Gen Worapong Sanganet, the Supreme Commander, on Sunday morning presided over a ceremony to mark Armed Forces Day at the National Memorial.
Also attending the ceremony were Gen Udomdej Sitabutr, the army chief, Adm Kraisorn Chansuwanich, the navy chief, ACM Treetos Sonchaeng, the air force chief, Gen Paichayon Kathancharoen, the deputy defence permanent secretary, and Pol Gen Somyot Pumpanmuang, the police chief.
Jan 18 of every year is observed as Armed Forces Day because on this day in 1592 King Naresuan the Great of Thailand defeated Phra Maha Uparacha of Burma in an historic fight on the backs of elephants, known as the "Elephant Battle".
Gen Worapong, in a speech to mark the occasion, said the armed forces are duty bound to support the government, take care of the people, maintain national security and mitigate natural disasters for the public.
A daughter of Mr Chayaporn told police that her father, a grilled-squid vendor, had been drinking beer in front of her grandparents' house next door. She later heard her father argue with her mother, Thanikar Jarukulapas. Her grandparents, Chalorm Sittichot and Mrs Sa-ngob Kanket, tried to intervene, but her father angrily shouted at them before entering his room and taking out a pistol, firing three shots at her grandmother. Two of the bullets hit her in the back. Her father then fired one more shot at her grandfather as he was trying to flee.
Her father immediately went inside his bedroom to fire one shot at her mother in the neck before turning the gun on himself, the daughter said tearfully.