Wichit, Phuket –
A Ukrainian woman was arrested after she spray painted anti-Russia statements on rocks and benches at a famous viewpoint in Wichit.
Local residents in Wichit complained that many places at the popular Khao Khad Viewpoint were sprayed with red spray paint, professing anti-Russian views .
The Wichit Police checked CCTV footage nearby and on Friday morning (April 7th) a 34-year-old Ukrainian was arrested and taken to the Wichit Police Station. Her name was not released by Thai police.
The Wichit Police Chief Colonel Chatree Chookaew told the Phuket Express that the Ukrainian woman said she stayed in Thailand for three months now and plans to return to Ukraine on April 10th. She did not mean to damage Phuket’s image but told Thai police she only wanted to show her views about the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
She has promised police that she wont do this again if she visits Phuket or Thailand in the future.
Colonel Chatree told the Phuket Express that regardless of the woman’s apologies that she is still facing charges of vandalism. Chatree added that the charge is strictly for vandalism and not for expressing political views, adding that there are more appropriate ways to express ones opinions and thoughts than deface a well known landmark and viewpoint.
The Phuket Express noted the Wichit Police did not mention if she was sent to Phuket Immigration for possible yellow or red cards under a new classification system for misbehaving foreigners being tested in Phuket.
The vandalism act has drawn significant and polarizing chatter on social media, with Russians widely criticizing the act and many Ukrainians and westerners supporting it. Thais, meanwhile, mostly expressed outrage for the act of defacing a famous viewpoint, regardless of the context of the speech.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and get all our news delivered to you in one spam-free daily e-mail Click here! OR, enter your e-mail below!
Help support The Phuket Express in 2023!
