Demolition Of Downtown Inn Hotel Chiang Mai Is Karma, Says Father

[webfact]

Demolition of Thai hotel is karma, says father

By Nicholas Jones

CHIANG MAI: - The father of a New Zealand woman who died suddenly after staying at a Thai hotel says its demolition is "karma".

Work has begun on pulling down the Downtown Inn in Chiang Mai, the hotel where New Zealander Sarah Carter, 23, fell fatally sick last year.

Richard Carter has since sent emails to the hotel's owner but has not received a reply or an apology.

"It looks like they are getting their own form of karma now," Mr Carter said.

"The main thing for us is just remembering Sarah, and doing what we can to have good memories of her. We would like to see closure in terms of making sure it doesn't happen to other people."

Ms Carter and two travelling companions became ill on February 3 after staying at the hotel.

Her friends recovered but she died in hospital three days later of myocarditis - acute heart inflammation.

On February 2 a Thai woman died after becoming sick while staying in a room next door to the New Zealanders.

An elderly British couple died in the hotel on February 19 of apparent heart failure.

Full story: http://www.nzherald....jectid=10810528

-- nzherald 2012-06-04

[LUSHGOAT]

Seems to me that somebody was putting something in the food or drink. Why wasn't this investigated after the first deaths typical Thai everything on the long finger or was the owner a government official or policeman bloody ridiculous sick ass-holes. Commiserations to the families of all deceased there R.I.P.

[Acemaker]

I feel so sorry for the Families of the deceased, the cold cruel way in which this whole matter has been dealt with is a disgrace, The Hotel was renamed THE DOOMTOWN by Falangs and rightly so, the Police initially stated that the deaths were just a coincidence , welcome to the third world always has been and always will be, MIRACLE THAILAND !

[grahamhc]

Seems to me that somebody was putting something in the food or drink. Why wasn't this investigated after the first deaths typical Thai everything on the long finger or was the owner a government official or policeman bloody ridiculous sick ass-holes. Commiserations to the families of all deceased there R.I.P.

There was talk at the time about the use of a banned bug spray being used.

Around the same time, a Thai shopkeeper friend of mine in Pattaya lost his son. They said he was sleeping on the floor (thai style) and did not wake up. The boy was 21 years old, fit and healthy - played football, did not drink or smoke and worked in the shop. A truly nice and helpful boy he was.

Being Thai (we ask questions), the father was never told why he died. His wife just went to the temple in Bangkok to pray, and he shut up the shop and moved back to Bangkok.

RIP for all families concerned.

Edited June 4, 2012 by grahamhc

[Arkady]

I am afraid this in not karma but good business sense. The owner, a former mayor and an influential businessman in Chiang Mai, is redeveloping his prime site in Chiang Mai in order to get a better return than he was getting on his run down fleabag hotel. The hotel was panned on most review websites because the quality and service were awful but the mysterious deaths were hardly mentioned in reviews and foreigners continued to stay there oblivious to the deaths. So it is unlikely that the owner suffered much loss of business due to the deaths. He successfully avoided any proper investigations or consequences from the deaths, the cause of which will never be known, although irresponsible use of hazardous insecticide has to be high on the suspect list.

[brotherother]

It's quite likely the owner has taken these steps to relieve themselves of any future bad karma.

And if we want to go down this route then surely young Kiwi woman's death can also be put down to bad Karma, no?.

[chiang mai]

I am afraid this in not karma but good business sense. The owner, a former mayor and an influential businessman in Chiang Mai, is redeveloping his prime site in Chiang Mai in order to get a better return than he was getting on his run down fleabag hotel. The hotel was panned on most review websites because the quality and service were awful but the mysterious deaths were hardly mentioned in reviews and foreigners continued to stay there oblivious to the deaths. So it is unlikely that the owner suffered much loss of business due to the deaths. He successfully avoided any proper investigations or consequences from the deaths, the cause of which will never be known, although irresponsible use of hazardous insecticide has to be high on the suspect list.

Have to agree with the above, it's worth noting that the Dowtown Inn is/was a part of the same group that owns the Empress and the Park Hotels, draw your own conclusions.

[Dararasmi]

So karma's in the demolition business now? Are they kicking back a percentage to the mob? (Or is that just an American mob thing?)

[chiang mai]

I note that the peticides angle went very quiet, there was a lot of "noise" about it at one stage after the Australian autopsy (I think) detected traces of it, seems the detected product had long been banned most places on the planet.

[JXXXL]

It's quite likely the owner has taken these steps to relieve themselves of any future bad karma.

And if we want to go down this route then surely young Kiwi woman's death can also be put down to bad Karma, no?.

Exactly. Getting rid of the evidence.

[craigt3365]

A post has been removed from view along with a number of associated replies. I'd recommend the newbie poster to read the forum rules. Especially this one:

In using Thai Visa I agree:

1) To respect fellow members.

Apologies to the members who had good replies, but I had to removed.

[Hollywood]

I would bet a dangerous pesticide. Many motels/hotels having problems with bed bugs in the US.

[chiang mai]

I'm not sure it's karma, it's more probably good business sence. The DI is one of three hotels in the group and doubtless its occupancy rates following all the bad press has doubtlessly been very poor, better to knock down, rebuild and rebadge, it wont cost a fortune since the land is already owned.

[pacovl46]

Seems to me that somebody was putting something in the food or drink. Why wasn't this investigated after the first deaths typical Thai everything on the long finger or was the owner a government official or policeman bloody ridiculous sick ass-holes. Commiserations to the families of all deceased there R.I.P.

Mate, it was the insecticide they used to get rid of the bedbugs and other bugs!

[khaowong1]

I note that the peticides angle went very quiet, there was a lot of "noise" about it at one stage after the Australian autopsy (I think) detected traces of it, seems the detected product had long been banned most places on the planet.

The keyword here, is "most places". TIT

[gaucho]

pesticides r uncontrolled in asia ...same as paints ...have seen paints delivered to ships in drydock that have been banned for years in other parts of the world ...pesticides r the same stuff bought on board in china .kills cockroaches in seconds .but the room has to be evacuated and no entry for 24 hours ......cockroaches r just about the toughest things going around ....these poor people that died ....rip

[Ulysses G.]

I would bet a dangerous pesticide. Many motels/hotels having problems with bed bugs in the US.

This is the most likely scenerio IMO.

[Chopperboy]

I note that the peticides angle went very quiet, there was a lot of "noise" about it at one stage after the Australian autopsy (I think) detected traces of it, seems the detected product had long been banned most places on the planet.

The reason being that the pesticide is very common and is use through out the US for crops - so its in most fruit & veg. Further the sprayer would have been the one most a risk as they never wear masks anyhow. I'll go with the deliberate poisoning of the drinking water theory.

First produced in 1965 by Dow Chemical Company, chlorpyrifos, an organophosphate, is a popular ingredient in flea collars and shampoo for dogs, and is also used in the manufacture of cockroach pesticides, termite treatment, and used widely in agricultural to keep large areas pest and insect free.

Edited June 5, 2012 by Chopperboy

[NancyL]

Why would anyone want to deliberately poison the drinking water of innocent tourists? They don't seem like the sort that would have gotten anyone upset with them.

[chiang mai]

Big sigh! Wont be long now before we're into conspiracy theory teritory, the US governement is paying pesticide companies in Thailand to spray hotel beds with a lethal cocktail so as to kill off old people to avoid paying Social Security restirement payments, there, develop theme as desired!

[monty1412]

Well one thing for sure, we will never know so all the conjecture in the world wont ever solve this and other cases like it.

However if the father and the family get some degree of closure or finality over the sad event through the hotels demolition then I am happy for him.

We as humans always try and rationalise and compartmentalise events . If he has been able to do this through this demolition then good on him

[Ulysses G.]

Why would anyone want to deliberately poison the drinking water of innocent tourists? They don't seem like the sort that would have gotten anyone upset with them.

One thing I like about Thais is that they usually don't to do such sick things just for the heck of it - unlike some citizens of my own country. There is usually either a profit motive or incompetence is the other strong possibility.

[spidermike007]

I am afraid this in not karma but good business sense. The owner, a former mayor and an influential businessman in Chiang Mai, is redeveloping his prime site in Chiang Mai in order to get a better return than he was getting on his run down fleabag hotel. The hotel was panned on most review websites because the quality and service were awful but the mysterious deaths were hardly mentioned in reviews and foreigners continued to stay there oblivious to the deaths. So it is unlikely that the owner suffered much loss of business due to the deaths. He successfully avoided any proper investigations or consequences from the deaths, the cause of which will never be known, although irresponsible use of hazardous insecticide has to be high on the suspect list.

In most civilized nations the owner of this hotel would have been held responsible for the deaths. What happened was a travesty. He walked away scot free. This swine never had to pay any compensation, and never faced any fines. The price of power in the LOS. He is a reverse untouchable, in a sense that he is above any law in the kingdom.