Is Bangkok really as safe as we think?

[hhfarang]

I've always thought Bangkok was one of the safest big cities I've ever been to, even late at night, but this happened in the middle of the afternoon according to this journalist.

Nation journalist held up at gunpoint by 'police'
Published on January 13, 2011

Walking along Sanphawut Road at around 4.30pm on Thursday, my son and I were stopped by a group of three men, one in uniform, standing opposite the Chinese temple.

They nodded at each other then stopped us and asked whether we were Indians. Assuming they were policemen, I answered yes and showed them my driving licence and ID card for The Nation, where I work. One of the group then snapped: "You don't talk anymore. We are from Immigration. We want your passport." Another man emerged from the rear seat of a Toyota Vigo pickup and pushed us into it, taking away my wallet with ID card, driving licence, credit card, debit card and money, while two of the original group got in the front.

We told them our passports were at home, and they said they'd take us there. Instead, they sped past our building, telling us to "shut up" and that they were taking us to Immigration. After demanding my wallet, I succeeded in snatching it back. Instead of taking a right-turn for Suan Plu and the Immigration Department, the pickup went left to Thanon Thangrot Fai Sai Kao and towards Samrong. I said I needed to call my office and inform them I was being taken to Immigration, but they would have none of it. In the commotion I realised that the man next to me was trying to prise the wedding ring off my finger. It was obvious that all of them were drunk and looking to make a quick buck from innocent foreigners.

I managed to get the ring back, then, as I tried to call my office, the man in the back grabbed at my cellphone. My son protested, and was told that he was "talking to much" by the driver, who threatened he would be shot. His partner in front then produced a gun, cocked it and pointed it at my son.

I told them they didn't look like real policemen (two were in plain clothes), and asked to see some ID. Simultaneously they produced their cards, saying: "How dare you ask such questions. We don't like The Nation. You are against the police. You'll be taken to Pattaya and shot."

We asked what they wanted. The "policeman" beside us produced a cellophane bag and ordered us to put our belongings in it, then grabbed at the wallet belonging to my son, who resisted. The man responded by trying to put handcuffs on my son. The front-seat passenger again pointed his gun at my son, barking that he "deserved to die".

Looking for an exit, we wound down the windows. The pickup then slowed as we reached an intersection, and we took our chance, struggling desperately with the "policemen" in an effort to open the doors. I cranked open my door, which was immediately nicked by another car, causing the driver of our vehicle to scream at his colleagues to stop us. At this point we began yelling for help to attract attention.

The spooked driver swerved towards the right kerb, and we managed to jump out. The pickup, with number plate Cho kacher O ang 5342, then sped away against the traffic in the wrong lane.

We were shaken up, but knew we could have suffered much worse at the hands of three out-of-control, drunk, gun-wielding thugs calling themselves policemen. It was a hair-raising ordeal and my 17-year-old son is already having nightmares. This is Bangkok, not the badlands of Pakistan or Iraq, and yet men in uniform are able to roam the streets preying on foreigners. I dread to think what the outcome would have been had something similar happened to my wife or any woman less able to defend herself.

George Cherian
Sports editor (The Nation)

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

[VincentD]

Think it's descending into anarchy. Hope I'm wrong, though.

Thai pilot shot during road rage:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/ ... age-frenzy

Thinking of getting a fairly dark tint on my windows, have had a scare or two recently. Think this 'descent' is also partly due to the 'colour politics' where more than a blind eye is turned towards carrying of illegal firearms, and if caught, blame it on politics, not crime.

This is a personal opinion, nothing more.

[PeteC]

It's starting to sound like not a bad idea for all of us to invest in some pepper spray or mace and carry it when in areas and at times appropriate. Not just for women anymore I'm afraid. Pete

[Acadian450]

Wow you guys slow down, I live in Canada but recently spent two months in Thailand, believe me it is safe compared to here and I live in small town Canada. I am moving to Thailand in August and I hope my head in not in the sand but I will live like I do here and I donèt see any more danger in Bangkok than in Halifax, NS, Canada!

[Spitfire]

Yes, Thailand is still generally safe for the most part for the average traveler or resident but there are plenty of crooks around too, especially in some type of uniform, some quite dangerous too.

I have never really considered BBK as a safe place, per say. Where I might go in BBK might be generally OK but has never occurred to me to label the city as "safe", maybe it's just me though.

However, people, in general, are getting more and more desperate for money by any means and most need more than ever now, especially in such socio-economically complicated times.

Can only get worse IMO, especially with the threat of inflation looming this year, all over Asia, a few stories are starting to hit the news already about the forecasts for 2011, and all say it's on the way up.

Couple that with possibly a $100 a barrel of oil soon and it doesn't look good for many in lots of countries. Lots of people will struggle to afford a basic life and the temptation into crime can only intensify.

[migrant]

Every city has it's good, and bad, areas I believe. I've always felt safe in BKK as well as many other cities around the world, but whenever I travel I try to be aware of my surroundings. I grew up in Detroit Michigan, and there were enough 'bad' areas that I learned early on to always be careful wherever you are. The random shootings that have happened here in the states, and other countries, show that anyplace, anywhere, can have problems.

[johnnyk]

Lots of Canadians and Americans go to Mexico in the winter.
Some have said they worry that Thailand is not safe.
I reply about 80 were killed during last year's riots.
34,000 have been killed in Mexico's drug wars within the past 3 years.