Koh Tao mayor blasts UK media's 'negative reporting'

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Koh Tao Mayor Blasts UK Media's 'Negative Reporting'
By Khaosod English


The body of Christina Annesley on the ferry from Koh Tao to the mainland, 24 January 2015

SURAT THANI — The mayor of Koh Tao island, where a 23-year-old British tourist was found dead last week, has accused British media of damaging the island's reputation with spurious and negative news coverage.

Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul said he is angered by unspecified "British media agencies" who have suggested that the death of the tourist, Christina Annesley, is connected to an alleged "mafia" syndicate on Koh Tao island.

"It may mislead foreign tourists who have never been to Koh Tao to think that Koh Tao is full of mafia who like to kill or exploit foreign tourists," Chaiyan said. "This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media."

Last September two other British tourists, 24-year-old David Miller and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, were found dead on Koh Tao. As police struggled to pin down a culprit, a number of media agenices began reporting about suspicions that "powerful families" on the island were engineering a cover-up.

Two Burmese migrant workers were later arrested on charges of murdering Miller and raping and murdering Witheridge. The two 21-year-olds are currently awaiting trial in prison.

Police have yet to determine the cause of death for Annesley, who was discovered dead in her bungalow on 21 January. Police did not publicly confirm her death to the press until 23 January, and were quick to stress that Annesley "was not murdered."

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1422251882


-- Khaosod English 2015-01-26

[Chang_paarp]

Wait till he actually meets some of the British press at a press conference, he will learn what the real world is like, or he will run away with his tail between his legs.

[peptidebomber]

The British media should know that reporting the truth in or about Thailand is unfair on Thai's.

When will the Western media learn?

[Snig27]

Mafia in Thailand? Nah ...

[LuckyLew]

It is called freedom of the press, guess this is a foreign term to him

[Costas2008]

Mayor,

My humble suggestion is to send a representative to the UK and tell these journalists to keep quite as you and your fellow mafia members are not interested in uncovering any truth.

You are happy as you are and in fact you are going to buy a hearse so you don't transport the victims on the back of a pick up, from now on.

[Diplomatico]

"It may mislead foreign tourists who have never been to Koh Tao to think that Koh Tao is full of mafia who like to kill or exploit foreign tourists," Chaiyan said. "This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media."

I can't imagine why. What next, the mayor of Phuket bemoaning the fact that foreign tourists think that Phuket is full of mafia who exploit tourists for overpriced taxis and fake jet ski accidents?

[NeverSure]

"This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media."

You rang?

[MJP]

Get <deleted> off!

(I didn't mean you by the way Uncle Neversure).

[ratcatcher]

"It may mislead foreign tourists who have never been to Koh Tao to think that Koh Tao is full of mafia who like to kill or exploit foreign tourists," Chaiyan said. "This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media."

You don't say? He's going to have a hard time working this one out, at least until the next fatality.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Quite a lot of Thais seem to think KT is full of gangsters killing foreign tourists too.

Can't think why?

Maybe it's because when a girl dies unexpectedly the police have the body out of the room within 15mins of discovery.

Maybe it's because when two brits are battered to death the police announce it was obviously a gay person that did it because she wore bikinis on the beach.

Maybe it's because of the foreign guys who commit suicide with their hands tied behind their back.

Maybe it's because of all the dead foreign men who float around the island.

Or something else?

[baboon]

A man of influence with an axe to grind... Any Briton would be absolutely mental to want to visit that place the way things are at the moment, in my opinion.

[bigjules007]

Absolute ludicrous comments from an absolutely ludicrous individual, no doubt he is related to some of the "alleged mafia" members.

[Chetzee]

...... take a couple of valium and chill out a bit Mayor !

[fritzzz25]

not a single tear shall be shed for this island.....

[Pattaya28]

Mr Mayor.

Open your eyes.

Expand your brain, if that's possible. Re-educate yourself.

Examine the facts.

[Scully]

From the link:-

He also complained about the behavior of some foreign tourists on Koh Tao island.

"They want to have fun. They want to go all the way and liberate themselves. They like to do things without caring about other people," he said. "But we cannot interfere with them much. This is reality."

End quote.

Right on cue he blaims the victim's, why am I not suprised.

[catsanddogs]

I am elated to wake to this news. About time officialdom in those quarters started feeling the heat. Hope you continue to read the threads Mr Mayor. Your squalid little island deserves all the negative feedback it is currently getting and more. Sleep well, not.

[taony]

time to sue the UK media!!

[BigBadGeordie]

I suggest he retains an lawyer and issues a law suit for defamation and punitive damages.

Nasty foriegners, it's all so unfair!

[jaltsc]

"Wait till he actually meets some of the British press at a press conference, he will learn what the real world is like, or he will run away with his tail between his legs."

He would have to leave Thailand first, where reporting the truth doesn't get you thrown behind bars.

[ExPratt]

Those annoying tossers from the press can be quite amusing when stirring up the Buffoon type Asian official. Head of the Army in Malaysia got his pants taken down and jammed down his throat when he tried a smart arse answer to western press during MH370 news conference

[JLCrab]

The mayor should relax. A lot of potential travelers have now heard about Koh Tao who would have never heard of it before... and people still book beach vacations on Sicily, Mafia or otherwise.

http://goitaly.about.com/od/sicilyitaly/a/sicily-beaches.htm

[55Jay]

The Returning Happiness Campaign hasn't worked for everyone I see.

[Lingba]

Angered???...Gee I wonder why?...Time to wake up Mr Mayor and stop your crying

[daveAustin]

The mayor of Koh Tao island, where a 23-year-old British tourist was found dead last week, has accused British media of damaging the island's reputation with spurious and negative news coverage.

I think you lot do a pretty fine job of damaging what there is left of your island's reputation all by yourself.

[lee b]

Rubbish, they damaged there own reputation , they did not need anyone else to help them do that.

[MaxLee]

SURAT THANI — The mayor of Koh Tao island, where a 23-year-old British tourist was found dead last week, has accused British media of damaging the island's reputation with spurious and negative news coverage.

Mayor Chaiyan Turasakul said he is angered by unspecified "British media agencies" who have suggested that the death of the tourist, Christina Annesley, is connected to an alleged "mafia" syndicate on Koh Tao island.

"It may mislead foreign tourists who have never been to Koh Tao to think that Koh Tao is full of mafia who like to kill or exploit foreign tourists," Chaiyan said. "This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media."

Welcome to the 21st century where saving face and unconditional brainwashing is pointless ....

[cup-O-coffee]

What I think is interesting is that he even bothered to say anything at all. What I mean is that he never spoke up before regarding his failure to protect tourists, or even his deepest sympathies. In my view, that kind of disqualifies him from opening his pie hole at all for the first time, to protect something so full of filthy lies, mysteries and unanswered questions. It really makes him out to be a rather contemptible creature in my view.

[Tatsujin]

The truth hurts, doesn't it Mr Bought And Paid For Mayor.

Instead of complaining about the factual/truthful media reporting that goes on outside of Thailand over which you have no influence or control, how about actually cleaning up yours and the island's mafioso acts so that they can then report that something has actually been cleaned up over there and that, as a tourist, you're not likely to die "unexpectedly" when upsetting some local Thai for whatever reason.

Want to know why tourist numbers are down ... this is part of it ... you can either do something about it, or ignore it (as per usual or simply blame the burmese again if you need a scapegoat) ... but the problems not going to go away on its own.