Posted on 03/17/2008 3:47:49 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
BANGKOK, Thailand — Female tourists visiting the Thai island of Phuket are going to be given whistles to sound in case of an emergency.The Thai Tourism Ministry announced the move Monday, two days after the murder of a Swedish woman in broad daylight.
The whistles are part of a campaign to increase security on Phuket, one of Thailand's most popular tourist destinations.
The Swedish woman, 27-year-old Hanna Charlotta Backlund, was stabbed to death Saturday while taking a walk on Mai Khao beach, on the northern tip of Phuket.
Her attacker remains at large.
Phuket police Maj. Sathabhorn Sangaunsuk says the whistles will be shaped like the symbol commonly used to designate women - a circle above a cross - and can be worn around the neck.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry also plans to increase the presence of security guards around the island and publish safety manuals that will be distributed to tourists.
Authorities said the security plan has just been devised and they did not know when distribution of the whistles would begin.
Wouldn’t a gun work better?
Even a mix of 10% guns and 90% whistles would work, let the criminal wonder.
Religion of Peace ?
You beat me. That’s what I was wondering.
Well, if you go by the CIA World Factbook, the odds are 1 in 25 (about).
I think it was the religion of Piece.
Both. WheeBANGeeBANGeeBANGeet!
I’ve been there several times. Great place...or it use to be. I suppose crime can happen anywhere.
Why not mace, tazers or pepper spray?
After the tidal wave hit I remember ready a story of a 18yr old woman who was caught up in the waters. She struggled and made it out of the water, crawling to higher ground. Shortly after a man found her, beat her, and raped her.
Can’t remember the source but it was credible. (not rueters)
The one on the right, or left?
So sad for this poor girl and her family. I spent several months in Thailand in the late 80’s and while the people were overwhelmingly friendly and gentle, there were incidents that suggested things were changing. A particluar incident involved a group of European girls who were staying in the same guest house as us in Chiang Mai. They were being solicited for a river trip by supposedly reputable tour guides. Another European guest who actually understood Thai overheard the plans to take them to a particular spot along the river, rape, murder and rob them, and warned them - they left for Bangkok immediately.
I can only imagine that things are much worse now.
In figuring odds a Muslim did it, you can't just figure the chance as a population ratio. You need to include the wacko factor which is about 20 to 1. The correct figure would be 1/25*20=80% chance.
So the whistle will simply attract more attackers huh?
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