generalspeaking

"They think our country is beautiful and safe and they can do whatever they want, wear bikinis, wherever they like."
"I'm asking, if they wear bikinis in Thailand, will they be safe? Only if they are not beautiful."
Thailand Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha

Promoters call the Thai island of Koh Tao a paradise. Dive resorts boast of its crystal-clear waters, and Western tourists flock to its lively beach bars. Pic source Koh Tao Paradise Facebook

The island of Koh Tan off the coast of Thailand is recognized as a geological tropical paradise calling out for Western tourists to flick to its beach bars and wonderful waters, and they most certainly do. Increasingly, however, some foreigners regard the island as having been overtaken by a sinister influence dangerous to the presence of tourists from abroad. Nine tourists from Europe have died or disappeared since 2014 while vacationing in that paradise. Leading British tabloids to rename it Death Island.

Despite which Thailand remains one of the world's most popular destinations for tourists. Last year lone 35 million people visited, a source of pride and income for Thailand. Which doesn't the least bit appreciate the renaming of Koh Tan to Death Island. It is clearly a patriarchal society where any vestiges of equality between the sexes and respect for personal space is in short order. Leading some officials to suggest that visiting women bring rape on themselves wearing clothing that is provocative.

A short while after two British backpackers, David Miller 24, and Hannah Witheridge 23, were murdered on Koh Tai in 2014, the country's prime minister censured women tourists who think nothing of flaunting their physical beauty in scant apparel. A throwback to another era if you're in a Western country, but accepted wisdom in Thailand, evidently. Wearing scant attire earned Hannah Witheridge the rape she suffered before being murdered, according to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

Hannah Witheridge. Picture: SuppliedSource:AAP

David Miller and Hannah Witheridge were found dead on Koh Tao in 2014.  Source:AAP

His statement didn't do much to embellish the reputation of Thailand and its beautiful island, and he later apologized. He'd meant, he explained that foreign visitors should exercise care. Two migrant Burmese workers were arrested and convicted of the murders, found guilty by a judge who sentenced them to death, regardless of  questions about DNA evidence and the manner in which police handled the case leading supporters of the two men to claim they were framed. Foreign workers, it seems, are to be treated as shabbily as foreign tourists.

Thai rescue workers gather the bodies of David Miller and Hannah Witheridge.Source:AP

A Frenchman was discovered, hands tied behind his back in 2015, hanged. In that case police ruled suicide. A Russian tourist disappeared with her diving gear last year. After an investigation police drew the conclusion that she had unfortunately drowned at sea. Police ruled out foul play when a man from Moldova drowned in October out swimming late at night. In some of these instances family members of the deceased challenged police conclusions.

It doesn't help that Koh Tae has a reputation of hosting organized crime, and where police protect local interests. According to the police major general who led the rape investigation of a 19-year-old British woman, police cracked down subsequently on crime syndicates on the island since the killing of the backpacker's. As for the  young woman who claimed to have been raped in June while vacationing on Koh Tae, police announced in October no evidence has been found to support her claim.

The case was then closed. Police did say they were prepared to reopen the case should new evidence emerge. "The whole thing has been a farce from the very beginning. Why on earth would someone make this up?" demanded the young woman's mother, furious at the short shrift police gave her daughter's complaint. She was led herself to a conclusion, that the police were incompetent, bungled the investigation and were invested in covering up the island's crime reputation. "We know how lucky we are to have our daughter back home. Although she will be scarred for life, she is alive. Something needs to be done about the two mafia families who run Koh Tao, as one or both are knowingly harbouring a serial rapist and murderer."

The young woman's mother was informed of CCTV cameras near the beach which could have captured her daughter’s attack had they not been broken. The same broken cameras that missed the 2014 murders of British couple Hannah Witheridge and David Miller. As for CCTV footage from the bar where the 19-year-old thinks her drink had been spiked, it was erased. "Officers went to the scene and try to investigate and search for CCTV footage. Unfortunately, there was no evidence or any part of the footage showing the crime so the criminal case regarding this incident never been officially recorded in Koh Tao", explained an island police officer.


The police are busy, however, seeking the editor of an online news outlet that reported on the deaths and rape case. Suzanne Buchanan, the editor, laughs off the warrant issued against her, since she lives in Britain and likely wouldn't dream of going to Thailand for fairly obvious reasons. "They are accusing me of peddling fake news when it is not fake", she scoffed. And likely will continue going about the business of warning off would-be vacationers to the paradise of Death Island.

She has ample to write about, actually, a litany of crimes from rape to murder:

DEATH ISLAND’S VICTIMS
Nick Pearson, 25, from the UK. On New Years Day in 2014, he was found floating in a bay beneath a 15m cliff. He had no broken bones. Police ruled out foul play but his family believe he was murdered.
Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, from the UK. In September 2014, the couple were found bludgeoned to death close to where they were staying. Ms Witheridge had been raped.
Dimitri Povse, 29, from France. On New Years Day in 2015, he was found hanging in a bungalow. Police ruled his death a suicide but couldn’t explain why his hands were tied behind his back.
Christina Annesley, 23, from the UK and born in New Zealand. In January 2015, she was said to have died of natural causes after mixing antibiotics with alcohol. No toxicology report was conducted. Her family are suspicious.
Valentina Novozhyonova, 23, from Russia. In March 2015, she vanished from her hostel, with her mobile phone, passport and camera left behind. She is still missing.
Luke Miller, 24, from the UK. In January 2016, he was found at the bottom of a swimming pool at the Sunset Bar at Sairee Beach. His family has accused police of a cover-up.
Elise Dallemagne, 30, of Belgium. In April 2017, she was found hanged in the jungle. Questions surround her death.

Party island Koh Tao, Thailand, has been dubbed ‘Death Island’.Source:istock

Labels: Controversy, Crime, Island, Thailand, Vacation

posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, November 14, 2018