IN MEMORY OF ASHTON

Memorial held for British tourist slain in New year gunfight

The Nation

File photo: Ashton

KOH PHANGAN: -- Members of the tourism business community in Koh Pha-ngan wore black and held a ceremony in memory of Stephen Ashton, a British tourist fatally struck by a stray bullet during a New Year's countdown party on the island.

The event was hosted by Taweesak Inprom, Pha-ngan district chief and joined by Neal Bambridge, the British Consular agent.

After laying a wreath, Taweesak said he was representing the people and businessmen in expressing their deepest condolences to the family of Ashton for their great loss. He promised to integrate all sectors in reviewing safety measures on the island and particularly to make the full moon parties free of drugs and weapons.

Speaking at the same event, Wannee Thaipanitch, chairwoman of Tourism Promotion Association of Koh Pha-ngan said the incident had affected both foreign and Thai tourists. However, with the arrest by police of a man for the shooting of Ashton and the promise by all agencies to review the safety system, a more positive view of the island was beginning to return.

The tourism entrepreneurs promised to strengthen and jointly oversee the safety measures, she said.

Ashton, 23, was killed when he was hit by a stray bullet during a gunfight at the New Year countdown party on Pha-ngan Island in Surat Thani. Police have arrested a Thai man, identified as Ekkapan Kaewkla, 26, for killing Ashton. He has been charged with murder and the illegal possession of a weapon.

-- The Nation 2013-01-09

Wow, again poor kid.

Great 'reporting' by the ever reliable Nation. Just print what you are told, no difficult questions. Actually no questions, easier. Just repeat the official line it will soon be mistaken for what actually happened.

I have yet to read any statements from any other people at the party that back up this gun fight claim. I mean there were 30,000++s people on the beach yet nobody has come forward with an eye witness account? Maybe I have missed the report so if someone could post a link I would be most grateful.

Surely The likes of The Daily Mail and The Sun would revel in this? Not one witness. I am sure it went down just like the police said it did though. They never lie.

Wow, again poor kid.

Great 'reporting' by the ever reliable Nation. Just print what you are told, no difficult questions. Actually no questions, easier. Just repeat the official line it will soon be mistaken for what actually happened.

I have yet to read any statements from any other people at the party that back up this gun fight claim. I mean there were 30,000++s people on the beach yet nobody has come forward with an eye witness account? Maybe I have missed the report so if someone could post a link I would be most grateful.

Surely The likes of The Daily Mail and The Sun would revel in this? Not one witness. I am sure it went down just like the police said it did though. They never lie.

Eye witness report copied from another thread;

Let me set the record straight because there seems to be a lot of false assumptions. I was there. I saw everything while waiting for a boat taxi.We were on the beach, not in the bar as reported. 2 thai guys started fighting and running from nowhere, each with a about three or four friends around them. The one Thai was pushed to the ground. Next thing I knew, the guy on the ground pulled out a gun tucked in the front of his pants. I ran. Less then 30 seconds later I heard what I knew was a single gunshot, not multiple shots as reported.. I ran back and was shocked to find a young farang man in a pool of blood. A doctor who was nearby began administering CPR and medics showed within a couple of short minutes. But the poor young man was very white and not breathing. The girlfriend was sobbing as she tried to stop the bleeding. I wasn't sure if the bullet hit the heart or just shoulder. I didn't find out until later when I went to the police station to tell them what I saw, that the bullet had hit the heart. This was not someone involved with the altercation. HIs girlfriend told me that they were just standing nearby, when the stray bullet hit him. They probably were wrestling over the gun. The police told me the the two boys were in gangs and in jail. I hate guns, always have, but this really was an eyeopener. I will never forget this, and it really sucked. Part of me wished I had training so my reaction would have been to disarm the little bastard. I almost felt guilty because I probably could have stopped this. But I could have been hurt too, so I probably did the smart thing but it still sucked.

Speaking at the same event, Wannee Thaipanitch, chairwoman of Tourism Promotion Association of Koh Pha-ngan said the incident had affected both foreign and Thai tourists. However, with the arrest by police of a man for the shooting of Ashton and the promise by all agencies to review the safety system, a more positive view of the island was beginning to return.

Yup absolutely agree, not.

Here's some publicity you just can't buy:

TravelMole:

Violent crime in Thailand puts trade off selling

The spate of violent crime in Thailand is making agents nervous about selling the destination.

A recent TravelMole Poll asked 'Man arrested over Thai island shooting' - does it put you off selling/marketing/visiting?'

This followed a British tourist being shot dead in a Thai bar popular with backpackers in Koh Phangan on January 1.

A massive 83% voted yes, it does put them off while only 17% voted no - taken from more than 1400 votes.

The Foreign Office issued a warning following the murder stating that seven British nationals had been murdered in Thailand since January 2009 and that western tourists have been victims of vicious, unprovoked attacks by gangs in Koh Phangan

The TravelMole Poll prompted a Facebook discussion on the subject.

One personal travel adviser wrote he's in the business to sell dreams and that 'this one is tainted right now'.

Source: http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?c=setreg&region=2&m_id=s~dnvY!~A&w_id=8594&news_id=2004604