Koh Tao murders: Thailand reluctantly agrees with foreign observers
Thailand agrees 'in principle' to allow foreign observers from England and Myanmar to observe the judicial process being followed in the Koh Tao double murder case a month ago. This agreement was made yesterday in a meeting between the British and Myanmar ambassadors, the head of the national police and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In England, the Thai chargé d'affaires has been summoned by the minister for Southeast Asia. [The diplomatic term for: called out] Hugo Swire has made it clear to him that there are 'serious concerns' in the UK about the way the Thai authorities have handled the matter.
Swire also criticized the Thai police's media contacts. He offered British police assistance in the investigation and subsequent legal process and demanded that the British government and the families of the victims be kept informed of the progress of the investigation.
However, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha [afraid of losing face?] denies that the chargé d'affaires has been 'summoned'. 'They didn't summon us. We went there to explain.' Prayut says Myanmar and England may have been confused by the media coverage and social media.
"It's quite normal for them to ask us for explanations, but that doesn't mean they don't trust our justice system." According to Prayut, the police handled the case 'expertly'.
In Surat Thani, the Koh Samui Provincial Court continued to hear the prosecution's witnesses yesterday. The two suspects were given the opportunity to question them. They were assisted by a lawyer from the Lawyers Council of Thailand.
Maung Maung, a roommate of the suspects, stated that the three of them had been drinking beer on the beach and playing guitar, about 100 meters from the crime scene. When the beer was gone, he left. According to a previous police statement, he witnessed the murders. But then again, who can you believe in this case?
(Source: Bangkok Post, October 15, 2014)
In the top photo, Somyot Pumpanpuang, chief of the national police, leaves the Foreign Office after meeting with the British ambassador (pictured below) and the Myanmar ambassador, referred to as 'plenipotentiary' in the caption.
I am also curious how the reaction of Thailand will be if it turns out that these 2 Burmese are innocent . I'm afraid the truth will never come out and these two innocent or guilty will sit for a long time like so many "poor" Thais and others are imprisoned innocently
In Thailand I often think: "be more open to the world". But even asking a foreigner for advice is probably a loss of face. However, if you ask for advice, you remain in control of whether or not you follow the advice.
So the practice is usually first to bring out ridiculous solutions , theories or ideas and only when the whole world is tumbling over you or can't stop laughing make adjustments or sweep the matter under the rug. The loss of face is then many times over. taller.
It's all the charm of Thailand but not so much fun when you end up behind bars due to clumsy policies. It is also not fun to have to think whether you can express the above.
Sorry, but I am convinced that the police acted anything but "correctly" in this matter!
There were “photo images” at the very beginning and miraculously “never” appeared again !
I have a dark suspicion that THOSE images in question may indeed be of the real killers, all the more so because they were swept under the table without a word.
I immediately think of the corruption of the police over there, and yes it really does exist, I have it from a very good source, and I also think of those “beatings” of the Burmese to force them to confess…
"Someone" had to be found guilty and as soon as possible because those murders did not fit at all in Prayuth's "idea" of a "safe, corruption-free and tourist-friendly Thailand".
So "acting" absolutely had to be done quickly, but Thailand was certainly not allowed to take "blame", let alone that the murderer(s) should be Thai!
So those Burmese have to pay for everything, half children, barely 21 years old with very poor parents, illiterate and do not speak the language!
In the meantime, the REAL perpetrators are still “free”! How long would it be before there is murder there again?
I think a very thorough and professional investigation by the UK specialists and those of Burma (as previously mentioned) is an absolute must and a matter of urgency!
Certainly ALSO for the relatives of those poor murdered people, realize that people have lost their child and something like that one carries with them for the rest of their lives! That sadness never wears off!
And then that "murder" that was "dismissed with laughter from the police" on January 1st !
Never examined, it was said: "drunk and fell off the rocks", good but with only 1 deep wound in the skull and no further blue spot, abrasion or let alone something "broken" somewhere?
Those parents were also sent away by the police with "a bunch of reeds" and they, afraid for their lives and that of their other son, literally took the hare's path and did so as quickly as possible!
No, there is TOO much coincidence, too many open questions, too many loose ends, nothing is what it seems to be now and that needs to be thoroughly investigated!
No one should pay for murders that have not been committed, the real culprit(s) must be caught and punished!
Moderator: your position is clear, repeating your opinion without new facts or arguments is not allowed.
Comments on Thailandblog are of course very welcome. There are, however, a few rules:
1) All comments are moderated. We do that ourselves. It can sometimes take a while for a comment to be posted.
2) The blog is a platform for reaction and discussion, not an outlet for swearing. Keep it civil. Comments that contain insults or bad language will not be posted.
3) Also keep it businesslike, that is: don't play the man unnecessarily.
4) Only substantive comments on the topic of a blog post will be posted. In other words, stay on topic.
5) Responses are intended to promote discussion. Hammering the same point over and over again is useless, unless with new arguments.
Comments that do not comply with the rules will not be posted.