Self defense in Thailand

[Bernie]

With some reluntance I raise this subject. Over the past months I have heard of instances of expats in Bangkok being hassled by young toughs while walking along the streets. This is happening typically in late afternoon and early evening hours and in respectable venues. Not in the more colorful entertainment districts. A couple of these expats I know and I know they're not the type to be frequenting the bars, clubs and parlors. They're loyal to their spouses.

And then this morning I watched a video being played over and over on the Channel 5 news of a group of thugs beating the living bejesus out of a guy in a waiting area of a police station in Nakorn Pathom. Don't know what the full story is yet.

Then, of course, we have the incident involving a nut case who rammed his car into a small crowd of people at a bus stop and cracked the bus driver over the head with a rock. His "VIP" father then vents his anger at the crowd for having the temerity to fail to get out of the way of his "stressed" son's Mercedes. We'll see if the little prick is able to get off by virtue of having the proper family credentials. After all, the victims were only uneducated little people according to the father.

It seems to me and many of my Thai friends and family that Thailand is becoming progressively unsafe (even apart from the troubles in the South). And I have increasing doubts that I could ever rely fully on the police.

So my thoughts more and more are turning to self defense measures in Thailand. I wouldn't want to carry a firearm. Couldn't legally get one anyway. But I wonder about the availability and legality of pepper spray in Thailand. Anyone have any thoughts about the possession and use of pepper spray?

Bernie

[GWR]

I've seen it on sale, and know one person who carries it all the time. I somehow doubt that anyone in Thailand would ever try to arrest you for being in possession unless you were clearly using it for inappropriate reasons.

I'll make further enquiries about this if I get a chance.

[Bernie]

Thanks, GWR. Much appreciated.

Bernie

[Yappofloyd]

Khun Bernie, personal awareness and security wherever you are in the world I believe is always maximised by a constant awareness of your surroundings (know what is going on, if something happens where is an exit/security point etc), knowledge of culture and basic language is a must. (I am not being exhaustive here).

As most familiar with thailand know, knowing the importance of not causing a thai to loose face in front of others is paramount (as indeed for most of Asia). A good sense of humour never goes astray in decreasing any tension which may be targeted against you. I say all of this as someone who works as an unarmed civilian in conflict zones where many people are running around with AK 47s and random violence is common. The ability to negotiate and diffuse tensions with people who would not hesitate to shoot you is vital. This principle of diffusing or not escalating tension remains true for where ever one is...in a bar at home for example.

Being someone has worked in the criminal justice system; I can tell you that the incidence of violent assaults is increased by the availability of weapons. Most criminology reports support this. Similarly, in thailand you will see that many personal disputes escalate due to the appearance and use of weapons. I would humbly suggest that rather than resort to feeling the need to carry a weapon you just ensure that you are doing the basics in personal security. Your obviously reluctant to carry a gun but did you know that a pepper spray is classed as a semi-lethal weapon in most jurisdictions and requires extensive training to use.

I would also disagree that thailand is becoming more unsafe for expats but there is an obvious trend of increased expression of resentment against foreigners in some quarters. Having lived in thailand as a child for a year, an adult now and then, lived in other parts of Asia and traveled the world extensively; I would also say that I feel no more threat in BKK than in say my home city of Melbourne, HK, Jakarta, NY or Paris. However, I do know that there are limitations to how what I can do in public in BKK that there is not perhaps in other places and I act accordingly.

However, random acts can obviously occur anywhere no matter how aware one is of ones safety and if you feel safer with a weapon then so be it. Just remember that if you produce a pepper spray to defend yourself then the other side may resort to a gun. In fact given the availability of guns in thailand this would most likely be a certainty in many scenarios. I would sincerely hope that the temperament in certain parts of thailand does not change to the extent where many farang feel they need to arm themselves. (Obviously if you lived in the 3 south provinces at the moment it may be another story)

I am reminded of a column which stickman wrote on the issue recently; http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/StickMarkII/ThailandDealingWithConfrontation.htm