JoeLing

I have not seen any international news agency having any references to this claim.

But, IF the Deputy Police Commissioner-General Pol Col Somyos Pumphanmuang,
on behalf of the Royal Thai Police, will charge people for criticising the police, then
he is in utter contempt of the Universal Human Rights and the joint ASEAN declaration
of human rights signed by the representatives of the government on behalf of the
Kingdom of Thailand.

I can guarantee, that will have a much bigger effect on Thailand's economy than
any faux pass about bikinis. Now IF General Pol Col Somyos Pumphanmuang
did make that statement and acts accordingly, I feel he is the one tarnishing
the reputation and economic stability of the Kingdom of Thailand more than any
blogger could do.

Now I hope Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha can clarify the stance of his government
on this issue.

http://www.asean.org/news/asean-statement-communiques/item/asean-human-rights-declaration

JoeLing "Buying candles for churches and temples for a better afterlife" THAT I find utterly corrupt if anything!(By your defenision)To "do good" with the intent to get something back (better afterlife).It´s also stupid;you think that, if there is some kind of God,he would be so easily deceived by something like that,a very selfish action!? Your life must be hell,seeing corruption everywhere;in the shops,in the family and so on.Relax!

Yeap. Corruption everywhere, human prerogative.

Just like using one's brain, human prerogative.

For some it's a problem, for others it's not

Off course, I'm relaxed.

My kid cleaned the table, did the dishes and even made me coffee,

and all for 2 extra hours TV, so why should I not be relaxed?

When law enforcement is not paid a decent living wage, they will be open to bribes and corruption.

Train them and pay them well if you want any improvement.

You get what you pay for.

Until them, bribes, beating those who refuse to give false testimony and other shenanigans will continue.

The recent investigation of the murder of the tourists is not the way to gain the faith of anyone who has their eyes open.

So you think that it is because they have too low salary they steel,extort and so on!? From what I heard,the higher up they are,with higher salary,the more corrupt they are! The illgotten money is transfered upwards,meaning what I just said. It is very naiv to think,that better salary would stop them from their illigal activities,"much wants more".

It's not a question of taking a little or a big bribe.

Either they are corrupt or they're not but there is no such thing like less or more corrupt.

Of course there is. The guy that accepts a free drink offered him every now and then can not be considered the same as the cop who runs the jet ski mafia scams on Patong Beach. One is clearly "more corrupt" than the other.

.

They tested them but when you try and round up 9 guys playing football and 6 run away and 3 are not fast enough then one needs to do what one needs to do with those three you have. Am I right ? Three guitar players three footballers not three immigrants Puhlease!

The way I read it was: 6 were caught and 3 ran away. It is the 3 who ran away who were later caught, and two of them confessed. The 3rd is a question mark (has he already been deposed of secretly?).

It's possible that part of the coersion, besides (quite possibly) torture, for the 2 who supposedly admitted guilt (even though they shared no language with the interrogators), .....was because the 3 who successfully ran away were facing dire recriminations for doing so. Whether or not that's the case, the facts remain: the Burmese signed forms they couldn't read (they barely know how to speak Thai), they had no legal counsel, they have no voice, they have no connections, they have no money, they're illegals.....

Many Thais have a deep disdain for Burmese. Thailand had two wars with Burma and lost both. In the latter war, their holy city of Sukothai was sacked and burned, and sacred white elephants were taken back to Burma. This might sound silly to drag this up, but people have long memories. Look at the problems in the Middle East. I was once surrounded by 7 big Thai undercover cops who were trying to frame me for something (not having a passport on me while out riding my bicycle). I felt snotty so I pointed at the smallest and oldest guy in the group and said, "How do I know you're not Burmese?" In a micro second, the veins popped out of his neck and he wanted to tear me to shreds. The others restrained him. I laughed. He lost face.

And obviously you're still alive to tell the tale - fairytale?

When law enforcement is not paid a decent living wage, they will be open to bribes and corruption.

Train them and pay them well if you want any improvement.

You get what you pay for.

Until them, bribes, beating those who refuse to give false testimony and other shenanigans will continue.

The recent investigation of the murder of the tourists is not the way to gain the faith of anyone who has their eyes open.

So you think that it is because they have too low salary they steel,extort and so on!? From what I heard,the higher up they are,with higher salary,the more corrupt they are! The illgotten money is transfered upwards,meaning what I just said. It is very naiv to think,that better salary would stop them from their illigal activities,"much wants more".

It's not a question of taking a little or a big bribe.

Either they are corrupt or they're not but there is no such thing like less or more corrupt.

Where does the CSI LA gets their crime scene pictures from?

The one of David in the water etc

Can someone send me a link? I would like to see.

Ok, can someone PM me the link please?

Do you have a link?

… urging them to quickly create love among the people ….

Apparently there is a contest going between top officials:

Who can so the most ridiculous thing and get people to believe it.

What, are they supposed to hand out flowers?

'

Flowers? Sorry, can't eat them, can't drink them, can't <####> them..

free internet and coffee beer in every police station always does the trick

Pol.Gen. Somyot Phumphanmuang has delivered his policy to high-ranking police officers, urging them to quickly create love

Dear police force,

Try to be more friendly when you scam people and give them a hug, they will love you for it.

Should you still meet unhappy people, arrest them immediately for treason as unhappiness

undermines the image of Thailand and is critical towards the happy owners of the government.

Who knows, maybe those Burmese boys are guilty, maybe not.
Maybe the headman's son is guilty, maybe not

But who ever is guilty, any decent lawyer should get them off the hook
as the investigating authorities have worked in such an unprofessional
manner, they would not have a solid case in a "real" court.

BUT

as the legislative, executive and judicial branch of this government is all
one and the same, there will not be transparent, real justice.

...... Please remember, that Thailand is our host country, and that we are guests, and if we don't like it, then we need to go!

Dear Thailand, as I am only a Guest here in your country, please treat me as a guest!

Please keep me safe and treat me as any host would treat a guest in their own home.

Although, it used to be one of the nicest, friendliest and most generous homes I ever

lived in, greed made you to fill your house with more guests than you were able to

take care off. You neglect your guests, rip them off from the moment they step in to

your house right to the day they leave and should they experience any problems in

your home, you treat your guests as if they were criminals.

Should you have forgotten how to treat guests, any major hotel chain will be able to

give some insight in how to make Guests feel welcome and safe. How to treat guests

with respect and courtesy and most of all , how to make guests come back again.

There is an old saying in the hospitality business, treat your guests as if they would

be kings and queens, how ever small or big they are.

Now as I said before, I have no time for Thai bashers nor the Thai apologist with their

pink glasses but choose to respect my fellow forum buddies by holding my tongue on

the subject of their idiocracy.

So you can put down your pens and save your angry letters for another day. If I can

poke a little fun at my own ride then I'm going to take a few pot shots at the country

or the community I live in.

So many calls for an 'Independent investigation' involving an outside agency - obviously a good idea. But when did Thailand ever back off and admit to inadequacy or incompetence ? Get real - they never bring in 'outsiders' .

Get real? What about 2001?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1952815.stm

A pair of detectives from Dyfed-Powys Police had been brought in to assist Royal Thai Police's floundering hunt, re-launching the inquiry for their man in September 2001.

They flew to the murder scene and later returned DNA evidence from the sarong used to strangle Ms Jones, and from other items in her £10-a-night Aree guesthouse room, for analysis in the UK.

In the initial investigations into her death Thai police arrested the hostel owner Andrew Gill, 33, after releasing a number of other suspects.

He had always vehemently denied any involvement in the death of the Liverpool University media and English graduate and was subsequently released without charge.

Their handling of the case has been strongly criticised by Ms Jones' parents Sue and Glyn, still angry no-one has been brought to justice.

In Ms Jones case pressure was brought because NO killer was found.

The RTP are capable of learning. This time round they knew they had to find someone to take the fall so as to make sure the case got closed.

Sly as a fox, strategic as frogspawn.

Well, in this case, let's hope the british police are capable to learn aswell.

.................

Lets hope sufficient pressure is put on the Thai Governemnt to allow for an independent examination of this case - thats if there's any evidence left that hasn't been adulterated.

Don't just hope, do something!!!

Sign the petition at:

http://www.change.org/p/the-government-of-the-united-kingdom-independently-investigate-the-horrific-murders-of-hannah-witheridge-and-david-miller#share

The problems with a cover-up is that by its very nature it is imperfect. Anything used in its construction could be challenged, e.g. Hannah's phone spirited from the police desk to the bushes around the Myanmar's lodgings. That needs explaining, which, by its imperfection, will bring in another challenge.

How do they explain the wounds on David's body, which are more likely caused by a knuckle-knife, than a hoe or blunt instrument? How do they explain two Burmese boys half the size of David, overpowering him, and without Hannah screaming? How do they explain a confession when neither of the two accused could hardly speak a word of Thai? How do they explain the re-enactment scene when neither of the accused knew where to go?

But the biggie are the two accused. How do they cover this before a Burmese official visits them? Only one answer; they will be meeting Buddha before they expected.

Is this justice?

From what I know, Police are not supposed to lead the accused when they "re-enact" a crime.

On the news I saw, the Police clearly lead and showed the two "kids" where to go and what to do

and they did as they were told to do .

Now, how about all the other questions I posed? I'll add one more. Do YOU really believe these young boys brutally murdered Hannah and David?

Looks can deceive and I wouldn't bet they are innocent but knowing the system,

I'd say they are just poor sods from a small minority being framed.

I am a foreigner, I have lived n Thailand for six years now. I think am I moving away from this country of fake smiles and xenophobia. ......

Hey, try Japan.

At least, if Japanese lose face, they commit Harakiri.

If Thais lose face, some foreigners lose their head.

The big question for me,

How often can Thai people shoot their own foot without limping?

The problems with a cover-up is that by its very nature it is imperfect. Anything used in its construction could be challenged, e.g. Hannah's phone spirited from the police desk to the bushes around the Myanmar's lodgings. That needs explaining, which, by its imperfection, will bring in another challenge.

How do they explain the wounds on David's body, which are more likely caused by a knuckle-knife, than a hoe or blunt instrument? How do they explain two Burmese boys half the size of David, overpowering him, and without Hannah screaming? How do they explain a confession when neither of the two accused could hardly speak a word of Thai? How do they explain the re-enactment scene when neither of the accused knew where to go?

But the biggie are the two accused. How do they cover this before a Burmese official visits them? Only one answer; they will be meeting Buddha before they expected.

Is this justice?

I tried to find the article where the police said they found

Hannah's phone behind the Myanmar's lodging.

I thought they just said, they found A mobile phone

belonging to one of the victims?

So many calls for an 'Independent investigation' involving an outside agency - obviously a good idea. But when did Thailand ever back off and admit to inadequacy or incompetence ? Get real - they never bring in 'outsiders' .

Get real? What about 2001?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1952815.stm

A pair of detectives from Dyfed-Powys Police had been brought in to assist Royal Thai Police's floundering hunt, re-launching the inquiry for their man in September 2001.

They flew to the murder scene and later returned DNA evidence from the sarong used to strangle Ms Jones, and from other items in her £10-a-night Aree guesthouse room, for analysis in the UK.

In the initial investigations into her death Thai police arrested the hostel owner Andrew Gill, 33, after releasing a number of other suspects.

He had always vehemently denied any involvement in the death of the Liverpool University media and English graduate and was subsequently released without charge.

Their handling of the case has been strongly criticised by Ms Jones' parents Sue and Glyn, still angry no-one has been brought to justice.

My upmost respect to Ms Pornpen Kongkachornkiat.
Unlike so many Thai apologists here on TV living on denial with tinted glasses,
who do not want to see Thailand changing for the better, she tries very hard to
make her society a place worthwhile living in for everyone and not just for Thais.

​Even under martial law and under constant threat to her own safety, she doesn't
stop challenging the "untouchables".

I just hope she's safe and will not end up like:
Mr. Somporn Pattaphum RIP,
Ms Montha Chukaew RIP and
Ms Pranee Boonrat RIP

IF and that is a BIG IF - these guy's are really scapegoats then it would be easy to cover this up.

>> They already pulled everyone's DNA - so they have DNA to switch if need be.

>> The only other authorities who have the original DNA to verify the race of the perpetrators is the FBI

Interesting to see what pans out... an NGO is an NGO just a voice in the wind.

Just saying:)

Where did you read the FBI has the original DNA?

We don't need their help but if it makes the families feel better then thats good.

No, Thailand can do everything better than all other nations!

That's why Thailand is the highest ranked country on the list of Nobel Prize receivers... Ohhh... wait..??!!

.

No, that was the Darwin Awards. Silly boy

I'm sure, the problems in the "restive" south could easily be solved.
Just appoint a Muslim General from the South as Defence Minister.

No more problems In the south.

If only a few more would break the deafening silence

.

Sorry, 1'000'000 baht only covers for 1 1/2 witnesses.

OK

I see, very strong feelings you have there about - about - about what ???

About nationalism and pride making them blind to reality and believing their own governments propaganda about their own systems and believing they are superior in some way to others. Most people only experience is their own system..... yet parrot what their own politicians tell them.... without any other experience. I ran into that with my dentist in Canada before leaving -- I did not have time to do the implant so I told him I would just do it in Thailand then. He made a snide remark and I just said it varies - and there are whole dentist offices that have that graduated from the same dental school (US one). He just assumed they were doing dental work in the jungle under the palm trees

.

Haaa, and I thought it was all about how YOU FEEL ABOUT GROWING OLD IN THAILAND

Now I just hope, one of the side effects of GROWING OLD IN THAILAND is not "Verbal Diarrhea"

Evilbaz, on 02 Oct 2014 - 15:47, said:

MediaWatcher, on 02 Oct 2014 - 14:53, said:

You choose where to grow old, many here say it's better than their home country, reason, home country too cold, well, one thing about your home country, I would bet health care for the aged would be a lot better, there would also be more support, financially, for your Thai family when you finally croak it, or will you condemn them to their life as it was before you came along. Growing old isn't too bad, if you remain in good health, how much do you trust your Thai doctor/s.

From a position of knowledge having worked in healthcare in North America, U.K., Spain and Australia IMHO the best place to grow old and " to be taken care of" is here in Thailand.

You will not get 1st class aged healthcare in your home country without paying top dollar extra.

The same money goes way further here for a higher standard of amenities and staff.

Nearly all public hospital systems these days in your "home country" are staffed mainly by students and immigrants

.

Nearly all Thai medical consultants have studied overseas and are on a bonded system to serve the top public hospitals in their Districts as well as their private practices.

Home care for the semi-mobile aged here is cheap as chips and better than you will get for your money than "back home".

Why? Thais will take very good care of their aged - it's a cultural trait - and you - if you can pay the pittance required.

No way I would pin my aged care faith on a Medicare, DVA, NHS or stable-cost private health insurance "scheme".

I'll pay my money here and take my choice of carer(s) in a beneficial climate.

What a load of rubbish...from what you say it seems all you were was a janitor. Public health, in Australia, is first class, ok, you won't get a private room, but care wise, buddy, you don't know what you are talking about.

I was brought up thinking with the propaganda that Canada's Health system is world class - one of the best in the world -- but all is not as it is advertised to be. Yes, each time you go to get medical help (not old-age retirement stuff) you flash your card and you can get some general practitioner (aka gatekeeper) to take a look at you and prescribe antibiotics for you if needed (more often they do and it is part of another problem). If you need to go further (depending on area) you get put on a bunch of different waiting lists. Once you make it through the waiting lists you will get reasonable treatments. The general practitioners in a lot of cases are not that great a doctor.... I had a Japanese woman live with me for 18 months that had 10 years of medical training (system works differently) and half the time she would break out laughing at what the doctor would be telling/prescribing me. Of course part of that problem is that we lost a large number of doctors to higher paying countries - and replaced them with doctors trained in countries of a lesser standard.

Now my personal brush with something just a little more serious was my right knee. I started by going to the doctor and I believe they did an x-ray which showed nothing, they then something else (forget) and then an ultra-sound..... I asked what each of the tests would show and what they expected to find.... he said I expect to find nothing. I asked what would diagnose the problem - he said an MRI would. I asked if he could schedule it - and he told me it could not be scheduled UNTIL all the other tests came back and showed nothing because of cost. Even after I got through the rest of it, I asked how long is the waiting list for the MRI.... he said 8 months (less if you are lucky and someone dies freeing up a slot at the last minute at 3am in the morning). This means it would take almost a year just to know what was wrong with the knee for sure. Then of course after all that you end up on another waiting list if you need surgery. At that point I called up a private MRI clinic across the border (private MRI clinics were illegal in Canada because it was a publicly covered treatment) and asked when I could get an appointment.... they said tomorrow (Saturday) if you want and it would cost $450USD (after the "Canadian" discount). I jumped out of the Canadian system because I did not want to spend 18 months or 2 years in pain and not being able to walk etc. (i.e. 3 - 4% of your life). So yes, it is a great system if you don't use it for anything other than GP appointments.

You can easily get as good or better private coverage here if you have the money (not bad in comparison) -- of course Singapore is a better standard than here or in Canada. There is a reason why there is a burgeoning medical tourism industry here.

I can't know about Australia's system, but it would not be surprised if it is the same as Canadas..... 90%+ of the people are brainwashed into thinking it is world class..... when what it is really is just accessible.

.

OK

I see, very strong feelings you have there about - about - about what ???

How do you feel about growing older here in Thailand?

I feel ...