Farangs being stupid (again)

[PeteC]

A story told to me tonight that made all the Thai papers within the last few days.

Four farangs (nationality not published) drinking in a karoke bar up near Nakansawan (central Thailand). Apparently the booze and their mouths got the better of them and they were set upon.

Not only set upon and then stopped, a dozen or so military people from a nearby Thai base were called in and they were beaten senseless again.

Stopped once again, and they followed them to the hospital and the police could not restrain them. Beaten again.

They apparently didn't die as the parents of one showed up and evacuated him to ???.

How inflated this journalism is I don't know. To make the Thai papers, there must be some truth to it. These guys must have really insulted everyone and everything Thai to have this happen.

The bigger problem is that four farangs have now put yet another X in the minds of many Thai's who have read the story. Completely accurate or not is not the point, the thoughts are there and affect everyone of us farangs here.

The same old conclusion, why act differently here than you do in your own country? Simply don't come here if you don't understand or at least try to understand the culture. Pete

[buksida]

Agree with the sentiments pete but without knowing the real story its difficult to pass judgment, they could have just chatted up the wrong girl, we all know how insanely jealous Thai guys can often get, especially when farangs are involved.

That said I have just returned from Pattaya where there are some major dickheads of the farang variety, some of which did deserve a beating!

Edit: any links to the article? doesnt matter if its in Thai.

[Vital Spark]

Agree with you totally Pete.

I've read another story about this 'incident' and, it made out that the farangs were set upon by the military. As usual, gossip runs around and you never really know the truth, but we really don't need this kind of thing happening here. It reflects badly on us, normal, culturally aware farangs.

We live in the back of beyond, keep our heads low and smile at everyone. Over four years here (ten years all toll) and not a single problem. I do wish the low-life drunken farangs would go somewhere else to behave like idiots.

VS

[DawnHRD]

The story I heard is that the farangs (one is a coach I believe for an England Premier League team) were with a group of Thais. The two groups of Thais (the soldiers were 30 or more strong, from what I've heard) started fighting & the Brits got involved. Then the 30-strong mob followed them into the hospital. This is 4 or 5 days ago. Not news. Who knows what really happened. Chinese whispers...

[BaaBaa.]

The story I heard is that the farangs (one is a coach I believe for an England Premier League team) were with a group of Thais.

SVEN!!!

[DawnHRD]

55555! Nope!

[BaaBaa.]

Tourists beaten by 30-man gang

Police arrested a Thai soldier for participating in an attack by 30 men on three British tourists as they ate at a food stall north of the Thai capital, police said Thursday (July 19th).

Thomas Donald Patrick suffered a cracked skull after he and two friends were attacked in Nakorn Sawan province, about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of Bangkok, said police Col. Pranom Manmuang.

A group of about 30 Thai men, including a soldier, began kicking and punching the three Britons as they dined at a roadside food stall Sunday (July 15th) morning, Pranom said.

An arrested attacker confessed that he was in the group that attacked the British tourists including Patrick – a staff coach of the London-based Tottenam Hotspur youth team.

He said his group did not intend to hurt Patrick but the fighting erupted after a conflict between his group and Patrick’s Thai friends.

Responding to questions about the attack, Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the incident must be thoroughly investigated by police and the army.

"I believe it will not affect the image of the Thai army as it was more of an isolated incident that involved individuals. The Thai army does not encourage their men to act like hooligans," Surayud said.

Patrick and two other men _ William Paul Stone and Francis Benjamin Peter _ were taken to a hospital. But the same group of attackers stormed the hospital room and continued to beat them until police arrived, Pranom said.

Pranom said Patrick's condition was stable, adding the two other Britons were slightly injured.

On Thursday police arrested and charged Sgt Chinaphong Prakobketkorn and another Thai man, Nattapan Jirapong, with assault. The suspects face a maximum seven years in jail if found guilty.


Bangkok Post

[Norseman]

SVEN!!!

NO.
Innocent.

No way he would be granted any kind of visa.

[PeteC]

No links Buksi as all word of mouth, but a lot of mouths. Seems VS and Dawn have heard the story in whatever form as well.

I just hope the coach was not from Newcastle!

Regardless of how it all happened, the oral story line over here is how I described. That's the damaging aspect as the belief is that the "farangs" started the entire incident. Again, right or wrong, ??

You saw the "hard core" Pattaya expats strolling over here in low season...LOL. No shirts, too many tattoos, enough money for 1-2 beers, and negative big mouths about everything. I have to say though that their ranks are much thinner since the new visa regs came about. Perhaps next trip this place will resemble HH? Pete

[buksida]

Spurs coach? I take back my words then, give em a good kickin!

[Jaime]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed!?

[DawnHRD]

Maybe the title of this thread should be changed!?

I'd agree with you, Jaime. The newspaper report doesn't seem to blame the farangs, does it? That was the story I'd heard, too.

[STEVE G]

I read this story on the Thai press agency site last week, but I didn’t take much notice of it as it seemed to me that a fight between English tourists or soccer fans and Thai soldiers could have started over anything and probably nothing.

[komfortablynumb]

for my 100 bahts worth.
whether the story is true or false.
It does reflect on young Westerners abroad.
too much money too much alcohol and too much testoserone.
It really pisses me that i know people in the UK that visit Pattaya for 2 weeks.
Play golf, use all the evening delights. And then tell me they know Thailand.
As a future Thai resident. I hope that we can be above that.
And show these good people.
We have a good heart.

[richard]

Very bad really

Read the press about yobos ruling the Uk towns

My daughters both based in the UK say 'Dad don't come back' you won't be safe

Nothing we can do about it though

Weak governments and lax controls

Must be getting old in my old age. In my day if you were out of order the local copper gave you a cuff behind the ear and threatened to take you home where your father woulld take the belt to you. Now you would be sued

Now the yobs are invading Thailand. As everywhere else of course

Nowt we can do about it

SAD