Jomtien Beach altercation: Tourist slaps vendor, chaos ensue (video)
A beach mat vendor at Jomtien Beach found himself at the centre of a chaotic altercation with a foreign tourist late yesterday, March 25, after the tourist allegedly slapped him.
The incident, which took place near the Pattaya Police Station, Dongtan branch, was captured on video and quickly went viral, raising concerns over the safety of locals and tourists.
The video shows a large foreign tourist engaging in an argument with two Thai men, believed to be aged between 25 and 30.
According to eyewitness accounts, the foreigner aggressively ordered the two men to sit down before allegedly choking and slapping them in the face, all while making loud noises. Despite the physical aggression, the two Thai men remained calm and did not retaliate.
Things took a turn when another young Thai man approached and questioned the foreigner’s actions, asking why he was hurting the two men.
This sparked a chaotic confrontation, with the Thai men seen throwing a beer bottle at the foreigner. The situation escalated further, creating a scene of confusion and tension on the busy beach.
Pattaya News reporters visited the scene shortly after the incident and spoke with Ball, a 32 year old mat rental vendor, who was involved in the altercation. He explained that he and the other vendor had been drinking and renting out beach mats when the foreign tourist, who appeared to be drunk, initiated the confrontation.
“I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but he slapped me first. I tried to stay calm and avoid trouble, especially since I had just finished a jail sentence for something in the past, and I want to live honestly now.”
Despite the altercation escalating, Ball stated that he did not wish to press charges against the foreigner, though it is unclear whether the tourist, who likely sustained a head injury, filed a report with the police.
Ball also shared his thoughts on the situation, noting that some tourists may hold negative views of Thai people but expressed his desire to move forward with his life and continue working as a beach mat vendor.
He added that, sometimes, Thai people defending themselves may be wrongly accused of harming tourists, though he clarified that this wasn’t always the case, reported The Pattaya News.
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