Trouble In Paradise?

[waza]

Trouble In Paradise? Suicide And Accidental Death Reach Epidemic Proportion On The Island Of Phuket!

Phuket on Thailand's South coast is a tropical island paradise, a romantic holiday destination with beautiful sandy beaches full of tourists that have come to escape the dreary winter months of Europe and North America. The locals have a reputation for their hospitality, and their charming Thai smiles, making tourists feel welcome and keeping them coming back year after year. Most tourists don't realize that there are an alarming number of unexplained deaths, and questionable suicides.

I was reading the local paper this morning, and I saw another story reported as a suicide, yet the circumstances seem to indicate that something more sinister is far more likely. This is nothing new, stories like this appear in the Phuket papers as often as weekly, with so many bizarre suicides reported in Phuket, it seems impossible to write them off as simply coincidence. Earlier this week, a prominent local media mogul was gunned down in the streets of Phuket Town, in an obvious assassination. Now it is being reported that the deceased journalist Wisut ''Ae'' Tangwittayaporn, first raised questions about the ownership of the Freedom Beach land, printing a story in his online newspaper. Today's report also suggests that a security guard who was questioned by investigators, and "had intimate knowledge of a controversial property at Phuket's Freedom Beach", has committed suicide just the day after the assassination of Khun Ae.

Now the official story is that the security guard felt pressured and depressed, and chose to end his own life, however his involvement in such a high profile land dispute has many people asking questions, and pointing fingers. The local law enforcement has a reputation for corruption, and it is believed that murders are often covered up, written off as suicides or accidental deaths. If you go back through the archives of the local newspapers, and read the reports of suicides and accidental deaths, the numbers are staggering.

http://travelinasia.hubpages.com/hub/Phuket-Death-Island

[Semper]

The locals have a reputation for their hospitality, and their charming Thai smiles

Would the word "locals" include the Tuk-Tuk drivers?

Edited February 5, 2012 by Semper

[waza]

The article then goes on to list a number of suspect suicides and accidental deaths in the recent past in Phuket.

[cdnvic]

Removed a post that linked to a source that does not allow us to link.

[fredtitmus]

The 1st time i came here i heard stories of people getting thrown off balconeys in pattaya to make it look like suicide,back then i didnt believe it but 6 years on i would believe almost anything,

[Boater]

there is also a few well know 'suicide's ' in koh samui last year , which as every tom dick and harry knowes was Murder and covered up !

[Beetlejuice]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

[LivinginKata]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

Lot of good advice in that post.

[walker600]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

Well Said!!

[Jimi007]

I read this blog a week or more ago. I thought it was a bit sensationalized. I've never had any real problems here and Beetlejuice's summary is pretty spot on....

[travelinasia]

I don't see how anyone can say that the article is sensationalized? It isn't like I am saying that all these stories are murders that are being covered up, however I listed dozens of incidents as they were reported in the media, that just don't make sense. I have tried to provide people with a little perspective, instead of writing them off as isolated incidents, when you see the frequency of the reports that look a little strange, it makes you think a little more. Ironically, just the day after I printed this article, PhuketWan printed a headline about a guy who "

may have slipped and fell when trying to rig a nylon cord to a tree". To me, that is a pretty "sensational" story ..

[waza]

I read this blog a week or more ago. I thought it was a bit sensationalized. I've never had any real problems here and Beetlejuice's summary is pretty spot on....

Sensationalised! your and Beetlejuices posts are the usual ignore it till it happens to you mindset. Or its their own fault because they didnt mind their own business. More buring your head in the sand, no sense of comunity or comradery. All this I am alright Jack attitude sends a green light to the Thais that the expat community is a soft target, that there isnt any repercussions for attacks, assults and murder of its members. But maybe this egocentric character is the reason people leave their native societies for the social isolation of an expat lifestyle in the first place.

Edited February 5, 2012 by waza

[manarak]

I read this blog a week or more ago. I thought it was a bit sensationalized. I've never had any real problems here and Beetlejuice's summary is pretty spot on....

Sensationalised! your and Beetlejuices posts are the usual ignore it till it happens to you mindset. Or its their own fault because they didnt mind their own business. More buring your head in the sand, no sense of comunity or comradery. All this I am alright Jack attitude sends a green light to the Thais that the expat community is a soft target, that there isnt any repercussions for attacks, assults and murder of its members. But maybe this egocentric character is the reason people leave their native societies for the social isolation of an expat lifestyle in the first place.

yeah... people with another mindset who try to bring such things to the attention of the public, like this "AE" journalist guy, tend to end up dead.

the best thing to do is to run a media campaign from abroad, not from within Thailand.

[Jimi007]

I read this blog a week or more ago. I thought it was a bit sensationalized. I've never had any real problems here and Beetlejuice's summary is pretty spot on....

Sensationalised! your and Beetlejuices posts are the usual ignore it till it happens to you mindset. Or its their own fault because they didnt mind their own business. More buring your head in the sand, no sense of comunity or comradery. All this I am alright Jack attitude sends a green light to the Thais that the expat community is a soft target, that there isnt any repercussions for attacks, assults and murder of its members. But maybe this egocentric character is the reason people leave their native societies for the social isolation of an expat lifestyle in the first place.

LOL! You must be the blogger! Promoting yourself? You're right! I don't hang out with other farangs. And neither have I left my native society. I haven't burned any of my bridges... Question is; why do you live here? If you actually do...

[waza]

LOL! You must be the blogger! Promoting yourself? You're right! I don't hang out with other farangs. And neither have I left my native society. I haven't burned any of my bridges... Question is; why do you live here? If you actually do...

Your far from the mark Jim007, if you read the post above mine you will see he is the blogger. PS: I dont shun other farrangs because I am not a born again Thai and I wouldnt live in Phuket for quids. I live in Bangkok but work in Australia so I travel between the two, but like you I have an escape plan for when the

[NamKangMan]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

Beetlejuice, I agree with the points you have made in you post, and try my best to adhere to most of them, most of the time. Especially the points about real estate and business here.

Having said that, I have a question for you, and maybe other members.

Given the many points you have mentioned on how to "survive" here, do you think Phuket, and therefore the Thai people, have either embraced, accepted or basically rejected, becoming a multicultural society?

Land ownership and residency laws etc aside, do YOU feel, as an individual, with the country, culture and language you come from and represent, accepted, tolerated or rejected, in Phuket/Thailand?

I know I don't feel like an "Alien" and the last time I looked, Phuket was still on planet earth and was inhabited by humans, and some tuk tuk drivers.

Edited February 5, 2012 by NamKangMan

[travelinasia]

The advice given by Beetlejuice is a fine approach to living life in Thailand, however it would be a mistake to think that if you follow that approach that you are impervious to any danger. Also anyone who comments saying "I have never had a problem", are you really going to ignore an issue until you become a victim yourself?

[barka]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

Lot of good advice in that post.

HEAR...HEAR..KUDOS...

[David Mault]

NamKang Man, are you saying that Tuk Tuk drivers aren't human?

[KarenBravo]

NamKang Man, are you saying that Tuk Tuk drivers aren't human?

Get well soon.

A sense-of-humour-bypass operation is quite a serious thing, I believe.

[Sharp]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

Although I fully understand your stance after being here over 15 yrs I feel your going over board some what's,

I feel the gut feeling wevgetbin business dealings normally keep me on the right path ,oh yes and I never Believe the smile but a good post for newbies .

[samsiam]

NamKang Man, are you saying that Tuk Tuk drivers aren't human?

Anthropologists are on their way to study...apparently.

[KarenBravo]

They're definitely Hominid.

Probably Homo Greedicus.

[walker600]

They're definitely Hominid.

Probably Homo Greedicus.

555

[thaiIand]

if i recall right, a few years ago in time magazine they stated over the course of 6pages that thought they had found proof that thais had their own "missing link" So we have the neandertals, the homo and the thais.

Would make sense. Thais are completely different from most 3rd worlders and their physical attributes are quite different from any other.

[F1fanatic]

The key to living at peace in Thailand, is to not get involved.

My advice is: don’t become land and real estate speculators, purchase your homes, land and businesses strictly according to Thai law, don’t open a bar, don’t create or open any business where you are in direct competition with Thais, avoid long term relations with females from the underclass’s of Thai society, adapt to Thai society and Thai ways, in a dispute try to give the Thai the benefit of the doubt or at least a good compromise, don’t lose your temper, be polite and above all, don’t do drugs (use or deal) stay legal and within Thai law at all times, do not expect a yes Massa response from a Thai and don’t expect services and attitudes to equate those of the West.

Stick to these golden rules for foreigners living in Thailand, be safe, enjoy and live your lives in peace here.

Although I fully understand your stance after being here over 15 yrs I feel your going over board some what's,

I feel the gut feeling wevgetbin business dealings normally keep me on the right path ,oh yes and I never Believe the smile but a good post for newbies .

Beetlejuice is right and has summed it up perfectly. He is not going "overboard" at all.

Yes, some break these rules and get away with it - but others aren't so lucky.

Follow his rules and you're unlikely to end up in a situation where you 'commit suicide', as there will be nobody out there who would benefit financially from your 'suicide'.

[travelinasia]

Perhaps all you fellows that think Beetlejuice's infinite wisdom is the answer, and that all those who end up falling victim to violence must have broken one of his golden rules, should write this down and put it on a postcard, mail it out to the families of all the deceased? I am sure they would appreciate it. For that matter, there is no sense in questioning these mystery deaths, as it is already so simple .. the victims must not have followed these unwritten rules, therefore they don't deserve any better fate? Is that what you guys are saying?

[F1fanatic]

Perhaps all you fellows that think Beetlejuice's infinite wisdom is the answer, and that all those who end up falling victim to violence must have broken one of his golden rules, should write this down and put it on a postcard, mail it out to the families of all the deceased? I am sure they would appreciate it. For that matter, there is no sense in questioning these mystery deaths, as it is already so simple .. the victims must not have followed these unwritten rules, therefore they don't deserve any better fate? Is that what you guys are saying?

You're right. Trying to point out the 'golden rules' is dishonouring "those who fell victim to violence".

Far better that we all stay quiet and say nothing.

[NamKangMan]

They're definitely Hominid.

Probably Homo Greedicus.

:) That's funny. :)

[KarenBravo]

Perhaps all you fellows that think Beetlejuice's infinite wisdom is the answer, and that all those who end up falling victim to violence must have broken one of his golden rules, should write this down and put it on a postcard, mail it out to the families of all the deceased? I am sure they would appreciate it. For that matter, there is no sense in questioning these mystery deaths, as it is already so simple .. the victims must not have followed these unwritten rules, therefore they don't deserve any better fate? Is that what you guys are saying?

The above post is a perfect example of how to build a complete house using only three bricks.