PATTAYA, Thailand – A 26-year-old Myanmar man suffered a head injury after a group of three to four transgender women allegedly returned to confront and assault him and his companions along Pattaya Beach late on Aug. 30. Pattaya rescue officials were alerted at about 11:40 p.m. to a physical assault on the beachside walkway opposite Soi 13/1. Police from Pattaya Police Station and rescue volunteers were sent to the scene.
They found three men at the scene, including Myanmar national Khon Aye Maung, 26, who had suffered a cut to his head, along with bruises and other injuries. Rescue workers provided first aid.
Pattaya City Special Affairs officer Siriphong, 35, who happened to drive past the area, told officials that he saw a group of about three to four transgender women cross the road toward the beach before allegedly attacking the men.
He said he stopped and tried to intervene while contacting authorities. During the confrontation, the group allegedly claimed that the men had harassed them earlier, prompting them to return and confront the group before leaving the area. One of the injured men gave a different account, saying the group had been walking along the beachfront and using a mobile phone to film the surrounding area. He said the recording apparently upset the group, leading to an argument before the transgender women allegedly returned and attacked them.
Police are investigating the conflicting accounts, questioning those involved and witnesses and reviewing available evidence to identify those responsible and determine what happened before the assault.
