Amphetamine Assaults in Sanghklaburi
Emily Dalton / Kaowao
April 28, 2008
An influx of amphetamines in the small town of Sanghklaburi has been blamed for a recent increase in violent attacks in the area. Local sources have confirmed with Kaowao that there have been at least three separate incidents resulting in the death of two people in the last five days. All three attacks were perpetrated by a group of men.
The first attack occurred against a Mon man between the hours of 4 and 6am on Tuesday the 22nd of April, close to the Golden Pagoda. Left by his attackers by the side of the road, he is believed to have died as a result of injuries to his head. The victim sustained such a severe beating his face was reportedly unrecognizable, and the base of his skull had collapsed.
Although not linked by police investigators a further two attacks occurred on Thursday and Friday night. In the first case a young Mon women thought to have been meeting her boyfriend in an isolated area, but was instead confronted by a gang of men, thought to be aged between 17 and 24. Later found dead in the area, the victim had been raped several times by multiple men. Witnesses say the attack appeared to have been vicious and frenzied; it is not known whether the female victim was killed prior to being raped or if she died as a result of injuries incurred during the multiple attacks.
The following night a female migrant worker was attacked near the wooden bridge as she walked home after her shift. Her screams for help were loud enough to raise the alarm, with nearby villagers coming to her aid. The two attackers fled the scene on foot and as yet have not been found.
Further to the two documented cases, in the greater Sanghklaburi region over the last week at least three women are known to have disappeared.
As Kaowao reported recently, Sanghklaburi police average one arrest daily for trafficking amphetamine across the border. Those that are not caught may then travel freely through Thailand, with their first major stop the Thai-Mon village of Sanghklaburi. Here, one pill of amphetamine may be purchased at a local price of approximately THB 150 (US$3). With price no longer a barrier local youths are able to acquire the drugs easily.
Amphetamines can induce feelings of euphoria, invincibility and superiority. Couple these effects with a gang mentality and unfettered testosterone fuelled by cheap and easily accessible alcohol, the results are potentially catastrophic. The consequences are all the more dire in a small town like Sanghklaburi, especially when there is a significant dearth of consequences for the perpetrators when the victim is Mon.
Senior figures in the community have condemned these recent attacks, and are calling for vigilance throughout the community. Although taking care not to fear-monger, programs across the town are responding in their own way to last week's deaths.
A spokesperson from Sanghklaburi's Women and Child Rights Program (WCRP) stated their message has shifted since the events of last week. "We teach empowerment to women, to not be afraid. These recent attacks however change all that. If a drug-fueled gang approaches you in the dark and you are on your own, we face a very scary predicament, and one we are unlikely to escape from unharmed." She said their message has changed from one of strength to one of caution.
A local reporter agreed, telling Kaowao, "I feel like the level of hostility has risen between everyone in this town. I used to walk freely around my neighborhood without fear, which was always part of the benefit of this tight-knit community where everyone looked out for each other. Once there is a gang though that balance changes, especially when drugs are involved too, because the violence and harassment is so thoughtless. I wouldn't dare to venture out alone now."
Although police investigations continue, there has been some suggestion of a lack of priority in cases where the victim is Mon. Investigations are further hindered by a lack of reporting of sex crimes against females. One local told Kaowao that the number of rapes in Sanghklaburi is most likely much higher than reported, due to the shame associated with being raped; many female victims will not report rape for
The first attack occurred against a Mon man between the hours of 4 and 6am on Tuesday the 22nd of April, close to the Golden Pagoda. Left by his attackers by the side of the road, he is believed to have died as a result of injuries to his head. The victim sustained such a severe beating his face was reportedly unrecognizable, and the base of his skull had collapsed.
Although not linked by police investigators a further two attacks occurred on Thursday and Friday night. In the first case a young Mon women thought to have been meeting her boyfriend in an isolated area, but was instead confronted by a gang of men, thought to be aged between 17 and 24. Later found dead in the area, the victim had been raped several times by multiple men. Witnesses say the attack appeared to have been vicious and frenzied; it is not known whether the female victim was killed prior to being raped or if she died as a result of injuries incurred during the multiple attacks.
The following night a female migrant worker was attacked near the wooden bridge as she walked home after her shift. Her screams for help were loud enough to raise the alarm, with nearby villagers coming to her aid. The two attackers fled the scene on foot and as yet have not been found.
Further to the two documented cases, in the greater Sanghklaburi region over the last week at least three women are known to have disappeared.
As Kaowao reported recently, Sanghklaburi police average one arrest daily for trafficking amphetamine across the border. Those that are not caught may then travel freely through Thailand, with their first major stop the Thai-Mon village of Sanghklaburi. Here, one pill of amphetamine may be purchased at a local price of approximately THB 150 (US$3). With price no longer a barrier local youths are able to acquire the drugs easily.
Amphetamines can induce feelings of euphoria, invincibility and superiority. Couple these effects with a gang mentality and unfettered testosterone fuelled by cheap and easily accessible alcohol, the results are potentially catastrophic. The consequences are all the more dire in a small town like Sanghklaburi, especially when there is a significant dearth of consequences for the perpetrators when the victim is Mon.
Senior figures in the community have condemned these recent attacks, and are calling for vigilance throughout the community. Although taking care not to fear-monger, programs across the town are responding in their own way to last week's deaths.
A spokesperson from Sanghklaburi's Women and Child Rights Program (WCRP) stated their message has shifted since the events of last week. "We teach empowerment to women, to not be afraid. These recent attacks however change all that. If a drug-fueled gang approaches you in the dark and you are on your own, we face a very scary predicament, and one we are unlikely to escape from unharmed." She said their message has changed from one of strength to one of caution.
A local reporter agreed, telling Kaowao, "I feel like the level of hostility has risen between everyone in this town. I used to walk freely around my neighborhood without fear, which was always part of the benefit of this tight-knit community where everyone looked out for each other. Once there is a gang though that balance changes, especially when drugs are involved too, because the violence and harassment is so thoughtless. I wouldn't dare to venture out alone now."
Although police investigations continue, there has been some suggestion of a lack of priority in cases where the victim is Mon. Investigations are further hindered by a lack of reporting of sex crimes against females. One local told Kaowao that the number of rapes in Sanghklaburi is most likely much higher than reported, due to the shame associated with being raped; many female victims will not report rape for
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