slipperylobster

Sure the body was washed to shore.... we know that it did not swim there.

Your wife fools around with Turkeys..?............ ......................

There is definitely something in the "oven".....and it's not Duck.

Congratulations..dad.

Is there someone living in Udon who would be willing to go to the hospital and check up on this poor fellow? Just wondering if he is getting the support he needs by any friends/family? Have they been notified? Seems to me, being unconscious, he could really use some kind in an advocate.

Seems that there're plenty of TVF members living in Udon. Does the guy's family know what happened? According to another source he had been a teacher.

Any update would be greatly appreciated, as I'm a member of DHV/Bangkok, which is an organisation that helps German people in Thailand.

Will send them an email now.

Thanks for pointing this out. I am going there on Sunday, but there must be somebody in the area right now. Also German consulate/embassy should give a call, and raise hell. Seems 5 other Thai men were just released from Koh Samui Jail...awaiting charges for murdering a German. Whats up? A little pressure might do good

This must be the new "Five out, Five in" rule. Just read about the attempted Murder in Udon with the hoe. That along with the successful murder with the hoe (Koh Tao) would basically make it that.

Where I went to school...it still adds up to 10 bads guys, who find it fun to kill farangs. That is just recently~~

Good ideas. One for the septic system...the other for just grey water that finds itself outside to a drainage canal

According to the news they put out....it is "Reckless Behavior:".... for 18 year old men to run to to the park with a hoe and smash farangs on the head, in the hopes that they die...and they win a bet.

When I grew up, reckless behavior was grabbing the back bumper of a truck/car, on an icy road in wintertime, and getting a free ride. But we were 12.... not 18.

No...it does not happen everywhere, to the extent it happens here. Not violence against tourists...just not anywhere the same. There are deaths and violence everywhere...and especially in western "civilized countries". And you will find some reports. But not like here.

Of course you are correct.

But the Thai apologists come out each time something happens and say "but it happens elsewhere"...or "20 years and I've never seems trouble, therefore Thailand must be safe". They are trying to rationalize being here by putting up blinders, despite the obvious.

...and in isolation, they are probably correct, but it's the sheer volume of beatings, deaths, suicides, scams, robberies, misadventure and so on that make Thailand absolutely unique, especially when these crimes are against tourists. There is nowhere in the world where tourists get in so much trouble, and fewer places that do absolutely nothing about it.

Some people aren't real bright. They see what they want to see...until they get struck in the back of the head by a garden hoe for no reason.

Wake up.

Some of these apologists are, of course, just naive...perhaps settled in some family-oriented, gated community. (Shopping mall and Tesco lotus lovers). They might never have that feeling of uncertainty that the more adventurous crowd feels. Renting Jet Ski's, scooters, riding packed vans and buses and high speed at 4am, full moon parties, late night dinners and club activities, walking alone down private beaches. These are things tourists do....not so much the expats. Let us think of making it safe for tourists. It is, overall, safe for the expat/retiree. We need to get the word out, however, that many of these gangs of kids find it fun to hurt people. I used to enjoy the wild life...and still do a night out 4 times a month. But now I bring my wife (to drive and watch my back). I just don't want to be out looking for a ride, after a few beers.. Call me lucky that I can retire with only a few bumps, bruises, and cracked teeth left. It was quite a life..for 18years (living only in Asia). My balls are not hanging as low as they used to.

Forgot to add the obvious.... Many other apologists are business owners of clubs/restaurants/travel agencies, and some others are trying to sell their condos. They would not want to scare away prospective customers.

Had it in our newly, rented house (the kitchen). I went out and followed the drain. There was a troth it emptied into, and then a cement drain box in the ground. That finally led to the road gutter. I cleaned the cement drain box (full of leaves, stones and mud), swept out the troth, and I could still smell it. I then took a garden hose, and snaked it down the kitchen sink. With some pressured water, along with some good old in/out action on the hose....I was able to flush out the years of gunk stuck inside the drainpipe (under cement). This, had nothing to do with the bathroom...just the kitchen sink.

I followed up with some hot water (to loosen old grease)

You can now block the outside drain pipe (the furthest out), and fill the kitchen drain with vinegar and water. Let it stand overnight. then uplug the drain (outside end)

It now smells darn good.

This girl will be soon authoring a book, I suppose. Profits will be invested. Not a bad move, for either Charlie, or her..... as he is not allowed to profit...directly.

Tue Nov 18: why this gruesome thing is not yet on national papers e.g. BKK Post, The Nation nor on international tabloids - anything wrong with the story?

You can bet that this news will be made international, if it can be helped. Most likely, as it puts the Koh Tao murders in perspective. Now it can be demonstrated how easily a Thai can attack a farang with a hoe....it does not have to be, specifically, a burmese man. Quite controversial...and might make people take a second look.

I don't want to be a fear mongerer. It sure looks like I am. However, I worry about the light hearted, forgiving approach handed out to perpetrators. It makes it all the more dangerous, when these violent people are let loose again. It empowers them, and, in return, other gangs will emulate that.

It is not that I am saying Thailand is dangerous.... and that everyone will be in danger....

What I am saying is that, Gangs, thugs, little wanna-be murderers....will not be held accountable. If no justice is served, then these crimes will happen more and more.

Important to keep this thread going. This should get picked up internationally, as one poster wisely stated.

There needs to be quick action to make "copycat hoe attackers" know this cannot become a trend.

It is not a trend yet....but could quickly catch on....as a dare.

Teens are quick to pick up on our worries.

No...it does not happen everywhere, to the extent it happens here. Not violence against tourists...just not anywhere the same. There are deaths and violence everywhere...and especially in western "civilized countries". And you will find some reports. But not like here.

its no surprise with all the thai psycho dumbs posting on facebook pics like this

Does anyone else see more than one "hoe"?

Soon to be Hub of Hoes (in more ways than one)

We need to know more about the background of this tragic incident.

Did the young German know his attackers? Is he working in Thailand or just a tourist on a short visit ? Yes. most probably the Thai teens were high on drugs and booze , but still would like to know if the German just was sitting in the park and was suddenly attacked without any earlier confrontations.

I feel safe in Thailand after 5 years here , never felt any danger, except getting to close to drunk farangs.

Anyway the police did a good job catching the boys .

The provided information to the police...their story is in the article. They went out, bought a hoe, carried it to the park, and dared each other to kill a farang with it. That is pretty damming self-incrimination.

It would be interesting to hear the German man give his explanation, except he is almost dead. The two other Thai people with him, probably already gave statements....

Perhaps the German man attacked them first? I really doubt it. If they were enemies, or had some kind of family dispute, would this make it ok ...to be attacked with a hoe in a park????

Looks like random violence...but I am open to more info. Easy to say something never happened to us...so that everything is perfectly normal. I was a victim of a rough robbery attempt, while walking back to my hotel, in Bangkok. Two men grabbed me, shoved me around to a small alley, and put their hands in my pocket. I grabbed each hand and yelled....choui douai. (I could have easily overpowered them, but just held them by their wrists). A gun or a knife would have been the end of it. for me. No...you can be a victim here. ..many victims will tell you, but some are not alive.

They look like adults. But because they were drinking and said sorry , they will go unpunished. Just a slight transgression. Boys will be boys.

Anywhere else it would be a premeditated cold blooded horrible murder. Fit for the the most harshest of punishment possible, under law.

No doubt the perpetrators though they would go free just like the actual criminals on Kao Tao.

They look like adults. But because they were drinking and said sorry , they will go unpunished. Just a slight transgression. Boys will be boys.

Anywhere else it would be a premeditated cold blooded horrible murder. Fit for the the most harshest of punishment possible, under law.

It is horrifying to hear that they emulate killings of farangs. It is catching on. Definitely a new trend starting with Koh Tao. Dark, black thoughts....

we were bad kids growing up...but it was with cans of spray paint, skipping school, and splashing people by driving though puddles. Not chopping up tourists with farm equipment.

...is it hatred, stupidity, wickedness? Maybe a combination.

Who really knows....but there certainly seems to be an evil trait developing among young Thai men over the past few years......

They are handed scooters, cars, and cash to run around freely. There are no alternative forms of fun...just malingering, gang rivalry, and drinking/drugs.

Mom, dad, teachers, police and municipal hall have to inclination to teach any precepts of decent behavior. Sorry..but true

This is very upsetting...particularly to my wife and I. We spent many mornings in that park...just before sunrise. In the 3 years that we lived there, we went every day, and saw nothing like this. There was a gruesome murder of a bar owner by his own staff, at his house...but not random violence at the park.

Police and military are helpless against this kind of violence.

I know it sounds bad....because it is.

Which Udon park was it?

There are three popular parks. Nong Prajak is the biggest, and most popular for morning exercise. There are more gangs here than the other two smaller ones. Many more farangs use Nong Prajak... However, my wife and I used all the parks....although we lived closest to Nong Prajak. These gangs can be anywhere...at any park. It is not a big place.

I know mate. I just wondered if it was the latest lake that was improved; Nong Bua, which I like and use. Before it was improved the lake area had a bad reputation for teenage crime.

I am sure we will find out. Must be some Thai gossip going around Udon by now....I am thinking Nong Prajak. Saw hundreds of scooters and kids parked at a time.

Makes me uncomfortable just walking by somebody tilling their soil...as innocent as it may look. The idea is in their head, I bet.

What next? A Christmas Travel Ad with a Thai Santa Claus laughing.....hoe.hoe.hoe

Meanwhile Thais some people continue to gloat & post pictures of themselves looking menacing with garden tools...

Those photos should go on travel brochures............ We got hoes....more than you need.

This makes it pretty much impossible to complete our plan of bringing my 92 year old mom to the land of smiles. It took two years to convince my older brothers that it would be a nice, safe place (not that it is not, on the whole). The problem is, with all the violence to tourists in the news, this may well get into the New York papers. One look at the city "Udon" will unravel all the planning we have done. We even are in the process of screening several flight companions to accompany my mom here.

This is the straw that broke the camel's back...so to speak. I do not think I can make a convincing argument for her safety.

This would be the first time..........ever..........that I heard of any gang member carrying a hoe for self protection. Not very crafty....and not a weapon you can stash away should the police care to look. Cannot enter a bar with a hoe either. (oops on that again)