Krabi Tourism Hit By Dutch Video Clip

[webfact]

TOURISM

Krabi tourism hit by Dutch video clip

KRABI: -- Tourism in the seaside province of Krabi has been shaken by the viral video clip of a hit song produced by a Dutch father whose 19-year-old daughter was raped in the province earlier this year, Krabi Tourism Association president Ittirat Kinglek said yesterday.

He said he has been informed that a number of British as well as European tourists have cancelled their bookings at certain five-star hotels in Krabi as they were not confident of the security and safety in the province and the country.

The video would inevitably create the wrong impression about tourism in Krabi.

He was referring to "Evil Man from Krabi", a video clip in which a father says his daughter was raped during her 19-year-old birthday party in Ao-nang Beach in the province.

The father, a Dutch singer, made the clip to campaign for justice for his daughter, furious that a tourist guide, who had been arrested and reportedly confessed to raping his daughter, was freed on bail and retracted his testimony.

The clip became popular viewing in Europe with 81,126 views yesterday. It was posted on YouTube two weeks ago.

Phuket Wan online quoted the Deputy Commander of Krabi police, Pol Col Jongrak Timthong, as saying officers had not given the suspect bail, but that he later denied the charge in court and was granted bail.

"His denial could mean that the case takes a year or perhaps even two years to be decided," Jongrak said.

Colonel Jongrak said that the father of the alleged victim was free to protest if he wished.

The words of the song go:

"Would you like to face me? We’ll get you out in the wild

"Would you feel the pain that you put inside my child?

"Would you pray to god just to stay alive?

"Would you beg him on your knees?

"Would you lay aside, would you lose your mind?

"Would you say ’don’t hurt me please’?

"Evil Man from Krabi, we’re going to put him into jail"

According to the online site, the birthday party to celebrate her coming birthday was held at a bar in the tourist resort of Ao Nang, and the suspect offered the daughter a ride on his motorcycle back to her holiday apartment. She told the police that she was beaten so severely that she was sure she would have died had she not finally stopped resisting the attack.

She was treated for her injuries at Krabi Hospital, filed a police report, then returned to the Netherlands.

Ittirit added the video reflected an important lesson for the authorities concerned and should teach them that they must always try to solve a case instead of ignoring it. Tourists having problems should be helped until the end so that they would not feel they had been abandoned.

Authorities should not cover up any information about the case so that the affected tourists know what is being done to help them.

He added the video would surely affect the tourism in the province and the region for a long time to come.

-- The Nation 2012-11-08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRErWjo809g

[laurentbkk]

Well , think about if your daughter would have the same story .....I am sure he wants to warn people and he is right .... How can someone confess his crime go to jail and then suddenly say ..Sorry NOT ME ....then be free ? very hard to understand for European mind .... after 20 years here I still dont understand either . Welcome to the land of smile ..... not good advertising before the high season .

[Pomthai]

Good. Som nom nah. Its about bloody time this country learned. The more negative publicity the better. Only then might the myopic powers that be actually start doing their jobs instead of abusing their positions to facilitate their own selfish agendas.

Here's another one in Krabi - http://www.thaivisa....tory-of-terror/ posted today - good to see the powers that be' serving and protecting...............

Not to mention the UK couple set upon by the kids on mopeds that just happened to have machetes with them. - http://www.thaivisa....rovoked-attack/

Edited November 8, 2012 by Pomthai

[DanaDeLuxe]

If the Krabi tourism was hit, the cause for that would still be the rape and violence happening there - and not the video nor the news about it.

[BeforeTigers]

Yeah, what is this Thailand tourism victimhood business?

The authorities have the power to improve the image here, simply by doing their jobs.

[taninthai]

Not surprised ittirat kinglek the president of tourism in krabi is a little upset he actually owns one of the beachfront hotels in ao nang.

[Pomthai]

Immediate extraction of as much money as fast as possible has quickly become the rule of thumb. Its fueled by lawlessness and greed. Hell the lack of tourists is often used as an "Excuse" for robberies in these parts, it really would be laughable if it wasn't true.

Reading the above article between the lines clearly indicates that they think its the video's fault that tourism will take a hit, not the fact the girl was raped. And while I'm on one, whats with the 2 years court case BS?

Minor traffic violations here and you'll be locked up real quick as a foreigner. Under pay or disagree with a Tuktuk driver and you'll be let off with a physical warning.

Dual pricing isn't the only issue. There's a completely different set of rules and supposed laws for Thai's and foreigners.

[scotbeve]

Hope the young lass finds peace with this situ....

Who actually gives a flying eff about the tourism drop??? <deleted>!!!! Yet another Nation fail for a headline. Farqin drongos!

[Pomthai]

Hope the young lass finds peace with this situ....

Who actually gives a flying eff about the tourism drop??? <deleted>!!!! Yet another Nation fail for a headline. Farqin drongos!

Nothing wrong with the headline IMHO, I think it demostrates the flaws in society here and the growing lack of common decency, not only that it highlights the greed and meterialism that has replaced it.

[bulmercke]

Immediate extraction of as much money as fast as possible has quickly become the rule of thumb. Its fueled by lawlessness and greed. Hell the lack of tourists is often used as an "Excuse" for robberies in these parts, it really would be laughable if it wasn't true.

Reading the above article between the lines clearly indicates that they think its the video's fault that tourism will take a hit, not the fact the girl was raped. And while I'm on one, whats with the 2 years court case BS?

Minor traffic violations here and you'll be locked up real quick as a foreigner. Under pay or disagree with a Tuktuk driver and you'll be let off with a physical warning.

Dual pricing isn't the only issue. There's a completely different set of rules and supposed laws for Thai's and foreigners.

A truly shocking case.

Can you imagine the furor and uproar if a foreigner had raped a hi-so Thai woman in the province. You can bet Ittirat Kinglek would have been extremely indignant and outraged if the foreigner was released on bail after initially admitting the crime. He would - no doubt - take the line that the court's decision had seriously undermined tourists' confidence in the law being upheld and therefore would have an adverse effect on tourism.

Edited November 8, 2012 by bulmercke

[evadgib]

This "Emperors new clothes" lark is wearing a little thin!

Edited November 8, 2012 by evadgib

[webfact]

EVIL MAN FROM KRABI

Krabi tourism hit by viral video clip

The Nation

KRABI: -- Tourism in the seaside province of Krabi was badly affected after a video clip produced by a Dutch pop singer singing about his 19-year-old daughter's rape in the province went viral, Krabi Tourism Association president Ittirat Kinglek said yesterday.

Ittirat said he had been told that many tourists had cancelled their bookings at certain five-star hotels in Krabi because they were not confident about the security.

The official was referring to a video clip called "Evil Man from Krabi", in which the Dutch father sings about his daughter being raped during her birthday party at a hotel in Krabi's Ao Nang Beach.

The father made this clip to campaign for justice after the tourist guide, who was arrested for reportedly raping the teenager, had been freed on bail and later retracted his confession.

The clip posted on YouTube two weeks ago had been viewed 81,126 times as of press time yesterday.

Meanwhile, Phuket Wan online quoted the Deputy Commander of Krabi police, Pol Colonel Jongrak Timthong, as saying the suspect had been granted bail after he denied the charges in court.

"His retraction means the court could take a year or even two years to issue a verdict," Jongrak said, adding that the father was free to protest.

According to the website, the birthday party had been held at a bar on Ao Nang and that the suspect had offered to take the girl back to her apartment on his motorbike. In her testimony, the victim told the police that she was being beaten so badly that she had to stop resisting in order to survive. She was treated for her injuries at Krabi Hospital before she filed a police report and returned to the Netherlands.

Ittirit said this video was an important lesson for the authorities concerned and should teach them to always try and solve each case. He said all tourists facing problems should be helped at every step of the way so they do not feel abandoned.

The authorities should not cover up any information about the case so visitors know what is being done to help them. He admitted that this video would definitely hurt the province's tourism industry for a long time to come.

-- The Nation 2012-11-09

[lopburi3]

One post removed for language used.

[likewise]

Well done Dutch father, great to hear that some many are taking notice of the clip.

[Rykbanlor]

I live here in Aonang, and I have a lot of thai friends from Bangkok who have chosen to make their business here (resort, restaurant etc). They are all very liberated and progressive people and they have to put up with all this shit, i feel sorry if their businesses see any decline because of the ignorant lazy local thugs and the lacklustre, ignorant, lazy, incompetent police force.

There are a lot of violent and agressive scum riding the tails of the tourism industry here, as they have done elsewhere in the country, and they seem to act with complete impunity. I daresay the local police plus the scum ( if you can seperate the 2 ) are thick as thieves - probaly related somewhere along the line.

And yes, as a foreigner, if you are involved in a traffic incursion with a thai, you will always be in the wrong.

[likewise]

As I mentioned in other topics, I did some translation work with court and cops and I can see how it works. Police make the suspect confess, suspect appears in court for preliminary hearing where his lawyer advices him to plead not guilty and bail is set and the suspect is on his way. And indeed it takes at least a year before the case will appear in court of first hearing, even if he then receives a guilty verdict he can appeal and will be released on bail again, then it will take around 2 years for the appeal court to reach a verdict. By that time almost 3 years have gone by, foreign victim is not here anymore, time has healed the wounds and the chance is small that suspect will do any real time. Sad but true !

Edited November 9, 2012 by likewise

[robblok]

I really like the way this is handled by the Dutch father. But 81.000 views (and few of me too) is not that much. If it reaches a few million it will be good. Hope Dutch television is going to take an interest too. Thais need to learn a lesson at times that you cant treat tourist like shit.

[likewise]

It has reached 142732 views by now and rising . Good on the dad, well done, goed gedaan man !

[evadgib]

As I mentioned in other topics, I did some translation work with court and cops and I can see how it works. Police make the suspect confess, suspect appears in court for preliminary hearing where his lawyer advices him to plead not guilty and bail is set and the suspect is on his way. And indeed it takes at least a year before the case will appear in court of first hearing, even if he then receives a guilty verdict he can appeal and will be released on bail again, then it will take around 2 years for the appeal court to reach a verdict. By that time almost 3 years have gone by, foreign victim is not here anymore, time has healed the wounds and the chance is small that suspect will do any real time. Sad but true !

If a victim's testimony is sworn before a judge the evidence stands, no matter how long it takes or whether or not they choose to return for the hearing.The difficulty is in getting the police to act in the first place....

Edited November 9, 2012 by evadgib

[likewise]

It's the court who releases perp not the police, and at preliminary hearing the victim does tell her/his side of story but that doesn't seem to matter because perp is again released on bail, not by police but by the court.

I know that quite a few coppers are corrupt to say the least but the bail decision lays with the court, who are just to weak or not willing to lock people up.

Edited November 9, 2012 by likewise

[jbrain]

It surprises me that there hasn't been a government dick yet who has announced that they will file a case in court against the singer.

[klongmuang]

Police have no time to go after rapists. They are busy now shaking down bar owners in Ao Nang with insufficient music licenses and locking them up, if they do not have enough cash to pay the bail out on the spot. Well done !

[likewise]

A couple of years ago they found the body of a Swiss Woman on Ao Nang beach, I tried to follow up through a cop I knew and was told they had no clue at all where to look, case went dead.... And there are more...

[spidermike007]

This is a very, very positive thing, that this man is doing for Thailand. Only through introspection can one expect to grow. Perhaps the same holds true, for a country? So many aspects of Thai culture, and the incredible degree of weakness fostered by the horrific, and cowardly concept of "face", almost seems to prevent any sort of self reflection, and analysis. So then how do you grow, mature, develop, and in general improve yourself, if you are horrified by the idea of "looking in the mirror" and facing one's own problems? Acts like this force the hand of Thailand, and compel them to come up with a solution of some sort. Of course, it is typically the wrong solution, as it is usually temporary band aid approach. But, only through international humiliation will things ever change in the LOS. Change, development, progress, and evolution are not something that comes naturally to most Thai people, nor the culture and society. They are a bit "stuck in the mud" of habit, and with the level of greed and corruption it does not happen easily here. But, it is necessary. Exposing these cretons, and a region for it's crime is a positive step.

[timewilltell]

Thailand needs to learn that the social world is upon us and this face saving crap and injustice system that is in place here just will not be able to avoid more of this sort of thing. I wish more people had the motivation to do videos like this and I hope the video has enough views to prove it's point.

[harrry]

If a song about a lost guitar could shake up United Airlines maybe this will shake up the local tourist people a bit. I hope the daughter is recovering and the deep hurt the father rightly feels slowly fades.

Edited November 9, 2012 by harrry

[DiamondKing]

Good on that father cos I would hunt this scum down and take care of him myself he would be begging to to jail.

Its great to see hundreds of comments on that video from disgruntled thais as well as falangs and I would suggest we all add it to our facebook pages and share it, maybe this might be the thing that makes the powers that be wake up and see people are tired of this bullshit.

The thought of one of my daughters being raped enrages me and I would like a few minutes with this scum anyway lets share this video and get it out there as its time Thailand realized they have to act and act fast whenever a tourist is assaulted killed raped or robbed and push it through fast.

DK

[jcw]

This is a very smart campaign, hitting the Thais in the pocket where it hurts them. It is the only way to get their attention that "civilized' people do not tolerate crap like this.There is a increase in violent crime including, rapes and stabbings from groups of youth in gangs on scooter motorbikes who seem either untouchable by the police or the police have no interest in stopping their crime spree. The other problem is the the local courts and judicial system is ineffective with the violent criminals when they are caught. source

I have noticed many people commenting on the Youtube vid asking people to boycott Krabi and contacting tourist operators and letting them know why they are going to other places.

Edited November 9, 2012 by jcw

[somdej]

If it were my duagher I would just go to krabi and shoot him through the head, I wouldnt care how long i spent in jail

[upena]

BP and The Nation did not report the initial rape story only the video story and its damage to tourism.