Thai Police Suspect They Have Found Bodies Of 169 Missing Red-Shirts

[Roachiebkk]

Shouldn't a discovery of bodies of this number (and this recent - allegedly) get the attention of international media? Where are they?

Instead all we've got is local articles with Thailand's finest already pointing fingers.

Another stink. Start getting your exit visas sorted out.

The media silence on dirty stuff that happens in Thailand, sure is weird.

I've heard a crazy rumour saying that the big international travel agencies are bribing westen media to keep quiet about all disturbing things that happens in Thailand.

It sure sounds crazy and I dont know if it is true, but this is what I've been told.

Working with international travel operators for years and this really is crazy. Myself and others in positions like mine provide every day upto date information on everything that goes on here and in this age of Twitter, Facebook and internet in general. So yes it CRAZY, it's NOT TRUE and you've been TOLD WRONG.

[Just1Voice]

Ok, the story in itself is somewhat ambiguous. They might be Red Shirt protestors, or they might be illegal immigrant workers. More information is needed to make any type of clarification as to who they were. Even basic forensics should be able to tell if these people died from gunshot wounds, depending on the state of decomposition.

I think for anyone to come out and state right off the bat they were Red Shirts is irresponsible, and a deliberate attempt to make others look bad, regardless of whether it's true or nor. However, there are some things I find curiously odd about the whole story.

1) Timing. Was there a "tip off" from someone that led to this, or did police know about it before and simply didn't act because of the government in power at the time?

2) Why would tsunami victims from the south be transported all the way to Rayong in the east to be buried?

3) The monks at the temples all seem to be sticking to the same story about when and how the bodies arrived. Is this true, or is it what they were told to say? If true, then the police are wrong. If this is what they were told to say by someone, then the police could be right as to their statements as to when the bodies arrived.

If it turns out these people are not connected to the Red Shirt movement, someone is going to look very foolish. But if they are, then someone else is going to be, or should be, in very hot water. All we can really do is wait and see what the investigation comes up with. However, with this being Thailand, and the level of competence (or should I say incompetence) being well known here, I'm not going to hold my breath.

As previously noted, there have been numerous reports of Red Shirts missing, but there have also been quite a few families who have not come forward out of fear from the military. I personally know of one such family myself. They had 2 sons, 18 & 20, who went to the rallies and were never heard from again.

We can all speculate as much as we want, and use the "blame game" to the max, but the bottom line is that until some concrete proof of identity and cause of death is known, it really doesn't matter what any of us say or think.

[OzMick]

Extremely plausible when it was reported that 120,000 rounds of ammo, that had been issued to soldiers, were never returned. Too much of the recent past did not fit together but with this and I expect other revelations it is starting to. Does anybody know how many of the 2000 injured where actually injured by bullets. I would imagine it would be quite high. Some previously 'untouchables' will be getting squeaky bum if any of this is true

Where and when was this reported? I googled it, and there were no hits.

This is old information that was given out by a member of the old government and vociferously explained by Jatuporn in government house. Do a search on thaivisa for threads I know I read it on here. 2200+ sniper rounds not returned

Bullets do not return - you are confusing them with boomerangs.

[Moruya]

Thailand holds the world record.for the largest cremation. Around 22,000 unidentified and unclaimed corpses. This is smallfry.

[visions]

The police knew it but only acted when the government changed.

Just another "cover up" to add to the growing list of the Dems collection of corruption. The country is well rid of them.

Clearly not much vision. Perhaps blinkered would be a better sign-in name?Abhisit is renowned as the most anti-corruption PM Thailand has seen for a long time.

Wrong. Just very recently one of Abhist,s senior Miniters publicy acknoledged that the fee for a "favorable" contract had risen from the standard 30% to 100% during the Dems time in govt. Even Abhisit himself has publicly declared that he himself was against graft, but was powerless to stop it within the Govt or public depts. Easy to see who was really in controll.

[REM]

Umm, yeah right. Suddenly the bodies which has been dead for more than 1 year has been resurrected somehow.

Santhan said the bodies would be exhumed for DNA tests to determine the identities, adding that those involved with their burial would also be questioned.

How is the DNA going to work in this case? I bet those involved in the burial would have forgotten what happened. In the end, I don't see much progress in this case besides the fact that the 169 bodies might be one of the propaganda tools.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Amazing this tip wasn't given in the election, or before. That many bodies would have made any normal person call the police or newspapers.

[ricku]

Still no word from western media on this.

Is it because it is too early in the morning in Europe and America, or maybe they just dont care about massgraves in Thailand?

Edited August 19, 2011 by ricku

[SICHONSTEVE]

Two men brought in 169 bodies ... and no one asked any questions?

I want to know why none of 169 families have bothered to ask questions about their missing relatives whereabouts for 1 year!!! In Argentina they held daily protest vigils in order to establish what had happened to "the disappeared". This doesn't sound right to me - if the whereabouts of say 2 or 3 missing people was unknown then MAYBE it wouldn't get reported in the news. But 169 all of a sudden, doesn't seem plausible to me!!!!

Another thing - why would ALL of the bodies suddenly materialise in 2 temples in Ranong!!!! It has been reported that 2 charity workers brought the bodies to the temples and the monks buried them without even the hint of a question as to why there was such a large number of deaths all of a sudden (no funeral rights were given I presume).

Maybe the monks were told that there had been a local breakout of the bubonic plague!!! I can just visualise them bringing the bodies in through the streets on open topped waggons with the fog swirling around them at midnight!!!

The whole thing sounds like a hoax to me but I can't see how and why someone would pull such an elaborate hoax and for what purpose!!! Interesting to see how this progresses .

[hammered]

Extremely plausible when it was reported that 120,000 rounds of ammo, that had been issued to soldiers, were never returned. Too much of the recent past did not fit together but with this and I expect other revelations it is starting to. Does anybody know how many of the 2000 injured where actually injured by bullets. I would imagine it would be quite high. Some previously 'untouchables' will be getting squeaky bum if any of this is true

Where and when was this reported? I googled it, and there were no hits.

This is old information that was given out by a member of the old government and vociferously explained by Jatuporn in government house. Do a search on thaivisa for threads I know I read it on here. 2200+ sniper rounds not returned

As I said, I googled it, no hits. The only hit on TV on 120,000 rounds is your statement on this thread. So, now would you please research your "fact" and let me know? Thanks.

597,500 bullets were taken out of army arsenals and 479,577 returned meaning 117,923 bullets were fired

Thats a summation from the unmentionable source in March of what was reported in parliament

[Dag]

Thailand does have a reputable and modern forensics unit.

I am sure they could fix this quickly by just telling us what colour clothes they were wearing.

[backtonormal]

Extremely plausible when it was reported that 120,000 rounds of ammo, that had been issued to soldiers, were never returned. Too much of the recent past did not fit together but with this and I expect other revelations it is starting to. Does anybody know how many of the 2000 injured where actually injured by bullets. I would imagine it would be quite high. Some previously 'untouchables' will be getting squeaky bum if any of this is true

Where and when was this reported? I googled it, and there were no hits.

This is old information that was given out by a member of the old government and vociferously explained by Jatuporn in government house. Do a search on thaivisa for threads I know I read it on here. 2200+ sniper rounds not returned

Bullets do not return - you are confusing them with boomerangs.

Yes no look mate. Truth is coming home. Just before the real leader of Thailand does

[random]

Two men brought in 169 bodies ... and no one asked any questions?

I want to know why none of 169 families have bothered to ask questions about their missing relatives whereabouts for 1 year!!! In Argentina they held daily protest vigils in order to establish what had happened to "the disappeared". This doesn't sound right to me - if the whereabouts of say 2 or 3 missing people was unknown then MAYBE it wouldn't get reported in the news. But 169 all of a sudden, doesn't seem plausible to me!!!!

Another thing - why would ALL of the bodies suddenly materialise in 2 temples in Ranong!!!! It has been reported that 2 charity workers brought the bodies to the temples and the monks buried them without even the hint of a question as to why there was such a large number of deaths all of a sudden (no funeral rights were given I presume).

Maybe the monks were told that there had been a local breakout of the bubonic plague!!! I can just visualise them bringing the bodies in through the streets on open topped waggons with the fog swirling around them at midnight!!!

The whole thing sounds like a hoax to me but I can't see how and why someone would pull such an elaborate hoax and for what purpose!!! Interesting to see how this progresses .

Erm, my children have gone missing during a protest, I fear they have been killed by the army, I know what I will do about this, i will hold a protest, oh no, wait, that would be foolish

[OzMick]

Buried? In that case they would have to be Christians or Muslims.

Mass graves are usually associated with disappearing bodies

They didn't disappear, they were in the mass grave. Mass graves are associated with many things - war, epidemics, famine and genocide for starters.

[phiphidon]

As I said, I googled it, no hits. The only hit on TV on 120,000 rounds is your statement on this thread. So, now would you please research your "fact" and let me know? Thanks.

Well you could try this http://asiancorrespondent.com/51460/the-royal-thai-army-dissent-in-the-ranks/ or look for stories in the "other" paper. If you want to be pedantic you could google for 117,923 rounds. The implication being that either that number of bullets were fired or a lesser number were fired and the troops were keeping "some" back as souvenirs

[bombis]

The police knew it but only acted when the government changed.

Just another "cover up" to add to the growing list of the Dems collection of corruption. The country is well rid of them.

Clearly not much vision. Perhaps blinkered would be a better sign-in name?Abhisit is renowned as the most anti-corruption PM Thailand has seen for a long time.

That is just not true. What you mean is that he PM himself might not be as corrupt as others. i would agree.

But corruption itself has been on the rise again with Abhisit. Clearly. If there was one thing Thaksin did, it was bring corruption down...maybe he was not really the best leading example but here is an example of Thaksins time:

Thai friend of mine has a bar and he always used to pay the cops some money each month. No choice. When Thaksin was in power and started cracking down on corruption, the cops seriously one night came and said they dont want my friend to offer them any money anymore as they are scared to loose their jobs.

Other example are all the motorcycle taxis that historically have always been controlled by mafia and other people who they have to pay money to each month. This all stopped during Thaksin but it reappeared during Abhisit.

Many more examples like this. In the end, politicians are all the same, Dems or PT, you'll always have corrupt ones in both camps.

[Phuket Stan]

If this story had any real truth to it then Ms Racheal Harvey a so called reporter from the venverable BBC would be all over it like a rash...up untill now not even a whisper out of her

[Phuket Stan]

When did Chumpoon shift from the east side of the Thai Penisular to the west side where the tsunami actually struck....load of piffle

[webfact]

No missing Red Shirt activists reported during Democrat government; 169 bodies could be victims of 1989 tropical storm Gay in Chumphon /MCOT

[Phuket Stan]

The police knew it but only acted when the government changed.

Just another "cover up" to add to the growing list of the Dems collection of corruption. The country is well rid of them.

Clearly not much vision. Perhaps blinkered would be a better sign-in name?Abhisit is renowned as the most anti-corruption PM Thailand has seen for a long time.

That is just not true. What you mean is that he PM himself might not be as corrupt as others. i would agree.

But corruption itself has been on the rise again with Abhisit. Clearly. If there was one thing Thaksin did, it was bring corruption down...maybe he was not really the best leading example but here is an example of Thaksins time:

Thai friend of mine has a bar and he always used to pay the cops some money each month. No choice. When Thaksin was in power and started cracking down on corruption, the cops seriously one night came and said they dont want my friend to offer them any money anymore as they are scared to loose their jobs.

Other example are all the motorcycle taxis that historically have always been controlled by mafia and other people who they have to pay money to each month. This all stopped during Thaksin but it reappeared during Abhisit.

Many more examples like this. In the end, politicians are all the same, Dems or PT, you'll always have corrupt ones in both camps.

Can I have some of your drugs please or the name and number of your dealer

[DP25]

The whole thing sounds like a hoax to me but I can't see how and why someone would pull such an elaborate hoax and for what purpose!!! Interesting to see how this progresses .

It's seems clear what some people would gain out of it. Any threat to Thaksin returning and getting his billions back has to be destroyed.

[MILT]

The police knew it but only acted when the government changed.

Just another "cover up" to add to the growing list of the Dems collection of corruption. The country is well rid of them.

Where are you getting your information? Cover up by the Dems? Far from being rid of THEM. I think you just had a brain fart or something. Back up your accusations, or maybe you have a blind eye/s to the real corruption taking place at the moment by the Pardon Thaskin Party PTP

[webfact]

Former deputy PM Suthep says 165 bodies in Rayong are unclaimed bodies transf. from Chumphon and not related to missing 51 red-shirts /TAN_Network

[OzMick]

597,500 bullets were taken out of army arsenals and 479,577 returned meaning 117,923 bullets were fired

Thats a summation from the unmentionable source in March of what was reported in parliament

Your assumption that 117,923 bullets were fired is incorrect. An unknown percentage could have been simply lost (it happens), stolen from dead and injured soldiers, or purloined by the troops for later sale. 5.56mm are also called .223 when used in civilian hunting rifles, an excellent round for mid-sized game (or men).

[hammered]

No missing Red Shirt activists reported during Democrat government; 169 bodies could be victims of 1989 tropical storm Gay in Chumphon /MCOT

That is bizarre the reds have been talking about missing people from April/May for ages and they also claim missing people from the earlier Songkhran put down. Whether they reported them or how many who knows but they have always claimed it. There is also the question of when a person is reported missing would the police actually note down "red shirt activist" or just as a standard missing person last seen and thought to be going to BKK?

[hammered]

597,500 bullets were taken out of army arsenals and 479,577 returned meaning 117,923 bullets were fired

Thats a summation from the unmentionable source in March of what was reported in parliament

Your assumption that 117,923 bullets were fired is incorrect. An unknown percentage could have been simply lost (it happens), stolen from dead and injured soldiers, or purloined by the troops for later sale. 5.56mm are also called .223 when used in civilian hunting rifles, an excellent round for mid-sized game (or men).

Thats not my assumption. It is what the officer reported in parliament. Im sure they wouldnt want MPs thinking say 50K just disappeared. By the way, it was a change from earlier statements that only rubber bullets and buckshot were used, whihc is why many people found the 100K number staggering. Also only 400 odd sniper bullets out of 3000 issued were returned

Edited to add: it was also reported that the army chief was shocked by how many were fired

Edited August 19, 2011 by hammered

[OzMick]

Yes no look mate. Truth is coming home. Just before the real leader of Thailand does

(_*_)

[whybother]

Former deputy PM Suthep says 165 bodies in Rayong are unclaimed bodies transf. from Chumphon and not related to missing 51 red-shirts /TAN_Network

So there's only 51 missing red shirts? Where did the 169 (that conveniently matched the number of bodies) come from?

[givenall]

Who can tell if one is Red or yellow? a dead can’t tellwhat his/her ideology is. So call them Red if the government wants to use thatin their favor. I bet if Democrat won the election then these dead ones wouldbe Yellow!!!!!!

[hammered]

Former deputy PM Suthep says 165 bodies in Rayong are unclaimed bodies transf. from Chumphon and not related to missing 51 red-shirts /TAN_Network

If that is true Im sure the proper paperwork can be shown to the media in the next few hours

[travelmann]

According to the temples' abbots, the bodies had been brought in by two men from a local charity organisation who told them that the corpses had not been claimed and there were no legal cases related to their deaths.

Amazing Thailand where hundreds of bodies can be buried without so much as a "hi diddly-do".

On the heels of the thousands of aborted fetuses found earlier at other temples, the monkhood is taking another hit.

.

Thet were all held in a govt compund 20 floors up and fell off the balconies I beleive, does it not worry members and make them think about the country they live in somewhat???