Published on January 11, 2006
Resort workers of Seaview Paradise were not involved with tragedy on Koh Samui
I am writing to you in regard to an article published on January 6 (“Four held over Samui murder”, News) about the tragic murder of British backpacker Katherine Horton. In this article, you stated that four employees of our resort (Seaview Paradise) were taken into custody and questioned for several hours. You also stated that they were “escorted” to Samui Hospital for DNA testing and then detained at a Samui police station for further questioning. Finally, you stated that the four staff members were still being detained by police as part of the investigation.
None of these statements were accurate, and some were wholly untrue. Allow me to correct you. Two of our male staff members were indeed questioned, as were dozens of other Thai and foreign males in the immediate area. The police also did not come to the resort in order to detain them as you stated; our staff voluntarily went to the temporary police headquarters outside Buddy Bar in Lamai. They were not questioned in a police station as written in your article. They then voluntarily gave DNA samples at Samui Hospital and returned to work immediately. In the article “Police recover traces of sperm” (News, January 7), you again mention the “four male workers at a nearby resort”, presumably referring to the false information in the previous article. A staff member of mine informs me that your photographer also took pictures of him and the other staff members who were voluntarily questioned. I am very concerned about the way in which this article was written without first fully verifying facts and details. Not only does the article wrongly imply that Seaview Paradise staff members were the leading suspects in the investigation, which to my knowledge was never true, it also states that my staff were “detained” for questioning, implying some resistance on the part of the Seaview Paradise staff. Let me reiterate: the two staff members voluntarily went to the Buddy Bar police headquarters for questioning, as they thought it might help the investigation, and they were at no time “detained”. Aside from the possible damage done to the police investigation, you are surely aware of the libellous damage to the reputation of the Seaview Paradise staff. I feel this article was wholly irresponsible and not what one would expect from a newspaper of such high standing in the Thai community. I am also concerned that your reporter took photographs of the two staff members; I would ask for what purpose. While I do not feel that a retraction or correction would be suitable, I do feel some sort of apology is in order, and I would be interested to hear your thoughts on the points I have raised. Carol Chiverton Manager, Seaview Paradise Resort Surat Thani Editor’s reply: Samui police have confirmed that Seaview Paradise staff were among scores of people summoned for questioning and asked to provide tissue samples for DNA analysis. Seaview Paradise staff were in no way treated differently from any of the others questioned by investigators. We apologise for the inaccuracies in our news reports and possible damage caused to Seaview Paradise Resort. ------------------------------------------------ Working with authorities better than provoking them Re: “Beach beautification better suited for low season”, Letters, January 9. I have a few words of advice for Wolfgang Meusburger, GM of the Holiday Inn in Phuket, who complained to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) about the timing of construction efforts at Patong Beach. Writing a letter like this is not an appropriate way to raise a complaint with the TAT. Furthermore, such a complaint discourages me from staying at a hotel that employs someone with such a lack of protocol. As a general manager of a major hotel brand, which you are representing there at Patong Beach, you need to conduct yourself with a high level of diplomacy in the community in which you work. If you haven’t established solid working relations with the city government officials in your area, you had better start now. And more to the point, you should be thankful that the reconstruction is taking place and get past the fact that it’s happening during your peak earning months. This is not an unusual occurrence be it Phuket, Pattaya or your beloved home in Europe. Remember, you represent the brand for which you are employed, and you must show ample consideration for the reconstruction that is taking place. Philip Cook Bangkok ------------------------------------------------ Plenty of blame to go around for degradation of Pattaya Re: “Visitors who behave well and respect Thai culture are welcome here”, Letters, January 9. Having lived in Pattaya for more than 10 years, I feel qualified to comment on Sunida’s letter regarding the behaviour of Western tourists in the locations mentioned. Unfortunately, I have to say I totally agree with the views given in that letter. The advent of cheap airfares and the abundance of cheap hotels have contributed to an influx of culturally insensitive yobs who believe that having paid their money, they can do exactly as they like. I am often ashamed and disappointed at the actions of foreigners in the resort of Pattaya. However, there is another side to the coin. Over these past 10 years, I have watched the dregs of Thai society drawn to Pattaya. Many who set up home here now are involved only in scams, deceit and crime of one sort or another. This is mostly fuelled by drug taking and drug trafficking, instances of which have soared in recent years. Gone are the days when you could safely walk the streets at all hours, and I sadly regret their passing. Yes, Sunida, Western tourists have contributed to the deterioration in standards of behaviour in these resorts, but unfortunately so have the Thais. R Glenwright Chon Buri ------------------------------------------------ High costs being paid for ignoring the environment Re: “Is our ecosystem set to strike back?” Editorial, January 3. The points you make are totally true. But it is probably too late for Thailand and many other countries. It would take drastic education reform to change the culture of greed, selfishness and indifference over a whole generation to begin reigning in environmental abuse, and governments in many places have not even started. When on holiday here, it makes me despair as I look out to sea at the hordes of long-tail boats smoking their cocktails of semi-burned benzene and diesel on the surface of the water. Sure it’s necessary to provide employment for these boatmen, but what future for their children in the years to come? Illegal dumping of all types of waste is rampant, smoking evening fires are a normal feature of life, and there is a complete absence of pollution control on road traffic. And what of government? There will never be a shortage of speeches and promises on the environment, but until something of tsunami proportions happens, there will be nothing resembling a state of emergency. Sadly, the moment will, by then, have passed. Dennis Harvey Bangkok ------------------------------------------------ Column on foreign policy was balanced, not partisan Re: “Concerned about partisanship and use of confidential documents in the media”, Letters, January 4. I read without surprise the letter from the director-general of the Department of Information at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Clearly, a raw nerve has been touched in the department by Kavi Chongkittavorn’s column (“Thailand’s UN bid: an exit strategy”, Opinion, December 26). I suspect the first feeling to be aroused was that of resentment that the department does not enjoy exclusivity as the provider of information in the Kingdom. And second, irritation that the press, despite its relentless battering under the present Thai Rak Thai administration and its consequent considerable fall in the worldwide freedom league is still not cowed, pliable and supine – and long, for the sake of the Thai nation, may it remain so! The article by Kavi is long and examines the candidature of Surakiart Sathirathai, for the post of UN secretary-general from many viewpoints and in considerable detail. To therefore see the word “partisan” in Sihasak Phuangketkeow’s letter makes me wonder if he was reading the same article. He does, however, give a very detailed exposition of the role of the media in a free and open democratic society, and as far as I can see, you are carrying out that duty very well, and the article by Kavi is entirely in that vein. Sadly, “public interest” means to those in power in Thailand what is in their interest and not that of the nation or public at large. For as long as that remains, Thailand needs an independent and brave press. Please keep up your good work of informing the Thai nation despite the rumblings and protestations of vested interests. Matt Wiles London ------------------------------------------------ If you need details, check with the ultimate source Re: “Eager to know the sources of all this intriguing information”, Letters, January 9. 1. “Shin Corp’s profits are up almost 150 per cent” is almost a key phrase here. If “Not a Thaksin Fan” requires a” step-by-step guide”, he or she might want to go over it with the PM himself. 2. As far as I and others are aware, Thaksin does seem to have a “strong political connection”, and that really is putting it mildly. Does “Not a Thaksin Fan” require further proof of this? 3. “Not a Thaksin Fan” wants to know why Thaksin might “prefer cash to stocks and shares”. Stocks can plummet. Roger B Bangkok
Post your comment to this story here