PM Prayuth vows crackdown on Koh Tao vices

[jaywalker]

The families have been through hell- but if it was my family then I would sure be obtaining independent DNA Tests in UK before I laid them to rest. It's never to late to re- open the case if they are not satisfied with the outcome- the DNA samples can be compared independently then and expose any tampering at Govt Level!

I agree, & bear with me here on this fantasy.....First I'm NO FAN of a Nanny State, but then again, I'm even less of a fan of incompetence & corruption.

That said....

I'm from the US, so don't know about the UK police hierarchy. I spent 8 hours in London once on a long layover...Spent 8 years in Thailand.

I'm sure the UK has the equivalents of the US Agencies, but I'll have to use US terms.

Assuming the UK wants to BLOW THE LID off how bad the corruption is, they send in the UK equivalent of the CIA and/or US Marshals.

It would probably take 6-8 people to watch suspects & get DNA, plus a few 50K baht payments for informants.

It might take 2 months or so, but then have the UK Foreign Secretary (is that right?) call in the poor bewildered Thai ambassador that doesn't have a clue what government he'll be working for next spring, and hold his feet to the fire.

Next he should call a press conference and denounce the RBP (royal bungling police) for what they are.

Again, just fantasies. I've been watching too many spy movies lately.

[CantSpell]

A double murder on a very small island. Only way off the island is by boat. 100+ police investigating and police can't find the murderers. Is this an oversimplification?

Actually they kinda found the murderer around 10 times in the last 10 days... But the next day it wasn't him.......

Hope this case is going to find a proper and real closure with the real murderer been arrested but I still have my doubts about it...

Also kind of wonder why the PM has waited so long to do something: last 10 days has been a total embarrassment for the country...

Edited September 25, 2014 by CantSpell

[CMCMANGOMAN]

When you want something done RIGHT in Thailand, just plan on doing it YOURSELF!!!

[Equalizer]

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to tackle influential rackets and illegitimate businesses on the tourist island, and pledged to punish soldiers or police patronising these people or their activities.

Dear General P,

Unfortunately this ideal measure, is all too little and all to late, this is not just a problem in Kho Tao, but is infact a serious massive and major problem at every tourist destination in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Give him a chance, so far, I think he has managed to clean up a lot already

What has he cleaned up already?

Well i for one have seen a complete stop to the constant harassment and endless police checkpoints in Pattaya, stopping motor cycles at every corner and taking bribes of unsuspecting motorists. They have for the most part completely disappeared. Now i can put my car away and venture out on my bike again in the knowledge it will NOT cost be a few hundred baht just to get past them. Yes i am legal, the last time it cost me 300 baht because i had no shirt on!!!

[farang000999]

Jesus Christ! You are supposed to be a military dictator! Do you think any other miltiary dictators in the history of the mankind would have had this hard of a time dealing with the situation?

It is a (largely underdeveloped) island of fisherman bumpkins running around thinking they are mobsters. Give me the uniform and I will straighten out the entire island by dawn. I will make those five families of inbreeds an offer they can't refuse and build shiny hotels and casinos on the grave yard i leave behind.

[fab4]

could this finally be someone starting something that will cut short what a lot of "mafia" families are doing in Thailand. Most of the problems with tourists stems directly from these families in their own areas, by coming down on them or removing them it will certainly stop a lot of the crap. Trouble is will they actually do it, this seems to be the bigger question, can they overcome all the corruption these people cause.

Just shows how little you know about the powerstructure in Thailand.

The very people you want to eradicate corruption, are the ones on top of the foodchain. They don't get their hands dirty, are well respected members of society and their association with "the darker side" is unknown to almost everyone.

Families like the ones on Koh Tao are merely feederfish for the real sharks!

Unknown by almost everyone? Well, can only be unknown to those who have not been paying attention to anything happening. If you wouldn't relate caretakers, highest ranked police and so on for the top of the food chain, then i am not sure what the top of that chain is. There is a coup for a reason, and that coup is not only because of all the trouble there was in the streets of Bangkok. They removed Yingluck from her post for a reason, and even though that most are aware that she is just a puppet, most also know who her puppet master is.

If people who care about that subject remain ignorant about association to the darker side, it's because they really don't want to believe.

OK, pray tell, just what was this reason the junta removed Yingluck? Just what is her association to the dark side , Yoda?

[daoyai]

This is why the real killer of the two tourists in Koh Tao, Thailand, will probably never be found or convicted http://t.co/t78RHZuHcR

Very accurate blog on the situation, I also have quite a bit of experience on KT, know many of the players, .... They really have cirlcled the wagons on this one and the killers may never be caught (hope I am wrong), I keep reading that the "world is watching" with each day, less people will care or remember this case until it joins the Thai mythology and business will return to normal.

[biplanebluey]

A double murder on a very small island. Only way off the island is by boat. 100+ police investigating and police can't find the murderers. Is this an oversimplification?

To put it simply-------- YES

[starkey_rich]

He added that he "could not comprehend" why his father had been interviewed and initially suspected by the |police, despite his cooperation and even assistance in providing police with leads and tip-offs.

With that being the case why has there been little or no progress in this case and the subsequent arrest of the offenders?

Deputy national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung said Worra-phan and the other man, owner of Intouch Pub, were interviewed and had never been apprehended as suspects. He said police investigation into the murder had been plagued by rumours and unauthorised information spread on the social media.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmoung said Worra-phan and the other man, owner of Intouch Pub, were interviewed and would never be apprehended as suspects.

He said police investigation into the murder had been plagued by rumours (solid facts) and unauthorised (positive leads) information spread on the social media (the unpalatable truth).

Large bulky white envelopes were also suspected to be impeding the investigations process along with the insurance cover provided by certain families on the island to protect their self interests and kith and kin.

In the other newspaper's report the BIB have blamed social media for ' confusing ' investigators but they seem to be doing quite a good job of that themselves.

In blaming everybody and anybody except themselves the BIB don't mention all the irresponsible and insensitive statements coming from within their own ranks including the rush to announce more suspects then having to admit they're not linked.

So far this has been nothing like a textbook investigation unless the textbook's from the ' How Not To ' range.

Probably working from the textbook

Investigating For Dummies.

[jaywalker]

With BiB, draconian is appropriate. Downright medieval would be even better.

I agree.

Marcelus Wallace (Ving Rhames) said "I'm fixin' to call some homeys overs here with blow torches & pliers. We gonna git medieval on this mofo".

Pulp Fiction in 1992 I think......Same here...Wishful thinking about fiction.

[hughben]

PM crack down will be on expendable foot soldiers, independent no marks working the odd scam and foreign drug takers.

The mafia will carry on regardless.

In another part of Thailand the Junta allowed the jet ski mafia to return to their normal ways after they told the Junta they would have to revert to crime to make a living (a paradox). Therefore expect the same crap people got when the previous useless politicians were at the helm.

[timewilltell]

The families have been through hell- but if it was my family then I would sure be obtaining independent DNA Tests in UK before I laid them to rest. It's never to late to re- open the case if they are not satisfied with the outcome- the DNA samples can be compared independently then and expose any tampering at Govt Level!

I agree, & bear with me here on this fantasy.....First I'm NO FAN of a Nanny State, but then again, I'm even less of a fan of incompetence & corruption.

That said....

I'm from the US, so don't know about the UK police hierarchy. I spent 8 hours in London once on a long layover...Spent 8 years in Thailand.

I'm sure the UK has the equivalents of the US Agencies, but I'll have to use US terms.

Assuming the UK wants to BLOW THE LID off how bad the corruption is, they send in the UK equivalent of the CIA and/or US Marshals.

It would probably take 6-8 people to watch suspects & get DNA, plus a few 50K baht payments for informants.

It might take 2 months or so, but then have the UK Foreign Secretary (is that right?) call in the poor bewildered Thai ambassador that doesn't have a clue what government he'll be working for next spring, and hold his feet to the fire.

Next he should call a press conference and denounce the RBP (royal bungling police) for what they are.

Again, just fantasies. I've been watching too many spy movies lately.

It is fantasy because the Foreign Office in the UK have zero regard for justice. They have no intention of doing or saying anything no matter how heinous the crime because their mission is not to upset anyone. It doesn't matter about human rights or individual injustices they are only interested if it is a large scale humanitarian issue and only then if it involves the 'other' side.

They are as close to what most of us would call useless. That is the British Foreign Office. But you are right get involved in injustices is how most ordinary citizens would like their Foreign Office to Act. But we just vote these buggers in and have no control on their behaviour.

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[luckyman]

Somrot is either on the take or is a complete buffoon, or possibly both if he thinks there are no influential persons on Koh Tao. He is obviously incompetent so sack him.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Why not just give him a few more days, because a couple of days ago he did say that he would have the killers arrested within one week.

Also his name is Somyot, and he is very powerfull and very rich man so please watch out a little and donot offend him on this forum.

[jamhar]

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to tackle influential rackets and illegitimate businesses on the tourist island, and pledged to punish soldiers or police patronising these people or their activities.

Dear General P,

Unfortunately this ideal measure, is all too little and all to late, this is not just a problem in Kho Tao, but is infact a serious massive and major problem at every tourist destination in the Kingdom of Thailand.

So Since its so bad, You would do nothing?

[IAMSOBAD]

Denial...Cover Ups... Corruption...Land of Shhhhh!

Farang will still come here like an ATM.

Crackdown or CrackTown.

Why are jetski Mafia still in Pattaya and back in Phuket?

Because just like Koh Tao the POLICE and town bosses are more crooked than a corkscrew.

[SPB65]

I don't doubt that Gen Prayuth is trying to improve many things with best intentions but pretty much all of Thailands countless problems come back around to the culture. You name it; corruption, incompetence, unaccountability, poor education, the ever present issue of "face", squeezing every last satang out of every situation, the list is endless. It's all so deeply ingrained in Thai culture and the Thai way of life that at the end of the day I dont think they will ever really change anything because ultimately they are all so nationalistic and proud of everything Thai. Until they can look at themselves critically and accept their own failings nothing will change. This is a very self-centred culture with little emphasis on the common good, as a result crackdowns come and go and things generally go back to the way there were beforehand. We've seen it all too often in the past, nothing indicates the future will be any different.

[mike324]

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to tackle influential rackets and illegitimate businesses on the tourist island, and pledged to punish soldiers or police patronising these people or their activities.

Dear General P,

Unfortunately this ideal measure, is all too little and all to late, this is not just a problem in Kho Tao, but is infact a serious massive and major problem at every tourist destination in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Give him a chance, so far, I think he has managed to clean up a lot already

What has he cleaned up already?

Corruption has decrease a bit and more laws are being followed. Its still a work in progress and a lot still needs to be done, but if you live in Bangkok and come in contact with police frequently you will see and feel it.

[jaywalker]

Jesus Christ! You are supposed to be a military dictator! Do you think any other miltiary dictators in the history of the mankind would have had this hard of a time dealing with the situation?

It is a (largely underdeveloped) island of fisherman bumpkins running around thinking they are mobsters. Give me the uniform and I will straighten out the entire island by dawn. I will make those five families of inbreeds an offer they can't refuse and build shiny hotels and casinos on the grave yard i leave behind.

I agree Farang000999

I'm retired US Army. No I wasn't SF or Delta Force.

I did start off as a Private E-Nothing & worked my way up in an infantry unit though. Always an NCO.

I moved to maintenance (thank God) a few years in & later worked for a US defense contractor all over, stationed in BKK for 4 years as the SE Asia rep.

I worked with the Thai's & Taiwanese, plus all the US bases in Okinawa & S. Korea, with occasional trips to the Middle East.

I have SEEN with my own 2 eyes, the (in)competence of the Armies in Asia.

To even consider or fantasize that they are somehow magically more competent than the RBP (royal bungling police) is ludicrous!

The ONLY difference, that I can see so far, in martial law & the BIB, is that the Army isn't allowed to go scam ordinary people every day, so they don't know how...yet.

For sure the top brass does, but the average trooper does not.

I will give top marks to the RTMC (Thai Marines) though. Them boys take their jobs seriously.

[hiller]

Thank you PM. The more investigating this horrendous crime the better. No one is above the law now.

The current state of the investigation says you are wrong. Seems many are well above the law on Ko Tao and Bangkok.

[kannot]

could this finally be someone starting something that will cut short what a lot of "mafia" families are doing in Thailand. Most of the problems with tourists stems directly from these families in their own areas, by coming down on them or removing them it will certainly stop a lot of the crap. Trouble is will they actually do it, this seems to be the bigger question, can they overcome all the corruption these people cause.

Just shows how little you know about the powerstructure in Thailand.

The very people you want to eradicate corruption, are the ones on top of the foodchain. They don't get their hands dirty, are well respected members of society and their association with "the darker side" is unknown to almost everyone.

Families like the ones on Koh Tao are merely feederfish for the real sharks!

Unknown by almost everyone? Well, can only be unknown to those who have not been paying attention to anything happening. If you wouldn't relate caretakers, highest ranked police and so on for the top of the food chain, then i am not sure what the top of that chain is. There is a coup for a reason, and that coup is not only because of all the trouble there was in the streets of Bangkok. They removed Yingluck from her post for a reason, and even though that most are aware that she is just a puppet, most also know who her puppet master is.

If people who care about that subject remain ignorant about association to the darker side, it's because they really don't want to believe.

The Army is the top of that chain in Thailand and probably NO different to the bottom feeders, they hold the guns the bombs the manpower to do what they like................and who owns the army.............

[timewilltell]

Somrot is either on the take or is a complete buffoon, or possibly both if he thinks there are no influential persons on Koh Tao. He is obviously incompetent so sack him.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Why not just give him a few more days, because a couple of days ago he did say that he would have the killers arrested within one week.

Also his name is Somyot, and he is very powerfull and very rich man so please watch out a little and donot offend him on this forum.

Apologies - you are correct his name is Somyot and the mis-spelling wAs unintentional - not always perfect on this device.

Why is he so rich anyway?

I am sure General Prayuth is rich and powerful too and is saying the opposite. They can't both be right about there being influential families on Koh Tao can they?

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Edited September 25, 2014 by timewilltell

[Cuchulainn]

The shoddy and incompetent police handling of this is a disgrace to the nation and a knife in the heart for the victims' families.

Disband this bunch of criminals NOW!!

[Number 3]

The families have been through hell- but if it was my family then I would sure be obtaining independent DNA Tests in UK before I laid them to rest. It's never to late to re- open the case if they are not satisfied with the outcome- the DNA samples can be compared independently then and expose any tampering at Govt Level!

I agree, & bear with me here on this fantasy.....First I'm NO FAN of a Nanny State, but then again, I'm even less of a fan of incompetence & corruption.

That said....

I'm from the US, so don't know about the UK police hierarchy. I spent 8 hours in London once on a long layover...Spent 8 years in Thailand.

I'm sure the UK has the equivalents of the US Agencies, but I'll have to use US terms.

Assuming the UK wants to BLOW THE LID off how bad the corruption is, they send in the UK equivalent of the CIA and/or US Marshals.

It would probably take 6-8 people to watch suspects & get DNA, plus a few 50K baht payments for informants.

It might take 2 months or so, but then have the UK Foreign Secretary (is that right?) call in the poor bewildered Thai ambassador that doesn't have a clue what government he'll be working for next spring, and hold his feet to the fire.

Next he should call a press conference and denounce the RBP (royal bungling police) for what they are.

Again, just fantasies. I've been watching too many spy movies lately.

It is fantasy because the Foreign Office in the UK have zero regard for justice. They have no intention of doing or saying anything no matter how heinous the crime because their mission is not to upset anyone. It doesn't matter about human rights or individual injustices they are only interested if it is a large scale humanitarian issue and only then if it involves the 'other' side.

They are as close to what most of us would call useless. That is the British Foreign Office. But you are right get involved in injustices is how most ordinary citizens would like their Foreign Office to Act. But we just vote these buggers in and have no control on their behaviour.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

British embassy presence zero. Being told stay quiet and trust the police. incredible.

Waiting for the final deep wai and apology to our western friends - Priceless.

[jaywalker]

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to tackle influential rackets and illegitimate businesses on the tourist island, and pledged to punish soldiers or police patronising these people or their activities.

Dear General P,

Unfortunately this ideal measure, is all too little and all to late, this is not just a problem in Kho Tao, but is infact a serious massive and major problem at every tourist destination in the Kingdom of Thailand.

Give him a chance, so far, I think he has managed to clean up a lot already

What has he cleaned up already?

Corruption has decrease a bit and more laws are being followed. Its still a work in progress and a lot still needs to be done, but if you live in Bangkok and come in contact with police frequently you will see and feel it.

That's nice to hear.

Out of, probably 50 times being pulled/waved over by a BIB, I have gotten a grand total of 2 receipts = maybe it went into the coffers & not the Friday night Hong Thong fund.

Sure! If I screw up, TELL ME what I did wrong! I'll pay the fine! That way I won't do it again!

They popped me once, under the tollway, near Sukhumvit Soi 0, for going the CORRECT way in a "bus only lane".

Never mind that there were dozens of motorcycles going the WRONG way in that lane. They pegged me.

[Wilsonandson]

 

Jesus Christ! You are supposed to be a military dictator! Do you think any other miltiary dictators in the history of the mankind would have had this hard of a time dealing with the situation?

It is a (largely underdeveloped) island of fisherman bumpkins running around thinking they are mobsters. Give me the uniform and I will straighten out the entire island by dawn. I will make those five families of inbreeds an offer they can't refuse and build shiny hotels and casinos on the grave yard i leave behind.

I agree Farang000999

I'm retired US Army. No I wasn't SF or Delta Force.

I did start off as a Private E-Nothing & worked my way up in an infantry unit though. Always an NCO.

I moved to maintenance (thank God) a few years in & later worked for a US defense contractor all over, stationed in BKK for 4 years as the SE Asia rep.

I worked with the Thai's & Taiwanese, plus all the US bases in Okinawa & S. Korea, with occasional trips to the Middle East.

I have SEEN with my own 2 eyes, the (in)competence of the Armies in Asia.

To even consider or fantasize that they are somehow magically more competent than the RBP (royal bungling police) is ludicrous!

The ONLY difference, that I can see so far, in martial law & the BIB, is that the Army isn't allowed to go scam ordinary people every day, so they don't know how...yet.

For sure the top brass does, but the average trooper does not.

I will give top marks to the RTMC (Thai Marines) though. Them boys take their jobs seriously.

 

The mess you left in Iraq and Afghanistan. The war you lost and mess you made in Vietnam. Come on the U.S army is just as incompetant as the Asian armies you were stationed with.

[Wilsonandson]

 

Thank you PM. The more investigating this horrendous crime the better. No one is above the law now.

The current state of the investigation says you are wrong. Seems many are well above the law on Ko Tao and Bangkok.

 

Who is above the Royal Thai Army Chief?

[hiller]

Why is it that so many people think that one man, really can change things here in Thailand? Do you really think that all solders in this country are non-corrupt?... and that it will make a difference who takes charge?

The problem in this country is that ALL people (solders included) see corruption as a normal thing and money is the only thing that really counts. No matter who you put to "clean up" things or do crack downs here, they will exploit the opportunity to his/her own advantage. That is the mentality and it will take many generations to get rid of that - if they ever can.

The entire handling of the Koh Tao case, is a perfect example. Nothing has changed or will change. Deep down all Thai-people know this. The rules of corruption are in play and this will not change overnight - despite good intentions from any leader.

Keep in mind that the majority of the BIB come from the ranks of the Military.

[IAMSOBAD]

I remember eight years ago the RTP were at Pantip Plaza and saying they did a complete search and were convinced ALL porn was gone. Five minutes later hundreds of people were buying and selling porn at Pantip. The THAI POLICE love headlines, but not crime solving. It hurts their wallet.

[richusa]

They are waiting for the Mafia family to come up with more cash.

[jaywalker]

Somrot is either on the take or is a complete buffoon, or possibly both if he thinks there are no influential persons on Koh Tao. He is obviously incompetent so sack him.

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Exactly this, who does he really expect to believe this shit?The Thais?tourists?media?

If he believes what he says, he should be sacked for being dangerously under-qualified for his job, blimey i don't think he would be qualified for much, or secondly he is a bare faced liar.

Qualities required to become a Police Chief in Thailand:-

1. Corrupt.

2. Under qualified.

3. Incompetent.

4. Bare Faced Liar.

5 Bone Idle.

6. One Mia Noi and several Giks.

7 Very Strong Pointable Finger.

I've got a local one lives not far away from me; he fits all the criteria perfectly.

I worked in Pathum Thani on a 4 month gig once.

Lady that ran the restaurant nearby had worked at some International hotel chain before & spoke great English.

I stayed at a 5K THB per month place/room. It was OK....got me into the culture a lot & helped my pitiful Thai language skills quite a bit.

Pathum Thani is no Soi Cowboy, but there were lots of HONEY BUNNIES staying at this place. Super cute ladies in their mid-20's or so.

Every night there would be various high-end cars parked outside.

The lady at the restaurant explained to me (in a very hushed voice) that they were all either mafia or police or both, and they kept their Mia Noi's there.