3 slain as Songkran turns ugly

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Youth, 16, shot by rival gang on Sathorn

Three vicious murders marred Songkran celebrations in separate incidents around the country yesterday.

In one, a 58-year-old man in Chumphon was clubbed to death by a drunken reveller for objecting to being drenched with water.

In another case in Bangkok, an underage member of an illegal motorcycle gang was shot dead and four others wounded when a rival gang opened fire after a Silom Road water fight turned deadly.

And in Satun, a man knifed a drunken reveller to death for allegedly molesting his sister during a water fight.

Wissanu Wilaikaew, 16, took a bullet to his left chest and four fellow gang members were shot and injured in a salvo fired by members of a rival gang, who approached them on 15 motorcycles on Sathorn Road, near Silom, at around 10pm. Survivors said the groups had brawled earlier in the day during the festivities on Silom, but they had not expected a reprisal so long afterward.

The shooter, described as chubby, was among 15 racers who followed the victims' group from Silom.

In Chumphon, 58-year-old Piak Thongsakul was found dead, with Bt1,300 apparently stolen. Quoting witnesses, police said Piak was on his way to a funeral when he was drenched with water by a man, estimated to be around 25 years of age, who had been throwing water at passers-by.

Piak was seen complaining to the suspect and later making his way by motorcycle to the funeral. The suspect was seen following Piak and reportedly struck him in the face and head repeatedly near a T-junction in Lang Suan district. Piak was described as a poor painter well liked by his neighbours.

In Satun, Prawit Langmuang, 30, was stabbed in his left chest after suspect Ekkaphol Mekmok, 20, scolded him for touching his adult sister, who was celebrating and engaged in a water fight across the street. The men argued before Ekkaphol stabbed Prawit, who was later pronounced dead at a hospital.

Meanwhile, a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday for dancing topless at a party in Ayutthaya, after relatives delivered him to police. Sarawuth Sapharb, 20, was roundly criticised after video clips of him dancing were posted online.

Sarawuth begged for forgiveness from the public and called on Thai youths not to do as he had. He said he was drunk at the time, and succumbed to encouragement by cheering friends who goaded him into stripping off his T-shirt and dancing provocatively.

-- The Nation 2012-04-16

Barbaric!

Songkran at its best, can't wait for the next 1!!

I've no doubt this will become a trend! Next year we won't be counting deaths by wreckless and drunk driving, but the number of murders.

It really is time to clamp down and control the revelling. Limit it to controlled areas, where those who want an official soaking go to meet.

One really does sick and tire of songkran after some lengthy time living here!

-mel.

It's much the same in the west at holiday times, there was always an upsurge in both domestic and public violence at Christmas, Easter and Bank holidays in the U.K.

Uniformed plods would indeed be very busy then trying to defuse assorted ( often alcohol fueled) confrontations, most ended well though, however there were the inevitable losers who got banged up and put up in front of the beak.

Happy days ??????

still a long way to go unfortunatly

Barbaric!

No, just Thai.

We foreigners shuld not complain, among themselves they are worse.

Meanwhile, a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday for dancing topless at a party in Ayutthaya, after relatives delivered him to police. Sarawuth Sapharb, 20, was roundly criticised after video clips of him dancing were posted online.

Too funny, taken to the BiB by his relatives.

"Meanwhile, a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday for dancing topless at a party in Ayutthaya"

This must raise an interesting legal point. At what point does a man not wearing a shirt constitute a crime even if he has stuck a pair of fake breasts on his chest????

when they're 36DD and he's wearing lipstick lol

Barbaric!

Sounds like the UK on an average Friday or Saturday night. People are getting shot and knifed almost daily in the UK. Better ban all activities and lock everyone up for their own safety.

Meanwhile, a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday for dancing topless at a party in Ayutthaya, after relatives delivered him to police. Sarawuth Sapharb, 20, was roundly criticised after video clips of him dancing were posted online.

Too funny, taken to the BiB by his relatives.

Thats a bit rough... especially as it was "friends" who goaded him into doing it...why didnt the "friends" get a good talking to by the BiB?

Barbaric!

Sounds like the UK on an average Friday or Saturday night. People are getting shot and knifed almost daily in the UK. Better ban all activities and lock everyone up for their own safety.

Yes its not reasonable to single out the Thai New Year for criticism - the same happens in all cities and cultures during large scale festivals and celebrations anywhere in the world.

Would those complaining be happy if all celebrations of say New Year were banned in the UK, Australia or the USA?

I've no doubt this will become a trend! Next year we won't be counting deaths by wreckless and drunk driving, but the number of murders.

It really is time to clamp down and control the revelling. Limit it to controlled areas, where those who want an official soaking go to meet.

One really does sick and tire of songkran after some lengthy time living here!

-mel.

You are free to leave of living here is no longer enjoyable for you. Some of us are happy to join in with the fun. And don't forget that these are isolated incidents. Millions have enjoyed themselves. You get deaths and major events in almost all countries. Just look at the UK and USA. There are plenty getting shot and knifed every day, not just during festivals. A few isolated incidents, even if really bad, is no reason to ban a popular festival. The solution is to stop the idiots, not spoil the fun for the law-abiding people. It is the idiots that are the problem, not Songkran. Idiots are everywhere. Some of you boring expats would ban almost every activity of you could. If you don't like it here, then just leave instead of constantly complaining.

Sad turn of events on a day of celebration, too bad a few had to unthinking people had to sour the day.

You are free to leave of living here is no longer enjoyable for you. Some of us are happy to join in with the fun. And don't forget that these are isolated incidents. Millions have enjoyed themselves. You get deaths and major events in almost all countries. Just look at the UK and USA. There are plenty getting shot and knifed every day, not just during festivals.

Ahh.. the 'You May Leave Its Not Your Country"-trump card! Be assured that the other millions of Thais are not enjoying themselves! The whole Thai New Year has gotten out of hand, turned in a tyranny of the drunk. It's getting too dangerous, also for a lot of Thais who are hiding in their homes for 3/4 days and should they leave as well?

I think all stores should stop selling all knives

Seems they are too dangerous for people to use

without accidentally falling and stabbing someone

as the slip to the ground

Kidding aside, sad for those who have departed.

Thai New Year. Water splashing festival? I don't get it.

How many millions of cubic meters of water will be used to soak people, streets and vehicles all over Thailand while over a dozen provinces are going through a drought?

Never mind! I just remembered the age old device to keep the masses entertained and defused: bread and circus.

I am in Chiang Mai the crazy songkram city and I haven't met a Thai who doesn't enjoy it including the ones who donot throw water. I rode from Tak to Chiang Mai on Sat. as approached people with water I would wave them off and 100 percent went along with my wave off, some would splash a small amt at me as I rode past which was fine. It only got crazy in Serapi and there was no need to even try waveing them off just too many people.

Songkram is a great holiday as usual we have the complainers who complain about all things Thai.

I've no doubt this will become a trend! Next year we won't be counting deaths by wreckless and drunk driving, but the number of murders.

It really is time to clamp down and control the revelling. Limit it to controlled areas, where those who want an official soaking go to meet.

One really does sick and tire of songkran after some lengthy time living here!

-mel.

When you have lived here as long as I have you learn to avoid it.

I go out after dark and even then I avoid certain areas. Mostly Farong areas.

It is a shame when the Farongs carry some thing to the point where they want the Government to control one of their National religious holidays.

Ban it completely and there will still be murders,

I agree with a previous poster, these kind of celebrations need to be confined to designated areas, so as to allow those who wish to go about their normal business to do so in peace-like the man who was on his way to attend a funeral.

Barbaric!

Sounds like the UK on an average Friday or Saturday night. People are getting shot and knifed almost daily in the UK. Better ban all activities and lock everyone up for their own safety.

Yes its not reasonable to single out the Thai New Year for criticism - the same happens in all cities and cultures during large scale festivals and celebrations anywhere in the world.

Would those complaining be happy if all celebrations of say New Year were banned in the UK, Australia or the USA?

Thailand is not known for attracting the brightest minds to come live here.

Songkran is fun for those who wish to take part but hell for those going about their daily business. It needs to be regulated to separate revellers from those with other things to do. It's unreasonable to have to put up with unwanted soakings if you're about your daily life.

I agree with a previous poster, these kind of celebrations need to be confined to designated areas, so as to allow those who wish to go about their normal business to do so in peace-like the man who was on his way to attend a funeral.

For the most part they are the crazy ones that is.

The spots are known as Tourist areas.

Go into the Thai part of town and see if they have the streets lined with people throwing water at truckloads of people who have 50 gallon barrels of water.

We came home from Pichluc one year and had to go through a lot of towns they all had side roads one could take to avoid the bulk of the water throwing or in some cases hosing.

I don't know the specifics of the man on the way to attend a funeral but I would be willing to bet he could have taken another route, But according to the article the man had stopped and had a altercation with the killer who not only shot him but robbed him. Here in Chiang Mai when some one on a motor bike gets hit by water they don't stop and argue they keep going.

And the biker gang related only one killed. Defiantly not a western biker gang.

As for the lad defending his sister that was a shame may she rest in peace,

Songkram is a great holiday as usual we have the complainers who complain about all things Thai.

Well most of my neighbors, Thais, are hiding in their condos. They are also openly complaining about the number of accidents, dangerously drunk creeps roaming the streets and the fact that there are hardly any taxis available. Shame on those Thai complainers of everything that is Thai!

Songkran could indeed be a great festival, but has turned the last into a 3 day binge drinking idiocracy.

I haven't said 'ban' it, if you read my posts accurately.

What I said was at least control it to areas where water crazed revellers want to participate.

There is no mention at all of my not liking it here, nor a desire to leave.

I 'simply' said it is time to control the areas. That is not unreasonable, and has nothing to do with disliking Thailand.

It is clear that Songkran is changing its ethics and intent from what it originally meant.

-mel.

One reason I prefer Cambodia to Thailand is they have banned water-throwing at New Year. The rationale is that it caused too many road accidents.

There never seems to a cut off point with some of these people, upset one or make him lose face in any way and a quick slap or punch is never enough, a clubbing with a piece of wood or being knifed is what can be expected.

Bad things happen when savages get a hold of the drink.

same time next year people for more fun and games