Is the name of this 'other expat' known and if yes has he been notified? Kathu is a very large area with many expat residents that now might be worried about their latest affair or otherwise.
Editor: With the hitman apprehended and the police hot on the trail of the contractor, Kathu expats now only have to worry about their next affair or otherwise.

Posted by Anonymous on March 7, 2009 11:49

I agree with Anonymous and disagree with the editor's reply. If the police and news can mention that an expat in Kathu had a contract on his head, they must also warn this individual and let the public know this has been done.
Editor: We are journalists, not police. The safety of individuals is the job of the police. In any event, our article has warned every expat wrong-doer in Kathu. By now, they are all behaving themselves, right?

Posted by Not living in Kathu! on March 9, 2009 11:36

Your comment sounds like you are suggesting that who ever has 'that price' on his head is automatically a wrong-doer..? Are you implying that the shot Canadian man was also a wrong-doer? Editor, certainly you should know that people sometimes get shot in Thailand for having done absolutely nothing wrong ? In my case my old builder has been telling his suppliers that he can't pay their bills because I'm not paying him. Even though this is absolutely not true and I have paid him to the baht I could have a number on me.
What do you want me to do now, pay my old builder twice, or how do you suggest I be right in stead of being a wrong-doer

Posted by Nothing wrong on March 9, 2009 17:49

For those who live in Kathu and are concerned about a hitman, here's what the Straits Times in Singapore reports: The police officer said Somchai's next target, who apparently lives in the central Kathu area between Phuket town and Patong, would not be warned.
'There is no need to warn them (businessmen) because they must know the risks, especially if they have conflicts and can't talk to each other and resolve them,' the police officer said.
He added: 'Sometimes this kind of thing is just a threat arising from a business dispute. It is seen as the final way out, which is not right because there is a justice system to handle things like this.'
A police source in Phuket, who asked not to be named, told The Straits Times that the cost of hiring a professional hitman usually ranged from 30,000 baht (S$1,290) to 50,000 baht.
This can depend on the importance of the target as well as the amount at stake in the business deal that lay at the core of the dispute.
In this case, Somchai was allegedly given a 400,000 baht advance for the next hit, he said.

Posted by Angelfire on March 10, 2009 14:35

I cannot believe you are using the slang, rude and arguably racist term," farang," in a report.
It denotes persons of caucasian ancestry only and thus is not suitable for news reports.
And your response to " Not Living in Kathu," is reprehensible in its assumptions of guilt. . . and vigilante justice.

Editor: The term 'farang' is widely used politely, without any sense that it is derogatory. We tend to use 'expat' more regularly. The word 'foreigner' is usually more of a problem because the clear implication is that the person does not belong, although not everyone who used it is being racist. We try to avoid that word. As the shooter was arrested and police were pursuing the issue, I fail to see why anyone would be concerned about life in Kathu . . . except those with guilty consciences. Sum num nah.

Posted by Mustava Mond on March 21, 2009 12:41

" ...Except those with guilty consciences, Sum Num Nah" ?
You are way out of bounds and have crossed the line of responsible journalism.
I am going to post your responses on e Teak Door and Thai visa forums right now

(Mr. Morison I suggest you put your office staff on a leash .)
And " Farang " is about as rude a word as "N*****r" Foreigner is far more acceptable.

You must be a Thai Bimbo to even think that Farang isn't rude.

Editor: Always happy to encourage logical and reasoned debate. The word 'farang' is polite and widely used in Thailand, without any sense of insult. The word 'foreigner' was banned by Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, precisely for the reasons I have described. 'Expat' is far more accurate, (except where police use 'farang') and the word we use out of preference in most articles. As for the Kathu case, with the shooter in police custody, what would any right-thinking person have to fear? Phuketwan's readers are law-abiding people who have no cause for alarm or concern. Oh, and I am not a ''Thai Bimbo,'' whatever that means.

Posted by Mustava Mond on March 21, 2009 13:38

The word farang itself is harmless - it could be a compliment or insult or neutral, depending on context

Posted by Rawai Reader on March 21, 2009 18:36

Not warn the next potential victim?
Police have a duty to do so but I would have expected a journalist to investigate and warn the potential victim.
Perhaps it is out of fear that PhuketWan does not want to share the information?
Additionally, the word farang is a racial epithet and as such has no place in decent journalism, regardless of whether people find it offensive or not. The fact that it can and is used offensively on occasion should be enough to avoid its use.

Editor: When you think up a way of warning the victim without the cooperation of the police or the alleged gunman, (that is, without a name), please let us know.
'Farang' is the accepted term in Thailand for Westerners. We plan to continue to use it.

Posted by Tudders on March 21, 2009 22:44

Farang is Thai word, not English. So why use it in an article written in English. I'm sure the Thais would be offended if we always just called them Asians.

Posted by Barry on March 22, 2009 09:49

"Editor: Always happy to encourage logical and reasoned debate. The word 'farang' is polite and widely used in Thailand, without any sense of insult." Are You living in Thailand?
Do you really believe this? Wake up to reality!

Posted by Frank in Rawai on March 22, 2009 09:52

I was called a farang today. I couldn't believe it! I was enjoying a very pleasant walk up the mountain in Phuket Town where the monkeys are, and these two brazen Thai youngsters shouted "Farang" at me and started pointing.
I was shocked.
Not only did they point, but they were laughing and jumping up and down and trying to say "Hello!" and "How are you?" in a really offensive way.
Even though they were only 6 or 7 years old, I felt so bad I thought it was my duty as a foreigner-expat-retiree to report it here.
Editor: If these boys were six or seven years old, they probably wanted to practice their English on you. You were probably called a farang simply to get your attention, because it's the commonly used word for Westerners and all things Western. It's even possible that they too were tourists, and that expats are rare where they come from. The advice in the guide books is, don't take offense. At that age, boys everywhere are cheeky. It would be a mistake to read too much into the incident.

Posted by Mike on March 22, 2009 22:09

Ok Ok lets put this farang stuff to rest. From now on in English news you can all be referred to as " Guavas." How does that that sound to you, politically correct ? Guavas unite, for tomorrow we may be food on the table !!!

Editor: Keep the durians out of this, please.

Posted by Graham on March 23, 2009 07:56

It feels like some expats in Thailand is just too scared of being offended that they hear racism as soon as a Thai open his mouth.

I wouldn't say that there is something wrong with the journalism here. When i read in the newspapers back home in Norway, they will always say that the victim or offender was of european, asian, african or middle-eastern orgin. Dont see any racism in that. It's just facts. Same same as you see here in Phuketwan.

Worse than the racist is the one who always have to accuse others to be it.

Posted by Ola on March 23, 2009 19:55