Four men sought for vicious Phuket attack on Chinese tourist

[webfact]

Four men sought for vicious Phuket attack on Chinese tourist
Darawan Naknakhon


Guo Xing after the attack, in a photo taken by one of the witnesses.

PHUKET: -- Police are searching for four men caught on camera assaulting a Chinese tourist last night (September 25) at Baan Baipor Apartment in Talad Neua.

Police were called to the OrBorJor Hospital where the victim was being treated at the ER. Guo Xing, 26, was brought into the hospital by witnesses to the attack. He was covered in blood and the witnesses said he had been attacked by four men using iron bars.

A doctor told police that Mr Guo had swelling of the brain, and X-rays were to be taken to assess the damage to his head.

The witnesses also told police that Mr Guo had just arrived from China to visit his brother, who lives in Phuket.

“Four men arrived on three motorcycles and ganged up on Mr Guo while he was sitting in the front yard.

“Many people who were exercising in the yard saw the attack and yelled at them to stop but they continued to hit Mr Guo until he was covered in blood.

“Then they left and we rush to help him and called police” one witness told police.

The whole incident was caught on camera by a witness and police have been able to identify them as a group of Phuket tour guides who have previously attacked Chinese nationals; they are apparently well known in Chinese tourism industry circles.

Police believe the four mistook their victim for an illegal tour guide and attacked him because of frustration at the illegal competition for work.

Police said that after watching security camera footage and examining two photos taken by one of the witnesses they will track down and arrest the four “in the hope of restoring the [island’s] tourism image. They declined to release the images or footage at this point.

Legal Chinese-speaking tour guides have protested angrily on a number of occasions about mainland Chinese working illegally as tour guides – only Thai nationals may be tour guides.

However, the quality of Phuket’s Chinese-speaking guides was called into question in May last year by the Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Guan Mu, their Chinese language skills are not good enough to explain culture and history in depth and in a respectful way, so that tourists can appreciate Thai culture and will want to return.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/four-men-sought-for-vicious-phuket-attack-on-chinese-tourist-48886.php


-- Phuket News 2014-09-26

[WitawatWatawit]

Welcome to Thailand, Mr Guo. I do hope you haven't suffered any permanent injury. And a hearty congratulations to your attackers for providing the perfect reason for not employing them.

[NeverSure]

"...police have been able to identify them as a group of Phuket tour guides who have previously attacked Chinese nationals; they are apparently well known in Chinese tourism industry circles."

"...they will track down and arrest the four “in the hope of restoring the [island’s] tourism image."

Says it all.

[Toknarok]

Once again 'restoring the Thai tourist image' is of top priority, don't worry about the safety and wellbeing of visitors.

[inzman]

Won't display the picture of the "Thai" attackers, but if they were falang their picture would be paraded for all and sundry to see.

[clockman]

Paradise destroyed in 15 years of non stop corruption!

[lavender19]

Only four of them?

I thought it was usually about 6 to 10 of the cowardly scum to one foreigner.

[ClutchClark]

Four on one.

Premeditated.

Random.

Unprovoked.

Beat and kick with full intent to maim and kill.

[KunMatt]

Surely no Thai person could have done this. Start rounding up the British and Burmese for a confession.

[Just1Voice]

They'll be rounded up, fined 500 baht each, and warned to wear masks in the future to prevent identification.

[steelepulse]

Iron bars? Should be attempted murder at the least, along with whatever other charges are appropriate.

[KunMatt]

Iron bars? Should be attempted murder at the least, along with whatever other charges are appropriate.

Yeah let's see what actually happens in this case. I'm also thinking it will be a 500 baht fine each.

[merijn]

I read just somewhere that the police did not find (during their last raid) any evidence of foreign tourguides working on Phuket.

So for sure this can't be linked to foreign tour guides.

[shirtless]

How much more damage do these people want to do to the tourism industry, Even if they are apprehended the damage has already been done the internet works both ways the whole world is watching the downward spiral of Phuket, Paradise lost.

[iReason]

“Four men arrived on three motorcycles and ganged up on Mr Guo while he was sitting in the front yard."

Cowards. It's never one on one.

"Police believe the four mistook their victim for an illegal tour guide and attacked him because of frustration at the illegal competition for work."

Oh, Ok then...

"...so that tourists can appreciate Thai culture and will want to return."

Edited September 26, 2014 by iReason

[hgma]

2012

I was waiting for the train to arrive at the station.......train stopped and the railway station filled up with new arrivals and tuk tuk drivers.

One of the new arrivals asked me the way to the border with Laos.....on walking distance i replied.......and was nearly molested by a tuk tuk driver accusing me of robbing him from a 200 bath opportunity.

and all i did was merely being polite, something the local tuk tuk drivers never heard off.

TIT

[Alwyn]

and meanwhile the PM was telling everybody how he wears all of his rings on one hand and showing off his shiny blue jacket...

[khunjamesjohnson]

Another visitor experiencing genuine Thai culture.

[Lupatria]

With the Thais attitude to deal with competition the implementation of ASEAN may end up in bloodbaths as a daily routine

[ChiangMaiThai]

Welcome to the land of warm smiles and gentle hospitality. Yeah, I've been here too long and have become cynical, but for good reason - in my mind anyway.

Yes, I know there is violence everywhere. But here's the difference. There is a facade of genuine friendliness in Thailand that the TAT and associated industries exploit to no end. I'm not saying that there aren't sincere, happy, friendly Thais. That's what brought me here in the first place and keeps me here.

What I am saying that there is a huge undercurrent of self entitled, violent, emotionally unstable individuals, especially amongst the males and especially in the tourist spots of Phuket, Samui, Phagnan, Koh Tao, and Pattaya that represent the very real and very ugly side of Thailand. They will not hesitate to extort, frame, threaten, attack, and more based on the slightest provocation. And they'll be smiling all the while.

[jspill]

Wonder how the Thai apologists will spin this one.

[IamNoone88]

I think Mr Guo would make a fine Ambassador for TAT in their run up for "Thai Way of Life Tourism Experiences 2015"

After all, he experienced first hand the fine Thai hospality, medical facilities and the best that the locals in Phuket have to offer.

Way to go TAT!

[Thai at Heart]

Please let this story run and run in the Chinese press.

Fortunately he was wearing normal clothes I presume.

[ttthailand]

Maybe the military should start providing one on one protection for tourists. Someone to follow everyone around so they can be safe.

Out of control !

[circusman]

I have never read anything that has said Thailand forces tourists to come to Thailand. Buyer beware.

[kkup]

"Although many witnesses told police the attackers were Thai, chief of police insisted they must be migrant workers or foreigners as Thai people wouldn't do this."

[harrycallahan]

Wonder how the Thai apologists will spin this one.

Something like this?

"Police believe the four mistook their victim for an illegal tour guide and attacked him because of frustration at the illegal competition for work."

[Iumentum]

"attacked him because of frustration at the illegal competition"

They would probably have done same thing, no matter if it would be illegal or not.

Welcome to paradise Mr Guo.

[Jim walker]

A case of mistaken identity so common gang get out the iron bars and beat some innocent guy half to death he looks like a tour guide a hefty 500 baht fine is what these thugs need, what is it with the Thai mentality shoot stab beat with iron bars then think after the deed is done I blame the parents for not teaching their children self-control a simple wright from wrong is all that is needed.

[Equalizer]

Back in Roman times if a soldier stepped out of line every 10th man in his unit would get whipped almost to death. Because of this a Roman soldier never turned his back on the enemy, doing so would be certain death from his own men. I know this is extreme but it has always been my belief that the only real solution to most of today's problems is by making the offending criminals immediate circle equally responsible for their actions. I believe in punishing parents for the actions of their offspring. I also believe that the tour operator these men worked for should get a 6 month closure ban. You piss the people off around them and the wrath will surely follow. I do not believe in state sponsored justice worldwide anymore, it does not work. I remember the whole class getting kept behind after school because of one disruptive pupil during a lesson. He never disrupted the class again after this and it was not the teachers who saw to that.