thehawk

from the CBC website (Canadian news station)

Deadly Thai shooting unprovoked, says injured Canadian victim

Last Updated: Monday, January 7, 2008 | 8:56 AM ET

CBC News

A Canadian woman shot in Thailand has contradicted an official Thai police report into the shooting death of her Canadian companion, saying they were attacked for no reason.

Thai police on Monday said John Leo Del Pinto, 25, died early Sunday of two gunshot wounds — one to the face and one to the torso — and his pregnant partner, Carly Reisig, also of Canada, was in hospital with a bullet wound in her body.

Police said the pair, who lived in the town of Mae Hong Son, had a fight while drinking at a bar. The fight escalated outside and turned physical when a police officer tried to intervene, said Col. Sombat Panya of Pai district in northern Mae Hong Son.

The officer involved, Sgt. Uthai Dechawiwat, told Thai investigators the pair attacked him when he tried to intervene, and that his gun "accidentally went off" three times as he tried to defend himself.

But Reisig contradicted the official police report Monday, telling a reporter in Thailand that an undercover officer attacked them for no reason.

Cindy Tilney, a reporter with Thai website Citylife Chang Mai, visited Reisig in hospital, where the Canadian is in stable condition with a bullet wound to her chest.

Tilney said Reisig is in shock and upset over the shootings, which she said started when she and Del Pinto left a bar. Reisig, who denied being pregnant, said she arrived in Thailand several days ago to visit Del Pinto, who she said was her ex-boyfriend and good friend.

Reisig said she and Del Pinto were not fighting when they left the bar and passed an undercover officer while walking to another part of town. She said the man rushed up and hit her and that Del Pinto subsequently shoved the man.

Reisig told Tilney she had her face "painted" and believes that may have angered the man.

According to Reisig, the man then rushed to a nearby motorcycle and retrieved a gun. Del Pinto and the man struggled for control of the gun before the man shot them both, she said.

Reisig said she has spoken with Del Pinto's family in Canada and they were very upset.

Tilney said the police officer has been charged with manslaughter but is not being held in custody. The town's police chief said suspects who admit guilt are allowed to be released before their trials.

Now that's getting me quite excited .....

Keep it in your pants, David.

Now, please say some kind words to the Hawk as he thinks I'm bashing him for being altruistic.

No need. Thought my example fit the category - apperently not to some people . I may have to take back my earlier kudos to Jet for coming up with a good topic. But, I'll stand behind my original example - treating a stranger like family is a 'kind gesture'. You have to give me that.

Nicest thing any Thai person has ever done for me... My in-laws let me marry their daughter.

Are you a nice and respectable boy and a stellar example of a nice and respectable non-Thai boy?

I try my best - no major screw ups yet (unless convincing her to move to Canada counts). Really, the getting married part was in our own hands. More accurately put, the nicest thing was that they let me into their family.

Oh My God. You sound like a bleeding heart socialist tree hugger. Life really ain't like that Hawk. The Canadian government obviously did a good job of mind mugging you, honey. Good luck.

wow - where'd that come from? all i meant was they treated me like family. this is yet another instance of something getting lost in the internet translation. i might restrict myself to face-to-face conversations with people from now on. for some reason my meaning gets lost/skewed in all my electronic communications.

Nicest thing any Thai person has ever done for me... My in-laws let me marry their daughter.

Are you a nice and respectable boy and a stellar example of a nice and respectable non-Thai boy?

I try my best - no major screw ups yet (unless convincing her to move to Canada counts). Really, the getting married part was in our own hands. More accurately put, the nicest thing was that they let me into their family.

Nicest thing any Thai person has ever done for me... My in-laws let me marry their daughter.

Many other stories of helpful/kind strangers, but the comments above list very similar experiences with different characters. Keep up the good work Joe Public Thailand.

Great thread. Nice to hear the positive side of things.

In order for gas vapours to explode the concentration has to reach 100% LEL (lower explosive limit). The chance of this occurring in the air between your gas tank and your cell phone at the exact instant your phone rings (and if the phone generates a spark) is minimal, if not negligible. I don't know if it's a myth, but it's definitely a statistical improbability.

A poster named Gary A added this in an unrelated topic:

MANY years ago I was given some great advice. I didn't appreciate it at the time because I was still young and determined to set the world on fire. As the years passed by, I often thought about that advice. It was; "Don't concern yourself with things you have no control over".

This is basically what I was getting at when I posted. But, it's a pretty lame topic. No need for further comment.

found this in the travel section of this forum. didn't look at it, but it might be worth a look:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=66797

Thais see their share of oddities in our countries too.

And they do that in their own country as well, especially now. And they do complain as much as we do, and often about similar things.

Yes, good idea, he should put the guidebook down. Trying to be more Thai than the Thais is not a good idea.

Again with the guidebook.... hmmm.

I don't think I was trying to say people should attempt to become Thai, but rather, just adapt to their surroundings. I guess that's easy for me to say since I haven't had to try to follow my own advice for a very long time. 2/2 say I'm wrong. Any other takers?

1. Put the guidebook down.

The sarcasm and jokes are ways to deal with the oddities of life of which Thailand has no shortage. Spend some time here (beyond a vacation) and you will understand. Most of us love Thailand but sometimes the things we see just boggle our minds. Thais see their share of oddities in our countries too.

I think if you try to take Thailand too seriously you could go insane. Nobody knows that better than Thais themselves whom you will notice have the ability to laugh at just about anything.

People here are adjusting to living in a strange environment, and the forum is a place for them to vent in ways that's not possible to do in a country where the culture and language is not their own.

Thanks. Good comment (except the guidebook part). I have to qualify myself though: lived there for a year (not too long, but it's something), married to a Thai lady for 5 years (currently live in Canada). So we both know what it's like to a certain extent. I'm not trying to criticize other posters too heavily for their comments. Just wanted to get some feedback, and you provided some. Thanks again.

I originally joined TV to get some immigration tips - fantastic help on here. Helped me alot. Seems like most advice/responses were given with helping people out in mind.

Now I mostly browse through news clippings and other Thai related topics. I'm still relatively new to this forum, but it looks like alot of people complain a great deal about all aspects of Thailand, and make comments (often sarcasitc) about how the country should operate, as if they actually know. I think might be guilty of doing the same thing in a few of my posts/replies. But, I just had a thought:

If you aren't Thai and you're visiting/living in Thailand, then adapt. You're in a foreign country.

Am I wrong? PLEASE comment and tell me why all the negative/sarcastic comments (without referring to the american declaration of independence/bill of rights).

I think Hucus is trying to say that the exchange rate isn't good when he withdraws from his foreign account using a Visa CC. So he wants to get his "home" currency (i.e. USD, EUR) and exchange at the thai bank on his own at a better rate. Is that right, Hucus?

ya - vonage is good. i'm in canada. tried to get a thai phone number on a vonage router (not available yet - sucks) so my wife can call home without worrying about phone bills. i even thought getting a UK number might be cheaper than getting a canadian number, but it wasn't. vonage is still better than the LD rates from Bell Canada. with the monthly fee, it works out to be about 60% of the cost we were paying previously. And when we travel/move to thailand, we can bring the canadian vonage phone number with us. i just wish my inlaws had high speed in their home so we could send them the vonage router.

One other comment (or maybe a couple)...

I'm a nonsmoker. Couldn't care less if people smoke, as long as it's not inside - for 2 reasons. One - If I go to a restaurant for 2 hours to eat, I have to go home and wash my formerly clean clothes because they smell like smoke. Two - my eyes have a low tolerance to the build-up of formaldehyde in the air caused by the accumulation of smoke; makes my eyes sting (I'm an environmental engineer and the formaldehyde=eye sting link was on the final exam of my Indoor Air Quality course, so you'll have to trust me that it's the cause). The point being, the human brain doesn't factor in the long term effects of every unpleasant thing it encounters on a daily basis. Isn't it enough for smokers that by smoking outside instead of in the bar, you'll be saving people time on laudry and $$ on eye drops?

Comment #2: if I smoked, I would feel comfortable smoking anywhere open to the atmosphere (i.e. bus stops, balconies, etc.). TIP TO NONSMOKERS - learn how to stand upwind.

It is my choice to risk lung cancer and any other form of disease by smoking cigarettes. In doing so I accept this may not be everyones choice hence I commit to carry out my habit in such a way as not to inconvenience or put at risk the health or lifestyle of those around me. My responsibility is to keep others around me free from the risks and any unpleasantness from second hand smoke. The responsibility of others is to me is to allow me to conduct my life in a way of my choosing.

Seems that this is all the gov. is asking from everyone concerned.

Agreed... no need for a human rights debate. If you smoke, just think about the guy next to you who might not. It's like urinating in public - nobody really thinks its the best thing to do, but if you have to do it, then do it behind a bush.

so it only applies to the visa-on-arrival portion of the stay - so someone could potentially stay for 180 days if they hade a tourist visa for a 90 day stay and then used the visa-on-arrival for an additional 90 days?

(sidenote: dont know why i'm bothering with this - not even planning a trip to thailand any time soon, and when i do i'll be moving there)

I'm from Canada, so normally exempt (i.e. can get visa on arrival). So if I had a proper tourist visa for 90 days, could I leave and re-enter with a visa-on-arrival? Pretty sure the answer is no, but I thought this example might help someone out. Peace

First time I went to Thailand I had a tourist visa (60 day stay) which I got extended at an imigration office (additional 30 days). Under the newly enforced reg's would someone be able to do a standard border crossing and return immediately? Or does the time spent in the country using the visa count against the traveller?

...Meaning, if someone travelled for 90 days with a visa, do they have to leave Thailand for 90 days before they return using the visa-on-arrival provision?

...but the house owner, i.e. your wife, should list you on this form and submit it to Immigration.

--------------

Maestro

Thanks alot - clears that up

Thanks Sunbelt. I was hoping you'd jump in and give me the "official" response. Exactly what I was looking for. I'm sure I'll be calling you at some point down the road to solicit your services for extension/WP/company.

My Thai Wife will be buying our land/house in her name. Do I get listed on the Tabien Ban (assuming all visa/extensions of stay are in order)?

You can start as many companies, as you want to.

However, if you wish to work in such a company, you need a WP, which will be granted either under 'O' or 'B', as long as all other documents are in order.

thanks - nice and straightforward. just what i was looking for in a response. So Non-O covers me for extension of stay, work, and company start-up. Duck #1 of many in a row.

Some useful, if not confusing, information. But it doesn't answer my initial question:

If I enter with a Non-O visa, get a 1 year extension for "support thai wife", can I start a company? Or do I need to enter with a Non-B visa initially?

thanks for the info - i definitely understand why the rules are in place. if they weren't, the flood gates would open pretty quickly. I'm just trying to get a better feel for the nuances of the system. all the comments so far have helped. thanks again.

1. Yes. If your extension is approved, you can stay for 1 year without having to leave the country every 90 days, but just as you write, you are obliged to report to Immigration every 90 days.

2. You can not let the 400,000 "sit", the money is intended to be used actively for your "support of Thai citizen", and Immigration have the authority to check that this requirement is fulfilled with your Thai bank. A fresh 400 000 baht transferred in from abroad to a Thai bank account, every year, is what is required.

Since you are of working age, you also need to show proof of employment.

So even if my wife has a source of income that could support both of us and I don't need to touch the original deposit, I still have to come up with an additional 400k every year?

(Don't get me wrong - I plan on working. But if my wife can support me, then do I really need to meet the financial requirements to "support" my wife? --- And I thought it was a convoluted process to immigrate to Canada from Thailand! )