Hunt for killers of British pair goes on after Thai police free Myanmar suspects

[Graham8888]

Very little on this in the British press.

Report on radio just now saying that police are still holding 6 Burmese for questioning, but no comment on the slow, amateur investigation.

22 tourists dead so far this year?! - my thoughts go to the families but a little bit of me still thinking I have been visiting and living in Thailand for 30 years but still think it's safer than Vietnam, indo, etc.

[howzat]

I felt that the "PM" was at last trying to do something positive to eradicate what is bad about Thailand but his remarks are obnoxious and reveals a mind set that shows a dark side to his personality. Totally callous and inexcusable. Let him explain to the world what he really means if he wishes to be respected internationally.

[mango66]

Wow so many posts denigrating Thais in general.bad eggs are everywhere..example look at the beheadings lately and where the sentiment of hate leads towards..it will never end.

im not being thai apologist but if it is that bad and you truelly believe this all evil thai people doctrine..why to hang around there..?

Out of mind out of sight...if you leave and go home you will not have to worry anymore!

Everyone knows for every bad egg there are millions of good so why tarnish the whole race?

I can think if 2 maniacs in australia history responsible for mass killing of people and even many backpackers went missing..doesnt mean aussies all maniacs and racial haters.

as for generals words..everyone that know how basic and unprecise thai language is can understand how things can get confused.

English not there first language and very poor (like me!) So when they stumble with words they dont often mean it the way it comes out

maybee he should have said :

Ban all brits and 50% of our problems are gone

[Traveller45]

I appreciate Gen Prayuth's decision to really scrape the bottom here. I would just wish that he appoints capable executives so that not every time something like this happens, he needs to attend to the matter personally. The remark "It affects our image" should be properly understood. It is not that he has no heart, that the fate of the victims doesn't matter to him. It is rather a way to make it understandable and palatable to Thai citizens that something must be done now.

[mango66]

After 10 years living with me, my g/f is used to the behaviour of farangs and quite tolerant of it. When it comes to the subject of sexual intercourse in public, even at night and on a secluded(??) beach, her attitude is "Get a room!" with no area of negotiation. This has nothing to do with her sympathy for young people brutally murdered.

This attitude would probably be even more strongly felt in more conservative circles.

I recall a previous member, I believe it was a DrLom OR somedodgy Ubon Ratch or even similarly MEL1, making similar similarities. He asked for 'transparency' on many ocassions about the junta and Prayuth. Seems everytime he did he got banned.

What Prayuth has displayed here is completely the lack of transparency of the whole coup takeover, and how thick or ill-educated each major or general (arriving in their positions by corruptional means also) is, concerning suitability to positions given. His comments about this double-murder show Thainess in its own light, and how laudable the policing system is, how pathetic forensics are here, and why real results are never concluded successfully - blame it all on foreigners - be they caucasian, or Burmese (we lost the war, can't lose face), or Lao - (they have a better education system - but we can't lose face).

Thailand will become the laughing stock of the world, if it is not already, unless transparency is displayed, especially in the case of this horrendous case of MURDER. This one, I believe and hope, is one that cannot be covered up - but then again TIT...... find a tramp, place him at the scene - job done!

Let's see what the insensitive bastard PM does then, when he's torn to shreds by the media......internationally. Oh! I forgot, he doesn't care - he off to Maynmar to make best of mates with the JUNTA there, too!

SG.

in all my time as first tourist then visitor there has been a constant call for transparency on all manner of things which is just as constantly ignored.

In the last 24 hours we have seen transparency Thai style where commemoration of the shooting of students has been banned and reference to it removed from textbooks as with as reference to Mr. T.

If you can't read or hear about things they could not have happened, there now isn't that clear and transparent enough ?

I wonder what next aspect of Thai history will be removed from public record ?

please show transparency of your " democratic elected GVT " and your FBI and CIA in your country !

About 50% of meetings in the parliaments are done without press allowed inside, contents are 100% secrete !!

as for " hidden Agendas " to protect " security " ( some other call it corruption and controlling on highest level )

of their people;

Gen Prayuth have done the best for 101% what could have done for Thai and the democracy in future !

My Thai kids will only profit of him, 100% for sure !

[NongKhaiKid]

Add this to his ' looking at the actions of the other side ' comment and once again is shows the mindset of Thais.

Yesterday the president of the local tourist authority said the incident would likely adversely affect visitor arrivals to the island but nothing about those who lost their lives but of course tourist revenue is more important.

Does any aspect of officialdom realise that this story is playing around the world and their attitudes don't show LoS in any sort of favourable light.

Of course Thais don't worry what others think but they do worry about losing money and are making no bones about it.

you are so friendly to your guest country,

if your home country is so genious, why you dont stay there ?

and if you so genious,

why you not bring up the culprit's and hand over to police ?

Why I don't hand over culprits to the police ?

II live in Udon Thani and the island is a long way away. I've heard of the long arm of the law but this would really be ' stretching ' it.

[beammeup]

Ref 2 posts above

Exactly, what does this have to do with this horrible murder. Who knows who did this or what nationality they were. Why don't we wait to see who did it firsts. I personally am reading this to get the facts as they come out, not read someones mental diarrhea. Apologies to the family if they are reading this and my heart goes out to you. RIP and I hope they find the perpetrators quickly.

[mango66]

What a stupid comment

"Prayut said Thais must tell "tourists when the safe times are to be outside, we have to help them understand"

If tourists can not feel able to feel safe and not be able to go out and staying on the beaches, why should they come to Thailand at all?

do do all this things - bad ones ! and maybee even good ones,

which they never would do, or be allowed to do in their home country !

Have you ever seen brites make public sex on their beaches ?

[mango66]

I appreciate Gen Prayuth's decision to really scrape the bottom here. I would just wish that he appoints capable executives so that not every time something like this happens, he needs to attend to the matter personally. The remark "It affects our image" should be properly understood. It is not that he has no heart, that the fate of the victims doesn't matter to him. It is rather a way to make it understandable and palatable to Thai citizens that something must be done now.

agree with you 100%

[ColdSingha]

What a stupid comment

"Prayut said Thais must tell "tourists when the safe times are to be outside, we have to help them understand"

If tourists can not feel able to feel safe and not be able to go out and staying on the beaches, why should they come to Thailand at all?

do do all this things - bad ones ! and maybee even good ones,

which they never would do, or be allowed to do in their home country !

Have you ever seen brites make public sex on their beaches ?

you joking right? barely a peer in england that doesnt have a horny pair of teenagers shagging under it most weekends

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed. Posts containing comments that could be construed as being negative toward the imposition of Martial Law or the Coup have been removed:

URGENT NOTICE TO MEMBERS Zero tolerance for disruptive behaviour during Martial Law.

[LPCustom69]

My niece was down there not to long ago ,,to be blunt these spots where lots of young backpackers go for a bit of a party lifestyle also attracts many of the wrong sorts of people ,just like Pattaya does , as for the PM;s comments ,well all i can say is even less tourists to clog up the streets now.

I wouldn't put young tourists enjoying a holiday break and doing what young people do (if you can remember ever being one) on a par with a bunch of old guys trawling Walking Street

I agree with your sentiment that many young tourists are causing problems all over the country, and many Thai's disapprove. However, this is not the appropriate time or place to discuss it.

[i claudius]

I was not discussing the tourists as the wrong sort of people but the Thais that come to work in pattay please read the post

[chooka]

He has stated himself that there are "safe times" for tourists to be outside. Might I say Prayut aint' doing the country any favours in the 'image contest ' either.

He also says that tourists need to be educated about the dangers of Thailand. Why not erect signs at the Airport arrivals, hand out leaflets and erect large Billboards across the country stating;

WARNING

All tourists are advised to stay in thier rooms and lock thier doors B/W xxxxhrs and xxxxhrs.

If you venture outside B/W these hours and are mugged, raped or murdered Thailand will take no responsibilty for the actions of certain citizens and it is YOUR Fault.

Please enjoy your stay and do come again.

Part of the Education program is getting the message out there.

[connda]

I am disgusted that the PM of any country could utter such words. Reprehensible

I simply would like to know what the new PM means by, "the local people must tell 'tourists when the safe times are to be outside, we have to help them understand.'"

In the PM's opinion, when is a safe time to be outside? Perhaps the TAT can inform all tourist and expats of these 'safe times' that we can venture out in The Land of Smiles.

And personally, I have a lot of respect for PM Prayuth. But like the microphone issue, this is going to take more than a few 'sound bites' in the local news to resolve. It's going to take some quick, decisive attention.

[connda]

He has stated himself that there are "safe times" for tourists to be outside. Might I say Prayut aint' doing the country any favours in the 'image contest ' either.

He also says that tourists need to be educated about the dangers of Thailand. Why not erect signs at the Airport arrivals, hand out leaflets and erect large Billboards across the country stating;

WARNING

All tourists are advised to stay in thier rooms and lock thier doors B/W xxxxhrs and xxxxhrs.

If you venture outside B/W these hours and are mugged, raped or murdered Thailand will take no responsibilty for the actions of certain citizens and it is YOUR Fault.

Please enjoy your stay and do come again.

Part of the Education program is getting the message out there.

Most Thais don't understand sarcasm. But good post in my opinion. I agree. Sad, huh.

[haybilly]

What a stupid comment

"Prayut said Thais must tell "tourists when the safe times are to be outside, we have to help them understand"

If tourists can not feel able to feel safe and not be able to go out and staying on the beaches, why should they come to Thailand at all?

do do all this things - bad ones ! and maybee even good ones,

which they never would do, or be allowed to do in their home country !

Have you ever seen brites make public sex on their beaches ?

you joking right? barely a peer in england that doesnt have a horny pair of teenagers shagging under it most weekends

A Peer?

I presume you really mean 'Pier', but your sentence does conjure up an interesting image.

[transam]

He has stated himself that there are "safe times" for tourists to be outside. Might I say Prayut aint' doing the country any favours in the 'image contest ' either.

He also says that tourists need to be educated about the dangers of Thailand. Why not erect signs at the Airport arrivals, hand out leaflets and erect large Billboards across the country stating;

WARNING

All tourists are advised to stay in thier rooms and lock thier doors B/W xxxxhrs and xxxxhrs.

If you venture outside B/W these hours and are mugged, raped or murdered Thailand will take no responsibilty for the actions of certain citizens and it is YOUR Fault.

Please enjoy your stay and do come again.

Part of the Education program is getting the message out there.

Can I add...."Because our police force don't work much after dark, plus we cannot confirm a police presence will be beneficial when disturbing our bar time".

[metisdead]

An inflammatory post has been removed. Another nitpicking nonsense post on the news coverage of this case has been removed.

[kingalfred]

He has stated himself that there are "safe times" for tourists to be outside. Might I say Prayut aint' doing the country any favours in the 'image contest ' either.

He also says that tourists need to be educated about the dangers of Thailand. Why not erect signs at the Airport arrivals, hand out leaflets and erect large Billboards across the country stating;

WARNING

All tourists are advised to stay in thier rooms and lock thier doors B/W xxxxhrs and xxxxhrs.

If you venture outside B/W these hours and are mugged, raped or murdered Thailand will take no responsibilty for the actions of certain citizens and it is YOUR Fault.

Please enjoy your stay and do come again.

Part of the Education program is getting the message out there.

Most Thais don't understand sarcasm. But good post in my opinion. I agree. Sad, huh.

I dont think the post was sarcastic,if thats what you mean

[lung]

Water was found in Miller's lungs, his body

showed traces of being dragged and there were

wounds on the back of his hands, Pornchai said.

The findings indicate that that he fought with his

attackers, was beaten and then drowned, the

doctor said.

The autopsy on the body of Hannah Witheridge,

whose body was found near Miller's, showed she

also had trauma to the head. There were also

traces of recent sexual activity and semen was

found in her vagina and anus. The doctors will

use the seamen to try and identify the culprit and

compare the DNA samples collected from the

bodies with those from the suspects.

The doctors could not say what kind of object

had been used to beat the victims only that it

was a blunt object. Pornchai said he could yet

not tell the time of death because the bodies has

been frozen before sending them the autopsy.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/webmobile/national/Autopsies-completed-on-British-murder-victims-30243475.html

[Johpa]

Do I sense the tide turning against the wanna-be emperor squaddie-general in the expat community?

Only by those who were naive enough to think there was some sort of substantive political difference between the two opposing political factions in Thailand and ignorantly decided to take sides.

[CharlieH]

Speculation removed

[Metapod]

you have to imagine that given the location of where it occurred (small island and not a lot of potential people), that they can hopefully track down who did this.

that is what i hope anyway.

[CharlieH]

Post containing bangkok post link removed.

[coma]

He has stated himself that there are "safe times" for tourists to be outside. Might I say Prayut aint' doing the country any favours in the 'image contest ' either.

He also says that tourists need to be educated about the dangers of Thailand. Why not erect signs at the Airport arrivals, hand out leaflets and erect large Billboards across the country stating;

WARNING

All tourists are advised to stay in thier rooms and lock thier doors B/W xxxxhrs and xxxxhrs.

If you venture outside B/W these hours and are mugged, raped or murdered Thailand will take no responsibilty for the actions of certain citizens and it is YOUR Fault.

Please enjoy your stay and do come again.

Part of the Education program is getting the message out there.

That about sums it up. At zoos across the globe there are signs saying keep out of the lion's cage.

[howzat]

But Thailand aspires to be the hub of ASEAN and English is the common language so so where do we go from here if you say that the PM's language skills are limited.

He done good the the boy Prayuth but just can't communicate.

[kingalfred]

Done good "the thai way" and that aint honest hard work and merit.

[MJP]

I am disgusted that the PM of any country could utter such words. Reprehensible

I also find his comment total disgusting, insensitive and insulting to the family. Blaming the victims is sickening and his comment was aired on Australian ABC News this morning and has been discussed on 3AW radio where a number of people have voiced thier disgust. The P.M has caused far more damage to Thailands reputation than these two inocent victims ever did. The P.M needs to imeadiately make a full and public apology to the families to try and restore Thailands image but that will probably be a severe loss of face.

The lowest of Low

Thanks for bringing that to our attention , we were unaware of this.

Cancelling our daughters trip there was the correct thing to do, but in light of the highest office in their land saying this , more so.

Its a reflection of a very unenlightened mind-set, and disturbing almost as much as the crime.

Words can not express the effect it must have on the parents/ family.

Very nasty , and uncalled for.

Horrible short sighted , vile disregard and certain to have phones ringing world wide asking Flight centres to change destinations.

Worst remark i have heard in a very long time.

You did the right thing. Tourist Thailand is dangerous. Notice I mention tourist Thailand.

Regular Thailand isn't nearly so bad, but in my opinion the tourist areas have been poisoned by greed and a particularly vicious criminal element.

[cup-O-coffee]

There should be required reading prior to coming to this country. The texts should be frank and to the point.

Otherwise, political correctness does indeed kill!