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29 Mar 2012

15 targeted killings of lesbians in Thailand since 2006: IGLHRC report

The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has compiled 15 documented cases of killings and rapes of lesbians; and demands an immediate police investigation into the pattern of the violent murders.

It’s the first report of its kind that draws attention to what activists have described as hate crimes against lesbians and masculine-presenting women in Thailand – a country commonly regarded to be one of the most LGBT-friendly in Southeast Asia.

In a statement published by the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) on Mar 27, 2012, the commission – in association with local LGBT human rights advocates – wrote to the government of Thailand to “express shock and outrage and demand an immediate investigation into the pattern of gruesome murders of lesbians and gender variant women – those who identify as toms [derived from 'tomboy' to mean butch lesbians], between 2006 and 2012.”

The IGLHRC say the murders have been dismissed by the police as 'crimes of passion, love gone wrong, or the fault of the victims' and were not investigated as hate crimes. Thailand however does not have hate crime legislation or legal provisions to protect anyone facing discrimination based on any grounds. 

The New-York-based NGO sent a list of eight demands, including an immediate investigation of the killings and rapes of lesbians, the implementation of a national monitoring system of homophobic crimes, and to train and sensitise all law enforcement personnel about equality before the law regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The letter was sent to Thailand’s Inspector General of Women’s Affairs and Family Development (which comes under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security), the Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The IGLHRC reports that in all cases the deaths have been verified, and most victims identified.

17-year old Orn-uma Wongprachit and her tomboy partner, 17-year old Marisa Srisawa, were found dead on January 15, 2009. They had been stabbed over sixty times. Image from goosiam.com

Some of the victims were as young as seventeen. In addition to being stabbed multiple times, suffocated, strangled, or shot to death, many of the lesbians and toms had also been raped.

In two cases of double homicides, lesbian couples were killed by men who objected to their relationship and felt rebuffed when their attempts at coercing one partner into a heterosexual relationship failed.

Most recently, a 14-year old girl reported to police that her father began raping her in 2008 when she was 10 years old because she "liked to hang out with toms" and would not listen to his instructions to stay away from them. The girl told her mother who then took her to the police. The father had sole custody of his daughter.

"The killing and rapes of lesbians and toms represents a callous disregard for humanity. The failure of the Thai government to prevent or properly investigate these killings are not only appalling, they are evidence of poor governance and blatant violation of international human rights law," said Grace Poore, Program Coordinator for Asia and Pacific Islands, IGLHRC.

When contacted by Fridae, Anjana Tang Suvarnananda, a longtime Thai LGBT rights activist and founder of Anjaree Foundation that focuses on LGBT advocacy, says the main issue here is the “lack of recognition and understanding of the prejudice, the stigma, the abuse and the violence that lesbians, toms and dees (derived from 'lady' to mean femme lesbians) face in Thai society.”

“People are being affected but the authorities do not see the cases as hate crimes or as a specific problem. Many of the victimes are being abused by their own family members and people around them,” she added.

“We don't have any organisation that monitors or studies the situation. We don't have a mechanism where lesbians and toms and dees can bring their complaints forward as hate crimes or report a situation if they are being targeted.”

When asked if the numbers could be higher, Anjana says there is no way of knowing since there’s currently no “clear methodology” to document any possibly related cases nor can researchers distinguish between crimes of passion involving opposite sex couples where the female partner or their male lovers become victims of “men who go crazy because they think they own their women” and the situation of women who leave their boyfriends for toms.

The government and police has yet to respond to IGLHRC's letter.


The following is from the statement LGBT human rights advocates charge Thai police ignore fifteen killings of lesbians and tomboys, dismiss as “love gone sour”:

Advocates to Thai Government: Uphold Promise of Human Rights

Human Rights defenders and IGLHRC representatives assert that the Thai government must be held accountable to the principles of these treaties and fulfill their promise to uphold human rights. As a result of police bias and improper investigations into egregious violence against lesbians and toms, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission has made eight specific recommendations to the Thai government to correct the egregious situation.

1. Order an immediate investigation of the killings and rapes of lesbians and toms in Thailand, and release results of this investigation in a press conference that includes LGBT groups and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Thailand.

2. Ensure that the Royal Thai Police and the Office of the Attorney General ofThailand bring to justice the perpetrators of these horrific crimes against lesbians and toms.

3. Develop and implement a system of monitoring, recording and reporting future incidents of homophobic and transphobic violence, where victims themselves, or their partners friends and family members can report violence without fear of reprisals or threats to privacy.

4. Promote an environment where Thai gays, lesbians, toms and kathoeys (transgender people) enjoy the rights to equal and adequate protection under the law, personal security and safety from violence, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression and opinion.

5. Collaborate with the NHRC and the Thai Sexual Diversity Network to conduct a public awareness campaign to end stigmatization, discrimination, and lethal and non-lethal violence, including family violence against LGBT people

6. Provide resources to the NHRC to train and sensitize all personnel in the law enforcement and criminal justice systems about equality before the law regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, and to ensure that those investigating or receiving reports of violence must recognize the motives of perpetrators.

7. Include violence against lesbians, toms and transgender people in Thailand’s next CEDAW report.

8. Lead by example in the region and openly support the rights of LGBT people by enacting laws to implement Article 30 (the anti-discrimination clause) of the 2007 Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2550.

Violence Verified

On February 24, 2012 in Loei province, a 14-year old girl reported to police that her 38-year old father, who had sole custody of her since 2008, had been raping her continuously for four years because she "liked to hang out with toms" and wouldn't listen to his instructions to stay away from them. She told police that the most recent rape had been on 11 February 2012. http://fb.kapook.com/hilight-68028.html

On December 4, 2011 in Pattani province, 24-year old Nurisan Chedurame, described as a tomboy by those who knew her, was found dead near the village garbage dump with her head smashed in. A three-inch club was found at the crime scene. Relatives said that Nurisan had not returned from being out with friends the night before. Police suspected she was killed because "she was involved with women. http://www.pyntoday.com/webboard/index.php?topic=3445.0

On December 2, 2011 in Chonburi province, the decomposed body of 25-year old Kanchana Changkwian, a tomboy, was found two months after she went missing. Police speculated that Kanchana had been raped and murdered "for becoming involved with a married woman." http://news.sanook.com/1076498/...

On August 6, 2011 in Suphanburi province, the body of an unidentified tomboyish woman with tattoos was found in an irrigation canal. She had been slashed in the face by a machete, strangled with a rope, and dumped. Forensics examination indicated she had been killed five days earlier. http://www.kayasit.com/bbs/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1829

On June 28, 2011 in Trat province, a tom (un-named) was murdered by her girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend. Parents and relatives of the girlfriend (un-named) had opposed the relationship, and despite threats against the tom, had failed to stop the couple from continuing to see each other. The mother of the girlfriend engineered the murder of the tom and promised to marry off her daughter to the ex-boyfriend who committed the murder. http://www.showmax.tv/...news?newsid=1114

On June 27, 2011 in Samut Sakhon province, two women believed to be in a same sex relationship were executed in a rice field. The tomboyish woman (un-named) was shot four times in the head, and her 17-year old partner, (un-named) was shot twice in the head. Police speculated that the execution-style killings were "caused by a soured love affair." http://108sport.com/news_detail.php?n_id=2024

On March 17, 2009 in Chachoengsao province, a Laotian tomboy (name withheld) was raped and strangled to death by a Laotian man with whom she had been drinking. http://news.sanook.com/366851/...

On January 24, 2009 in Narathiwat province, 28-year old Wilasinee Naesee was found suffocated with a plastic bag over her head. She had also been cut multiple times with a sharp object. Wilasinee had been missing from home for two days. Police suspected her murder was "because of sexual affairs." http://76.nationchannel.com/playvideo.php?id=24090

On January 15, 2009 in Chiang Mai province, 17-year old Orn-uma Wongprachit and her tomboy partner, 17-year old Marisa Srisawa, were found dead. They had been stabbed over sixty times. Orn and Marisa worked at a karaoke bar to support their families. Police said they had been killed by a man, "attracted to one of the women and felt disdainful of the lesbian relationship." http://www.goosiam.com/news/news1/html/0015294.html

On April 7, 2008 in Nakhon Ratchasima province, the half naked body of a senior school teacher, Takkhinawisut Ritthidet, was discovered in her home. Her head had been smashed in several places. Police said, she had been killed by someone known to her since there was no sign of forced entry or theft. http://www.ryt9.com/s/bmnd/683069

On March 25, 2008 in Chiang Mai province, Kannikar Suphasri was gang raped, strangled and burned by three male drug dealers. Police say she was allegedly a drug dealer involved in a money dispute with the killers, and lured to the crime scene by one of the men who "fancied her." All three men committed the rape and burning. http://entertainment.goosiam.com/hotnews/html/0009281.html

On March 5, 2008 in Bangkok, 42-year old Paphatsorn Phiu-ondee was gunned down while talking on the phone with her live-in girlfriend. Police ruled out robbery and cited "sexual affairs" as the motive for the killing. http://www.yenta4.com/webboard/2/1220961.html

On August 31, 2007 in Bangkok, 42-year old vegetable vendor, Nattawadee Chandaeng was shot and killed by two men on a motorbike. Police say "the murder may be due to Nattawadee’s sexual affairs with women who may be already in relationships." http://news.mthai.com/general-news/85593.html

On August 9, 2006 in Nakorn Ratchasima province, Kritsana Krasaewik was assaulted and burned alive by her boyfriend and his three friends for allegedly "showing off" her girlfriend to her boyfriend. At the time of this report, she had suffered burns over 50 percent of her body and was in a coma. No further news is available. http://tnews.teenee.com/crime/3594.html

Reader's Comments

1. 2012-03-30 03:21  
I think it was due to man ego. Lost his girlfriend to a woman was humiliating. Could not face to reality. If his girlfriend left him for another man, I think it would not go that far to killing. Sad story.
2. 2012-03-30 07:46  
The simultaneous homophobia, misogyny, and sexual violence involved in these killings are just just just horrendous.
3. 2012-03-30 08:39  
If true, even 10 per cent, this is horrible.
4. 2012-03-30 09:10  
I'm not able to fathom it & i'm not able to find words to describe this inhumaneness crime of killing another person deliberately and not in self-defense or with any other extenuating circumstance recognized by law
5. 2012-03-30 09:46  
Tom boys are still biological females, no matter how butched are they. They are still vulnerable to rapes and molest by men. When a man's ego is hurt, he can gone beyond his means to take it back. The laws of Such crimes and murders of weaker gender must be enforced and the murders have to be heavily sentenced such as gay bashing cases. Perhaps these people should be put thru some brain washing modules before releasing them back to society. Maybe turn them into gays ? Haha
6. 2012-03-30 11:39  
Thailand protects the rich and powerful. Anybody else is on their own.
BTW "Thailand – a country commonly regarded to be one of the most LGBT-friendly in Southeast Asia". "Selectively tolerant" is a better way to describe the view of LGBT in Thailand. If you live here you would find out "friendly" is a very subjective term.
7. 2012-03-30 20:52  
#6 "If you live here you would find out "friendly" is a very subjective term."

Well, I used to live there for two years. I think it is far better than many developed nations like USA, Japan and Korea. Nothing to complain. I think Thailand is the most well tolerant country for gay people to live in Asia.
8. 2012-04-02 03:00  
A so-called majority takes away the natural right of gay people to live out their lives and then give it back, tolerantly.
9. 2012-04-03 02:35  
I am very heartened to see my bros here expressing your empathy over this news than...none of my sisters who dare post? Gosh, guess the fear is REALLY real then.

As for Thailand, I suppose when times are hard, tolerance gets tired easily as the 'uneducated' probably considers such virtues as 'luxury' attitude. As in all society model, you bet the 'minorities' will always be the first to get bashed as kind of venting for the large non-tourist industry population there.

I wish there's more lesbian heroines be given more society status to influence the acceptance and respect level.
10. 2012-04-03 20:45  
this is indeed horrible - to be assaulted, mutilated and burnt alive by people you used to know, and maybe at some point, were friendly with. people who claim to be interested in you. it also illustrates why vulnerable minorities require deterrent laws -even if symbolic- it aids the ultimate cause-which is the recognition of equal rights. The idea that LGBT equality is a non-issue in Asia because LGBT discrimination here is non-violent is moot, if the cases in this article are true. Under-reporting and the difficulty in proving motivation in such crime makes one wonder about the true extent of such 'hate'-crimes here.

@5
men are raped too. by heterosexuals too. in prison/wars/military for example. there are also equivalent cases of gay men being raped (using objects), mutilated and killed after being outed- the last case i read was in an african country. for certain age brackets (eg young children), the gender diff in rape victims is not a factor, and even biased towards boys in certain samples due to easier access (eg catholic sex abuse scandal).

Comment edited on 2012-04-03 20:55:37
11. 2012-04-04 00:55  
Islam has something to do with this, no doubt.
12. 2012-04-05 03:31  
We should also be aware that depression among young lesbian women in traditional societies and resultant suicides is also ignore in many countries. These people are often fearful to turn to any type of consuling service or traditional counselors such as family elders or monks.

Something needs to be done here.too. In Laos there have been about 5 such suicides by young lesbian women in the past two years. Save the Children Australia has taken some action but it's difficult. Any suggestions?
13. 2012-04-05 11:10  
Used to be "tomboy" was a girl who saw herself as a girl, who liked doing "boy" stuff, like boy-sports, tree-houses, kicking the can, the rough and tumble world. Consider the character "Scout" from "To Kill A Mockingbird". Now the Thai parlance has turned it upside down. What was innocent 70 or 80 years ago, is no longer. This is nothing more than an observation so don't go critical mass on me.
14. 2012-04-09 01:05  
Reminds me of the film Boys Don't Cry. Real life story about Brendan Teena who was beaten, raped and murdered by her male acquaintances after they found out she's is a woman.
15. 2012-04-13 23:48  
:'(((((((( (R.I.P)
Comment #16 was deleted by its author on 2012-04-14 07:55
17. 2012-04-14 07:58  
In total agreement with #6- "Thailand protects only the rich and powerful...everyone else is on their own." As in nearly all Southeast Asian countries, even a supposedly GLBT tolerant one. You can be gay in those places...ONLY if you are wealthy, privileged and preferably a product of "Old Money", if you get what I mean. But even so, it's usually male homosexuals who tend to benefit more from such scenarios. due to the male-chauvinist, patriarchal attitude prevalent in those families. Their lesbians counterparts with similarly "good" backgrounds suffer much the same fate as their "backstreet sistas", And sadly, many if not most ardent supporters of thugs who harass,rape and murder lesbian women...are often their own- or their girlfriend's female relatives. As so wrenchingly shown in the above cases.
18. 2012-05-13 03:27  
morons .. a butch being raped!!! i m always cursing those assholes when i saw wats on the newspaper regarding raping cases.... let alone les or butch... damn it... those scumbags should go to hell n deserve to be torture n rape by demons !! fcuk them !!

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