3 Murders As Songkran In Thailand Turns Ugly

[trainman34014]

Basically; New Year is an overdone thing in Thailand. First there is the traditional New years Eve celebrations on Dec' 31st, then Chinese New Year in February, and then Songkran in April. It's nuts and just reasons to get pissed and act like uncontrollable dorks. If the Thai's need a reason for an extra holiday in April and a few days off work why not just have a Bank Holiday weekend. No need for all the water throwing and additional drunken lunacy which leads to violent behaviour and multiple road deaths. Most of the Thai's around our way, and in my Wife's old village, just stay indoors until the lunatics are back in the asylum.

[grumpyoldman]

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

OMG-now that is a bit over the top !

I've enjoyed a few Songkrans, but now choose to leave the country as I get some days off then. It can be fun, but for sure it is dangerous. Never forget seeing three Thais on a motorbike get knocked to the ground and slide under a truck going the opposite direction. Thank Buddha the Thai driver saw what was happening and had stopped already. Road was wet so the bike driver and passengers, slid on the ground. They popped up laughing(!) and got back at it.

To each their own, but I do agree with the poster that says there should be designated areas as I also believe the original intent of the celebration has been lost.

[Traxster]

I blame it all on those rotten bl**Dy Farangs,

us Ties can't have decent knees-up without some drunken Falang getting in on the action

and spoiling it for everybody else !!

[Kilgore Trout]

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.

This forum is an avenue for people to express their opinions whether you like it or not. In addition, in Thailand there are many complaining foreigners, always has been, always will be. I suggest if you don't like it you move yourself permanently back to where you came from or to a country where expats don't complain.

[LeftCoaster]

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

I read it as he stabbed the man that had fondled his sister...

[geriatrickid]

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.

????

A transvestite is a guy that dresses up in women's clothing right?

Once the dress and bra is off, he is still a guy, right?

Why then would a shirtless guy be considered offensive? People are walking around shirtless all the time.

Do they mean a guy with fake boobs? If so that would be a transgender, wouldn't it?

[mikebell]

My friend's elderly parents were in Bangkok last week. They were soaked en route to a restaurant. A drunken Thai woman then attacked them with a broken bottle screaming she hated farangs. Another elderly couple managed to subdue her and hustled her into a Family Mart asking the staff to call the police. They didn't despite the drunk punching, kicking and slashing at the old people.

Happy New Year. Welcome to Thailand. Hope you will return next year.

[QED]

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,

Did you actually read the OP before jumping on your computer to tell everyone what an expert you are? Unbelievable...........

The guy on the way to the funeral was clubbed, not shot, and the sister didn't die, her brother did.

RIP to all of them, I nearly killed a Russian on beach road in Pattaya yesterday, sadly no knives or clubs were handy at the time. Wearing swimming goggles whilst unloading water cannons into other peoples eyes is just not on, but the rest of the day was great with very little aggression or confrontation.

[grantbkk]

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.

Absolutely needs to be confined to zones and perhaps limited to just a few days. I am very surprised that more violence related to the attacks are not reported. Where else but Thailand are you free to physically assault people with brackish water, ice, ice water while throwing same at motorcycles riding on the street?

[geriatrickid]

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.

This forum is an avenue for people to express their opinions whether you like it or not. In addition, in Thailand there are many complaining foreigners, always has been, always will be. I suggest if you don't like it you move yourself permanently back to where you came from or to a country where expats don't complain.

Gentlemen, I don't think people are complaining about the Songkran festival or even a bit of water splashing. What they are concerned about is the absolute impunity with which yahoos go around using Songkran as an excuse to assault others and to try and inflict physical harm. My best friend who is Thai was on his way to work when he was ambushed when some jerks jumped into the roadway and nailed him with a liquid which he says was tainted with pepper. . Off his bike he went, ruining his work pants and lacerating his leg. Is that fair? What about his civil right to go to work and not be attacked? he can't leave Thailand, as he lives here. He has to work to support his family and he can't take time off for Songkran as he is responsible for the accounting management for a large resort and residential complex.

[Markaew]

You can all vent if you wish but you should know by now you can not change Thais or even slow them down about celebrations. It's like a ballistic missile. It starts, you cannot change direction, and cannot stop it. Anyone dying at anytime is a tragedy but Thais don't see it that way. For them, shit happens, move on.

[Suradit69]

Barbaric!

No, just Thai.

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

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, it's sad that anyone gets murdered any time, but to suggest that drunks do stupid things only in Thailand and only during Songkran or that teenagers are sometimes violent in gang related incidents only in Thailand and only during Songkran is either amazingly naive or simply using whatever comes to hand to further the usual Thai bashing agenda.

Edited April 16, 2012 by Suradit69

[Thaddeus]

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.

This forum is an avenue for people to express their opinions whether you like it or not. In addition, in Thailand there are many complaining foreigners, always has been, always will be. I suggest if you don't like it you move yourself permanently back to where you came from or to a country where expats don't complain.

Gentlemen, I don't think people are complaining about the Songkran festival or even a bit of water splashing. What they are concerned about is the absolute impunity with which yahoos go around using Songkran as an excuse to assault others and to try and inflict physical harm. My best friend who is Thai was on his way to work when he was ambushed when some jerks jumped into the roadway and nailed him with a liquid which he says was tainted with pepper. . Off his bike he went, ruining his work pants and lacerating his leg. Is that fair? What about his civil right to go to work and not be attacked? he can't leave Thailand, as he lives here. He has to work to support his family and he can't take time off for Songkran as he is responsible for the accounting management for a large resort and residential complex.

+1

[Markaew]

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.

????

A transvestite is a guy that dresses up in women's clothing right?

Once the dress and bra is off, he is still a guy, right?

Why then would a shirtless guy be considered offensive? People are walking around shirtless all the time.

Do they mean a guy with fake boobs? If so that would be a transgender, wouldn't it?

Not right. A transvestite is a person that changes gender. A man dressing as a woman is in drag.

[belg]

at that is why i have to live like a hermit for 4 days a year...

"a male transvestite was fined Bt500 yesterday" , so a "man" cannot show his upper body anymore ?

lol

[mpdkorat]

I do all my shopping before and then stay home for three days.. Works for me. If someone wants to play the water game up to them. I choose to stay dry.

[dude007]

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.

Thanks W11guy for these well conceived wise words. I fully endorse them!

[anterian]

This sort of madness comes and goes, rather like fashions. I can remember the time in England when my local beauty spot would be overrun on bank holidays by warring mobs of Mods and Rockers. The police would just cordon off the area and move in afterwards to remove the carnage.

I suspect Songkran will reach a peak and then be replaced with some new self destructive festival. loy krathong seems to be gently heading that way.

[Jingthing]

I do all my shopping before and then stay home for three days.. Works for me. If someone wants to play the water game up to them. I choose to stay dry.

3 days. That's for amateurs!

Edited April 16, 2012 by Jingthing

[Mosha]

Basically; New Year is an overdone thing in Thailand. First there is the traditional New years Eve celebrations on Dec' 31st, then Chinese New Year in February, and then Songkran in April. It's nuts and just reasons to get pissed and act like uncontrollable dorks. If the Thai's need a reason for an extra holiday in April and a few days off work why not just have a Bank Holiday weekend. No need for all the water throwing and additional drunken lunacy which leads to violent behaviour and multiple road deaths. Most of the Thai's around our way, and in my Wife's old village, just stay indoors until the lunatics are back in the asylum.

Thailand, the hub of New Years. This year in the locality. Tree branches, and/or traffic cones on the roads to force you to slow down and even stop. So the drunks can have their fun.

[Firelily]

As far as I'm concerned, being attacked by a bunch of drunk tourists 5 days ahead of songkran while driving home on a motorcycle is nothing short of attempted murder. I was lucky, ended up with some bruises, no other damage to me or my motorcycle. Of course, such attacks become commonplace from the 10th-11th on. It's not a risk I want to run anymore.

Now prefer to spend this time abroad, though I really miss the parades in Chiang Mai, and the civilised, cultural aspects of the water-throwing, done with the consent of the person being soaked. Also the water fights with my students at school.

[riceyummm]

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,

Did you actually read the OP before jumping on your computer to tell everyone what an expert you are? Unbelievable...........

The guy on the way to the funeral was clubbed, not shot, and the sister didn't die, her brother did.

RIP to all of them, I nearly killed a Russian on beach road in Pattaya yesterday, sadly no knives or clubs were handy at the time. Wearing swimming goggles whilst unloading water cannons into other peoples eyes is just not on, but the rest of the day was great with very little aggression or confrontation.

Someone else didn't read the article. The brother didn't die, he killed the man he said bothered his sister.

[dude007]

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.

????

A transvestite is a guy that dresses up in women's clothing right?

Once the dress and bra is off, he is still a guy, right?

Why then would a shirtless guy be considered offensive? People are walking around shirtless all the time.

Do they mean a guy with fake boobs? If so that would be a transgender, wouldn't it?

Not right. A transvestite is a person that changes gender. A man dressing as a woman is in drag.

I cannot follow anymore... I thought transgender are surgically modified gender-people whilst tranvestite was only "dressing code"... Waw... need some more training!

[tonypace02]

I was caught in a soaking rain shower on my motorbike in a small village in northern Surin Province. As I came around a blind corner, I was hit with a bucketful of water. I stopped and stared at the 15 or so year old boy who threw it. Then I looked at the sky, held my hand out to gather a few drops of rain, and threw them at him. He and his friends laughed hysterically. I joined the laughter for a few seconds and moved on, having enjoyed my pyrrhic victory for the day.

Last year I had to do my 90 day report during Sankhra. I was very careful to carry my passport in a plastic bag. I got soaked and whitewashed, but the passport was untouched. At home I dropped my shorts on the floor and went into the shower. As I was drying, I noticed my shorts were not longer where I had left them. In a rare act of superefficiency, my housekeeper had quickly grabbed them up and thrown them into the washer and, as usual, failed to check the pockets. There was damage to the passport but it was minimal and a kindly immigration officer cleaned it up for me.

If you are going to move to a different culture, the first thing to pack is your sense of humor.

[KKK]

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.

????

A transvestite is a guy that dresses up in women's clothing right?

Once the dress and bra is off, he is still a guy, right?

Why then would a shirtless guy be considered offensive? People are walking around shirtless all the time.

Do they mean a guy with fake boobs? If so that would be a transgender, wouldn't it?

Not right. A transvestite is a person that changes gender. A man dressing as a woman is in drag.

A transvestite is a person who derives sexual pleasure from dressing in the clothes of the opposite sex....Collins Concise English Dictionary

but Webster's says: The practice of wearing or compulsion to wear clothes appropriate to the other sex

Edited April 16, 2012 by KKK

[ivan96822]

People sure really know how to let things get out of hand during songkran...

[Markaew]

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.

????

A transvestite is a guy that dresses up in women's clothing right?

Once the dress and bra is off, he is still a guy, right?

Why then would a shirtless guy be considered offensive? People are walking around shirtless all the time.

Do they mean a guy with fake boobs? If so that would be a transgender, wouldn't it?

Not right. A transvestite is a person that changes gender. A man dressing as a woman is in drag.

I cannot follow anymore... I thought transgender are surgically modified gender-people whilst transvestite was only "dressing code"... Waw... need some more training!

I just looked up on Wikipedia and you are right and I am wrong. Transvestite is a cross dresser.

[Skywalker69]

still a long way to go unfortunatly

Yes and it´s all up-hill.

[rheinwiese]

Latin trans- + veststite, (“I clothe, I dress”) (as in English vestment, vest)

[SCARLETIBIS1]

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.

I haven't posted in quite a while as to do so only infuriates the locals (who cares?) but since this this fellow doesn't have a clue what he is talking about I am forced to add my 2 cents. Yes, there are idiots everywhere at all festivals in all countries. The difference between the West though and here is that the 'idiots' here are the standard not the exception.

For example, I don't go out during Songkran as I do not want the fun of being drenched by moat water full of bacteria. Bu this year I had run out of water so I took off after dark to the local 7-11. Now in front of the 7-11 there was a setup of punks dousing people who were entering the store to shop. And contrary to what one misinformed individual stated all these morone do not leave you alone if you wave them off.

In the West, this would not be allowed to happen. The 7-11 management would not allow it. Here it seems to be encouraged. I have said it before many times. When God gave out brains he had to back order them for Thailand. And last I heard the government put a huge import tax on them so no one has any yet.