PM Prayuth vows crackdown on Koh Tao vices

[Greg Nixon]

There needs to be a crackdown on vices in Thailand. Start with drugs. Start taking photos of Thai men frequenting brothels and publishing them on social media ( the Internet). Make it illegal for foreigners to hire prostitutes with a mandatory 1 year prison sentence. Clean up the beaches. Deny Russian mafia from entering Thailand. Thailand was once a lovely country but the excesses of foreign military on R & R have turned it into a chess pool. Thais unfortunately because of their poverty have descended to a moral standard just slightly above cave men.

Arrest police who are taking bribes at any level. Have the police actually police. First have them enforce International traffic violations - such as stop signs, red lights etc. . Fines should only be paid at the police station.

The chaos that is Thailand today may make it seem an impossibility but the authorities must start somewhere.

[Number 3]

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.

The Government of this country was deposed in a military coup. In any country on earth that makes them top dog

That gives them unwell ding power to clean up what was left before them. Crackdown on jet ski operators by all means and now moving on to the bigger issues at hand. Pound this situation into shape ! Corrupt police the mafia those three island work as a sewer pit and if people there and police there know who did this. Move on it . Is it really this hard for a ruling army ?

[davidmann]

Vice and crime ,thats thailand ,taken long time to build it up ,its everywhere ,not quit the same as the isle white ,UK ,

[realenglish1]

This is starting to look like the Keystone cops syndrome that Thai police suffer from. Go with facts. Just bring in the FBI they will solve it

[Number 3]

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.

The Government of this country was deposed in a military coup. In any country on earth that makes them top dog

That gives them unwell ding power to clean up what was left before them. Crackdown on jet ski operators by all means and now moving on to the bigger issues at hand. Pound this situation into shape ! Corrupt police the mafia those three island work as a sewer pit and if people there and police there know who did this. Move on it . Is it really this hard for a ruling army ?

[H1w4yR1da]

There needs to be a crackdown on vices in Thailand. Start with drugs. Start taking photos of Thai men frequenting brothels and publishing them on social media ( the Internet). Make it illegal for foreigners to hire prostitutes with a mandatory 1 year prison sentence. Clean up the beaches. Deny Russian mafia from entering Thailand. Thailand was once a lovely country but the excesses of foreign military on R & R have turned it into a chess pool. Thais unfortunately because of their poverty have descended to a moral standard just slightly above cave men.

Ah, the old 'blame the foreigner' routine! Ignorant post! Prostitution was rampant in Thailand before the Vietnam war days and the vast majority of prostitutes in Thailand serve Thai men.

[HughJass]

had this crime been commited by nobodys it would have been solved by the end of the first day

the murderers will never be caught because they are being protected by the police and the powerful on Kao Tao

[NoBrainer]

The first step to cleaning up these islands, would be to replace ALL of the police. Transfer the whole lot back to larger jurisdictions such as Surat Thani & Phuket, and send in complete new people from other parts of Thailand, that aren't connected to each other, or any islanders.

Next is to take a good look at policing numbers. It was reported that there were only 3 police on Koh Tao. So that is one police officer per shift.

Looks to me like they should have at least 30 officers on this small island, just judging by the number of tourist arrivals. I don't know the population of locals, but how could 3 police keep order there. Obviously they were not able to.

[domomc]

Karma originates from Sanskrit language and is a word familiar to many in this country. So for all the excuses and apologies, pretensions of being seen to be doing the right thing plus showing false remorse is all too little too late. Deep shame for a group that values and places the virtues of respect so highly. The deed has been done with the words of disrespect have and are still being said. So the damage continues. The only solace to come is the knowledge that there will be consequences and actions made to right the wrongs of those involved in this tragedy. Karma.

Sincere condolences to the Miller and Witheridge families. R.I.P.

[bangrak]

General Prayuth is an intelligent and experienced man, how would it be possible he does not know the whole system is rotten and corrupt in the Kingdom? It is understandable that it takes time to do constructive institutional work, but brisk actions had been promised against corruption and organised crime, May 22nd is already 4 months old, and what has happened 'on the field' since? An array of highly mediatised 'sting actions' (more like mosquito stinging elephant), yes, on the surface, without digging deep, without follow-up, without lasting effects, so, please no next 'crackdown on Koh Tao', when it is not a true, real one, and why not on Pha Ngan, on Samui, everywhere? It is not going to work like that, IMO, but was it ever intended to work, is a question I started asking myself. How many officers, above captain rank, and not only from police, how many officials above office clerk, under investigation, facing martial law, demoted or jailed? At the 'top end', how many generals, top officials, politicians, and 'influential persons', including their families, investigated f.i. for abnormal wealth, thrown out of illegally built businesses, evicted from encroached land, how many accounts blocked, how many luxury cars seized, etc.? I hope to be right, that the General and his team have not been sucked in into the deep mud of the huge swamp this country has turned into, that they have the power, and 'support'(!) to turn their promises into reality, but... Otherwise it will be like in 2006, good intentions, maybe, some, and worse after than before, with the difference that it could, this time have been the last chance, and result in the end of the Kingdom of Thailand as we know it. So, General, please, yes, do 'whatever it takes', when you wouldn't be 'able' do it for the people, then do it for His Majesty!

[Alwyn]

"A fact-finding probe is needed to identify those involved but assigning soldiers to spearhead the crackdown would have been deemed a bit draconian, he said" But assigning soldiers to run the country under martial law is not a bit draconian then?

[Sawan Chan 7]

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.

Them boys or those men?

I have a lot more respect for the thai army than for US soldiers. At least Thai soldiers don't gain financially for fighting in unjust oil wars.

How many Thai soldiers retire to Pattaya with a huge pension?

[WhizBang]

I bet if a list was published with the names of the 10 most powerful people in Thailand, with real power, you wouldn't reconize any of the names.

So you, and you alone, are privy to such 'classified' information.

Ok bud, I believe you.

[Wilsonandson]

The latest news report about 1 hour ago. http://www.newkerala.com/news/2014/fullnews-107058.html>>

The article reports

[Wilsonandson]

In a new development, a police investigation team Wednesday began collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses at Lotus Bar, where McAnna was allegedly seen asking some staff to help wipe bloodstains off his body before he fled the island.

From the article I just posted.

[richusa]

Feel sad for the fella that's going to take the rap for this. And surely a big fat pay raise for the cops.

[richusa]

Sawan Chan 7. You are a joke. Do you think this investigation would last this long in most other countries. ...one word for you. (Idioso).

[tbthailand]

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday vowed to tackle influential rackets and illegitimate businesses on the tourist island

why stop at Koh Tao?

[jesimps]

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

Like what? Jet ski and non-metered taxis going strong again on Phuket. Pattaya hasn't changed since pre-coup, scams and road chaos still the order of the day.

[thaiaus]

What has he cleaned up already?

Is that a serious question? Did you even try to look a little into what have been done before you asked that question?

Yes it is a serious question. There have been many soundbites, some good work, like clearing of beaches in Phuket, but this can hardly be classed as clearing a lot. I may have missed all the other things that have been done?

Yes corruption is still rampant in Thailand. They have been paying it lip service only. If they start cleaning up the "influential people" there would be such a major backlash...

I personally think it's too late for Thailand to become corruption free.

[tbthailand]

The first step to cleaning up these islands, would be to replace ALL of the police. Transfer the whole lot back to larger jurisdictions such as Surat Thani & Phuket, and send in complete new people from other parts of Thailand, that aren't connected to each other, or any islanders.

Next is to take a good look at policing numbers. It was reported that there were only 3 police on Koh Tao. So that is one police officer per shift.

Looks to me like they should have at least 30 officers on this small island, just judging by the number of tourist arrivals. I don't know the population of locals, but how could 3 police keep order there. Obviously they were not able to.

Koh Tao is not the problem.

This kind of thing happens once on this island and the world goes crazy ... With all due respect to the victims and the family, it doesn't matter where it happened, tiny Koh Tao, at the full moon party on Koh Phangan, Samui, Hua Hin, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, etc...

Is the problem the policing numbers on Koh Tao? Maybe that is a problem. But maybe that is not unique to Koh Tao?

I agree with your points, but I think the fixation on a tiny tiny island is wrong-headed and doesn't help the situation nor does it address a problem that can be found everywhere.

[harrry]

I wonder if it is time for the General to send Call up papers to some of the young men of the Island. Everyone under 30 would be a good start.

[Fred Flinstone]

Its mind numbing this crime will go unpunished

[Iumentum]

We have seen ton of cases where it's thai killing thai where cases have not been taking seriously either. For many years in many places here, it comes down to a very few things wether or not the case will be taken seriously. Do you have a clue how high the percentage of unsolved murders in Thailand is?

No I don't, please tell.

If you don't, then how can you make such statement to begin with?

eh?

I said I don;t know the percentage and it looks like you don't either.

I never claimed that i knew did i? No i asked for the reason to see if you did actually have the slightest idea of what you were babbling about.

However, in Thailand there is still a long way from solving a case to proper conviction, and still from that to actually carry out a sentence.

[gemini81]

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?

Worse, Thaksin the swindler. Now can you get over your red power fiefdom's demise, and back onto the topic?

[thaiaus]

Do you honestly think that everything will happen over night? Yes some of the things are back to "normal" more or less, but where i am, quite a lot still holds for now. But it's not just what you see of crackdowns in tourist areas, people having positions running the country have been held responsible for actions too.

All we can do at the moment is hope for the best, but don't come and say that everything is back to "normal", because it sure ain't around here.

About the jetski thugs, they had come to an agreement, however, we still have to wait and see how things will turn out in practice.

Starts off with small things like taxis's, jet skis, and beach chairs ... then just snowballs from there...

What ONE thing have they achieved to tackle corruption?

Make a few arrests which will be forget about after a nice cup of tea.

The double murder shows that nothing has or will change. With the world media reporting on Thailand the "influential people" still run things.

[thaiaus]

.

.

.

Is that a serious question? Did you even try to look a little into what have been done before you asked that question?

All BS! The jet ski thugs are back on the beaches, taxi are back to their old tricks, no meters on Samui-don't even bother to ask.

Same old Thailand

"Dorethy, we're not in Kansas anymore"

Maybe time to get a metered taxi to the airport??

Will the meter go backwards or forwards?

Will that be on the tollway?

What time your flight? Or soon I will hurry for you...

lol

[Neeranam]

No I don't, please tell.

We have seen ton of cases where it's thai killing thai where cases have not been taking seriously either. For many years in many places here, it comes down to a very few things wether or not the case will be taken seriously. Do you have a clue how high the percentage of unsolved murders in Thailand is?

If you don't, then how can you make such statement to begin with?

eh?

I said I don;t know the percentage and it looks like you don't either.

I never claimed that i knew did i? No i asked for the reason to see if you did actually have the slightest idea of what you were babbling about.

However, in Thailand there is still a long way from solving a case to proper conviction, and still from that to actually carry out a sentence.

You posed the question like you did know. "Do you have "a clue"" .

Rather than trying to be a smart arsed know-it-all, just tell me what I wrote that you disagree with.

[thaiaus]

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?

YES!!!

[Iumentum]

No I don't, please tell.

We have seen ton of cases where it's thai killing thai where cases have not been taking seriously either. For many years in many places here, it comes down to a very few things wether or not the case will be taken seriously. Do you have a clue how high the percentage of unsolved murders in Thailand is?

If you don't, then how can you make such statement to begin with?

eh?

I said I don;t know the percentage and it looks like you don't either.

I never claimed that i knew did i? No i asked for the reason to see if you did actually have the slightest idea of what you were babbling about.

However, in Thailand there is still a long way from solving a case to proper conviction, and still from that to actually carry out a sentence.

You posed the question like you did know. "Do you have "a clue"" .

Rather than trying to be a smart arsed know-it-all, just tell me what I wrote that you disagree with.

Of course i disagree, because i have seen multiple times that even in cases where it's only thai involved the case is not taken seriously. It's not the tone of skin that will matter how seriously the investigation will be taken, nor is it the skin tone that will define how hard a conviction the person will get, neither is it the skin tone that will define how much of the sentence that will be carried out if any at all.