criticised For Watching ICJ Verdict, Man Hangs Himself

Police cordon around Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Bangkok, 11 November 2013

(11 November) A man has hanged himself to death in Sa Kaeo after he was criticised by his wife for watching the live broadcast of the verdict on the possession of Preah Vihear Temple, police said.

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The verdict of the International Court of Justice was broadcast live on major Thai state-owned television channels. The ruling reaffirmed the previous ICJ verdict handed down in 1962 that the border temple of Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, along with a small tip of promontory close to the temple′s entrance.
 
Although the district of Aranya Prathet, which sits near the Thai-Cambodia border, remains peaceful in the aftermath of the ruling, police were alerted of a man in Ang Sila village who killed himself after the verdict was read out.
 
Mr. Boonma Mongkolchakkawarn, 49, was found as in his 2 storey wooden house. Witnesses said Mr. Boonma was previously watching the verdict broadcast with other locals around the television set in the village center. However, witnesses said, Mr. Boonma′s wife showed up and scolded him for wasting his time on watching the broadcast instead of going to work.
 
According to witnesses, Mr. Boonma promptly rose up and walked back to his house. He was later found hanged to death there. Police believe Mr. Boonma was already stressed by loan problems he was facing when he was pushed over the edge when he was criticised by his wife, leading him to commit suicide.
 

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