phanangpete

After reading this article, I had to shake my head.

First of all, I'm glad they finally made an arrest and hopefully will make the second very soon (speaking from the following breaking news article that one was arrested).

Now what this article states is that there was no local Mafia involved and "He said local people gave good cooperation to give information, adding the report was not true."

That is complete BULL!!!

The Village Headsman - what does a Village Headsman sound like or do? The first thing that comes to mind, is MAFIA!

Koh Tao - Is a TINY Island where everybody knows each other. One can't pass gas without someone hearing it.

Locals - Were more than likely warned and scared to speak! Why? Maybe because of the Village Headsman you think?

Local Police - Unless Koh Tao is the only place in Thailand that has a legitimate Police force...NOT! It's a small Island ran by the Village Headsman with the Police being employed so to speak by the Village Headsman.

Furthermore, in the article it actually states how incompetent the police were in this investigation:

"He said earlier investigation did not make headway as the cooperation and coordination among authorities were not much with only the investigation police doing their work and no meeting with each other.

But now he said that they will sit down together to discuss and to work in the same direction."

I've been following this investigation from the beginning like most of you, and was hoping that these animals who deserve to be given a slow death, were eventually captured, but through only of course readings from the press, I got to see how this investigation was managed and eventhough I'm all for the new government as they seem to really want to clean up Thailand, Prayuth should focus and make it a priority to begin a massive clean-up of the Police force in Thailand as well as begin tackling the Mafia problem. Thailand cannot do this alone that's for certain...to many things will go wrong. If they do not get outside help on this matter, Thailand will end up like Mexico once they began the campaign to get rid of the drug cartels. They need cooperation from the US & UK in my opinion, but to avoid the same plan Mexico went with that caused more problems than anybody could have imagined!

I for one will NEVER go to Koh Tao again! In such a small island, the "Local Headsman" will always be superior to anybody else including the Police and anything can happen to you as the Locals are too scared to get involved. You will always be at the mercy of the "Local Headsman"!

Me too, and i have a boat and frequently used it around the islands and i will warn all my UK friends, be it parents and their kids !

This is the sort of crime which will be never forgotten and will be talked about for years to come in the bars maybe not the parties , if with luck, they are banned forever.

Life cannot be allowed to get back to normal on the islands after this , even though the Thai's, at what ever level in society they are, want it for money and nothing else.

Can any of us now look at the smiling face serving us in a bar and not think the worst, the've proved ,what they are capable off !

This time because they could not cover it up .

Embassies beware, you have an obligation also not to let the dust settle, this cannot happen again or you will get it from the press the public the world.!!

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Posted 13 minutes ago

webfact, on 16 Sept 2014 - 08:55, said:

CRIME

Koh Tao 'sealed off' after two tourists brutally killed

THE NATION, AFP

Gruesome murders of British pair on island paradise shock locals and visitors

BANGKOK: -- POLICE have sealed off the resort island of Koh Tao off Surat Thani province to hunt down killers who brutally murdered a British couple and possibly raped the woman on Sunday night. The 24-year-old victims have been identified as Hannah Witheridge and David Miller.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....itish-tourists/

this person in the black t shirt looks the same person put on the facebook pages and another newspaper we cant quote . this is dated 16 sept 14

StealthEnergiser You are correct!

Thailand was not at all serious about arresting any Thai citizens connected to this. It was the brave heart "Sean McAnna" who posted the Facebook 7-11 shop picture while hiding in the shop for this life gave a proper message and attention to the world. Now Thailand is forced to take action on own citizens now. The next step will be, they will appoint a lousy Thai lawyer who don't show any interest to convict or prove, and accused will deny going for DNA test. Then later they will announce there is not enough evidence to prove until and unless of Scotland Yoad, or FBI rope in for investigation or until if most countries give warning as Thailand bad destination for holidays. Let us hope the two young British youths will justice from Thailand.

If this guy is actually guilty, cops who let him near the crime area should be investigated as well....

This guy is one of the murderers and hes standing with the BIB as though its just a normal day, staring at the poor victim he raped the night before and hacked to death.

This is pure evil and defies logic of any kind, lets see what the Thai courts give him and his scum mates and how long he serves before back on the island serving other young blond girls.

Its sick !

Well anyhow ,great news, although the Chief admits that they are not using scapegoats in this case ,as it was too highly profiled.

Does that mean we have in some locations hundreds of murderers walking amongst us, this would lead me to believe so, i mentioned in a previous post about a thai tatooist, who served only two yrs for murder of a German girl and has moved to Phuket a month ago, anyhow thats for another forum.

The Army, we have been told are heading for the islands after Pattaya, not before time.

I think were the police see the 'mafia' as part of life here, the Army will be looking at it rather differently, well they will have to, if they are to make any progress in the clean up.

I have lived in Thailand 9 years, but after the first few months, never really felt welcome, ... my money yes, but me no! I came to experience the culture and have always showed respect for Thai customs, religion, etc. Thais are proud of their culture so I am shocked that they are so welcoming to Russians, who have no respect for anything Thai ... you never see them anywhere but popular beach resort towns like Pattaya and Phuket. They ignore rules and regulations, seldom support any Thai businesses, preferring to frequent Russian Restaurants, tour companies, spas and bars.

Every time I see a Thai business close it is replaced by a Russian one. Soon, the beach resorts will be totally Russian. I have yet to talk to a Thai person that likes them because they are rude and demanding, but no one says anything about them and the way they are taking over. Funny how you never see a Russian in Isaan, Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai!

You also have to wonder why no ther country but Turkey allows them to enter with no Visa! .. especially now with what is happeneing in the Ukraine! They are coming here in droves because they can come easily, not because they are interested in anything Thai. Where I live there are lots of Thais that come from Bangkok on Thai holidays. You can tell when they are because the Russians stay away from the swimming pool, preferring not to mix with Thais!!!

Many long time Farang residents are leaving for other countries because there are so many Russians here now. I am also considering a move to another country because I do not care to live with Russians either. When I cam to Jomtien Beach from Bangkok, 5 ye ago, there were virtually no Russians, .. now tere are more Russians than Thais living in my complex! A few more years and it will be all Russian!

Wake up Thailand and reconsdider who you welcome into your country!

Similar friend, ive lived here for 9 yrs plus and lived in Pattaya for most of that, when i heard that Jomptien was referred to as 'little Russia' the writing was on the wall.

Was in Samui afew days ago, on business, i needed a taxi driver for most of the day a friend recommended one, she picked me up and off we went, whilst driving round i asked her about certain Hotels we past , one very plush, oh thats Russian she remarked, only Russian tourist go there, no surprise i thought.

Im wondering to, as many, where this is all going.

If Thailand wants to make it easier for russians to stay here that's their right for whatever reason, i don't think that people from the us or europe can complain when they are used to getting preferential treatment everywhere else..

Well good point, however people tend to forget, it was the US that kicked off Pattaya during and after the Vietnam war, need i remind some that it was used for R&R for the soldiers when it was a fishing village, now it is a City.

The next main group of tourists were the Germans and then the Brits, this was through out the seventies , eighties and on to present day, who have spent billions of baht.

So newbies get preferential treatment , thats how you encourage the feelgood factor eh ?

Once a member (if ever) of the ASEAN community , they can be accused of discrimination toward other nationalities.

This will be a platform for many issues between member Nations which will need ironed out, including , import duties on cars etc.

Can't wait .

Here we go again, brave statements by an official, which don't actually deal with the serious problem at hand.

Three brawls and your out, right ,how serious is that, more murders by juveniles , the police have their hands tied, cause the students are under aged and the policy makers don't seem to know how to deal with it, its a training ground for future gangsters.

How inept is this, what happened to the kid a few years back ,in uniform, firing live rounds into another student bus, rivals yea, understatement yet again, he was on video , in broad daylight.

They must be embarrassed by the youth, what Country would'nt be, but as long as the public, parents keep quiet, nothing dramatic going to change.

The PM said that the parents in the motor bike racers problem were going to be held responsible , uh ,thats going to stop it.

Outside help soon to be required , before ASEAN .

The world is looking now !

The Army need to get there soon, its being going done the tubes for years now, many scum come over from the mainland and , no job prospects !

If single men,or family, what are they going to end up doing, yep drugs and then the rest, ending up in murder.

This Country is open house for Thai's to come and go as they please, why should they be allowed to board a ferry ,come to the islands live in a dump, get drunk and jealous and deal in yabba.

The Thai authorities need some sort of system, if bums are travelling to top tourist destinations, a check at the port of entry needs to be carried out.

Why are you here , have you family here, job offer, a background check must be done, ie: wanted for murder, murdered before.

If they are serious about cleaning up, they need a very serious system set up, not just land encroachers being slapped over the wrist .

Do they want to be known as the highest place on the globe for homicides per capita, i know they are right up there already !

One thing is for sure and i'd bet that reward on it, there are Thai's on that island who know who has done it !

I wonder if this speedboat driver is the same person as the " island gangster" the male victim is said to have seen in the company of earlier that evening.

Totally agree, this was reported, witnesses (apparent) saw an argument with a thai 'mafia' type at the AC bar a few hours before, surely thats probably cause ?

Has he been interviewed, Dna taken, as ive said before, he will be known in that bar by the owner staff etc, what the fect is really going on.

Lets hope speedboat owner is some connection to it all, maybe some thai has spilled the beans for the reward, pls let it be so .

This is total rubbish TAT, do you still have that frumpy little woman ,with specs wears a grey suit as your Director ?

She is a great ambassador to have representing tourism for any Country.

As other posters have said , a tragedy has taken place unsolved, on a tiny island of death and your thinking money number one, i hope this goes global so you hear the wrath of the outside world, your still in that bubble , never i believe to come out, what is it with you, this is the 21st century, not &lt;deleted&gt; Edwardian times, which im sure you won't comprehend !

Time to stop the parties and save lives , get it !!!

The bar owner will know the local gangster, for sure and so will many locals !

I know the Police are doing their best at this stage, but foot printing women, well whats next.

As many others have commented, at what stage after the murders did they 'close down' the island, the two friends of the poor victim left on a ferry the next day, uh !

To buy a ferry ticket you must sign a book, have they checked that yet, doub't it, no mention anyhow.

I think in the future all ticket selling offices , must have cctv, makes sense, dosen't it, then they could check check the images and get a match !

If he, they, have got off the island, ill be amazed if they catch them, unless someone squeals for the 150.000 bt .

So far, so good General Prayuth, Sir. You had to do what you had to do to pull The Kingdom back from the Abyss. Out side of some gaffes, I think he is the right man at the right time for Thailand. Although I am a Foreigner that works and resides here (American with Work Permit and Tabien Baan) I am still a guest here as are all non-Thai nationals. However, what affects the Kingdom's internal affairs has a direct effect on my business affairs externally. I am glad General and now Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is steering the ship of state as it has brought stability back to The Kingdom in the eyes of the Global Community. IMHO.

Im UK citizen and have been living here 10yrs, have Tabien Baan myself, but hey, 10yrs is a long time to be a guest !

Would you say that the (approx) three million thais that live abroad consider themselves as just guests, don't think so somehow.

A vast majority of them are fully pledged citizens, second third generation have UK passports as do the ones living in the States , Aus, etc.

Whats really concerning , and not mentioned much-

Is that these killers have demonstrated a murderous , lunatic hatred of westerners , and are walking free amongst the community.

The chances are they are crazed and blood lusting for more blond girls on Thai beaches to rape and murder.

And before this is dismissed as sensational propaganda -

I remind the reader that where horrific murder and rape is committed in the most violent manner (e.g. smashing in a face with full force )

When the perpetrator(s) is not caught .

In 40% of cases a further crime similar within 24 months is committed by the same offender(s)

In other words this might not be a One off.

This sounds fairly logical for a Country like this, i have travelled to the islands for nearly ten years now and every few months hear about another serious crime against tourists .

Recently i heard about a Thai tattooist, who a few years ago murdered a German girl on the beach by bashing her head on rocks, this was on Koh Phangan.

It was over jealousy and he had deliberately taken her to the beach, so premeditated, to carry out this murder.

He was caught easily and sentenced, but appeared back on the island after only serving two years.

After some months he left with his thai girlfriend to live in Phuket, thats two months ago.

So many of them walk amongst us and if your a tourist your girlfriend could be getting a tattoo from him.

As has been said on tv many times, one law for them and another for farang.

I think that by changing hats so soon from General to PM, he has not had time to use politicians diplomacy regarding, what you blurt out !

I hope we are not going to see a new trend in his making now, inept remarks about very serious issues, like his predecessors did.

Yea Full moon parties really need to be banned, its on the tick list for guys and girls in their twenties and a bit more.

They come a long way just to get pissed and act idiots , its got out of had and the drugs don't help either, if a girl loses her friends ,even a guy and goes it alone in the early hours they are at serious risk.

I know that on KPN, taxis drivers get away with most things.

The so called mafia are used to the good life on that island, so maybe too much money involved to ban, lets wait and see, test case pending.

He wants to clean Thailand up , but lets mad drug frenzied parties continue a bit hypocritical i'd say.

Its a foregone conclusion that if he bans the one on Ko Tao, cause of the murders, even worse catches no one, but lets the one on Kpn continue, he will, for the first time, left himself open for ridicule.

Another horrific incident is bound to happen again, its only a matter of time, then what will he blurt out, no more bikini's please !

Rape as a motive to murder in this case just doesn't fly. Why would a rapist/ murderer/s pick a potential victim that is in the company of a young, fit and healthy male ? There would be much easier targets in that party enviroment. Theft also doesn't seem to fit either as the couple most likely had minimal baht on their person at the time they were killed considering they were naked.

While rapists generally go after women who are alone, killing the male partner and then sexually assaulting the woman is not unheard of. Richard Ramirez (AKA the Night Stalker) did it. The Zodiac killer stabbed couples more than once (though didn't rape).

It could have been more a motivation to murder than to rape but after he killed the man he decided to rape the woman before killing her.

He since it was dark and he had the element of surprise he might have killed the man easily.

I hope the killer is caught quickly.

Why did no one hear noise, ie: screams, i don't think people die in this horrific way in silence.

Rape as a motive to murder in this case just doesn't fly. Why would a rapist/ murderer/s pick a potential victim that is in the company of a young, fit and healthy male ? There would be much easier targets in that party enviroment. Theft also doesn't seem to fit either as the couple most likely had minimal baht on their person at the time they were killed considering they were naked.

If you read the news, there were four of them, including an Asian who was seen on cctv fleeing the other farang was in the sea he had serious wounds.

I think they were naked and having a bit of 'fun' on the beach and someone got jealous , found a hoe and went mad .

He has fled also , how was this allowed if hes not the killer , he is a key witness !

Im not sure i want to go out today, chances of my surviving a normal day are getting increasingly low !

This Country is getting more evil by the day.

RIP, to that poor young couple, hope when they catch the scum, they are dealt with in the same manner as they took their victims.

So sad .

They don't like paying it back !

My wife is in somewhat the same position. Fled Cambodia 30 years ago, was granted a "temporary stay in the kingdom on grounds of co-sanguinity' (i.e. has some thai blood running through her veins), and has not been allowed to leave the province of Trat since. Although she was issued some form of ID, it has a different color and follows a different numbersystem from the one issued to Thai people. No legal job, no right to travel, no passport. Our son fortunately has my nationality.

After 30 years one would expect some leniency from the Thai autorities, but every time we tried to apply we were -quite rudely- given to understand she should be happy to be in Thailand and should shut-up.

This article does give some hope, though.

Quite agree, are you really thinking its all changed since the 1930's .

Are you still watching Dickson of Doc Green ?

Anyhow not easy to wakeup to the 21st cent unless you're old fashioned !

Did you know that over three million Thais live abroad, have any off you heard about, they are having problems in the Country they want to live in?

I expect no replies to this as i have not heard any,

Next pls ?

He will chair a cobra meeting ,yea wake up PM, the guy was beheaded. this is 2014, what are you gonna do,?

They make you look like fools, you are a public schoolboy &lt;deleted&gt;, you cannot respond and you know it, sorry but its soo true &lt;deleted&gt; !