Shooting Samui

[serpentine]

Anyone know the story behind the shooting out the front of a popular Samui night club last night?

[worzel]

Anyone know the story behind the shooting out the front of a popular Samui night club last night?

yeah some idiot was refused entry to solo as he had no id card then returned with a gun bet owners peeed of as the place was pretty busy and they had to shut

[womble]

The person shot was an innocent bystander, the kid was refused entry for being underage, went to shoot the security guard, and missed.

The farang who was shot was working in samui, he's not seriously injured though.

[johnh101]

Samui must be the shootings capital of Thailand.

[womble]

I don't think Samui is any worse than anywhere else, there are shootings everyday all over Thailand.

If you only read this forum though you may believe that as there seem so many people who come to post to highlight the bad points of Samui.

Pattaya, Phuket, Kanchanaburi, chiang Mai, people are shot in these towns regulary, and because tourists are there in high numbers it inevitably finds it's way into the news, particulary when farang are caught in the crossfire or when they are targets themselves. Anyone who knows Thailand properly knows full well Nakon Sri Tammaratt and Surrathani have far more shooting than what happens in Samui.

So yeah there are shootings in Samui, too many, but it's certainly not the shooting capital of the country. I doubt it's even the shooting capital of tourist towns, I think Pattaya quite possibly holds that title, but that would be due to the larger population.

You also have to remember that samui has a small population which is almost village like. Everyone knows what goes on, word spreads quickly, this means more cases come out into the open.

No doubt the usual suspects will jump on this and use it as further evidence for their crusade against samui.

I'm surprised it's taking them so long???

[poorfarang]

Scary shit.

Some punk cant get into a club so he has to go get a gun. Ive heard similar stuff in USA but this seems to be all too common here in Thailand. Everything needs to be solved with a gun or knife. Excellent system...

[taxexile]

No doubt the usual suspects will jump on this and use it as further evidence for their crusade against samui.

dont be so pessimistic womble !!!!!

Koh Samui Report: a Thai island 'paradise lost'?

Samui, the south Thailand resort island (Koh Samui) is still a premier Thailand holiday centre and can be recommended, in spite of crimes involving tourists that have made international news in recent times. But crime and risk is pandemic; no one can be guaranteed absolute safety anywhere, especially in these days of international terrorism. Thailand, considering the numbers of its annual tourist arrivals, is no exception but incidents of serious crime are relatively few and there have been no Islamic-inspired activities aimed at tourists. Thailand generally and certainly Samui are great vacation destinations. Facilities and activities for visitors to Koh Samui are wide ranging and plentiful as you can see by reading recent recent traveller reviews about where to stay and what to do on Koh Samui.

However, foreigners with ideas of living, retiring or running a business on Samui Island should be aware of issues that are likely to affect them as they do foreign as well as local Thai residents of this former tropical island paradise. Read on...

Over-development is rapidly ruining Koh Samui

In the past four years, the southern Thailand island resort of Koh Samui (Samui Island) has been virtually 'put up for sale' and many foreigners, known as farang, now own more than one third of the island's real estate and businesses, investing in bars, hotels, restaurants and villas and spas; there's even one specialising in hypnosis.

However, according to recent reports, less than one fifth of Samui's island families have benefited from this boom, and this is leading to increasing tensions between rich and poor residents, mainland Thais, and also foreigners.

These tensions have triggered a series of violent assaults and robberies, break-ins and acts of vandalism – crimes of opportunity and spite – aimed primarily at tourists. Island families who have done well from the land sell-offs and incoming foreign businessmen have become embroiled in a rats' nest of competing interests.

Reports of violent incidents like rape or murder damage Thailand's important tourist trade.

Therefore Thai authorities, the police and mayor's office, and local businesses, both Thai and foreign-owned, all try to maintain the illusion of a pristine and bountiful retreat.

When the Samui Express, the local English-language paper debated the murder of British backpacker Katherine Horton by two Thai fishermen, it was harangued by readers who demanded the paper "print something nice" instead.

Refusing to be bullied, the same paper then reported that a Thai had raped a second British tourist, Corrie Ann Holt in early 2006. Although this was unconnected to the Horton murder (the two fishermen had quickly been arrested, tried and sentenced to death by the time the second woman was attacked), the similarity of the crimes, within three weeks of each other and on neighbouring beaches, raised questions about the safety of tourists on Samui, the paper suggested.

A group of local businessmen calling themselves "the angry residential bar owners" immediately demanded that the paper stop reporting criminal incidents, accusing it of being 'as bad as the rapists' in damaging local business!

The 'rot' seems to have set in soon after the death two years ago of Sombat Phusiriwat (Kamnan Dum). The demise of one of Koh Samui's most influential figures (at 58, reportedly of natural causes) left a power vacuum which has since been filled by a new mafia of both local and overseas gangsters. This is according to Sombat's nephew Somkiat, who maintains that the behaviour of gangsters on the island has changed significantly from when his uncle, known to have links with southern Thai 'hitmen' and involved with crime in other southern Thai towns and resorts like Hat Yai, Hua Hin and Surat Thani, was the 'godfather'. Now people from other parts of Thailand and foreigners, many from former USSR states, are attempting to seek money and power from crime on Samui, he says.

Some local residents turned into influential gangsters after they became rich by selling the family land. Other gangsters were sponsored by foreign property developers, who hired them to look after the business and get rid of their competition said Somkiat, who is also an adviser to a mayor in Koh Samui district. He says the 'charisma' and power of foreign gangsters does not compare with previous generations of influential figures, including his uncle, who had a 'code of conduct' and tended not to harass anyone. When disputes erupted between rival groups, Kamnan Dum, who twice was elected a Surat Thani provincial councillor, would step in to settle them. Somkiat insists his family was never involved in gangland killings on Samui. [Well he would, wouldn't he?]

In an attempt to alleviate Samui's development problems which ultimately affect everyone living on the island, business and community leaders now hold monthly meetings to discuss crime and other issues which are degrading this once idyllic 'tropical paradise' island resort.

from retire-asia.com

[womble]

He He,

on cue!

The murder itself could happen anywhere, it's one of those unfortunate things that cannot be prevented, sick people exist all around the world.

Fact: Nowhere are there more serial killers than in the US

Ofcouse a police force that tries to cover up, and business owners that try to hide the truth are inexcuseable.

It was right of the samui express to print such a strong article. The busines owners should realise that in the long term an honest approach is the best one. Maybe then problems will start to be addressed.

Samui is not without it's problems, but then the same can be said for the rest of Thailand. Remember the backpacker killed in Chiang Mai? The couple in Kanchanaburi? The farang in the karaoke in Pattaya?

And what does that article have to do with this shooting tax?

You're obviously trolling, I do believe 'Paradise lost' is your favorite samui article is it not?

How much cash did u lose in Samui again?

You know you really should have consulted with proper lawyers...............

[taxexile]

How much cash did u lose in Samui again?

You know you really should have consulted with proper lawyers...............

we are about to make a healthy profit actually womble. and never used a lawyer .

recently back from samui actually , had a pretty good few days there , but my view of the place hasnt really changed. great for a holiday. but not that great to live there. too many slimy falangs and vicious thais floating around.

decent people just get slowly pushed out of the picture.

sorry to hear that a falang was injured in the shooting , and yes , these things do happen with more and more frequency everywhere in thailand these days.

[t.s]

How much cash did u lose in Samui again?

You know you really should have consulted with proper lawyers...............

we are about to make a healthy profit actually womble. and never used a lawyer .

recently back from samui actually , had a pretty good few days there , but my view of the place hasnt really changed. great for a holiday. but not that great to live there. too many slimy falangs and vicious thais floating around.

decent people just get slowly pushed out of the picture.

sorry to hear that a falang was injured in the shooting , and yes , these things do happen with more and more frequency everywhere in thailand these days.

back to the question at hand, does any one know which bangkok DJ was shot at the incident at solo wednesday night?

[womble]

yeah, but u shouldn't mention names on here.

[John 1]

Why ask what Bangkok DJ was shot, I don't see any mention of a DJ being shot. It could have been a fisherman

[t.s]

yeah, but u shouldn't mention names on here.

A public figure is shot in a public place and its off limits?

it would seem to me to be news, not character defamation, speculation, hearsay, rumour or anything of that sort.

Edited September 22, 2006 by t.s

[Patsycat]

Just prop me up on a beach and i shall be a very happy bunny! Don't like to hear bad or sad things.

Edited September 22, 2006 by Patsycat

[t.s]

Why ask what Bangkok DJ was shot, I don't see any mention of a DJ being shot. It could have been a fisherman

Because it was a bangkok dj. Simple

[Rooo]

How much cash did u lose in Samui again?

You know you really should have consulted with proper lawyers...............

we are about to make a healthy profit actually womble. and never used a lawyer .

recently back from samui actually , had a pretty good few days there , but my view of the place hasnt really changed. great for a holiday. but not that great to live there. too many slimy falangs and vicious thais floating around.

decent people just get slowly pushed out of the picture.

sorry to hear that a falang was injured in the shooting , and yes , these things do happen with more and more frequency everywhere in thailand these days.

So I presume Tax, that you have paid all the relevant taxes on your healthy profit from the place you bag?Good to see such a civic leader in the farang community, leading by example.

Edited September 22, 2006 by Rooo

[taxexile]

of course all taxes will be paid , when you sell a plot of land i believe all taxes are deducted at the time of the transaction by the land office.

its in my wifes name so whatever happens my hands are , as ever , squeaky clean !!

[terry57]

Scary shit.

Some punk cant get into a club so he has to go get a gun. Ive heard similar stuff in USA but this seems to be all too common here in Thailand. Everything needs to be solved with a gun or knife. Excellent system...

dont worry about it mate as its always been like this and always will.

the trick is to steer away from conflict and always be respectful to people.

if you can do these very simple things you are unlikely to ever be involved.

its not rocket science my friend.

[poorfarang]

^ I understand completly.

But some random farang just going out for a drink gets shot. Sure you can stear clear from it, if you want to sit in your house with the doors locked 24x7

[sbk]

Seems to me another case of the spotlight of attention being focused on a tourist destination yet ignoring other places where only the local Thais get killed.

Nakhon Si Thammarat is famous for having one of the highest murder rates in the country but I don't hear anyone talking about how dangerous it is.

As long as I have lived on Koh Phangan, people have been getting killed. I know, personally, at least 5 people. Ones I have heard of but didn't know personally? Add another 10 or so.

It is a common solution to problems in Thailand and the only difference here is that a foreigner got shot, if it had been a Thai would there be such an uproar? Unlikely, I think.

[Mark Wolfe]

Anyone know the story behind the shooting out the front of a popular Samui night club last night?

I am still waiting for an answer to this question.

What "popular night club"? A youth was refused entry (how bizarre; how old was he, 9?) and came back with a gun? Where was the foreigner shot? Does anyone actually know what happened? This is all vague hearsay.

And, in an SBK-esque sense, foreigners (outsiders) wouldn't get hurt in Thailand if they didn't come here in the first place.

I love the Express for its reporting of the crime blotter. They should do more of it. It is the only place that gives a real look at this place; although, I agree that a balanced media doesn't mean one paper printing no crime news and another printing lots of it -- ideally, a paper would include a sampling of each, according to newsworthiness.

Shame that the Express has no native English-speaking editor. Crime stories can be fun to rewrite.

[womble]

Anyone know the story behind the shooting out the front of a popular Samui night club last night?

I am still waiting for an answer to this question.

What "popular night club"? A youth was refused entry (how bizarre; how old was he, 9?) and came back with a gun? Where was the foreigner shot? Does anyone actually know what happened? This is all vague hearsay.

And, in an SBK-esque sense, foreigners (outsiders) wouldn't get hurt in Thailand if they didn't come here in the first place.

There's lots of youth gangs here, anyone under 20 should not have been in the place, it's quite normal to refuse entry to 17 or 18 year old kids. It's not common practise that they come back and shoot someone though.

The club in question is the late night one on the soi behind starbucks. The bullet was meant for the security guard but it hit the farang in the arm.

This is not hearsay, this is what happened, some of us just prefer not to make public the names of those unfortunate enough to be mixed up in this.

Thai's get shot in every town regulary, anyone who's spent time here will know that. There's nothing special about what goes on in Samui, except for the fact that there are foreigners here.

It's a common business practise here to use guns to solve problems, due to the fact foreigners do business here it's inevitable that whatever effects Thai's in business will also to a certain extent effect farangs. I'd say many farangs get away with not being shot when a Thai in the same position would have been.

Also when guns are fired in public places innocent bystanders are often hit, obviously this makes the news. People are getting hit in crossfire every week in karaoke's all over the country, Samui is not unique in having people hit by stray bullets.

Actually there are less shootings in Samui than most provincial Thai towns, the numbers of foreigners here and higher police precence makes it riskier. But because foreigners are witnessing it or being caught up in it that maked it higher profile to those who read english language news papers.

Pick up Thai Rath and there are always pics and storys of people getting shot, they are not all in samui. And there's never been a report on Samui being worse than anywhere else in the thai language press as far as I know.

[taxexile]

any news as to whether the police finally have stubbed out their cigarettes , put down their whiskies , finished scratching their <deleted> and re arranging their genitals and got around to arresting and charging this delinquent yet ?

or is that too much to ask.

Edited September 23, 2006 by taxexile

[terry57]

^ I understand completly.

But some random farang just going out for a drink gets shot. Sure you can stear clear from it, if you want to sit in your house with the doors locked 24x7

no mate,

you got it all wrong fella, as that was karma and there's nothing you can do about it.

the farang was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

the thai wanted the bouncer and not the farang.

easy as that.

i'll give you a little example to my reasoning my friend.

you get up one morning to go get some tucker, you jump on your bike and off you go.

next thing you know you are in koh samui hospital all smashed up.

some pissed up farang has just barrelled into you at a very high rate of knots on his bike.

now the amount of people killed and maimed in motor cycle accidents on samui is legendery.

much more chance of getting killed this way then a thai dude putting a cap in your arse.

hope you can get my meaning here my friend.

cheers

[Pilchard]

The whole of the club in question is wired with CCTV. Mostly to stop the staff skimming the tills.

I'm sure when the police pop around to pick up their back hander for the late licience they can have a quick look at the tapes.

[womble]

any news as to whether the police finally have stubbed out their cigarettes , put down their whiskies , finished scratching their <deleted> and re arranging their genitals and got around to arresting and charging this delinquent yet ?

or is that too much to ask.

He was caught shortly after.

[taxexile]

He was caught shortly after

excellent news.

[womble]

Also you might recall a shooting a while ago at the same venue where a police officer was killed by a local known to have shot and killed many people. Each time he has got out of prison a few months later only to shoot someone again.

Well, a couple of months ago he was shot dead by police, so he won't be a menace anymore. This one guy was responsible for three or four high profile cases that invloved foreigners being shot, and numerous cases of Thai's being shot. That's a large percentage of the cases that we have talked about on here, committed by one man!

[taxexile]

how about the man who shot the estate agent , gary pearmain ?

did they ever get him ?

[terry57]

Also you might recall a shooting a while ago at the same venue where a police officer was killed by a local known to have shot and killed many people. Each time he has got out of prison a few months later only to shoot someone again.

Well, a couple of months ago he was shot dead by police, so he won't be a menace anymore. This one guy was responsible for three or four high profile cases that invloved foreigners being shot, and numerous cases of Thai's being shot. That's a large percentage of the cases that we have talked about on here, committed by one man!

bit unusual for him to last so long isn't it ?

when the first police came to koh tao in 1990, one cop was extorting the locals so one thai dude attacked him in the restaurant and killed him on the spot.

bye bye mr corrupt policeman.

end of story.

thais usually sort this stuff out quite quickly.

to let this guy kill all these people before they top him is unusually lenient.