Vicious Thai gangs at Songkran

[HHTel]

YES some come for work the poles great people but for every 1 pole there are 10 scroungers from the rest of the world

OK. Back that up with facts instead of just bigotry!

[caller]

Of those immigrants in the UK who claim some sort of benefit, 66% are also in work. The vast majority of claimants are British and rightly so. It's a myth that all or most of immigrants to Britain/Europe are there to claim welfare. The complete opposite is true.

Sorry, but you're actually contradicting yourself. The truth, is somewhere in the middle. Personally, I don't like the fact that 66% (if that is the figure) of immigrants receiving in-work benefits, primarily tax credits and housing benefits (and think how much that costs in London alone) are actually being subsidised by the British Tax payer. And it's that subsidy that is the draw to both the immigrants and the employers, who avoid 'employer' costs (tax, NiNo conts) as a consequence of offering reduced hours work only at the level of the minimum wage. In return the immigrants get a not unsubstantial roof over their head, in many instances, far better than what they have left behind and largely paid for by the state. Now, I'm not actually blaming the immigrants for that, excluding the ones that do come here to defraud the system, but for me, it's self-evidently wrong. I happen to think the employer should pay a living wage, which should be coming into being soon, thus, labour won't be so cheap in future and it will be interesting to see how that changes things.

Edit - oooh, I just realized we're in the Songkran gang thread, so this has gone mightily off-topic!

[Lev]

This topic is about an attack that happened in Hua Hin - how UK immigration policy got into it is beyond us - please keep things on topic or start new threads if necessary.

[KateB]

I have found this thread thoroughly disturbing. Well done US for stepping in to help the victims of the attack, I hope you are fully recovered now and that they too are on the mend.
We were in Hua Hin again from Sept to Nov last year and were out after midnight many a time, round Binta & Soi 80 and thankfully never witnessed any violence. Have things got significantly worse since then or were we just lucky?

[usual suspect]

Kate..Firstly, thank you for your concern, yes I'm fine now thanks..
I think what the regulars on here are trying to say is if you're out drinking all night till the early hours..THEN set off 'over town' to your place-of-stay, then please take care..the case in question may have been an isolated incident, but as you leave the Tourist/hotel area late at night on your own your chances of bumping into hot-headed Thai youths does increase. If your late night form of transport is a tuk-tuk then I'd say your quite safe..

[KateB]

Thanks US and very glad to hear you are fully recovered.
We always exercised some caution, never alone and keeping away from a number of bars which set my radar off, keeping to the busier sois etc. but we'll certainly be even more mindful next time. Stay safe

[nil]

It's now the leading news article on the UK's Daily Mail website.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... iland.html

Edit:

and

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/ ... -thailand/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... ng-7847401

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/665047 ... nd-holiday

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... brawl.html

[STEVE G]

Yes, it shows how ineffective Thai journalism is when you have to wait for local news stories to appear in the Daily Mail!

[dtaai-maai]

Dear God almighty, that video is the most shocking and horrifying thing I've seen in a very long time - probably because it's so near to home and such a cowardly attack on a helpless elderly couple. Hard to pick out any one moment, but the kick in the face of that poor lady as she was trying to sit up was truly disgraceful.

There was one quite large Thai gent who intervened before being ushered away by his Mrs, but it's difficult to blame individuals for not getting involved. The aggression shown by these delinquents was so fast and so excessive, that I can well imagine people being shocked just seeing it.

It's fortunate (wrong word in this context, but you know what I mean) that this incident took place in full view of a good cctv camera. Let's just hope that the police take this seriously for once and that these evil, mindless little thugs get put away for a very long time.

And, US, if that's you in the black t-shirt and baseball cap, good on you, mate (but next time keep your guard up...).

EDIT: I wonder if we'll see an apology from Homer...?

[Skmly]

Fair play US for stepping in mate I would have found it difficult not to do the same. From the footage which is only available on YouTube. ( Seems it's been stopped on a server source) you did well to get away when you did. Once the fuse had been lit by the initial push from the farang it was hard to stop.

I've seen this several times in my time here and Thais no matter the outcome always come out on top. If the faring had been the greatest boxer and knocked them all out, the ones watching would have joined in and beat him by numbers, even though they had done nothing to difuse or help in the lead up, not knowing the perpetrators.

This was a callous act carried out by cowards and spineless vermin who are the same the world over especially in the UK.

There are various events leading up to this nasty incident and should be avoided at ALL costs in any country especially Asia. The Sun newspaper in its infinite wisdom called it a bar room brawl? Enough said. Morons

Again US I applaud your act of valour and wish you well. Keep your head down my friend

[gemmamirror]

Hi guys,

I'm a reporter at the Daily Mirror website in London and was hoping to speak to anyone who witnessed the horrific attack?

Usual Suspect, I know you started this thread and say you saw it first-hand - it would be really good to speak to you and find out any more information you might have.

Please email webnews@trinitymirror.com with your contact details if you can help.

Many thanks,

Gemma.

[Deep Blue]

Here's the video;

[Gus]

Obviously Songkran is a special event for Thai people, a bit like New Years Eve in the UK where things can get a bit wild.

What surprises me about this incident, is that when I am in town in high season there are very few Thais around the Bintablock area, other than ones going from their place of work to the 7/11, food cart etc

[HHTel]

"Me too: The OP's unsubstantiated story."

Got your evidence, Homer, you pillock.

And even now not one hint of a retraction of your comments or an apology!

Well done, U.S., for getting stuck in there. Not the ideal way to get in the papers! Hope all concerned recover fully including yourself.

[Deep Blue]

This was plain old stupid on that Brit's part to push that Thai in a crowd. Walk away no matter what the punk did. Maybe it's my American perspective, to do that in many places in America would get you killed.