Sunday, June 27th , 2010

Koh Phang- nan and Ratchburi Thailand

More Alcohol and Drug Related Violence Occurs in Ratchaburi, Koh Phang- nan Mishaps Cause Multiple Injuries and Deaths….

Just as yesterday commemorated International anti- Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse Day, two separate drug related incidents resulted in another deadly string of people missing, injuries and drug gang members’ deaths. Manit Toommuang, or Tong Donsai, 24, was killed at his apartment yesterday, after shooting dead an officer in Rathburi at a checkpoint hours before.

Full Moon Party @ Ko Phangan, Thailand

While in the ‘Over The Rainbow Zone’, The Full Moon Party, well known for its hedonistic open drug and alcohol fueled euphoria, was near the site of two speedboats travelling with tourists aboard that collided before arriving at Rin Beach off Koh Phangnan Island around midnight last night.

A twitter message from Anders A Edberg to the Nation on Monday alleged the owner and driver of the boat, Sawasdi Chalermchoke Nawa 5 was involved in a fatal crash in 2005. Apparently the boat used no lights, had no license or insurance according to the source.

As the collision caused the boats to capsize, dozens were hurt while 2 others are seriously injured. Whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision is uncertain, but surely that’s as much a part of the popularity events and what they are known for every year, which authorities seem willing to blindly nod at, knowing its attraction as an international tourist draw that brings in big revenue and usually without much negative news.

The accident injured nearly 40 people, with 2 suffering serious head injuries as the boats were ferrying people to and from a full moon party on a beach on Koh Phangan from Koh Samui, a monthly event on the island that is popular with thousands of Western backpackers. Hospitals on the nearby resort island of Koh Samui reported they had treated 33 tourists between them, with nine still in their care including 5 Australians, 2 Britons, a Singaporean and an Irish party goer.

A Thai newspaper website said two people were missing ( although which has now been revised) and 39 were injured, two of them in a serious condition with head injuries, after the crash threw them into the sea.

At least 7 Australians were injured in the accident, according to the Australian foreign ministry.

“The Australian embassy in Bangkok is working with Thai authorities to determine if there are any other Australian nationals involved,” he told AFP.

Koh Phangan has gained notoriety for its hedonistic monthly full moon event, known as one of the biggest beach parties in the world, where drugs and alcohol are plentiful.

Another Amphetamine-related arrest....

While in the drug related violence in Ratchaburi, a series of serious incidents involving dangerous drug dealers has resulted in several being shot and killed by police over the last few weeks, the most recently yesterday. The suspect was shot and killed while handcuffed in his own apartment under police custody, making the appearance of an extra judicial killing possible, and perhaps probable. Dead men don’t talk, so the version we’re left with is that of the police. Certainly the deceased was no angel, but it appears the gang he belonged to was in a bitter feud with the local police, and the suspect had taken an officer’s life as he eluded a police dragnet in the hours prior. It’s safe to say revenge is as likely a motive as the explanation that he tried to reach for an officer’s handgun, although it certainly does happen, especially for dangerous drug induced suspects that are capable of most anything, and faced with long prison sentences in dirty, filthy overcrowded jails. Manit was wanted on robbery charges, although police say they did not know who he was when he drove through the police checkpoint on his motorcycle at 1am.That may be the best time to leave town in cognito in a hurry while you’re still breathing. Manit was allegedly part of a large drug gang headed by Wisan Sansoy, who was killed by police on June 4^th. Wisan and his wife were killed by police in Pak Tho district of Ratchaburi when he attempted to flee a police raid on his hideout in a forest.

Manit turned his gun on police as he drove through the police checkpoint firing five shots, killing Police Sgt. Major Suvit Kwanmuang, a Bang Phae district policeman.

The 'Infamous' Ya-Ba pills in Thailand

Police returned fire and killed his passenger, identified as Sunisa Yupan, 22, who was Manit’s girlfriend. After police caught and arrested Manit, they said he admitted possessing about 50 methamphetamine, or speed pills, but threw them away during the chase. Police had taken Manit back to his apartment intending to search it, when he allegedly tried to grab an officer’s gun. It appears the police got even with the gang as Vijai Nakwan, 34, a suspect in the killing of two police in Ratchaburi in May, handed himself in to police after hearing about Manit’s death. Let’s say he must have seen the writing on the wall…..