Foreign Nationals Cause Of Non Natural Death

[geriatrickid]

Many threads in TV make reference to news articles, statistics and anecdotal information in an effort to support the view that foreign nationals as a group are at great risk of being murdered while they are visiting or resident in Thailand. A random review of the cited articles and of the general fatality records for several countries (UK, Canada and USA) does not support this position. What is supported is that certain demographic groups are more likely to have an non natural cause of death than other groups. This characteristic common to all countries.

The leading cause of non natural death for all foreign nationals in Thailand involves motor vehicles. Death rates where motor vehicles are involved while greater than in most of the victims native countries, and reflects the local risk environment. Fatalties involving males and motorcycles is also pronounced. A claim that foreigners are specifically targeted for death by motor vehicle crash is an erroneous conclusion. What is more accurate, is that one is more likely to die due to a motor vehicle crash in Thailand than in countries such as Australia, Canada etc. However, the mortality rates do indicate that a foreigner in Thailand is less likely to die due to a motor vehicle incident than a native Thai.

In another thread, I discussed the non natural deaths recorded by the US Department of State. The USA has one of the most extensive reports of any nation, although there is lack of specifics particularly in respect to motor vehicle deaths and the involvement of motorcycles. The US data showed that murder, while it occurred, was not overly significant once other contributing factors were accounted for.In respect to articles that have been cited, a closer reading of those articles allows for questions to be asked as to whether or not they provide actual evidence of the position that there is a greater likelihood of murder for a foreign national tourist. The answer is no, the articles do not provide a basis for that conclusion.

The Norwich Union Study as referenced by Emma Gunby The Guardian July 10 2006 has been cited several times in TV. The article states that "Thailand is the most hazardous destination for British holidaymakers, where they are most likely to suffer food poisoning, theft, traffic accidents or the loss of belongings. A survey based on more than 60,000 claims made to Norwich Union in 2005 found travellers to South Africa were the most likely to suffer violent robberies or lose belongings in transit. Austria was named the most likely place to suffer a skiing or snowboarding accident, and the Czech Republic had the highest number of claims for pickpocketing. The safest destination was Ireland, said Norwich Union".

The comments on Thailand are not out of the ordinary and they do not support the view that a British citizen will likely be murdered. Nowrich Union sells travel related insurance. It is a profit making venture, so the intent of the press release was to promote its product.. Coverage starts at the time of departure, so thefts and lost luggage at the airport and in transit are also covered. The results for the aforementioned are skewed because of airline baggage issues. Food poisoning is to

be expected for many tourists that do not appreciate that food hygiene in Thailand combined with the temperature can easily strike down the typical Brit (or American or European).

The UK Foreign Office reports also feature as common citations as indicating that UK citizens are at risk. What the specific travel report states is as follows; "Around 850,000 British nationals visited Thailand in 2006 (Tourism Authority of Thailand figure). The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Thailand in 2006 were for: replacing lost or stolen passports (over 750 cases); deaths, mostly from road accidents or related to drink/drugs (over 250 cases); and hospitalizations (over 200 cases). The majority of consular cases occur in Bangkok, Pattaya and Koh Samui." The UK information clearly indicates that the most likely cause of death is road crash, nothing else.

Another popular reference is The Independent article by Andrew Spooner Sunday, 13 January 2008. The item states; "The number of deaths of British nationals' in Pattaya is hard to ascertain – though some sources claim that it is up to four every week, neither the FCO nor the Thai authorities have any data they are prepared to release. However, what can be speculated with some confidence is that of the 226 average annual deaths of British citizens in Thailand recorded by the FCO, a large percentage are in Pattaya. (The FCO refuse to list causes of deaths, so we must also speculate as to the reasons for this morbid hotspot. Anecdotal evidence suggests straightforward causes of death for some, such as road accidents and health problems; then there are the suspicious-sounding "suicides" – jumping from balconies seems to be a favoured method.) At present FCO information regarding deaths in Thailand is limited. Andy Pearce, the deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Bangkok, admits that the murder rate of Britons resident in Thailand is about the same as the domestic Thai rate – roughly five times higher than in the UK – but adds that this is only an estimate. (There are thought to be about 50,000 British resident in the country at present.) "To create the kind of advice needed on murder rates would require a greater statistical base and more research," he says.

The above information is revealing in another way. What we do know is that the majority of UK foreign nationals reside in the Pattaya area. Many are over 60 and there are a large number who are in relationships with Thai nationals. This sets out specific characteristics of that population.

The article does not state that British citizens are targeted for murder. Rather, it merely reiterates what many observers have long stated, that murder is often associated with domestic situations rather than random crime events.

In respect to the presumed "high" numbers of suicides, the likelihood of suicide is greater because of the demographics of the population, not because it is being used to cover up murders or because Thailand induces suicide. Almost all of the male suicides reported for Pattaya involve older males that are either reported to have had financial problems, or health issues, or a relationship that ended, and/or substance abuse problems. It is easier for some to claim murder than to accept the taboo of suicide. The fact of the matter is that the characteristics of the reported suicides fit the profile of a suicide.

What may have mislead some people was the the reference to 226 average annual deaths in Thailand. That number includes natural deaths. It is to be expected when the population has a large component of older people, many of whom have pre-existing health conditions. . Nowhere does the article support the supposition that murders are out of control. Depending upon ones sources, approximately 45-65 British citizens are murdered around the world annually. My reading of reports indicates that between 5 and 7 UK citizens on average in any given year are murdered in Thailand. Of these, most are domestic violence related. What is not available is sufficient data with which to examine those domestic relationships to determine how many involved relationships with partners of a younger age and/or a background or work history that elevated the likelihood of a crime.

Simply put, for the typical tourist, the likelihood of murder is not a concern. What is of concern is the greater likelihood of injury due to a motor vehicle incident (when compared to the foreigner's homeland)

[GuestHouse]

Andy Pearce, the deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Bangkok, admits that the murder rate of Britons resident in Thailand is about the same as the domestic Thai rate – roughly five times higher than in the UK – but adds that this is only an estimate. (There are thought to be about 50,000 British resident in the country at present.) "To create the kind of advice needed on murder rates would require a greater statistical base and more research," he says.

Some Observations - The deputy head of mission at the British Embassy estimates the murder rate for Britons in Thailand to be 5 times that of Britons in the UK (as an estimate it could be lower, it could be higher).

He also claims a greater statistical database and more research is required (Over how many years has the Briitish Embassy been receiving reports of Britons murdered in Thailand (or indeed has the foreign office been receiving data on Britons murdered overseas)? and why the reluctance to release the statistics?

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Was it Suicide or was it Murder?

Putting aside the blatant false recording of causes of death (and we all of us have read reports of foreigners who shot themselves several times in the head, or tied their hands behind their backs before shooting themselves) and accepting reports of suicide at face value, the question remains open 'What is the correlation between method of suicide of UK citizens in Thailand v UK citizens in the UK?'.

Old guys jumping off buildings is a pretty rare event in the UK - its a common in Pattaya. How so? Are the usual methods of alcohol and sleeping tablets not available in Thailand? - Clearly they are, the lack of control on medications makes it extremely easy for a heart broken, wallet broken or fatally ill guy to obtain the means of quiet and painless departure.

Again, why the reluctance to release statistics? - The Embassy staff are, as expats, aware of the concerns of people with respect to this issue.

[Maizefarmer]

Doesnt the Uk have a "freedom of information act" - surely if they can splurge on the front page what each elected member of parliment spends kitting out his official pad - and what and where they buy it - then theses stats could alos be obtained.