Phangan mourns slain Briton

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Published: 9 Jan 2013 at 19.05
Online news: Local News

SURAT THANI: Residents and business operators Wednesday held a mourning ceremony on Koh Phangan’s Haad Rin Beach for a British bystander who was shot to death during a brawl at a New Year's Eve party.

About 50 business operators, residents and tourists, most of them dressed in black, attended a vigil in memory of Stephen Ashton, 23, who was shot and killed by a shell from homemade gun during a nearby fight between two groups of Thai men at Haad Rin, home to the world famous Full Moon Party.

Ashton was not involved in the fracas, during which one man allegedly drew and fired his homemade gun, missing his intended target but hitting Ashton, dancing on the beach nearby just before dawn on New Year's Day.

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highlander
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Discussion 7 : 10 Jan 2013 at 08.147
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Please place this problem with the PM she needs something meaningful to be involved with. Here's her opportunity to shut this whole drug party thing down for ever! Transfer the police chiefs out of there to the south and replace them with no nonsense, clean police chiefs if this is indeed possible. Again let her the PM make these decisions so she can then be fully accountable for them if any failure in compliance is observed in future. You can't have loose cannons walking around with home made guns firing bullets at people. This is a serious national problem and as head of the government the PM needs to be held responsible.
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dharma
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Discussion 6 : 10 Jan 2013 at 07.276
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RE: D1/2. Hard drugs (heroin/ganja) existed on Haad rin well before the party started in the late 80's. Mafia/police took a while to find out about 'party drugs', but have since profited happily ever after. BTW - the original full moon party starter from Paradise Bungalows died from 'party' drugs not the hard variety. 'Bad incidents' may occur everywhere but being shot dead while dancing on the beach?? Koh Phanghan deserves to be cleaned up. Haad rin is now a complete S*%thole. The Full Moon party is an embarrassment - partygoers 20 years too late. Shut it down. Should have done so years ago...
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upena
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Discussion 5 : 10 Jan 2013 at 05.325
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Thai Tourism damage control
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Openshaw
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Discussion 4 : 09 Jan 2013 at 23.384
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An absolute tragedy, and words can't express the sympathy that I feel for his family and friends.

So, what are the local police/judiciary going to do about it? Unfortunately like many of this and similar incidents throughout Thailand, inaction through lack of interest or monetary 'gifts' are not going to bring an end to these kind of occurrences.
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blobber
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Discussion 3 : 09 Jan 2013 at 21.303
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People please remember that most of the island is a beautiful laid back place. The full moon party is but one small corner.
RIP Stephen.
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ricoaj22
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Discussion 2 : 09 Jan 2013 at 21.292
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RIP, very sad story indeed! and tomo i find your tales hard to believe, if you knew anything about party culture, its that people don't inject heroin at all night parties! I've been to the full moon many times and can safely say heroin addicts were nowhere to be seen.
Granted a lot of other things are for sale there undoubtedly. There are bad incidents everywhere, i am thinking some regulation in pricing, fixing dangerous roads and a proper sized properly trained police force should top a priority list
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tomo
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Discussion 1 : 09 Jan 2013 at 20.361
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God bless you Stephen.A very sad incident.In the late 80s till mid 90s i spent almost 10 years spearfishing on Kho Phangan island.I always stayed at Chowkana resort and had great times.Then the full moon parties where ok.Then big hard drugs turned up syringers disgarded on the beaches.It was time to move on.This island needs a huge overhaul,its not safe,and many bad incidents have happened and been hushed up.
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Phangan mourns slain Briton | Bangkok Post: news