British tourist shot dead at Thailand New Year party

[Siani]

A British holidaymaker was shot dead in Thailand just hours after welcoming in the New Year with friends at a beach party. Media on the popular party island of Koh Phangan said a 22-year-old tourist, named locally as Stephen Ashton, was gunned down after an argument between two groups of Thai youths spiralled out of control.

Report by The Independant

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world ... 34528.html

[kendo]

Just seen this on Sky News yet another sobering thought that paradise is not always what it seems.
Kendo .

[MrPlum]

Just seen this on Sky News yet another sobering thought that paradise is not always what it seems.
Kendo .

Don't cross the road without an armed escort. You will feel better.

[kendo]

No need to be pedantic Mr P it's a tragedy at least, this young lad Stephen Ashton was 22 years old. He was on Koh Phangan doing the very headonistic party New Year that most young lads would only ever dream of, he would have just wanted to get smashed and dance the night away with like minded youngsters.
Just imagine Mr P getting a phone call on New years day that your son had been killed in cross fire whilst on a party island, life shattering news for all his family and friends.

Your comment is ridiculous when you witnessed a security guard abusing a child and you done nothing about it, lack of minerals springs to mind, and shame on you for that Mr P no matter what you should have done everything you could have to try and protect that child.

You don't really understand how dangerous Thailand can be although you should when you are living in a house that was a crime scene a few years ago.

Kendo.

[MrPlum]

Your comment is ridiculous when you witnessed a security guard abusing a child and you done nothing about it, lack of minerals springs to mind, and shame on you for that Mr P no matter what you should have done everything you could have to try and protect that child.

The retaliation isn't really necessary and please accept my apologies for teasing you. You do seem a little over-sensitive, though, about violence in Thailand. I have been here 7 years and have never personally witnessed a beating, a murder or anything else of note. Where I think you are wrong in your retaliation is that none of the condemnatory finger-waggers made any suggestion that was realistic. A suspicion of an act is just that. A suspicion. Had I taken it further, the police would have laughed at me. Do I need to remind you of the likely conversation?

You don't really understand how dangerous Thailand can be although you should when you are living in a house that was a crime scene a few years ago.

It is precisely because I understand how dangerous Thailand can be that I know to be damn sure of my facts before painting a bulls-eye on my chest.

There is no Esther Rantzen here to cart children away to suffer even more abuse from the likes of Jimmy Saville.

[Dannie Boy]

Just seen this on Sky News yet another sobering thought that paradise is not always what it seems.
Kendo .

Don't cross the road without an armed escort. You will feel better.

I am not going to be dragged into comments about your previous posts, but this one was unnecessary - an innocent young man whose only crime seems to have been that of enjoying himself, has tragically lost his life. Save your witty comments for less offensive subjects.

[richard]

Just seen this on Sky News yet another sobering thought that paradise is not always what it seems.
Kendo .

Don't cross the road without an armed escort. You will feel better.

I am not going to be dragged into comments about your previous posts, but this one was unnecessary - an innocent young man whose only crime seems to have been that of enjoying himself, has tragically lost his life. Save your witty comments for less offensive subjects.

1) Innocent young man. How do you know?
2) That Island is renowned for it's beach parties fuelled by booze and drugs
3) Any guy/gal over 16 from the western world is sure to be 'streetwise' at home but not in SE Asia
4) It will probably come out as being crossfire between two gangs but we will never know

[kendo]

Mr P you're suspensions were strong enough to bring the issue to the forum, their is more than one way of dealing with things you could have got your Thai partner to make the complaint, a Thai dealing with a Thai problem.

Yes you are right Mr P i am quite a sensitive person and yes i have seen violence, i have also had a Thai neighbor and friend murdered we were only sat drinking with him two days before, so yes quite close to home really.

This young lad just wanted a New Year party with his friends and now is dead due to gun ho scooter gangs that have no regard for life, it's a bloody tragedy in my opinion and not to be made a joke of, i am surprised at your poor attempt at teasing me quite tasteless really regarding the subject matter.

Kendo.

[Dannie Boy]

Just seen this on Sky News yet another sobering thought that paradise is not always what it seems.
Kendo .

Don't cross the road without an armed escort. You will feel better.[/quote]

I am not going to be dragged into comments about your previous posts, but this one was unnecessary - an innocent young man whose only crime seems to have been that of enjoying himself, has tragically lost his life. Save your witty comments for less offensive subjects.[/quote]

1) Innocent young man. How do you know?
2) That Island is renowned for it's beach parties fuelled by booze and drugs
3) Any guy/gal over 16 from the western world is sure to be 'streetwise' at home but not in SE Asia
4) It will probably come out as being crossfire between two gangs but we will never know[/quote]

I am only going by the news reports that claim the shooting was between two groups of Thais, so "innocent" in that he doesn't appear to have been causing trouble. Almost for sure he would have been in a party mood just by being there. Whether we will ever get to the bottom of this we will have to wait and see.

[Siani]

1) Innocent young man. How do you know?
2) That Island is renowned for it's beach parties fuelled by booze and drugs
3) Any guy/gal over 16 from the western world is sure to be 'streetwise' at home but not in SE Asia
4) It will probably come out as being crossfire between two gangs but we will never know

No we don't know he innocent Richard, so lets give him the benefit of the doubt at this stage. From reading the report I do have an idea that he probably was not a yob. Apparently he was an investment banker. A neighbour Dawn Mason, 48, described Mr Ashton as a “very normal, likeable young man”.

She added: “They’ve always been very nice neighbours. I went to the house today and the family just seem in complete shock.”

Police said the gunman fled the scene but was later arrested and was found to still have the gun in his possession.

He was named as Ekkapan Kaewkla, 26. Kaewkla allegedly admitted being involved in a fight but denied firing the fatal shot. He was due to be questioned further today.

The Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the death of a British national on New Year’s Eve and we are providing consular assistance to the family.”

Thailand’s justice ministry admit the number of young people carrying illegal firearms has risen by 32 per cent in nine years.

The country has four times as many guns in civilian hands as neighbouring countries.

Gun crime has risen because of the political instability that has gripped Thailand since a 2006 coup that removed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Unrest culminated in a two-month stand-off in 2010 between government troops and “red shirt” protesters backing Thaksin and clashes that killed 91 people.

“People pull out their guns at a moment’s notice,” said politician Chuwit Kamolvisit, a former
massage-parlor tycoon who says he used to pay off local police to run his seedy businesses.

Gun crime is rife in the seedy resorts featuring prostitutes and massage parlours which have attracted Western visitors.

Rival gangs have ruthlessly protected their interests by killing opposition operators.

Gun related murders in the capital Bangkok have doubled since 2006.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime carried out a survey in 2011 which showed that there were 5.3 murders by firearms per 100,000 people in Thailand. This compares to 0.02 in the Philippines where gun crime was previously the highest in south-east Asia.

Supisan Pakdinarunat, commander of Thailand’s crime suppression division, said: “Guns are coming through all of Thailand’s borders to the north, east and west of the country.”

Don't cross the road without an armed escort. You will feel better.


Mr P Your comments were dreadful. You are a family man with children. It will not be long before your children will be 22 years of age. Believe me, time goes by very quickly!! Just imagine, to wake up to hear that one of your children had been murdered...for me...I would never get over it, never ever.

If you want someone to see you safety crossing the road in HH, there are normally police near Market Villa, call one of them for help. But it's no joking matter...please

Please do not joke about such a serious subject

[kendo]

They have just said on BBC News that the 26 year old Thai shooter has confessed and will be charged with manslaughter.

What a joke the man was carrying a gun and was involved in a gang fight with a rival gang he pulled the gun out and discharged it.

Kendo.

[richard]

They have just said on BBC News that the 26 year old Thai shooter has confessed and will be charged with manslaughter.

What a joke the man was carrying a gun and was involved in a gang fight with a rival gang he pulled the gun out and discharged it.

Kendo.

TIT

Seen gun fights in HH discos. Police vs Army with copious amounts of booze. Common practice I'm afraid

Admit the crime and your sentence automatically is reduced 50%

[kendo]

Yeah i know about the one at Luknam music venue between the cops and army.

Scooter gangs are always taking pot shots at each other normally out side karaoke bars or convenience stores up in Prasat i drink in a farang bar the 3 or 4 other bars are all karaoke and knocking shops these bars have trouble every weekend guaranteed.

Kendo.

[MrPlum]

Mr P you're suspensions were strong enough to bring the issue to the forum,

I can't believe you and Siani are still holding on to this. I asked for constructive views. Not pursed lips and finger-wagging and holding me personally responsible for the welfare of a child I do not know and who showed no sign of distress.

their is more than one way of dealing with things you could have got your Thai partner to make the complaint, a Thai dealing with a Thai problem.

Didn't you read my posts at the time? I tried this and got zero interest. You and Siani need to let go of my high crime of being realistic. Because, despite all your comments, I have yet to see one suggestion from either of you that would achieve anything except open me or my loved ones up for retaliation. Balance the risk of that versus the risk of a successful prosecution. Which do you think is greater? Should I start to resent both of you for putting the safety of MY family at risk to satisfy YOUR idealism?

Yes you are right Mr P i am quite a sensitive person and yes i have seen violence, i have also had a Thai neighbor and friend murdered we were only sat drinking with him two days before, so yes quite close to home really.

Thanks. I understand now why you have stronger feelings about security than someone who has not had that experience. I've apologized for the comment. It should be sufficient. No?

btw I met, on several occasions, a man who is severely paralyzed for showing some 'minerals' and was gunned down for it. He paid a heavy price. I learned a lesson yet don't walk around thinking that Thailand is more dangerous than anywhere else because of that incident. If it happened every day, that's a different matter.

This young lad just wanted a New Year party with his friends and now is dead due to gun ho scooter gangs that have no regard for life, it's a bloody tragedy in my opinion and not to be made a joke of

I see the practice of fitting me up for crimes I haven't committed has yet to die out. I am hardly making a joke at the expense of the victim. My comment was prompted by several of your previous posts on different topics, which show you have a thing about violence in Thailand, which I see you have conceded.

[Siani]

Mr P you're suspensions were strong enough to bring the issue to the forum,

I can't believe you and Siani are still holding on to this. I asked for constructive views. Not pursed lips and finger-wagging and holding me personally responsible for the welfare of a child I do not know and who showed no sign of distress.

their is more than one way of dealing with things you could have got your Thai partner to make the complaint, a Thai dealing with a Thai problem.

Didn't you read my posts at the time? I tried this and got zero interest. You and Siani need to let go of my high crime of being realistic. Because, despite all your comments, I have yet to see one suggestion from either of you that would achieve anything except open me or my loved ones up for retaliation. Balance the risk of that versus the risk of a successful prosecution. Which do you think is greater? Should I start to resent both of you for putting the safety of MY family at risk to satisfy YOUR idealism?

Yes you are right Mr P i am quite a sensitive person and yes i have seen violence, i have also had a Thai neighbor and friend murdered we were only sat drinking with him two days before, so yes quite close to home really.

Thanks. I understand now why you have stronger feelings about security than someone who has not had that experience. I've apologized for the comment. It should be sufficient. No?

btw I met, on several occasions, a man who is severely paralyzed for showing some 'minerals' and was gunned down for it. He paid a heavy price. I learned a lesson yet don't walk around thinking that Thailand is more dangerous than anywhere else because of that incident. If it happened every day, that's a different matter.

This young lad just wanted a New Year party with his friends and now is dead due to gun ho scooter gangs that have no regard for life, it's a bloody tragedy in my opinion and not to be made a joke of

I see the practice of fitting me up for crimes I haven't committed has yet to die out. I am hardly making a joke at the expense of the victim. My comment was prompted by several of your previous posts on different topics, which show you have a thing about violence in Thailand, which I see you have conceded.

Read it properly Mr P...I did not mention the child incident!! I ONLY your commented on the unfortunate death of this young man...so you can withdraw your last statement please!