I've just been reading a travel Forum called "Backpacker Thailand" it's virtually full of crime reports and warnings from Koh Phangan, especially the FMP. I had no idea that the situation had deteriorated so much. It sounds out of control. The risks involved far outweigh any reasons to travel to Hat Rin & Koh Phangan in general. Here are some cuts from this forum:


"Remember - this is the biggest uncontrolled party in the world (the last of the free festivals - like the old music festivals used to be before the big fences, security and high entry prices) - but as such, it's a free for all for theives, con men, drunkards and assholes - so please don't be the part of the small percent who become a victim of this."

VIOLENCE - Showing respect to the Thai locals is very important, especially during Full Moon night, when there are crowds of people and sometimes too much jolity and too many whiskey buckets! There are many people who are not local to the island who arrive just to make trouble - if you experience any problems with any Thai's then simply walk away - do not get involved as maybe many other of their friends may get involed and it doesn't matter how big you are - bottles, chairs - whatever could be used! Be careful - don't be a HERO - just WALK AWAY! If you are muscular/body builder be careful - often you are a target to young guys trying to impress their mates - bottles over the back of the head are sadly becoming more regular and you simply wont know it's coming. Best to cover up those muscles with sleeves and ask your friends to look out for you!

DRINKS SPIKED - Girls be careful of people putting things in your drinks - try and ask a male friend to go up and get the drinks!
AND EVERYONE DO NOT WALK AROUND ALONE, ANYWHERE!! - there have been reports of guns in the beach bars, rapes, stabbings and murders.

Wonderful isn't it. The Land of Smiles. "Do not walk around alone, anywhere" or the lovely smiling friendly Thais will crack you over the head with a bottle, or stab you, or rape you. I blame the Thai government for this situation, their dual pricing system sets foreigners apart as targets, victims, the local people see the government signs around the place making foreigners pay 200%-400% more than Thais, so naturally Thais get the idea that foreigners are not to be treated the same, are not worthy of the same considerations - Get what you can out of the foreign devils - that's the message they're getting.
And what are the useless Thai police doing while tourists are being bashed over the heads with bottles, drugged, raped and murdered? Sitting around drinking whisky and having sanuk. Bloody useless mongrels. They can't even give their tourists decent protection. They know too well who the trouble making bottom feeding low life Thai scumbags are who are on the island to prey on the tourists. Why aren't they being rounded up and booted off the island?