Sanam luang 2 in Thonburi, with up to 6,000 trading stalls and a park, will be opened to the public next Saturday.

A floral fair entitled " A million blooms " - from May 13 till 21 - marks the opening of the park and weekend market, which is located off Liab Khlong Taweewattana road, Taweewattana district.  The park covers 100 rai of land, of which 40 rai are occupied by vending stalls similar to those at Chatuchak weekend market.

Trolleys will be available for people shopping at the market on weekends.  The creation of Sanam Luang 2 park was necessitated by overcrowding at Chatuchak weekend market.  Capt Jirapol Thoopthong's Botanic Garden Ltd has rented the area to the city for 100 Baht a year for 30 years.  The city hopes to turn the new weekend market into a hot spot for orchids and decorative fish.

The new market can be reached by bus No.91K from the foot of Pinklao bridge, or by boat from the city's Tourism Information Centre near the foot of the bridge.  Motorists can access the market from Buddha Monthon 2 and 3 roads, then turning left at Liab khlong Watthana Rd.

Road rage officers held after 3 shot

Two people were killed and one seriously injured when three plain clothes policemen fired on a pick-up truck during a 5km chase yesterday.  the policemen, who were in a Hyundai sedan, denied charges of murder and claimed they had been in a hurry to finish a top secret mission in Chon Buri.

Pol Pvt Kasem, Pol l/Cpl Suphan and Pol Sgt Sawai, all 25, shot dead Chalerm Inyim, 53, a scrap metal dealer, as he was driving his Nissan pick-up truck on Sukhumvit road.  The truck swerved and hit Sairung Thangkrathoke, 26, who was crossing the road, killing her instantly.

Mr Chalerm's wife was shot in the right temple and was listed as being in a critical at Ratcharin hospital.  Thawin Uadsantha, 21, employed by mr Chalerm said his boss and the policemen had raced for 5 km before the shooting began.

After the attack the three crime suppression officers were arrested in Chachoengsao as they tried to run a checkpoint and crashed.  Found in the sedan were an M16 assault rifle with 112 rounds, two .45 pistols with 52 rounds, a .38 pistol with 5 rounds, a .357 pistol with 6 rounds, a hood and a pair of gloves.

The three denied charges of possessing war weapons and claimed they were assigned to a top secret mission by a chief they refused to name.  Pol Lt Gen Somcha Vanichseni, a deputy national police chief, said the three had been dismissed and were being detained for further action.

( As excuses go ' being on a top secret assignment' isn't one of the best alibis ever thought up - I think they'll need a good lawyer )

Ordination turned into media event

Religious Affairs Department director-general Paiboon Siangkong has criticised the presence of fans and media at the ordination of pop singer Chaiya Mitchai.  Entering the monkshood, he said, was a time for reflection on the lord Buddha's teaching, and should not be exploited a s a publicity stunt.

The hyped media reports about Chaiya's female fans flocking to the temple in order to observe their idol practicing Buddhism were a distraction to Chaiya's monkhood, he said.  " Music fans should realise that the monkhood is for reflection and solitude and they could be of great help to Chaiya if they stayed away from him during his ordination period " he added.

To comply with the religious training of entering the monkhood, Chaiya was ordained as a monk over the weekend in Ang thong.  Hundreds of female fans attended the ceremony and continued to stay nearby afterwards.  Several newspapers played up reports on how Chaiya spent his first night as a monk.  The reports also covered how his fans ogled him as he went about his temple routine.

Reports said that Chaiya was afraid to go to the toilet at night for fear of the temple's ghost and how his fans gasped and drooled when his robe slipped off his shoulder while he was doing his chores.

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